I nodded at her. “Please don’t get upset by this. But the truth is…He spoke to me. Not once or twice, but for years. I actually…” I swallowed heavily as I hesitated to reveal this. “...Saw him while I was under that coma. He confirmed that he had guided me at times.” I lowered my head. I clearly remember his words and seeing him. But they would probably think that my head injury had scrambled my brain or something.
The room went completely silent.
Selena was suddenly in front of me as she reached out to brace my cheeks with both hands. Tears filled her eyes. “I-I believe you, Carlos. I have seen him in my dreams many times.”
This did not surprise me as I stared into her eyes. “Si, it makes sense now. A lot of things do.”
Selena nodded. “He kept after me. He wanted me to leave the cartel. He knew I only joined to get revenge for his death. He knew what was in my heart. A vile hatred for Santiago. But he told me not to darken my soul. I argued that I had already passed that point.”
“Let me guess,” I told her. “He said that you had defended yourself. You never took the life of someone who was unarmed.”
Her eyes widened as she looked astounded. “Yes! That is exactly what he said.”
I nodded at her. “That is also what he told me.”
Wrapping her arms around me, she rested her head on my shoulder.
I raised my arms and embraced her. “He said he would finally rest when his children were with their mother,” I whispered to her ear.
“And we will do that,” she promised in a whisper as well. “I do not care how hard it will be or how long it takes.”
We broke our embrace and looked over at the two men.
They were both looking down at their phones. Clever move… to seem busy at this moment.
Rain looked up at me and said, “I got a room here for the Tin Man and myself.”
Henry’s head snapped up. “You did? I thought we were like just giving them privac—”
“You always contribute nothing but jokes and stories, comrade,” Rain griped.
“And you are full of hot air, bloke.”
I chuckled and said, “Chicos… I am glad to find that neither of you have changed at all.”
Chapter Thirteen:You’d Best Behave
Selena
Rain put his phone away then took his laptop from its case and set it up on the table. “We need to do some research first. I have firsthand knowledge of Catemaco. But it is full of tourists this month. It is festival time there.”
“What kind of festival?” Henry snarked. “Bullshit and Broomsticks?”
“Not even close,” Rain replied as he tapped his keyboard. “It is the Congress of Witches really. Some say it is not evil or dark. They have mixed Catholic religion and their brand of magic. In fact, the church is the focal point of that area.”
“I cannot fathom such a thing,” Henry argued.
“All things are possible in the world,” Rain told him. “Even you getting smarter.”
Carlos chuckled.
“You are just so funny, aren’t you, Ivan?” Henry snapped.
“I am. Yes, I am.” Rain smirked.
I wandered over and took a look at his screen. I saw a beautiful image of the church he spoke of. It was white with blue trimming. Rounded tops and just a lovely, magical looking building. I read the caption on there aloud, “The Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Catemaco, Veracruz, Mexico. At the heart of Catemaco’s spiritual energy is the annual gathering of brujos and curanderos. They don’t arrive in secret, they're welcomed. Honored. It’s not about black hats and broomsticks. It’s about healing. Cleansing. Calling in good. Driving out what no longer serves.”
Rain nodded at Henry. “See? It is not as you think,Sir Spicious.”
