Read Online Curse of Stigmata (The Judas Reflections) by Aiden James, Michelle Wright - Free Book Online Page A

extract information. Look at me Dario, I’m a hostage, a prisoner!”
    There was no evidence of her being tied to her bed. Juan had kicked the rope into a corner before Dario had to chance to spot it. In the faint light of a dwindling lamp, it was Rachel’s word against ours. Who in their right mind would believe the ramblings of a crazy girl with blood coming from her eyes against the word of two respectful and well-behaved citizens?
    “Look here,” I suggested. “I brought water and a cloth to wipe the blood away. Is that something a captor would do?”
    “It would seem an odd thing to do, I grant you that…. Rachel, it’s possible you’re suffering from hysteria and grief. Being a stigmatic does make you unstable, does it not?” Dario was beginning to doubt her accusations. Exactly what I’d hoped for, although it didn’t exonerate me completely.
    “Doubt all you want. The fact is, Emmanuel is guilty.”
    I was beginning to see how her mind worked, especially when she referred to
her gold,
the spoils donated to her from naive believers. It was a slip of the tongue. She wasn’t defending her father’s honor; it was more about Rachel looking after her own interests. This included the belief that she now owned my precious coins. I chastised myself for not seeing it sooner.
    Rachel was smart and way beyond her years. It was time to stop underestimating her abilities to destroy everything in her path and become one step ahead of her every move. Dario was none too happy with the outcome of what should have been a successful transaction. I’d paid him handsomely for the contact. Now, ironically, I considered it as money wasted.
    Dario’s face was taut with anxiety as he addressed us all. “I must take a moral stand and report Isaac’s demise to the authorities. I can’t conceal what’s happened and you have no right to ask me to do so. But in view of my respect for Juan, I will give you two full days to remove yourselves—all of you. After that, the Gendarmerie will come. You leave me no choice. With or without a body, I
will
point the finger.”
    Two days to find the coins and get far enough away and over the border. Rachel had to see the finger of justice would point in her direction if she stayed. It was now in her best interest to dig up the gold and my coins, respectively.
    “I will be back in two days and I expect the place to be abandoned. The goats will be sold off and profits shared amongst the poor. It’s the least you can all offer, considering your greed,” he continued.
    Juan didn’t take kindly to the insult. “I beg of you Dario, please. Rethink your damning comment. The only vested interest I have is in my friend Emmanuel, who has helped me on numerous occasions. I object to being thought of as greedy. Shame on you, for you know me well!”
    “I will say it for the last time, you have two days to leave, a fighting chance to reach the border.”
    Dario left our presence, before either of Juan or I could comment. Rachel responded by screaming obscenities, refusing to aid us to dig up the gold and adamant she would stay put no matter the outcome.
    I wanted to throttle her, badly.



he early morning light brought no reprieve. It only served to highlight how monstrous I could be and the mess I’d brought on Juan. I needed to find a solution and a quick way out. The idea of prison or a drawn-out execution bringing no death were unappealing.
    “Juan,” I said, waking his sleeping form next to me. “Get her up, we need to start digging.”
    He looked at me despairingly, and I could guess what he was thinking: how to succeed in changing the mind of a stubborn mule?
    “I’ll do what I can to get her to comply, but please, don’t blame me if she doesn’t.”
    I agreed. Then, with a need for sustenance, I foraged around, finding a supply of bread and cheese. Feeling only inclined to lay a plate for Juan and me, the chance of Rachel having something to eat depended solely on her