"Sure. When you leave, take a right. Walk three blocks and turn left. Two blocks down on the right. You can't miss it."
"Thank you."
Taking Dakota's arm, Yemaya pulled her out the main door and turned right. Fifteen minutes later, they walked into Benny's and sat down. Little had been said on the short walk.
"Are you alright?" Yemaya asked.
"I think so. Just a little overwhelmed... and wondering about the apartment. I don't even want to think about Granny and Mari."
"How about we get something to eat and go check it out. We can deal with those two later."
The food was hot and savory. Scrambled eggs covered with chili and cheese, hot biscuits, and several cups of coffee helped to mellow some of the tension.
"Guess we might as well go check for damage," Dakota said pessimistically.
Squeezing her hand, Yemaya hoped things weren't as bad as Dakota imagined. With her jeans cutting painfully into her waist, she was beginning to feel pessimistic herself. She could imagine how Dakota was feeling, since it was obvious Dakota had put on more pounds than she.
Thankful that the two spirits had enough sense to take along Yemaya's wallet, the Illusionist paid for the meals with her credit card and then escorted Dakota out of the restaurant. Flagging a taxi, they gave the cabbie the address and then sat quietly staring out the windows, each wondering what other surprises lay in store for them.
Thirty minutes later, they hesitantly entered the apartment. Surprisingly, the living room was in fairly decent shape, giving them hope. The kitchen? Well, it could have been worse — not much — but still. The refrigerator was empty except for a jar of dill pickles, some olives, two bottles of lime Gatorade, and some leftovers that looked disgustingly familiar.
"Looks like they cleaned me out."
"At least we can start fresh. I hate to think what two weeks of old food would taste like."
"You did notice they didn't touch the leftovers, didn't you? That's what it looks like... tasting is out of the question."
"Like I said. Imagine the entire refrigerator looking like that."
"Maybe things are better than I imagined. Let's check the bedroom."
They pushed open the door, stepped inside, and stopped. Silence. It was the ominous type that always preceded a storm.
"My... bed. What happened to my bed?" Dakota walked over to stand next to the box spring with no mattress.
"I'm not sure I want to know," Yemaya said as a thought slowly took form, "but I think I have an idea what's going on now."
She walked to the linen closet and opened the door. Several empty shelves stared back at her.
I hope I'm wrong about the clothes, the Illusionist thought. Pulling open several dresser drawers, all she could do was shake her head and try not to laugh out loud.
"I hope you're up for a lot of shopping."
"What?"
Dakota ran to the dresser and stared hopelessly at the emptiness.
"Where's my underwear? Where are my linens?"
"If I'm right, I think Mari and Maopa tossed them. We sometimes forget that spirits don't need clothing. I guess neither of them figured out what the washer and dryer were for."
"Damn. How could the two of them go through so much in such a short time? And what about your stuff?"
Yemaya walked to one of her suitcases, opened the lid, and smiled. "Guess they wanted to use up yours first. I still have plenty."
"You would. Well, if you think you're going to get off lightly, forget it. We're going shopping together."
"You know, sweetie, this may not be such a bad thing. After all, you might have had a little trouble fitting into the ones you had... at least until you lose a few pounds."
The look Dakota gave her would have killed any normal mortal. Chuckling, Yemaya wrapped her arms around her lover and hugged her. "Hey, I'm in the same boat. A few extra strolls around the neighborhood, and we'll be back to normal."
"For you, maybe. For me, it's always been hard to maintain a reasonable weight. I swell up like a balloon if I'm not careful."
"You're exaggerating and you know it. I've seen the way you eat."
"I don't want to hear it. Let's go."
Deciding discretion was the better part of valor, Yemaya merely nodded.
The streets were crowded as people moved about their business. The two women decided to walk the few blocks to a local department store, and neither of them noticed the street vendor until they had almost passed him.
"Hey, Ms. Lysanne, Ms. Devereaux," he called. They stopped and turned to look at the man at the hotdog stand. When he motioned them over, they hesitated and then shrugged simultaneously.
"What now?" Dakota muttered.
"Here yah go, ladies. Two of the finest dogs you ever ate, and I know how much you like them."
"Uh... Thanks, but we're really not hungry," Dakota said.
"Not hungry? You're always hungry. I've never seen two women eat so many dogs in my life. Why even my wife didn't believe me until she came down the other day and saw you."
"Oh God."
"Are you two feeling okay? You've been eating my dogs almost every day. Sometimes twice a day."
Dakota groaned. "Twice? No wonder I'm so friggin' fat."
After giving her a curious look, the vendor turned to Yemaya. "Is she okay?"
"She has been better. Look. We forgot to bring money with us today," Yemaya said, trying to think of something to get them out of the situation.
"You know I don't charge you ladies for my dogs. Go on, eat up. I have several more cooking."
Normally an avid hotdog lover, Dakota was suddenly disgusted at the thought of eating one now. Quickly glancing down at the slightly bulging tummy peeking over her waistband, she glared at the offending object, handed it back to the man, and stalked off without saying anything.
"Gosh. Is it something I said?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Yemaya looked wistfully at her own hotdog and then handed it back to him.
"No, I guess it's one of those days when she should have stayed in bed. Maybe tomorrow we can come back. They do look good. Thank you anyway."
Walking off, she quickly caught up with Dakota, glanced at her face, and chuckled softly. Passing up two hotdogs? Disappointing. Dakota's expression? Priceless.
CHAPTER 20
MAOPA WASN'T SURE what was happening. One moment she was curled up against Mari's warm body, and the next she was in the Earth Mother's realm, alone. Even Yemaya and Dakota had disappeared.
"Dagnabit. That woman better be havin' a good explanashun fer leavin' me here alone."
Not wanting to stay there by herself, she decided to return to the Eternal Fire to check on her spirit friends. It had been awhile since she had seen them. Catching up on the news would provide an escape from boredom until Mari returned.
Sarpe, the serpent spirit, lay coiled next to a log, her body relaxed and her eyes closed. Arbora, the woodland spirit, was talking to Ursa, the bear spirit. The two had been bonded for a long time, although they seemed an odd couple. Arbora was small and slender, with lavender eyes and green and purple hair. Ursa was huge and hairy, closely resembling a large grizzly, only the eyes were different. Pale yellow, they glowed when the flames from the fire reflected across the black pupils.
Turning at Maopa's appearance, Arbora jumped up and gave her a quick hug. "It's been a long time."
"Mari and I be gettin' to know each other better."
"Good. It's about time you two spent some quality time together. She's been alone too long."
"Yep. I figured the same."
"So, where is she?"
"Now that be something I'd like tah know mahself. One minute we was all snuggled up, and the next, she be gone."
"She does that sometimes."
"Well, this time it be diff'rent. Yemaya and Dakota done vanished too."
"Really? Let's see if we can find them."
Arbora moved to the fire and passed her hand through the dancing f
lames. Immediately a picture appeared, showing Yemaya and Dakota talking to the hotel clerk.
"I'll be danged. They done went back. That Mari, I bet she done got tarred of bein' human."
"And I bet there's a good story behind that comment." Arbora smirked.
"Shore nuff. Only don't go expectin' me tah tell tales. She'd not be appreshatin me jabberin behind her back."
"Oh, we'll wait. It'll be more fun with her present, anyway."
"That be the truth and it'd serve her right. Leavin' me like she done."
Glancing toward Sarpe, Maopa leaned close to Arbora to whisper a question. "What be wrong with Sarpe, there? She's lookin a little puny."
"She's tired. Her last trip into the mortal world has really affected her energy level. It'll take awhile, but she'll be alright. I think she's got a girlfriend, but she won't tell us about her."
"Playin' it real secretive like, eh? Well, that be good news if'n she got her one. Now if only Mari would show herself soes I knowed she was okay."
"I wouldn't worry too much. I'm sure she'll be back soon. In the meantime, let's let Sarpe get some rest and go pick on Ursa. She's feeling a little grumpy."
"Can't be havin' that now, can we?" Maopa chuckled, trying to recall a time when the bear spirit wasn't grumpy. She couldn't.
CHAPTER 21
MARI REACHED HER destination in less than a minute. During the short journey, she noticed the deep pulsations had slowed to less than a million beats per second.
"This isn't good," she muttered. "Daughter, are you okay?"
"Hurry, Mother. I hurt."
Mari could feel her pain and attempted to soothe it as much as possible. Her child had grown stronger in the past five billion years, making it more difficult to ease her discomfort. "I'm here."
The sigh of relief was audible. "Take away. She die soon."
It was true. No one but the Earth Mother could withstand the beat of her daughter's life force for long, even at the reduced rate.
"Thank you for calling me. I'll see what I can do. Can you hold on a little longer?"
"I try, but soon beat must grow. Not good to keep slow. I grow weaker. Many die. I die."
"I know. Please hang on as long as you can."
Approaching Saira, Mari was surprised the apparition couldn't feel her presence. Apparently, something was terribly wrong.
"Saira?"
Confused, Saira searched the darkness but couldn't locate the spirit. "Mari? I can't see you."
"No one can see in this place. What are you doing here?"
"I came in search of an answer, but now I'm lost."
"And did you find your answer?"
"No. I should have known now was not the right time."
"How so?"
"Because the tug was too weak. Because I felt no compulsion. I chose to come, knowing the time wasn't right."
"Is that why you can't find your way back?"
"It's the only reason I can think of. I've never been lost before. I find it rather frightening."
"I can imagine. The energy here is stronger than anything you could have ever encountered. That's more the problem. My daughter has tried to reduce its effects, but she can't sustain this level for long. It's imperative that we get you out of here quickly."
"I've tried, but I can't find the right thread. They all look alike."
"With good reason. Life began here. It's the birthplace of everything on this world. But we can discuss this later. At the moment, we need to find a way out of here for you."
"Can't I go the way you came?"
"No. Unlike you, I need nothing to guide me here. What exactly are you looking for?"
"The end of the thread that led me here... but I can't find it."
Running her hands around the giant ball of threads, Saira became more frustrated. "How can I tell one from the other if they're all the same?"
"That's a riddle we're going to have to solve."
Mari tried to decipher minute differences in the threads but found none. There was no end or beginning to any of the string-like objects. She could feel her daughter growing weaker and knew time was running out.
"Daughter. We need your help."
"Yes, Mother. I help."
"The Traveler. She needs to return the way she came. We can't find the thread to lead her home. Do you know which one brought her here?"
"No."
"Will you try to find it for me?"
"I try. I try."
Time seemed to have slowed to a crawl as the two entities waited. Saira was feeling slightly better since the pounding had eased, but she knew it was at the expense of Mari's child.
"If she doesn't find it soon," Mari said, "you'll have to choose one and take your chances."
"I'll do what I must before jeopardizing your daughter's life any further. If I fail to find my way home, then so be it."
"I suspect failure may be more catastrophic than you think, Saira. It's imperative you arrive in the present as quickly as possible."
"I find, Mother! I find!" the voice said joyfully.
"Where?"
Mari and Saira searched the ball for the thread but didn't see anything different.
"We can't find it. Can you try a little harder to show us?" Mari said.
In the middle of the tangled ball, the tip of a small thread wiggled frantically as if desperate to attract their attention.
"You see? You see?"
"Yes, daughter. We see it."
"Traveler go now?"
"Yes, Traveler go now. You've done well, daughter. I'm proud of you."
Turning to Saira, Mari pointed to the tiny object moving rapidly back and forth. "Time to go."
"Thank you, Mari." Totally out of character, Saira hugged Mari and then grasped the thread. Immediately, she felt a familiar tug.
"Thank you, Gaia!" she called out.
"Bye, Traveler, bye," the voice replied, saddened by the apparition's departure. The Traveler had been the first to visit her other than her mother.
A powerful surge sent Saira speeding on her way to the present. The heartbeat of the planet resumed its normal pace.
"You're growing fast. Soon you'll be able to control everything at will. Have you thought about that?" Mari asked her first born.
"I think, Mother. I no know. It seem far away still."
"Well, you have plenty of time to plan ahead. When the time's right, you'll make the right choices... just as you did now."
Mari could feel her child swelling with pride, and she smiled. "You're my first born, Gaia. You will always be my favorite."
"You too," Gaia said and beamed.
It was such a childish response, but Mari was happy. "I must go now, but you know I'm always near if you need me."
"I know. I happy you come. Happy Traveler safe. She nice. Will I see her again?"
"I think so, when the time is right. Now that you know what she needs, you'll be able to guide her home."
"You tell Traveler, she come anytime. Short stay, though. I not like pain."
"I'll tell her. I'm sure she'll have lots of questions for you."
"And I her too."
Mari was about to leave when she felt a warmth encircle her. "Mother?"
"What, daughter?"
"I love you."
"I love you too. Be happy, and call to me if you ever need me."
"I call."
Mari sensed Gaia wanted to ask her something, but was reluctant to take up any more of her time.
"Is there something else you want or need?"
"Many questions I have. Can you stay longer?"
Nodding yes, the Earth Mother slid down next to the threads of life and made herself comfortable. Now that Gaia had evolved to a sentient level, Mari recognized her daughter needed not only guidance, but the emotional stability only a mother could offer... not to mention company. The time had come for her to provide both. Unknowingly, Saira had once again affected the lives of those she came in contact with. Mari's future was becomin
g more interesting and a lot more complicated.
Saira - TI5 Page 13