Denise Swank: The Curse Keepers

“No. I recognize the symbols, but not the mark itself.”

“Collin says the Manteo line has information and traditions they passed down in preparation for the breaking of the curse. It’s probably something they came up with.”

His finger traced the symbols. “The circle represents the spirit world. The squares mean the earthly plane. I recognize the symbols for the sea and the land. But this one…” His finger stopped and stiffened.

My back tensed. “What is it, Daddy?”

“Ellie, this one represents Okeus.”

Icy fingers of dread crawled up my spine, and I shivered. “It’s a symbol of protection, Daddy. It’s to protect me against Okeus and the winds gods.”

“The symbols are typically used to invoke the Manitou or other forces. The marks call upon the forces you’re asking for protection, not the forces you need protection from. Like the symbols I put on the door. You wouldn’t include the mark of the thing you were protecting against.” He grabbed my shoulder and turned me back to face him. “Ellie, are you sure this man has your best interests at heart?”

Fear jostled with reason as I tried to sort through Daddy’s information. If he had asked me about the Collin I met that first and even second time in the New Moon I would have questioned Collin’s motives, but the last few days had proven time and time again how much Collin cared about me. The fear in his eyes was real. His concern for me genuine. There was no disguising our hearts when our palms were linked. When I bound our souls, his fear of losing me was undeniable. “Yes, Daddy. I trust him with my life.”

“You said he has the symbol tattooed on him?”

“Yeah, Collin says when the Curse Keeper in the Manteo line turns eighteen, they have it tattooed on their chest.”

He wrung his hands, becoming more agitated. That was a bad sign and often meant his dementia was creeping back in. “You say the entire line gets this tattoo? It could explain the Okeus symbol. There’s a lot of duality with the curse. Land and the sea were evoked.”

“Yes, because they are forces older than the gods. The land and the sea gave birth to the gods. Collin uses the symbols of the moon and the stars and the sun to represent day on my door to protect me from the gods at night.”

Daddy rubbed his forehead, concentrating while he directed his gaze to the floor. “The story I was told said Manteo was quite distraught that they’d locked the gods away, and he knew that the gods would seek revenge when they finally broke loose. It could be that Manteo’s line chose to appeal to Okeus for mercy when he was freed. He’s the most powerful and the most vengeful of them all.”

I nodded.

“You say the other Keeper, Collin, has protected you multiple times. The symbol must be what he says it is.” He patted my hand. “Just be careful.” He kissed my forehead, fidgeting more. He got to his feet and began to pace.

I sucked in a deep breath. If he followed his usual pattern, he’d become incoherent soon.

He stopped pacing and looked at me. “Do you have the cup?”

“Yes, and we retrieved the Manteo bowl last night.”

“When’s the ceremony?”

“Tonight. In the middle of the night. In the botanical gardens at the big oak tree. Tomorrow’s the seventh day.”

“Already?” He rubbed his forehead, pressing hard.

“Yes, but I don’t remember anything of the ceremony. I forgot it all, Daddy.” My voice broke. “I’m sorry I didn’t let you teach me it all again.”

“The ceremony… the ceremony… The Manteo Keeper performs the ceremony.”

“What do we do with the cup and the bowl? Do we drink something at the ceremony?”

“Yes… I think it’s tea…” He pressed harder on his forehead. “I wrote it down. I wrote it all down somewhere.”

“You wrote down the Curse Keeper information?” I wasn’t sure if I needed it now, but it would be nice to have the information for the ceremony, even though Collin knew what to do.

Daddy began to mumble as he paced.

I grabbed his arm and led him to the sofa. “Sit down, Daddy. You’re getting worn out.”

He shook his head, confusion replacing the clarity that had been there only moments before. I hated this stupid disease that stole my father.

I rubbed his arm and began to hum the old lullaby Momma used to sing me when I was little. It always calmed him down. He squinted. “Amanda?”

My heart sank. “No, Daddy. Momma’s gone.”

He looked around. “You look just like Amanda. Where did she go?”

I kissed his forehead. “I love you, Daddy. I’ll try to make you proud of me.”

Clarity flashed in his eyes for a brief moment before confusion returned. “Blood. No blood, Ellie.”

My chest tightened. No matter how many years passed, I’d never get over my mother’s murder. And neither would my father.

I sent Daddy’s caregiver back in to sit with him and returned to the inn to start changing linens. Myra had already gone to work at the visitor center, and her friend Becky was in the office when I got back. “Becky, I’m sorry I haven’t been around to help the last few days.”

“Don’t worry about it, Ellie. You work too hard.”

I forced a grin. “No rest for the wicked.”

She laughed. “Then why are you working so hard?”

I had plenty of time to dwell on what Daddy had told me. I had to admit that having Okeus’s mark on my back concerned me, except I knew that Collin had the exact same mark. And the mark had protected me. Why was I questioning him?

But Collin telling me over and over again not to trust him played in my head. And his surety that I would hate him. An uneasiness crept up my neck. I shook my head. I was nervous about tonight. That’s all this was. Nerves.

I decided to call Collin anyway for reassurance. He answered on the second ring, his voice panicked. “Ellie? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

I heard his sigh of relief.

“Why did you think something was wrong?”

“You don’t seem the phone call type.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I never saw you make a phone call when we’ve been together except to check on Claire and your family.”

“True.” I paused. “I just needed to hear your voice. I’m nervous.”

His voice tightened. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll protect you with my life.”

Those didn’t sound like the words of a man who had ill intentions toward me. Why was I doubting him? I felt slimy and unworthy of his concern. “I missed you this morning.”

“I missed you too. When this is over, let’s go away somewhere for a week, just you and me, a hotel with room service so we never have to leave.” He sounded sad and wistful.

“I’d like that.” I paused, my voice catching in my throat. “There was another body today. My boss, Marlena.”

“The woman who seated me both times I came in?”

“Yes.” My voice choked. “But she was more than my boss. She was my friend.”

“Ellie, I’m so sorry.”

“Okeus wants me to pledge my loyalty to him. I protected Claire last night, but I didn’t protect Marlena. Who will he kill tonight?”

Collin was silent.

“Has Okeus sent anyone to you? Has he sacrificed people you care about?”

I heard his breath in the phone. Finally, he answered, “Yes, he’s hurt someone I love.”

I felt so incredibly selfish. I’d done nothing but whine for days, and he never once complained. And I never asked. “Your brother?”

“It doesn’t matter, Ellie. It will all be behind us tonight.”

“But Daddy and Myra.”

“Redo the marks on their door after it gets dark and make sure they stay inside. They should be fine.”

Should be wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but I knew it was the best he could offer.