Perilous Waters (21 page)

Julia glanced at Kaitlyn’s cleavage and snort-laughed.

Angie frowned at her. “Let’s get going.”

“Not yet,” Kaitlyn said. “We don’t want to have to walk through this whole hacienda without someone noticing we’re wearing their clothes.” She wiggled her fingertips, which glowed with white light. “I’ll make us invisible first.”

Angie smiled and held out her hand. “Good idea.”

Julia followed suit, and all at once the spell was released. Magic trickled over her body like a coating of stars that melted into her skin, leaving her crystal clear.

“Let’s get out of here,” Kaitlyn said, her transparent form striding to the door.

“Hold onto each other. We don’t want to separate.”

Julia took Angie and Kaitlyn’s hands. They sped through the dimly lit corridors of the building. As they passed people, Julia couldn’t help holding her breath. It seemed impossible that they couldn’t see her. She hadn’t forgotten the Native American woman who had pointed right at them.

But none of the people they passed by so much as looked their way.

“This is too easy,” Kaitlyn whispered.

Don’t talk out loud! Someone could hear you.

“Who cares? They can’t find us or see us. They’ll just think they’re hearing a ghost.”

They could still feel you,
Julia said.
What if one of them has a gun?

Okay, fine. I’m using the connection now, aren’t I? Lay off.
Julia felt Kaitlyn’s mocking humor as she added,
I know you’re just using this as an excuse to touch me.

What the—?
Julia shook her head, not giving Kaitlyn the satisfaction of an answer. She was so ready to find the jewels and get back home, but getting out of the hacienda was proving tricky. The place made Julia feel like they were in a maze, and several times she sensed Angie’s confusion as they turned a corner and found themselves in yet another corridor.

You’re taking us in circles,
Kaitlyn snapped.

Chill out,
Julia said.
Every time you get frustrated with something, you lash out at us.

No I don’t.

Julia felt Angie’s soft presence in her mind, reminding her not to continue arguing. But it was impossible to stamp out the knot of frustration in her chest. Kaitlyn liked to think that she was impassive and untouchable, but her emotions got in the way, whether she wanted to admit it or not.

You can stop with all of your negative thoughts about me, thanks,
Kaitlyn said.

And you can stop diving into my head to eavesdrop on my brain, thanks.

Angie squeezed her hand, sending her a wave of patience.
This way… I’ve found the main entrance.

She urged them into a foyer, where a servant polished furniture. A massive set of double doors promised a way out.

Great,
Julia thought.
How do we leave without freaking out the servant?

Freeze time?

Why bother?
Kaitlyn asked scornfully, breaking their connection and striding across the room.

What’s she doing?

I don’t know,
Angie said,
don’t tell her to stop or else we’ll be heard.

They hurried after her. The door creaked open and the servant paused in her cleaning. The rag she had been holding fell to the ground as she looked at the door, which had seemingly unlatched itself and opened of its own accord.

“
¿Alguien está allí?
” she called.

Kaitlyn’s dark laughter floated through the air. The sound of her throaty, disembodied chuckles made Julia’s skin prickle.

“Kaitlyn, stop it,” Julia said. “You’re scaring her!”

Angie clutched her arm.
Don’t talk out loud!

The servant backed away, her eyes round and wide as they darted across the room. “
¿Quien habla?
” She made the sign of the cross, visibly shaking now.

Julia’s hands glowed white. She would blast Kaitlyn if she kept scaring this servant.

But Kaitlyn only slipped out the door, leaving the quivering servant behind her. Julia and Angie hurried after her.

“Slow down,” Julia called. Kaitlyn’s transparent form was almost impossible to see in the blazing sun.

“That was hilarious,” Kaitlyn said.

“No, it wasn’t.” Angie’s soft, small voice carried weight with it. “It’s wrong to do that to people. You really scared her.”

Julia remembered when she had spooked the woman at the Parisian masquerade ball and felt a twinge of guilt. “Everyone makes mistakes.”

“She’ll get over it,” Kaitlyn said, the outline of her hand forming a dismissive wave. “Let’s get the threads of time up so we can figure out where to go next.”

“Find somewhere that isn’t conspicuous.”

They walked through an alleyway and Julia covered her nose. Everything was so muddy and stinky.

“Rank,” Kaitlyn said, wrinkling her nose.

“The colonies didn’t have much infrastructure,” Angie said. “Some cities didn’t have a functioning drainage and sewer system until the late nineteenth century.”

“It looks like whatever city we’re in isn’t even finished being built,” Julia said as they reached a hillside. A giant, incomplete wall rimmed the edge of the city, with nothing but ocean beyond. “If anyone attacked, this town would be taken over in no time.”

“There was a time when Spain didn’t continue fortifying many of its Caribbean settlements. The war against England began taking the majority of its funds,” Angie said. “It’s one of the reasons why pirates preyed on Spanish colonies so often. And why Spain eventually had to build the crazy defenses still in Havana today.” Her brows came together. “Well, in the present, at least.”

“Enough,” Julia said. “You’re confusing me.”

They walked on until they reached the cover of massive trees, with giant overhanging branches and enormous roots that looked like writhing octopus legs. “No one should spot us all the way out here,” Angie said, her invisible outline falling gracefully into a sitting position in the shade.

Julia sat beside her and Kaitlyn followed, making them visible again. Kaitlyn continued drawing in the magic. Her eyes flooded with light as the threads shot out before them, flowing like they rested on a tumultuous ocean.

Julia searched through one of the threads. The future sped along her mind. She saw the three of them battling creatures and hiding from pirates. She quickly dismissed the thread for another. Only one thing mattered right now. “The jewels,” she whispered, slowing down the images as she watched her hands reach out toward a pile of treasure. Before she could truly delve into the potential future, a chill slid down her spine.

Daughter…

Her eyes snapped open. “Whoa.”

“Did you find the portal?” Angie asked.

Julia shook her head, cold sweat breaking along the back of her neck. “A voice… someone broke into my mind.”

“Indira,” Kaitlyn said, her voice a hard accusation.

Julia shook her head. “Not this time.”

“Ethan?” Angie prompted.

“Unless he’s sending you dirty telepathic messages, I don’t want to hear about it.”

Julia’s heart was racing too fast from the sound of that horrible, rasping voice to let her care about Kaitlyn’s remarks. “This voice was… I don’t know what but it was definitely wrong.”

“A creature,” Kaitlyn said.

The other two girls looked behind them, but Julia’s eyes focused on the ocean. It was washed in the oranges and reds and deep, golden yellows of the setting sun. Glimmers of light flickered like watchful eyes.

“I don’t see any sign of creatures.” Angie turned back to Julia. Her brows knit and she tilted her head a little as their eyes met. “Without Ethan’s ability to sense creatures, we are at a real disadvantage.”

“I’m so tired of hearing this,” Kaitlyn said. “We can do this without him.”

“I’m not saying we can’t,” Angie said, “But it would be easier with him.”

Julia lowered her eyes. Ethan needed to be with his brother. End of story.

“I hate to do this,” Angie said gently, her eyes on Julia. “But would you be willing to see if the voice returns? If it’s a creature, you might be able to draw it out to us.”

Julia’s jaw dropped. “They want to destroy us. Why would I want to lure it out?”

“What better way to find the portal? Just because we’re looking for the jewels first doesn’t mean it won’t be good to know where the portal is already.”

“We could seal the portal up before looking for the jewels, if we find it quick enough,” Kaitlyn said.

“Definitely,” Angie said. “Freeze time so the creature reveals itself. If we unfreeze time with the monster near people, it won’t have time to glamour.”

“Then it will have to return to the portal?” Kaitlyn asked.

Angie nodded. “And we can follow it. Creatures can’t exist outside of the nether without concealment of some kind. Not unless time is frozen.”

Julia swallowed against the sudden queasiness in her stomach. “Oh man,” she whispered. Was she really going to prance around like bait in the hopes of luring out a
creature
? “No way. Those things want to kill us.” Her heart picked up speed as she remembered the sight of snake-like eyes intent on her, her body slowly turning to stone.

“Just do it so they come out already,” Kaitlyn said.

“Them?” Julia said, nearly choking on the word.

“They’re never alone,” Kaitlyn said, her scar twisting in her face as her lips curved into a smile.

Kaitlyn’s hand reached for hers before Julia could pull away. She was so freaking eager. “It almost sounds like you’re enjoying this,” Julia grumbled.

“What can I say? Kicking demon ass is a little addicting.”

Julia couldn’t have disagreed more. If she never saw another snake-beast or mutant fish person again, it would be too soon. She exhaled slowly through loosely pursed lips, her eyes closing as she drew in the other girls’ power. “Time is frozen. Now what?”

Angie’s small, serene face looked almost ghostlike as she stood in the increasingly dark, swampy forest. “Now they will come.”

Julia swallowed. How could someone so small and sweet turn completely scary like that?

“We should separate,” Kaitlyn said, looking radiant in her excitement. Her palms already pulsed with white light. “It will make us look more vulnerable.”

“Good thinking,” Angie said.

More
vulnerable? Had these two lost their cheese? “No-no-no!” She hurried to Angie’s side. No way was she separating. “If something happens, we need to be able to form the connection and turn invisible or Journey or whatever we need to do.”

Kaitlyn’s derisive laughter was cut off by the sound of a fierce, terrible roar.

Julia cringed.

“Creatures,” Kaitlyn said as her lips curved in a smile.

“That was quick,” Angie whispered.

“W-w-when do I unfreeze time?”

Kaitlyn snorted as Angie raced back to the hacienda. “Not yet,” Angie said. “Not until we have the creature in sight. It has to be near mortals or else it might not return to the portal once we expose it.”

Julia’s throat sealed shut.

“I’ll take it down,” Kaitlyn said, the glow in her palms growing so bright her fingers disappeared.

“Don’t use your full power,” Angie whispered as they neared the ruckus the creature was making in the time-frozen world. “It won’t do any good if it gets knocked unconscious and we can’t follow it to the portal.”

Kaitlyn slumped a little, her full lips forming a pout. Julia would have laughed if she hadn’t been so scared. Leave it to Kaitlyn to look sexy even in the face of imminent danger.

“I’ll just blast it with one hand, then,” Kaitlyn said murkily. Her eyes found Julia’s and narrowed. “Quit lagging behind. I’m not missing out on blasting creatures because you’re scared without your precious Ethan protecting you.”

Julia’s cheeks burned and she took several purposeful strides forward, pushing open a wooden door. The foyer lay beyond, and she walked soundlessly on the tiled floor. The sight that met her sent a spear of ice through her heart. A minotaur. His horned head and deformed bull-face made that much clear.

“Daughter,” he rasped.

Julia flinched. It had been the same voice that found its way into her mind earlier. “Angie,” she squeaked, scrambling backward. Why had she gone ahead alone? Why had she let Kaitlyn get to her?

Her hands came up, instinctively filling with power.

“Don’t blast it yet,” Angie said from behind her.

Julia tugged at her friend’s arm and urged them back into the corridor. “Last time we met one of those things, it split your stomach open!”

Angie ran ahead. “And you healed me.”

“Barely,” Julia cried, struggling to keep up with her, the weight of her dress making her legs feel ten thousand times heavier than normal.

The minotaur snorted, his head thrashing from side to side as he took off after them at a run.

“Hurry,” Julia yelled.

“We have to lure it toward people,” Angie said, her cheeks flushed as she rushed through the hallway. “As soon as I say so, unfreeze time and Journey after it.”

“Where’s Kaitlyn?” Julia asked, swallowing hard against the fear making her stomach feel like she had been riding on the tilt-a-whirl after eating too many greasy hot dogs. “How am I supposed to do any of that without all of us together?”

“I’m right here,” Kaitlyn said as they turned a corner. “You are such a baby, I swear.”

Julia didn’t care about Kaitlyn’s mocking tone. She practically tackled the dark haired girl, relief pouring through her as she established their connection. The minotaur roared from behind them and Julia forced her feet to keep moving. The monster’s ragged breathing filled the narrow corridor. Its heavy footfalls slapped against the stone floor.

Another minotaur appeared at the opposite end of the hallway.

Julia screamed as they skidded to a stop. Kaitlyn’s hands lit with blinding power in the darkness.

“This way,” Angie called, turning into a side passage.

Julia raced after her, forcing herself to keep up in the awkward gown.

“They’re only going to keep coming after us,” Kaitlyn said, her eyes blazing as the dim hallway lit with the force of her magic. “Let’s blast them.”