“That’s great, really it is, but I want a straight answer.” She faced the older woman, unblinking. “If you know what’s going on, please tell me.” Sighing heavily, she fought back the tears of frustration.
Seemingly unaffected by Haven’s outburst and less-than-respectful tone, Esmae took another pull on her cigar, tilted her head back, and expelled into the sky. “Perez Cantana.” The name was unfamiliar, but somehow it rang ominously. “A story some thinkparamitsha, myth, but Esmae know truth. Perez Cantana was prince among tribes. He beautiful man, charming. What he want, he got. He want many women. Some of themmonashay...er…married. He charm with sweet words.”
Ripples of dread moved through her veins.
This story would not end well.
“One day, his sweet words turn sour. He take heart of Aramina, a maiden of much beauty. Aramina was spoiled, shegot all she want, she want Perez. He vow love, she gave her body. She a sillychavito believe his words. Later, he go to bed of other woman. Aramina find. Hate fill soul. She turn dark, ugly. She stole a book, a book of spirits, gods, old and full of much power. A book no Roma ever touch. Witch.”
This all seemed familiar. A beautiful young woman in a fire-lit cavern, casting a spell.
A swell of fear pressed against her heart.
Memories of a gorgeous man screaming in agony, his naked body convulsing. Searing pain, swimming through a deep, roiling ocean, and then black. Echoing black.
Esmae crushed the smoldering tip of her cigar against the rock. Some of the ashes turned to gray dust against the granite surface, but some flitted into the oppressive air of their tiny smoke cocoon, dancing, rising and falling in a waltz so captivating she nearly missed what Esmae said next.
“Aramina enchant Perez.Amria. She chain his spirit to watch.”
Herwatch? Was it the same one from her dream?
“She chain him forever slave to three goddesses. The Sister Goddesses.Tres Deae.”
Haven jerked her head back. “Wait, are you for real? She enchanted him, forced him to live inside a watch, and serve three goddesses? Are you kidding? What does this have to do with me?”
I dreamed about this. Holy shit!
Esmae quirked an eyebrow, her glare focused on Haven’s face, studying her. She didn’t answer.
Haven repeated the question. “What does his enslavement to three goddesses have to do with me?”
“You ask him.” The old lady shrugged, dismissing her with a flick of her finger.
She was floored. “You expect me to talk to the watch?”
The older woman laughed. “No. Watch no talk. You talk to Perez. He hear you. He talk.”
The old woman smiled as she lifted her age spotted hands. With a single wave, the smoke surrounding them dissipated. After a few seconds, the busy camp reappeared, the people appeared oblivious to the fact that she and Esmae had been enveloped in an anomalous smoke cloud in their midst. The noises, the smells, and the sunlight all returned, and she was relieved, if a bit bewildered. Somehow the smoke made them invisible; she couldn’t see outside the smoke screen, and assumed no one could see inside, either. No one looked in their direction, or even blinked when the smoke cleared.
Carcinogenic camouflage.
She ran her fingers through her hair, knocking a few pins loose.
What does Perez’s supposed enchantment have to do with me? Damn it! Still too many questions.
She couldn’t explain it, but a sense of urgency surged within her.
Before she could make a move to find Logan and tell him what she’d learned, four beautiful Roma maidens appeared. They smiled and chatted excitedly, and though she couldn’t understand a word, she caught the gist that they wanted to take her somewhere. Unable to pull away from their eager grasps without being rude, she decided to go along with what they had planned. Hell, how often did she get to spend time in the company of authentic Roma? Smiling and nodding in response to their enthusiastic chatter and hand motions, she followed them into a tent.
Chapter Forty-Four
Hours passed.
When Logan last spied Haven, four squealing girls were dragging her into a tent. He couldn’t stomach the idea that she was out of his sight. He wanted to touch her, smell her, and watch her as she moved, talked, and experienced the intrigues of the Romany camp. As the day began to simmer into dusk, the camp took on a new life.
Two women built a large fire in the clearing in the middle of the camp, the same clearing where he’d first met Esmae.
Weary yet on alert, he took a seat outside the circle.
