Chapter Seven #2
“Quit being cryptic and just get on with it.”
She squeezed his hand and let it flow. “KuTu believes that the Lord of Death has sent you from Xibalba.”
He stared at her hard, as if looking for cracks. “The Maya Underworld?”
“Yes, that Xibalba. He thinks the vultures flying around and the tarantula in your boot are protectors sent by Yum Cimil to watch over you.”
He let out a guffaw mixed with a cough. “So, I’m some sort of lackey for the Maya god of death?”
“At least one of the death gods, anyway.” She licked her lips. “When he was talking me out of climbing the wall that first day we came across it, he said it was too dangerous for me and suggested I send you up instead. That you would be safe because of your protectors.”
“And you, of all people, believed him? You, who doesn’t believe in curses or prophecies?”
“That has changed. I’ve changed.”
“Since when?”
“Since you showed up and strange shit started happening.”
“Fair enough.” He nodded a couple of times. “But seriously, you believed KuTu enough to send me up that wall, knowing there was a possibility of snakes and who knew what else being up there.”
“Parker, there are snakes everywhere in the jungle. There were probably a bunch more on the ground around us while you only had one to deal with up there.”
“Quit making legitimate points when I’m trying to be miffed about you throwing me to the lions.”
“I will when you quit being dramatic about going up on that wall. Besides, if memory serves, you weren’t about to let me climb it, even though I happily would have.”
“You know fighting with you isn’t any fun if you’re always going to be right about everything. You need to work on that in the future. I’d like to win a few arguments now and then.”
“Duly noted.” She scooted closer to him so they were touching, shoulder to thigh. “But, seriously, KuTu isn’t the only one who has concerns about you.”
“That certainly explains why he keeps watching me like I’m about to grow a pair of horns and …” He cocked his head slightly. “Who else is concerned about me? I mean, besides you?”
“I’m only concerned because I don’t want anything to happen to you. And, honestly, I was mainly focused on your dislike of the heat and humidity and pests when I previously suggested you skip coming here and stay home.”
Something in his expression gave her the feeling he didn’t quite believe her, but she pushed on with her point because her dad could be back any minute. It was a good hour past his usual bedtime, as it was.
“Teodoro also believes you’ve been sent up from the Maya Underworld. Only he thinks you’re a good demon sent to protect rather than harm. He says that you have more strength than you know.”
Quint sat on that in silence, his expression lined with wrinkles and creases.
“Since arriving,” she continued, “he has heard about your experience with the vulture and pit viper and tarantula, and he believes this plays along with his theory.”
“But I thought these animals were signs of the Lord of Death, who is not a protector.”
“Yes, well, keep in mind there are other death gods besides Yum Cimil. Besides, there are more signs besides the birds, the snake, and the tarantula.”
One dark eyebrow lifted. “Signs that I’m a demon?”
“Yes, but a good one.” When he tried to pull his hand free, she held on tight. “Teodoro has found nine owl feathers since he arrived at camp.”
“Nine.” Quint’s mouth twisted. “Let me guess, one feather for each level of the Underworld.”
“Exactly. The biggest one was left outside our tent flap.”
“Maybe somebody is setting me up.”
“Why?”
“Who knows? But kookier things have happened at previous digs with me and you.”
That was true. “But how do you explain the butterflies?”
“The butterflies?” He shook his head slightly. “What do you mean? There are butterflies all over this place. Calakmul is well known to be a butterfly haven.”
“Yeah, but why do they hover more around you than anyone else.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I smell better.”
She leaned over and kissed his bare shoulder. His skin was soapy fresh, free from Teodoro’s goop for now. “You do smell very nice, especially after a shower.”
They sat in silence for a few beats while the jungle breathed around them.
“You actually believe this stuff from KuTu and Teodoro?” he asked quietly.
“I don’t know what to believe, but after what happened at the last dig site, I can’t be as logical as I used to be and rule this sort of woo-woo nuttiness out.”
“Butterflies, huh?”
“Yep. It is kind of odd. I witnessed that when we were clearing more vines from the front of the wall. Several of them kept going back and forth between the stack of skulls and you.”
He tugged his hand free of hers. “I need to show you something.”
There was an unhappy tone in his voice that made her sit upright to better look at him. “What? You didn’t get bit by something, did you?”
“No.” He pulled the ring he’d told her his aunt had sent off his right middle finger and held it out to her. “Look at the inside.”
She stood and held the ring up to the camp light. Inside of the band was a … “You’ve got to be shitting me,” she whispered, frowning down at him. “Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”
He shrugged. “I thought it was just an odd coincidence. Like I said, this biosphere reserve is well known to the butterfly-loving community, and my aunt is a fan of the winged beauties. She’s done glass pieces in the past with butterflies on them, including some charms for me.”
“And her note told you to wear the ring because she thought you needed the good luck?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
She dropped back onto the cot next to him, handing back the ring. “Dammit. This is a bad sign.”
“Butterflies are not a bad sign—only the black ones, according to what you said the other day.”
“I know, but something is going on here. Something with you. Again.” She lowered her voice to a bare whisper.
“Something to do with you being a Summoner of supernatural beings lured by some kind of mental beacon you unintentionally send out.” Also known as Der Beschworer, with ancestors possibly hailing from the Black Forest region of Germany, according to what they’d learned at the last site.
“Maybe. But if I’m also a good little demon …” he started with a crooked smile.
“That’s not funny.”
“And I do heal fast, remember.”
Weirdly so, in her experience, especially when something very not-normal took a bite out of him.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leaning over to drop a kiss on the top of her head. “I’m not going anywhere, boss lady.”
She caught his hand in hers, lacing her fingers through his. “I’m worried about you.”
“That’s sweet, but I’m staying.”
“What if KuTu and Teodoro are right? What if there is something here, something unnatural, like at the last site?”
“Then there is no way in hell I’m leaving without you. Are you willing to get on that helicopter and let Dr. Fernel stay to explore on his own?”
She didn’t even hesitate. “Nope.”
“Then we’re in this together, come what may.” He turned her chin his way and kissed her on the lips this time, short and hard. “Stick with me, kid. My Underworld superpals will keep you safe.”
“That’s not funny either, Parker.”
“It is a little.” He kissed her again, longer this time. Slower. He tasted minty, like the toothpaste they were sharing on this trip. “You have to find the humor in shitty situations like this.”
“Your comedic preferences are far different than mine.”
He stared at her, his focus almost piercing. “Is there anything else you want to tell me while we’re alone and sharing secrets?”
“You didn’t really share anything.”
“I showed you the inside of my ring.”
“Is there anything else I should know?” She turned the question back on him.
He cocked his head, appearing to ponder her question. “Pedro actually brought two cases of beer. He’s keeping one hidden on the helicopter, though, not willing to share it because he thinks he might need it after your dad drags him through another temple that’s on the verge of falling down.”
She smiled. “Just for that, I’m going to make him go inside any scary structures first and clear out the cobwebs.”
Quint chuckled, but soon sobered. “Is there anything else you want to tell me, Angélica?”
Maybe now was as good a time as any to tell him she’d chosen to come to this site instead of go on vacation.
That her boss had nothing to do with it.
But how could she explain that proving her mom’s theories was more important than spending time alone with him?
That she would probably choose the same option again in the future, given an opportunity to get her hands on a site like this one?
That he was important to her, but her career and all she and her mom had worked for were equally important, because she didn’t want to give up her life and dreams for Quint when he would continue flying off for weeks at a time and maybe one day decide not to come back.
That sitting at her home in Cancun pining for him day and night was …
She buried her forehead in his neck so she didn’t have to look at him when she answered, “Not that I can think of at the moment.”
His shoulder stiffened for a moment, but then he leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.”
“Good, because my life has no color when you’re gone, dammit.”
He tipped her chin up. “When this trip is over, I’m going to need something extra special from you to make up for the bugs and heat.”
She smiled. “Like what?”
“I’m thinking about naked things.”
She wrapped her hand around his neck, pulling his mouth closer. “I’m thinking about naked things, too.”
Someone cleared their throat outside the flap of their tent.
“I’m hoping neither of you are doing any naked things right now,” her dad said loud enough to wake the monkeys. “Because I’m tired and I just lost all of my pebbles to Pedro, who showed no mercy at cards tonight.”
Angélica sighed and pulled away from Quint. “Rain check, Parker?”
He grinned. “Sure, if we make it out of here without being eaten alive.”
“Again, not funny.”
Zippppp. The tent flap swayed open.
“I’ve got some bad news, gatita,” her father said, joining them inside.
“What now?” she asked, her chest tightening yet again. “Please tell me nobody got bit by a snake.”
“Nope, it’s worse than that.”
“What, Dad?”
He sighed. “We’re out of beer.”