by Ann Mayburn
“Why? If they’re so prized why are those kids given away?”
“Because their blood is rich in magic, and can be used to fuel many spells. In the past, these children have been sacrificed by those who seek the forbidden.” She looked away, and anger seemed to crackle off her skin like a storm.
“The forbidden?”
“Eternal life.”
“I don’t get it.” She gave me a look like I was a moron and I flushed. “I mean I get it, but why is eternal life forbidden?”
“It goes against the laws of this world.”
“Why?”
“Because every living being on this world, including myself, must go through the cycle of life. This world, and many like it, are merely stepping stones on your path to enlightenment. Death is not the end, it is the beginning of the next chapter in your story. Unfortunately, there are those who do not wish to leave this world, who refuse to accept the natural cycle of things. In their arrogance and fear they mess with forces they have no understanding of, making deals with monsters.”
“What monsters?”
“The kind you’re not ready to know about yet.”
I opened my mouth to ask another question, but her fierce expression had me practically swallowing my tongue. In a way, it reminded me of the look my mom would give me when I was trying her patience. She ignored me, her gaze on the horizon while I peeked at her out of the corner of my eye.
I shivered as a harsh wind tossed my hair in front of my eyes. When I could see again, she’d resumed walking and I took in her profile, now that of a woman in her late twenties, maybe early thirties. Her body had rounded out a bit, but her face had grown sharper, her cheekbones more pronounced. A faint tracery of lines around her eyes began to appear, but I had to look away and pay attention to where we were walking.
We started to veer away from the tree and into the grasslands. Green and gold grass, as high as my waist, danced back and forth in the gentle breeze around us. The blades felt good against my bare skin, and I enjoyed the sun warming my shoulders. Low, smooth black boulders made of what looked like obsidian shone in the sunlight. We approached one of the big rocks, and I had to slow down so I wasn’t rushing ahead. When I turned back to the woman, she was now in her mid-thirties, studying me with what I can only describe as motherly affection.
I was beginning to become sure that this place was more than a dream. “Why am I here?”
She brushed her fingers over the grass as we continued to walk and little sparks flew out like colorful fireflies. “To make the ultimate sacrifice and give one’s life for a loved one is admirable, but to sacrifice oneself for the sake of a stranger is divine. Your actions, your personal sacrifice, allow me to be generous with my gifts, but they come at a price. The mask you touched? It is one of my relics, worn by generations of my high priestesses. I made sure it was there with you tonight. The mask allowed me to witness and reward your actions.”
“I’m confused. What do you mean you made sure the mask was there with me? How did you know I’d be there?”
“Synthia,” she said in a chiding voice filled with power. “Deep in your heart, you know who I am. Do you really have to ask that question?”
Flushing, I shook my head. “Sorry. It’s just hard to wrap my mind around all of this.”
“Trust that I have been watching over you, Synthia, and hoping you would make the decisions that would lead you on a path to me. Your fate ties in with the destiny of many, many people.”
“Fate? Destiny? What are you talking about?”
She gave me a small smile, the gold in her eyes gleaming as new bronze highlights flared to life in the sun. Strands of grey began to pepper her braided hair, and a fine network of wrinkles formed around her smile. Her gliding step was a little slower now, and her once elegant fingers began to thin and curl.
The wisdom of the ages filled her voice as she spoke, the quiet assurance that only came with experience.
“Ahh my curious daughter, you remind me so much of your great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother. She had your quick mind and need to understand the universe. She was one of my favorite high priestesses.”
“Wow, my six, no, seven times great grandmother was a high priestess?”
“She lived during the time of the Pharaohs, but we do not have the luxury of discussing her remarkable life right now.” We’d reached one of the obsidian boulders and the woman leaned against it, her gaze focused on me even as her hands began to shake. “Time rules us all and it is running out, Synthia. Soon you must return to your world. Do you accept my gifts?”
I chewed my lower lip. “I—I don’t know.”
For the first time, sorrow entered her expression and my heart broke. “Please, my daughter, do you accept my gifts?”
“What’s the price?” I blurted out.
“To make the world a place you want your husbands and children to live in. I will give you the gifts to do that. Just say yes. I cannot force them on you, free will forbids it, so you must willingly accept.”
“Husbands? I’ll never have one husband, let alone husbands with an ‘s’.” I remembered the little girl from my dream, the daughter I’d never have, and wanted to cry. “And I won’t have children.”
Sympathy shimmered in her dark brown gaze, but her wrinkled smile was kind and full of satisfaction. “You will. Four glorious mates who will worship you like the Queen you are. All women should be so lucky. They will fulfill your every desire, and adore you with a devotion second to none. You will know true love in your life, Synthia. Many times over.”
“But you don’t understand, I’m broken inside, I have no desire.”
She smiled, and I swear it would have been bawdy if she wasn’t so wrinkly. “That will no longer be a problem if you accept. You will know desire, you will know passion. You will burn with it. And most of all, you will know love. The love of a wife, a mother, a daughter, and perhaps someday a leader. You have so much to give and there are so many people that need it. All you have to do is accept your fate of your own free will and say yes.”
My mind worked feverishly to try and logic out what was going on, but my heart decided to take over and I whispered, “Yes, I accept your gifts.”
How could I possibly say no to what had always been my greatest wish?
To be a normal woman and feel desire. To know what it was like to fall in love. To find my soulmate.
Or in this case, soulmates.
Sure, I was going to become a hyena shifter, but that was a small price to pay for the gift of passion.
“Then turn, Synthia, lost daughter of Hulinda. Your spirit animal approaches.”
I spun, the grass whipping against my thighs as I looked behind me.
“Flaming Mother’s tits” I gasped, and swore I heard the woman give a weak chuckle.
A massive, and I mean massive spotted hyena stalked towards me, her eyes glittering with spinning twirls of gold just like the woman behind me. With a long, elegant neck and powerful shoulders, she circled around me, rubbing against me and making me giggle. The scent of her reached my nose, fresh with a musky undertone that reminded me of being deep inside of a cave. With each brush of her body against my own, sparks seemed to race through me, and electricity pounded into my soul.
“She is your animal spirit,” came the old woman’s weak voice. “A powerful being, the likes of which hasn’t been seen in generations. Dominant, territorial, and driven to protect. Her soul is as formidable as her determination, and it will take a stubborn Queen to temper her need to defend those weaker than her. Which is pretty much everyone. Synthia, you will need to be strong to find a balance between your soul and hers. Like most animals, she loves with everything she has, both her family and her people. You have that in common.”
When the big hyena stood before me again, she paused, staring at me until my heart thundered. She was old, ancient, a creature from the dawn of time made of stardust. While I’d heard of the power of a true royal presenc
e, I’d never actually felt one until this moment. Her golden brown, spotted fur ruffled in the hot breeze and it looked so soft that I had to run my fingers through it.
“She’s amazing.”
“She is.”
High yips came from the distance, but the hyena before me ignored them. Instead she reached out her nose to meet my hand, and I sighed as her pure, fierce love washed through me. I could almost hear her thoughts, feel her presence as her essence filled me. A strange draining sensation tugged at the middle of my chest, and I realized that part of my spirit was entering her. She shivered beneath my hand and I rubbed her flank.
“Yeah, it’s a little weird isn’t it?”
The barking howls came closer, and the hyena lifted her head high, scanning the horizon. She abruptly let out a piercing series of barks that had me clasping my hands over my ears. There was silence, then the yipping came louder, almost frenzied.
“What is that?”
When I turned to the woman, I was shocked to see an almost skeletal figure slumped on the ground.
I cried out as I rushed to her side in surprise and fear, but she somehow managed to lift her hand to pat me.
“Shhh, do not be afraid. Those are your mates. They have been searching for you for a very, very long time. They have heard your Queen’s call. They will come. Be gentle with them, my daughter. Their lives have not been easy while they waited for you. While I regret that they had to endure great suffering, they will value you like no other. You are their redemption, be worthy of their love.”
“I will, I promise.” I could feel the life slipping from her, and I stroked her wrinkled cheek gently. “What can I do to help you?”
“There is nothing to help. Death is nothing to be afraid of, it is merely a step in the eternal cycle of the spirit.” She smiled, just barely. “Do not fear for me, my champion of the earth. Be strong, be brave, be true to yourself. Help those who cannot help themselves, find mercy where others only have fear and hate. Defend your people from the darkness to come, and work together with all the elements to save what you can of this world. I have faith in you. A great evil is about to be let loose, an abomination that your people helped set free.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
Her eyelids grew heavy as she whispered, “Those that were banished now return.”
With a rattle, her breathing began to slow, then stopped all together.
As she died, so too did I—and it was terrible.
One minute I was in complete darkness, an eternity of nothing, the next I was groaning in pain.
I welcomed the discomfort, because it meant I was alive. The heavy weight of my physical form settled over me and I’d never been so thankful in my life. As I became aware of my mortal shell, I realized I was so, so very thirsty. My mouth was so dry my tongue felt swollen and my throat was raw and abused.
The next sense I regained was sound, and I became aware of voices, then the applause of an audience. When I forced my eyes open I found a flickering, blurry image shifting across the room. Slowly, my eyes adjusted and my befuddled mind told me it was that talk show I liked with that nice lesbian lady who did all that charity work. My mom and I watched this show all the time when I was growing up. It was our ‘thing’ to hang out in the sunroom off the back of our house and lounge around watching peppy daytime TV in the summer.
My mom was a teacher. Junior High, bless her heart, and for a couple months every summer she was exclusively mine. Even as a teenager I’d made time to hang out with my mom during the days she had off. She was just one of those cool, down to earth women with a lot of love to give and wisdom to dispense. My friends all loved her, and I knew I was the luckiest girl in the world when it came to my parents.
It dawned on me that I wasn’t at home, napping in the sun on the big padded wicker couch, but in an unfamiliar place. I turned my head on a flat pillow and winced, my brain feeling like it was sloshing around inside my bruised skull. When I opened my eyes, I found my mom dozing next to me in one of those uncomfortable reclining hospital chairs. She looked terrible. Her normally cute brunette bob was all messed up with silver roots showing, and her face had a gaunt and strained look to it. Her pale blue button-down blouse was wrinkled, and there was even a small stain on one shoulder. Normally my mom took good care of herself, and I’d always admired how put together she was even in a crisis. To see her so ragged worried me greatly.
Focusing hard, I forced my hand to move, to lift and reach out to her. She was close enough that my fingers landed on her arm. Her reaction was instant. My mom went from dead to the world to wide awake in like 0.1 seconds. Instantly her hazel green eyes brightened with happiness and she let out this soft, keening sound that rent my heart to pieces.
“Mom,” I tried to say, but it came out in a painful croak.
“Don’t talk!” She frantically began to pat me, her touch light as a feather, as if to reassure herself that I was here. “Don’t talk, honey. Let me get you something to drink. Blink if you understand.”
I blinked and tears dripped down my cheeks as my mom pressed a button and yelled to someone that I was awake. Lifting an unsteady arm, I rubbed my face dry as my mom fumbled with a bottle of water before helping me sit up enough to drink. The first drop of liquid to my lips was nirvana. Pure happiness all wrapped up in a deliciously wet taste. Yes, I was tasting wet, something I hadn’t known even had a taste. Before this moment if you’d asked me to describe what drinking water was like, I wouldn’t have had even a clue that wet had a taste. But it did, and it was delicious.
“Easy,” my mother cajoled, only letting me have a few small sips. “You’ve been…you’ve been in a coma for almost a month. We’ve been so worried about you.”
My voice, still rusty from disuse, croaked. “What happened?”
“Do you know who I am?”
“Yeah, Mom. Love you.”
Tears poured down her face as she whispered, “I love you too, Synthia. So much. More than I could ever hope to explain. What’s the last thing you remember?”
I remembered everything, but right now I wasn’t sure what was real and what was a coma dream. “Work?”
Her smile grew bigger, and relief filled her eyes. “Yes, you were at work. The doctors think you overtaxed yourself. Diana said she didn’t see you eat that day, and I know you skip meals because you just don’t feel hungry when you’re busy. Anyways, you passed out at work, and fell right into a big display case. You—you were hurt rather badly because the display case fell on you. Poor Ted. He’s the one that found you. He rode with you all the way to the hospital and stayed by your side. It was either Ted, or Judy, or one of their boys. They all made sure that at least one of them was with us. I swear, without their help I’d have fallen apart. Your work friends were here too—Diana, Greg, and your aunts and uncles, and about a dozen of your cousins, our neighbors, your neighbors, and—oh my Goddess everyone.” She blinked quickly, a few tears escaping as she said in a shaky voice, “I have to tell everyone! They’re all going to be so happy! You’re awake, and you’re okay!”
I put my hand over hers and squeezed gently as I gritted out, “Yeah, I’m okay.”
A brisk knock came from the door and a group of doctors and nurses stood at the entrance.
One of the women in a long white coat and blue scrubs strode forward, a somewhat tense smile on her face. She had dark hair swept into a tight bun, and was tall with a solid build. The moment I met the doctor’s gaze I let out a startled, painful squeak. Her irises had tiny sparks of blue shooting through her dark eyes like comets. The dream that probably wasn’t a dream came back to me, and my heart began to race. The monitors reflected my upset state and began to beep, scolding me for losing my shit.
My mom instantly went into panic mode, her face draining of color. “What’s wrong?”
“Everyone out,” the woman said in a no-nonsense voice. “This is too much stimulation for her.”
The group of doctors an
d nurses left, but my mom remained stubbornly at my side. “I’m staying.”
“Mrs. Rowley, I need Synthia as calm as she can possibly be right now. I’ll conduct a quick series of tests, then you can come back in. You can watch us through the window if that makes you feel better.”
The doctor’s gaze flickered to mine, and once again I was shocked by the glitter in her eyes. “Mom, go. Call everyone. Tell them I love them.”
Her fierce gaze softened, and she cupped my cheek while giving me a kiss on top of my head. “Okay, but I’m going to be right there. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
I gave my mom a weak smile, urging her to leave so I could figure out why the hell I was seeing crazy stuff.
Maybe I hit my head too hard and I had brain damage.
Yeah, selective brain damage that had me seeing sparkles, but only in the dark-haired doctor’s eyes.
Once the door closed, she began to examine me, but she also spoke in a voice low enough that only I could hear it. “Ms. Rowley, Synthia. My name is Dr. Literon. I’m afraid I have some shocking news for you. I wish I could break it to you in a gentler fashion, but we don’t have that luxury right now. Brace yourself.”
I had a suspicion what she was about to say, but kept it to myself. “What?”
She handed me some water to sip, watching me as I drank. “There is never an easy way to say this. You are a shifter.”
Thankfully I’d put the water bottle down, or I’d have choked on it. “A shifter.”
“Yes, a hyena shifter to be exact.” She held my wrist as she watched me, no doubt feeling my racing pulse.
Memories of a giant hyena headbutting me like a playful dog filled me, and I noticed for the first time a warm presence in my chest. It wasn’t anything bad, or invasive, just like I had a little ember of light flickering around my soul. It was such an odd mental image that I was distracted for a moment trying to visualize the metaphysical. How was it possible for my body to share two souls? I was pretty sure that what I’d first thought was my dream was instead a spiritual vision. I’d read about them before, but never imagined that I’d go on a spirit quest. And come back with an animal spirit of my own to boot.
