Bacchanal by Veronica Henry

Author:Veronica Henry [Henry, Veronica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary, Historical
ISBN: 9781542027816
Google: K_23zQEACAAJ
Amazon: 1542027810
Publisher: 47North
Published: 2021-06-01T23:00:00+00:00

Eloko kept to the shadows on his way to see Ahiku. Along the way, he spied Jamey and Liza standing outside her trailer and watched as they shared a kiss.

It seemed an awkward thing, a mingling of lips, saliva, and inexperience. They’d hurried off from the rest of the carnies after supper like a couple of schoolkids; such had become their pattern. Eloko contemplated them as if their clumsy coupling were a new sideshow oddity.

“You lost something?”

Eloko bristled and nonchalantly turned to face Autumn. Had he been so wrapped up in Liza that his senses had gone numb? People didn’t creep up on him; it was the other way around. “Besides all the time I’ve lost wondering why such a chaste lady such as yourself chooses to show her body to strange men?”

Autumn flushed a deep red that matched the polka dots on her blouse. “Don’t go taxing what little brain you must have worrying about me.” She pushed past him and slammed the trailer door behind her, startling Jamey and Liza, who quickly composed themselves. Liza joined Autumn inside.

Slipping back into the dusky gloom, Eloko pressed on. Zinsa and Efe at first stiffened, then relaxed, when he suddenly appeared, he so well blended into the surroundings.

“You keep sneaking up on us . . . ,” Efe began.

“. . . and you may find yourself gutted like a fish,” Zinsa finished.

“You ladies try too hard,” Eloko said. “You should settle into your role; you don’t have to appear on the verge of a murderous rampage at every moment. A more subtle approach is sometimes called for. In case you had not noticed, the war is over.”

“Maybe for you,” Efe said with a far-off look in her eye. “Never for us.”

Eloko understood, for he, too, had lost every last one of his people. Zinsa and Efe were the last of their kind, warriors with no war left to fight and no spoils to revel in, no home to return to.

“Our good Mr. Kennel exited. I assume Ahiku has come back to the world of the living?” he said.

“I will ask if she will see you.” Efe disappeared behind the door and quickly returned. “You may enter.”

Eloko took in the African masks, swaying a bit to the drum music emanating from a source he couldn’t identify. He inhaled deeply through his pulsing snout, for the place even smelled of home. The demon lounged on her blessed chair like a leopard. Beautiful, majestic, but were one to peel back the spotted coat, the claws and fangs of the afterlife would be clear. He walked to her and knelt.

Ahiku rested a palm on his head, petting him like an animal. He hated the gesture so much, and his closed lids did little to contain the flash of red behind them.

She chuckled and lifted her hand. “Our friend Mr. Kennel trembles when he sees me. He tries to hide it, but I smell the fear on him like a lion’s musk. But you . . .

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