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“As much as I covet your manitou, I dare not defy Okeus.”
So why was it here? To save me? I knew I should take comfort in the fact that the creepy crawly things in the night planned to protect me instead of eat me, but I couldn’t help thinking something even nastier was waiting for me in the end.
“But Ahone has claimed me.”
The snake grinned. “That’s what makes it even better.” Then he lowered into the water, waves gently rippling across the cove.
I watched the spot where he’d disappeared, still frozen against the light pole.
Move, Ellie!
I barely felt the gravel beneath my feet as I ran to Myra’s car, locking myself inside. My fingers shook as I turned over the ignition. Barely looking behind me, I jerked the car in reverse, then slammed it into gear and sped through Wanchese on the way back to Manteo.
Several minutes after I took off, my phone started to ring.
“I’ve been calling you for an hour, Ellie!” Claire shouted. “Why haven’t you answered?”
“I…” I didn’t even know where to begin.
“You chickened out, didn’t you?”
“What?” I looked down at the speedometer. I was driving twenty miles over the speed limit. “No. I saw him.”
It felt like it had happened days ago instead of less than ten minutes.
“And?”
“He’s a prick, that’s what happened. He claims he doesn’t know Ahone’s mark and says I need to use Okeus’s. And he refused to give me the map. When I asked him why he wouldn’t give it to me since he didn’t need it, he told me it was because Idid.”
“Are you serious?” she asked in disbelief.
Sure, I had left a whole lot out of the conversation, but I wasn’t ready to get into the near sex miss. Not after what just happened.
“He would really leave you defenseless like that?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I’d cried enough tears over that man to earn my title of daughter of the sea. But I still couldn’t believe how cold he’d been in those last few minutes. “He told me that I know what I need to do to save myself.”
Claire was silent for several seconds. “What are you going to do?” She sounded like she was about to cry, something I’d only seen her do a handful of times.
I ran my fingers through my hair, my panic rising with her concern. “I don’t know. Someone has to know about these things. Dr. Preston isn’t the only professor specializing in North Carolina Native American tribes.”
“But he’s the best.”
“Not helping, Claire!” My terror mounted the closer I got to town. “He wouldn’t help me, so I’ll just have to find someone who will. I’ll do more research when I get home. Surely someone knowssomething.” My voice broke.
“Ellie, come over here tonight. I’m worried about you.”
“No.” I sucked in a breath and steeled my back. “No. It’s safer for you if I stay away.” I couldn’t help wondering if any and all contact with her was dangerous. The spirits had targeted people who were close to me before. What was to stop them from doing it again? If I were truly selfless, I would disown them all and hide somewhere until I sorted this out, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“Are the marks still on your door?” Claire asked. “Are they still dark enough?”
“Yes, they’re fine.”
I’d redone the marks at the inn and the house after I’d finished cleaning upstairs.
Claire’s voice lowered. “Do you want me to go with you?”
“Won’t you get in trouble if you take off work again?” I turned down my street, eager to get behind my closed and marked door.
