Dead Moon Awakens: A tale of Cherokee myth and Celtic magic (Mystic Gates)

by Teresa Joyce Jackson

  “Aishling, tell me what else she said about Eagle Woman.”

  “That her given name was Corra. At first, she said her last name was McKenna, but then she said the last name wasn’t right. And that Eagle Woman was one of us. Anita thought she was from Bryson City. And … and that she had known Ma before, when I was younger.”

  “No. That can’t be.” He dropped to his knees. “When? When did she go to Anita?”

  Aishling wanted to burst into tears. “Lance,” she spoke softly, “was that your mother?”

  “When?” His face turned a muted red.

  “Soon after the fire, after I was sent to Herald Home.”

  “When?” He panted.

  “Probably in the early part of November, 1989.” She trembled, trying to understand.

  “Was that your mom?” Kelile asked as Morrigan edged up beside Lance and placed her hand on his right shoulder.

  Lance buried his face in his hands. He didn’t confirm or deny.

  It’s true. Though Aishling hadn’t connected McKenna to Lance’s last name, she knew Eagle Women was his mother. His mother had come here before his family moved to Franklin.

  He sprung up, snatched the fish and said, “I’m going to clean these so we can eat.” He rambled into the woods behind the garage.

  Morrigan sat again, and the three of them blankly stared at each other.

  Aishling didn’t know what to say. Somehow, she and Lance were connected. Their mothers had known each other. And this confirmed what she had felt about Kelile’s mother. She also had known Ma. What about Morri’s? “I wonder if all our mothers knew each other.”

  Morrigan shook her head. “No.” Tears covered her cheeks. Then she said something Aishling didn’t understand. “Not Lance’s mother, too. No… .”

  Kelile leaned against the wall of the garage, crossing his arms over his chest. “What happened to your mom, Morrigan? I mean, when and how did she die?”

  Morrigan flung her attention to him. “Don’t you dare say my mother is the witch who’s hunting everyone. She’s dead, too. In fact, Kelile, your mother is the only one still alive. How do we know she isn’t the witch who hunted the others down? Come to think of it, she did try to put a spell on Aish. And, I thought it strange how you got away so easily the other night.”

  He slammed his left fist into his right hand. “Back off, voodoo queen, or I’ll slap you silly. I’m not accusing your mom of anything, so don’t say nothin’ about mine! I just asked you when and how she died.”

  “But before, you did make fun of her and act like she was the one.”

  “I did not.”

  “Yes, you did.” Morrigan’s voice cracked.

  “I mean it! Don’t say another word.” He puffed.

  Silence.

  Fidgeting.

  Silence.

  More fidgeting.

  Aishling hugged herself then rubbed her arms, wanting to stop the antsy feeling creeping through them. Too many thoughts, coincidences, bits of conversations, flashes of dreams and memories. She couldn’t sort it out. Not right now. Not without Lance. Where did he go? Was he coming back? She couldn’t stop worrying about him. But, what about Kelile’s mother? What had happened the times she had seen her? Could she have been the witch? She always seemed afraid of something, though. Why would she be afraid of Aishling? Was everything that had happened because of a stupid stone? Was that why Ma had disappeared?

  Wait. Wouldn’t that be the smart thing to do? Could her mother have acted like she was killed in the fire? Had she disappeared to keep Aishling safe? To keep herself safe?

  “Aish? Aish?” Morrigan.

  “What?”

  “I’m worried about Lance.” She looked over at Kelile. “Should we go find him?”

  “He’ll come back when he’s ready to talk,” he answered.

  Several eternal minutes later, Lance returned and dropped the fish back on the flat rock. “I’m not hungry, but I guess we should cook these.”

  The four of them worked together to make dinner, saying nothing about their discoveries and questions.

  After they had eaten and cleaned up, Aishling got out her grimoire, hoping it would provide answers. As she flipped through the pages, an envelope addressed to her fell out.

  They stared at the envelope as though it would explode.

  The others gathered closer to her while she opened it. For moments, she lingered in the comfort of their huddle before reading it aloud.

  “Dear Aishling. Please forgive me for intruding upon your personal property, but this is the only way. Your mother and I were once very close. A few weeks ago, she contacted me and told me she was extremely worried about your safety. She asked me to help you if something ever happened to her.”

  Aishling began shaking. “Of course, I would do anything in my power to help Emer. She was and always will be my anamchara.” Her voice cracked. “No, it can’t be. It can’t be.” Her arms went limp, and she hung her head, unable to read any further.

  Lance took the letter from her. He stared at it for endless seconds before clearing his throat. “This is my mother’s handwriting.” He reached for Aishling and embraced her.

  No longer could she hold back the truth. This was it. This was the knowing she thought was impossible. This was the knowing she hadn’t wanted to believe before, the knowing she hadn’t wanted to remember. “No, no, no.” She broke into whispered sobs, clinging to Lance.

  “Lance,” Kelile said. “I can read the rest of it.”

  Still holding Aishling, Lance handed him the letter.

  Kelile read on. “However, I am limited in the way I may help you. I may only act as a guide for you along your path. I know when you read this letter you may not think it much help. But try to remember what I know your mother has already instilled in you. Only you can teach yourself how to be strong in your own heart or how to nurture your own soul. Only you can teach yourself how to open to the many realms. If you have found this letter, you are beginning an amazing journey, a journey you must take, for it is your destiny. Yet, you are the one who chooses how your destiny ultimately affects you.

  “I can reveal to you that your mother had a gift, a power, which only she and I, and two others have. However, this power is passed down through generations. Her power has now passed to you, as mine will to my son when I depart from this plane.”

  “No,” Lance uttered.

  Kelile paused then cleared his throat. “The power I refer to could either create or harness catastrophic destruction. So, it must be nurtured, developed, and controlled. You must learn how to use this power within the light.

  “Beware, Aishling. There are those who will do anything to capture the talisman this power wields. I can say no more about this. The rest you will learn when the time is right.

  “Until then, think of your journey as traversing along a circular path, or wheel. Along this path are cardinal airts, or directional points of power. The four cardinal airts lie in the East, South, West, and North of this circular path. Each point of power holds its own secrets, and each is guarded by what we call a ‘mystic gate.’ You will not be allowed to travel beyond any point of power without first unlocking its gate, learning its secrets, and overcoming its challenges. And, you will be challenged—almost beyond bearable limits.

  “No other may unlock a gate for you. You must discover your own key. However, others may provide you with a gate’s riddle. If you can solve this riddle, you will learn the key. Try to remember, everything you need to know is already within you.

  “The first mystic gate is of the East, where the sun rises, the point of beginnings. It is the Realm of Faery, the element of air and point of knowing. Here is this gate’s riddle: The broken, tattered path of wretched twists and turns, deceits and betrayals, entanglements and burns, begins transformation once freedom wakes and churns, when time’s flower blossoms, and truth is what one yearns. As the closed is opened, a treasured link returns. Then knowing remembers; the key one seeks one learn
s. One’s heart at last may grieve, and Shadowkin adjourns.

  “As you unlock the mystic gate to one airt, and follow your path to the next, you will somehow be given a new riddle. This, too, can be a challenge, for you might overlook it. You must always be vigilant.

  “Once you wind your way around the four cardinal airts, you will discover a fifth sacred airt, and your true destiny.

  “Your mother loved you dearly. She would want you to go on with your life and live it fully. Believe this, if you can learn to walk between worlds, she will never be more than a hairbreadth away from you. Never.

  “I’m allowed to leave you one last warning: If not now, there will come a time when you seek revenge. Revenge is never an answer, nor can it ever help you. Remember our Sacred Creed.

  “I wish you ever-flowing blessings and love from the Creator, and divine guidance and abiding protection from Goddess. Sincerely, Corra Cerridwen McKay, (Eagle Woman). November 13, 1989.”

  Kelile’s shoulders hunched over.

  The melodic song of bluebirds rang out from the surrounding trees as a river of tears cascaded to the ground.

  Return to Beginning

  the key one seeks one learns.

  37

  *******

  May 6

  Ma, are you really dea

  I’m all cried out. I still can’t belie

  Lance is

  What do I use a bell

  I hope Anita is

  After finding the letter I

  So much happened yesterday. I’m all cried out. I didn’t even dream last night. I’m just blank. Lance is so upset. He’s not speaking to anyone. Kelile only wants to find that stupid stone. Morri looks sad. She’s been crying all night too. I wonder if I look like she does. She’s tried talking to Lance, tried telling him she’s sorry, but he pulls away.

  I don’t know what to do. Should I help find the stone? Solve the riddle? Maybe my book has the answers. Maybe I can find the stone and solve the riddle.

  Ma, I can’t believe you’re dea

  *******

  “Aishling, do you mind getting my mother’s letter?” Lance said as he sat on one of the sleeping bags. He rested his forehead in the cradle of his hands.

  After putting her diary away, she retrieved her wish box. The letter was inside. She held it out for him to take, but he looked up and shook his head. She placed it back in her lap and searched both Kelile’s and Morrigan’s faces for what to do. They both had glazed-over eyes and lost expressions. Her chest ached, and her stomach felt as though a vise had clamped on the inside of it.

  “Okay,” Lance said, then took a deep breath and lifted his head. “I don’t … I don’t know where to start. So much has happened since we left Herald Home. I guess we need to decide what to do next. I know when we left Herald Home each of us wanted something different.” He hesitated, stroked his right hand through his chestnut hair, and pressed his fingers into the back of his neck. “But, it looks like we’re all together for a reason. I guess our mothers had known each other. Maybe we need to go back to the beginning and try to piece everything together.

  “I think the letter my mother wrote you, Aishling, was also intended for me, maybe all of us.

  “There’s something I haven’t talked about.” He rubbed his chest. “The night before my parents were killed, Mom made me promise to contact Redhawk if something ever happened to her and Dad. She told me he was the only one I should go to. That he would know what to do. She also said that others would try to prevent it, but no matter what, I should go to him. That’s why all I’ve thought about since my parents … That’s why all I’ve thought about is getting to him.

  “Mom knew something was going to happen. Now, I realize that’s why Dad had put in a request to move to the Wayah Ranger Station. He did that right after Mom had written that letter and hidden it in your book. I’m sure there’s a connection between us.” He motioned between Aishling and himself. “I think we should go to Redhawk and tell him everything. I think he’ll understand.”

  “Man, I can’t go to Redhawk,” Kelile answered. “You know as soon as we do, I’ll get picked up. That can’t happen. I know now I have to find the Suti Stone. If I don’t, something will happen to my mom.”

  “Yes, we need to find the stone,” Morrigan said. “I believe we’re supposed to have it. And, I know it will help us.” Though Lance shook his head, she kept talking. “I know you all don’t believe me when I tell you it can bring people back to life, but I know it’s true. And, my mother told me about it before she, you know, and made me promise to find it if something ever happened to her. I believe she may have known something too.” She glanced from Lance to Aishling. “I’m going to find the stone.”

  “Morrigan, I don’t believe in a mythological stone.” Lance sighed. “Seriously, don’t you realize that it’s just a myth? There was no Uktena. There is no Ulunsuti.”

  “I think Morrigan’s right,” Kelile said. “Look, even your mom told Anita that the bitch witch was after a powerful talisman. That’s got to be the stone, man.”

  Lance shook his head.

  Aishling touched his right shoulder. “You have to open up to the possibility that they’re right. Your mother did tell Anita that. Don’t you think it makes sense that it could be the Suti Stone?”

  Lance kept shaking his head.

  Aishling looked at Morrigan, wanting her to say something, but Morrigan only looked away.

  A couple of minutes later, Lance spoke, “Aishling, first I want you to tell me again exactly what Anita said to you yesterday. After that, I want to read my mother’s letter.”

  She proceeded describing her and Morrigan’s encounter with Anita. When she finished, he held out his hand, and she gave him the letter. He got up and left. She remained seated, waiting for his return. The others sat in silence with her.

  When Lance came back, his eyes were red, but he showed no emotion. He sat and handed her the letter. He cleared his throat. “After reading it—” his voice faded, and he cleared his throat once more “—I think we should go to Redhawk.”

  “But, Lance!” Morrigan said.

  “Morrigan, my mother doesn’t say anything about looking for the stone. If that’s what Aishling was supposed to have done, she would have said so. No,” he emphasized when she tried protesting again. “In her letter, she says she can only act as a guide for Aishling, and she is guiding her to unlock the mystic gates. Even if the Ulunsuti were the talisman, Aishling wouldn’t be able to handle it yet. She isn’t ready.”

  “But, maybe you or I could handle it,” Morrigan said.

  “Can you solve the riddle and uncover the key to the Eastern airt?”

  Morrigan opened her mouth but closed it.

  “Man, don’t you think we need to at least find the stone and hide it from whoever the bitch witch is?”

  “I wish you would stop calling her that,” Morrigan blurted.

  “What difference is it to you? She’s worse than that, anyway. She’s a murdering bitch witch. Remember? She killed Aishling’s mom and probably Lance’s parents tryin’ to get her hands on that stone. Besides that, voodoo queen, she might have caused the death of your mom too.”

  Morrigan cowered and covered her eyes.

  Aishling trembled. No one had said it that bluntly before. But if that were true … “Lance, we have to look for the stone. Don’t you see? She’s got to be the same woman who’s been hounding Kelile’s thoughts. She wants us to find the Suti Stone. If we do, she’ll come for it. When she does, we’ll trap her. We’ll make her pay for what she did to our parents. I don’t think we should go to Redhawk, not yet.”

  “How would you trap her?” Morrigan asked.

  “I don’t know yet, but I think it’s clear what we need to do. We’ve got to find the stone. We’ve got to lure her here. Maybe my grimoire will have a spell in it that we can use on her. We’ll get her to confess, and then we’ll turn her in and make her pay for what she did.”

  “I don’
t know. I …” Morrigan stared into the trees.

  “Morri, she might have killed your mother.”

  “And I’m not waitin’ for her to kill mine.” Kelile leaned forward, grasping Lance’s arm. “Aishling’s right, man. We have to find the stone and lure the bitch witch in.”

  Lance nodded and whispered, “Okay.”

  38

  *******

  May 6, late afternoon

  We decided. We’re going to find the Suti Stone. I’ve been looking through my book for anything about it. Lance and Kelile are searching the boxes in my garage, hoping for a clue. But Morri hasn’t done anything. She just took her diary and walked away. She’s been sitting by the Garden of Life and Death and writing in it for a long time. I thought she wanted to find the stone. It doesn’t make sense.

  Ma, I’ll try not to be sad so I can see you again. Please come to me and tell me what to do. Please. Eagle Woman said you were no more than a hairbreadth away. Please come to me. I love you.

  *******

  Aishling reread the letter from Eagle Woman. It must have been the tenth time. She had also repeated the riddle over and over. If she figured out the key, would this also be a clue in finding the Suti Stone? As the closed is opened, a treasured link returns. Then knowing remembers; the key one seeks one learns.

  “Girl, are you still writing in that evil-eye journal of yours?” Kelile called out from the garage door.

  Aishling flinched, thinking he was talking to her, and then realized he was looking at Morrigan.

  Morrigan stuck her tongue out at him.

  “I have an idea!” He waited until Lance followed him outside. “When we lure the murdering bitch witch here, we won’t need to tie her down because voodoo queen”—he pointed at Morrigan—“can flick her tongue at her and she’ll stick to it like glue.”

  “Oh, shut up!” Morrigan shouted and coddled her diary.

  He walked over to her and said, “Seriously, you’re always writing in that book. It’s almost like you’re havin’ a conversation with someone. Do you have a telephone in there somewhere?” He smirked.