Free Island Tango (Silver Goddess Series, Book One) by Anisa Claire West Page A

the direction of Vinova.
    “Actually, there’s been a change of plans.  I want to find the Silver Goddess and observe her life on the Island of Vinova.  I’m planning a research project .”
    Pedro’s face froze in visible shock.  “Are you crazy?” He boomed.
    Confused by his reaction, she simply exclaimed, “What?!”
    “You cannot do that.  You don’t know how dangerous she is.  And you cannot reach her island by ordinary means.  It’s impossible.” Pedro spoke quickly and irrationally.
    “You’r e the one who told me about her!  And you told me to try to find her!   I’m an anthropologist , a scientist of humans.  If this woman really exists, I am going to find her and study her .” Herculea said stubbornly.
    “Do you know how ridiculous you sound?” Pedro snorted cynically.
    In that insulting moment, Herculea shut down.  She would not tell Pedro anything else about her plans.  She just hoped he would drive her safely back to the hotel.  They were in the middle of nowhere, and she would not be able to hail a cab.  Hitchhiking would be the only option to get back to Rio, and that was far too dangerous.
    “Please take me back to the hotel.” She said quietly.
    “I don’t understand what’s wrong with you.  You could have a romantic stay in Brazil with me.  I can show you the best this country has to offer.  Instead, you want to go on some wild witch hunt.”
    Pedro shook his head angrily, as Herculea heaved an impatient sigh.  Before Herculea could open her mouth to argue with Pedro, a golden glimmer caught her eye from across the room.  Sitting on a coffee table was a thick hardcover book decorated with gold calligraphy.  Intuitively, Herculea knew it was somehow important.  She walked a few steps towards the table so she could read the book’s title.  As soon as her brain processed the words, she gasped in horror: The Immortality Abyss .
    “ Why do you have this book ?!” Herculea demanded before Pedro even realized what she was referring to.
    “What book?” He asked, following her eyes to the table.
    His reaction was disturbingly calm and calculating.  “Oh, that book.  Would you like to read it?  It would be good information for your research project.” He said sardonically.
    “Why do you have this book?!” Herculea repeated hysterically, remembering again the strange mango juice she had drunk just hours earlier.  “Did you slip something into my drink?”
    “Yes, a little rum.” Pedro admitted.
    “How dare you?” She burst out.
    Herculea didn’t understand why he had felt the need to spike her drink with rum.  If he wanted to get her intoxicated and into bed, he could have easily done so in San Francisco.  They didn’t need to fly halfway around the world for him to seduce her.  Something wasn’t adding up.
    “I don’t know what kind of head game you’re playing with me, but I am going to ask you this one more time.  Why do you have that book?” Herculea stood with her hands curled into fists at her sides, waiting dete r minedly for a truthful answer.
    Pedro stood for a long, pensive moment staring at the floor.  He shoved his hands into his pants pockets and nodded his head resolutely.  Herculea sensed that whatever he was about to say would be devastating .
    On a shaky intake of breath, he admitted , “I have that book because I am immortal too.  Just like the Silver Goddess.”
    Herculea stopped herself from interrupting, although her heart began palpitating as the import of his words took effect.  He continued in a sorrowful voice.
    “Long ago , at the beginning of the twentieth century, I was a happy man.  And I was in love.  Mathilda ---the Silver Goddess--- and I had been together for a few years, since we were about your age.  When we got into our forties, she started to fear growing older.  And so did I.  When we were traveling through Brazil, we found that book.”
    He pointed menacingly to the tome that sat on his coffee