I opened the lid to the box and picked up the starry-sky watch and opened the cover, examining the face. It hadn’t been wound in ages, and the hands were frozen. Clutching it in my hand, I closed my eyes as warm memories of my childhood washed over me. I was a little girl again, sitting at the kitchen table with Daddy as Momma served us breakfast.
“Okay, Elliphant,” Daddy said, running his hand over the pocket of his uniform pants. “Which one today?”
“Um . . .” I tapped my chin like Daddy sometimes did. “You wore the silver one yesterday. Maybe you wore it again to trick me.”
“You’ll never know until you guess.”
“You picked my favorite. You wore the starry sky.”
Grinning, he pulled it from his pocket, unhooked it from its chain, and put it in my hand.
“I was right!” I bounced in my seat.
“This is your watch,” Daddy said. “I’m just holding onto it until you need it.”
Momma scooped scrambled eggs onto my plate, then kissed the top of my head.
Daddy beamed at me, picking up his fork. “As soon as you finish breakfast, you can look for the quarter I hid.”
My eyes flew open. “I know where to look.”
David glanced up from his computer. “You do?”
“Daddy and I used to play a game when I was really little—preschool age. He would hide a quarter and I had to find it. We didn’t do it for very long. Momma said I was too good at finding them and I was getting too much money. I had completely forgotten until a moment ago.”
“So where do we look?”
“Outside.” I jumped off the stool and ran out onto the front porch, David on my heels. “I was little, but Daddy used to say he couldn’t make it too easy. He told me a good archaeologist had to know where to look. That was half the battle.” I knelt in front of the two-foot brick wall that ran along the front of the house. Running my hand over the bricks, I stopped when I found a loose one and gave it a tug. “And the adventure.”
The brick came free in my hand, and I stuck my hand inside. Something was there. My fingers snagged the folded paper and I slid it out, carefully unfolding it in my lap.
The sheet was written in neat handwriting that turned to barely legible chicken scratch at the end. I began to read:
“When Ananias discovered his village and family were gone, he headed south toward Florida to St. Augustine, where he took a French wife.”
I looked up at David in surprise. “There were French in Florida in the late 1500s?”
He nodded. “Virginia Dare may have been the first English child born in the Americas, but a Spanish child was born in this country at least twenty years earlier. If Ananias needed a wife to continue the Dare line, Florida would have been the logical place to look.”
“But this says he took a French wife.”
“There was a colony of French as well. Your Anglican history books tend to neglect such facts.”
“And how do you know this?”
“They had interactions with the Native Americans.”
“Oh.”
He leaned over the paper and continued where I left off:
“Ananias had three children with his second wife, Marie, and three generations of Dares lived in Florida, passing the legend and the curse down to the next Keeper. The history, the symbols and words of protection, how to close the gate, how to send back the gods and spirits if the gate remained open, the feud between the brother gods, and many other things.
“In 1620, Ananias LeBlanc, fourth-generation ancestor of Ananias Dare, felt a pull north. It was an inexplicable feeling, but it caused him great discomfort to ignore it. He took his wife and two children to Jamestown, Virginia. The Curse Keepers resided in Virginia until 1650, when John Williams took his pregnant wife with a group of Virginians to colonize Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. The Curse Keepers and their descendants have resided in North Carolina since, never being able to travel more than fifty to two hundred miles from Roanoke Island.”
“Yes!” I squealed. “I always thought it was agoraphobia. Only mine was worse, depending on the day. I could usually go fifty miles before feeling anxious, but I always felt uneasy about leaving the island.”
David looked up. “Do you still have it? You came to Chapel Hill.”
“No, I didn’t have it at all that day.” I shifted my weight. “And I didn’t have it when Collin and I went to Morehead City. He was the one who told me that the feeling was insurance for the curse, to make sure we never got too far away from this place.”
“Maybe the feeling is like a barometer. You were meant to meet me. You and Collin were meant to get the bowl.”
“But who gets to decide?”
“Who or whatever is controlling your fate. Ahone?”
I scowled. I didn’t like the idea of any deity controlling my fate.
“You and Collin got his bowl for the ceremony. Where are the relics now?”
I paused. “Collin must have taken them. I wasn’t thinking straight at the time.” Could they have been in the locked glove compartment of his truck? Along with the map?
I kept reading:
“The Keeper’s duty passes to the oldest child, who assumes the responsibilities of Curse Keeper upon their eighteenth birthday. In the event that the oldest child cannot assume the duties, the role passes to the next child in line.
“The stories must be told and preserved. In the event that the line dies off, the gate will open and the spirits will escape.”
My chest tightened. “No.”
David looked up, his eyes wide.
“I can’t do that, David. I can’t have a child and force this upon them. What kind of parent would do that?”
“Your father had you and he wasn’t horrible. He was a loving father whom you adored.”
“He also didn’t have me after the gate had been opened. He didn’t have me knowing I’d have to face all these monsters.”
“Let’s think positive.” He leaned forward. “We’ll send all the demons back and figure out a way to make sure they stay locked up.”
I nodded, but I didn’t believe it. Ahone’s messenger had told me that the curse was flawed from the beginning. If the spirits weren’t mutilating animals and people, I might have been inclined to side with Collin about letting things even out. But I knew they’d only just begun their reign of terror. They wouldn’t settle down until a lot more innocent animals and people were killed. “I found out there are good spirits too. But I didn’t see them escape when the gate opened.”
“There were far more kind and gentle spirits in the Native American belief system than evil ones. So it makes sense that both types still exist. The question is: Where are the good ones?”
“We get more and more questions, but we’re not getting any closer to answers.”
“Ellie, you have to be patient. The curse was over four hundred years old. It stands to reason that you can’t learn everything about it in a few weeks.”
“I learned all about creation in a matter of minutes. I didn’t have to wait days and weeks for that.”
And then it hit me. Why hadn’t I thought of it before?
I got to my feet. “I have to go.”
David grabbed my hand and pulled me back. “Wait. Where are you going?”
“I know how to find our answers, and I’m an idiot for not thinking of it sooner.” I paused, worried about how David would react. “I have to go find Collin.”
“Okay, why?”
“When I saw creation, so many of my questions were answered. But I was touching marks with Collin. He’d purposefully taken me out into the ocean to see what would happen. I need to do it again.”
Fear flickered across David’s face. I could tell he was trying to come up with a response. “That sounds like a good idea,” he finally said. “I’ll come with you.”
I shook my head, feeling terrible for doing this to him. “I have to do this alone.”
He studied my face, searching for
reassurance.
“David. Trust me.”
Finally, he swallowed and nodded. “Okay.”
I grabbed his shirt in my fist and pulled him to my chest. I kissed him deeply, showing him how much I wanted him, not Collin.
His hand buried in my hair and he deepened the kiss, tilting my head back. His free hand rested on my neck and I clung to him, wanting as much of him as I could get before I went to see Collin. I needed a memory I could draw upon since I knew I’d be walking into certain temptation. I wasn’t stupid enough to think my attraction to Collin would be gone when I saw him. But these memories of David would make me strong enough to resist it.
“Ellie,” he said, lifting his head. “I don’t want to lose you.”
My heart skipped a beat. “I’m coming back to you. I promise.”
His mouth lifted into a smile “I want to come to make sure you’re safe, but I have no doubt he’ll protect you.” I could tell that it killed him to admit it.
“Maybe I’ll protect him.”
Amusement filled his eyes. “That wouldn’t surprise me.”
“I’ll see him and come straight back.”
His arms tightened around me. “I want you to call me when you find him. And then I want you to call me as soon as you get back to your car.” He lifted my chin, his eyes boring into mine. “Promise me.”
“I promise.” Then I added, “If I’m not back in time, make sure to leave for the apartment before it gets dark.”
“I will. Just go.”
I stood on tiptoes and kissed him. “Thank you.”
“Do you know where to find him?”
Unfortunately, I was pretty sure I did.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The closer I got to Wanchese, the more my stomach clinched. The thought of going back to the first place Mishiginebig had protected me was bad enough. But the thought of facing Collin made me nauseous. I called David as soon as I got there.
Collin’s truck was parked in the spot where it had been last time. He could be out on his boat, or he could be hiding from Tom. Either way, I probably should have called him to make sure he was around, but I thought the element of surprise could work to my advantage.
I parked next to Collin’s truck and walked to the dock, the memories of my last visit clinging to my skin, making me feel dirty. I stiffened my back. I hadn’t done anything wrong. That bastard who’d attacked me had gotten exactly what he deserved.
Maybe if I kept telling myself that, I’d stop feeling guilty.
The slap of my flip-flops was the only sound as I walked down the concrete sidewalk next to the boats. I figured that since Collin’s truck was here, his boat would be out, but it couldn’t hurt to check. So when I saw Lucky Star on the back of the second boat—the one the guy had tried to drag me onto—I stopped and reconsidered my plan.
Why did my life suddenly feel like a tapestry woven by fate? Should I just give in to whatever destiny had in store?
Collin popped up, a fishing net in his hand.
I sucked in a deep breath and walked to the edge of his boat. “So you really are a fisherman.”
He stood, the net still hanging from his hand as he stared at me in shock.
I nodded toward the net. “There was lots of fishing talk when we were together, but I never saw any fishing action.”
The hint of a smile lifted his lips. “Maybe you kept me so busy with other action that I didn’t have any time to fish.”
My face burned. I’d set myself up for that one.
His gaze landed on my bandaged arm before he returned to his task. “What are you doing here, Ellie?”
“Did Tom find you?”
“If you’re asking if Officer Helmsworth came to see me, then the answer is yes.”
“You talked to him?”
He looked up with his cocky grin in full force. “Sure. Why not? He would have been more anxious to find me if I’d tried to evade him. I didn’t have anything to hide.”
“He didn’t think it was a coincidence that the guy was on your boat?”
Collin’s smile fell. “What guy was on my boat?”
My stupid mouth. I didn’t answer.
“The guy who was killed?” He waited a second.
“What does it matter, Collin. It’s done.” I paused. “Marino’s guy came to see me today.”
The color left his face. “Where?”
“I came home and found him waiting in my living room. He found a pair of antique watches that belonged to my father and presumed it was part of the Ricardo Estate.”
His eyes sunk closed. “Fuck.”
“He was going to either shoot me or take me to Marino. I had to lie. I told him you gave me the watches to appraise. I’m sorry.” My voice cracked with my guilt.
“You did the right thing. That was quick thinking.” Pride filled his eyes. “But then again, you’re a natural.”
“Do you know where the Ricardo Estate is?”
His face hardened. “Ellie.”
My temper flared. He still wasn’t going to tell me. “They know who I am, Collin! They think they have proof I’m involved. I have a right to know!”
“I don’t have to tell you shit, just like you don’t have to listen to my warning that your professor is going to get you killed.” He grunted and threw the net into a pile. “You could have told me this in a phone call. Why are you really here?”
“I need you to take me out onto the ocean.”
He put his hands on his hips. “Why don’t you have your boyfriend take you?”
“Because I need you.”
He stared at me for several seconds. “No.”
“No? What do you mean no?”
“I mean no. I’m not your errand boy, Ellie. The last time I offered to help you, you blew me off.”
“You wanted to hide me on your boat!”
“I wanted to protect you.” His voice broke, and he turned to look out at the sound.
I took a deep breath. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”
He started working on his net again. “There are lots of charter boat businesses around here. Go hire one of them.”
My anger exploded, and I opened my purse, digging out my wallet. “You want money, Collin?” I grabbed what little cash I had and held it out to him. “Here.” I shook my hand. “Here’s some goddamned money.”
His face softened, defeat in his eyes. “I don’t want your money, Ellie.”
“Collin, please.”
He watched me again, and then he took a step to the edge of his boat and reached his left hand out to me. I took it and stepped over the edge. He didn’t move backward, so my stomach bumped into his.
I flinched in pain, but Collin didn’t seem to notice.
“Why do you want to go out onto the ocean?”
“I need some answers, and I’m hoping it will help to be in the ocean. Like when we went to the beach and pressed our marks together.”
“You want to press our marks together?”
“Yes.”
He watched me for several seconds. “Okay. But we do this my way.”
I sucked in a breath. “What does that mean?”
“It means we do it my way.”
“I’m not having sex with you.”
A sneer crossed his face. “Because you’re having sex with him.”
I couldn’t look into his eyes. “Don’t do this, Collin.”
He stiffened. “My way or not at all.”
Did I have a choice? “You’d really force me to have sex with you?”
“I can assure you, I wouldn’t have to force you, Ellie.” His cockiness was back. “How badly do you want me to help you?”
That’s what it boiled down to: What was my life worth? Could I live with myself if I had sex with Collin when I wasn’t even sure I’d get my answers? Still, I couldn’t sit back and wait to be killed, or worse, play mother to Okeus’s monster babies. Collin held all the cards. “Do you really want me to hate you even
more?”
His eyes narrowed. “You realize that’s not helping your case, don’t you?”
“Fine.”
He stepped to the side and said in a snotty voice, “Well, welcome aboard the Lucky Star.”
The deck of the boat was a mess full of rope and nets. I looked around for a place to sit.
“It’s a fishing boat, Ellie. Not a yacht.”
“Whatever. As long as this rust bucket can get us out there, that’s all that matters.”
“Well, that’s the spirit,” Collin muttered. “You can sit inside or outside. Which do you prefer?”
“Outside.”
“Have a seat right here.” He pointed to a raised metal box just outside the wheelhouse. “I’ll start up the engine and we’ll be off.”
I nodded, still pissed.
“Any particular place you want to go?”
“Wherever you think this will work.”
The engine started and Collin untied the boat from the dock before heading out onto the sound.
I underestimated the amount of time it was going to take for us to get to the ocean. The sun was already dipping into the horizon by the time Collin found a place to stop. He shut off the engine and came out of the cabin, looking toward shore. He moved to the end of the boat and unfolded a metal contraption over the side.
My stomach twisted with nerves. What if we didn’t get back to shore before dark? But we were already here, and I wasn’t turning back now. Besides, Collin and I could protect each other if anything happened.
Right now I needed to focus on why we were here. “Do I need to get completely in the water?”
“You can sit on the bottom of this ladder and put your feet in.” His tone was gentler than I expected. “Your legs were all that were immersed the first time we did it.”
“Okay.” I nodded and looked over at the seat at the bottom of the ladder. I could manage that.
I maneuvered over the edge and managed to sit on the metal slats, dangling my lower legs in the water. I felt the rush of power as the waves rocked the boat, splashing onto my lap and chest. I was going to be soaking wet when I finished this thing. Collin reached out to me and I lifted my right hand, preparing my body for the surge.
The Curse Breakers Page 30