Chapter 47
47
“Thea!” Sol caught me in the courtyard.
“Hi.” I watched him approach, shirtless and shoeless, clad in just navy swim trunks.
“Hi, beautiful.” He leaned in. For a moment I winced, sure he was going to kiss me on the mouth. He gave me a peck on the cheek, instead. “How are you feeling?”
“Super,” I said.
“Good. I’m a little…” He waggled his fingers. “… myself. But sometimes we need a Dionysian night, right?”
Dionysus—why did that word keep coming up? It had been the name of the dog too. Talia’s. Steven’s absent girlfriend.
“You hungry? You want Grace to make you something?” Sol pointed towards the castle. “She’s starting to prep dinner.” He chuckled. “To be honest with you, I can’t even look at food right now.”
Where Moon had appeared fresh and cheerful, Sol’s face hung in folds, his eyes puffy and red. He looked five or even ten years older. I felt a sudden repulsion towards him.
“But I heard that you and Jonah are ready to fly the coop,” he continued. “Steven should be back by dinnertime. So he can drive you guys to the airport then. I think there’s a late-night direct flight to New York, right? Hopefully, you can hop right on that.”
“Sure.” I tried to sound calm. If he knew I’d just broken into Catherine’s room, or that Jonah and I had tried to start the other car, he wasn’t showing it. “And where is Steven?”
“He’s picking up a satellite phone. We’re sick of this shitty Wi-Fi situation.” Sol shook his head. “It’s unsafe to not have a line out, you know?”
“Right,” I said slowly.
“You know, I’m really bummed that you’re leaving.” Sol’s face went solemn. “But you know what’s best for you. And you’re the one driving the bus with this whole situation. So we have to accept that. Anyway.” He waved a hand. “I’ll save my goodbyes for later. I’m going to have a soak; it’s the best cure for a hangover. See you there?”
“Maybe. Enjoy.”
He loped off, and I froze when I saw the angry red claw marks on his back.
I went to Jonah’s yurt, opening the door to find him lying in bed.
“Hey.” He blinked blearily at me. After a second, he held out an arm. Despite my frustration and fear, a small, giddy feeling rose in my stomach. I went to him and climbed in. He spooned me, molding his body to mine and slipping his arm over me. I pulled his hand under my chin. Our bodies fit together perfectly.
“This is the worst hangover I’ve had in years,” he murmured into my ear.
“Me too.” I sighed. “Catherine won’t walk out with us. She’s saying really weird things. I’m worried about her.”
“Did Sol tell you about Steven?”
“That he was coming back at dinnertime? Yeah.” I paused. “You think we should stay?”
“I think we should consider it.”
“But it still just feels… sketchy.”
“I know. But there’s a chance we’re seeing things that aren’t there. We have to consider the facts.”
“Like what?”
“Well, we didn’t tell them we wanted to leave today, so it makes sense they didn’t keep the car here for us. And the second car doesn’t run, sure, but it’s not like it was running before. And the Wi-Fi—it’s really not working. I asked Grace to reboot it earlier, and I sat with her when she did it. Maybe we’re putting more meaning into all these things than we should.”
“But what about all this bizarre sacrifice stuff? And that conversation between Sol and Grace?” I shivered. “It’s creeping me out.”
“Moon said it’d be symbolic, right? And who knows what Grace and Sol were talking about. Maybe it’s a weird sex thing.”
“Oh god,” I groaned, pressing my hand to my eyes.
“And like I mentioned… I have protection for us.”
“Where is it?” I asked.
“It’s in my suitcase. Under the bed.”
I sat up, pulled it out, and opened it. I pushed aside the jumble of clothes. Underneath was a hard plastic case.
“Is this legal?” I asked, my stomach twisting. I’d never been this close to a gun, unless you counted the cops patrolling the subway. Friends’ parents had been hunters growing up, but my dad had never owned one.
“You think I’d be able to get a gun on the plane illegally?” He propped his head on his hand, watching me. “Yes, it’s legal. I just had to check the bag.”
“So you’re going to wear this on your person?”
“On my person?” He smirked. “Yes. That’s exactly where it will be.”
“Okay.” I shoved the suitcase back and lay down. “You think Moon and Sol have any?”
“Those hippies? You think they’re packing?”
“I don’t know.” The idea did seem ridiculous. I couldn’t imagine their drums and dried sage bundles swapped out with pistols or shotguns.
“I have a holster. Just stay near me until Steven gets back. As a precaution.” He rewrapped his arm around me.
“How do you feel about last night?” I asked in a whisper.
“Well… I wasn’t planning on it,” he replied softly.
“Me either.” Did that mean he regretted it?
“Have you done something like that before?” I asked.
“Group sex?” He chuckled, his chest vibrating against my back. “No way. I’m boring. But… there’s something about this place.”
“Yeah.”
“There’s something about you too.”
“Really?” I perked up.
“Yeah.” He kissed the back of my neck, which sent a jolt of electricity down my spine. “I think I like you. Can’t you tell?”
“I mean… not really.”
“I know I can be hard to read.” He was quiet for a second. “Can I take you out when we get back to New York?”
“Yeah. Definitely.” Maybe I should’ve played it cool, but the words leapt from my mouth. I waited for him to speak again, but then a snore rumbled in my ear. He was asleep.
The irony amazed me. The last thought I had before I drifted into sleep:
I’d come to this relational retreat to search for a missing woman.
I’d encountered an actual cult.
And I’d met someone.