by S. E. Akers
I picked up the small cloth sack that lay at the root of my worries. Locked in a daze, I gently stroked the fabric’s nappy grain with the tips of my fingers and trailed them around the tattered cord. The tiny knot baited my wits. I’d tried to open it last night — several times, in fact. I’d even attempted to claw the thing open with my diamond-hard nails, but it was no use. Ms. Lá Léo’s magic was too strong. With an uneasy stare, I watched the sun rising above the serene blue waters. Whatever was lurking out there had raised every warning flag on my mast. But what did it want? The contents of this pouch…or me?
That puzzling question showered and dressed alongside me, churned inside my stomach at breakfast, weighed on my shoulders throughout Ms. Fitz’s impromptu three-hour lecture, and followed right on my heels during Coach Hayes’ two-mile run around the ship. Katie kept insisting I was “worrying for nothing”. Of course she would say that. I didn’t tell her about what was “in” the wave. Hell, I didn’t even know. A part of me didn’t want to.
While everyone else adjourned for lunch, I snuck away to find a computer. I figured they had to have some type of connection out here. There were enough satellite dishes and antennas mounted on the top of this ship that you could probably talk to someone on the moon. One of the crewmembers let me use his, though he hovered over me the entire time. Beggars can’t be choosers. Google Earth didn’t yield an exact hit for the address, but I found Catemaco — roughly 170 kilometers southeast of Veracruz.
One hundred and six miles, I groaned. At least an hour and a half drive — one way…Crap! I printed off several pages, shoved them into my purse, and sulked down the hall as I made my way back to meet up with my group.
The First Mate popped into the upper dining room to let us know we were about two hours from port. We all headed back to our cabins to pack up. Everyone seemed excited about starting the next leg of our adventure, but I dreaded what landfall meant. I had to fulfill my bound duty and find a way to deliver whatever was in that sack, without incident and no one knowing — especially Tanner.
I decided to give Bea a call when I got back to my cabin. Maybe she knows something about voodoo curses? At the very least I could get a pep talk. Unfortunately, she sounded just as bad.
“I can’t talk right now, dear,” Beatrix answered, sounding flustered. “I’m waiting on—”
“Helaine?” I guessed.
“I see Tanner made it there all right. He wasn’t too hard on you, was he?”
I laughed out a sigh. “He wasn’t that bad, considering I lost my amethyst.”
“Oh dear,” Beatrix groaned. “Did he give you another one?”
“No. He said, ‘I have to earn it’,” I mentioned, feeling like a little tattletale.
“He’s going to be in a ripe mood this week,” Beatrix assured. “What fun.”
“Well, in his defense…I didn’t tell him about the trip.”
“We didn’t,” Beatrix corrected. “My dear, don’t take any offense to his sniping. It doesn’t have anything to do with you. Tanner’s head isn’t exactly screwed on straight right now.”
“Does it have something to do with what he’s been doing for the past few months?”
“I’m afraid so,” Beatrix sighed.
“Do you know what it is?” I asked.
“Shiloh, I can’t talk now. Helanie is here. I will call you as soon as I can.”
“But—” And like that, she was gone. She didn’t get a chance to answer me, and I didn’t even get to broach the subject of breaking voodoo curses. She’s right…Rotten luck.
Curiosity struck me while I was in the shower, freshening up from my run. What if I don’t do it? How bad could the curse actually turn out to be?
I wished I’d never had that thought. Unexpectedly, a nagging feeling crept over me. At first, it simply clouded my thoughts, but the more minutes that passed and the closer we got to land, the more it seared my mind with fiery bursts of pain.
Katie even screamed out tearfully, “What the Hell is that? Make it stop! MAKE IT STOP!”
“Can you feel that?” I blurted, taken aback.
“YES! What is it?” she cried.
“It’s the curse!” I replied, panicked. “Katie, I’m going to take you off. The pain should stop if you’re not connected to me, okay?”
“Do it! DO IT!” my bosom friend pleaded.
“I’ll put you back on when it’s safe,” I promised as I unfastened the gold clasp. I dropped her straight into my purse. Katie may have been getting some relief, but my brain felt like someone was trying to scramble it with a red-hot poker. The only way to numb the sensation was to reassure the magically-induced pain that I was going to Catemaco to compete my duty as soon as I could sneak away. Ugggh! Right then, I would have traded a thousand diamonds to catch Ms. Lá Léo with her guard down in the alley behind her shop!
Temporarily friendless, fully dressed, and all packed up, I had nothing left to do but wait. The land on the horizon was getting closer with every second that passed. I paced for a few minutes, feeling like a caged animal. I didn’t want to think about anything to do with the pouch or the curse. I’d rather stab myself with my own diamond wand than to accidently trigger another attack with a doubtful thought. I needed something to distract me.
The journal…
I picked up right where I’d left off and flipped through the next several pages like a toddler would a mile-high dictionary, totally clueless. It may as well have been written in invisible ink, cause I sure stared at the pages like they were blank. I finally came across a familiar image. It was the same symbol I’d drawn and shown to Bea several months ago.
The same one from my dream, I thought as my finger traced the circular patterns while my mind lingered in a deep trance.
My cabin door flew open abruptly. Tanner. Startled, I jumped out of my seat and concealed the journal down by my side.
“Don’t you knock?” I questioned. He merely brushed me off with a cock of his head. “I could have been changing,” I scolded.
Tanner flashed a sly grin. “Perhaps you don’t remember how shredded that dress of yours was when I carried you out of that cave.”
Before my face got any redder, I added defensively, “Well, someone could have been in here.” In true form, Tanner backed up and gave the door two appeasing taps. Smart-ass.
“What happened at dinner last night, between Malachi and Mike?” he asked directly. “Did Lazarus come up?”
“Just once while I was there,” I replied. “Mike made a subtle innuendo, but it didn’t amount to anything.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Tanner said curtly.
“Why?”
“Because, Malachi seems…intrigued with him,” Tanner phrased critically. “A little too intrigued. He’s canceled all of his appointments so he can, ‘get to know him better’.”
“That’s not good,” I mumbled.
“No, it isn’t,” Tanner concurred. “If not for the obvious fact that Olaf wants him dead.”
“You picked up on that too?” I posed. “I got that impression at dinner last night, mentally…about a thousand times.”
“Olaf and Karl were extremely close. He thinks Mike is the one who killed him, not his father. You need to get him to back off,” Tanner urged and shook his head.
It may have been my own paranoia, but I thought I caught him trying to sneak a peek at the journal in my hand. I reached for my purse casually. “He’s not going to listen to me,” I insisted as I tucked the contraband inside it and pretended like I was looking for something.
“I’m sure you can persuade him,” Tanner hinted with a slight pucker to his lips.
I gave my purse an angry zip. “Enough with the kiss-cracks.”
“Don’t get so defensive,” Tanner laughed. “I was talking about a little tinkering with his head. You’re the one bringing that up.”
With a fiery glare, I announced, “Keep it up. People go missing from cruise ships every year.”
“You’re right,” Tanner agreed as he flung himself on my bed and stretched out. “…And they’re not all from rogue waves.”
I flashed him a smile, dusting off my best poker-face. Just when I thought I’d get to have a conversation without lying.
“So that’s all it was? A spontaneous rise of the ocean’s surface. Nothing more?” Tanner posed. I could feel his “liar” radar waves trying to pick up on any distress.
“What else could it have been?” I sidestepped, thinking only happy thoughts. Tanner sharpened that wooden expression he was known for, but I could see a tiny nerve throbbing on his temple. I’d either fooled him, or it was more important for him to fool me.
“What were you reading when I came in?” Tanner asked, obviously averting.
“I’ll tell you…for an amethyst,” I insisted with a slick grin.
Tanner folded his arms and laughed, a little too sarcastically. “I told you. You’ll earn the next one.” He pointed to my magical purse. “You’re lucky Lá Léo has never physically sensed the diamond’s powers before. If she knew who you really were, she would have wanted something more.”
“Yeah,” I mumbled.
“And the old woman?” Tanner paused to weigh his words. “Did you speak to her?”
I shook my head, opting for a non-verbal lie. “She seemed…not there,” I replied. Tanner gave me a scrutinizing stare while his fingertip firmly stroked his lower lip. His gaze shifted from me to a random spot on the ceiling.
“Tanner?” I called out, trying to pull him out of his self-induced trance. “TANNER?” He sprang up off the bed instantly.
“Just take care of that little matter. Malachi’s already suspicious enough about his son’s disappearance.” Tanner paused to give my shoulders a couple of encouraging rubs. “We don’t need anyone raising any red flags.”
“Would it really be that bad if Mike found out he was dead?”
Tanner hands tightened. “Yes, it would. He won’t be satisfied with that. He’ll still want to know why.”
“I know, but…” I turned to face him, hoping to find a shred of empathy in his eyes I could pounce on. Not a trace. I sighed, “I just know how angry I was when I found out Lazarus killed Daddy. It might help put it behind him.”
“Did killing him absolve you of your anger?” Tanner asked.
I hesitated, not even taking a breath as I reflected.
Tanner lifted my hand and stroked one of my empty fingers deliberately. “Because you would have been wearing your lapis lazuli all this time if it had.”
He had me on that one.
“Do it. End of discussion.” Tanner strode towards the door and pulled it open. He added, “Just be glad Lazarus didn’t trust his own father, so there’s nothing that can link his search for the diamond to Welch.”
“That’s not entirely true,” I mumbled.
Tanner shut the door softly and pivoted around with a cavalier stagger. “You do know that a part of me cringes every time I sense an overdo admission about to cross those innocent lips of yours, don’t you?”
I lowered my head. “I may have found something yesterday.” Tanner stepped closer. “In Lazarus’ stateroom,” I admitted as I lifted my gaze.
“What did you find in his stateroom? Exactly?”
“Some maps,” I answered.
“That’s not unusual,” he replied, unfazed. “Xcavare is a mining corporation.”
“All of them had red X’s on them, except for the Riverside-Pocahontas Mine,” I revealed. When that didn’t trigger any response, I threw in, “They were all rolled out on his desk…underneath a portrait of him. He was painted up to look like Adamas. You know, lightning in one hand…the diamond wand in the other,” I added, waving my hands accordingly. Tanner tried his best to remain calm and collected, but his jaw clamping down like a vice was a dead giveaway.
Round Three, I counted off mentally.
“You couldn’t have dropped that bomb yesterday when I got here?” he asked sharply. I’d barely cracked my mouth when he added, “Or last night?”
A disbelieving grunt flew right out. “WHEN?” I posed with my hands firmly dug into my hips. “Before or after my first or second ass-chewing?”
“Either,” Tanner said without faltering. As true as the hands on a watch will turn, he went straight to pacing, which was quickly accompanied by his usual tirade of muffled grumbles.
“Look, there’s nothing to worry about. Not this time,” I insisted with a confident smile. “Honestly. Malachi can’t get into Lazarus’ stateroom. There’s a lapis lazuli on the door knob.”
Tanner crossed his arms and stepped closer. “I bet I can wipe that smirk off your face,” he boasted.
I certainly didn’t like the sound of that.
“Did you spell it with your own lapis lazuli?” Tanner inquired.
My brow furrowed. “I—I can’t… I thought the diamond wouldn’t allow another stone to be born from my skin?”
“It won’t, but there are other ways to conjure one up. You would know that, IF you had ever been open to embracing your stone.”
My stomach flipped. “So that means—”
“The lapis lazuli allowed you to break Lazarus’ spell,” Tanner announced, “but it rendered its magic useless.”
He was right — no more smirk. “I didn’t know,” I mumbled.
“No,” Tanner replied. “You didn’t.”
“Bea never told—”
“Don’t make excuses. You never gave her the chance!” Tanner charged as he stormed towards the door. He turned around. “I hope for both our sakes that Malachi hasn’t discovered the spell has been broken. He’ll be left with only two possible reasons. That Lazarus could possibly be alive and close…or that his killer is. Considering what evidence is in there, which do you think he’ll choose?” Tanner started out the door.
“Wait,” I called out. “What can he do? His stone?” I clarified with a shakiness embedded in my voice. Tanner paused and pushed the door to a close.
“The malachite is an earth stone. Like other earth elements, he can cause the ground to shift through seismic waves. He can travel underground quickly as well, just like the Onyx, though he rarely does. He hates to get dirty. He can communicate with mammals that roam throughout the land, similar to the way I showed you, but more effective. Reptiles too, unlike you. All earth stones share those same abilities, but his malachite has a few powers all to its own. It’s coveted as a very lucky stone for whoever is in possession of one. It’s part of the reason why he’s been so fortunate with his business deals. It magically ensures their success. It even heightens his intelligence.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad…so far,” I added.
Tanner grinned and continued, “The luck its magic produces also creates a kind of force field around him. It gives him, and him alone, a considerable amount of protection from any explosive blasts, even from one of your bolts. It also warns him of any impending attacks or threats, similar to your angelite. However, it can pinpoint the source more accurately, as long as it’s not disguised by magic. I’m sure it’s already alerted him to your friend’s ulterior motives. I’m afraid that’s why he’s so intrigued.”
“Is that it?” I questioned nervously.
“No. There’s one more thing. He can whip up a poison a hundred times more potent than Lazarus’. You do remember how his felt, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” I mumbled.
“If even so much as a drop got under your skin, it would feel like molten lava was running through your veins, cooking your flesh from the inside out. Seraphina is still recovering from the lapis lazuli, so she’s not able to perform any healing miracles anytime soon.”
I gave my arms a couple of brisk, unconscious rubs.
“That stone of his makes him very strong, very shrewd, very well-guarded…and very dangerous,” Tanner vowed. “I’ll leave you with that to ponder.”
I plopped down on the bed as soon as he was gone. I reached for my purse and
pulled out the malachite. Suddenly the bands of green swirling throughout the little tumbled rock didn’t seem as alluring.
There was a knock on my cabin door. I shoved the stone back in my purse as I went to answer it. I figured it was Tanner, being courteous this time. However to my surprise, there stood Malachi Xcavare, grinning from ear to ear.
Holy Hell. And Olaf was with him too.
“Ms. Wallace,” Malachi announced. I was too stunned to say anything, but I did give my purse an extra firm clutch. “Please pardon my intrusion, but you left something behind.”
My body locked up. “What’s that?” I asked as I scrambled to think if I’d been careless or stupid enough to leave something in Lazarus’ room.
Malachi’s grin softened as he pulled a few sheets of paper out from behind his back. “Some pages you printed off, when you used one of my cabin boys’ computers. I noticed them on his printer earlier. I was informed they were yours. I thought you might need them.”
“Yes,” I smiled, relieved. “I thought I’d gotten them all. Thank you…and for the use of the computer.” I figured manners were still in order. He hadn’t tried to kill me, yet.
“You are most welcome.” Malachi glanced at my watch subtly as I shoved the pages in my purse. I chose to give my concealed moonstone ring a quick flip while my hand was in there. My left I shoved in my pocket.
“You know…Catemaco is a very interesting place to visit,” Malachi remarked.
“Is it?” I asked.
“Yes. Are you and your friend Mr. Riverside planning to venture there?” The nosey bastard was forcing me to stay on my nimble, lying little toes.
“No.” Think, think, think… “I have a friend there…that I met on Facebook,” I clarified. “I thought I might look her up.” As proud as I was about my “quick save”, I was equally disturbed by how effortlessly these whoppers were shooting out.
Malachi laughed. “Ahhh, Facebook… It unites our cultures and destroys it in the process,” he remarked. “You’ll have to excuse me. I’m rather old school when it comes to communication, though I see its fascination. I, however, prefer a different means of keeping tabs on people.”
