Chaam stared, speechless.
“Nice shooting the shit with you, as always, but I must—”
“I don’t understand,” Chaam said.
“I saved every one of them,” Máax admitted. “None have died by your hand, and most are happily living out their lives. And for those whom I could not find a safe home, I brought them forward.”
“You mean…” Maggie’s words crackled with emotion. “Those women, the Payals who can’t remember who they are?”
Máax’s patience wore thinner by the second. “Yes.” What? Did he have to spell it out? There had been approximately a thousand women of Chaam’s descent (called Payals), spanning over the course of eighty or so years, whom Máax had quietly plucked from death’s doorstep, relocating them before their fates took a turn for the worse. He’d helped all but two hundred find new lives, safe from Chaam’s evil henchmen, the Maaskab. Those two hundred had been severely traumatized, leaving him no choice but to employ the help of his sister, the Goddess of Forgetfulness. The women were now safe, living right there on the Uchben base where they could start anew. Not a perfect ending to their stories, but sometimes perfect wasn’t possible.
Maggie wailed and then jumped on Chaam, wrapping her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist. “I told you so, baby. I told you. We were meant to be happy.”
Chaam’s face whitened with astonishment. “But why? Why did you do it?” he asked Máax.
It had taken Máax the equivalent of one human year, working around the clock to accomplish the task, but what the hell. Not like he had had anything better to do. “ ’Cause I’m the only one with the balls big enough to pull it off. Why else?” Okay. Maybe he cared a little bit, too, but no one needed to know that.
“But all of those times you traveled back,” Chaam said. “You will be punished for breaking our laws.”
“Really? No shit. Now if you don’t mind,” Máax grumbled.
“Thank you, Máax. Thank you,” Maggie offered.
Chaam glared at Cimil. “You are not off the hook, Cimil. I still have a score to settle with you.”
Roberto moved in front of Cimil’s cell, faced Chaam, and crossed his arms. “Over my dead body.”
“That, my vampire friend, can be arranged.” Chaam’s eyes flickered over the faces of every vampire standing guard.
Maggie nudged Chaam. “Will you stop, you arrogant, overgrown manchild? Don’t you see what’s happened? You can let go of your guilt. You’re free—well, sort of—and we’re together.”
Chaam looked down at Maggie and threaded his fingers through her mahogany-colored hair. “Yes. Yes. Of course. You are right.”
“Oh,” Máax added. “And brother? Before you thank me again, I’d like to point out that you’re now the proud father of two hundred daughters. Good fucking luck with that.”
Maggie squealed. “I’ve always wanted a big family!”
Chaam’s lips hardened for several moments, but then he grinned. “So have I, actually.”
Sloppy tongues began to fly, and Máax suddenly wished that they were invisible. Or that the prison cell had tinted glass, anything to hide what these two looked like they were about to do.
Oh, well. At least they’d stopped talking. Máax could go back to focusing on his own damned carnival-of-crap situation.
Máax’s mind drifted to visions of Ashli.
Ashli. Mmmm. Ashli. Gods, why couldn’t he control the wanting and lust for a few lousy minutes? It was as if she’d taken over his mind. And his cock.
He leered at Cimil who disco danced to a phantom song in her cell. “Cimil?” Máax warned. “We need to talk. Now.”
She ignored him completely.
He walked over and pounded on the glass. Surprisingly, Roberto took a step back, though he remained on his guard.
Good choice, asshole. Máax was in no mood to play Cimi-games. “I know you are hiding something.”
She stopped dancing and raised her brows. “I hide nothing!” She covered one side of her mouth and whispered, “Except for the new unicorn tat on my bum. It’s a surprise for Roberto.” Cimil paused for an accomplished sigh.
Máax was not amused. “Tell me what you really know about Ashli. And do not play stupid, because clearly you have deceived me.”
Cimil pointed to herself. “Moi? Well, I have been known to lie. But what can I say? That’s how I hop.” Her disco move transformed into a bunny hop to prove her point.
“This isn’t a joke,” Máax growled. “She’s going to die, and I won’t be able to stop it if you don’t help me.”
“Cimiiiil? What is going on?” asked Roberto who stepped to Máax’s side. “I, too, am beginning to suspect there is more going on here than a simple attempt to halt the end of the days.”
Máax was surprised by Roberto’s suspicious attitude.
Cimil’s eye toggled between the floor and Roberto’s face. “Okay. You got me.” She held up her hands.
“Speak, my evil little turnip,” Roberto prodded.
“Well,” she said, “I do have another reason for this lockdown. I kinda thought this would be a nice opportunity for a family therapy session.”
Roberto visibly fumed. “You locked everyone up for that?”
“Nooo, you locked them up! This was all your idea. Okay. Maaaaybe I planted the idea in your head. But!” She held up her index finger. “When I told you that the gods go to war against each other and destroy the planet, that was true. What I didn’t tell you was that we are also carrying massive quantities of baggage. It’s time to let it all go and find peace. I mean, whether we all live or die, it would be nice. Don’t you think?”
“I think you are lying,” Roberto said in an irritated tone.
“Where’s the fun in the truth? Hey, got any bad people hanging around? Minky’s getting hangry.”
“You mean hungry?” Roberto cocked a brow.
“No. Hangry. That’s when you’re angry because you’re hungry. She needs her afternoon snack. Preferably anyone who wears a mullet.”
“Cimil!” Máax barked. “You will cease this conversational detour and tell me what you know about Ashli. Why does the Universe want to kill her?”
Cimil’s turquoise eyes glowed with mischief, and her lips curled into a giant smirk. “I have told you; Ashli will be the one to prevent us from fighting each other. She will broker peace if you save her and she is allowed to live out her natural life in her natural habitat. Or Ashli-tat, as I like to call it. If not… well, at least we can all enjoy this family time together.”
“There is more. I know you’re hiding something,” Máax said bluntly and then looked at Roberto who also had the expression of a man trying to figure out a very complex puzzle. “The Universe wants her dead. Why?”
Cimil shrugged. “If I had the answer to every question, do you think I’d be locked in here? Okay. Maybe I would. It’s cozy.”
Máax slammed his fist against the glass. “I’m not fucking around, Cimil! We’ve had five earthquakes. Five!”
“He is right, my evil dove,” Roberto agreed. “You must tell him what you know.”
Cimil crossed her arms and turned away.
“Very well.” He was on his own. What was new, really? That was the way it had always been. Máax did everything in his power to save everyone’s bacon, and they turned their backs on him in his time of need. Again and again and again.
No more. He was done saving everyone. Except for Ashli.
Now he had no choice but to figure this out on his own. Something greater was at play. But what? Why would the Universe want her head?
Well, the Universe cannot have her. She is mine. She always will be.
He took a mental step back; his possessive thoughts stunned him.
He already knew he wanted her on her back, in his bed, maybe more, but he’d already settled on the fact he wouldn’t continue on this path. However, it seemed with each passing moment, the temptation to fantasize about a different destiny, one with Ashli i
n it, grew stronger.
Well, he wasn’t going to give in, and he had to stop letting this mate garbage cloud his judgment. His one and only task was to stop the apocalypse. Perhaps if he dug deeper and found out what miracle Ashli would perform, what made her special, he’d uncover why the Universe wanted her dead. The two had to be linked.
“I will return shortly,” Máax said.
“Wait! No! Let us out!” screamed his brother Kinich who looked very much like himself—long honey-brown hair with streaks of gold, built like a tank, and a deadly look in his turquoise eyes. “If you let us out, we can lift the curse. Make you whole again.”
Máax glanced at Cimil, who shook her head and said, “Not until you save Ashli.”
Fuck. Only a unanimous vote would reverse his current state and return his powers. Cimil would hold back the final vote.
On my own.
“Remember this moment, Cimil.” Máax marched back to the conference room and prepared for another trip to 1993.
Nine
Two days after release from the hospital
Ashli sat in her living room, curled up with a book and her favorite raspberry tea, trying her hardest to focus on the story. Usually anything with a drafty castle and a warm kilt sucked her in, but today? Not a chance. Her thoughts were fixated on the mysterious man. Why hadn’t he returned? What was he really? Where did he come from? Were there others? Where did they live? What did they eat? Did they have powers? And that business about him saying she was his soul mate, but the universe wanted her dead?
How can someone just say those things and then… leave?
Or perhaps she’d imagined the entire thing? Rubin, or Dr. Ruiz, said he’d given her some sort of drug for the pain. And it wasn’t unheard of for people to hallucinate after a head injury.
Ashli’s stomach did a sickly little polka dance. She didn’t want it to be a dream. She wanted the man to be real. The way he made her feel when he touched her was…
Magical.
Magical? Do you know how lame that sounds? We’re not talking about a damned unicorn!
But what other way could she describe it? Sexy, delicious, blissful? None of those words came close to the magnificence of what transpired in that hospital room.
There was a loud buzz from the intercom at the front gate.
Ashli sprang from the sofa and looked out the window.
Rubin. She looked down at her clothes, a little yellow sundress, and determined she was presentable enough, and then hit the release switch to the front gate. She opened the front door and watched him approach, carrying a brown paper bag.
He was a lean, nice-looking man, that was for sure, but hallucination or not, he didn’t hold a match to…
A guy you can’t even see? You do get why that makes you nuts, right?
“I came to check in on you,” he said as she closed the door behind him.
“That’s really thoughtful, but you didn’t have to. I’m fine, I promise.” Ashli returned to her cozy white couch. “Other than my head still hurts.”
Rubin sat next to her and the scent of fresh pastries filled her nostrils. “I brought you these. Fernando sends his regards.”
Ah. Yes. Fernando was holding down the fort. She looked inside the bag and saw her favorite Mexican pastry, conchas. They kind of looked like perky boobs rolled in sugar.
“I stopped by for my morning coffee and didn’t see you,” said Rubin, with his thick accent, “so I thought I’d come by to check up.”
“That was very thoughtful, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Hadn’t she just said that?
Rubin scooted closer and slipped a penlight from his pocket. “May I take a look?”
She shrugged. “Sure.”
Rubin flickered the light across her pupils. “Looks good.” Then he simply stared at her. “Has anyone ever told you that you have the most beautiful eyes? They are a very, very unusual shade of green.”
Hitting on her again?
“Thanks. My mom used to say that I have my grandmother’s eyes.” She moved back just an inch, and that’s when she noticed it. The smell in the air.
He’s here. Oh, my… I can’t say God. That sounds weird. Okay, but he’s here! She tried to hold in her excitement. And slight irritation. She wanted to ask where the hell he’d been, or if he had any idea what she’d gone through, wondering if she’d lost her mind. The questions would have to wait until Rubin was gone, which needed to happen ASAP.
Ashli feigned a yawn. “Well, thank you for stopping by, Dr. Ruiz.”
Rubin chuckled. “I am Dr. Ruiz now?”
Ashli smiled politely. “I didn’t get much sleep last night. I think I’m going to take a nap.” Yawn, yawn, yawn. See how sleepy I am?
Rubin stood. “I get the hint, but I’m not leaving until you agree to come to my home for dinner.”
She just wanted him to go. “Sure. Love to. Sounds good. How’s next week?”
A strange energy vibrated through the air. It made the hair on her arms stand up.
“Saturday then,” he said. “I will prepare my famous chicken mole,” he said proudly. She found it hard to believe he could cook anything. She already knew that his housekeeper prepared most of his meals.
“Mole. Love mole.” She smiled and went straight for the door. “Thanks again for stopping by.”
Rubin gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Of course, if you need anything, you must promise to call?”
“Absolutely.” She smiled sweetly, shut the door behind him, and pushed her back against it, holding her breath. She peeked out the window and watched him disappear out the front gate.
“Dammit! I know you’re there,” she barked.
No response.
“Why were you gone for so long?” she called out.
Silence.
She shook her head and went to the kitchen. “Unbelievable. Doesn’t matter what species, men are the same.” She continued her mumbled rant, grabbing a small plate and filling up a glass with milk. She knew he watched her. She felt his eyes all over her body, and she sensed that weird, angry vibe in the air. Why did he insist on torturing her like this? “Like I care what a stupid invisible guy thinks anyway. He doesn’t even wear underwear. What kind of guy walks around naked—”
“My condition,” he interrupted, “is not a power. I cannot transfer it to other objects. Wearing clothes only terrifies people.”
Ashli turned her head toward the voice. “I knew it! I knew you were there. By the way, spying is completely rude.”
“That man, you want him?” asked that deep, seductive male voice, filled with irritation.
Is that all he had to say?
“Nice,” she sneered and went outside to her patio. She sat at her tiny table, where she often loved to read or eat breakfast while marveling at the jewel-colored waves. She took a giant bite of her pastry. The sugar on the top was always her favorite part.
Suddenly, a chunk of bread caught in her throat. She sprang from her seat and attempted to cough it out, but the air in her lungs simply wasn’t passing.
She clasped her throat.
“Dammit all to bloody deity hell, woman!” Two large arms wrapped around her stomach.
One thrust.
Two thrusts.
With the third, the chunk of bread flew from her mouth, landing in the sand.
The arms released her, and Ashli leaned forward to catch her breath.
“Soup. You will only eat soup from now on,” he roared. “Do you hear me?”
He was angry? She’d almost died. Again!
“Oh my God. I can’t take this.” She wobbled into the kitchen in search of a glass of water.
“I am taking you away from here,” he said, following closely behind her. “Somewhere without oceans, cement patios, bees, and anything else that might be deadly.”
Ashli turned toward the sound of the voice. “You can’t be serious.”
“Why the hell not?”
“You really think the universe wants me
dead?” The logic of that defied everything she understood to be true in the world, despite the eerie evidence.
“How else do you explain that you have died at least twice since I found you and almost died twice more?”
“Whoa—whoa—whoooa. What?” She set down her glass of water on the countertop. “What do you mean, I died? Twice?”
Máax had not originally intended to reveal that little tidbit of information to Ashli, but now, he saw no other way to inspire the obedience he required to protect her. After all, he no longer had powers, so compelling was not an option.
Máax cleared his throat, wishing Ashli could see his face; it would make it easier for her to discern the importance of what he was about to say. “A few days from now, you are stung by a bee, right here in your kitchen. You do not receive your medicine in time, and you die. A few days after that, you run from me and are hit by a bus.”
Ashli’s curls fell over her lovely, sweet, and confused face. “I don’t understand. You’re saying I die twice? In the future? That’s not even possible.”
“Of course it is possible. I do not lie.”
Her head snapped up and focused on something in his direction. Gods, he wished their eyes could meet, and she could see what was inside his.
“And you know this how?” she asked, her hands trembling.
“Each time you have died, I come back to you a few days earlier to when you are still alive.”
“Oh, hey. Thanks. Makes tons of sense.”
“You are making fun, I see. However, I assure you, I tell the truth. My first trip to meet you is ten days from now. This is when you are hit by the bus. My second trip is in approximately three days from now. This is when I fail to save you from the bee. My third visit to you was a few days ago, when you hit me with the shovel. So as you see, this is why we must leave now. I must take you somewhere safe until your life is squarely on a new path, one where you are destined to live.”
“Okay.” Ashli took a deep breath and bobbed her head. “But I’m not leaving here.”
Máax’s anger spiked. Why did she need to argue this point? “Because you have a date with the doctor?”