by Vered Ehsani
“A bridge,” I repeated. “I have to be a bridge.”
So saying, I eased my way into the veil that separated the worlds. One arm and leg vanished from sight, followed by a shoulder and half my chest. Although I couldn’t see them, I could feel my fingers twitching in the dramatically cooler air in which that part of my body was immersed. The rest of me continued to sweat. Tugging at the wolf’s fur, I encouraged it to cross. The moment it did, my invisible arm and leg tingled.
“He’s going to destroy the bridge,” Koki said, although her voice sounded muted, as if I were listening from underwater.
“Not the bridge!” Yao wailed from a distance. “Not again! Yao hates broken bridges! Anything but a bath, please—” His protestation was cut short by the splintering of wood.
Closing my eyes, I turned my attention to the steadiness of my breath and the cool silence waiting for us beyond the veil. Focusing on the wolf energy within me, I willed it to embrace the others in a ballon of silver. With another step, I shifted completely into the World of Shadows.
Chapter 30
“YAO HAS HIS body back,” someone yelled by my ear. “See, Wanjiru? This is what Yao really looks like. Not that ugly, scratchy body.”
Still struggling with the underwater sensation, I opened my eyes and waited for them to adjust. The only source of light was my metallic left hand in which the wolf energy had returned. Otherwise, deliciously cold shadows embraced us.
“We made it,” Jonas said, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Of course we did,” Koki said, sneering at the little man. “How poorly you think of your mistress.”
While I sympathized with Jonas’ sentiment, I too leveled a firm stare at him, silently reprimanding him for doubting me. Indeed, we were all on the other side of the film in the relative safety of the World of Shadows, leaving Le-Eyo in possession of a broken bridge and an impotent rage.
Yao was particularly pleased by the turn of events. He couldn’t cease patting his muscular arms, a wide smile across his handsome face, his eyes lit with relief and joy. “Wanjiru, look. This is the real Yao.”
“Real idiot, you mean,” Jonas said as he maneuvered himself between his daughter and the Adze.
“Come along, children,” Koki said as she glided ahead.
“Asante,” Jonas said. It was a moment before I realized he was talking to me. “Thank you. Thank you.” He gulped, the strain around his eyes more pronounced in the dim light.
“You’re welcome,” I whispered.
“Beatrice!” My name echoed around us.
“Lilly?” I called back.
A glowing form hurtled toward us, followed by Lilly. “Oh, there you are!” she exclaimed, one hand holding onto the glowing form, the other hand on her hip. “We’ve all been in a tither over your disappearance.”
The others gathered around us. I noted with some disquiet Koki’s interest in the glowing form that was, I assumed, baby Grace. “No wonder you seemed familiar,” I said under my breath before meeting Lilly’s uneasy gaze. “We haven’t been gone so long as to raise the alarm, surely?”
“Ha!” Lilly huffed. “When you didn’t return after several hours, Mr. Elkhart — your father, not my Mr. Elkhart — summoned our husbands. They tried to rouse you. When that didn’t work, they set out. They’ve been searching for your spirit selves all night and half the morning.”
“All night?” I gasped, horrified that my absence had been so obvious. “Have we missed breakfast?”
She paused to consider the question although it hardly merited serious thought. “Yes, and lunch as well. If you hurry, you might just make it for supper… Oh, never mind that. Mr. Timmons is in a fury over the matter. Last night, he mobilized every able bodied man, and a few unable bodied ones, to search for you in case you somehow wandered out by another means, unlikely as that was. Meanwhile, he and Tiberius looked for another entrance to the Underworld. And Grace told me you’d passed through here and disappeared, so in I came.”
“Oh dear,” I sighed, the exhaustion incurred from the activities of the previous day and night cascading over me. “I’ll explain later. I’m still recovering from pulling Wanjiru through from the other side.” I gestured to Jonas’ daughter so that Lilly would know of whom I spoke. “And we still have to get through this place. I can’t be distracted by wondering how furious my husband will be with me.”
“Very furious,” Jonas instantly supplied me the answer.
“Incoherent with indignation, I’d imagine,” Lilly added.
Still admiring his muscular limbs, Yao said, “Not to mention disappointed, outraged and—”
“Yes, thank you, all of you,” I interrupted as Koki flung her head back and laughed. The darkness muffled all our sounds and increased my sense of fatigue. “Now to the task at hand: to return to our bodies, after which I will hopefully outlive my husband’s lecture long enough to eat, bathe and sleep.”
“Yao is happy with all of that, except the bathing part,” Yao informed us.
Koki shook her head, while Jonas muttered, “You disgust me.” Behind his back, Wanjiru smiled.
Chapter 31
TRANSITIONING THROUGH THE next veil was easier, perhaps because we were all eager to be fully in our physical bodies. Even pulling Wanjiru out of the shadows and into my father’s room in the Hardinge house required relatively little effort. Still, I was grateful that my body was lying down on the carpet for otherwise I’d surely have collapsed. While fainting is considered an art amongst some women, I rather abhor the activity.
Thus saved from the humiliation of swooning, I focused my efforts on pushing aside the cotton that seemed to have enwrapped my senses. Before I could fully wake up, a scantily dressed African woman loomed into my view, her elongated canines showing.
“Where did you take my brother, you nasty female?” Yawa howled at me.
“It’s okay,” the brother in question replied. “Yao has his own body again!” He didn’t pause to elaborate on that statement to his bewildered sister but instead crooned, “Wanjiru, let me help you.”
I sensed the energetic struggle between Jonas and Yao, but my attention was snagged by the grim countenance of Mr. Timmons who stood across the room, making no effort to approach. It was Father and Dr. Ribeiro, whom someone must have summoned, who assisted me to rise and guided me to a sofa. Father clucked in a reassuring manner, his consternation only evident in the shaking of his hands.
Before I could assess how distressed my husband was or assuage my own guilt at Father’s evident unease, the door was flung open. The doorknob slammed heartily into the wall as Tiberius stormed in with a flurry of emotion and energy. Tiberius, my gentle brother who shared so much in common with our father including a calm disposition and enduring patience, glared at me with uncharacteristic indignation. His hands clenched at his side
“Why didn’t you inform me that Lilly was entering Mrs. Cricket’s world?” he growled and sounded much like his Popobawa form. “And now Anansi wants to use her and the baby. How dare you!”
I couldn’t fathom how he knew about Anansi and I didn’t appreciate the implication that I’d allow the Spider to do anything with my cousin or niece. Bewildered, I started to sit up from my prone position on the sofa. Dr. Ribeiro pushed me down, clucking disapprovingly.
“Mr. Elkhart, sir,” he said, waggling his head, “I am not allowing my patient such distractions as giant spiders and other nuisances.” He shook a finger at my brother and then at me. “She is resting now, not being disturbed any more than she already is. Here, Miss Knight. Please be drinking this.” He inserted the edge of a cup into my mouth, forcing sweet liquid down my throat.
Tiberius paid no heed to the doctor or to Father’s gently voiced supplications to take a seat and calm himself. “Do you have any idea how dangerous it could be for her?” he continued, his voice rising with every word. “Or for the baby?”
“You never asked me to tell you anything,” I replied as I pushed the doctor’s hand awa
y, more stunned than distressed. Ignoring Dr. Ribeiro, I sat up in order to better return Tiberius’ hostile stare. “And yes, I do have some idea regarding the risks and told her so myself. In fact, I emphatically forbade her from entering. But she wouldn’t listen.”
“Yes, that trait seems to be common among you Steward woman,” he snapped.
Shocked at his outburst, I retorted, “I’m also an Elkhart and it seems we might have a temper.”
“Not all of us,” Father said in his soft voice, although I was the only one close enough to hear him.
“They do indeed have tempers, as do the Steward women,” Lilly snapped as she strode into the room, her arms crossed over her chest, her jaw set in a manner very similar to Mrs. Steward. This didn’t bode well for Tiberius. “And you!” She jabbed a finger toward Koki. “Stay away from my baby.”
Recalling Lilly’s sleepy promise to kill the Mantis and knowing she hadn’t a chance at success, I prepared myself to intervene if required. Fortunately, Lilly was far too preoccupied with scowling at Tiberius.
“I can appreciate Mr. Elkhart’s discomposure,” Mr. Timmons finally spoke with a restraint that was alarming. He was staring at the bookshelf behind me as if it might elaborate on the matter. “It’s rather disconcerting when a wife dashes off into danger without so much as a note of explanation.”
“So now we need our husbands’ permission to venture forth from the home?” Lilly demanded, fixing her heated gaze on Mr. Timmons.
“No, Lilly,” I answered as I ignored Dr. Ribeiro’s urgent attempts to force more liquid into me. “They just want us to become docile little house women. They on the other hand don’t have to change one jot or tittle. After marriage, their lives continue much as they were before the wedding day. But we have to alter our lives entirely to fit their own.”
A hand on my shoulder caused me to startle. I looked up to find Koki’s expression bordering on compassionate or at least sympathetic. Gesturing at the infuriated husbands, she said, “This is why I decapitate them.”
“Delightful,” Tiberius said, exhibiting a level of sarcasm that was new for him. “Now we receive marital advice from a homicidal she-demon.”
“At least she doesn’t expect us to sit around knitting baby clothes all day,” Lilly said, her fierce stare settling on Tiberius.
“I didn’t say you had to do anything of the sort,” Tiberius retorted although there was an edge of pleading in his tone. “I thought you would appreciate the knitting needles and yarn, as it would give you something to do.”
“I can think of something to do with those needles,” Koki interjected, a dark humor lacing her words. “Let me know if you wish any lessons on the matter, ladies.” With a smirk and a cavalier wave, she sauntered out of the room.
“Yao would never give his wife needles,” the Adze announced. “Never, ever. Unless she wanted them. Do you like knitting, Wanjiru?”
“Bah,” Jonas said in disgust as he escorted his daughter out of the room with Yao trailing behind them. Clearing his throat and reassuring us that he was available should any of us further require his services, Dr. Ribeiro likewise took his leave and closed the door on his exit.
Father exhaled with exaggerated force. “While I know nothing of knitting or needles,” he said, the softness of his voice contrasting to the heated emotions of the room, “I’ve loved two women warriors in my time. Three if I include my daughter. You can neither tame nor change them, nor should you want to do so. That would destroy the very essence that you once loved.”
He addressed that comment to the two men, both of whom shifted with discomfort under his tender gaze. “And one of the greatest fears a man can endure is being unable to protect the woman he loves.” This he directed to Lilly and me. “Perhaps you can alleviate their distress simply by informing them of your intentions or your whereabouts. I’m sure neither would prevent you from engaging in any course of action that your conscience dictates.”
While I was tempted to issue a snort and a withering comment, the men’s strained expressions inhibited me as they did Lilly. She frowned and said to me, “Well, I suppose we can endeavor to lighten their mental load.” Then her face lit up with a mischievous grin. “And if all else fails, we can always request those needle lessons from Koki.”
Father coughed to hide his smile. Tiberius chuckled, gesturing to Lilly to enter his embrace. She waddled over to him, and I allowed myself to be distracted by the increase in the size of her swollen belly. I was tempted to inquire if she had twins but thought better of it. What did I know of pregnancy, normal or otherwise? Still, it struck me how much bigger she appeared, and I made a mental note to request Dr. Ribeiro to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, Lilly hooked her hand over Tiberius’ arm and allowed him to escort her to their own quarters. Mr. Timmons shook his head and sighed, and thus our meeting was disbanded.
Chapter 32
“SHALL WE?” MR. Timmons asked as he invited me to proceed him out of the house into the coolness of dusk.
Wordlessly, we traversed the damp, weed infested lawn and entered the cottage at which point I was desperately wishing he’d vent his emotions. This silent, stoic version of the man left me uneasy. Before I could insist he express his true feelings, Gideon popped into view, hovering over the kitchen table on which a basket sat, containing one baby monkey.
“I’m teaching Shelby to follow my instructions,” he announced.
“Felicitations,” I said with little attention.
“And I’ll have you know that your husband is a horrible mother,” he continued, a frown marring his beautiful face. “He’s even worse than you, as difficult as that is to imagine. I had to beg and plead with him, not to mention harass him mercilessly, before he finally conceded to feed Shelby.”
“Sorry, Shelby,” I said and rubbed the little gray head. Shelby mewed in response.
“Plus she needs to be hugged,” Gideon said, his faint eyebrows scrunched together. “I can’t do that. And it’s critical for their development.” He peered down at me.
“Fine,” I muttered and scooped Shelby into my arms as I followed Mr. Timmons into his study and closed the door behind me.
“Say something,” I said, wondering how many times we would have to endure these discomforting disagreements.
He leaned against his desk, his hands gripped along the edge, his expression vacant. It was only then that I noticed that his hair was in disarray, his chin unshaved, and his eyes surrounded by proof of a sleepless night. “What’s there to say?” he said, his voice low, his words breathed out on a sigh.
“I believe I prefer you to stomp about like an enraged water buffalo,” I said as I rubbed a hand against Shelby’s back. “This silence is insupportable.”
Tilting his head and peering at me, he allowed a slight smile to soften his features, yet his eyes retained a melancholiness that penetrated me to the core. “Do not fear. I’m not angry.”
“I wish you were,” I murmured. “That, I can manage. This, however, leaves me at a loss.”
“More’s the pity,” he said. “I’m trying to be a more agreeable person, to modify my volatile temperament, but perhaps such a calm disposition is not suitable for the likes of me.”
“Perhaps,” I said, frowning at the odd turn in the conversation.
Sighing yet again, he rubbed his forehead with one hand. “Beatrice, I need you alive. Alive! And if anything serious were to befall you, if you were…” He shook his head, his gaze still focused at his feet. “I can’t bear the thought.”
Not daring to speak, I took a step toward him.
Shifting his weight against the desk, he continued, “I found you lying on the floor as still and pale as a corpse. You looked for all the world as if you were dead. On one side of you was your demonic archenemy, on the other a zombie-devouring vampire, and I’m not entitled to be in the least upset?”
“Of course you are,” I said, attempting for a soothing voice although my every limb quivered with
exhaustion and emotion. Stroking Shelby, I lowered my face to her tiny one. Her nose wrinkled, and she licked my cheek. The softness of her fur and the warmth of her little body soothed my agitated heart.
Breathing in her sweetness, I looked up at Mr. Timmons who was watching me intently, almost desperately. “I wanted to consult you, truly. In fact, I had all intentions to do so but time was of the essence.”
As I recalled the moment when I’d altered my decision, I winced for I’d neglected to mention how Koki’s inflammatory remark had galled me: “Do you need a man’s permission now?”
“It gratifies me to hear it,” Mr. Timmons said.
I smoothed away the grimace that still clung to my features. “Having said that, please don’t expect me to be any different from the woman you followed that night we hunted for Kam’s niece. I can’t, Simon. I’ve tried. Well, I’ve tried to try, and I just can’t be this other woman, the sort that stays safely at home and plays the good housewife.”
Shelby yawned, my speech far too taxing for her sleepy mind to grasp, and she curled up in my arms, promptly falling asleep. Mr. Timmons’ mouth twitched into a faded smile, and he reached out for me, guiding me into his arms. Kissing the top of my head, he said, “Now then, enough of that, my dear. After all, you wouldn’t be Miss Knight if you refused danger and opted for the safer path.”
“But maybe I should try to be Mrs. Timmons,” I mumbled into his chest.
He chuckled at that. “I suspect Mrs. Timmons might be even more reckless,” he admitted as he stroked the tension out of my back.
“I should hope she isn’t,” I said as I settled into his embrace. “She’d be impossible to manage.”
“That she is,” Mr. Timmons said. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way for she’s the bravest woman I know.”
I peered up at him, my eyebrows raised. “Really? Forgive my skepticism but are you sure?”
