Cursed Sight

by T. G. Ayer

  Allegra forced herself to chuckle. “I assure you, Elana, I would tell you if I’d seen anything. But, as much as I’d like to say yes, that would be a lie.”

  Elana’s eyes hardened, and Allegra got the feeling again that the woman knew more than she let on. Probably would be a good idea to get Max to keep an eye on Elana as well. She was certainly not as innocent as she’d let on.

  Allegra leaned closer, a conspiratorial hush to her tone. “Elana, if you do want some private time with me, I’m happy to try to access my visions for you, or for your husband.” Elana blinked, taken aback by the direct offer.

  She’d seemed so eager to know, and Allegra would have thought she’d agree instantly. But Elana hesitated as if the thought of having her future foretold was distasteful.

  So, if the McIvors weren’t the type to want their future told, then why was Elana so keen to know what Allegra had seen?

  Or was it that she was afraid of what Allegra could have seen?

  The actions of someone who had something to hide.

  So, what were the McIvors into? Allegra suppressed a sigh.

  “Thank you for the offer, my Lady. I will let Liam know. See what he says.” She spoke brightly, a forced enthusiasm filling her tone.

  Allegra nodded. “I’m at your service,” she said softly as Elana beckoned her to follow to McIvor, who now stood near the doorway with Max at his side. Celestra was nowhere to be seen.

  Allegra turned to give Elana one last smile, and her eyes were drawn beyond the woman’s shoulder. Through her lashes, she looked across the room to see the general watching her.

  Beside him stood a tall, gaunt man, his dark eyes hooded, cheekbones sunken. He too was staring at Allegra, his expression like granite.

  Allegra pretended ignorance

  The attention of both men certainly raised suspicions, but the memories of what she’d seen still swam across her vision.

  They said their goodbyes and headed to the waiting car, Max’s hand on her back giving her another warning pressure. He handed her into the back seat and slid in beside her.

  “Don’t worry. It shouldn’t take too long to get back. I’m sorry it took so long.”

  Allegra gave a sigh, aware now that Max meant she shouldn’t say anything while in the car. The engine was loud, but not enough to mask all of their conversation.

  It didn’t matter anyway. Allegra was far too exhausted to say a word.

  All she wanted was to wipe away the horror from her memory.

  And yet, all she saw was the bloody tip of a deadly spear. And McIvor’s head rolling on the floor beside his body.

  Chapter 12

  The drive back had taken longer than Allegra had expected. Most probably because she was exhausted, both by the jet lag and the vision. It had been a while since a vision had knocked her back so hard.

  By the time they walked into their apartment, her hands were shaking, and she was shivering.

  Max frowned, curling his arm around her shoulders and rubbing her hands. “You’re frozen,” he murmured guiding her to the room. “Should I run a bath, or would a shower be okay?”

  Allegra shook her head, then nodded, then laughed softly. “A shower will do just fine. I need to get warm, not drown in the tub.”

  “I won’t let you drown. I’ll be right here,” he said, giving her a wink.

  “You most certainly will not.” The last thing Allegra needed was Max and his all-too-attractive self invading her personal space when she’d passed the point of exhaustion.

  “Fine.” Max pouted in mock disappointment. “But I will be waiting outside just in case. And don’t lock the door.”

  “Why ever not?”

  “Because if you pass out in the shower, I don’t want to have to break the door down to get inside.” There was a sneaky smile on his face, but Allegra knew she could trust him.

  Still, she couldn’t help but flush a little at the thought of him being so nearby while she showered.

  More out of concern that Max would come looking for her if she spent too long in the shower and actually passing out, Allegra spent only a few minutes under the hot spray. When she stepped out and toweled dry, she was warmed up enough that she no longer shivered.

  Wrapped within the thick towel, Allegra headed for the door, aware she hadn’t even thought about bringing her night clothes in to change. It didn’t matter though. Hadn’t Max seen her almost naked a couple times already?

  So why was the prospect so unnerving all of a sudden?

  As Allegra stepped out of the bathroom, Max called her over to the small sitting area and handed her a mug. Steam rose from the dark surface, and Allegra smiled.

  Chocolate.

  One of her favorites, as Max well knew. Still in her towel, Allegra curled up on the sofa and sipped the drink, blowing lightly on the surface as she drank.

  The groan she let out had Max laughing out loud.

  “What?” she asked with a smile.

  “It’s not safe to make sounds like that especially while wearing next to nothing.”

  Allegra laughed. “Seems like you haven’t tasted this chocolate before. It’s like drinking liquid heaven.”

  Max was nodding. “I’ve heard it described as orgasmic.”

  Allegra nodded, her expression serious. “I do believe that is the best word. I’d always loved the drink, but they must be doing something different here because it’s simply divine.”

  Max smiled, seeming to enjoy her delight in the drink. Before she’d come to Qusqu, she’d thought the chocolate drink simply delicious, and had indulged as often as she could.

  Now she had to admit she’d never tasted the real thing before.

  She sighed and sat back, more than a little disappointed that her mug was empty.

  “So . . . what did you see?”

  “Was it that obvious?”

  “Only to me.”

  She sighed. “That’s good. I thought I’d lied pretty well.”

  “You did. You almost had me convinced.”

  Allegra squeezed her eyes shut and felt a wave of fatigue wash over her. “He was on the floor. There was so much blood you couldn’t see the white tiles any longer. Someone killed him—a spear to the skull. They hit him from behind, so there is a chance he never knew it was coming.” Allegra paused, taking a breath because she felt like she was rolling down the side of a mountain being chased by an avalanche. “His head . . . he’d been decapitated. But the spear was still in his head. At least when I saw him.”

  Max nodded, his expression telling Allegra nothing of what he thought. “Any other details? Anyone else in the vision?”

  Allegra paused. “I think I may have seen Elana in the background, but I couldn’t see how badly she was hurt or if she was even alive.”

  “Was there anything that made you believe she was hurt.”

  She shook her head. “No. I just caught a flash in the background. I could be wrong too. Maybe it wasn’t her, but I feel like it was her.”

  “Then we will trust your senses. Your visions may bring you more than just sight.”

  “So, what do you think it meant? Do you think I really did see him die?”

  Max shrugged. “Considering your track record, I’d say yes.” He offered a rueful smile.

  Allegra blinked, and a flash of the vision hit her. McIvor’s eyes wide open and lifeless. The spear emerging from just above his left eye, the skull punctured and bloody. The iron spear, its sharp triangular point glistening with blood and brain matter.

  “There was a spear. I think it may have been something ancient. Aztec maybe.”

  “You’re thinking his murder could be ritualistic?”

  “It’s certainly possible given where we are. Many of the tribes in the area go back centuries and still practice their own traditions.”

  Allegra sighed again. “Whatever the case is, there is one thing we can be sure of. If McIvor is somehow involved and is in danger from the people controlling him. It means he’s dis
pensable.”

  “And it means the people pulling his puppet strings are very powerful.”

  “Do you think his involvement could be connected to Celestra’s death in the vision?”

  Allegra contemplated it. “It could be. The violence is certainly a common factor.”

  “Maybe Celestra can tell us more,” said Max. “I’ll see if I can convince her to talk to us.”

  “You won’t need to.”

  Max raised an eyebrow.

  “I had a word with her at the ball. She said she’d drop by as soon as she could.”

  Max’s lips formed a thin line.

  Allegra got to her feet. “I’d better put some clothes on.” Allegra hurried to her room and paused on the threshold. “Oh, there was one other thing. I think we need to keep an eye on Elana. There was just something about her that felt off. As if she was hiding something.”

  Max nodded. “I agree. Seems you and I are on the same wavelength.”

  “And I think we need to keep a spotlight on General Qhapaq.”

  “I could not agree more.”

  “The man gave me the chills.”

  “He was damned disrespectful is what he was.”

  “Max, not everyone cares about the Pythia. He’s clearly someone important within his tribe, and for all we know, he’s a priest of a tribal religion. Their beliefs clash wildly with ours. We can’t force our traditions on them.”

  Max shook his head and got to his feet, walking over to the window. “That’s the last thing I’d want to do. It’s just that nobody ever disrespected Aurelia that way. I don’t see why they should do that to you?”

  She shrugged. “I’m young, inexperienced. Ignorant too. Why should they put their belief in me? Just because I can see the future?” She shook her head. “I don’t think people are that easily controlled. They need to see proof that I have their best interests at heart. And I just have to keep going as I’ve been. Doing the right thing to show everyone what I’m about. Aurelia had decades to prove herself. I was literally born yesterday.”

  Chapter 13

  Max stared at Allegra’s face, and she watched him watch her. There was so much more she wanted to say but fatigue and a sense of propriety forced her to retreat within the room and slip into her nightgown.

  Courtesy of Xenia, the plum silk, and lace concoction was more suitable for a honeymoon than a diplomatic trip. Thankfully it came with a more sedate wrap, and minutes later Allegra left the room to find Max ushering Celestra inside.

  The woman’s eyes appeared haunted, as if they struggled to hold within them secrets she knew would cause untold damage.

  Or perhaps it was only Allegra’s precognition that allowed her the luxury to speculate.

  Celestra held on tightly to her purse as Allegra walked toward her. “You came,” Allegra said softly, waving a hand to the small seating arrangement near the window.

  Celestra’s smile was tight as she took a prim seat on the edge of the sofa. “Not exactly.”

  Allegra’s stomach tightened. If Celestra evaded their questions, it would mean they’d need to start investigating from a different angle. Allegra forced herself to remain calm, and she took a seat and waited as Max offered the secretary a drink—which she refused.

  She studied the interaction between the two of them, wondering at the unspoken familiarity between them. The way Max prepared the coffee even though Celestra had refused, how he knew how much cream she took, or the way he handed it over to her, handle turned toward her. So much care in his actions.

  Again, Allegra’s gut twinged, but this time she knew that emotion; one she wasn’t proud of.

  Jealousy.

  When Max took a seat beside Allegra, Celestra set her mug back on the coffee table between them. “I came to give you these.” She opened the flap of her large purse and withdrew a brown envelope. Handing it to Max, she said, “Your visas have been approved, and your passports stamped and returned. There is a formal apology included in the envelope. Two in fact. One from the Qusquan president and the other from the ambassador.”

  Allegra forced herself to hide a smirk. That McIvor was coming to the party now was far too convenient. Something had changed tonight, and Allegra would have bet her entire meager inheritance it had had something to do with her lack of prophetic vision when she’d touched McIvor.

  Had she lulled them into a false sense of security? Did they think they were safe, believing she’d seen nothing? Was that why General Qhapaq was so interested?

  And now, were they about to risk it all by asking Celestra for information that could endanger them?

  She forced herself to concentrate when Celestra spoke. “Please let us know if there is anything you need. The apartment is yours, and we will have a vehicle allocated to you for your personal use. I’ve arranged for a security detail as well . . . all NGS military, Max. So, you won’t need to worry.”

  Max smiled, and Allegra found her lips turning up too. They were already worried about high-ranking officials of the NGS like the ambassador and his secretary, what made them think a mere army officer would be immune to influence.

  Celestra surprised them by moving to stand. “I should be going. I’ve kept you too long. You both need some sleep after all this drama.”

  Allegra shook her head, though she didn’t move. “How is McIvor involved?”

  “Involved in what?”

  Allegra maintained eye contact with Celestra, watching to see if the woman was about to lie. “Something is very wrong here. I’m just not sure where the problem is. It could be McIvor involved with a few unsavories and if so we’d need to know. Before the president sends in his investigative team. They’ll tear the whole embassy apart.”

  Celestra’s mouth dropped open, and she shifted her gaze to Max, her expression pleading.

  But Max shook his head. “She’s right, Les. They’d bring the maximum weight down on him if they think he’s involved in something.”

  The woman shook her head and sat back down while Allegra leaned forward watching her closely. “Celestra?” Only when the woman looked up and met her gaze did Allegra continue. “Who’s threatening you?”

  Celestra’s skin was pale to begin with, but her milky complexion shifted to a sickly gray at Allegra’s words.

  Allegra refused to let up. “What do they have on you?”

  Celestra shook her head. “I don’t know what you are trying to get at. Nobody is threatening me. No one has anything on me. I’m not even sure what you mean by that.”

  Allegra’s jaw hardened. She got to her feet and began to pace. “They are going to kill you.”

  The woman fell silent as she stared at Allegra’s face. Then she smiled. “I know what you’re trying to do. You want to trap me. This is a trap, right?” She looked at Max again, her eyes pleading. She probably wanted it all to be a joke, or a mistake.

  “How are you involved, Celestra?” asked Allegra as she strode over and sat beside the woman. She registered the incongruity for a moment, her sexy nightwear did nothing to herd her intimidation tactics. Allegra lowered her voice. “What do they have on you? It’s in your own best interest to come clean.”

  Celestra shook her head, leaning away from Allegra.

  Allegra could see it in her eyes, that deer-in-the-headlights look that told Allegra the poor woman was so in over her head she probably had no idea how to get herself out.

  She’d been debating whether or not to play hardball, but Celestra’s reluctance only served to make Allegra more determined.

  “They are going to kill you.”

  Max glanced over at Allegra, his expression shocked. Probably not as shocked as Allegra herself was at the word.

  But Celestra let out a sad laugh, and her shoulders slumped. “I suppose it doesn’t make a difference anyway. I’m too close to you. They’ll never believe it if I said I didn’t speak with you about it.”

  “So, is someone forcing you to do something you don’t want to?” Max asked softly.

>   “Of course not. The revolution deserved a chance, and I’ll do anything I can to serve the progress of the revolution. Even give my life.” Allegra frowned. Celestra’s words had sounded way too rote, as if she’d memorized the lines in order to spill it in just such a situation. Then Celestra laughed. “Oh, who am I kidding. I don’t believe in their stupid cause.”

  Allegra sat forward. “Then tell us what is going on.”

  Celestra shook her head violently. “You don’t understand. They will kill me if I talk.”

  Allegra took a breath. “They will kill you if you talk?” she asked, her tone hard.

  Celestra nodded, her eyes shining with tears.

  Allegra bent her head so she could meet Celestra’s eyes. “And they will kill you even if you don’t talk.”

  Her statement was met with utter silence. Celestra swallowed hard. Her gaze flickered to Max who sat silently on the other side of the coffee table, his expression indecipherable. Allegra knew he must be shocked but was playing the part of supporting her. She’d failed to tell him what she was going to say, but truth be told she’d had little idea herself until that very moment.

  Celestra let out a low sob. “No. They promised they won’t hurt me.” She shook her head desperately, smiling through her tears as she looked at Allegra. “They promised.”

  “It doesn’t matter what they promise,” said Allegra, hating that she was forced to play the bad person. “Nothing they have told you matters, Celestra because they are going to kill you.”

  “No.” The words were the softest whisper and then she surged to her feet. She stalked toward the door. “No. I know what you’re doing. You’re jealous of Max and me. You just want to stake your claim, push me away. You want me out of the way so you’re going to make me talk so you can throw me to the wolves.”

  She stopped in her tracks and rounded on Max, staring at him through a sheet of tears. “This is low. Even for you.”

  “Les, you have to listen to us. Your life is in danger.”

  Again, she shook her head, letting out a bitter laugh. “And you really expect me to believe that?” Though the words were filled with bravado, a tiny quaver in her voice gave her away. She was curious, and perhaps even the tiniest bit convinced.