“It’s called preparing for the worst-case scenario, Ellie. I told you that already.”
I leaned over and gave him a kiss. “What about hope?”
His serious eyes studied mine. “Sometimes hope is not enough.”
Collin was really spooked, and that made me nervous. He was the one who knew how to perform this ceremony. I sat up. “What aren’t you telling me, Collin?”
“I’m telling you that even with the best preparations, we may not be able to close the gate. Manteo was sure he had the ceremony right the first time and look what happened. There’s no guarantee this will work. You need to be prepared for that.”
“Don’t you mean we need to be prepared for that?”
“Of course, we. But you’re the pure soul.”
“There’s something you’re not telling me.”
He climbed off the bed and dragged his hand over his head, refusing to look at me.
Fear burrowed in the pit of my stomach. “Collin, you’re scaring me more by keeping whatever it is from me. I need to know.”
His mouth contorted as he wrestled with what to say. Finally, he sighed and sat on the bed. “I think I’ve forgotten part of the words for the ceremony. It’s been nagging at me for several days. I thought the words would come back, but they’re not.”
My eyes widened. “What does that mean? That the ceremony won’t work?”
“No, I think we’ll be fine. I changed the cleansing ceremony when I marked you. Before it was much more about preparing the Keeper’s Manitou, but yours is pure so I focused more on infusing it with power. And the protection mark works. The wind god didn’t try to take your Manitou this morning.”
“Because he didn’t want to kill me. He very well could have killed me for all we know.”
He shook his head, worry puckering his mouth. “Maybe. All I know is that I’ve never been more scared in my life.”
He was opening up, so I decided I needed to as well. “What if I told you that the door to hell wasn’t all the way open?”
He turned rigid. “What are you talking about?”
“I saw it. When you and I were together on the ocean. I saw the gate to the spirit world. Only three beings escaped—messengers for Ahone and Okeus, and the wind god. The rest are still behind the gate. Waiting. If we don’t close the gate before the seventh day, they’ll all go free.”
Collin’s face paled, and he looked terrified. “Only three? We always assumed the gate would open entirely, and we’d have a week.”
“There are hundreds more waiting to come out. We have to close that gate, Collin.”
He nodded, looking like he was about to throw up.
Should I tell him the spirits and gods threatened me? He was already freaked out and worried about my safety. Besides, he already knew they’d want me specifically. Telling him about the threats seemed like overkill.
“Did you see anything else?”
“I saw the birth of the gods. I saw Ahone cry a flood when the wind gods threatened to kill humanity. I saw Ahone split himself in two to create his twin, Okeus. I saw Okeus create his own children—demons. And then I saw the gate.” I wrapped my fingers around Collin’s hand. “We have to close the gate. I refuse to consider the alternative.”
“Do you realize what an incredible gift you were given?” he asked in awe.
I nodded. More than he knew.
He took a deep breath. “Only three beings? You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not safe.”
“Enough of that. Teach me how to get through the next two days.”
He swallowed and nodded his head. “You know the words to protect yourself? You said you remembered?”
“They came to me the other night, after you marked me with the henna tattoo. In the middle of the night, Kanim, the messenger for Okeus, came to see me. For a second time.”
“Second time?” His eyes hardened.
I shook my head. “The first night was after we’d gone to Rodanthe and you told me not to trust you, which wasn’t hard. I didn’t trust you. The messengers for Ahone and Okeus both visited me that night. In fact, Okeus’s messenger was the one who broke my window.”
“Why would you keep that from me?”
“I didn’t trust you. You were hiding things from me. Okeus’s messenger told me that I needed to side with him.”
“And Ahone’s?”
“Ahone’s messenger told me that I needed to make sure the gate was closed. That he’d sacrificed to save humanity before and he’d do it again.”
“And the second time? Did Ahone’s messenger come?”
“No, just Okeus’s. He told me that there would be a sacrifice made for every night I refused to accept his offer.” My chest constricted. “Do you know if there was a sacrifice made last night?”
“I don’t know Ellie. Maybe the hundreds of dead fish today were enough.”
We both knew that wasn’t true. I stood up and grabbed my purse, digging through it.
“What are you doing?”
“Checking on my family.”
I called Claire. I was pretty sure Collin hadn’t protected her.
“Hey, Ellie. Are you still out of town?”
My eyes sank closed with relief. “Yeah.”
“And how’s it going?” Something in her voice was off.
“Great, but I need to check on something.” I paused for a second. “I heard there was a man found dead in the botanical gardens yesterday, by the statue of Queen Elizabeth. Do you know if there was anything like that today?”
“Yeah…” Something was wrong.
Fear washed through me, and I sank to the bed. “Is it my dad or Myra?”
Collin’s hand gripped my shoulders from behind me.
“No. No. They’re fine.” She tried to sound reassuring, but she was holding something back.
“Then who, Claire? Just tell me.”
“It was Lila. They found her in front of the restaurant this morning.”
“Lila?” My voice cracked.
“I’m sorry.”
The first guy was some random guy, but Lila was someone I knew. We weren’t exactly friends, but her death upset me, especially if she were dead because of me.
“There’s… one more thing.” The way she drew out the words told me it was as bad as Lila, if not worse.
“What?”
“The guy they found in the gardens was Dwight.”
“Dwight?”
These people were sacrifices made because I wouldn’t side with Okeus. Collin was right. Their deaths were a message. There were two nights left. Who was next? A good friend and then family?
Oh, God.
I swung around to face Collin.
He reached for me as his forehead wrinkled with concern. His fingertips lightly stroked my arm. Collin is worried.
I jumped off the bed. “Claire, you’re not safe!”
“What are you talking about?” But there was fear in her voice.
“They’re coming for you next.” I pinned my gaze on Collin. “We have to go back.”
His face tightened. “No. We need the bowl first.”
Tears filled my eyes. “They’re going to go after Claire next, Collin. I know it.”
He pulled the phone out of my hand. “Claire, listen to me. I need you to get sea salt and pour it across every opening to your house—doors, windows, chimneys. Everything.” He paused. “No. You can’t tell Drew what’s going on. Just tell him that something on your ghost tour spooked you.” He was silent and relief covered his face. “Good, now I need you to do something else. Can you go to Ellie’s parent’s and do the same thing there? Ellie’s right. I think they’ll target you next. But the salt will keep them out. Even so, stay inside as much as possible. Especially at night. Call Ellie back if you have any questions.” Collin handed the phone back to me.
I pressed the phone to my face. “Claire, I’m so sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? This is
not your fault.”
But it was and I didn’t know how to stop it. “Thanks for taking care of Dad and Myra.”
“Not to worry. I’m working there for you this afternoon. I’ll take care of it then.”
“Thanks, Claire. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Collin pulled me into a tight embrace. “They’ll be fine, Ellie. We’ll get the bowl and head back tonight.”
“Salt? Will it work? Why not use salt for my place then? Why mark the doorway and windowsills with symbols?”
“I promise it will work, and the marks are because you’re different. The marks are insurance.”
“We could tell Claire how to mark the doors.”
“It wouldn’t work, Ellie. Our Curse Keeper magic makes the symbols work.”
“I suppose my words of protection only work for me too.”
“Yes, just like mine only work for me. What are your words?”
“I am the daughter of the sea, born of the essence present at the beginning of time and the end of the world. I am black water and crystal streams. The ocean waves and the raindrops in the sky. I am life and death and everything in between. I compel you to leave my sight.” I shrugged, self-conscious. I felt like I was back in high school English class reciting Shakespeare. “When I say them to a god, I hear the words in English in my head, but the sounds coming out of my mouth are definitely not.”
“You’re probably saying them in the ancient language. Legend has it the ancient language was created by the gods. Your words are a lot like mine, which is what I expected.”
“What are yours?” The bits and pieces I’d heard him use in the warehouse were in the ancient language.
“I am the son of the earth, born of space and heaven. I am black earth and sandy loams. The mountain ranges and the rolling hills. I am the foundation of life and the receiver of death and everything in between. I compel you to leave my sight.”
“So that will send a god away, but not lock it away?”
“Right.”
“But you said we could send lesser spirits back on our own.”
“That requires more than words. You need symbols too. The symbols themselves are meaningless unless you ask the force or spirit to help. To protect you from the gods, I used forces greater than them, as well as my Keeper power. The lesser spirits are tricky if we are on our own. We need to find their weakness, and we might need to hang around the spirit awhile to figure it out. We can send it away with our words of protection, but not permanently.”
“And demons?”
“They’re like gods. Some mimic man, others animals. The problem is that they can masquerade as another creature and you might not know it.”
“Great.”
His hand covered mine. “Ellie, just remember that these beings spent thousands and thousands of years roaming the earth before our ancestors banished them. If the gate stays open, I think they can coexist with the rest of creation.”
I couldn’t believe what he was saying. “You’re kidding, right? They eat people and animals.”
“It’s just like The Lion King, the circle of life. No one faults the lion for hunting prey. They are simply existing.”
“They fault the lions when the lions are hunting people.”
He leaned his head back and groaned.
“Fine,” I said. “Let’s say the gods and spirits are released and let loose and they learn to coexist in a magical, ideal circle of life. You’re forgetting one key piece here, Collin. Me. They want me.”
He slowly shook his head. “No. I haven’t forgotten you.”
I patted his leg. “So we focus on getting the bowl, then closing the gate tomorrow night.”
Collin turned his head toward the window and nodded. Why did that upset him?
I started to ask when Collin’s cell vibrated on the dresser.
He looked up, startled out of his musings, and reached for it. I realized the entire time I’d been with Collin I’d only known his phone to ring once.
“Yeah,” he answered. Whatever he heard on the other end hardened his eyes. He disconnected the call, then opened the door and peered out. “Fuck.”
“What?”
“Marino’s men. Shit.” He took two deep breaths.
“Where are they?”
“Here. The only exit is the staircase and they’re in the parking lot.” His jaw tightened. “Ellie, we can’t get out, and they’re coming up.”
My chest constricted. “What are we going to do?”
“They’re looking for you. We only have to keep them from finding you.”
“How are we going to do that?”
The skin around his mouth blanched. Squaring his shoulders, he picked up the motel phone. “Hey, Tammy, this is Mr. Pressley. Did two men come to the front desk looking for me?”
Tammy. The front desk clerk who threw herself at Collin while I was standing there.
Collin lowered his voice to a husky drawl. “I’m needing some fresh towels. I wondered if you could bring some up right away.” He paused again. “I know you’re covering the desk, sweetheart. But it can’t wait. I needed those towels up here like five minutes ago.” His voice was heavy with innuendo.
My mouth dropped open.
“Go out the back. And hurry, sugar.” Collin hung up the phone and bent down, lifting up the bed skirt.
“What the hell was that?”
He dropped the fabric, cursing. “Marino’s boys know I have a woman up here, but they haven’t been inside the lobby. My friend came back to pick up the surfboards and saw them. He’s stalling them as long as he can. When they get up here, if I have Tammy here instead of you, they’ll leave.”
It was brilliant and disgusting all at the same time. “What exactly do you plan on doing with Tammy?”
“Whatever it takes for them to think you’re not here.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Ellie. I need you to cooperate.” He opened the door to the closet, and a low sound of frustration rumbled in his throat “This is so fucking obvious, and the second place they’ll look. I’m going to have to make my performance stellar so they don’t search at all.”
“Where’s the first place they’ll look?”
“The shower.” He grabbed my arm and shoved me inside.
I glanced around the room. Evidence of what Collin and I had been doing for the last twenty-four hours was everywhere. My chest tightened. “What will they do if they find me?”
Fear flashed in his eyes before they hardened again.
I heard a knock on the door, and I seized his arm, terror clawing at the back of my head. “Collin.”
He pressed his lips to mine for a quick kiss. “I’m not going to let them find you, Ellie. Trust me.” He turned to the door and then back at me. “Whatever you hear out here…” He swallowed and looked nervous. “Just keep in mind that I’ll do whatever the hell I have to do to protect you.”
I nodded as he shut the door.
A few seconds later, Collin’s voice floated through the shuttered slats of the closet door. “Hello, sweetheart.” His voice was low and sexy. “I thought you’d never get here.”
“Where’s the girl you were with?” The receptionist’s voice was pouty.
“Who knows? She knew I was interested in you, and she had a hissy fit and left. And now it’s just you and me.” I could see their feet through the slanted cracks, hers tripping toward Collin as though he’d pulled her to him.
“What about the towels?”
“Sweetheart, I don’t give a fuck about the towels. It’s you I want.”
“Why’s her stuff still here?”
“I bought it all for her and she left it behind. Why are we wasting time talking about her?”
I strained to hear what they were doing. About thirty seconds later, I realized the sounds I heard were Collin making out with the receptionist. I swallowed my disgust and my nausea, reminding myself that he was doing it to protect me.
“You feel good.” Collin mumbled.
A few articles of clothing fell to the floor, and I squeezed my eyes shut. He is doing this for you. I’d been with him enough to know that this was his con voice. It still didn’t help when I heard the sound of the mattress dipping as they dropped onto the bed.
Several seconds later, I heard pounding on the door. “Dailey! We know you’re in there!”
“Who’s that?” Tammy asked.
“My bookie.” Collin grumbled, then yelled, “Keep your pants on while I find mine.”
He took off his pants?
“Open up this fucking door or we’ll knock it down.”
The door creaked open and Collin asked, “What do you want? As you can see, I’m busy.”
“Where’s the girl?”
“Uh, open your fucking eyes.” Collin’s smartass tone was clipped. “She’s mostly naked on the bed.”
My stomach rolled. He’d gotten her mostly naked.
“Not that girl. Ellie.”
“Who’s Ellie?” the receptionist asked.
I forced my breathing to slow down. I’d be damned if they found me in the closet because I was hyperventilating.
“Ellie… Ellie…” Collin drawled, then laughed. “I think she was two women ago. Or was it three?”
“How many women do you sleep around with?” Tammy screeched.
“When was the last time you saw her?” Marino’s guy asked.
“Which one?” Collin asked.
“Ellie, smartass.”
“It’s hard to remember. After I helped her sell her candlesticks, I dropped her off back in Greenville.”
“What the hell was she doing in Buxton if she’s from Greenville?”
“Boys…” Collin’s voice took on his sexy tone. “I don’t know why women do what they do. I’m only glad they do it.”
“What’s her last name?”
“I rarely ask. It gets too complicated.”
“Let’s hope, for your sake, you asked this time.”
Collin sighed long and heavy. “Let me think. I’m pretty sure it was Mitchell. Ellie Mitchell.”
“And she lives in Greenville?”
“Hell if I know. That’s where we hooked up, and that’s where I dropped her off. At a dive motel off of Highway 43.”
The Curse Keepers (Curse Keepers series) Page 26
