by Anne B. Cole
“If necessary, you take the girl. I have the boy.” Katarina glared up at Sam, then allowed Roxana to take the lead.
With each step, Gretta felt the air grow colder, laced with a terrifying fear. Gloom penetrated her entire being, chilling her, slowing her progress. As the hem of Roxana’s emerald gown brushed the bottom step, several spirits approached, releasing a noxious aroma of death and decay. Roxana stepped backwards into Gretta when a woman materialized directly in front of them.
“Where’s Minnie?” Katarina demanded in her crotchety tone, pushing her way past Roxana.
“You brought visitors?” The woman’s eyes narrowed upon Sam. Gretta edged behind his muscled arm.
“Cassandra, have you seen Minnie?” Roxana politely ignored her question.
“He doesn’t belong here,” Cassandra replied, then leaned to scrutinize Gretta.
Avoiding the plump woman’s creepy stare, Gretta scanned the area nervously as several more souls gathered.
“You belong here.” Cassandra grazed Gretta’s shoulder. The spirit’s icy touch, filled her with fear and froze her in place.
“Shut up, Cassandra,” Katarina hissed as she moved on.
“Stay close,” Sam whispered.
They passed the initial crowd through an alcove containing members crouched in the shadows, moaning and wailing. Several hands reached out to them. Gretta didn’t think it was possible, but she grew colder. Even the warmth she felt from Sam’s hand was fading.
“Quickly.” Roxana prodded as if they were livestock boarding the truck to the slaughter house.
The narrowing hall darkened, but members’ faces remained visible. People of every age, race, and social status were present. Some wept. Others jeered. A few prayed. Gretta focused on Katarina’s steel gray bun at the nape of her neck. Evil itself seemed to crawl under her ice-cold skin. The PIT was full of horrid strangers and potentially her final destination.
I belong here. Gretta no longer felt Sam’s warmth. Terrified, her feet halted.
“I’m . . . maybe I should—”
“Move,” Katarina commanded, spinning around.
“Quickly.” Roxana nudged Sam.
Gretta shivered even though Sam’s arm wrapped around her. She saw fear in his eyes as he looked to Roxana and then back at her.
“I’m okay,” Gretta whispered. Sam’s right arm remained tight around her shoulder, but it didn’t help. Her mind raced with thoughts of being in the PIT, forever, amid these strangers, without Sam. The four made their way to a woman kneeling on what seemed to be smoldering ground.
“Evil can be overcome.” A deep, confident voice emitted from the woman. “Sacrifices must be made. The curse is tightly bound, fueled by anger, revenge, and the blood from two. One to kill, one to bring back. The time to attempt is now.” A pointed chin fell to her chest as she came out of the trance.
“What does this mean? Whose revenge? Whose anger? How can we undo what we don’t know?” Katarina protested.
Roxana bit her lip.
“Minnie.” Katarina’s harsh voice pierced the frozen air. “This is Gretta, Lucy’s granddaughter, and Sam, a friend of hers.”
Minnie raised her eyebrows in surprise, then focused on Gretta. “It’s not your time, dear.” She turned angrily to Katarina. “You shouldn’t have brought her.”
“We don’t have much time,” Roxana interjected. “Sam was in contact with the ring in the past. Gretta wears the ring now. So we brought them both.”
“The time is near, a bad one I fear,” Minnie glared at Katarina.
Roxana urged Sam and Gretta forward. “Take hands. Form a circle.” Gretta took Minnie’s left hand. Sam took her right. Minnie immediately closed her eyes. “Tell us—”
“She knows what we need,” Katarina barked, sending shivers down Gretta’s back.
Minnie’s eyes opened, beaming vividly in Sam’s direction. A light, angelic voice emitted from her lips.
“Sam, you will resume the search. Don’t allow your emotions to rule your actions. Knowledge will be complete upon your return.” Minnie’s eyes left Sam and focused on Gretta. She flinched then continued, “Gretta, you must be strong. Believe that it is possible to overcome evil. Without faith, love may not exist. Without love, evil takes control.” Minnie’s eyes rose to the darkness above. “The past has not changed. Only those in power may amend fate.” Minnie dropped their hands, her message complete.
Gretta shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Leave.” Minnie’s brittle voice sliced through them. Gretta felt Sam tug on her arm, but her legs were frozen in place.
Katarina grabbed Sam, dragging him forward. Gretta watched his hand slip from hers, then Roxana took hold of her arm and ran.
“It must be time,” a frightened voice sounded. “They know. They always know.” Gretta watched in horror as members scurried around, crying out and bumping into her as Roxana pulled her toward the stairs.
“Where are you going?” Cassandra forced herself between Gretta and Roxana.
“Sam,” Gretta called out.
Katarina did not stop. She swept him up the staircase with incredible strength.
“Don’t answer her,” Roxana warned.
Gretta stood stone still, squeezing her eyes shut. Roxana’s hands remained on her shoulders like icicles weighing her down. Mist swirled around their feet, freezing them in place.
“You belong here,” Cassandra cackled, appearing to Gretta even though her eyes were closed. “It’s your destiny.”
“Gretta,” Sam’s muffled voice called in the distance.
“Be strong, Gretta.” Roxana sounded not only weak but devoid of comfort.
A loud thud sounded within Gretta’s head, shuddering throughout her body. She screamed, yet no sound came from her mouth.
“You must believe it’s possible to overcome ev-il,” Roxana’s words slowed and slurred together. Gretta felt frigid arms embrace her as she tried desperately to understand Roxana’s last words. “No matter what happens, you must believe.”
It began.
Chapter 12
The Beach
Sam pushed himself up from where he landed face down in white sand. He scrambled toward several boulders and past Katarina, who remained on her hands and knees.
“Gretta!” Sam searched and found nothing but cliffs and sand. “Where are they?”
“I’m sorry,” Katarina replied, staring at tiny grains of sand on her palms. He watched as she closed her eyes.
“Sorry?” Sam exclaimed. “We’re going back.” He ran at the boulders and bounced off, landing hard in the sand. Sam leapt to his feet, unhurt, and plowed into the rocks again. This time he went straight through to the other side. Bewildered, he remembered when Gretta had stepped right through the tree trunk.
“Stupid boy,” Katarina muttered, shaking her head. “It won’t open until it’s over.”
“Until what’s over?” Sam yelled as he continued slamming his shoulder against the rock. Katarina sat in silence. “Why can’t we go back?” He took her by the shoulders. A tear trickled out of the corner of her eye. Perplexed, Sam softened his tone.
“Katarina, please.” He let go of her shoulders, taking her gnarled hands. The old woman was freezing. Worried, he helped her to her feet and led her to a sunny stretch of sand.
“They’ll be back,” Katarina announced and then stared at the horizon.
“When?” Sam asked, attempting to control his impatience.
Katarina closed her eyes as another tear rolled down her cheek. “We had to know how you changed the past, if it’s safe to send you back. There are other curses, spells.”
“What did we change?” Sam questioned.
“The flowers. You gave Anya a rose. I remember her
receiving a daisy.” Katarina continued, staring at the calm sea.
“The kind of flowers shouldn’t matter. What else?” Sam wondered if Lorenzo had killed Lubber in Kimolos and if he had, indeed, prevented the murder.
“I don’t know. Minnie said fate could not be changed. I believe her.” A pained look crossed her face. “You must convince Gretta to go back. It is essential we learn more about the ring. The cursed blade may not be of any significance because it was left behind but,” Katarina paused as if she had said too much.
“Go on,” Sam encouraged, using his father’s cop voice.
“You said that Lorenzo gave the rings to a boy, not a man. There is something we’re missing,” Katarina muttered.
“Why are you here and not Tatiana?” Sam wondered how many people were affected by the curse. Katarina ignored him. Frustrated, Sam studied the beach, noticing the white rocks, cliffs, and blue-green water. “Where are we?”
“Kimolos,” Katarina replied, tilting her head to the side as if listening to someone.
“When are we?” Sam scanned the beach nervously, hoping they were not in the late 1820s.
“Time does not exist here as you’re accustomed to it,” she replied.
“When Gretta and Roxana get out, how will they know where we are?” Sam’s anger and fear resurfaced.
“If we think about them, they will come,” Katarina continued in a soft tone. “You were close to your mother.”
“What? My what?” Painful memories flooded his mind. After an entire year of forcing himself to forget, he remembered his desperation and the hopelessness he felt as he pressed the morphine pump to ease her pain. In the end, cancer won. He prayed for his mother to die so that her suffering would end. His prayers were answered, but the guilt of wanting her to die remained.
Katarina interrupted his thoughts. “It’s possible for your mother to see you, perhaps—”
“Don’t you dare bring her here. She suffered enough.” Sam clutched Katarina by the shoulders. “Promise me you will leave my mother alone.”
“Sam,” a fragile, female voice called from behind.
Sam’s eyes widened. He froze. He hoped it wasn’t his mother, but at the same time, he wished it was. He turned to see Roxana holding Gretta in her arms. She swayed before both fell to the sand.
“Warm her.” Roxana gasped as Sam scooped Gretta up and carried her into the sunlight. He fell to his knees with her lifeless body in his arms. Her eyes were open but unfocused. Her skin, beyond cold, appeared nearly gray. She felt and looked as if she were dead.
“Gretta?” Sam whispered as he held her frigid body tight against his. Cradling her head, he gently rubbed her face and neck. “It’s me—Sam.” No response. He rocked, rubbing her cheeks harder as he crushed her to his chest.
“It’s not working!” Sam was frantic for a response. The two older women stared at him but didn’t move to help.
Katarina nodded encouragingly. “Make her want to come back.”
Gretta’s lifeless eyes remained open. He rubbed her face again, not knowing what else to do. A desperate tear trickled down, dropping onto her cheek. “It’s over, you’re safe.” He wiped his tear with his thumb and then pressed his cheek to her forehead.
She felt warmer. He found himself humming a silly tune from his childhood. A song his mother sang to him when he was afraid of the dark. Years later he sang it to her when she could barely think.
Gretta’s eyes focused on his face, merely inches away.
Sam kissed the top of her head, cradling her protectively. “We’re going home. I won’t let them take you to the PIT again.”
She struggled against his hold as intense fear returned to her eyes. Sam turned to Roxana and Katarina, who watched with concern.
“Don’t leave me—” Her words broke off into sobs.
“It’s okay. I won’t let go.” Sam tried to sound reassuring but felt terrified. He wondered what had happened to them. “Do you feel this?” He touched her face, wiping away tears.
“Don’t go, please.”
“I’m right here.” He shifted her in his lap, positioning her face to the sun. She began to nod off. He had to keep her talking. “What’s your middle name?”
“Lucille, my grandmother’s name. My God, she’s going there when she dies.” Gretta’s eyes clouded over.
“Favorite food? Mine’s apple pie. Tell me yours.” Sam shook her hard in desperation.
“Chocolate chip cookie dough.”
“Ice cream?”
“No, the dough.” Her eyes focused then darted away as if she was embarrassed.
“You can get sick eating raw dough,” Sam teased.
Gretta turned toward him, shivering. “I’ll take my ch-chances.” She nestled into his chest.
Tightening his grip on her, Sam gazed at Roxana. She, too, appeared better. Gretta’s trembling ceased. With a shaky hand, he touched her cheek. Warm. Sam gently embraced her, burying his face in her curly hair. Relief swept through him as she responded with a little hug.
“May we join you?” Roxana asked politely.
Gretta nodded, sitting up. Sam scowled as he watched Katarina touch a piece of driftwood that instantly molded itself into a fine chair. Roxana sat in another chair, although Sam did not see where it came from.
“Gretta, you look well.” Roxana began tentatively.
“She needs more time.” Sam protectively pulled her back into his arms. Gretta pushed away in disagreement.
Roxana took a deep breath. “You’re very strong, much more so than I expected. Put away the fear, the despair, and the evil you encountered. Concentrate on the good. Faith, love, hope. Focus on these anytime you feel uneasy or frightened, for that is when evil—”
“Roxana,” Sam interrupted, pulling Gretta closer, for she was trembling again. He saw Katarina look at Roxana and raise one eyebrow as if to say, ‘I told you so.’
“My apologies,” Roxana offered quietly.
“Let me go,” Gretta’s voice quivered. Sam released her reluctantly. She sat upright but sidled closer to him, maintaining contact with his side. “What do we do now?”
“You returned from the past too soon,” Katarina stated boldly.
“We need to know who placed the curse and why to be able to break it,” Roxana began.
“Katarina.” Sam’s intuition kicked in. “Tell us all that you know.” The old woman’s face twitched ever so slightly. Roxana raised one brow.
“We must be careful with him,” Katarina grumbled.
“Use his strengths. He is good. I can feel it,” Sam heard Roxana reply softly.
Katarina scowled and then announced, “I won’t tolerate interruption or incessant questioning.”
“Agreed,” Roxana quickly answered for them.
Katarina folded her hands, twiddling her thumbs slowly as she began to speak. “I lived in Slovakia with my son, Jozef, when my husband died. Tatiana left years earlier when she was seventeen to be with Andreas, her husband. They met during his travels with his missionary brother. They married and moved to his home in Athens, where he owned a merchant ship. That is where Giorgio and Anya were born. After my husband’s death, Jozef convinced me to journey to Greece. Andreas offered Jozef a job on his ship.
“We arrived in Athens at a time of turmoil. The Ottoman Empire remained in control of Greece, yet the uprising against them was very strong. A year later Andreas joined the fight for independence, leaving Jozef in charge of his ship. Before Andreas left for the navy, he moved us to Milos for safety. At the news of Giorgio’s death, Andreas came to Milos with a Greek sailor who had broken his arm. When Andreas had to leave, he instructed the sailor to remain with our family to protect us until his return. The sailor’s name was Alec.
“Alec set up a small store, tr
ading goods that Jozef and others brought to the island. He built a house for us behind the store. We were safe and grateful for Alec’s presence. Four years later Tatiana received information that Andreas’ naval ship had been attacked by Ottoman pirates. There were no survivors. When Jozef found out, he set sail, intent on killing every last one of the pirates. We stayed on Milos with Alec, waiting for Jozef’s return. This was when Tatiana became aware of her gift. Tatiana could see the future. Her gift was clearer and more accurate than Minnie’s.”
Roxana frowned at this statement.
“I believe she foresaw Jozef’s death. I did not have the sense Tatiana had, but spirits could contact loved ones through me. We decided to use our talents to bring in some needed money. Sailors from many countries paid us to give them a glimpse of the future or a connection with a spirit. Tatiana did most of the work as I had no control over the spirits. Alec did not approve, but he could not deny Tatiana’s accuracy or the money it brought in. Soon Tatiana’s talent was known throughout the Mediterranean. Things were going well, until Lorenzo arrived.”
Sam tensed, truly unnerved with Katarina’s lack of gratitude. Gretta squeezed his hand tighter as Katarina continued.
“A local man named Victor sought our expertise. His wife had passed away a few months earlier. On his third visit, he gave Tatiana the cursed ring as payment.” Sam raised his head to Roxana, who silently warned him to keep quiet.
“Tatiana accepted the ring but never wore it. It was apparent that Victor was over his dead wife and ready to move on to Tatiana. He persisted even when she told him she was not interested. The man frightened me, so I took the ring to a friend who had great powers. At my request, she placed a distance spell on the ring. The spell worked. Victor never returned to see Tatiana.” Katarina lowered her head before she continued. “I’m afraid the spell continues to this day. The owner of the ring is distanced from the new recipient once it has been passed.”