8 - Cursed Blades

Manolya’s POV

I froze, my stomach twisting. “Are you sure?” I asked a bit skeptic, my voice barely above a whisper. When she said the blood never leaves, it somehow felt like her words were directed at me.

She looked at me, her smile faint and unreadable. “I never paid it much mind, but they do have a history. A bloody one.” Her eyes lingered on the scimitar in Uncle Eren’s hands. “Are you sure you want them?”

“I love a little bloody history,” Uncle Eren said with a smirk, but his words left me on edge.

“That blade has taken more than lives. It is said to contain darkness,” she murmured, her gaze flicking to me like she clearly knew something we didn’t. Then her expression shifted into a small, sideways smile. “But I’m still happy to give it to you anyway. Your last name is Kara, right? Eren and Manolya Kara? It’s funny, because Behren the Soul Render, as they called him, had the same last name too. What an unusual coincidence.” She adjusted a pleat in her headscarf and looked back with an unreadable, eager gaze.

Pelin leaned close, whispering, “She’s giving me chills. What’s with the curse talk again? And same last name, really?”

“No idea but she’s creepier than Aziz when he stares back at us from the shadows,” I whispered back, my skin prickling. “It’s freaking me out for sure. What if he is one of our ancestors or something?”

Adem, sprawled on the rug, piped up. “Cursed swords? Awesome! I would still swing it!”

“Oh Shut up, Adem, I do not want anyone’s neck bruised, no thank you,” Pelin hissed, but her lips twitched, betraying a smile.

Adlee grinned, nudging his brother. “Haunted or not, I want to hold one. Come on, Uncle, let us see!”

Adem’s brows furrowed. “Okay, but seriously, what if Ipek’s disappearance is tied to this curse stuff?”

I immediately felt uneasy. Could there be some truth to his words? “We shouldn’t jump to conclusions and fall into the neighborhood pit of stupid rumors. And don’t be silly, how could Ipek be tied up in a piece of metal?” I answered him.

Uncle Eren chuckled. “Your imagination is too wild, Adem. That’s enough. It’s just antiques. I understand your energy, it gets me bubbling with excitment every time too.”

“You can look at it later, back at the store” Uncle Eren said, closing the box carefully. “Let’s wrap this up first.”

After a few sips of tea and polite goodbyes, we headed out.

My phone buzzed with a message from Dad.

“Are you still with my brother?” He asked me.

“Yes, we picked up my cousins as you told us to. Are you alright, Dad? How’s Ayla? We are on our way back to Eren`s Antiques”

I typed back quickly.

He ignored my questions, as usual.

“Just be home before dinner and help Ayla with the food. I’m busy having lunch with Bengü and won’t make it home early. Can you check on her for me? See you tonight.”

I sighed, he was always busy with everything else.

The rain had stopped, and the late afternoon sun baked the pavement, steam rising from the wet cobblestones.

The courtyard’s fountain trickled softly, catching the golden light.

The twins were draped across the Mustang’s hood looking casual, their burgundy sweats vivid against the red paint.

“Took you long enough!” Adem called, grinning. “Was she not a cat lady? Tell me did any of you see if she had any cat photographs?”

“She had only weapons, I did not see any cats, did you?” Uncle Eren said, matching his grin. “She just had some very cool weapons.”

“Say less,” Adlee said, snapping upright. “Can we see them now?”

“Patience, kiddos,” Uncle Eren teased, sliding into the driver’s seat. “First, we’ve got a more important mission.”

Pelin slapped a notebook into the twins’ arms, her voice firm. “Focus, you two. We’re helping Ayla find Ipek.”

“Right,” Adlee muttered, dodging as she raised it again threateningly. “We’re serious, promise.”

“We are,” I said, my tone cutting through their banter, Ipek’s absence heavy in my chest. “She’s still missing. We can’t waste time.”

The twins sobered, exchanging a glance. “We got you,” Adem said quietly. “No jokes.”

“I’ll check the marina with Adlee,” he added. “We’ve got bikes. You and Pelin can ask around the neighborhood. Someone’s seen something, right?”

“That is a solid plan,” Pelin said, nodding. “Let’s split up after lunch.”

I nodded, forcing calm despite the unease coiling in my stomach. What if we were too late? I shoved the thought down, reaching for my phone. “I’ll call Ayla, let her know we’re on it. Dad also messaged me, and said we should help her out with dinner.”

“Pelin, let’s go to Mr. Giray’s house and visit him. Maybe Ipek will be home by then…” I said in a worried tone, as dread made my voice feel tight. Why was she not home yet?

Before I could dial, Uncle Eren’s phone buzzed.

He answered, his face shifting, calm evaporating like mist. “Wait… what?”

We all turned to him, the air in the Mustang thickening. “What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

His gaze met mine, heavy with something unspoken. “It was from Ayla, It’s about Ipek…”

My heart stopped. “What about her?”

“They didn’t find her,” he said quietly, pausing just long enough to send a chill through me. “This is not good…”

I didn’t need to ask what that meant. Somehow, I already knew it was about to get worse.