“Beware! A choice you make, twin hearts will break; betrayal so deep you cannot weep; a loss re-woken, heart eternally broken. Beware the curse! Choose with your heart. What pain! Beware the curse!”
She screeched, repeating herself and sounding like a loon, but her unseeing eyes bore into mine with a desperation I could feel to my soul. Keith pried her off me, but I barely noticed him. He could’ve been a gnat for all the attention she paid him. Once Keith had worked her hands off me, she retreated to the alcove she had come from, still muttering for me to be wary. She continued to stare at me as Keith walked me out of the alleyway.
I didn’t even realize I was shaking until Keith wrapped his arms around me. He was whispering some nonsense to me, trying to sooth my frazzled nerves. I’d never been the type of person to get spooked easily, but she’d seemed too earnest in her pleas and warnings. I didn’t think I’d ever forget how her sightless eyes bored directly into my soul.
Keith held me close, sheltering me in the warmth of his body as we went to find something for Ashlyn. I found a small turtle made of pooka shells that I knew she’d adore. I also found a beautiful sterling silver chain for my amulet, and when I put it on, it fell neatly between my breasts. I thought about getting something for Katie, but couldn’t find anything that I thought she’d enjoy. Keith and I went to a small café for lunch, but I found my encounter with the old woman had stifled my appetite.
After lunch, Keith and I walked around the island for a short while, stopping in the various shops scattered about. We wandered out of the touristy areas, preferring to take our own tour down rarely travelled paths to look at all the wildlife milling about. They were everywhere, even in the places tourists frequented. Almost all the creatures were very interested in the humans walking about. They’d go up to them and sniff for food. It was incredible, yet somehow sad at the same time.
Keith decided to join me in an offshore, shallow dive that one of the shops was offering. We saw a few fish, some sea turtles, as well as dirt, water, and bits of coral in the distance. I was more bummed than I let on, as it was about the same environment as back home in Lake Tahoe, minus the turtles and distant coral. I really hoped that the scenery at the dive tomorrow would be better than today’s, but it was a nice, peaceful afternoon that almost succeeded in washing away the incident with the old woman.
We arrived back at the ship just in time for dinner. We were still eating at separate tables, but made plans to go swimming afterwards. Dinner was fantastic, with the same company as I’d had the first night. I told the guys what happened with the old woman and they thought that it was awesome.
“Girl, you met a loon!” Maurice’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. Apparently, he’d never been accosted.
“Damn, I can’t believe we missed out on that.” Stuart’s sarcastic tone was meant to be teasing and lighthearted, I was still disturbed and shaken by the whole thing.
“Was she in rags?” Maurice was now leaning over his plate, dessert all but forgotten.
“Sort of, she was hunched over with wrinkly skin hanging on her bones. It was all more creepy than awesome. Her eyes were the worst. They were a very bright reflective blue. You could tell she was blind, but it was as if she could see into my soul,” I explained, trying to get them to understand my apprehension and the fear I felt simply looking at her.
“Honey, her eyes were bright because of the peyote. Everyone here smokes that shit. She wasn’t lookin’ into your soul; she was trying to get money for her next fix. You must have looked like an easy mark.” Stuart looked at me with sympathy, and I thought a bit of jealousy, but I’m sure I must have mistaken that.
“Well, Keith rescued me from her, but it was just so weird.”
“Oh, I just love intrigue and excitement.” Maurice was so elated that I was having a hard time being creeped out by the whole thing. In fact, I was starting to feel a bit silly for overreacting like I did. I could feel a slight blush warming my cheeks.
“Have you two decided if you’re going diving with me tomorrow?” We were supposed to be at sea on the main ship tomorrow, but I, along with a small group of certified divers, were going to take another ship and dive at the half-way point to Bermuda.
“Shit, girl, after all the fun we missed with you today, of course we’re going with you tomorrow. I just hope they have the space. I’m stoked! You’re so not allowed to leave our sight again. I’m not missing out on any more fun.” Maurice pouted and looked at Stuart for confirmation that they would be going. When Stuart nodded slightly, Maurice lit up with joy. He was too much fun to watch, it seemed as though every thought that went through his head could be read from his face.
“I’ve never done ocean diving before,”
