Page 71 of Hot Summer's Prey

“We do not know each other,” Kalixto repeats.

The stakes are too high to deal with this right now!

“If you bring the offering to the witch and tell her as much as you know about her death, it may appease her.”

Kalixto pushes the statue into my hands.

“May,” Pacari growls.

“It is our best chance,” Kalixto offers.

“If it doesn’t, I hope the Lantern Witch leaves me alive long enough to murder you for this,” Pacari hisses.

“Flirting right in front of me?” I joke.

Pacari blushes.

“Even she sees it,” Kalixto laughs.

“I like her,” Cirro says, chuckling.

I beam, happy to have the support of Pacari’s friends. With the tension broken a bit, we go over the plan one more time, each of them giving me advice for talking to the witch. Another boom echoes through the waters, shaking our cave.

“Now or never,” I suggest.

Pacari nods somberly. “You can do this. We can do this.”

He presses another desperate kiss to my lips as Kalixto’s song soothes the waters. I try to convince myself that this is going to go perfectly.

Fake it til you make it.

31

A WOMAN'S TOUCH

TERESA

Pacari pulls me towards the Lantern Witch as she now screams against nothing. Once the waters were clear, Cirro went in to calm the other Abyssal Ones. Everything happened so fast. Even after years of going through rehearsals and then performances, the first time on stage after rehearsing always feels like it comes too fast. Guess this isn’t much different.

Finally, the Lantern Witch notices us.

“Seducer,” she shrieks, calming slightly to greet me, “Human.”

I guess I can see why some animals would go right into a lantern fish’s mouth. Her light is so bright it’s like an oasis in a literal sea of darkness. Especially now, when she’s scared off the locals.

“Hey lady,” I greet. “Good to see you again. See you’ve done some redecorating.”

“Haven’t you swindled me enough? Why do you return?” she growls.

Pacari nudges me forward. Gee, thanks hon.

“I hear you like gifts,” I tell her.

She shifts. As she leans forward, I catch sight of her eyes and try not to react to how huge and terrifying they are. Just huge, blank white orbs. Or at least, I thought those were her eyes, but above them is a pale purple face that stands out brightly against the rest of her dark purple skin.

“What have you brought?” she asks, her mood changed.

“The final part of your deal with Pacari,” I tell her. “The answers you wanted.”

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