Caviotos

Chapter Five

Marcus Jones was Amanda’s military boyfriend of three years, currently stationed in Afghanistan. He had chocolate brown hair, brown eyes, peach colored skin, and a smile that could light up a room. The only blemish on Marcus’ face was a scar under the left side of his bottom lip. The scar went down to the end of his jaw and was a bright red. Amanda never got a direct story when she asked about his scar. Sometimes he would say he got the scar in a fight and other times he would say he got it in battle. After the first year of dating him, Amanda knew she would never find out the true reason of the scar. But she was content with not knowing.

“When are you coming home?” Amanda asked the computer screen.

“I’m not sure. I may be back in two weeks or two months. It depends on how the mission goes,” Marcus said.

“I wish I could see you. This past year has been really hard.”

“I know. I miss you and I hate how I had to stay for this long. But once I get back, I promise you that we’ll make up for the time I was gone.”

Amanda smiled. “Promise?”

Marcus smiled. “Promise.”

Amanda heard a dull bang. “Marcus, I have to go.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, baby?”

“Yeah, bye Marcus.” Amanda pressed the CALL END button before Marcus could say goodbye. She stood up out of her chair and walked up the stairs so she stood above deck. She looked around and spotted Mike sitting on the edge, kicking his feet. But there was no Tahela. Where could she be? Amanda’s eyes scanned every inch of the sailboat. She was just about to give up when a slight movement caught her eye: a door in the floor closing. “Shit.”

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Tahela read the words on the parchment over and over, trying to understand. She didn’t have the slightest idea what the “Jewel of Ocatraz” or “Caviotos” was. Tahela thought someone was playing a cruel joke on her. Tahela loved the supernatural because she was part of it. Her enemies often made fun of her for loving the supernatural. Maybe someone bought a fake crystal, made a necklace, made up some words that sounded like the crystal was magical, and hid it so Tahela would think it was worth something.

Tahela shook her head. “Pitiful.”

“What are you doing?”

Tahela jumped up and dropped the flashlight. It turned off and Tahela got on her knees and felt the floor for it. The other person found it before her, turned on the flashlight, and shone the beam in Tahela’s face. Tahela put her hand in her face and squinted, trying to make out the figure. “Who are you?”

“What are you doing in here? This is not a place for you.”

Tahela blinked spots away. “Amanda?”

The beam shone on the open chest by Tahela’s feet. “Did you open that box?”

“No, a ghost did.”

“Where is the Jewel of Oca—the necklace? Where is the necklace that was in the box?”

Tahela knew she should have handed the necklace to Amanda, but a small part of her decided not to. Amanda let her children in on everything, and sometimes Amanda told Tahela certain things. But if she was hiding this necklace, then this necklace was worth something. There had to be a reason Amanda was hiding it in this hidden part of the sailboat. Tahela was determined to find out. Tahela put the necklace in her back pocket. “There was no necklace in the box.”