The Devil's Temptress: Dead Man's Chest || Book 2

XVII. Tia

The longboat sailed through the swamp at a snails pace. Night had fallen not long ago and the trees were alight with fireflies. It felt like only yesterday they had sailed up this same river, through the same creeks. But it wasn't like last time, everything felt darker as if an ever present light had been extinguished.

It was Nicolette who led the boat this time as the men sat behind her solemn and silent. The barely existent waves lapping at the river bank should have been peaceful as the crickets croaked and the fish beneath them created small ripples against the surface. And it did bring her peace, a tiny slither which calmed her racing thoughts for long enough to allow Nic to close her eyes and breath in the cool damp air.

For a moment she thought she had been the one to start humming and it wasn't until she subconsciously joined in with the soft melody being carried through the trees that she realised it wasn't. When she opened her eyes, she saw other mediums of light had joined the fireflies and the locals had came to the river banks to greet them as they grew closer to Tia Dalma's hut. Some stared, their faces contorted with sadness, and others held dim glowing candles as they sung low in mourning.

Elizabeth, who sat behind her, darted her eyes around quickly from east to west, her breath hitching as the men, women and children started to descend the swampy banks, stepping into the waters to surround them.

"They aren't here to hurt us." Nic whispered, glancing at the girl briefly with her head dipped. "They're paying their respects." The girl frowned in reply and looked around again, though this time it was with a softer expression as she too noticed the grief on the locals faces.

As they reached the larger clearing where the calm river split and where Tia's hut stood, the water got more crowded and as they came closer to the old wooden shack build high above the water it was like they were sailing through a river of bodies. The locals formed a passage way for them and as Nic got closer, they began to dip their heads and extend their candles towards the boat. Some of them were crying as their eyes were held wide open in what could only be depicted as horror.

Nicolette swallowed hard as a group of small children did the same and threw small pretty shells into the water as an offering. The smile she had to force herself to give them used up her last bit of energy and as the longboat softly bumped against the makeshift dock, she stood with the grace of a ghost and stepped from the boat without uttering a single word to the men who followed her on instinct.

Upon reaching the decrepit screwed door, she hesitated with her fingers hovering above the metal handle covered in water droplets. Whatever she was expecting the woman to say, whatever she was hoping to get by coming here, those dreams had to be left at the door for she knew the chances of getting anything she really wanted was slim and she would rather not feel any worst leaving, than she did arriving.

As the footsteps of the crew caught up behind her, Nic shook her head and knocked on the door once before pushing it open with a long, loud squeak.

"My child..." The woman's voice washed over her like a calm wave within seconds and she appeared out from the back room with her face turned down in sadness. "I was praying you be brought to me on this night."

Nicolette looked at Tia, just for a second, and then her eyes turned back towards the floor as she walked further into the hut, stopping by one of the beams decorated with snakes and hanging beads.

The rest of the men, and Elizabeth, moved in behind her with shuffling feet and each found their own spot to loiter.

"I believe I am in need of your guidance." Nicolette muttered and the woman smiled at her in return, lowering her head as she swaggered closer.