Lilith - TI3 (12 page)

"I guess we're about to find out."

Circling, the raven settled on the ground a few feet away, its huge wings flapping slowly to ease the landing.

"Welcome, Intunecat. I see once again Curaco has allowed you the use of his body."

"Thank you, Mari, and yes, he is most generous in that way. I believe, though, I’ve figured out a way to visit this world without Curaco’s aide, but that’s not why I’m here. Forgive the intrusion. As you know I don't venture into the light without good reason. Nor can I stay here but a few moments. We must talk."

"Indeed it must be important. The light can’t be very comfortable for you even in the body of your raven."

The raven dipped its head, acknowledging Mari's observation.

"Will you come to my realm? The matter concerns Yemaya and the Little One."

"You know I won't venture into the Darkness, Intunecat. If you have something to tell us, you can do so at the Eternal Flame."

"So be it."

The raven flapped its wings and rose slowly into the air. As it soared toward the horizon, it vanished.

"Guess we should see what this is about, eh?"

"Yep, must be mighty important for this one to be a comin out."

*  *  *

Intunecat watched the two women conversing. The flames danced constantly distorting the images slightly. Mari and Maopa appeared at the same moment and settled on the ground next to the flickering fire.

"You can't have her," Mari said, her soft spoken voice low and deadly.

Laughing, Intunecat waved his hand and the image of Yemaya and Dakota disappeared.

"I'm not here to discuss that," he replied. "It would seem someone else is interested in your daughter."

Waving his hand in front of the fire the vision switched from them to a man and a woman.

"These two want her dead and I can't allow that," the Dark One stated matter-of-fact.

"Why? And what do you have to do with this?" demanded Mari, her voice as cold as the Darkness itself. Intunecat tipped his head sideways and looked at the Earth Mother. Mari epitomized warmth and beauty. Such coldness from her was unnatural.

"I am not responsible for all the darkness of their world, my dear. Don’t blame me for the evils of mortals. That comes from another place."

"He be right, Mari. We knowed he doesn't wants Yemaya dead. She be of no use tah him then, " Maopa said, finding it almost humorous to be defending the dark spirit.

Intunecat chuckled at the irony.

"Then who are they and what do they want?"

"The male is her servant," Intunecat said, pointing to the image of the woman. "She is the one who desires your daughter's death. And we know her death would mean the death of her Chosen. I wouldn't consider that a bad thing if their life-threads were not intertwined so tightly. It appears I have the unfortunate task of having to protect them both if I am to achieve my goal."

"Then that be a good thang for you cuz ifn yah tried tah harm my kin or that'n of Mari's I'd be all over yah like stink on a pole cat and I promises yah this, forever is a long time for pissin me off."

Mari smirked. Maopa definitely was going to bring some fun into her life. Perhaps it was her youth that made her so brazen; perhaps it was just her nature. Whatever the cause, Mari loved her spirit.

"Why didn’t I see this danger?" Mari mused. "I see everything when it affects my people."

"I agree. You see everything at all times," Intunecat answered. "Therefore you see nothing sometimes. Only those who come in contact with your kin are visible to you, but not everything is about your people. You've been away from their world a long time, Mari. The connection to your Carpis has weakened over the millenniums. Yemaya and Dakota have never met these two; therefore you cannot know them."

"Then how is it you know about them if you have nothing to do with this?" asked Mari.

"I see most things dark and shadowy."

"Then why didn't you do something?"

Intunecat sighed.

"You know I can't interfere now that you’ve reclaimed her... at least not directly. Yemaya isn't mine to protect. Neither is her life-mate. If either of them were, I could certainly resolve this quickly. You could give them to me," he suggested, knowing it would inflame the Earth Mother.

"You're developing a sense of humor, Intunecat. Perhaps another time I would find your remark funny," she replied coldly.

"Ah well, another time, then," chuckled the dark spirit before changing the subject. "Unfortunately, these two..." he continued, pointing to the images of the man and woman,"aren't mine either. Their darkness comes from another... perhaps from the Underworld. I’ve heard rumors of a restlessness brewing between the demons and angels. Another battle may be at hand."

"Let’s hope not. The last one spilled over into our world... and we have little power to intervene. This is one time I wish you were the problem."

"Ironically, so do I," Intunecat agreed, chuckling softly.

Mari's concern about another war was obvious. Many of the spirits had disappeared during the conflict when they had decided to take sides in the battle. Their fate was still unknown. Intunecat remained silent. Mari spoke the truth. If he were the cause of the darkness within these humans, he could do more. At the moment they were all at a loss as to how to resolve the situation.

"There be a solution to this ifn we can just thank a bit," Maopa said. "Thank yah for tellin us about them, Intunecat. Mari and I will be a figurin somethin out. You can count on it."

"Yes, thank you. I know you didn't do it out of goodness, but we are grateful nonetheless," Mari said.

"Then I leave you to your thoughts. I’ll also contemplate on this problem. Until we meet again." Bowing, he vanished.

Mari and Maopa sat staring at the two figures in the flames. For the first time, neither had anything to say.

S
NICK! DAKOTA flung the pencil as hard as she could at the far wall.

"What the hell is wrong with pencils now-a-days?" she yelled, throwing her hands up in frustration.

Since Yemaya was in another room making several business calls, the journalist decided to work on her exposé. The first part in her series of articles called 'Illusive Illusions' was almost complete. Her editor was expecting the final draft by the end of the month.

"Illusive is so appropriate." Dakota glared at the scribbling in front of her. "How come my pens and pencils only act up when I'm writing about you? I can't finish this if you don't cooperate, now can I?" Tossing the tablet on the desk, she leaned back in her chair and stared at the blank monitor in front of her. "And you. You're not any better, so don't think I'm falling for your little tricks. I turn you on and next thing I know, I'll be throwing you out the window," she quipped. "Then I'll have one tall, very good looking woman pissed at me."

Hearing a faint cough behind her, she swung the chair around. Yemaya was standing in the doorway, her right shoulder leaning against the door jam, arms crossed.

"Do you always talk to yourself like that?"

"I wasn't talking to myself, I'll have you know. It's those damn pens and pencils over there," the journalist replied pointing in frustration to several lying on the floor against the far wall. "Not one of them works. You put a curse on them or something didn't you?" she accused, looking suspiciously at Yemaya.

"Not hardly," laughed Yemaya. "More than likely you just put too much pressure on the tips when you were thinking about me. I have that effect on people sometimes."

"Tell me about it," sighed Dakota. "So, how am I going to finish this if I can't get past
that effect
as you call it?

"Well, I could help. What do you want the readers to know and maybe I can give you some ideas?"

"It can't hurt. I'm not sure what I can tell them. I don't want to give away too much about you."

"I see. Well, I think a little history about my homeland might set the mood for your readers. Everyone loves speculating about the supernatural."

"True. So you don't mind me associating you with werewolves and vampires? Not that there's any such thing... at least I hope not."

Smiling, Yemaya kissed the top of Dakota’s head.

"As long as you do not make them start believing I am one," Yemaya replied, chuckling. "Since you are only on part one of your series, that and a short bios on the other Illusionist should be enough to satisfy your editor."

"Yeah. The really juicy stuff can wait until part two or three."

"Juicy? Just what are you planning on telling your readers?"

The Illusionist cocked one eyebrow and crossed her arms, dramatically.

"Oh, nothing like that," Dakota replied, blushing a bright red.

"I should hope not... although I suspect subscriptions would increase considerably if you did. Anyway, I had better go and find out what Cammie has to say about last night. I should be back in a couple of hours. Are you sure you want to stay here?"

Dakota blushed.

"Yeah. I’m afraid I’d make a fool of myself again. Lord knows what Cammie must think of me."

"I doubt that she thinks anything bad."

"Maybe not. Just tell her I’ll see her another time... and... never mind." Dakota knew she was taking the cowardly way out but decided that she would have to be the one to apologize when they met. It wasn’t right to ask Yemaya to do it for her.

Not wanting to extend Dakota’s discomfort, Yemaya decided to leave.

"I will be back in a few hours. Good luck with the article."

"Thanks. I’ll keep plugging at it. Don’t go getting lost out there."

"How can you get lost in a taxi?" asked Yemaya, ruffling her lover’s hair.

"Oh yeah. I forgot."

*  *  *

Yemaya sat quietly, waiting for Cammie to gather her thoughts. It was apparent something was bothering her. Head bowed slightly, the woman played with the drink in her hand, swishing it around the glass slowly. The Illusionist felt an instant attraction and the desire to embrace her.

A raw energy emanated from the woman. Yemaya was aware that her sudden attraction to Cammie didn't represent her true feelings so she ignored the impulse. Within Yemaya, however, the
beast
stirred restlessly as if sensing a force stronger than itself. It felt uncomfortably vulnerable.

"You do not have to tell me,"  Yemaya offered.

Looking up from her glass, Cammie focused her gaze on the incredibly blue eyes of the woman sitting across from her.

"I know. It's not really something I like to talk about, but perhaps it will help you understand Dakota better and why she's not to be blamed for last night."

"I am not angry with her, Cammie, just curious. I can feel what she must have felt, maybe not to the degree she did... but it is there. It would be hard to resist if I loved her less."

"You're lucky. What you and she feel is to you a blessing, but to me it's a curse," sighed the woman.

Yemaya remained silent not sure how to respond to the comment.

"Do you believe in God?" Cammie asked.

"I believe in some things, if that is what you are asking. As for God, not really, at least not in the normal sense. Sometimes I wonder though."

"I can understand that. There are things out there..." she motioned toward the door, "beyond the wildest imaginations of humanity. Things that would terrify even the most devout."

"True."

"I have seen so much evil in my lives, even participated in some in my own way. Perhaps I'm being punished for my indiscretions, perhaps there is a god beyond the one I know who watches us and doles out justice to someone like me."