Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
Ruth woke groggy and disoriented. She rolled over and fell out of a bed, a low one, so at least the floor wasn’t far when she hit it. She blinked at the hard-packed dirt. Definitely not in the tower anymore or the sandbox.
She pushed to a sitting position, and her queasy stomach lurched.
Don’t puke.
She hated throwing up. A few calming breaths helped to ease the nausea. Slowly, and still unsteady, she rose to her feet and glanced around. She appeared to be alone inside a small cottage with walls made of metal, the paint on them flaking and rusted in spots. The only two windows appeared to be covered with some kind of acrylic sheets that let light in but were too filmy to see out. For furniture, a bed whose mattress dipped, a chair that might collapse if used, and a crate that might have been used as a table. Despite spotting Leo’s pack alongside hers on the floor, the man himself was missing.
Probably out scouting. That was what warriors did, right? Still, she hated being alone in a strange place. Rather than focus on her trepidation, she reminded herself they’d made the voyage intact. A relief. Especially once she slapped her body and made sure all her bits remained intact. But her mind… Foggy as heck.
Bzzzz .
The bug gave warning before landing on the back of her hand. A large mosquito that she slapped. It squished, and she grimaced, not only at the blood spot left behind but the guts on her hand. Gross.
She glanced around and saw nothing resembling a kitchen or a bathroom. Surely there was water somewhere. There were two doors to the place. A wooden slatted one that had to be for the front and a flimsy door to the rear with hooks beside it and the remnants of a threadbare towel. A peek through that opening showed a partially enclosed outhouse. Planks formed the walls but didn’t quite reach the ground. Corrugated metal on a slant formed the roof. While her nose wrinkled at the smell of the latrine—a portable eco toilet that might not have been emptied—she ignored it as she noticed a metal levered pump with a spout.
Water! She grabbed hold of the handle and began to crank. The pump creaked and groaned before spitting out a few drops of moisture. Had it gone dry? She huffed with exertion as she put some muscle into it and was rewarded with a gush of cloudy water, which had her wondering, was it safe?
It should be fine to wash her wands. She just wouldn’t drink it. She pumped until the bucket under the spout filled and then crouched to dunk her hands, rinsing the mosquito gunk and then splashing her flushed face.
Something tickled the top of her head, and she swatted, expecting a flying bug, only she hit something scaly that hissed.
Startled, she landed on her butt and stared upward at the slim brown and gray snake dangling from the outhouse roof. A snake that unhinged its jaw as it flicked its tongue. Pointy teeth peeked, and as it dropped, she shrieked and scuttled backwards. She moved fast, but so did the serpent. The front half of its body hit the floor and began to slither in her direction.
Ruth glanced around for something to defend, but there was nothing.
Just as it reared and threatened, Leo arrived. He grabbed the snake with a fist and yanked. “I don’t think so, fucker.”
The snake thrashed and hissed but was no match for the warrior.
Ruth didn’t feel bad at all when it went limp; she was thankful.
The second after Leo dropped it down the latrine hole, she threw herself at him.
“Thank you.” She hugged him tight.
“Sorry it scared you.”
“I thought it was going to bite me.”
“Oh it would have. In good news, Chilean slender snakes don’t have a deadly venom. Still nasty, though. Almost as bad as rats.”
She peered up at him. “You don’t like rats?”
“Hate them. Beady-eyed fuckers.”
She laughed.
“I’m serious.”
“I can’t believe you’re scared of rats.”
“Not scared. They’re creepy,” he grumbled.
“You’re funny,” she stated, her lips curving.
“Fuck being funny. I’d rather be handsome and fierce.”
“You’re that as well,” she offered with a teasing smile.
“I’ll accept fierce, but if I were handsome, you wouldn’t have shoved me away after I kissed you.” He proved blunt with his statement.
“I had to. You’re my patient. It’s not ethical.”
“I beg to differ. Technically, I am not your patient.”
“Even if Sage fired me, we still had sessions.”
“Sage fired you?” He snorted. “Of course she did. But there was no need because you weren’t technically ever hired. We managed two brief, interrupted meetings, where I never even got a chance to pay, meaning the transaction was never complete. Ergo, I am not now, nor ever was, actually your patient.”
Twisted logic to justify what he wanted—what he wanted being her. It flattered, but her sense of responsibility kicked in.
“Leo, we talked about this.”
“You talked. I pretended to listen.”
“It’s not appropriate.”
“You argue too much.” He silenced her with a kiss. A quick one that she felt all the way to her toes.
“I’m just?—”
He kissed her again.
“Leo,” she moaned against his mouth.
“Yes, Buttercup?” he murmured as he nibbled her lips.
“I don’t know if you’re ready for?—”
“Oh, I am more than ready to make love to you, Buttercup. Although it’s been so long I’ll probably be really, really quick the first few times. But don’t worry, I will still make it worth your while.”
She blinked. Who was this confident teasing man? “Are you okay? You seem different.”
“What you’re seeing is the me of before. A man who was lost for a while but is now finding his way back.”
“This change in character seems abrupt.”
“Sudden, yes, but long overdue. I’ve wallowed long enough.”
“I thought you didn’t wallow,” she teased.
“I was, even I can admit that now. But it’s a hard cycle to break because, as you probably know, misery begets misery. The more I blamed myself, the more shit I felt. The more shit I felt, the more I wanted to suffer. Enough is enough. I deserve a chance to be happy, and you know what makes me happy?”
“What?” she asked faintly, finding it hard to think with her body tucked snugly against his.
“Seeing your cheeks turn pink.”
“They do not,” she huffed, blushing.
“There’s the color I love to see.” He winked, but she frowned.
She didn’t know what to make of this new Leo. The change in him was startling. Usually, it would take months of therapy to see results because, as he’d accurately pegged, angst tended to feed upon itself. Breaking that cycle could be difficult.
“I hope you’re not faking this good mood for my benefit.”
“Do I seem like the type to do that?”
“No, but I find it hard to believe you suddenly just snapped out of it.” She clicked her fingers.
“Why not? After all, I fell into depression suddenly. Why can’t it end as abruptly? Don’t forget, I am a Zodiac Warrior. We’re a different breed. Our strength isn’t just in our body but our minds.” He tapped his temple.
She snorted. “If you say so.”
“You’ll see. Depressed Leo is a thing of the past. It’s time I looked to the future.”
For a second, she thought of asking him about what his daughter said in the dream about them soon meeting. Was his sudden good humor meant to throw her off? Was he planning to join his daughter in death?
He’d better not, or she might just find the magic needed to chastise him beyond the grave.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“Astriaco, which is a very tiny village. One of the inhabitants offered us the use of this lovely abode. Its owner passed, and no one is currently using it.”
“Did you ask them about the door?”
“Yes, which leads me to the good and bad news. Which do you want first?”
“Let’s start with good.”
“Good news is I found Santos, and he remembers your father.”
“So what’s the bad?”
“He refuses to take us to the door. Claims it’s cursed and that angry spirits took your father.”
“Which I’m sure won’t deter you one bit,” she muttered.
“Nope.”
“If he won’t take us, then how will we find it?” She’d rather not get lost in the jungle like her father.
“Well, there is a woman. I met her down by the stream where we arrived. She claimed she could guide us to some of the ancient places in the area.”
“I’ll bet she offered.” Where did that growl of jealousy come from?
His grin widened. “Name of Maria. By the sounds of it, her mother knew of your father. Who knows, she might be the witch mentioned in your dad’s journal.”
“You were busy while I was passed out,” she grumbled.
“Just getting shit done so we can have a relaxing evening before our journey tomorrow.”
“So soon?”
“No point in waiting.”
“I thought you said Santos refused to help.”
“He did, but he’ll change his mind.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I can be persuasive.”
“You’d better not hurt him.” Ruth wagged a finger.
“Of course not, although I might use threatening words.”
“Leo. You can’t do that to the man. By the sounds of it, he’s really frightened.”
“In that case, we’d better hope the daughter of Dr. Warmstone can sweet-talk him. Apparently, your dad must have spoken of you often because Santos remembered your name.”
“My dad mentioned me? What did he say?” She couldn’t help but sound surprised.
“Guess you’ll have to talk to Santos to see what was said.”
A chance to find out the truth of her father’s feelings? She had to try. “Where can I find Santos?”
“Looked like he was heading to the local cantina. You hungry?”
Given her recent queasy stomach, she almost said no, only to realize she could use a bite and the idea of authentic Chilean food? The chef in her bobbed her head.
“Yes, please.”
To her surprise, he laced his fingers with hers as he led from the small hut into a rustic village. Despite leaving the tower in the morning, it appeared to be early evening, with twilight giving way to a clear night with stars shining in the sky.
“Can you see my constellation?” he murmured, glancing upwards.
“Would you be mad if I said I have no idea how to find them?”
He chuckled. “I didn’t have the slightest clue when I was recruited. To me, stars were stars.”
“How were you chosen?” she asked as they neared a building playing music.
“By almost dying doing the right thing.” His expression turned pensive as he muttered, “My dumb ass ran into a burning building to save some people trapped. I got everyone out, but someone claimed one of the children was missing. I went back inside and almost didn’t escape alive. Ended up severely injured. Burned on a good portion of my body, my lungs irritated from the smoke. I was in so much pain I couldn’t even be mad that those who cried for me to go back were mistaken. Turns out, the child wasn’t in the house. Not that it mattered by that point. I was dying and, for my effort, abandoned.”
“What?” she exclaimed.
“Everyone knew I wouldn’t survive the night, but no one had the balls to end my misery. Instead, they left me outside the burning house, assuming either a wild animal would finish me off or that I’d die of my wounds.”
“That’s horrible,” she exclaimed.
“It was a different time. One with no time for the weak. I don’t blame them. I would have been a burden had I recovered.”
“Burden how? You’re perfectly fine.”
“Only because the stars chose me. As I lay bathed in starlight, a voice asked me if I would be the world’s champion for a second chance at life. I said yes. Next thing I knew, I was wrapped in light and taken to Tower for my transformation and education on what being a Zodiac warrior meant.” They’d stopped in front of the cantina while he finished his story.
“You were chosen for your bravery.”
“Bravery, supposed honor, the fact I could kill. Being a hero isn’t all saving kittens from trees and people from drowning. Our task is to root out evil and eliminate it.”
“Will you have to do that forever?”
“Until I die or retire, passing on the role to someone else.”
“You can stop being a warrior?”
“Yes, although not sure why I would. This is my life. My purpose. In all our history, hundreds of warriors have served, but only a handful ever quit.”
“Who chose you? You said there was a voice.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. None of us do. Just another mystery, like the origin of Babel Tower.”
The door to the cantina opened, and heavenly scents wafted.
“That smells good.” Ruth’s mouth watered.
It was more than good. The authentic cazuela —a type of stew with hearty vegetables and meat—served with pan amasado —a Chilean bread—filled the tummy nicely.
As they ate at the rear of the building on a mismatched pair of chairs, Leo pointed out Santos sitting by himself shoveling food into his mouth.
After the meal, Ruth approached him and managed only to say, “Hi, I’m Ruth Warmstone,” before the man wildly shook his head.
“No. Go home. Go.” He shooed Ruth, his agitation so obvious she couldn’t push.
She turned to return to her table to see her chair occupied by a woman.
A beautiful woman.
And Ruth saw green—with a heavy outline of red.