Startled by the sultry purr, Haven turned.
“No, I don’t want to buy a watch,” she answered honestly, or so she hoped. Shedidn’twant to buy a watch. Did she? She cleared away the webs of confusion woven through her brain. “Actually, I don’t knowwhyI even came in here. I thought maybe….” The woman’s dark, piercing gaze urged her on. “Honestly, I don’t know what I thought.”
The woman’s notice settled on her, exposing her, passing over her. Holding her in place with invisible hands that seemed all too real…all too strong.
After long moments of NSA-level visual inspection, the woman smiled at her invitingly. “Come on over, take a look. There might be something you like.”
Unable to suppress her curiosity, Haven stepped to the edge of the table. There was an unending supply of silver, multi-colored, analog, and digital watches. She didn’t want any of them. She had a cell phone with digital time readout, so why did she need a watch?
“Can’t find one you like?” the woman asked, sending her a knowing look.
“No. I’m not really into watches.”
The woman’s expression darkened as she turned to a table behind her and picked up a small wooden box. “Perhaps one of these would be better suited to your tastes?” She gently placed the box on the table.
“Take a look.” She stepped back, and Haven crept closer.
The box was a stunning carved mahogany masterpiece. Intricate carvings of moons and stars kissed the lid and sides, and the stars gave off their own light in the dark. Before she could lean forward and get a better look, the woman opened it.
Inside, a neat row of old pocket watches lay on crushed red velvet.
A sensation of urgency overcame her, and she took a sharp breath.
Nothing about those watches should’ve made her feel so compelled. They were just old gold pocket watches. She glanced up to tell the woman what she thought, but a young man burst through the tent opening, and rushed up to them.
“Carlenna, Joe, one of the men in the burlesque show quit. Some of the women got too grabby, and one of them pulled some of his hair out.” He dragged in great gasps of air, and his eyes danced between the cool, calm Carlenna, and the tent entrance.
“So? Some men look good bald,” she replied, shrugging, as if sexual assault was just morning coffee.
“It wasn’t from his head,” the man muttered.
Everyone winced.
The man continued, desperation in his voice, “You’ve got to call someone else to come in to cover Joe’s spot in the show.”
The woman, apparentlytheCarlenna of Carlenna’sCarnal-Val, speared the man with an impatient glare.
“I have nothing better to do than call hunky men and get them to undress in front of strange women?” She sighed and placed her hand on her generous hip. After a few seconds ticked by, she nodded and groaned. “Fine, I have the employee info list in my trailer.”
She turned to Haven. “Take your time. I’ll be right back.”
Haven wanted to tell Carlenna she didn’t want a watch, but Carlenna spun and disappeared outside.
Haven watched the woman disappear into the night, and blinked, absolutely dumbfounded by the situation.
A tired breath escaped her.
Ugh! Why is everything so weird?
Her emotions, her brain, strange urges, powerlessness—what the hell was going on? One moment she was too scared to blink, and the next moment she was getting groped by air currents.
“I’ve had enough of this today. Time to go home, go to bed, and meet with a psychiatrist in the morning.” She snatched her purse off the table and turned to leave.
She didn’t make it to the doorway.
A glint from the corner of her eye caught her attention.
One of the watches in the box…glowed.
