Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
“Is this the guy that will want to have a fucking party for my mouse and me?”
“He will.” Delphine nodded. “He’ll want to show you off, making himself seem bigger than what he is.”
“And I just ask him for the bottle?”
“That is your decision, lion. I just need it to heal your mouse.”
“Or do you just need me to get rid of the Quarter Master?”
“I’m going to go to your mouse and wake her up.”
I pursed my lips.
“But you must understand the rules.”
“What fucking rules?”
“You can’t cross that circle, lion. Wait for her to cross it and come to you.”
A shiver ran up my spine. “Is she. . .going to be okay?”
“She will.” Delphine nodded. “But she won’t be able to talk until morning—”
“What the fuck do you mean?”
“Her nervous system got a big jolt tonight. Her body is re-learning itself. Her mind is still. . .coming together with this new information. But more important, her voice will need time to heal because it is a new voice. One with understanding.”
Maxwell spoke, “Do we need to give her anything special?”
“She shouldn’t eat, but liquids are fine, especially tea.”
Maxwell gazed at her. “What about weed?”
“Oh, she’ll want a lot of that. It’s fine, but no alcohol.”
I trembled. “And. . .what else do I do for her? How do I help her?”
“Love your mouse, lion. That is it. However. . .” She lifted one finger up and wagged it. “Do not drink her breast milk. No matter how much you want to.”
Maxwell slowly turned my way. “Man, I know you haven’t been drinking her milk. Right?”
I eyed Delphine. “Why can’t I drink it?”
“Because what I gave her is going to pass through it, and you don’t want to delve into that madness.” With that, Delphine turned around and prowled toward that circle of chalk and skulls.
Unable to help myself, I slowly walked forward too.
Delphine raised that bone in the air.
The masked people stopped swaying and ceased with the chanting.
The drumming ended, and I still had no idea where it came from.
Then, Delphine yelled, “Come on back, child! Come on!”
I stepped closer and got to the edge of the circle.
The view of my mouse on that floor among those snakes would haunt me for the rest of my life.
No. This can’t be the way. I shouldn’t have let her do this.
I kept my hands fisted at my sides.
I’m taking her away from New Orleans.
The snakes slithered away from Emily, leaving the circle and slipping past the skulls.
Delphine lowered the bone. “Come on!”
My heart pounded in my ears as I watched my mouse.
Her eyes fluttered open.
My bottom lip quivered. “Mysh.”
With a sleepy gaze, Emily took in her surroundings.
Desperate, I got ready to cross the circle.
Delphine snapped her view to me. “Stay there, Kazimir. You go over and it will hurt her and you.”
Goddamn it.
I sank back on my heels.
Emily’s eyes fluttered some more. She turned her gaze to me.
Delphine remained on the edge of the circle. “Get up, child, and go to him.”
It took everything in me to stay where I was at.
Slowly, Emily raised herself on weak elbows and struggled to rise, her small frame shaking with effort. She tried to speak, but nothing came out.
In that elephant mask, Delphine bobbed her head. “Your voice will return at dawn. For now, focus on getting up.”
Emily touched her throat with both hands.
“It’s okay. Take your time, child.”
Maxwell got to my side and whispered, “Let’s get Em out of here.”
I kept my voice low. “That’s the plan.”
“No, man. I mean out of New Orleans.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
Shaking, Emily hugged herself, covering her breasts.
I’d never seen her so weak and out of it before in my life. This was a woman that I’d witness take down three armed men without a knife or gun. A few times, she had even flipped me over.
Even when she gave birth to Emilio, there had been strength blazing in those eyes.
But tonight, sadness and fear filled her gaze.
“Come here, mysh.” I pulled off my shirt.
She took one step towards me, then another, each one sending waves of terror coursing through my veins.
I held my arms out, ready to grab her.
Close to the skulls, Emily faltered, wavering as though she would collapse at any moment.
Goddamn it. If she falls, I’m crossing that fucking circle and I don’t care what will happen.
My arms ached to reach out and steady her, but I willed myself to stay put.
“Keep going, Em,” Maxwell urged softly. “We’re here.”
As soon as her foot crossed the chalk and skulls, I helped her put on my shirt. The big fabric hung on her like a short dress. Then, I scooped Emily off the ground and into my arms. “Mysh.”
She was so cold.
Too cold.
Maxwell took off his jacket and laid it across her bare legs.
Emily mouthed something. No sound came. She tried again, and I didn’t understand what she was saying. But it no longer mattered, I had her now and everything would be okay.