Page 85 of Cheaters: A Dark Romance Anthology

I stepped beyond the curtain and the room went black at the same time that the wind whirled so loudly that it whistled, piercing my ears so badly that I curled forward, seeking relief. I never found that, but darkness swallowed whole, leaving me vulnerable to Senga and whatever this room was.

The next thing I knew… silence.

Chapter Thirteen

ANISE

God damn it!

Raphael acted as if he couldn’t hear me calling him. He’d walked right into that bat-shit-crazy woman’s lair and now I had to go in after him. She was always lurking around out here in her fancy chair and bright-ass clothes. Nobody really believed the shit that she told people.

Born and raised in New Orleans meant that I’d heard all the crazy stories people liked to tell. The myths, legends, and even the ghost and voodoo tales. Some of them made sense. Restless souls that couldn’t seem to move on and all. That differed from reading palms, telling futures, and seeing destinies. Senga swore she could do them all. People paid her ridiculous amounts of money to hear the lies that she sprouted.

I get it. Supply and demand. People wanted to hear about their fate and telling them elusive stuff that they could spin into signs and apply it to their own theories was an easy way to make a living. The problem that I had was that she always seemed to lure people in against their best wishes. I don’t know how she knew what right thing to say to get them invested in her, but it worked like a sure thing.

Inside, I looked around the dimly lit room. Candles were everywhere, and Raphael was nowhere.

“Raphael!” I shouted.

I heard movement before a woman emerged into the room from behind the curtain. She was not Senga.

“Have a seat, please. Senga will be with you in a second.” She bowed her head and said nothing more.

Petite and non-intimidating, I scoffed at her.

“Where is Raphael? I just want to get him and go.”

“He is discussing important matters with Senga. You’ll wait for him here. Then Senga will talk to you.”

“No such thing will happen. I want to see him now!” I stepped up into her face, ready to strike her.”

“Soon.” was all she said. Her stare was level with mine, and she didn’t flinch a bit. We stayed there in the same position, staring at one another, unyielding. “Soon.”

Soon turned out to be half an hour.

Raphael stumbled from the backroom like he’d seen a ghost.

“Raph?” I called after him as he stumbled past me and out into the street.

Senga walked from behind the curtain with a troubled expression. “You can come back tomorrow.”

“No! You’ll tell me what you did to him! Why does he look like that and what did you say to him?!”

“Tomorrow,” Senga whispered

“No, now!” Tension fueled my efforts. And my anger was boiling to the point of fury. “You know what? I’ve always thought that you were a crock of shit. You’re always floating around like you have some knowledge that no one else has. What are you hiding back there? White sheets, a recording, and shadows on the wall?”

I turned on my heels, moving toward the door, and tired of the bull. This game was over and I needed to find Raphael.

“Being afraid to love Raphael won’t save him. Death hangs over his head. And when it comes a’callin then whatchu gonna do, chile? Nothing can save him from the demons plottin’ on his misfortune. He’s gonna lose a lot ‘fore he gains anyt’ing. Ya’see, he keeps’on runnin’ away from t’ings or pushin’ them ways away. Bein’ with him is gonna hurt. You’ll have to sacrifice yourself for him time and time again. But he’ll give you somethin’ that the gods will want back. And if you’s strong. You’ll get what you want most.”

A chill so strong coated my bones that I was afraid to look back at Senga. Her words were sure. The meaning was obscure, but I had the feeling that she knew exactly what she was talking about.

“One life. One for two. One life. And not’ing you can do aboud’it. His demons will become yours. But you’re strong. Sacrifices are always worth the reward. And ‘tis nobody’s fault. The gods want what t’e gods want.” The sorrow coming from her made me spin in her direction. She was gone. The room was quiet. And the chill grew colder. “Be strong, chile’.” Someone whispered the words close to my ear, but there was no one behind me.

I was alone in this room and, for the moment, I felt alone in this world. I don’t know what was happening or what she truly meant by her cryptic message, but whatever was to be, if she was true to her words, was not good. And I took that knowledge with me back into the streets of New Orleans as I searched for Raphael.

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