CHAPTER 8

Ashwin returned home just as Silver Moon was getting ready to leave, and his voice was full of optimism tinged with sarcasm as he inquired, “So you're leaving?”

Silver Moon refused to take his bait as she shook her head and said, “No, we're just going out for the evening. I figured Sani would enjoy the amusement park they have here.”

Ashwin nodded as he glanced down at the young boy whom Silver Moon claimed was his, and after gently ruffling the boy's hair he said, “Have fun and be careful. Chances are I'll be here when you get back.”

Silver Moon nodded but said nothing else as she left the apartment with Sani and the baby in tow, and Ashwin sighed at the prospect of a nice, quiet, peaceful evening ahead of him. He walked over to the fridge and grabbed a can of beer, and after finishing it off in a few gulps, he wiped the foam off his mouth and tossed the can into the trash before he glanced around at his cluttered apartment. A thorough cleaning was definitely in order, and as he began picking up various things like empty soda cans and paper towels, he wondered just how long it was going to take Kasey to finally wake up. All of her vitals were normal, as were her EEG results, and he knew that it was just a matter of time before her body decided that it had rested enough and finally came out of its much-needed slumber. It had been almost a week since they'd met in their private, dreamworld forest, and he was hoping against hope that by the end of the week, she would be awake and allowed to leave the hospital. He sighed as he finally finished restoring the living room to order, and after helping himself to another can of beer, he glanced toward his bedroom and frowned as he remembered what had happened the night before. He set his mouth in a grim line as he strode into his bedroom, and his first task was to completely strip the bed and adorn it with new sheets, blankets, and a comforter. The thought of having Silver Moon in his bed was enough to turn his stomach, hence his cleaning frenzy when it came to his bedroom and bathroom. Once he'd put fresh linens on his bed, he focused his attention on the bathroom. As he meticulously scrubbed the sink, toilet, tub, and shower, he couldn't help but wonder just what was causing Silver Moon to act that way she was. She had definitely changed, because she was nothing like she'd been ten years ago. Then again, he had a nagging suspicion that postpartum depression was playing a major role in her current behavior. If that were the case, though, he was helpless to do anything about it if she wasn't willing to admit that she had a problem. After cleaning the mirror that hung above the sink and placing fresh towels on the towel rack, he washed his hands and decided to have another beer before he tackled the stack of dirty dishes he'd spotted in the sink. All of his furious cleaning had made him ravenous, though, and before he tackled the dishes he decided to have the steak and salad that Silver Moon had tried to trick him with the night before. He opened the fridge and removed the Styrofoam containers that held the food, and after transferring the steak to a regular plate he opened the microwave with the intention of heating his dinner. Instead he saw an envelope resting on the glass plate in the center of the microwave, and his curiosity was definitely piqued as he slowly retrieved the envelope and carefully opened it. He slid his plate into the microwave and programmed it for three minutes, and as he waited for the microwave to beep he sat down and retrieved the single piece of paper that had been carefully folded and tucked into the envelope. On it was a short yet disturbing message that had been written in crayon in a child's handwriting:

Dear Mr. Ashwin,

Silver Moon is NOT my mother. Please help me.

Sincerly,

Sani

Ashwin blinked as he carefully read the words again, and when the microwave beeped, he continued sitting where he was, his mind suddenly full of even more questions about Silver Moon and the child she'd brought with her. If he wasn't her son, then who was he? Why hadn't he said anything before now? Surely she hadn't done something as heinous as...kidnap the child? If so, from whom? And where? His appetite suddenly vanished as his mind formed all kinds of scenarios regarding Silver Moon and Sani, and as he got to his feet he wondered what he should do. Should he go searching for her at the amusement park and demand answers? Or should he just wait for her to come home and fall asleep so he could question the boy? His stomach rumbled faintly, but instead of eating, he dumped the steak and salad in the trash, repulsed at the thought of eating anything that Silver Moon had touched. The two beers he'd drank on an empty stomach were beginning to make their presence known, and as he slowly filled the sink with hot, soapy water, he forced himself to calm down and think. Why would she do such a thing and then insist that the child was his? Was she that desperate to have him back? If so, what else was she capable of doing? That last thought sent chills down his spine as he thought of his sweet, beloved Kasey lying helplessly in her hospital bed, but he shook his head to clear it of any bad thoughts where she was concerned. Surely nothing bad could happen to her there...could it? His hands suddenly went still on the soapy plate he was holding, and he got the sudden, compelling urge to call the hospital and check on Kasey, just to be sure she was alright. He quickly dried his hands on his jeans and picked up the phone, and a few minutes later he was transferred to the nurse's desk in the psych ward. Nurse Wilkinson answered. “Third floor nurse's desk, how may I help you?”

Ashwin cleared his throat and said, “Hello, Nurse Wilkinson. I was just calling to inquire about Kasey Marshall's condition.”

“And you are?”

On his end of the line, Ashwin shook his head at his small mistake. “I'm sorry. This is Dr. Ashwin Ross.”

“Ah, Dr. Ross. Let me see...her condition is unchanged and she's sleeping peacefully.”

Ashwin nodded as relief flooded him. “Thank you, nurse. Please call me immediately if her condition changes.”

“Will do, Dr. Ross. You have a pleasant evening.”

Ashwin hung up without returning the nurse's pleasantries, then returned to his task of washing dishes as he tried to shake the nagging feeling that Silver Moon was up to something, and that something was definitely no good.

Silver Moon slowly strolled along the main drag of the boardwalk, unmoved by the flashing lights of the numerous attractions that lined the streets, intent on finding what she needed in order to make her dream of finally being with Ashwin again a reality. Sani, however, was awe-struck by the busy, bustling heart of Myrtle Beach, but he dared not ask her for anything lest she begin berating him right there in front of everyone. He remained silent as they continued to slowly walk down the crowded sidewalk, and finally Silver Moon pulled ten dollars out of her purse (out of the hundred she'd swiped from the empty tampon box she'd discovered in Ashwin's bathroom cabinet) and handed it to the child. “Here. Go play some video games in the arcade over there. Don't go anywhere else, though. I'll be back in about an hour or so to get you. Do you understand?”

Sani nodded and dashed down the sidewalk, leaving Silver Moon free to focus on the novelty shops that lined the sidewalks as well. The baby was fast asleep in her arms as she paid close attention to all of the stores she passed, until finally she came upon a store named Forbidden Treasures. She walked in and glanced around, and after surveying some of the merchandise, she knew that it wasn't the type of establishment she was looking for. She was getting ready to leave when a young, enthusiastic blonde sales girl approached and said, “Hi! Can I help you find something?”

Silver Moon sighed as she took in the girl's young, fresh appearance and over-enthusiasm at working in such a place, then decided that it couldn't hurt to ask the question that had been burning in her mind all night. “Actually, I was wondering if there were any more stores like this around here.”

The young girl smiled and nodded emphatically. “Sure! What exactly are you looking for?”

“Well, um...something with more exotic merchandise than this.”

“Hmm...well, I have heard of a place, but...”

Silver Moon's interest was instantly piqued. “But what?”

The girl nodded toward the infant sleeping in Silver Moon's arms. “I don't know if it'd be wise to take a baby into that part of town.”

Silver Moon shrugged. “So I'll take a cab. Where is this place?”

“It's on thirteenth avenue south.”

“What's the name of the place?”

The girl shrugged. “Some French name. Really weird place, if you ask me, but to each his or her own, I guess.”

“Do you know what time they close?”

The girl smiled, although this one wasn't quite as enthusiastic as before. “They're ALWAYS open.”

Silver Moon nodded and turned to leave. “Thank you.”

“Hey, wait! Don't you need to call a cab?”

Silver Moon ignored the young girl's question and stepped outside, then headed for thirteenth avenue.

Silver Moon sighed as she finally came upon thirteenth avenue, and after walking the entire block, she was dismayed when she didn't see any kind of store that matched the description the young sales girl had given her. She sighed and turned around to go back the way she'd come, and that was when she spotted it. The glowing red neon lettering seemed to call out to her, and she smiled when she realized that she'd finally found it. She took a hesitant step into the dark alleyway, then shivered as a sudden gust of wind blew through the alley, bringing bits of paper, dust, and other debris with it. She glanced at the sign again before nervously looking to her left and right, then took another hesitant step into the alley. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she quickly looked around to see if anyone else was lurking about, but she was all alone as she slowly made her way toward the glowing neon sign that suddenly seemed as bright as a beacon. Another gust of wind blew towards her, and on the tail end of it she heard an unsettling whisper. “Yesss...This way, child...” She glanced wildly around for the source of the haunting voice, then shivered again when she realized that she was still alone in the alley. As she drew closer she was finally able to read the lettering on the sign, and even though she knew very little French, she was able to decipher at least part of the store's name. La Maison du Curios Noir. She knew that noir meant black, or night, and her heart skipped a beat as she felt positive that this was the place she'd been looking for all evening. She finally reached the entrance just under the eerie, black and red sign, and she swallowed hard as a sudden sense of unease overcame her. She gasped softly when a light suddenly shone down upon her, and as she squinted up at its source she shook her head when she realized it was just a light bulb. “Get a grip, Sylvie,” she muttered before she took a deep breath and gingerly pushed the door open. She stood rooted to the spot as she slowly blinked into the dusty, shadowed interior, and as her eyes once again adjusted she noticed that the floor was made of wooden planks and boasted a fine covering of dust. As she slowly glanced around, she was astounded to see an impressive array of merchandise that had obviously come from all corners of the world—everything from hand-made jewelry to fragile-looking, leather-bound books which caused the old wooden, dusty shelves to sag. She slowly walked over to a shelf which boasted an assortment of authentic shrunken heads and real human skulls, and beside the macabre items were the weapons that had been used to kill the victims. Her fingers suddenly itched to stroke the smooth bone that was impossibly gleaming in the darkened store, and she gasped softly at her strange desire before she slowly turned and walked over to the counter. An elderly woman was sitting there, her eyes closed as she gently stroked the top of a horrifyingly real skull and hummed to herself. Her hands were wrinkled and leathery, and the multiple beaded bracelets the woman wore made a strange, unsettling “click-click” against the skull as she reverently stroked it. Silver Moon got a whiff of what resembled wood smoke every time the woman's fingers slid across the yellowed bone, but before she could say anything, the woman spoke.

“This is my Aunt Sura. Good old Auntie Sue, as we used to call her back then.” The woman sighed and sadly shook her head before she continued. “This is all that's left of her, after the Nazis got done with her at Auschwitz. Fortunately, my grandmother was able to sense her predicament and retrieved these precious remains before the rest of her was tossed into one of those horrid mass graves.” The woman sighed again and gently kissed the top of the skull before she slowly raised her head and pinned Silver Moon with a startlingly clear, piercing blue gaze. She slowly leaned across the counter and smiled before she softly murmured, “My Auntie Sue here tells me you are in search of something, dearie. Something quite uncommon to be found in a city such as this.”

Silver Moon swallowed hard and nodded. “Y-yes. Th-that is correct.”

The old woman laughed softly. “Then you've come to the right place, my dear.”

The baby stirred in Silver Moon's arms, evoking the old woman's interest for a few moments before she said, “Ah, a child. This is no place for a child, my dear.”

Silver Moon leaned a bit closer and whispered, “Please...I had no one to leave him with.”

The old woman raised her hand and shook her head as if to dismiss Silver Moon's excuse. “He is but an infant, still innocent and sweet. He has no knowledge of this now, but perhaps one day he will understand.”

Silver Moon felt a slight sense of relief as she realized the woman wasn't going to force her to leave, and she remained silent as she watched the strange, little old woman walk to the end of the counter and light a single stick of incense. She was suddenly mesmerized as she watched a fine stream of smoke slowly curl upwards, but her attention was pulled back to the little old woman as she ambled back up the counter and came to stand directly across from her. This time the smile she gave sent wracking chills up and down Silver Moon's spine. “I know what you are in search of, child, and I have just the thing you seek.”

Silver Moon opened her mouth to speak, which prompted the old woman to raise one finger and command, “Silence. My Auntie has already told me what you need.”

For a moment Silver Moon was convinced that the woman was crazy, until she leaned closer and whispered, “It is the Haitian Zombie Powder, correct?”

Silver Moon gasped at the woman's accuracy and slowly nodded her head. The old woman smiled and turned away for a moment, and Silver Moon watched as she retrieved a small, intricate black bottle from the shelf behind the counter. She turned back to face Silver Moon, who was already digging in her purse as she nervously inquired, “How much?”

The old woman laughed again, that same soft, sinister laugh that increased the chills traveling up and down Silver Moon's spine. “If you intend to do with this what I think you intend to do with it, then there is no monetary value I can place on this, child.”

Silver Moon's hand stilled in the middle of her purse as she gave the woman a puzzled look. “What do you mean?”

The woman suddenly leaned so close that her face was a mere inch from Silver Moon's, and as she wrapped her cool, bony fingers around Silver Moon's wrist she said, “A life for a life, dearie. This particular transaction requires an even exchange.”

Silver Moon leaned back, troubled by the woman's words. “What—what do you mean?”

The woman chuckled softly and released Silver Moon's wrist before she walked out from behind the counter and came to stand directly in front of Silver Moon. She leaned over and smiled at the infant in Silver Moon's arms, then gently pinched the child's plump cheeks and murmured, “Ah, what a fine Cherokee warrior he will be someday. So unlike his father, who wasted his life away and turned his back on his own people.”

Silver Moon was stunned by the woman's words, but she remained silent as the woman returned to her spot behind the counter. She watched as the woman retrieved a yellowed, fragile-looking piece of parchment paper and carefully spread it on the glass counter. “In order to have the powder, you must sign this agreement.”

“What—what does it say?”

“You are simply agreeing to our exchange, dearie. A life for a life. As soon as I have your signature, you receive the powder, and I obtain custody of the child once I have proof that this--” she stopped speaking long enough to gently tap the black bottle--”has done what you desire for it to do.”

Silver Moon hugged the baby closer to her chest as she softly inquired, “What if I don't sign?”

The woman shrugged. “If you don't sign, then no powder.” She leaned close to Silver Moon again and added, “But if you do sign, and then try to renege, there will be a price to pay that is far worse than what I'm asking of you now.”

Silver Moon swallowed hard as she glanced down into her newborn's face, and she couldn't bring herself to meet the woman's intense gaze as she softly inquired, “Are you going to kill him?”

The woman's sudden, harsh laugh was too loud in the eerily quiet, shadowed shop, and when the old woman had stopped laughing she said, “Heavens no, child. He will be put to good use.”

Silver Moon bit her lip as she slowly looked up and studied the small black bottle that was still on the counter. Inside that tiny bottle was the ability for her to realize her dream—a lifetime with Ashwin, happy and secure. She glanced down at her newborn, then shrugged as she realized that she and Ashwin could make more babies. In that instant, her mind was made up. She gave a brisk nod and took a step closer to the counter, then silently took the feathered quill pen the woman proffered and shakily signed her name at the bottom of the parchment paper. The old woman smiled triumphantly and dropped the bottle into a plain black bag, then said, “You've made a very wise choice, my dear. Be careful in your travels and goodnight.”

Silver Moon dropped the bag into her purse and turned to leave, and as an afterthought she turned back to the woman and inquired, “How will you know where to find me?”

The old woman's smile never faded as her eyes narrowed a bit. “Trust me, child. I'll know.”