Chapter Fifteen #3
Daisy turned to her, a small smile on her face. “Because I’m messing with you, Pik,” she said in a normal voice. “Come here and let me look at you.” She reached out and snagged Angélica’s wrist.
The hand on her wrist was cold. Angélica let herself be pulled nearer to the fire. She was willing to roast next to the flames if this truly was her mom’s ghost channeling through Daisy.
She cupped Angélica’s face. “Look at you. You’re so beautiful and full of life. God, I miss you and your father.”
Tears burned in Angélica’s eyes, partly from the intense citronella smell this close to the fire, but mostly from the pain visible in Daisy’s—her mom’s—gaze.
“We miss you, too, Mom,” she said huskily, swallowing the sudden lump in her throat.
Her mom’s focus lowered. “You’re still wearing our locket.”
“Of course. You told me to.”
She tweaked Angélica’s chin. “That’s my girl.”
“What are you doing here, Mom? Just visiting? Or is Quint in more trouble?” First butterflies and vultures, and now her mom’s ghost. Angélica’s pulse doubled down.
Marianne turned to face the fire again. “I’ve been here for a while, keeping an eye on you.”
“Oh.” Had her mother been watching when she was kissing Quint in the communications tent? “Like watching all the time?”
Her mom chuckled. “Well, I do close my eyes when things get a little too spicy around you.”
“Uhhh …”
“But when your sexy scribe runs around camp in his underwear, it’s sometimes fun to keep my eyes open.”
“Mom!” Angélica cringed. “Promise me you will stop watching Quint and me when we’re … uh … playing around.”
“Fine, but only because you need to make some babies for your father to bounce on his knee.”
She shook her head. “Babies don’t work with my job.”
“Then maybe you need to reconsider how important this ‘job’ of yours is, and keep in mind that childrearing would not be your task alone. If you’ll remember, I made room for you and my career thanks to your father’s help.”
“Yeah, but Quint travels a lot.”
Marianne shrugged. “So could you, if you chose. Where there is a will and a baby, there is a way.”
“You sound like Dad.”
Her mom nodded. “He’s a wise man. Listen to him.” She stared at Angélica, half of her face shadowed. “You must protect your father. I’m worried about him.”
“Because of his bum leg?”
“Because of why the walls were built.”
Angélica moved closer to her mom, glancing around to make sure nobody was near enough to hear them. “Is this about what you told Quint the other day?”
“I have not spoken to anyone here but you, Pik.”
“But Daisy channeled for you, and you called Quint Kimi.”
“Why would I call him that? I know his name.”
“Because you and he share a spirit companion.”
“How was I to know kimi was by his side? I have no knowledge of his birthdate.”
“I figured you could see kimi.”
Marianne shook her head. “I cannot see spirit companions.”
“Oh.” Angélica fanned herself, shifting slightly away from the heat. “If it wasn’t you, then who was talking to Quint?”
“I don’t know. What was said?”
“Something about too many whispers and the ancestors speaking to their guardian with talk of death.” She paused, trying to remember what else, but it was so damned hot this close to the fire. “Oh, and Daisy—or whoever—warned Quint that he must not be left alone.”
Marianne glanced her way, her brow lined.
“There was also something about Quint having death smeared on him.”
“That was not me, Pik.”
Angélica bit her lower lip, frowning at her mom. “Then who was it?”
Her mother stared across the fire toward the dark jungle beyond. “There are many whispers here, especially on the other side of the wall. I’ve seen shadows moving about under the trees that shy away from the living when they pass.”
“What are you saying?”
“We are not alone in this part of the jungle, Pik.”
“You mean there are other ghosts like you?”
“I don’t believe they are the same as me, but we share a plane of existence.”
Sweat trickled down Angélica’s spine. “Are you in danger?”
“The shadows don’t seem to notice me when flitting about, only the living.”
“Good.” Well, sort of good.
“But I fear that you and your father are in trouble, Pik.” She grabbed Angélica’s arm and pulled her close, wrapping her in a hug that smelled like Daisy’s lemon eucalyptus oil bug repellent, but Angélica didn’t care. She squeezed back, pretending it was her mom in full physical form.
“What can we do?” Angélica whispered.
“You can leave now,” Marianne said in her ear. “Run, Pik, and don’t look back.”
Angélica pulled away. “I can’t do that, Mom. If someone else were to come here and get hurt, I’d feel responsible.”
“It is not your role in life to be some great protector.”
“Maybe not, but it might be Quint’s. He may be the key to saving us.”
Her mother’s focus returned to the fire, her palms out once again. “It’s nice to be of flesh and blood again. I can usually see the flames through my fingers.”
“Be careful not to burn Daisy’s hands.”
“The channeler is fine.” She gave Angélica a small grin. “I would like to have her kiss your father.”
“Mom!”
“I’m serious, Pik. I can almost feel the heat of this fire here now. If your father was kissing her and I joined with her, do you think I’d feel his lips again? That old twinge of excitement from his touch?”
Angélica squeezed the bridge of her nose. “I don’t want to have this conversation with you, Mother.”
“Your dad was always such a wonderful lover. That man could work magic with his hands.”
She shook her head. “We’re not doing this.”
“Why not?”
“For one thing, it’s too weird. And for another, you are my parents. I don’t want to think about you two doing the wild thing.”
Her mother’s grin widened. “How do you think you were conceived?”
“By a Maya shaman who planted a seed of life in your belly.”
Marianne let out a shout of light, airy laughter.
“Shhh,” Angélica said, reaching out to cover her mouth.
Her mom knocked her hand away. “Okay, I will keep my saucy thoughts about your father to myself.”
“Great.”
“But maybe you could encourage the channeler to spend more time with him.”
“Mom,” she warned.
“What? You can’t blame a ghost for trying.”
“Dr. Angélica?” Raul called out from the side of the mess tent. When Angélica looked his way, he waved her over. “Your padre is looking for Daisy and you.”
She waved back. “On my way.”
“Pik,” her mother said, drawing Angélica’s focus back to their fireside talk. “There is something else I need you to know.”
“What’s that?”
“I was wrong. This is not a sacred religious site.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because—”
“Dr. Angélica?” Raul interrupted again, walking toward her. “Are you and Senora Walker okay?”
“We’re good, Raul,” she said, waving him off again. “We’ll be right there.”
But she didn’t want to leave her mom. Not yet. There were so many things she wanted to ask her, besides questions about this place.
Unfortunately, Raul would not be delayed.
Her mom touched her arm. “Be careful, Pik. You are not alone here.”
“Who’s with us?”
Marianne turned back to the fire, holding her hands out once again toward the flames. She closed her eyes, tears glistening in the corners. “I miss the warmth.”
“Who’s with us?” Angélica whispered, leaning closer so Raul wouldn’t hear.
“Dr. Angélica?” Raul said, drawing near. “Why are you two standing so close to the fire? Are you feeling chilled?” His tone was a mix of worry and disbelief.
“No, we’re just … uh … enjoying a bug-free moment.” She took Daisy by the elbow. “Aren’t we, Daisy?”
Daisy stumbled her way, a frown creasing her forehead. “Dr. García?” she asked. “What are we …?” She blew out a breath, fanning herself. “Dear Lord, I’m so hot.”
“Same here.” Angélica wiped the sweat trailing down her face. She wondered if Daisy remembered anything from the last few minutes. “You ready to go eat?”
Daisy nodded, blinking slowly. “I’m famished. María has this camp smelling like barbecued chicken and … what is that spice? It’s peppery with a hint of nutmeg.”
“Wow, you have a good sniffer. It’s achiote paste.” She tugged Daisy along toward where Raul waited at the edge of the firelight. “Let’s go enjoy some pollo pibil and see what my father wants.”
Halfway to the mess tent, Angélica glanced back toward the fire, her heart weighing heavy in her chest. She missed her mom, along with her guidance and wisdom about the ancient Maya world.
But what had her mom meant when she said they weren’t alone here?
Did she mean the field camp or Site 5? Or both?
And if Marianne hadn’t been the one talking to Quint through Daisy the other day, then who in the hell had been?
More important, were they friend or foe?