Page 18 of The Curse Defiers

“Ahone was there! He told me not to go downstairs. He wouldn’t let me help her.”

“Oh, fuck.”

I leaned my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes, trying to remember every detail. It was all still there, perfectly preserved like a DVD on pause; all I had to do was rewind it. “The man wasn’t there for me. He was there for a ring.” I looked up into his face. “She told the man who broke into our house that she didn’t know about the ring.” I shook my head. “She was lying to him. Iknowit, deep in my gut. But how do I know she was lying when I don’t remember anything else?”

Sorrow filled his eyes. “I don’t know, Ellie. Maybe you know from your memories, even if you can’t access them.”

“He told her that he thought she was smart and that was the reason Higgins asked her to come to Charlotte.”

His face paled. “Charlotte?”

The pieces were starting to fit together. “My mother saw the Ricardo collection a week before she was murdered. She was murdered because of aring, the ring I found buried under my oak tree, the one I’m wearing now—” I held up my right hand and showed him the ring “—not because that man was after me.”

“Your mother saw the Ricardo Estate?” His arm dropped away from me as his back became rigid. “You told me you thought there was a connection between the estate and your mother’s death, but I didn’t understand how you’d made that leap.” He watched me for several seconds, terror washing over his face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I only found out a couple of weeks ago. From a friend of my parents.”

Collin leaned forward, looking like he was about to be sick. He squeezed his eyes shut. “Fuck.”

“Why are you so freaked out?” Collin was always in control when it came to the curse and all things supernatural. The only time I’d seen him panic was after Wapi attacked me in the ocean. He’d suddenly realized the danger I was truly in from the gods and demons and was hit by the full impact of what he’d done tome. So what had him freaked out now?

He glanced over his shoulder at me. “We’re just pawns in some monumental game. He’s been planning this for centuries.” His voice sounded strained.

I wanted to argue with him, but I knew he was right. I just didn’t know what to do about it. “So Ahone let that man kill my mother?”

Collins shook his head and turned away. “I don’t know, Ellie.” He ran a hand over his scalp, refusing to look at me. “Maybe…Probably.”

In light of everything else, I didn’t doubt it.

“Then Ahone killed my motherandmy father,” I whispered as the horror washed over me. “He took them both from me.Why?” Tears slid down my cheeks.

Collin grabbed my hand, linking our fingers and holding tight, still staring out into the ocean. “I don’t know.”

We sat in silence, watching the waves together. Tears burned my eyes. Ahone was a monster too. “I have his fucking mark on my back. I want it off!”

He turned to me, pity in his eyes. “It’s too late. You’ve been picked.”

“Oh, God, Collin.” My voice cracked as I desperately tried to keep control, but panic was overtaking my senses. “I feel so disgusted and used and—”

“Betrayed.” His voice was full of resignation.

“Yes.Betrayed.”

His mouth twisted into a sad smile. “I know exactly how you feel.”

I should be angry. Where was my anger? But all I felt was a numbing iciness. “Why? Why would he do this?”

“I don’t know. He’s a god. Was he bored? Was it fun for him to set this all up? But you can’t trust anything he says or does.”

Collin was right, and part of me hated him for that. He’d tried to warn me, but I’d refused to listen. “What about Okeus? Are you suggesting that I should follow him instead?”

“No. He’s just as bad, although maybe Ahone is worse. Okeus was still trapped after the curse broke, but he sent his messenger to me. Kanim told me that Ahone had used me, just like Ahone had used Manteo years before to create the curse. If I pledged myself to Okeus, he said, I would be rewarded for my loyalty.” He looked away. “At least Okeus is fairly up front about his deviousness. Ahone masquerades as a kind, benevolent god.”

Tears welled up in my eyes and my throat burned, but I was too shocked and devastated to cry. What little I knew about the curse was all a lie, which meant I knew absolutely nothing.

Collin stood and reached down for me. “Come here.”

“What are you doing?” I asked as he pulled me to my feet and started for the water.

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