31. A Womans Touch

31

A WOMAN'S TOUCH

TERESA

P acari pulls me towards the Lantern Witch as she now screams against nothing. Once the waters were clear, Cirro went in to calm the other Abyssal Ones. Everything happened so fast. Even after years of going through rehearsals and then performances, the first time on stage after rehearsing always feels like it comes too fast. Guess this isn't much different.

Finally, the Lantern Witch notices us.

"Seducer," she shrieks, calming slightly to greet me, "Human."

I guess I can see why some animals would go right into a lantern fish's mouth. Her light is so bright it's like an oasis in a literal sea of darkness. Especially now, when she's scared off the locals .

"Hey lady," I greet. "Good to see you again. See you've done some redecorating."

"Haven't you swindled me enough? Why do you return?" she growls.

Pacari nudges me forward. Gee, thanks hon.

"I hear you like gifts," I tell her.

She shifts. As she leans forward, I catch sight of her eyes and try not to react to how huge and terrifying they are. Just huge, blank white orbs. Or at least, I thought those were her eyes, but above them is a pale purple face that stands out brightly against the rest of her dark purple skin.

"What have you brought?" she asks, her mood changed.

"The final part of your deal with Pacari," I tell her. "The answers you wanted."

She chuckles deeply. "If your information is as good as his, I will enjoy crushing you between my teeth. Besides, it will take more than words to remedy what he has broken."

"The Cliffside Lady is Nina Martinez, right?" I ask. "She died of pneumonia."

The Witch stays silent, listening.

"Here, this is from her house," I say, offering the statue to her.

She takes the statue from me with long claw-like hands, holding it delicately. Her whole demeanor changes into one of sadness .

"She was a complicated woman," I tell her. "Or so I hear. My friend is her grandchild. We just found a speakeasy in the basement of her house. There's all sorts of strange little clues to what a complex life she led. Zephyr said that Nina was great at hiding in plain sight. She didn't tell anyone she was Mexican, not even once people started celebrating people of color. She bleached her skin and hair. She was rarely herself when others saw her."

The waters feel calmer.

"I bet performing was kind of cathartic for her because of that. It's one thing to have to perform in your personal life, but she turned it into a choice. She made a living of off it. And then she used that to live by the sea. Nobody ever understood why she abandoned nearly everything else to be there."

The Lantern Witch's face is hard to read, considering how monstrous it looks, but she is remarkably calm now.

"I don't know what she was to you," I say. "But she chose to be here over anywhere else."

The Witch nods.

"She must have been wild to know. All the stories I hear about her—oh, and also the ones where she's just a mega bitch."

The Lantern Witch laughs. Like a real laugh, though dipped in angst.

"Thank you," she says.

She strokes the statue, holds it close.

"Um, do you want a hug?" I offer, because I'm crazy.

That, and I guess, I've always surrounded myself with women who could bite my head off at any moment. What's another one?

"A hug?" she repeats.

"I put my arms around you, you get to feel connection with another being. It's supposed to help you feel better."

Pacari coughs behind me. I shoot him a look. I'm so good at dealing with narcissists. If Janine Lezna could use me as her professional punching bag this last tour and then spit me back out, I can handle a sad sea witch. At least the Lantern Witch isn't going to ruin my livelihood—maybe just my life.

"Maybe this hug thing does sound nice," she says.