The Curse Keepers Collection (89 page)

My stomach rolled into a tight ball as I stopped several feet from the bed. What could he possibly hope to gain from that? “I’m not sure how that helps you.”

He leaned back on his elbows. “Mishiginebig and the others—do you know how they came into existence?”

I had seen it in my vision in the ocean with Collin when I’d reexperienced creation. “You created them.”

“Yes. Some. There are spirits who were created by Ahone that are still loyal to him, but they are weak.”

That was news to me. I hadn’t realized there were benevolent spirits.

“But there are others, Ellie. Half man, half immortal.”

“Like Ukinim and Ilena?”

“No, they were humans who were turned into animals.” He leaned forward. “There are others who resemble humans—some more, some less. But none are perfect. Yet.”

I shook my head, my nerves on edge. I was afraid to hear the rest.

“I made my creations to rival Ahone’s precious human race, but when he split himself apart, he kept the essential piece that made men and women. I couldn’t make them on my own, so I sought help.”

“Where? Who?”

“How were you created, Ellie? How did
you
come into the world?”

The blood squeezed from my head, fear of what he might be suggesting making me light-headed. “My parents.”

“Exactly. You had
parents
.” He stood and moved next to me. I backed up until my shoulder bumped into a lantern post. “My later creations also had parents—a human mother and myself. But their mothers weren’t strong enough and their humanity was overpowered by my own traits. I need someone stronger.”

I shook my head, hysteria bubbling in my throat. “No.”

“You are
perfect
. Your soul is pure and you have the power of the sea. Together we can make children to rival Ahone’s.”

“No!”

“I can offer you anything you desire if you cooperate, Ellie. Anything.” His smile was warm and adoring.

“
Why?
Why would you do this? You have enough monstrosities running loose. Why would you want more?”

“Because you’re exactly right. They are monstrosities. I tried over and over again to perfect them. Is it so wrong to want a perfect child? You can help me.”

“No.” I shook my head repeatedly. “I won’t do it.”

He stared into my eyes lovingly, his smile so genuine and understanding. So deceiving. “Ellie, you don’t have a choice.”

“The hell I don’t.” I shoved his shoulder hard and burst free, intending to run to the beach.

Daddy stood at the edge of the trees.

I froze, my feet digging into the sand. I almost fell forward. “
Daddy?
”

“Ellie.” He held his hands out to me. “You can bring me back.”

I wanted Daddy, but at what cost? I looked over my shoulder at the god behind me.

“Ellie, I was wrong about Okeus. He’s really on our side.”

I never remembered Daddy talking about Okeus other than being concerned about me having the god’s symbol on my back. “What are you talking about?”

“Ellie, you need to listen to Okeus. He can bring me back.”

Collin told me that no human could go to Popogusso and come back alive. So how was my father here? “Daddy, he wants me to do something terrible.”

He stepped toward me and placed his right hand on my arm. His fingers were cool and clammy, not the warm hands I remembered. His face was my father’s . . . but not my father’s. It looked wrong, almost plastic. And Daddy always smelled like cinnamon with a soft hint of leather, even after he’d taken ill. Now he smelled like nothing. But that was to be expected, right? Okeus had brought Daddy back from the dead, so it made sense that he wouldn’t be quite himself.

But I knew in my heart that this wasn’t him, and having his likeness in front of me made the pain of losing him fresh all over again.

“It’s okay, Ellie. Okeus is going to help us. We should help him too.”

I shook my head and took a step back, tears burning my eyes. “No. You’re not Daddy.”

His face twisted in dismay. “Ellie, how can you say that?” He held his hands out from his sides. “It’s me.”

“No. My daddy would never let anything terrible happen to me.”

Okeus approached from behind. “Can you be so sure about that? How well did you
really
know your father? You didn’t even know that your father was world renowned in his field. Or the role he
really
played in your mother’s death. Your father was supposed to be home the night she was killed, but he was somewhere else.”

Fear tickled the back of my head, stealing my breath. “He went to a board meeting.”

Okeus’s eyebrows lifted in mock surprise. “Did he? You think you are beginning to know what happened the night your mother was killed, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.”

“You’re a liar.” I pointed to the man who looked like Daddy. “That is
not
my father.”

Okeus’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want most, Ellie? What is your heart’s desire? Is it your father? Maybe not . . . maybe it’s the truth about your mother’s death.” He gave me a smug smile. “I know the truth and can share it with you.”

“Liar,” I spit.

“Or is it Collin? I know you think he betrayed you, but he only did what he thought was best for all concerned. I assured him you would eventually understand.”

“I understand all right. I understand that you lie and manipulate and bend the truth to get what you want.”

“Ellie.” I heard impatience in his voice.

“I have proof that you’re a liar. You promised Collin payment and you didn’t follow through.”

Okeus’s eyes narrowed, his temper creeping in. “He disobeyed me.”

“For protecting me? Isn’t that what you said? But now
you
want to protect me too, so maybe you should pay him now.”

Okeus’s eyes flashed red before returning to their normal dark brown. “I do not tolerate disobedience.”

“Then this thing between us”—I waved my hand from him to me—“It’s not going to work out, because I have a real problem with obedience. Just ask Collin.” I looked up at the thing pretending to be my daddy. “And too bad that’s not my daddy—he would have told you the same thing.”

I stomped toward the water, but Okeus grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “We aren’t done here.”

“Well I am.” I jerked my arm out of his grasp, and blood soaked through my white shirt as my arm began to throb where the badger had clawed me. I stopped to stare at it in confusion, but Okeus took advantage of my distraction.

Wrapping an arm around my waist, he pulled my back to his chest and picked me up as if I weighed nothing. He stomped toward the canopied daybed.

I kicked his shins and clawed his arms, screaming, but he never so much as flinched.

He’s a fucking god, Ellie
. Could I physically hurt a god?

I swallowed a sob of panic.

“Ellie, you’re a disappointment. I thought you were smarter than this.” He threw me down on the bed and the skirt and shirt instantly disappeared, leaving me naked.

I scrambled backward on the bed, but Okeus grabbed my ankles and dragged me toward him.

This is just a dream.

That’s right. It was just a dream. All I had to do was wake up.

“You bear my mark on your arm, but you refuse to take my mark of protection on your own.” A claw extended from his finger as his other hand pressed down on my shoulder. “So now you shall bear another.” He lowered the nail to my exposed abdomen, the tip sinking into the skin above my belly button, slicing his zigzag pattern there.

I screamed until I was hoarse, thrashing to get away, but it only made the pain worse.

I had to wake up. Why couldn’t I wake up?

Okeus looked down at his completed mark with a smile. “I claim you as my own, Elinor Lancaster.”

“Fuck you,” I shouted through my tears. I
had
to wake up. Ahone’s messenger had told me to use my resources, but what other resources did I have other than the mark on my palm?

David.

“David!” I screamed, hoping this would work. It was the only plan I had. “
David!
”

Okeus began to unbuckle his jeans.

“Ellie!” I could hear David’s voice in my head.

“David. Help me!” I sobbed. I felt my physical body being shaken, and I scooted backward.

Anger spread across Okeus’s face. “No!” He grabbed my legs and pulled me toward him.

I closed my eyes to concentrate. “
David!
”

A hard jerk shook me, and I opened my eyes to David’s terrified face.

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY
-T
HREE

I was back in my dark room—the only illumination a glimmer of light from the open bathroom door. David sat on the bed next to me. His hands were on my shoulders, shaking me. I sat up, wincing as pain shot through my abdomen, and threw my arms around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder.

He held me tight against his chest with one arm, his other hand cradling the back of my head. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”

I continued to cry, beginning to hyperventilate.

He gently pulled away enough to look in my eyes. “Ellie, you’re safe. It was just a dream.”

I shook my head, my shoulders shaking with my tears. I struggled to catch my breath. “It
wasn’t
just a dream.” I looked down at my arm.

“You’re bleeding.” His voice rose in alarm as he dropped his hold on me and grabbed my arm. “These are claw marks.”

“Ukinim.”

His eyes widened. “When did you leave the house?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t.”

“
This happened in your dreams?
”

The sheet covering my body had fallen to my lap, and his gaze lowered to the blood trickling from the carving on my stomach.

Oh, God. I was naked.

I grabbed the sheet and pulled it up to cover my chest.

“And your stomach? What did that?”

“Okeus.” My voice hitched.

His body tensed, and he looked out the window before turning back to me. “I’m going to get something to clean you up.” He got off the bed, and my chest exploded with panic at the thought of being alone.

“Don’t leave me!
Please
.” I started crying again and grabbed his arm. “Please don’t leave me.” I knew I was irrational, but nothing about what had just happened was rational.

He pulled me into his arms. “I won’t, Ellie. I promise I won’t leave you.”

I clung to his neck, terrified. I knew I was safe at the moment, but my hysteria still refused to believe it.

He tugged the top sheet off the bed and wrapped it around my back. “Let’s go into the bathroom.”

I hiccuped a breath, gaining control of my tears. “Okay.” I slid off the bed with his help. My legs shook and began to buckle, but he slid an arm around my back, supporting my weight.

David guided me through the bathroom door, moving sideways, and helped me sit on the closed toilet lid. The brightness of the room helped soothe my frazzled nerves, and I looked up into his worried face. Blood covered his T-shirt where I’d grabbed him. He lifted my arm, his brow wrinkling with concern. “How the bloody hell did this happen?”

“I don’t know. Wapi was outside my window when I fell asleep.”

“What about your dream catcher?”

I took a deep breath. “I had it.”

He dug a first-aid kit out from under the sink and opened up several alcohol pads. “Why didn’t it work?” He sounded angry, but his touch was gentle as he dabbed at the wounds. “And even if you had dreams, they shouldn’t have manifested themselves this way.”

I flinched as the alcohol burned my gashes. “I don’t know what happened.” My voice broke.

He dropped to his knees in front of me. “Ellie, I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you. I’m just frustrated. I thought I had figured out a way to protect you while you were asleep and it failed.” His mouth turned down. “I failed you.”

“No. You saved me. If you hadn’t called my name, I don’t think I would have woken up and Okeus . . . ” I started crying again, helplessness washing over me. I’d given myself the illusion of being in control, but I wasn’t in control of anything.

David grabbed my shoulders. “You’re here now.”