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My hair had tumbled over my shoulder, exposing my back. “My henna tattoo? What’s left of it.”
“Can I get a closer look?”
“Sure.” I sat on the sofa next to him. I had stripped down to my bra when Collin applied the tattoo, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that with David. Instead, I turned away from him and pulled down my tank top strap, exposing my back.
“Have you checked this recently? Okeus’s mark is barely visible.”
My shoulders stiffened. “What about the rest?”
“It’s just as faded.” He studied my back in silence. “Do you know why it was designed the way it was?”
“No. It’s identical to Collin’s as best as I can tell, except mine is henna. Like I told you, Collin said all the Keepers in his line get this tattoo on their eighteenth birthday, so I think it’s been handed down for years. Maybe centuries.”
“Why is yours henna?”
“Collin knew I’d never agree to a permanent one. After Wapi attacked me, he was worried the other spirits would realize I was a pure soul, and I’d be on their most-wanted list. He marked me that night after I got off work.”
“So you need to duplicate this?”
“I think so…except for Okeus’s mark, of course.”
He pulled the strap back onto my shoulder. “Would you e-mail me the photo you showed me? I’d like to send it to one of my friends and see if he can give me an opinion.”
“Sure.” I sank back into the cushions next to him. “Do you want to take a shower or change clothes? You’re welcome to use my bathroom.”
He picked up his coffee mug and took a sip. “You don’t mind?”
“Of course not. I hope the shampoo isn’t too girly for you.”
He laughed. “I have some in my bag. I’ll just finish this up first.”
I propped my feet on the coffee table and listened to the clicking of laptop keys—an oddly relaxing sound. My eyelids grew heavy, and before I knew it, I fell asleep.
The animals were back, like always, calling out to me for help, but tonight was different. The air was full of static, making the hair on my arms stand up. In the distance I heard the faint sound of my name, “daughter of the sea, witness to creation,” but instead of the usual pleading, it was slurred and threatening.
My heart sped up as I walked through a marshy field. The faint odor of salt stung my nose and the water came up to my thighs, making the folds of the dress I was wearing cling to my legs.
“Daughter of the sea and witness to creation,” a different voice called out. “You have abandoned us.”
I pushed through the last section of reeds—to find the gate to Popogusso.
I tried to take a step back and hit a wall that hadn’t been there before.
Chip was standing behind the black metal gate, his guts spilling out of his abdomen. The cat I’d found on my porch was next to him, along with half a dozen other animals in varying states of decay.
The stench of rot and dank blood filled the air, and my stomach roiled in protest.
Chip lowered his face. “I was sacrificed for you, witness to creation. Will you save the others?”
My tongue felt thick. “I’m trying.”
His eyes narrowed and glowed yellow. “You must find a way. Tonight he is moving on to bigger prey.”
The horrified screams of a woman filtered through the darkness.
My chest burned with fear. “No!”
“You must save them…” Chip’s voice trailed off as the light behind the gate faded.
