Dawn of Eve by MJ Howson (best ereader for students .txt) 📕

The sapphire pendant Jacob had given her hung from a nearby cabinet pull. Dawn stared at it, struggling to remember when he’d given it to her. It felt like a lifetime ago. Her hazy stare became a glare. Dawn grabbed the pendant and ripped it away, breaking the chain. She gazed at it, shook her head, and tossed it into the trash.

The bottom left drawer held Jacob’s clipper set. Dawn removed the bag, dumped the contents onto the counter, and scanned the various attachments. Dawn then went into another drawer and retrieved a silver comb and a matching pair of scissors. The shears shimmered as she placed them beside the sink. She leaned forward, stared at her reflection, and spent a few silent moments methodically combing her long hair.

“It’s time,” Dawn said. She grabbed the scissors, smiled, and started to cut her hair.

Forty Five

Wrath

The crimson Italian lambskin coat’s length ended just below Dawn’s knees. Its wide hood ruffled in the chilly wind. Leaves and debris swirled around her boots as Dawn made her way down Charles Street, her small black sequined purse bouncing delicately against her leg. A pair of catlike black sunglasses masked Dawn’s face deep within the hood’s shadows. She stopped briefly to listen to the overhead chains rattle in the breeze. Black denim jeans kept her legs warm as she descended the seven steps to Zuni.

Dawn opened the door, causing the brass ring to announce her arrival. The store appeared deserted. Once inside, she removed her glasses and began to browse the rack of clothes. The bloodied wedding gown was no longer there. Dawn smiled, wondering who could have bought such a cursed item.

Janet emerged from the back room, her bifocals resting on the tip of her nose. She looked at the figure with her back to her and asked, “Can I help you?”

Dawn turned and lowered her hood, revealing her short-cropped copper-colored hair. Her makeover included a heavy dose of bright red lipstick and matching nail polish. Deep rouge makeup accentuated her cheekbones, pointing toward her long sculpted eyelashes surrounded by smoky eyeshadow. Dawn unbuttoned her jacket, revealing a vibrant red blouse with a plunging neckline. Eve’s locket glowed against her pale skin.

“It’s nice to see you again,” Dawn said.

“Again?” Janet furrowed her brow and stared at Dawn. Her eyes suddenly widened. “Oh. Oh, my. Dawn? I . . . I hardly recognized you.” Janet’s eyes settled on Dawn’s necklace, causing her to gasp. “The locket! You found it.”

Leo emerged from the back room and jumped on the counter. The cat’s green eyes were immediately drawn to the locket around Dawn’s neck.

Dawn smiled and gently took the locket in her hand. She flipped the clasp and opened the pendant, exposing the ruby stone inside.

“I see it opened for you,” Janet said. Tears formed in her eyes and slowly spilled down her cheeks. “I knew you were the one. I knew it.”

Dawn snapped the locket closed and briefly held the pendant in the palm of her hand. She said, “I want to thank you. Eve changed my life. More than Jacob or the doctor or any man ever could.”

Janet removed her glasses and wiped the tears from her face. She smiled and said, “I knew you could save her.”

Dawn began to walk along the long glass counter, studying the collection of items lining the shelves. Leo followed her, silently matching each step Dawn took. She said, “This really is a store of wonder. You have so many interesting things.”

“Is there something you’re looking for? Something special?”

Dawn smiled and took a few more steps, stopping in front of the weapons case. Leo immediately walked closer and ran his head against her arm. Dawn gently began massaging the cat’s ears, causing Leo to purr.

The top shelf contained a dozen daggers, each unique in design and material. Dawn found herself drawn to one in particular. She tapped the glass countertop with her fingernail and said, “I like the one on the end.”

Janet looked down, smiled, and nodded. She placed her glasses on, slid the rear cabinet door to the side, and retrieved the dagger. The black onyx handle weighed heavy in her hand. Janet spent a few moments admiring the diamond set in the handle. She placed her arm on the counter and rested the knife against the sleeve of her gray smock, causing the blade to appear extra bright. Janet looked at Dawn and said, “You really do have a bit of Eve in you.”

“No, not that one.” Dawn waved her hand dismissively and then tapped the glass again. “The other end.”

“Oh.” Janet frowned and placed the Camp Ascension sacrificial dagger back into the display case. She reached back inside and let her fingers drag across each knife’s handle until she got to the last one. “This one has an interesting story.” Janet gently selected the dagger and stood up. She opened her palm and presented the weapon to Dawn. “I got this from an estate sale.”

Leo looked at the dagger and hissed before jumping to the floor.

Dawn felt mesmerized as she studied the blade. She looked at Janet and asked, “May I?” Janet nodded, and Dawn took the knife from her. “The detailing is truly lovely.” The five-inch blade felt razor-sharp as Dawn ran her index finger across the edge. “Is that . . . turquoise in the handle?”

“Yes.” Janet pointed at the wooden handle. “It’s obvious whoever made this poured a lot of love into the design. Those are inlaid nickel spacers. The detailing is exquisite.”

“The turquoise is quite beautiful.” Dawn placed the dagger on the countertop. “Where did you say you got this?”

“An estate sale out on Cape Cod. Legend has it the blade was used in a series of brutal killings.”

“Well, you did say everything in this place had a story to tell.”

“I . . . I really thought you would’ve picked the black one.”

“Someone once told me a little pop of