Perilous Waters

by Diana Paz

  “Can you help me with this lock?” Julia asked.

  “Sure,” Angie said.

  Kaitlyn released the gown and let go of the fashion-related thoughts drifting through her mind. Her gaze slid to the girls, who both sat on their knees in their pajamas, tugging at the lid of a chest.

  Should she help out? A part of her wanted to kneel beside them and join their little pajama-jam. They looked almost adorable there. Like two little kids at a slumber party. Sometimes, she found herself liking their little duo. The two of them were different, but they didn’t seem to care as long as they had each other.

  Kaitlyn nearly laughed at herself. Since when was she so sappy?

  Angie held out her hand and zapped the lock on the trunk, which opened to reveal underwear and night clothes.

  Kaitlyn returned to rummaging through the wardrobe. Every dress in the massive piece of furniture needed an overhaul. More trim and shaping on the skirts, better necklines, less fabric on the sleeves. She yanked out a dark blue dress overloaded with black lace. “This thing is hideous.”

  “I think it’s pretty,” Angie said, stepping forward to touch the lace.

  “The lace is bad ass,” Kaitlyn agreed, “but not when it’s just hanging off the dress like this. This should be cinched in,” she tugged at the area where a waist should have been, “right here, see? Maybe with the skirt gathered up on one side with a bow.”

  Angie smiled. “Wow. That would be cuter.”

  Kaitlyn let go of the skirt. “It doesn’t matter one way or the other, as long as we fit in.” She tossed the dress on the bed and looked for another. “You wear it. Anyway, blue suits you.”

  Angie took the dress, a smile on her lips as she spun around. Kaitlyn watched her slim form swish the dress back and forth in front of her before setting it carefully back down on the bed. Kaitlyn pulled out a black dress. There was little to redeem the nightmare of shapeless fabric, but maybe if she used the lace shawl as a ribbon around her waist, and if she pushed the sleeves down off her shoulders…

  “By the looks of these combs, this is Colonial Spain,” Angie said, sifting through headwear and hair pins on a vanity table.

  The combs Angie held up looked almost lethal. Kaitlyn abandoned the wardrobe for a moment and examined them. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have something hidden in her hair that could jab a pirate’s eye out.

  Julia paused from digging through the chest of stockings and underclothes. “Do you think one of the jewels is in here?”

  “It’s possible,” Angie said, settling on the bed. “Let’s concentrate a moment and see if we sense anything.”

  Kaitlyn shut her eyes. In their first mission, when she had found the Jewel of Power, she had felt an aching as she came near it. It had led her to the table in Tuileries palace.

  “I don’t feel anything,” Angie said, her voice slow and thoughtful.

  “Me neither,” Julia said, glancing around the room like a little kid on Easter who hadn’t found any eggs.

  Kaitlyn handed Julia a deep red gown with white lace, the color reminding her of something she might find in her parent’s wine cellar.

  “I hope this girl doesn’t miss all of her clothes,” Angie said as she wriggled out of her pajamas.

  “Oh, she will.” Kaitlyn laughed a little. “She’ll probably think a servant stole them.”

  “I really don’t want anyone to get in trouble,” Angie said.

  Whatever. The servant probably stole plenty of times already, and deserved whatever punishment she got.

  “How are we going to hide your paleness?” Julia asked, coming up to Angie and lifting a lock of her white-blond strands.

  “What if I hide my hair under veils,” Angie asked, holding up a flounce of black lace.

  Kaitlyn pursed her lips and tilted her head to the side, taking in the effect. “It could work. Maybe wear two of them so it’s really hard to see through.”

  “Good idea,” Angie said, using a comb to hold both veils in place.

  The lace hid her light coloring well. And she was so little, if she ducked between them, she might easily be overlooked.

  “Ugh. So goth, and not in a good way” Kaitlyn said, stepping into the huge, black tarp of a dress she had chosen. “Didn’t they like ribbons and bows, at least? It’s like they created these things to make girls as un-sexy as possible.”

  “Lace is very feminine,” Angie said.

  “If it’s done right,” Kaitlyn muttered. “Otherwise it belongs on a grandmother’s sofa.”

  The corners of Angie’s lips turned up as she watched Kaitlyn. “How about I help you with your corset?”

  Even without as many underthings to worry about as they had in Paris, it took forever to get dressed without maids helping. Angie was the only one who really knew what to do. When her gown was finally on, Kaitlyn pulled down the fabric from her shoulders to wear it like she had seen the girls in pirate movies do.

  “You chose a ball gown, Kaitlyn,” Angie said in a tone that was almost scolding.

  “It was the least horrible one.”

  “But shoulders couldn’t be shown except at evening balls, and even then girls would have worn something to cover up when not dancing.”

  “I’m not changing,” Kaitlyn insisted.

  “Then those sleeves need to go back up, and you’ll need to wear something around your shoulders that will hide your neck, too,” Angie said. “This culture is way stricter about what kinds of things women can and can’t do. You aren’t allowed to show skin other than your face, and even that was often covered by a veil.”

  Kaitlyn looked at Julia and Angie’s dresses, buttoned up along the back all the way to their necks, with layers of lace covering their shoulders like old lady shawls, hiding what little shape their bodies had. Their dark dresses were enormous, with no waistlines, making them seem completely hidden and figureless. “What about all those movies with girls in off-the-shoulder gowns hiding behind lace fans.” She looked around the room. “I want a fan.”

  “We’ve taken enough,” Angie began, but Julia cut her off.

  “Found one!” Julia held up an object that appeared to be a long, thin rectangle, but when her fingers stretched across it, it opened up to reveal red silk with white lace trim.

  Kaitlyn searched the table and found another one done in black silk. The goth look was starting to grow on her.

  “This isn’t okay,” Angie said, her brow a crumple of worry.

  “But we want to look like we really belong here,” Julia said.

  “You worry too much,” she said to Angie, flouncing the black lace that trailed from her monstrous headdress down past her ankles like a deathly bridal veil.

  Julia paused in her fanning, looking Kaitlyn up and down. “It’s hard to believe anyone can make these dresses look decent.”

  She nearly laughed at that. “I won’t be caught dead in pale goth makeup,” she said, bringing the veil up to hide all but her eyes, “but I could rock the black lace look.”

  “It’s pretty cool on you,” Julia said, straining to grasp her own veil. She twisted and writhed, reaching back and falling over in the process to land in a heap of black lace on the floor. “Me? Not so much.”

  “You’re an idiot,” Kaitlyn muttered, helping her up, and not surprised to see her completely tangled in her own clothes.

  A hint of red trim peeked out from between the folds of Julia’s dress. “This thing sucks,” she muttered, shoving the mountain of lace behind her. “How the heck are you making it look so easy to walk around in?”

  Kaitlyn gave her a one-shouldered shrug. She may as well ask how she made it look so easy to have a head attached to her neck. Once she decided on an outfit, no matter how elaborate, the clothes became like a part of her body.

  “Ready?” Angie asked.

  Julia managed to stand with a sputtering breath. “I guess.”

  Kaitlyn glanced at the high, iron-barred window. The portal was already opened, and the Sorceress was sendi
ng monsters through the past. Finally, she would be free to let the full force of her magic roll through her as she shot out at her enemies.

  “Ready,” she said, the word tasting like power on her lips.

  ~ Chapter 16 ~

  Julia

  “Don’t forget, we’re supposed to be demure,” Angie said once Julia had unfrozen time. “Spanish colonial young ladies were modest and—”

  Julia glanced at Kaitlyn’s cleavage and snort-laughed.

  Angie frowned at her. “Let’s get going.”

  “Not yet,” Kaitlyn said. “We don’t want to have to walk through this whole hacienda without someone noticing we’re wearing their clothes.” She wiggled her fingertips, which glowed with white light. “I’ll make us invisible first.”

  Angie smiled and held out her hand. “Good idea.”

  Julia followed suit, and all at once the spell was released. Magic trickled over her body like a coating of stars that melted into her skin, leaving her crystal clear.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Kaitlyn said, her transparent form striding to the door.

  “Hold onto each other. We don’t want to separate.”

  Julia took Angie and Kaitlyn’s hands. They sped through the dimly lit corridors of the building. As they passed people, Julia couldn’t help holding her breath. It seemed impossible that they couldn’t see her. She hadn’t forgotten the Native American woman who had pointed right at them.

  But none of the people they passed by so much as looked their way.

  “This is too easy,” Kaitlyn whispered.

  Don’t talk out loud! Someone could hear you.

  “Who cares? They can’t find us or see us. They’ll just think they’re hearing a ghost.”

  They could still feel you, Julia said. What if one of them has a gun?

  Okay, fine. I’m using the connection now, aren’t I? Lay off. Julia felt Kaitlyn’s mocking humor as she added, I know you’re just using this as an excuse to touch me.

  What the—? Julia shook her head, not giving Kaitlyn the satisfaction of an answer. She was so ready to find the jewels and get back home, but getting out of the hacienda was proving tricky. The place made Julia feel like they were in a maze, and several times she sensed Angie’s confusion as they turned a corner and found themselves in yet another corridor.

  You’re taking us in circles, Kaitlyn snapped.

  Chill out, Julia said. Every time you get frustrated with something, you lash out at us.

  No I don’t.

  Julia felt Angie’s soft presence in her mind, reminding her not to continue arguing. But it was impossible to stamp out the knot of frustration in her chest. Kaitlyn liked to think that she was impassive and untouchable, but her emotions got in the way, whether she wanted to admit it or not.

  You can stop with all of your negative thoughts about me, thanks, Kaitlyn said.

  And you can stop diving into my head to eavesdrop on my brain, thanks.

  Angie squeezed her hand, sending her a wave of patience. This way… I’ve found the main entrance.

  She urged them into a foyer, where a servant polished furniture. A massive set of double doors promised a way out.

  Great, Julia thought. How do we leave without freaking out the servant?

  Freeze time?

  Why bother? Kaitlyn asked scornfully, breaking their connection and striding across the room.

  What’s she doing?

  I don’t know, Angie said, don’t tell her to stop or else we’ll be heard.

  They hurried after her. The door creaked open and the servant paused in her cleaning. The rag she had been holding fell to the ground as she looked at the door, which had seemingly unlatched itself and opened of its own accord.

  “¿Alguien está allí?” she called.

  Kaitlyn’s dark laughter floated through the air. The sound of her throaty, disembodied chuckles made Julia’s skin prickle.

  “Kaitlyn, stop it,” Julia said. “You’re scaring her!”

  Angie clutched her arm. Don’t talk out loud!

  The servant backed away, her eyes round and wide as they darted across the room. “¿Quien habla?” She made the sign of the cross, visibly shaking now.

  Julia’s hands glowed white. She would blast Kaitlyn if she kept scaring this servant.

  But Kaitlyn only slipped out the door, leaving the quivering servant behind her. Julia and Angie hurried after her.

  “Slow down,” Julia called. Kaitlyn’s transparent form was almost impossible to see in the blazing sun.

  “That was hilarious,” Kaitlyn said.

  “No, it wasn’t.” Angie’s soft, small voice carried weight with it. “It’s wrong to do that to people. You really scared her.”

  Julia remembered when she had spooked the woman at the Parisian masquerade ball and felt a twinge of guilt. “Everyone makes mistakes.”

  “She’ll get over it,” Kaitlyn said, the outline of her hand forming a dismissive wave. “Let’s get the threads of time up so we can figure out where to go next.”

  “Find somewhere that isn’t conspicuous.”

  They walked through an alleyway and Julia covered her nose. Everything was so muddy and stinky.

  “Rank,” Kaitlyn said, wrinkling her nose.

  “The colonies didn’t have much infrastructure,” Angie said. “Some cities didn’t have a functioning drainage and sewer system until the late nineteenth century.”

  “It looks like whatever city we’re in isn’t even finished being built,” Julia said as they reached a hillside. A giant, incomplete wall rimmed the edge of the city, with nothing but ocean beyond. “If anyone attacked, this town would be taken over in no time.”

  “There was a time when Spain didn’t continue fortifying many of its Caribbean settlements. The war against England began taking the majority of its funds,” Angie said. “It’s one of the reasons why pirates preyed on Spanish colonies so often. And why Spain eventually had to build the crazy defenses still in Havana today.” Her brows came together. “Well, in the present, at least.”

  “Enough,” Julia said. “You’re confusing me.”

  They walked on until they reached the cover of massive trees, with giant overhanging branches and enormous roots that looked like writhing octopus legs. “No one should spot us all the way out here,” Angie said, her invisible outline falling gracefully into a sitting position in the shade.

  Julia sat beside her and Kaitlyn followed, making them visible again. Kaitlyn continued drawing in the magic. Her eyes flooded with light as the threads shot out before them, flowing like they rested on a tumultuous ocean.

  Julia searched through one of the threads. The future sped along her mind. She saw the three of them battling creatures and hiding from pirates. She quickly dismissed the thread for another. Only one thing mattered right now. “The jewels,” she whispered, slowing down the images as she watched her hands reach out toward a pile of treasure. Before she could truly delve into the potential future, a chill slid down her spine.

  Daughter…

  Her eyes snapped open. “Whoa.”

  “Did you find the portal?” Angie asked.

  Julia shook her head, cold sweat breaking along the back of her neck. “A voice… someone broke into my mind.”

  “Indira,” Kaitlyn said, her voice a hard accusation.

  Julia shook her head. “Not this time.”

  “Ethan?” Angie prompted.

  “Unless he’s sending you dirty telepathic messages, I don’t want to hear about it.”

  Julia’s heart was racing too fast from the sound of that horrible, rasping voice to let her care about Kaitlyn’s remarks. “This voice was… I don’t know what but it was definitely wrong.”

  “A creature,” Kaitlyn said.

  The other two girls looked behind them, but Julia’s eyes focused on the ocean. It was washed in the oranges and reds and deep, golden yellows of the setting sun. Glimmers of light flickered like watchful eyes.

  “I don’t see
any sign of creatures.” Angie turned back to Julia. Her brows knit and she tilted her head a little as their eyes met. “Without Ethan’s ability to sense creatures, we are at a real disadvantage.”

  “I’m so tired of hearing this,” Kaitlyn said. “We can do this without him.”

  “I’m not saying we can’t,” Angie said, “But it would be easier with him.”

  Julia lowered her eyes. Ethan needed to be with his brother. End of story.

  “I hate to do this,” Angie said gently, her eyes on Julia. “But would you be willing to see if the voice returns? If it’s a creature, you might be able to draw it out to us.”

  Julia’s jaw dropped. “They want to destroy us. Why would I want to lure it out?”

  “What better way to find the portal? Just because we’re looking for the jewels first doesn’t mean it won’t be good to know where the portal is already.”

  “We could seal the portal up before looking for the jewels, if we find it quick enough,” Kaitlyn said.

  “Definitely,” Angie said. “Freeze time so the creature reveals itself. If we unfreeze time with the monster near people, it won’t have time to glamour.”

  “Then it will have to return to the portal?” Kaitlyn asked.

  Angie nodded. “And we can follow it. Creatures can’t exist outside of the nether without concealment of some kind. Not unless time is frozen.”

  Julia swallowed against the sudden queasiness in her stomach. “Oh man,” she whispered. Was she really going to prance around like bait in the hopes of luring out a creature? “No way. Those things want to kill us.” Her heart picked up speed as she remembered the sight of snake-like eyes intent on her, her body slowly turning to stone.

  “Just do it so they come out already,” Kaitlyn said.

  “Them?” Julia said, nearly choking on the word.

  “They’re never alone,” Kaitlyn said, her scar twisting in her face as her lips curved into a smile.

  Kaitlyn’s hand reached for hers before Julia could pull away. She was so freaking eager. “It almost sounds like you’re enjoying this,” Julia grumbled.

  “What can I say? Kicking demon ass is a little addicting.”