Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
The three men accompanying Castello appeared to be in their thirties. They were also physically fit. Two had dark brown hair and were brothers. They were introduced as Georgios and Callen Bakis. Silke didn’t think they were twins, but they looked quite a bit alike. Georgios had more muscle on his frame while Callen was leaner. Both had dark brown eyes. The third man, Herman Drakos, also appeared to be in his thirties. He had light chestnut hair and green eyes.
Silke paid attention to the eyes of the three younger men. At times, even if a demon could hide well, she might still detect a flicker of red flame smoldering low, like a tiny ember in their eyes. She saw nothing like that in the three men, but they were clearly under the influence of Castello. They hung on to every word he said. If he gave the slightest instruction, they instantly sprang to do his bidding. That worried Silke. If this demon had that kind of power over his followers, was it possible for him to recruit others from her village?
She kept her smile welcoming as Gesina introduced her to the two women. Melia Floros was older, somewhere between fifty-five and her late sixties. There was no taint of a demon in her, but she gave off a fanatical aura. She was short and slight, a bit bent, but she moved as if she could be a runner. Her hair was gray and cut severely around her face but off her neck and ears. She had several deep wrinkles around her mouth, as if at one time she may have been a smoker.
The second woman, Thea Gerou, was younger, somewhere in her late twenties or early thirties. She was good-looking with her shiny cap of dark hair and her very dark brown eyes. Silke was a tall woman, but Thea was taller by at least two inches. Silke thought Thea looked like a runway model. If she wasn’t one, she should be.
“You have a garden of mature medicinal plants,” Castello said, ignoring the others. He walked right up to her, crowding Silke’s personal space. The demon in him inhaled, taking her scent into his lungs.
Silke kept her energy low-key. She stepped to one side, indicating the very large ring of medicinal plants. The step allowed her to escape the close proximity of the demon. Her gesture served to give her a natural excuse for stepping away from him. “Most of the plants are fully mature. You must know your flora to know which ring of plants contains ones used for medicine.” She poured admiration into her tone.
“I’ve always been interested in plants and their various uses,” he said, his demeanor changing just slightly.
Where before he had appeared arrogant and commanding, his features softened minutely now that she seemed to acknowledge his expertise. Silke filed that fact away for the future. This particular demon was susceptible to flattery. He needed accolades and acknowledgment that he was the top dog. Had he always been that way? Had he been made the way the sea serpent had been? Had staying in human form for years changed him? If so, she had only a short period of time to figure him out. He wasn’t in her encyclopedia of demons. She would have to spend a little time with him to get a feel for him.
Deliberately Silke looked around her at the thick swaths of varied plants as if really seeing them for the first time. “Most of the plants are very mature.”
“Did you put them in?” He walked with her toward the first inner circle, where most of the florae needed for everyday medicines were growing.
Silke shook her head. “I did help with transplanting a few, but most were already here. I remember as a child watching my mother work in the various beds. I loved helping her.”
His eyes gleamed at her, tiny red embers glowing behind the dark color. “Your mother planted most of these, or were they already here when she moved in?”
Silke paused on the stone walkway leading around the first circle. The others had gone silent waiting for her reply. Silke pretended not to notice.
“That’s a very good question, Mr. Castello. She adopted me when she was in her late forties. She’s never married or had any other children. I’m it. She’s amazing with plants.”
“I would very much like to meet her.”
Silke felt a slight pressure in her mind, as if the demon were politely seeking entrance, or subtly persuading her. She rubbed her forehead over the exact spot. “I’m sure she would love that, but I’m afraid it’s impossible. Fenja is unable to move around much these days. She doesn’t have many visitors.”
Deliberately she brightened, flashing him a vacuous smile. “Fortunately, she taught me about the various plants, and I can pass that information on to you.” Before he could answer her, she began to rattle off the practiced spiel, naming each plant and the uses it had in medicine.