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“But not Collin?”
“He’s pledged himself to Okeus. He’s protected.”
David shook his head. “You saw them imprisoned?”
“Ahone sought revenge for what the wind gods had done, and he wanted to shut Okeus and all his offspring down too. The Great Horned Serpent and that thing eating hearts? They’re some of Okeus’s offspring. When Ahone learned of Manteo’s plan, he lent him the power to lock the gods away. Now they’re all pissed at the creator god, and he’s hiding in the heavens.”
“How is Okeus’s power greater than the wind gods if they could collectively threaten Ahone.” He rubbed his temple with his fingertips. “That doesn’t make sense.” His eyes, wild and desperate, locked with mine. “None of this makes sense.”
“I know,” I whispered. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I’m no better than Collin.” I realized the truth of it as I said it. But without David, I was doomed…we all might be.
“Why do you say that?’
He was on the edge of what he could handle right now. I stood and headed for the kitchen. “I think we need a drink.”
David didn’t answer, his eyes locked on the wall.
Wine didn’t seem strong enough, so I searched for a bottle of whiskey an old boyfriend had left when we broke up. I grabbed it out of the cabinet and carried it to the living room with two juice glasses, pouring a generous amount into each glass.
“I’m not whiskey drinker,” David said.
I pressed a glass into his hand. “Neither am I, but tonight both of us are.”
I took a sip, surprised the liquid didn’t burn as much as I’d expected. I rarely drank the stuff and never straight. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
David took a big gulp. “I’ve studied these things, but they’re Native American gods. They’re like the Easter Bunny or Father Christmas. They certainly aren’t supposed to bereal.”
“I know.” I sat back and took another sip, letting him get it out of his system.
“But here they are—in the flesh. This is my opportunity to learn so much about the Algonquians, but no matter how much information I glean, no one will ever believe me.”
“I know.”
“Thetosh-shonteand thenuppin. I’ve heard of those words. Do you know what they mean?”
“No, but Big Nasty used those words with me before.”
“Big Nasty, the snake who talks to you?”
“Yep.”
He took another big gulp.
“Big Nasty told me that thenuppinfeared him and soon thetosh-shontewould too.”
David closed his eyes. “I’m sure thenuppinwere the Native Americans. Like I said, the story of the Great Serpent crossed multiple tribes. He lived in lakes and ponds and killed unsuspecting people. They were terrified of him.”
“So ifnuppinare the Indians—”
“Thetosh-shontemust be the English, or in this case, all non-Native Americans.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
He lifted up his glass in salute. “No, it bloody well doesn’t.” He took another drink.
“But right now our biggest threat is Ukinim. I have to figure out how to kill it.”
“It’s a spirit, Ellie. Or, based on what I read and what Wapi said, a demon. Technically, I don’t think you can kill a spirit or demon.”
