Olive’s stomach flip-flopped. She had no scarab to keep her sins quiet, and her heart pounded so hard her ribs ached. Blood bubbled from her lips and she gasped. “I took the scarab. I stole his heart.” The truth spilled from her even though she wanted to stay silent.
“So you did.” Osiris scraped a fingernail lightly over her cheek and chills ran through her. The white linen tunic he wore brushed against her bare shoulder and three rows of gold braided rope that hung around his neck gleamed in the torchlight.
“I’m sorry,” she offered. Regret had never been so acrid in her gut. It was as if a boulder resided inside her.
Fragrant smoke was blown in her face and her lungs tightened. She coughed.
“It is too late for apologies. Your judgment is at hand. The curse of Amenken has been released.” He removed one rope from his neck and wrapped it around hers. The cord cut into her skin as he pulled it tight.
She woke with a start and wiped at the corners of her mouth, expecting to find blood, but her fingers came away dry. Her heart still pounded. A scream nearly tore from her when she saw the blue lily resting on her chest. She threw it to the floor. Osiris’ words echoed in her mind. Had she unleashed a curse? A mummy curse? But curses weren’t real. Paranoia was taking root in the soil of her guilty conscience, yet doubt niggled at her mind.
The bathroom was dark and she half expected a bandage-covered man to come stumbling out to pull her brain from her nose with a wire hook. Then he’d stuff her torso with flowers and herbs and wrap her body in linen.
Stop it, Olive told herself. She must have gotten up to fetch the flower to bed. Sleepwalking. Her brain was restless and it transferred to her body. That’s what happened. She hoped.
*
Olive dressed in the black skirt and gray blouse. Jewelry hadn’t been on her mind when she packed her bags, so her neck and ears were bare. She pulled her hair up into a tight bun then let it tumble back down over her shoulders. The copper tresses were so like her mother’s. Would she have worn her hair up or down? Olive had grown up without her so she couldn’t even guess, but decided to leave hers down.
The heart scarab was clutched in her fist as she rode the elevator to the third floor. The gala had started fifteen minutes ago, and she’d be damned if she would be there on the dot to please that asshole. Everything about this felt dirty. Osiris’ words repeatedly echoed in her mind. The curse of Amenken has been released.
The sign outside the open double doors read WELLS CHARITY AUCTION. Olive stifled a laugh. Charity, my ass. This guy was a douche and he was probably his own charity. Corporate tax loopholes kept people like him rich. Assuming he was American, he was apparently operating offshore too. A director of a nonprofit could pay himself a healthy salary out of charitable contributions before a penny ever made it to the charity.
The conference room was dimly lit but filled with elegantly dressed people milling about.
A thin woman with white, poufy hair bumped into Olive. Diamonds dripped from the lady’s ears, neck and wrists, and a splash of champagne barely missed Olive’s arm. The woman smiled with cigarette-stained teeth. “I’m so sorry, my dear.” She obviously didn’t spend her money on dental work.
Olive touched her shoulder. “It’s okay.”
Waiters carrying trays of champagne and finger food slipped through the crowd, and a young woman in a waitress uniform smiled as she offered Olive a flute of bubbly with a strawberry floating at the top.
Olive accepted the drink. “Thank you.”
She’d never met Xavier Wells, so she didn’t know who she was looking for in the sea of men in penguin suits. While the women wore different dresses, they were all fancy. Olive was underdressed for the occasion, but prom dresses weren’t really her thing.
While all the women seemed snooty, they were divided into two classes—old money and arm candy. The few with whom Olive made eye contact, looked down their noses at her.
A bleach blonde about her age grabbed Olive by the elbow. “Can you bring out some more of those little bacon-wrapped prawns, sweetheart?”
“Excuse me?” Olive replied.
The blonde made a scooting motion with her hand. “Run along and get some more finger foods. I’m absolutely ravenous.”
Olive smiled. “Can I get you anything else from the kitchen?”
The blonde put her finger on her chin and looked at the ceiling. “Some of those little wieners would be great. Thank you!”
With a smile on her face, Olive walked away and slipped in and out through the crowd. “Stay hungry, my friend,” she said under her breath.