I watched as Pau searched my face wanting to believe my words were a lie. Then I saw the resignation and truth of my words reflected back at me. I could tell that he started to realize that I was right, that I’d been left to suffer without my eternal heart for too long and that now there was no turning back. Someone preferably Pau or Gaho was going to have to put me out of my misery and save the world from what would happen once I completely snapped.
I’d come to this meeting tonight with one goal in mind. It hadn’t been to punish or shake my finger at Pau’s bad attempts at being cupid. It had been to convince him that I was becoming dangerous to myself and to the human and skinwalker populations of the world. My mind was coming apart and it was precariously white knuckle hanging on to the last bit of sanity. It was no longer an “IF” I went off the deep end scenario it was a “WHEN”. With that in mind I said to Pau
“Pau, if you have ever loved me as a friend, you need to be the one to send me to the next plane. My survival instincts will never allow me to do this on my own. Please Pau consider what will happen if you allow me to walk away tonight. Think of your loved ones and the threat I will pose to them WHEN I go off the deep end.”
I watched his sharp mind process my words and knew that while it caused him severe pain to admit the truth he knew that I was right. He knew that my heart was damaged beyond repair and that the kind and humane thing to do was to help me to move out of this life and into the next. I saw his head droop down and his eyes filled with moisture as he said
“I love you Taini. I haven’t said it too many times to your face but you are not like a sister to me, you are my sister. I will do this for you because I hate to see the pain your heart is in. I only wish I’d done something before it was too late. ”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a map and a red pen. He placed the map on the top of a taxi and used the red pen to circle in a location on the map. He folded the map back up and placed the pen back in his pocket before turning to me and saying
“I will do it because I love you. I am going to have to borrow a Samurai sword from a friend who lives in Los Angeles. I can fly there and run back in no time at all. Meet me at that location at exactly sunrise and I will give you a painless way into your next lifetime.”
Then to my surprise Pau pulled me in closely for a warm embrace.
XIII ~~ Ulric's Perspective
I was still tossing and turning around in bed when I heard someone pounding on my door. I pulled it open prepared to see a very angry Seraphina and was shocked when instead my mum and pop stood on the other side.
Based on the sour look on my mum’s face I’d to assume that she had already talked to Seraphina and didn't agree with my choice. I looked over at my pop and could tell that he was being very careful to keep his feelings to himself, which was not an easy task. I pulled the door completely open and motioned for my mum and pop to come in then I said in a my best formal voice
"Mother, father do come in"
Then dramatically swept my hand behind them as they stepped over door threshold. Mum stepped in first, and immediately went to sit in the armchair in the seating area of the suite. Pop followed but instead of sitting he stood behind mum. I could tell that my mum was holding her tongue and was just waiting until she had my full attention before starting her rant at me. I followed behind my pop and took the seat opposite of my mum. The minute we were all settled in mum clucked her tongue then got down to business
"Ulric, you absolutely cannot even consider spending a single moment of your precious life with that selfish evil woman. Your father and I discussed this at length and we forbid you from seeing her."
I heard my mum’s words but was confused by her meaning. How did she know who my eternal heart was? Why in god’s name would she want me to stay away from her? My face scrunched in confusion and I asked her
"What are you talking about? How did you hear about my eternal heart and why would you try to keep me away from her? She may be my only chance at love."
I watched as my mother looked over her shoulder at my pop then who looked perplexed then she said
"Ulric, your eternal heart is Taini the camazotz. It has always been her and always will be. She is the woman that ripped you from my womb and kidnapped you. She nearly got you killed in the process. She's clinically insane and Pau and Waylon should have never helped her survive the skinwalker attack."
My mum’s words only served to confuse me more. She knew… both of them knew… they knew my eternal heart survived but they allowed me to grow up thinking that I’d lost my chance at true happiness and love. They called her selfish but what of their behavior. I was angry and I couldn't stop the growl from erupting from my chest. I looked into my mother’s eyes and I said more forcefully than I intended to
"Mother, you have no right to choose my life's path. How dare you condemn me to a life of meaningless motions? Before I saw my eternal heart yesterday I felt like the world had a film over it that I was forced to see everything through.
I don't care who she was or what she did. She is my eternal heart and I deserve the chance to decide on my own to accept or reject her. I hate that you tried to take the decision away from me.
Go home! Both of you and take Seraphina with you. I have to figure this out on my own and I sure as hell won't put up with any of you interfering."
I stood up and quickly moved to hotel door. I looked back and pop was clearly trying to help my mum to her feet. It looked like she wanted to say something but pop was cautioning her against it. They walked in silence towards the door. Mum stepped out first, pop asked mum to go over to Seraphina's room and told her he would be there in a few minutes. The moment mum was out of sight pop dropped his defenses and said
"Gaho and Pau have known Taini many years. They both swear that she never wanted to be evil. The war and the horrors she lived through changed her and things just got away from her. She suffered terribly at the hands of the Nazi’s and the skinwalkers they controlled. She never really managed to heal. Don't judge her or your mother too harshly.
They both have their reasons for not liking each other. For what it's worth, you have my blessing and approval with whatever you choose. I would never have wanted to live without your mother. I can't imagine the choice you have in front of you.
I love you Ulric and so does your mother. We'll be here for you when you need us. Promise you will call us despite your mum’s hasty words"
He paused long enough for me to nod my head before continuing.
"Find Pau. He will know how to put you in contact with Taini. Don't waste much more time before you do. Your mother was right about one thing. Taini is nuts and always has been but soon it will go well beyond that. They call her a camazotz but Pau and Gaho assure me she has not yet become one. That however is only a matter of time.
You need to understand something. See, when a chupacabra’s life essence calls for its eternal heart and doesn't get a response it believes it is being rejected. Rejection after a while takes its toll on a chupacabra’s heart and can drive them completely and irreparably insane.
Trust me when I say that Taini heart has waited far too long for yours. Chances are she is in significant mental and physical pain. Not to mention that now that she knows you are aware of her existence and have still not touched her heart she will go rapidly downhill."
Then my pop leaned in hugged me and placed a kiss on my forehead before he turned and went down the hallway towards Seraphina's room. I watched as he knocked. I closed my door and grabbed my cell to call Pau. Pau answered on the first ring. I didn't want to waste time on pleasantries so I said
"Pau, I just spoke with my pop and he said you know where she is. You need to tell me. Please Pau. You know Taini is my eternal heart and I know you and Waylon saved her."
I waited for Pau to answer me but he remained silent. I could feel my temper rising and I was becoming desperate to hear his response. Just as I was about to scream into the phone he said
&nbs
p; "Easy Ulric. I was never going to keep her from you. Open the desk drawer next to the bed. Do you see the folded map?"
I pulled open the door and saw a piece of paper folded in fours. I opened the paper and saw it was a map of the desert. I looked at the map and saw both a red and green circle so I said
"I have it. What do you want me to do with it?"
He cleared his throat and said
"Be at the red circle at least an hour before sunrise. Taini will show up before sunrise. Grab her and do whatever is necessary to get her to the green circle. Then just keep her there until sunset. Waylon and I will join you tomorrow night."
Then before I could even ask a single question he hung up. I tried to call him back several times but just go his voice mail. I looked at the clock and realised I’d less than four hours until sunrise so I decided to shower, shave and pack a bag of necessities. When I was finished I stepped out of the hotel room and quickly fed before taking off into the desert.
XIV~~ Óscar Anakoni’s
I had the phone pressed tightly up against my ear hoping to hear my son’s voice. My eternal heart was sitting in my lap but was sleeping since she had cried herself into a fitful sleep. When the phone first rung I’d expected it to be one of my tribe saying they found my son. I’d felt my heart drop into my stomach when the voice on the phone said they had my son and that if I ever wanted to see him alive I would need to kill the camazotz.
I’d tried to reason with the female on the phone and explain that my tribe was a small peaceful tribe and that we were incapable of fighting the camazotz. The kidnapper said she didn't care, then she did something that made my son cry out in pain. My body instinctively grew hard and angry. I felt my grizzly bear push forward and try to take control. My eternal heart awoke in my lap just in time to hear me growl out
"You son of a bitch! I'll do it! I promise! I will grab every able bodied skinwalker in my tribe and we will do our best to make sure the camazotz dies. Just promise me you will give me back my son."
I could hear my own heart beating loudly and my eternal heart was whimpering and looking at me with confusion written all over her face. Finally the female spoke clearly happy that I’d agreed
"Wonderful Óscar that was an excellent decision on your part. I have just texted you a location. She will be there just before sunrise. There may be a male nagual with her ignore him if possible.
I am pretty sure you can't kill him but don't push the issue and try too hard. Just make sure no matter what it takes or how many skinwalkers die for the cause that before you leave tomorrow the camazotz dies first.
Oh and bring several very sharp swords so that you can cut off her head and put it in a box. When you are done I will give you instructions on where to send it and then I will give you back your son.
And Óscar, I don't like your little brat so I suggest you don't try any tricks. Just be sure to kill the camazotz. If she is still somehow alive tomorrow I will take great pleasure in killing your son."
XV~~ Taini’s Perspective
I know that it was my idea to ask Pau to do this for me but no… well, I found myself second guessing that decision. I was a superior creature and needed to overcome these issues not wilt and give up like a weakling. I’d never in my life, taken the easy way out and I realised I wasn't going to now either.
If there was magic that kept Ulric's heart from aching there had to be magic that would keep my pain at bay as well. I made a bunch of calls and had several excellent leads. I debated on whether or not to let Pau know about my change of heart but decided he would figure it out when I didn't show up.
I made my final arrangements on the internet and smiled to myself at my cleverness. Then, I pulled my few paltry belongings together and went down to the lobby of the hotel and quietly checked out. I asked the bellhop call a taxi that could take me to the airport. I was headed to Haiti to see a very good voodoo priestess. With any luck by this time tomorrow I would have a new life.
The voodoo priestess claimed she could completely cleanse my mind and my heart. She said it would feel like I was reincarnated into the same body. I would recall living the many years of my life but would no longer have an emotional attachment to them.
I could start over and build new feelings and new relationships. I wouldn't be tied to the ones that were unhealthy for me. I could learn to be anything or anyone I wanted to. It would take the majority of the money I’d saved over my many years of life but it was worth it.
Money meant nothing if I didn't have my intellect. I watched the cab pull into the circle and waited for the bell hop to put my bag in the trunk and open the door for me to slide in. The driver looked back and asked where I was headed. I smiled brightly showing off my pearly teeth while hiding my elongated fangs and said as sweetly as possible
"Haiti via the Las Vegas airport. No rush however… my flight isn't until later today, so take the scenic route. Thank you"
That wasn't exactly the truth but close enough for him. I needed to feed before boarding the plane and he was as good as anyone. I waited until we were in no man’s land before I slipped into his mind and requested he pull over. I fed on him until I was completely sated then had him drop me at the airport.
As I walked towards my gate I couldn't help but silently pray to the gods I didn’t believed in for very long time that this would work. I needed a second chance at life. I needed to believe that even my heart had some redeeming qualities.
XVI~~ Ulric's Perspective
I looked at my watch yet again and looked towards the horizon. I was completely on edge. I was pacing back and forth like kid on Christmas Eve. I felt like my skin was too tight and my stomach had jumping beans in it. I’d arrived far too early and was having a hard time waiting for my eternal heart to arrive.
It was more than a case of nerves. I wasn't sure why she ran from me the first time, and I guess I was worried she'd try to do it again. She had to know just like I did that we were meant for each other. Hell she’d wanted me so badly that she'd commit atrocities to have me when I was just a baby.
It made absolutely no sense for her to be avoiding me now. I considered two possibilities. One, she thought that I was going to reject her and or hurt her because of what she did to my mum when I was baby. Or two she was threatened by members of my family and was afraid to come near me.
Given that my eternal heart was the infamous camazotz that supposedly preyed on skinwalkers only, I had a hard time believing anyone or anything could frighten her. No my money was on rejection. That made me smile since I could clear that issue up with just a few words.
I looked up and could tell more time had gone by then I realised. I was betting the sun would come over the mountains in the next few minutes. I looked down at my watch and confirmed what my eyes had surmised. Then, I turned myself in a slow circle one more time in the hopes of seeing my eternal heart. She was not here and was still nowhere in sight.
I felt a sinking sensation as I started to believe that she wasn't coming. For some reason she either knew I was here and didn't want to see me or something else prevented her from coming. I took a deep breath and tried to steady my frantic nerves.
I had to decide to stay and get trapped in the sun or leave now and most likely make it back to the hotel with minimal sun damage. Returning to the hotel was my best bet. I could get a hold of Pau and try to find Tiana another way.
I was just about to start running back towards Vegas when I saw the sand cloud stir. My heart stopped for just a second as I waited to see if my eternal heart was coming. I blinked several times to clear the sand that had stung my eyes and was more than disappointed when I realised it was not my eternal heart approaching.
In fact the lone figure approaching me from the north was clearly a large male. I took a deep sniff and identified him as skinwalker. Before I could wonder much more several more males appeared behind him. He was moving fast and it appeared directly towards me. I heard a noise and slowly turned and noticed several more peo
ple approaching me from multiple directions. I mumbled several four letter words to myself then prepared for what I was sure was going to be a fight.
I wasn't sure why my eternal heart wasn't here, but I would bet these skinwalkers expected her to be here. They looked like they were itching for a fight and more than likely they expected to find the camazotz not me. Up until that point in time I’d been disappointed that Tiana had chosen not to show. Now, however I was glad that it was just me here to face the skinwalkers. I was definitely grateful that my Pau sent me here.
My inner animals starting rambling questions at me like: What if Tiana had been here without us? How did Pau know she was going to be here? How did the skinwalkers know she was going to be here? Why are they after her anyway?
These were all great questions, but ones I had no answers for. I glanced at the skinwalker tribe that was quickly surrounding me. At least I could look on the bright side; chances are I will survive this battle. Hell, I might even be invincible like other nagual around the world. Even if I not though, I am strong and I have several animals to choose from. I can even partially mutate if I chose. Each part of my body representing each of my totem animals; crow, jaguar and coyote.
I squinted up at the sky and again I sighed. I felt bad since I was a healer not a killer but there would be at least three bad things coming out of this. One, I would have to kill skinwalkers that I had no real problem with and two when this fight was over there was no doubt I was going to be sun sick. And finally number three, I was going to have to call my mum and pop and ask them to come out here and get me.
"Relax; we don't want to hurt you. We came for the camazotz. We were told not to harm you. Can you tell us where she is?"
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