Until Forever Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: Johanna Lindsey
other. It was the fact that their last names were different that had allowed David to step in to deal with the sword’s previous owner, when Roseleen had failed to get anywhere with the man.
They both had deep, clear chocolate-brown eyes without a fleck of gold to lighten them. And although David’s dark brown hair lacked the soft reddish highlights that Roseleen’s had, they both had high cheekbones, the same oval shape to their eyes, and brows that slanted at the same angles, and they were both tall and slim of build.
She had been five years old when David had lost his folks and had come to live with her family. He had been only seven at the time. As far as she was concerned, he was herbrother, and he felt exactly the same way. Still, there were certain things you just didn’t feel comfortable discussing with siblings, or best friends for that matter. That you might be having a nervous breakdown was one of them.
Not to change the subject, but to redirect it, Roseleen said, “I feel somewhat guilty about owning Blooddrinker’s Curse, you know, because of its beauty and historical value. I keep thinking it belongs in a museum, where everyone could have the chance to be awed by it.”
David lifted a brow, a grin lurking in his expression. “Thinking about donating it?”
Roseleen laughed. “Not on your life. I’ll live with the guilt, thank you.”
“As it happens, I mentioned that to Sir Isaac—after the sword was in my possession. The old guy really was eccentric. He said he couldn’t trust it to a museum, where some woman might get her hands on it.”
“Did he ever tell you why he wouldn’t sell it to a woman?” she asked.
“He said he didn’t know.”
“What?”
David chuckled. “That was my own reaction. But Sir Isaac claims his father left him the sword, with the dire warning that if he didn’t want to spend eternity suffering the agonies of the damned, he’d make sure no woman ever got her hands on it. Apparently, Dearborn’s father had had to sign an affidavit similar to the one I signed when he first cameinto possession of the sword, and the owner before him as well. Dearborn had no information earlier than that—at least about the previous owners. But I’ll tell you something, Rosie, Sir Isaac didn’t come right out and admit it, but from the way he acted and the things he said, I’d swear he really believes that sword is cursed.”
“Just because of its name?”
David shrugged. “You have to admit it’s strange, all those owners being so fearful and protective of the sword. That fear had to be based on something.”
“On legend, no doubt, that is centuries old and so obscure, it didn’t survive the last few. You know how superstitious and fanciful medieval folk were. Pagan gods, sorcerers and witches, demons and devils, even elves and fairies, all held great significance back then, because the people really believed in them. And that sword has had a thousand years to gain notoriety. It’s too bad the curse or whatever superstition was attached to it didn’t get passed along with the sword. I’d give anything to know what it was.”
“Whatever it was, it’s a pretty good guess that it involved a woman, or women.”
Roseleen nodded in agreement. “Which is strange in itself, if you think about it. Historically, with only a few exceptions, women aren’t usually associated with weapons of any kind. Queens might have commanded armies, but they didn’t bear arms themselves.” Andthen she grinned. “Again, with a few notable exceptions.”
“Ah, now I have it. Did you get the urge to go to war when you touched the sword?”
She laughed and was still smiling when she answered, “Not war, actually, though I did have the urge to use that sword on old Barry when he arranged for a rather tasteless joke on me to celebrate his obtaining tenure.”
David frowned, since she hadn’t mentioned that to him before. She’d almost forgotten the incident herself and was no
They both had deep, clear chocolate-brown eyes without a fleck of gold to lighten them. And although David’s dark brown hair lacked the soft reddish highlights that Roseleen’s had, they both had high cheekbones, the same oval shape to their eyes, and brows that slanted at the same angles, and they were both tall and slim of build.
She had been five years old when David had lost his folks and had come to live with her family. He had been only seven at the time. As far as she was concerned, he was herbrother, and he felt exactly the same way. Still, there were certain things you just didn’t feel comfortable discussing with siblings, or best friends for that matter. That you might be having a nervous breakdown was one of them.
Not to change the subject, but to redirect it, Roseleen said, “I feel somewhat guilty about owning Blooddrinker’s Curse, you know, because of its beauty and historical value. I keep thinking it belongs in a museum, where everyone could have the chance to be awed by it.”
David lifted a brow, a grin lurking in his expression. “Thinking about donating it?”
Roseleen laughed. “Not on your life. I’ll live with the guilt, thank you.”
“As it happens, I mentioned that to Sir Isaac—after the sword was in my possession. The old guy really was eccentric. He said he couldn’t trust it to a museum, where some woman might get her hands on it.”
“Did he ever tell you why he wouldn’t sell it to a woman?” she asked.
“He said he didn’t know.”
“What?”
David chuckled. “That was my own reaction. But Sir Isaac claims his father left him the sword, with the dire warning that if he didn’t want to spend eternity suffering the agonies of the damned, he’d make sure no woman ever got her hands on it. Apparently, Dearborn’s father had had to sign an affidavit similar to the one I signed when he first cameinto possession of the sword, and the owner before him as well. Dearborn had no information earlier than that—at least about the previous owners. But I’ll tell you something, Rosie, Sir Isaac didn’t come right out and admit it, but from the way he acted and the things he said, I’d swear he really believes that sword is cursed.”
“Just because of its name?”
David shrugged. “You have to admit it’s strange, all those owners being so fearful and protective of the sword. That fear had to be based on something.”
“On legend, no doubt, that is centuries old and so obscure, it didn’t survive the last few. You know how superstitious and fanciful medieval folk were. Pagan gods, sorcerers and witches, demons and devils, even elves and fairies, all held great significance back then, because the people really believed in them. And that sword has had a thousand years to gain notoriety. It’s too bad the curse or whatever superstition was attached to it didn’t get passed along with the sword. I’d give anything to know what it was.”
“Whatever it was, it’s a pretty good guess that it involved a woman, or women.”
Roseleen nodded in agreement. “Which is strange in itself, if you think about it. Historically, with only a few exceptions, women aren’t usually associated with weapons of any kind. Queens might have commanded armies, but they didn’t bear arms themselves.” Andthen she grinned. “Again, with a few notable exceptions.”
“Ah, now I have it. Did you get the urge to go to war when you touched the sword?”
She laughed and was still smiling when she answered, “Not war, actually, though I did have the urge to use that sword on old Barry when he arranged for a rather tasteless joke on me to celebrate his obtaining tenure.”
David frowned, since she hadn’t mentioned that to him before. She’d almost forgotten the incident herself and was no