The Curse Keepers Collection (51 page)

The savage poured liquid from the clay pitcher into each of the vessels, picking up a rope and lifting it over his head with his left hand. Manteo clasped Ananias’s forearm, and he returned the gesture, in the form of a handshake. When Manteo bound their arms together with the rope, Ananias helped him secure the knot.

Manteo lifted a knife over his head, chanting. Then he flipped his palm open, and Ananias did the same, staying still as Manteo pricked the center of their palms with the point of the knife. Manteo collected blood from Ananias’s wound on the knife blade, and then smeared it into his own wound. His eyes rolled back into his head and he moaned, sending a shiver of fear down Ananias’s spine. The movement caught Manteo’s attention, and he scraped his own blood on the tip of the knife, mixing it with the wound on Ananias’s hand.

Ananias gasped as power rushed through his veins.

Manteo cut the rope, then set down the knife and picked up the pewter cup, motioning for Ananias to pick up the bowl. Together they drank the bitter tea. The moment the liquid touched his tongue, Ananias’s hair stood on end, his body stinging as though he’d been struck by lightning. A blinding light burst from the tree trunk, and he squinted as the overpowering stench of decay and metal coated his nose. A chorus of inhuman moans filled the night air.

Forcing his eyelids open he froze, horror washing through him.

Ananias was standing at the gates of hell.

C
HAPTER
F
IVE

The tree was gone and in its place was a black metal gate. Creatures, more hideous than Ananias could ever have imagined, stood on the other side of the metal bars. Tentacles and tails. Claws and fangs. Slimy skin and scales. Some looked like animals and others resembled men and women. The demons reached through the slats toward the two men, moaning and cursing. “Son of the sea and son of the earth. Free us!”

Ananias’s eyes widened in terror.

His arm was still clasped with Manteo’s, and Manteo chanted more loudly and more insistently. Ananias realized that even though his friend chanted the ceremony in his native tongue, he could now understand all the words.

“Wind gods!” Manteo shouted. “Return to the pit from which you came!”

A howl filled the air and the wind gusted, making Ananias stumble, but Manteo’s grip tightened. Four creatures flew from the trees, landing within the circle. Men’s heads topped bird bodies, all four with differently colored hair.

“Manteo, son of the earth,” the birdman with red hair sneered. “You know not what you do.”

“We do not come from Popogusso, you vermin,” another shouted.

Manteo thrust back his shoulders. “You do not belong in this world.”

“Fool!” the redheaded bird screeched. “We belong to the world more than you do!”

A bird with long white hair moved closer to the men, his head bobbing. “We have existed long before Ahone’s pets spread across the earth. You
dare
to consider locking us behind these gates?”

Manteo ignored the god, digging his fingers into Ananias’s arm. “Demons and spirits that roam the earth, I summon you!”

A multitude of creatures emerged from the forest. Ananias felt their resistance through the power that rushed through his blood. But somehow the two men—together—had more power than the spirit world.

The thought filled him with fear. What had Manteo done to gain such power?

The demons flailed frantically, screaming into the night. But Manteo’s magic dragged them across the circle against their will, their claws digging huge ruts into the forest floor.

Manteo moved toward the gate, pulling Ananias with him. Sparks flew when Manteo’s hand touched the metal, and he swung it open by several feet. The creatures behind the gate rushed forward to escape.

Ananias’s heart leapt into his throat, but Manteo raised his hand, palm facing forward. “Stop!” His voice echoed in the trees behind them. “I am the son of the earth, born of space and heaven. I am black earth and sandy loams. The mountain ranges and the rolling hills. I am the foundation of life and the receiver of death and everything in between. I compel you to obey my words.”

To Ananias’s shock, the creatures did.

Manteo’s eyes glowed with power. “I am the master of the spirit world. All will obey me.”

The demons in hell screamed and cursed Manteo and Ananias, more desperate to escape than ever. The creatures in the human realm huddled together, as though they were fighting an invisible binding.

Manteo turned his attention to them, his eyes wide and crazed. “Enter Popogusso, creatures of the night!”

Ananias gasped in shock. Whatever the source of the native’s magic, Ananias could now feel Manteo’s emotions through their bond.

Manteo was drunk with power.

The demons and monsters crossed the threshold in a steady stream, deafening Ananias’s ears with their screams.

“You will regret this, son of the earth!” the redheaded wind god screeched.

“Perhaps someday,” Manteo countered with an evil smile, “but not today.” He laughed. “Wind gods! Enter the depths of hell!”

They shrieked, the shrill sounds echoing through the trees as they slid across the forest floor. The air gusted from the flapping of their massive wings as they tried in vain to find purchase before sliding past the gates.

Ananias knew this was wrong. How could two men make spirits and gods obey them? Some sane part of him knew he should stop this madness, but he couldn’t. Not if this would really save his family. Not that it mattered. Something told him that it was too late.

Manteo leaned back his head, calling into the night, “
Okeus
!”

The air cooled and chill bumps spread across Ananias’s bare skin.

“
Son of the earth.
” The words filled the air and his head, vibrating through every part of his body.

Suddenly a man stood between the trees. He was a savage, the most handsome man Ananias had ever seen, but an unearthly glow surrounded him. His black hair was long on one side and cut short on the other. He wore a loincloth and was bare-chested. The god took another step toward them and the air instantly grew colder. “Son of the earth, you have overstepped your bounds.”

A shiver ran through Manteo’s arm, but he did not release his grip on Ananias. “I am righting the balance of the world.”

“Balance? What balance?” The god’s eyes softened. “You do this for foolish human reasons, my son. I urge you to reconsider and this will be forgotten.”

Manteo shook his head, his power giving him confidence. “I could not even if I wanted to.”

“If you do not stop this, you will regret your decision for the rest of your life. It will haunt you from generation to generation, for hundreds of years. Your actions will curse your offspring.”

Manteo hesitated. “I must save my people.”

Was he talking about the colonists or the Croatan?

“There are other ways.” Okeus entered the circle, continuing his slow advance toward the men. “Where did you learn of this ceremony, son of the earth? In the history of man, nothing like this has ever been attempted. Mankind never knew it was possible. Until now.”

Manteo’s grip on Ananias tightened.

Okeus reached out a finger, his nail an animal claw that traced the symbol in the center of Manteo’s mark. “Perhaps the answer is on your chest.”

The god’s claw sank deep and tore into Manteo’s flesh, outlining the star in blood.

Ananias felt Manteo’s ripped flesh through their connection, and he nearly cried out in pain and fear.

The god turned his attention to Ananias and smiled. “Son of the sea. What part do you have in this?”

Ananias’s eyes widened, his tongue thick and unwieldy.

Okeus’s claw traced the zigzagged line in the center of Ananias’s tattoo, the nail digging into his flesh but not tearing. “You bear my mark. Do you know what it means?”

Ananias shook his head, dizzy with fear. “No.”

“It means you are under my protection.” Okeus leaned close so that his face was inches from Ananias’s, the smell of rotten flesh making Ananias gag. “You can put a stop to this, son of the sea. Your friend is not to be trusted.”

“Enough!” Manteo shouted. “Silence.”

Shooting a glance at Manteo, Ananias wondered if Okeus could be right. He could tell that Manteo was not behaving like the rational man he knew. Had the witchcraft made him evil? Did Manteo have a hidden purpose for this ceremony?

Manteo sensed his confusion, whether he saw it on Ananias’s face or felt it through their connection. “Ananias, Okeus is an evil god. He sacrifices children and dines on their flesh. You can smell it on his breath. Would you believe his words over my own?”

Manteo made a good point. The native
had
compared Okeus to Satan, and Satan was the lord of lies.

But why then would Manteo have painted the evil god’s symbol on Ananias’s chest?

“Good and evil,” Okeus whispered.

Ananias struggled to breathe. Could the god read his mind?

Okeus smiled, a secret smile full of knowing. “The curse needs opposites. The earth and the sea.
Nuppin
and
tosh-shonte
. Myself and my twin—the good and evil. But which of us is which?” A sly smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “And it also requires sacrifices.” The god’s eyebrows rose. “Did he mention that?”

“Enough!” Manteo shouted, but his body shook with fear. “
Ahone
! I beseech you!”

An older man appeared before them. His hair and beard were long and white, and he wore a long white robe made of bleached deerskin. “Okeus, my twin.” His voice shook the leaves in the trees.

Ananias could see the resemblance now. Ahone was an older version of Okeus.

“
Ahone
,” the other god spit his name as though it were a curse. “I knew this was your doing.”

The older god stood on the opposite side of the fire. “You have gone too far, my brother. Your creatures leave destruction in their wake.”

“
And yours do not
? On this very shore, death has been like a constant companion. The earth has become greedy for your children’s spilled blood.”

Ahone’s gaze turned to the two men. “They have not yet reached their full potential.”

“Full potential,” Okeus sneered. “How many thousands of years have they had to do just that? You call my children monsters, but look at what your own have done.”

“They have much promise. More promise than yours.”

“But promise isn’t enough, is it?” Okeus shook his head. “What is your real purpose, my brother? What do you hope to achieve by locking us all away?”

“I hope to give my children a chance to live and thrive without your influence.”

“
My
influence?” Okeus laughed. “You think my influence has done this? If you follow through with this little scheme, do you think your children will stop all their violence?”

“It is worth the attempt.” Ahone took a step closer to Okeus. “Do not forget that you exist because of my generosity.”

“
Your generosity
?” Okeus shrieked. “You created me in your pathetic attempt to save your favorite creation—humanity. Yet one more example of a deception that you have reasoned away with your good intentions.”

“When the wind gods decreed I kill mankind or hand over the majority of my power, they never designated to
whom
I had to give my power. Can you blame me for looking for another way? I chose to create you and give you the power instead of sacrificing the human race. You cannot fault me for that. And if I was capable of such cleverness once, why assume that I would not be capable of saving humanity again? I’ve had eons to learn patience.”

Okeus tilted his head, an evil grin stretching his mouth. “So you have been waiting for this opportunity.”

Ahone didn’t answer.

Okeus laughed. “Who would have thought that the good and loving Ahone would be capable of such an underhanded scheme? And here I thought you gave me all of your abhorrent traits.”

Ahone remained expressionless. “Perhaps not all of them.”

Okeus looked around the circle then toward the gate. “You know this seal won’t hold.”