"No!" Yemaya almost yelled and then repeated the command more softly. "No. Please. At least I know what happened now. It would have bothered me for a long time if you hadn't told me. Thank you."
"You're welcome. I'm truly sorry you had to suffer. I hope you can find comfort in what you know and enjoy the rest of your time here."
"I seriously doubt that's going to happen, now," Dakota grumbled, suspecting Yemaya was going to dwell on this for the rest of their stay. "So much for the dream vacation."
"I think it will be all that you wish. What happens here is totally up to you. If you wish it to be what you dream, dream well."
The apparition vanished, leaving them alone.
"That was frustrating enough," Dakota said. Her brows furrowed at the thought of Yemaya almost dying. It wasn't something she wanted to think about. As if sensing her thoughts, Yemaya grasped Dakota's chin and turned her face up, making eye contact.
"Yes, but she's right. We can either waste the remainder of our time here discussing her or thinking about what might have been, or we can enjoy the rest of our time doing what we like to do best."
"And what's that?" Dakota asked, looking very coy. Yemaya was right. Now wasn't the time to dwell on something that had already happened. They would talk later.
"Fucking like bunnies." The Illusionist grinned, scooped Dakota up, and walked toward their favorite grove.
"Oh yeah. Works for me."
CHAPTER 18
THIS WAS THE STRANGEST voyage Saira had ever taken. The thread was thin and knotted like old twine that had been balled up and then pulled in all directions. Although time wasn't a concern for her, this trip was taking longer than normal. Milliseconds were an eternity in her travels.
Following this particular thread was both time-consuming and confusing. Perhaps it was because she had freely chosen to take this journey instead of following a compulsion. Normally, she would feel a tug in one direction or another and be compelled to find the reason for the pull. In addition, she had to be consumed by curiosity in order to accurately follow the tangled web of the individual's personal timeline to its destination. Otherwise, she could become sidetracked and end up lost in time. At least that was her fear. Since it had never happened, it was only a theory, but one she didn't wish to test. Once at her destination, the answer to her question was usually waiting for her. Her return trip was simply a matter of picking the correct thread that pointed forward and following it to the present.
This journey, however, was different. She had felt only a slight pull, an indication the time wasn't quite right, and yet she decided to investigate the thread anyway. That in itself made it unusual. There was no compulsion behind her curiosity. She had chosen freely.
As she neared her goal, Saira felt her momentum slowing. Energy of unimaginable power surrounded her, creating a faint sense of vertigo.
This may not be good, she thought, realizing that confusion could cause her to choose the wrong thread. The ramifications could be catastrophic. She was driven by the need to seek answers, and how could there be answers if there were no questions?
Placing her hands against her temples, Saira concentrated on her surroundings, hoping to recognize something familiar enough to lead her home. A loud pounding beat incessantly from every direction, its deep pulsations resonating through the very essence of her being. At that moment, Saira knew she was in serious trouble. She could almost feel her body beginning to disassemble.
"What you be?" a deep voice rumbled, its origin rising from the bowels of the dark void surrounding her.
"A Traveler seeking answers," she replied, trying hard to ignore her discomfort and concentrate on the voice's source.
"I know no Traveler. You no belong. Go way."
"I can't."
Too confused to locate the thread that would lead her home, and feeling the pressures tearing at her, she continued searching for a way out. As she adjusted to the darkness, she noticed a mass of threads so tangled it was impossible to locate their beginnings.
"Then stay."
"I can't. I'll perish here."
"Then go." The voice now sounded disgruntled.
"I don't know the way out."
A sudden heave of energy made Saira fall to her knees and clutch her head in agony. It was the first time she had felt pain, and she didn't like it.
"Please," she said. "Your energy is destroying me."
She could almost feel the mental shrug and realized this entity had no concept of the meaning of destruction. Saira felt as though she were dealing with a child.
"Do you understand pain?" she gasped.
"Yes. I feel pain. It never go away." There was almost a pout behind the words.
"You're causing me pain. I'm not used to it. It's new to me," Saira said, hoping the entity was more empathetic than it sounded. "You must stop the pounding."
"Why? Pain good. Pain make me strong. I learn. I grow. One day I will control it instead of feel it."
"For you maybe, but I'm not like you. It will destroy me. I feel like I'm being torn apart by your continual pounding. I'm not that strong."
As if understanding for the first time, the entity reduced the intensity of the pulsations. Energy levels dropped to a tolerable range. Sighing in relief, Saira climbed to her feet. Still unable to locate the voice's source, she felt especially vulnerable now.
"Thank you."
"No more can I stop. Only slow beat for short time. I must feed me or no longer live. You go, now."
"I wish I could, but I can't find the way out."
"You go!" the voice said angrily. Saira could almost picture a small child stamping her foot. "I in great pain. No hold long."
"I'll try to find a thread to show me the way out. Please try a little longer."
The resulting sigh would have been comical if the situation weren't so serious.
"I try. Help I get."
"Help?"
There was no response to her question. Saira felt a sudden loneliness and knew she was alone. Turning to the bundle of threads, she began searching frantically for the tail end, anything that would take her from this place.
CHAPTER 19
MARI WAS ENJOYING her sleep in a perverse sort of way. Dreaming about giant vibrating bunnies chasing she and Maopa would have been amusing had it not been for the leering faces on the toys. Instead, she felt as if she and her spirit companion were in dire jeopardy. Wanting to end the dream, Mari struggled to wake up. Before she could arouse herself completely, though, she felt a weak but familiar call.
"Mother. You come."
Although she was still asleep, Mari's forehead wrinkled from concentrating on the voice.
"Daughter?"
"She need help."
"Who needs help?"
"Traveler. She here. No stay. Too much pain, me. Too much pain, her."
"Traveler?"
Immediately Mari thought of Saira. "Do you mean Saira?"
"No know Saira. Please, Mother. I no hold long. Pain hurt bad. Hurt her. Hurt me."
"Be still, daughter. I'll be there as quickly as I can. You must endure the pain a little longer. Can you do that for me?"
"I try. You hurry?"
"I'll hurry. I promise."
It had been a million years since Mari had visited her first born. In the beginning, she had spent a lot of time helping in the child's development, but as she grew older, the Earth Mother left her alone to grow at her own pace. The less she interfered, the more self-reliant her daughter would be. That didn't mean she had isolated herself from her daughter's needs. This one was unique of all her creations. She held a special place in Mari's heart, and Mari was always available to her needs.
She couldn't leave her human body alone without endangering it. She would have to return to the spirit world to get Yemaya. Unfortunately, she wouldn't be able to tell Maopa since human bodies needed to be asleep in order to do the exchange, and mental communication with her was impossible while in a mortal's body.
* * *
Yemaya and Dakota had just finished an especially passionate session of lovemaking. They were reclining on the warm beach, enjoying the cool breeze flowing off the lake. Exhausted but happy, they were startled by Mari's sudden appearance.
"Hey. Is it three weeks already?" Dakota asked, thinking that time must really speed up in the spirit world.
"No. There's an emergency, and I can't leave Yemaya's body unattended. She would be vulnerable to anyone or anything that wanted to take control of her."
"Is there anything we can do to help, besides return home?" Yemaya asked.
"You could explain to Maopa that I had to leave. She doesn't know yet. I couldn't take the chance on awakening her and leaving both of you alone. I'm really sorry about this."
"It's not a problem. Besides, I think Dakota and I have just about drained ourselves here." Yemaya chuckled. "We need a break from this vacation, right, sweetie?"
"Yeah. It's been fun, but I'm exhausted."
"I know the feeling," Mari said. "Now, I hate to leave you like this, but I must go."
Mari vanished, leaving the two women alone. More tired than normal, they snuggled close, knowing they would soon be home.
* * *
Eyes still shut, Yemaya stretched, tensing her muscles until she felt a pop in her neck. Rolling her head slightly from side to side, it took a few seconds for her to realize she was back in her body. There was something different, though, that she couldn't place. Turning on her side, she wrapped an arm around the warm figure next to her and smiled. The scent of Dakota was pleasant, especially with the slightly musky smell of sex mixed in.
I hope it was as good for you as it was for us. The thought was accompanied by a mental smirk that unknowingly translated into a physical action.
"And just what are you smirking about?" Dakota's soft voice whispered next to her cheek.
Yemaya opened her eyes and stared into sparkling emerald green eyes, glinting with a mischievous humor. "Nothing really. I was just thinking."
"Uh huh."
"I was... and it was about you." Yemaya gave her a devilish smile.
"And that made you smirk? Doesn't sound too flattering to me."
"Well, actually, about you, Mari, and Maopa."
"That's even worse."
"Okay. Okay. I was just hoping they had as good a time as we had. Satisfied?"
"Is that normal?" Dakota pulled her head slightly backward and gave her a questioning look. "I mean, thinking of all three of us the moment you wake up?"
"What is this? An inquisition? Where is that sweet girl I was with in the spirit world?"
The arched eyebrow was enough to make Dakota giggle and snuggle closer. "That wasn't a girl, darling. And I'm the only one who should be in your thoughts when you first wake up."
"I see. Would it make you happy if I said you were the very first image that came to mind? Mari and Maopa came afterward, when I realized you smell all warm and musky like you do when we've made love. I was just wonder —"
Two hands pushed against her chest, catching the Illusionist by surprise. Dakota rolled over and sat up, looking extremely indignant.
"Are you saying I smell like sex?"
"Well, yes. I noticed it when I woke up. It's quite pleasant."
"That's not the point, and you know it. Granny had sex in my body!"
"No doubt." Yemaya was amused at her lover's reaction.
"But... but... I need a shower."
Yemaya was unable to contain her laughter and suffered a pillow blow to the head. Grabbing at Dakota, she just missed as Dakota leapt from the bed and turned toward the bathroom, only to find they weren't in her apartment.
"What in the hell?"
Looking around, Yemaya realized they were in a hotel room. She slowly climbed out of bed, wandered to the window, and looked out. "I hope you know where we are, because I know nothing about this town."
"Alright. That's it. I'm taking a shower and then we're going to find out what this is about. I only hope they didn't burn down my apartment," Dakota grumbled and stomped into the bathroom.
"Not good," Yemaya said. "This is not good at all." Looking up at the ceiling, she shook her head slowly. "I hope you two have a good explanation for this. Otherwise, you're going to be in some very hot water... and I'm the one who's going to pay for it."
Neither Yemaya nor Dakota was happy about putting on the already worn clothes they found lying on the floor next to the bed. To make matters worse, they had trouble buttoning the jeans and pulling up the zippers.
"Don't tell me they shrank our clothes." Dakota, frustrated at not being able to push the jeans button in, threw her hands in the air. "I give up." She pulled her tank top on and left it draped outside of her pants, hoping it was long enough to hide the open vee below her navel and the slightly protruding belly.
"They must have eaten like little piggies," she grumped, slapping her stomach unhappily.
Yemaya was beginning to feel her lover's frustration as she, too, had difficulty pushing the button through the hole. Only determination brought victory, and then she regretted her success. The tightness cutting into her waist fell just short of being painful. "This is one time I wish I were a magician instead of an illusionist."
"Me too. Making this fat go away isn't my idea of fun. Let's go see what else they've been up to."
"Well, they obviously enjoyed the food while they were here. Maybe the hotel was just a part of experiencing this world."
"Uh huh. Let's hope."
They took the elevator to the first floor and approached the checkout counter. The receptionist gave them a friendly smile.
"Ms. Lysanne, Ms. Devereaux, you're up early today. Your new room isn't ready yet, but if you can come back in an hour, I'll get housekeeping right on it."
"New room?" Dakota asked.
"You still want another room, right?"
Yemaya pulled Dakota aside. "It might be a good idea to keep the reservation until we find out what's going on. There must be something wrong with the room we're in."
"Or the apartment... but you're right. Better safe than sorry." Turning back to the young woman, Dakota gave her a pained smile.
"Of course, thank you. I hope you get the problem in our other room taken care of."
"Problem? Was something not to your liking?"
"Nooo. Everything was fine. Ummm... I'm just getting a little forgetful, I guess. Exactly why are we switching rooms?"
"Ms. Devereaux." The receptionist laughed. "You're such a tease, and you've been pulling my leg all along, haven't you? I mean with that country folk accent. I knew it couldn't be real. No one talks like that nowadays."
"Oh, shore nuff. I was jest funning yah," Dakota replied trying to mimic her granny.
"I have to admit you're pretty good at it. I had a bet with the manager that you were faking it. She thought you might be from West Virginia, but I knew better. No one writes like you and speaks that way."
"True. Now about the room."
"Right. Today it will be 227. Tomorrow 318 and then 129. It's getting to be quite a game for the housekeepers to get them ready in time for you two. They have a contest going to see who can clean your new room the fastest. Thankfully, you normally sleep in late so there really hasn't been much of a rush."
Stunned by the information, the two women stared at the receptionist, unable to say anything. Finally, Yemaya realized someone needed to say something. "I think we need to go for a walk. Is there anyplace we can get a good breakfast?"
"You mean other than the pizza place and hotdog stands?"
"Pizza... hot... ummm... yes. I think we would like a normal breakfast today."
"Well, there's Benny's. It's right next to that toy shop you went to yesterday."
"Ta... toy shop?" Dakota stammered.
"Yeah. You know... Tango's Ticklers. Are you feeling okay, Ms. Devereaux? You have a funny look on your face."
"Oh. Sure. I'm just wonderful."
Yemaya knew Dakota
was about to lose it. Patting her arm sympathetically, she winked at the hotel clerk. "She just needs something to eat and some quiet time. Family matters. You know how trying that can be."
"Gee, I'm sorry to hear that. Hope it's nothing serious."
"Not at the moment, but I suspect it will get worse before it gets better. Would you mind giving us directions to the restaurant? I think we may have gotten a little confused yesterday."
Saira - TI5 Page 12
