“I haven’t told stories in decades, so please excuse my forgetfulness from time to time. Of all the tales passed down through the ages, there’s one that’s so outrageous our people became convinced it was pure fairytale.” She chuckles. “Cinderella’s pumpkin turning into a magnificent coach made more sense to me than the tale of the Storm Girl.”
I shudder.
“Once upon a time.” Gildi smiles. “There lived among the Roma a girl whose tears brought rain and whose laughter brought sunshine. When she was a young child, little more than five, she was playing with her brother one sunny afternoon. I believe it was her older sibling, the only one she had. They were both special children as they descended from the royal line. The boy was heir to the throne, a prince, and the most prized possession of the king. Did you know the Roma had a king?”
I shake my head.
Gildi places her finger to her lips. “I don’t recall their names. After all these years, names escape my memory.” She strikes the air in front of her. “The names aren’t important anyway. The king loved both his children, but boys were more valued at the time. They inherited everything, including their father’s titles. The prince trained in many areas, and he wasn’t much older than his sister was. He learned to ride, hunt, and hone his special skill. His gift was unimpressive, but his sister’s grew more powerful with each passing day.”
“The brother became jealous, as he could only tell when someone was untruthful.”
Aunt Mirela gasps. Vadoma and I exchange looks. She grips the arm of her chair.
Gildi shuts her mouth, and we remain silent too long. “What?”
“I have the same gift,” Vadoma says. A flush creeps up her face.
Gildi stays quiet for a moment, eyeing both of us blindly.
“What happened?” Aunt Mirela asks, urging Gildi to continue the story.
Gildi shakes her head. “The prince was made to play with his sister one day in the courtyard. He felt slighted having to entertain her. His growing anger festered inside him. She had received a new pet bunny named Snowball that day.” Gildi closes her eyes. “Funny I remember the bunny’s name.”
She continues, “The sister brought the bunny over to her brother to show her new treasure. Snowball jumped out of her hands onto the courtyard of marble. The prince, overcome with jealousy, stomped on the bunny, crushing the tiny bones underneath his heavy shoe.”
“You can imagine how distraught the sister became. For the first time in her early life, she felt hatred for another. Being so young, her emotions were uncontrollable.”
Tears swell in my eyes.
“She brought lightning down so quick. It sliced right through the prince. The king went crazy and locked his daughter away in a dungeon for the rest of her life. From that day forth, it forever rained in the kingdom.” Gildi clamped her hands together. “I was told that story when I was a wee child to warn me of the ugliness of jealousy. We would be lectured on how we are all important and we shouldn’t harbor resentment toward another. It only causes pain.”
“That’s a lovely story.” Vadoma fakes a smile. “But it doesn’t really help us break the Roaming Curse, does it? Oh, and I promise not to kill your pet bunny, Elysia.”
The day at the beach when I struck down Kyle’s father, the lightning rushing through me and into him… I had next aimed my sights on Vadoma. She was nearly my victim as well. Our eyes meet and I know, without a sliver of doubt, she remembers that exact moment.
“Gildi, I’d like to see Nadya now.” Aunt Mirela rubs the crystal ball.
I feel ashamed. Of all the times Gildi used her gift to see our loved ones, we have yet to see Nadya. Her scream on the beach plays over in my head. Did they kill her?
“Of course,” Gildi says. She glances at me with unseeing eyes. “Will you be able to deal with whatever we see?”
Everyone stares at me. “Yes.”
Aunt Mirela moves around to allow Gildi to be in the position she likes. Gildi moves her hands around the crystal ball and concentrates. The fog becomes dense and lingers for a few seconds. Vadoma stands next to me, as we watch over Aunt Mirela’s shoulders. Emilian stands next to the table, fidgeting with a deck of cards. He always takes the cards out when he’s nervous.
The white haze evaporates, revealing Nadya sitting tied up in a chair. Bruises run down her left arm, the only one we can see. Her matted hair hangs wild over her stained tank top. Seeing her appearance makes my blood boil, but I connect with the air in the cabin, allowing it to calm me.
“What is her power?” Colin’s father glares at her from his chair.
“She finds things.” Colin answers, and wipes blood off his fist with a white cloth. He walks around and stands next to his father.
Aunt Mirela inhales quickly, her hands shake. She doesn’t break the connection with Gildi.
“Like what kind of things?” his father, the alpha pack leader, asks.
“Anything. If it’s lost, she can find it.” Colin throws the bloody rag onto a table. A disgust forms in my gut, knowing that’s my father’s blood. He better be okay, or I’ll kill Colin myself, no matter how my feelings betray me. Colin seems so calm about it all, as if it’s not fazing him to beat the people he’s befriended and lived with the last half a year. I turn away, not wanting to see his face. Kyle notices.
“Can she find people?” The Alpha raises an eyebrow.
“Yes,” Colin replies.
Nadya glares at them both.
“Can she find her cousin?” Colin’s Dad focuses on his son.
“Not with him here.” Colin motions to a figure standing in a dark corner. “He blocks their powers.”
The Crystal Ball’s center shifts to the figure. A tiny boy steps out of the shadows. His green eyes sparkle. He frowns. “I can’t help it.” His bottom lip quivers. He’s Roma. He’s the reason our gifts stopped working on the island…I feel it in the energy surrounding him. An awful thought occurs to me…if I want to save my family, that innocent boy has to die.
Chapter 9
“We’ll have to take her someplace she can find her cousin, and give her reason to do so.” Colin’s father bends to gaze into Nadya’s eyes. “Which one of your family members would you like to see die?”
Nadya scowls. “If you think I’ll help you find anyone, you’re as crazy as you look stupid,” she speaks through clenched teeth. “Go fuck yourself!”
The Alpha’s hand connects hard with her face. She falls to the ground, taking the chair with her. Tears stream down her face, but she seethes with the most hateful of looks I’ve ever encountered. Riley steps into the scene. It’s the first we’ve seen of our other werewolf friends, or who we thought were our friends.
His lips purse and creases form above his brow. He reaches for Nadya, but pulls his hands quickly back. Colin’s father faces the opposite direction, missing Riley’s attempt.
Nadya spits blood onto the floor. “Kill me, if you want, but I’m not helping you.”
“Oh, we wouldn’t kill you, my sweet.” The pack master lowers his voice. He caresses Nadya’s hair, and then clumps a fist full, yanking her up by it. She winces as he makes her sit back into the chair. “Bring me the money maker!”
“Which one is the money maker Daniel? I get confused by them.” A brown-haired woman with dreads steps into the picture, and asks the Alpha. She folds her arms and her expression screams boredom.
“The old man,” Daniel answers, and rolls his eyes. “Is no one paying attention?”
She shuffles off out of the picture. The glowing scene shifts again, revealing the full room. At least ten werewolves sit and stand around watching Nadya’s torture. Riley and Colin are the only two we know.
“These people killed nineteen of us on the beach that day. Does no one want retribution?” Daniel throws up his hands. The ones we don’t recognize all cheer their agreement, as if they’re at a rally. The little Rom boy in the corner whimpers. An older gray-haired woman holds his arm with her free hand while smiling
and agreeing.
The other young female werewolf enters through the door with Bo. Plastic zip ties bind his hands together behind him.
Aunt Mirela gasps. The veins in her slender arms become visible as her hands tense.
“You don’t need to do this,” Colin says.
“Who says I’m doing anything?” Daniel asks. “Bring him in front of the girl.”
Vadoma grabs my hand and squeezes. Emilian’s nervous card shuffling stops.
The female werewolf pushes Bo to his knees in front of Nadya. Bo shifts to look at Nadya. His face droops and he mouths ‘I’m sorry’ to her. Tears fill her eyes.
“It’s about time,” The dread-haired woman says. “These scums need to be eliminated.”
“See, Colin. Jo would be the perfect mate for you. She’s sassy, but smart.” Daniel claps Colin on the back.
Jo kisses the air toward Colin and winks at him before retreating to the side of the room.
“I’ll do what you want,” Nadya says. Her eyes scan the room; the fierceness she had moments ago evaporates with the appearance of Bo.
“No!” Bo yells. “Don’t you do anything for them.” His eyes widen and he shakes his head at Nadya.
“She will do what we want, Money Maker,” Daniel says. “Or we will do to her brother what we are about to do to you.”
The werewolves in the room holler, as if they’re at a cheering for their favorite NASCAR team.
“Don’t do this Father.” Colin grabs Daniel’s shoulder.
“I’m not doing anything.” Daniel glares at Colin and points at Bo. “Kill him.”
Another round of encouragement erupts through the room.
“Kill the money maker scum and show your loyalty to the pack.” Bo studies Colin’s face, daring him to defy the order. “You’re one of us and need to remember that.”
Colin’s face twists into an unrecognizable expression. It’s as if I’m seeing him for the first time. His eyes darken as he moves to the center of the room.
Nadya wraps her tied hands around Bo’s neck. “No! No! Please!”
Daniel rushes to Nadya’s side and grabs her hands away. He uses his free hand to cup her face, pointing it at Bo. “You’re going to watch what will happen to each one of your family if you choose not to cooperate.”
Colin bends down in front of Bo and starts to shake.
“No! Kill him in your human form,” Daniel instructs him.
Colin’s quivering ceases and he straightens up.
A movement in the corner catches my attention and I see Riley with the Rom boy. He turns the boy’s face away from the scene. No one pays attention to him.
Vadoma’s hand sweats inside of mine. Panic boils inside me, and feels like it’s on the verge of explosion. The wind howls outside the trailer. All eyes watch the crystal ball.
Colin grabs Bo’s neck. The muscles in Colin’s jaw twitches. The corners of his mouth turn up slightly as he stares at his dad. Is he enjoying this?
Colin’s hands twist so quickly, if I blinked I’d have missed it. Bo’s neck cracks and his body falls limp to the floor.
Nadya loses it. Tears flow and her face quivers as Daniel lets go of her. She falls forward over Bo’s body and wails.
Cheers again fill the room. Colin grins as his fellow werewolves take turns patting him on the back and high-fiving him. I’m seeing an entirely different side of Colin…one I’d never wanted to see, or even know existed. He seems like another man altogether.
The crystal ball cloud disperses into clear nothingness.
Silence fills the trailer. A crow squawks and the thought of darkness enters my mind. The next moment I realize it’s communicating that night is coming.
More minutes pass. The somber mood feels threatening inside me, but connecting with nature smothers the turmoil that would normally cause a catastrophic disaster.
I walk outside. No one says anything to me. I’m sure they are suffering their own way, inside their own heads.
Puffy white clouds become darker as the sun descends in the west. Fires crackle shooting streams of smoke into the air. The smell of barbequing drifts through the campground. My stomach growls, but my body needs more soul nourishment. Slipping out of my shoes, I feel the cold grass under my feet. Connecting with the tiny energy bursts, my feet tingle. The trees’ energy flow slows a moment. I touch a trunk and connect more deeply.
The sun disappears. The earth connecting to the roots warn it of intruders approaching. It’s amazing to feel the bond nature shares and the ways it communicates through a series of vibrating energetic thoughts and emotions. Two bodies approach quickly. They have no heartbeat, they are dead to the world.
Taking my hand from the tree, I search the south woods to see Hedji and Tamas. They spot me. Hedji tilts her head and walks toward me.
“Is everything okay?” she asks.
Tamas races to the trailer.
“No, it’s not,” I say. She follows me to the trailer.
Emilian sits on the picnic table next to Kyle. They both look up at us approaching.
“What’s the matter?” Hedji sits across from the boys.
I sit facing away from them.
“Their grandfather was killed,” Kyle answers. “We all saw it with your mother. The werewolves did it.”
Hedji doesn’t say a word. Before I take my next breath, she’s inside the trailer.
“I’ll never get used to that.” Kyle inhales deeply.
“I’m going for a walk.” Emilian disappears down the street.
“Did I say something wrong?” Kyle asks.
“I think he needs to be alone with his thoughts.” I say. “I didn’t develop a bond with Bo as he had when we were on the island. Bo took the time to teach him how to fish and what were the best lures to use.”
My thoughts drift to a happier time. Out of all of us, Emilian became closest with our eccentric grandfather. If it was his turn to go for supplies, he and Bo were the ones that went together. Bo had even started to teach Emilian about trading stocks and what to look for with trends. Bo didn’t even attempt to teach Nadya or me about the stock market. I wonder if he even taught Vadoma anything, who spent most of her life with him.
“How are you?” Kyle asks. “I don’t see any storms brewing.”
“I watched my boyfriend kill my grandfather. I’m confused and upset and completely devastated.” I lay my head against my arm on the picnic table.
“How are you controlling your emotions?” Vadoma closes the door on the trailer and joins us. Her puffy, pink face reveals she had been crying. Bo essentially raised her, after werewolves killed her adoptive parents. She’s seen so much violence and I’m only now getting a glimpse of the true cruelty of the hatred that hides inside the hearts of men.
“If they were here, I’d kill every last one of them,” I say.
“Even Colin?” she asks.
A tear rolls down my cheek and I can’t answer her.
“I’m going to run and get us all something to eat.” Kyle digs in his pocket for his keys. “Maybe pizza would be easiest.”
Vadoma reaches across the table and grabs Kyle’s hand. “Thank you.”
He nods.
After Kyle pulls away, sadness clouds her features, and tears fill her eyes. “I can’t believe he’s gone. I thought he’d live through anything. He was always so tough and stubborn.”
I pull her into my arms and let her weep a while.
She moves away from me and wipes her face off with her shirt. “I never forgave him, you know.” She searches the darkened woods, her eyes gloss over. “He kept the truth from me, and although I always knew it deep down, always having that sinking feeling when he mentioned anything from my past, I never called him out on it. I never questioned him. But when the truth came out about our mother, I built up this anger toward him. I resented him and all that he gave me through the years. But, that night on the island, when we escaped and he went back for the others, all the hatred vanished. I forgave him
instantly. It’s as if I knew it would be the last time I’d see him.”
“He loved you,” I say. “If it wasn’t for you, maybe he wouldn’t have become a better person.”
“I know. I wish I was able to tell him that I forgave him, though.” Vadoma pounds onto the table with her fist. “I’d give anything to have five more minutes with him.”
A million thoughts roam through my mind, but the words jumble together and don’t form a coherent thought. I don’t know what to say to her to make her hurt stop. I don’t know if any words would.
“I’d let you kill them all. I’d give anything to see you strike them all dead with lightning.” Vadoma purses her lips together. “None of them deserve to live.”
I remember Riley and that Rom boy. “That little boy that was with them. Does anyone know who that is?” I ask.
“No, but we all figured out he’s the reason none of our powers worked.” Vadoma’s gaze meets mine. “Even if we could get the boy away, his power would still affect all of ours for hundreds of miles. The only way we can stop him…”
“I know.” Even Vadoma doesn’t want to say what we both thought. If the boy died, all our powers would work to stop the werewolves.
The trailer door opens and Aunt Mirela steps out. “I think I know a way to find out how to stop the curse.”
My heart skips a beat. “How?”
Her face droops and a frown forms. “I think it’s time I do a past life reading on you.”
Chapter 10
No one has ever seen Aunt Mirela do a past life reading. She’s refused to do any for the family and even when she had clients, most of the time she bragged about making stuff up for them. Even Aunt Simza said she’d never seen her do one and she’s lived with her forever.
“Are you serious?” I ask.
“That story that Gildi told earlier. The one about the storm maker. It got me thinking. What if it’s related to you somehow in your past? What if your past life is connected to this wretched curse? It’s all we’ve got now.” Aunt Mirela closes her eyes. “I don’t think we have much time left here, or anywhere. If Nadya tells them where we’re at, we’ll have to stay on the move. So, we need to do this now, unfortunately.”
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