Maya saw the medicinal herbs she had dried. When Paxton had asked what she was doing, she was honest.
“I need these to smudge. It will protect me and cleanse my mind, body, and spirit.” She stopped before adding, it will prepare me for the battle with Lakan. She knew what his response would be to that.
He paused for a moment before speaking. “Okay little rabbit. Pick what you need. I have dried herbs in that large wall of drawers. Each is labeled. Take only what you need. We had better grow more of the things you use so we can both have enough.”
He smiled but she knew he was serious. “I sell them for many uses. You can use them for what you need. I love knowing you do.” He leaned down and kissed her. It wasn’t a hungry, sexy kiss, it was a soul searching, loving kiss. Almost desperate. She felt it too, deep into the marrow of her bones. He must have done research on the uses of the herbs and feared she was using them for the very thing she was, preparing to confront Lakan. She knew the possibility caused Paxton, for the first time, to worry he’d lose her. She did too.
Maya couldn’t read yet. The letters had names, but the act of reading was something different. Sterling said it was the next thing on the assimilation list, so the writing on the drawers meant nothing. Another example of how the flashes didn’t always help. She might not be there to learn but she pushed that devastating thought away. Instead, she painstakingly opened the drawers, the wood pieces scraping against each other until she had what she needed. Maya grabbed sage, ropes of sweetgrass, lemongrass, and several other herbs dried and stored in bags. She added her flint from the cave to complete her supplies. Now she would wait until a time she could be alone.
Zander hated for her to lie to them and so she’d be careful not to break his rule. Sterling’s rule was to show respect. That was a life rule she understood. Paxton’s was to mind him. Period. Maya had the most trouble with that rule. These days he was so worried about her, he almost hovered like a hummingbird. She smiled at that picture and waited for her alone time to present itself.
The next morning was Saturday and her men were sleeping late. She got up, careful not to wake Zander and sneaked out of the bed. She tiptoed to her bedroom and put on clothes. Zander had been as good as his word and created a hologram she could give input, describing the features of her closest friend in the village. She even named her the same, Niska. She wanted to turn on the program this morning, but she didn’t want to risk them thinking Niska was a bad influence. Even though she wasn’t real, she felt real.
Maya went into the room they used to enter the house when they were dirty or muddy. It had the clothes sanitizer and they called it the utility room. It had a large open spot that she could use. In the center of the floor, she settled a metal pan on thick black hot pads from the kitchen. She chose the black ones in case the shell scorched them at all, no one would notice right away. On that she sat her abalone shell, her wood shavings, the rot she could get off dead trees, and her flint. She pulled out a striking rock and within a few moments of working at it, she had a small fire started.
Covering herself with a blanket from her room, she hunched over the fire and put her herbs in, using her hand to spread the smoke, purifying and praying for protection. Then came the healing and cleansing sweet grass, which smoldered more than she had thought it would. The build-up happened fast, and she opened her arms to allow other air in.
The screeching wail of the smoke alarm permeated the room, echoing as the sound bounced off the surrounding walls. Darla, usually non-responsive until 7 a.m. was repeating the verbal voice of the alarm, telling the inhabitants where the smoke was. Maya jumped up and tried to hastily put out the fire before someone discovered her, but Paxton was too fast. He scooped her up and after his investigation showed the fire was simply smoldering herbs, he swatted her ass a handful of times, hard. In mere seconds, her bottom sizzled in the same way as the herbs, singed and smoking. Zander walked into the room as the last swats were being administered.
“Take her into the kitchen. I’ll take care of this.”
It only took a moment to handle the ritual items and stop the smoke and fire. He stalked into the kitchen and put the remainder of her smudging in front of her on the table. Sterling had arrived and was waiting for the coffee to brew. He filled three cups and poured juice for Maya, which she pushed away in defiance.
No one spoke for a long time while they drank coffee and woke up. Soon, Sterling, in a much calmer state of mind than when he found her, explained the dangers of a fire inside the house.
“Don’t you think I know that? Our threat in the village was much more than yours but we learned how to harness the fire to make it a tool. We respected its power but honored its use. Something you expect from me but do not practice yourself. You say I have power, but you dishonor me in not allowing me to use it.”
Zander answered. “Maya, it’s different here. We have alarms, and robots that will try to put it out. Our alarms are directly connected to the fire department.”
“Back up a moment,” said Sterling. “What do you mean we don’t respect and honor? I don’t understand you.”
“It doesn’t feel good, does it? You don’t respect me or honor my knowledge. You treat me as though I have no value outside of yourselves. There is no honor in having no use, of being disregarded.”
“Okay. It’s obvious we need to change our thinking,” Sterling continued. “But this isn’t the way to get our attention.”
“That is what you thought I was doing? Trying to get your attention? You’re so selfish and self-important to think all I do is think of you and that I am only fulfilled by you. I’m a woman with spiritual needs that cannot be ignored.”
“We need to create a safe place for you to perform your rituals and then program the alarm to allow it. Things are more complicated now.”
“You’re speaking to me about the differences between our times?” Her voice rose and her face heated. “How dare you. I know how complicated it is here, much more than you realize. I know how nothing is the same. That you discount my wisdom and life experience without thought, when I was respected for those exact things is insulting. The things I don’t know in this world, you show reverence for and it is hollow in my eyes. Never lecture me on how we are different!”
She jumped up from the chair and Paxton, who hadn’t sat down, took two steps to stand behind her. He was always her man of action. His hand landed on her shoulder and he sat his cup on the table. He turned her towards him and wrapped his arms around her imprisoning her in the circle of his hold.
“You’re in the wrong in this instance, my little rabbit. We do not think you’re different, just from a different time and place. I understand about your need for the herbs, about your desire to engage in your own rituals. I allow that you have expertise we do not need now but it informs your decisions out of a lifetime of need and habit. We all do.”
She pushed away from him and remained mute as he paused before continuing with a firmer tone. “I said nothing when you told me about the smudging. But what have I always demanded?”
He waited. But Maya was too irritated to respond. She wouldn’t look at his face. He caged her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. “I said to ask me if you don’t know about something or if it seems odd. If you had a question about where you could smudge or when, you knew to ask. But you didn’t. I’m disappointed in you, Maya, I thought we had a better relationship than that. I think we all did.”
Big fat tears rolled down her cheeks and she fell into his arms. Pax was ready for her. He had hoped her reaction would be this. She was remorseful, and she’d heard him.
“I need to finish saying my piece, Maya.” His voice was gentler. “I’ll show you where you can smudge and cleanse. I’ll get help and we’ll make you a fire pit. A place you can build a fire that won’t cause an immediate alarm. I’ll even give you a small tent to stay in while you do it, but do not ever, I mean never, build a fire in this house outside of the fireplace and even then, not
without permission. Because if you do, so help me God, I will strip you naked and tan that hide of yours until there will be no hope of using it as a seating cushion for days.”
She bit her lower lip and nodded. “I understand.” She looked away. “Are you going to discipline me now?”
“I already did, didn’t I? Unless you didn’t feel my hand on your ass.” He raised his eyebrows in question.
Her hand slid toward her bottom. “No. I felt it, I just thought…” her hair swayed as she shook her head.
He hugged her tight. “Good. Now, if I’m going to build this incredible oasis for you, you owe me breakfast first, woman.” She laughed and kissed him before turning and kissing the other two. She began breakfast, Maya style, rubbing her bottom on occasion, for comfort and a reminder that they loved her.
Chapter 13
Maya walked with pure joy through the vibrant colors of healthy plants. The air was cleaner here in the garden. She smiled as she continued walking down the wide aisles, touching, caressing, sniffing the plants. There was trouble, she could feel it. Her men could, too. They were more demanding, less accommodating, more protective. Her visions were coming more often, putting everyone on edge. Now they invaded her days as well as her nights. Suddenly, in her mind’s eye, she was in the forest watching the scene before her like the images she watched in the media room.
Lakan was stalking her and she was trying to trick him. Zander came behind the coyote and he attacked Zander. She tried to go to Zander and Lakan stopped her. As in the earlier dream, he kept her away from her man. Then Sterling appeared, rushing towards Zander, and the coyote leaped in the air, landing on Sterling, going for his neck. Then a shot rang out. Paxton mortally wounded Lakan, but before he died, he said, with his eyes closed, “I will return, Maya, daughter of Rainwater, and I will find you, and destroy you and all you love.”
Maya woke from her dream in fear. It had been a week since the smudging incident. She now could cleanse uninhibited, but she’d done that, and it was past the time to stop Lakan. Her dream told her that. It told her that her men were intertwined so much that she could not deny it any longer. Her men would seek Lakan out, but they could not end his existence. Only she could. She needed to initiate her plan as soon as possible. It would stop them from killing Lakan in the wrong way or risk their lives further and the lives of everyone she’d ever cared about.
Maya cooked many of their meals now and while there were mishaps, her men laughed and ate it anyway or called for take-out food. Sterling was in a good mood. They declared her assimilation complete. Sterling was confident she’d meet all requirements to allow her residency paperwork. She could even read, with the implant. A recreated birth certificate would be issued. That is what they needed along with the Governmental ID that gave her permanent permission to stay in the country. Then they could marry and call it done. She thought it was ironic since the land was hers to begin with. Greedy men had always existed and formed governments.
As the kitchen robot cleaned up after breakfast, Sterling sent Maya to pack for a few days in the city. Zander had gone to the city at the beginning of the week and returned this morning only to gather a few other things. He’d return to the university in a couple of hours. Was the time at hand? It was the only answer to the strange vision.
“Thank you. I don’t wish to go.”
“Pax and I both need to go in this time, honey.”
Now was her chance to call Lakan out. “I understand. I can stay here with Darla and Niska.”
“Not an option this time, Maya. We will bring Niska with us.”
“No. Thank you for asking but I prefer to stay here. I do not wish to go.”
She needed to be alone to accomplish this. She felt the fear surrounding her closing in. Evil was lurking around every corner. She saw the owl fly over her when she was chanting and asking for protection. Now with the dream, she had to protect her men from their desire to save her.
They didn’t understand the dangers or the time she came from. They didn’t know how much of the evil that surrounded them every day was from the skinwalkers of their own time. She had tried to tell them, but they didn’t understand. How could they? She would take care of her skinwalker. They would need to think about the others later.
“Looks like you have an unpleasant trip into the city then, little rabbit, because Sterling didn’t ask, he simply informed you.”
“The first solution to a woman disagreeing with you is not a swat on the butt, Paxton.” Zander tried to entice her by saying, “We could show you wonderful things in the city.”
Sterling tried to use logic. “Lakan won’t know where you are.”
Little did he know that was not an enticement but a deterrent. She needed to be where Lakan could find her, so she could force him to look at her.
Paxton left the room to get ready, walking with purpose. He returned to the living room to hear they still hadn’t gotten her to agree.
“I don’t know how we could all skip our obligations this time,” Sterling was saying as Paxton walked farther into the room with his duffle bag. The bag landed with a thud and all eyes turn to him. He went down onto his haunches in front of Maya as the other two shook their heads.
“Listen to me, little rabbit. We love you. We want to take care of you, protect you, have fun with you, make a life with you but we will all become weary if you continue to disagree when there is no other choice. I’ve gladly stayed behind several times so we did not have to subject you to the city. This time we have no choice. I must go in. Zander and Sterling have no choice but to go.” Maya shook her head in disagreement.
His voice hardened. “Therefore, you will go. The expectation is clear. You’ll obey us because we tell you it’s for your safety, which is most important to us. If you want to go sitting easily, then you’ll get up and show you’re ready. I’ve packed your clothes in my duffle, but you might want a few other things. I suggest you handle that before I go in there and grab a hair brush.” He leaned in and kissed her lips before standing and stepping away.
She wondered how a woman lived with just one man? She thought about her men. Sterling was a stickler for following the laws of the land; things were black and white with little room to deviate. He kept her grounded in reality, no matter what that turned out to be.
Zander was a lover and most things were in the gray zone for him. He was the most flexible and he encouraged her to believe in her dreams. He gave her joyful freedom.
Then there was Paxton. He pushed her boundaries, spanked her butt, and his grumble made her tingle all over. He challenged her, angered her, and ignited her fires.
The three men together allowed her to blaze a path to her dreams.
The fear she had of the earlier incident of her treatment was still fresh in her mind. She knew the place they had found her would destroy both she and Lakan if they were to try crossing back into their time. Her men would be busy and possibly leave her alone in the house in the city. She could still accomplish her goal but making them angry would defeat her plan.
She nodded. “You’re right. I’m being selfish. But please don’t take me to that place I was at. Please.”
Sterling pulled her to her feet and kissed her lips. “Nope. Not even close. You’re going to the zoo, and then to the arboretum. That should keep you occupied. Zander has things to do at the zoo and Paxton has things to do at the arboretum and botanical gardens.”
She repeated the words ‘zoo’ and ‘arboretum’ slowly to allow her mind to flash a descriptive picture in her head. She smiled at the result. “Thank you.” She looked around, suddenly in a hurry to get to the city. Lakan had found her here when she left the city. He would find her when she went back. “When are we going?”
She stopped in her room to grab a backpack and her smudging kit. If everything worked out, she’d need to cleanse after she finished with Lakan.
Maya was surprised the drive into the city was fun. Her men were in a good mood and they sucked her into the
relaxed feeling. The zoo was first because both of her other men had meetings to attend. Zander had already done those and was now in the zoo, deciding on which animals he was moving from there to the compound. He explained to Maya that the older ones needed to stay as they were too long removed from their wild days and had integrated well into the captive life. But the new arrivals on the endangered list still had a chance.
Maya looked over at the ones he’d pointed out as needing to stay and a sadness descended. Zander, who was in tune with his animals as well as Maya, hugged her tight. “What’s wrong, honey?”
“I’m like them, aren’t I?”
“What do you mean?”
“I was once wild and free, now I’m changed and too long from my home. I’ll never be free again.”
Zander took a moment to answer. “Honey, it must seem like that to you because we’re governed by so many rules, but I promise the more accustomed you become to things, the freer you’ll be. You’ll be able to take a car and drive, you’ll go wherever you want, within reason, and you’ll be able to make your life like you want it.”
“But my way of life is over.”
“No. It will simply be a fraction of who you are now. You’re missing the part where you won’t have to worry about dying in childbirth or losing your children to diseases. There will be no starvation in the winter for lack of food or languishing in the heat of the summer. You won’t grow old before your time because life is too hard.” Maya walked over to the sofa and sat without speaking.
“Tell you what. We can continue to expand your little village on the compound, so you have as much of what you want to remember and none of what you don’t want.”
“But my family. I have a younger brother and parents. I miss them.”
“We know, honey, and we can work on that.”
Captured Obedience Page 16
