Chapter Ten: Travel Plans

The rumbling started deep under the church floor. Suddenly a column of fire erupted upwards, spewing chunks of stone like a geyser. Screams filled the humble place of worship as the flowers on the altar and the white robes of the priest both burst into flame.

"We've got to get out of here!" Rosa Gallagher clutched her companion's arm, frantic with terror. The tough modern-day Italian witch wasn't usually a coward. But this unearthly display of ancient power and unquenchable malice had swiftly overwhelmed her store of simple spells and folk remedies.

"You go." Jennifer Halsey felt no fear, only cool determined fury. The slim, elegant blonde rose to her feet, walking directly towards the flaming altar. "Ahmanet," she cried, in a clear, ringing voice. "Ahmanet!"

"He is mine!" The priest's charred robes were black and smeared with soot. His face was red, and his eyes rolled upwards in their sockets, white and unseeing. "You will not claim him. No pale-faced barbarian slave girl can satisfy him. The man is mine. Leave him to me or prepare to face a thousand deaths!"

"I will not leave him," Jenny coolly informed the ancient goddess. She knew that it was greedy, selfish Ahmanet who spoke through the charred and blackened lips of the tortured priest. "You cannot hurt me. I have studied the ancient scrolls and I am protected by the moon and stars. Nick Morton is still under your spell but I will find a way to save him. And then I will claim him for myself."

"Noooooooo!" The horrible wailing came from the priest, but Jenny knew it was really the spirit of Ahmanet howling in protest. While the spasms shook the priest's body and the whirlwinds of a desert sandstorm howled all around her, the defiant lady scientist stood her ground, daring the ancient goddess to a woman to woman contest. Gradually the noise and tumult subsided, and the flames flickered and died. At last the limp body of the priest fell to the floor. Ahmanet's vengeful spirit had left the building.

"Father Francis! Father Francis, are you okay?" Rosa was kneeling over the unconscious man, gently patting his cheeks, while Jenny Halsey carefully examined the ancient gold medallion clutched in his hand.

"We're going to Brazil," Jenny announced, giving Nick Morton a shake or two in order to wake him up. It was the middle of the afternoon and the battle-scarred mercenary was still in bed!

"Like hell we are!" Jenny didn't expect trouble. But Nick didn't like being bossed around. Instead of obeying her commands, he grabbed her hands and yanked her down onto the bed.

"Nick, you mustn't!" Jenny sensed the jealous eyes of the goddess, even though she had been beaten earlier at the church. "Ahmanet still wants you," she cautioned, in a breathless voice.

"I want you," Nick growled. He'd been sound asleep when Jenny entered the bedroom, but her soft voice and cool hands had broken the spell of slumber. Nick had been dreaming of Ahmanet, and he didn't like it. Now he turned his awakened fury on Jenny.

"Nick, we don't have time! We mustn't . . . mustn't . . . mmmm . . ." Jenny's protests were stifled by a punishing kiss. It was impossible to think straight when he kissed her like that. Jenny wanted to help Nick. She wanted to keep things organized, and follow a plan based on research, facts, logic. But Nick didn't care about logic. And he didn't want any help. All he wanted was her.

Nick dropped the bombshell at dinner that night. "Listen, you guys. Jenny and I owe you big time. But it's not right the two of us crashing here when you've got mouths to feed."

"But . . . but you just got here!" Tommy Gallagher was a tough veteran who'd lost his legs in Iraq. He never cried about that. But he looked like he was about to cry right now. Nick Morton was like a brother to him.

"Where will you go, Nick?" Rosa asked softly. She felt like she'd failed at the church. And she knew the danger wasn't over.

"We're going to Brazil." Jenny Halsey didn't remember Nick giving in to her plan. All she remembered was giving in to him in bed. They'd wasted the entire afternoon, and the sex had worn her out. She'd slept, and Nick actually had to wake her up for dinner. Jenny didn't like that. She didn't like surrendering control. But now Nick was sitting beside her, holding her hand, and as she squeezed his hand she felt there was a bond between them.

They were going to Brazil. Ahmanet would be waiting.