by Gary Starta
I winced and pursed my lips. I did understand. I’d heard a voice in my head, Isis’s voice to be exact. I couldn’t be sure I was totally in control of my own actions after experiencing the intrusion. I divulged that secret to Briana at this point but she wasn’t surprised.
“I know one thing, Caitlin. We were both manipulated to bring the Ennead here. But what is their purpose? Is it beneficial as Nephthys would have us believe? I thought I was doing the right thing, saving a mother and her child. And later, I would find I did just that. But with a consequence, because the boy died of hypothermia in cruel twist of fate; if I hadn’t exhausted myself from the first spell I could have saved him. Ironically, he died in freezing water. I could have warmed it, I could have…uh, I don’t know. It was futile because a price came with the magic. I shouldn’t have chosen who would live and who would die, but that’s exactly what I did, Caitlin.”
“I don’t agree. You couldn’t have realized the boy was on the pond. It’s not your—”
She raised a dismissive hand. “Don’t say it, Caitlin. You and every law enforcement official have told me the same thing—I’m not to blame. But I am guilty, just not guilty of breaking any laws. Obviously, that’s the reason why I was allowed to join the Bureau, because I was exonerated.”
“You do a lot of good things, Briana. You should accept your magic was fallible like you say. You were damned if you did, damned if you didn’t.”
“Funny you should say that. I can only hope we all won’t be damned. It makes me wonder why the Ennead required my assistance. I also want to know how the Ennead might be connected to the elements themselves. They did arrive by water. Maybe they can only operate under the power of our planet.”
“I hope to get you those answers. But I can’t push for it all at once. I need to feign compliance with the Ennead’s wishes. But if they are responsible in any way for the president’s death and the disappearance of our demon population, they need to be accountable, no matter what good they might bring to our future.”
Before we could converse further, my friend Stanford Carter strolled into the café. I want to say old friend, but the odd thing is, he is and isn’t. He is the alternate of my detective friend in my old universe. He is very similar, except for the fact that a demon lover infected him with her genetics. As a result, he became a hybrid. Don’t ask me to repeat the kind of demon he now shares his genetic makeup with. The one thing I do keep in mind is that Stanford is one upstanding being, no matter his race. He’s successfully kept his demon at bay because he’s naturally inclined to shun violence.
Briana excused herself to get an early start at the Bureau. I smiled unabashedly. Stanford always does this to me. He puts a perpetual smile on my face.
“It’s been too long,” I said.
“Yes, it has. I’ve been looking for you. But I understand you’ve had your hands full these days.”
“I do. But that’s no excuse.” I ordered two more coffees as the waitress passed by. She seemed to pause a moment, taking in Stanford’s dreaminess. His chestnut-brown eyes spoke volumes; you just knew he was a kind soul even before speaking to him. This kind of charm was different from Chuck’s but no less addictive. It’s the reason why Stanford and I started our own support group. I helped him live with his affliction and he provided moral support for my displacement.
I observed his body language. Something was definitely different. He was almost squirming in his seat. Both of the Stanford Carters I know do not squirm. They are the poster boys for placidity.
“Okay,” I said, “Out with it. Did you meet someone?”
“Why do you think that? You know you’re the only one for me.”
In a way, Stanford wasn’t joking. We had nearly become intimate a few months back, at the same time Chuck was making his moves on me—or to be exact—making the moves on what he perceived to be his Caitlin. I didn’t know at that point if Chuck was serious or simply wanted a fling. So Carter and I dated. We began to fool around one evening, but I stopped it. I couldn’t go through with it. Visions of his dark side forced me to resist him. I am still embarrassed to admit that I feared he’d infect me; that I too would be turned. It was a prejudiced reaction and made me a hypocrite. Since my arrival to this world, I’ve sided with the demons, believing they should enjoy the same civil rights as humans. Yet I believe in theory and not in application. I shouldn’t have been afraid to be with Stanford. Fortunately, for me, Stanford’s heart was big enough to understand my trepidations. He’s never held my prejudice against me for it to this day.
He began rubbing his palms together, as if he were preparing himself to deliver some really important news.
“Okay, Caitlin. There’s no other way to say this. I’m now demon-free.”
I gasped loud enough for a waitress to observe me. “Oh, I never thought to inquire about your…”
He finished for me. “…condition?”
I nodded. “I’ve heard reports about other hybrids. They didn’t disappear with the demons. I didn’t think to inquire if their makeup was altered.”
“Well, it has.” He spread his arms away from his body. “You’re taking a good look at him.” His smiled faded as our waitress brought coffee.
“What’s the matter? Has she ever been unkind to you?”
“No. It’s not that. In fact, I don’t think anyone at Jay’s ever realized I was a hybrid. But I’ve got a nagging feeling. How can I be so elated knowing billions of demons are missing? Whatever changed me has got to be related to their disappearance.”
“I know, Stanford. I’m working on this. Keep this on the QT, but I’ve got an interview with Nephthys.”
Stanford mocked me. “The Nephthys?”
“Yes, the Nephthys.”
“I apologize. I shouldn’t be joking.”
“No, don’t apologize. I’d be just as giddy, Stanford. And I don’t think that makes either one of us a monster for feeling that way.” There, I relieved some of my guilt. Well, maybe.
“I see, Caitlin. I know you felt uncomfortable with us being a couple. I understood that—I still do. As you can tell by my reaction, I wasn’t totally happy with my condition.” He pointed to his eyes. When he gave over to his demon side, they became purple.
“Good. So we’ve got things off our chests.”
“And no more purple eyes.”
When we finished our coffees, I noticed the time. “I need to call a taxi. I have to get to the Bureau.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll drive you.”
We made our way to the car in very close proximity. We bumped each other lightly once or twice. I had the urge to take his hand. Maybe I should have called the cab after all.
We continued our conversation for a few more minutes before Stanford started his car. I finished his thought with a hug. I didn’t want to let go. I still felt affection for both Stanford’s. Both are kind, compassionate and upstanding. But this Stanford makes my heart beat quicker. I held the hug a moment longer than I knew I should have. As we pulled away, our eyes locked. Before I knew it, my lips were on his. We were in lover’s limbo, the in-between kind of kiss that borders somewhere between friendship and passion. I broke away, smiling. But not unabashedly, it was awkward—now. I again thanked him for the ride. I couldn’t say more without complicating our relationship.
But I had little time to wonder about my feelings for Stanford, or Chuck for that matter. I would be stepping into the ring in mere moments.
* * * *
Yes, I equated it with a sparring match. We would bob and weave, duck and shuffle; all verbally, of course. We sat in a Bureau conference room, a glass table separating us. I equated the table with a referee.
“Thanks for the interview, Nephthys.”
“No, thank you. We encourage candor with all people of this world; even those of law enforcement.”
I smiled. “We both know that’s not the complete picture.”
“I like your candor. Yes, there is a duality. You, Agent Di
ggs, do share a consciousness with my sister, Isis. I respect your individuality. I prefer to address you as Agent Diggs and not my goddess sister.”
“It’s why I wanted to speak with you. I don’t completely understand why I share this consciousness.”
“I think you do. The answer lies in your past.”
There, she confirmed it. She knows I’m an alien to this world as well.
I hesitated. I wanted to see how much she might divulge.
“You came upon a crystal, Agent Diggs. It contained the essence of Isis, inanimate at that point. Try to understand, you were in touch with some of her powers. You probably experienced telepathy. No?”
“Among other things… But why was she connected to the crystal? And if that crystal was from my world, why are we all here. Shouldn’t the Ennead be making residence in my home world?”
“It’s because Isis can be in the crystal and be in other places, other worlds at the same time. Did you ever hear the Fibonacci Sequence?”
“Yes, it’s about a series of numbers. But my math skills are anemic.”
“The bigger the numbers are in the series, the closer the ratio. It’s a way to explain how Isis can appear to be in several places at once.”
“And why is that? Why wasn’t she just with you—wherever you were?”
“She decided to stay behind. She was not completely gone from us, nor was she completely with us. She believed our departure was a mistake, that we should remain on Earth to guide humanity. By anchoring herself in crystal, she became inanimate in this reality. It was a noble sacrifice. One that gave us the opportunity to return, she provided a tether so to speak.”
“So, in effect I became part of that tether. I just wonder if my part in this was all by design. The crystal was first connected with a teen who became a serial killer. Was I destined to stop him? Was I destined to have Isis become part of me?”
“It may seem that way. We do not think in linear progressions. But suffice to say, Isis found you worthy. You can interpret that as you like.”
“Why has Isis only recently spoken and why so infrequently?”
“She was dormant until we arrived. You had her powers but you were not sharing her consciousness until now. Isis is withholding speech because she knows it would be too exacting for your system.”
“So, am I in control of my body, my mind? Are you saying she would take over or…could take over?” I shifted in my seat, crossing my legs.
She must have noticed my body language. “There is no need to worry.”
“But there is. I’m human, not a goddess. We don’t share consciousness. Minds are individual. Will Isis remain with me, forever?”
“I had the feeling you were honored by her presence.”
I didn’t want to eradicate any hope of further discussion. “Nephthys, I do feel honored. Because of Isis’s powers I was able to save a friend. I am grateful. It’s just I didn’t expect to hear another voice in my head. It’s going to take some getting used to.”
“I think you’re all going to need some adjustment time. The benefits will be well worth it.”
I still wasn’t sure what those benefits would be. I decided now would be as good a time as ever to redirect the interview. “Nephthys, you said the Ennead would assist our investigation of several recent and disturbing occurrences. As an agent assigned to investigate these occurrences, will I be able to acquire resources in this endeavor?”
“We will assist. Yet we cannot promise resolution.”
I had my doubts about her anemic response. I couldn’t reveal this either by outward expression or internal dialogue, however. I was being watched by a being who could no doubt read my mind and if that wasn’t enough, I had another divine being in my head. I said, “Good. I’ll look forward to working with you.”
I decided it might be best to wrap up our talk for today. But Nephthys interrupted my departure.
“I understand your concern about revealing your past.” She paused, giving me time to ponder. Yes, I was most concerned. If I was exposed and removed from the investigation, how could I possibly continue to investigate the Ennead’s possible involvement in two of this world’s biggest mysteries?
“We won’t expose your past, Agent Diggs. In return, we would appreciate full cooperation in attaining the Ennead’s goals.”
I didn’t know what those goals were. I didn’t believe Nephthys would be providing a handout. I could only nod, demurely.
She’d me caught in a quandary. I couldn’t even really trust myself at this point. With my connection to Isis, I was connected to the Ennead. That begged the question—was I simultaneously both a suspect and investigator?
Chapter 9
Molecularly Speaking
Charlize Wilson, teen singer and genetically-engineered mage, greeted me as if it were any other day. “Good day, Star of the Sea,” she said as she hopped into the passenger seat of my rental. She would lead me to a secret hideaway to meet her father Claude Brahms, the scientist I hoped could answer at least a few of the dozen questions I had about the Ennead.
“Star of the Sea” was Charlize’s pet name for me because of my connection with Isis. The teen became convinced I was the resurrection of Isis when I helped protect her from her soul-stealing brother, Aldo Mollini. Molecularly reassembling her after Mollini stripped her of her soul and scattered her molecules in what resembled a marble rainstorm, I pieced her back together. There seemed to be no explanation for this achievement. Other than what Charlize believed was indeed true.
Isis’s followers gave her the moniker “Star of the Sea” some three thousand years ago. Today, the greeting seemed more appropriate than ever because for all intents and purposes I was Isis. Although I wagered it had been about three millennia since anyone had addressed Isis as anything.
Charlize seemed nonplussed as I filled her in on the latest developments; more specifically, the additional voice in my head. Since Charlize believed me to be the second coming of the Egyptian goddess months back, I could have guessed her placid reaction. I tried to comprehend why she wasn’t marginally surprised at my surprise, however.
“I know you’ve always perceived me to be the goddess, Charlize. But wouldn’t you expect me to find her presence odd, especially since her current place of residence is my mind? I spent most of my life as Caitlin Alanis Diggs. She’s only been with me, recently.” I gasped for breath. Exasperated? Yes.
“I know. It only happened since you became modified. I too was engineered to accommodate greatness. Please know, I am not bragging when I say this. It is fact. But in regard to your goddess-hood, I hope you will come to accept it like I have accepted my purpose.”
I digested her statement. Charlize, who also readily accepted the fact I was from another universe, referred to my contact with the crystal as modification. Yes, that was a cold way to look at it. Perceiving the experience as a total intrusion, I was way more emotional. No one could convince me I wasn’t raped by the artifact which then attempted to permanently bond with my nervous system. I would have been its co-dependent, supplying its necessary fix of serotonin from the most unwilling volunteers. It was hard to connect the advent of a goddess with such evil or simply call it a modification. But I was modified—for some intent. Charlize had been modified from conception. Brahms gave her the gift to inhibit demon violence. She just had to sing which affected demon brain waves, another modification, albeit a temporary one. Ultimately, Charlize’s gift was as miraculous as any god’s feat.
Charlize bowed her head, sullen. I felt guilty whining to a child when I was supposed to be the adult. I stammered. “I’m sorry, Charlize. It appears I’ve troubled you.”
She shook her head. “No. My purpose has been taken from me.”
Indeed. In one fell swoop. Although Charlize could, on occasion, help repair brain damage in humans, this feat was unpredictable. But Charlize could always be counted upon to inhibit demon violence. And for that time she put demons under her thrall, she probably saved m
ore lives than I ever would. I had to wonder about my own job. If I could solve the president’s assassination and determine the whereabouts of a few billion demons I just might be forced to retire from the FBI’s Preternatural Division. I guess Charlize and I were both becoming obsolete in what we perceived to be our very makeup. Charlize was a healing singer and I was a cop at heart. If you took our purpose away what would be left?
