“Nothing,” Alvarez said through clenched teeth.
I looked at Hex. “There was a body bag on a gurney that the EMT took to his vehicle.”
“There wasn’t anything in it,” Alvarez said.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care. Now what man is my grandma talking about? She said someone calls you Ellie and is looking for you.”
If he isn’t going to be truthful with me, then I won’t be with him.
“I don’t know who she’s talking about.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Yes. You do.”
“Actually, this is just like these dead girls, I think. All some little fake mystery that’s not true.”
“There are no dead girls. My grandma just thinks that there will be.”
“Excuse me?”
“She believes she sees visions and in one she saw dead girls.”
A cold shiver ran up my spine. “Do her visions usually come true?”
“Elle, this is a ridiculous conversation. You do know that there’s no such thing as magic, right?” Alvarez tossed me a grin, but it seemed forced.
“You’re still not answering my question. Do her visions come true?” I threw that question at Hex, since Alvarez refused to be straight with me.
Hex sighed. “Sometimes they come true. Sometimes they don’t, but she doesn’t see you dying. She sees something else for you.”
“What?”
“She said something about you being the light for our darkness. I’m not really sure what she meant.” Hex shrugged.
Alvarez waved his hands. “We’re done discussing grandma and her ridiculous visions. Let’s get this straight right now. There was no dead body earlier, nor dead girl to come. Elle, you are safe here. I can guarantee it as long as you’re honest with me.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I raised one eyebrow.
“Who’s this guy that my grandma is talking about?”
“Why does it matter if you said that what your grandma sees is ridiculous and not true?”
“She has a point, Al.” Hex tossed him a wicked grin. “And if there was a dead person earlier, you’d better let me know.”
“No one died on this property!”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re lying.”
Alvarez took a step forward and stopped as if restraining himself. Hex lowered down to the ground, folded his legs, and stuck his thumb into his mouth.
Not a good sign.
A strange humming fled from his lips as he shut his eyes. With so many odd things happening, I decided to grab my bags, figure out where I’d placed the cab driver’s card, and call him to pick me up immediately. I had no idea where I was going or who I could get to help me until the end of summer, but this situation balanced on the edge of strange and dangerous. If I continued with this job further, then something would be stripped from me. Whether my sanity or my life, something would be ripped from my core, and after being with Michael I didn’t think I had anything left inside of me to live without.
So I left with determination in my steps. Alvarez’s gaze followed me, but he didn’t attempt to stop me when I reached the door. “Where are you going?”
“Somewhere less dangerous.”
He trailed behind me as I rushed through the studio. Hex’s strange humming flowed out with us. I didn’t allow myself to even focus on the reason why a grown man in coveralls would be sitting on the floor, sucking his thumb, and buzzing out an incomprehensible tune. If I did, I would lose it. I’d been dealt crazier things in life. Besides, the art world incited madness everywhere an enthusiast looked. However, dead bodies, a seer voodoo grandma, dark prophetic visions, and a bizarre responsive artist were just too much for my head to contain. I could take two or less, but all together was too much.
Now where will I go? I can’t go back home or to Dad’s. You counted on that. Didn’t you, Michael, me not knowing where to go? Well, I won’t be going back to you.
I bit my lip, picked up the bag I’d dropped outside of Hex’s studio, and continued down the pebbled path outlined in lilies. Alvarez stayed a few feet behind me with his hands resting in his pants’ pockets. A few of the gardeners eyed me and whispered to the person next to them as they continued to take care of the flowers. Once I got out of the gates, I would pull out my phone and call the cab.
I glanced over my shoulder. “Are you making sure I’m leaving?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Meaning?”
“I’m not sure if I want you to leave or not.”
“That’s weird. Earlier, you seemed certain that I should only stay a week and no more.”
“My grandma said you weren’t in any danger. I think she’s right.”
“Why?” I rounded the corner and started up the path that headed to the many banyan trees in the front of the castle. Sunlight peered through the branches above us. Far off, I spotted their grandma with her hands raised as she yelled foreign words at the sky. Brownish shrubs surrounded her feet. Is that the rotting garden she’s talking about? It did look like it could’ve been a garden weeks ago.