Ishtar Bound (a book of Sinnis)

by Gibson, Natalie

  Nathalia read the prophesy aloud, and Maeve recognized the first line from her many years in Christendom, but she had purposefully forgotten all things Christian and remembering would take some effort.

  They are the heroes of old, men renowned

  with wills so strong, that even God had not.

  She tried to end, but they could not be drowned.

  Their bodies, made from holy seed, won't rot.

  Their only prospect for salvation dwell

  within the wombs descended from the same

  that had birthed them before the flood befell.

  A zonah's daughter will each need to claim.

  Deep from the heart of independent land,

  when worship of Inanna does resurge,

  those who have waited long will see firsthand,

  the promised two female coevals emerge.

  ***

  An hour later they were still trying to hash out the meanings when Jolie arrived. She came right to the Abbess room because she had some prophesy to share.

  “I think we've had our fill of quatrains for today,” Nathalia joked.

  “I know that the council's excited about my match with a man of The Family, but I don't think that we're the match everyone's waiting on. Look at number 27.”

  “Let me see what you've got.”

  Jolie handed her the notebook and took a seat to wait as the Abbess read through her most recent work.

  a line of daughters does produce a son

  we nigh neglect, thinking our work be done

  an angel and her mate are not the ones

  Her real mother does hide among the nuns

  “Why does that rule you out?” Maeve asked.

  “Anjolie's my name and it means happy angel. An angel and her mate are not the ones.”

  “Yeah, the Council thinks that it's Aaron who'll be mated to the mother of the One from the prophesy. They're insisting that Maeve matchmake for him.”

  “Look at number 28.”

  Nathalia once again read it aloud,

  he is but from the smallest branch of life

  the reputation of the mother saved

  by giving daughter to her brother's wife

  the blessing in his precious blood engraved

  That did match what Margaux said both on the phone and in person. Jolie was turning into quite the useful prophetess. What 'blessing' was engraved in his blood, they still didn't know.

  “Can I keep this book to look at in private?”

  “Of course Nathalia, there are a few in there that might interest you. I marked those pages in the upper right corner. Can I steal Maeve away for a minute?”

  “It's a trade. Maeve, please bring a bible from the library when you come back. We are going to figure this out if I have to cross reference every book in that room.”

  ***

  both are mothers of the same camp of thought

  yet only one shall birth and one shall not

  she, for her friend, succumb to death a maid

  and with the angels mothers shall be laid

  Nathalia was the only virgin Maeve knew, definitely the only virgin Daughter. “How long have you known?” Maeve demanded of her Sister Superior. She threw down the folded piece of notebook paper Jolie had given her, onto the desk, and snatched up the tiny prophesy book.

  Nathalia read the two quatrains while Maeve skimmed through the ones in the book. Maeve's face got paler with each passing page. Nathalia knew that almost every one was about her approaching expiration date. She had kept this from Maeve all these weeks because she was the one person Nathalia was not sure she could let go of. Seeing Maeve mourn was the only thing that might be able to sway her resolve.

  “Since Jolie's Matchmaking and Ascension ceremony morning. Margaux told me and Jolie's confirmed it many times over.”

  “Three Weeks?! How could you keep this from me? All that time I spent with Aaron is time I should have spent with you.”

  “I was trying to give you something of your own, some semblance of normalcy, to cling to in the future.”

  “Don't you see? You've ruined it for me. Now when you're gone, it'll be tainted. Those selfish few weeks will haunt me for the rest of my life.”

  Nathalia crossed over to the couch to be close to her near hysterical friend. Nathalia could not keep the tears from streaming down her face, as she started her explanation. Her speech was punctuated with sobs.

  “Please see it from my point of view. Rather than have the one I love most in this world, cooped up here morning my death, I freed you to experience life. I did it for selfish reasons of my own. I know you've been increasingly discontented with life here and I'm the one that gave you this life. I feel guilt for taking away your chances at the white picket fence, in order to further the organization. I wanted to see you happy and carefree, the Maeve I have loved since we were children. I needed that Maeve for the last days of my life. I've had it, and for that I owe Aaron more than I can ever repay him.”

  “And the baby? Is that in your plan for me?”

  “A baby! A true blessing from our mother earth.” Nathalia had always seen herself with Maeve, together as a couple, raising a daughter. She was glad she, at least, knew that Maeve would have someone to love. “You're going to make a great mother, Maeve.”

  “I'm not pregnant and I don't plan to be.”

  Nathalia would sacrifice herself to save Maeve or her child and keep mother and daughter within folds of the sisterhood. How she was to die, she still did not know, but the why was becoming clearer. Now that she thought about it, there was some mention of birth or rebirth in every prophesy of her death. Nathalia's death and Maeve's baby's birth were linked. There was no doubt about it.

  Chapter 9

  “Gone. What do you mean 'he's gone'? He was just admitted last night. When I left him this morning, he looked like a package of ground meat and now you tell me he's gone?”

  The nurse had not expected this kind of response. “I'm sorry. We just had a shift change. I only know that he checked out around lunchtime. Hold on, let me check the records.”

  She went over to a massive file cabinet that took up most of the room in the nurses station, rummaged around, and came back with a manila folder with 'Wright, Aaron' printed in bright blue letters on its tab. “Yes, ma'am. Your boyfriend checked himself out. He left this note for 'my fiancée', Maeve Lovejoy'.” The nurse handed her an envelope and continued reading from the chart. “The nurse on duty noted that he looked 'much better than he had last night'. It must have looked worse than it really was. You know the human body really is amazing, sometimes it's downright miraculous how we can keep going.”

  Maeve barely heard a word after the nurse handed her the envelope. She tore open the end, accidentally tearing off one end of the note inside, in her rush to read it.

  I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I'm going to see my mom. Sorry I didn't call, but something happened to my cell (I think you might still have it), and without it I don't have your number.

  I really need to see you tonight. Meet me at Heaven.

  Aaron

  ***

  Heaven was not nearly as crowded as Maeve would have expected on a Saturday night. She guessed everyone had worn themselves out shopping and had plans for more spending tomorrow. Unlike the club, the mall this afternoon had been jam-packed, but in both places Maeve had a weird feeling that she was being watched.

  She ignored the sensation as she worked her small magic for the few devoted ravers out on the dance floor. Tonight was not her usual night, but each of these lonely souls had come here for a reason, with some need to be met. It was a small thing to hand them each to the person who could best meet that need. She would willingly do this part of her job for the rest of her life.

  When she was done, only she and Izzy were left unmatched on the dance floor. Of all the people here, she knew he could give her what she needed right now. He'd always been easy and fun to be with and that was exactly right for Maeve right
now. Uncomplicated; without the muddiness of emotion and obligations.

  Israel gestured to JD, who was spinning, and the music changed. Maeve saw Jolie for the first time that night. She was up in the booth with her mate. She waived at Maeve and then whispered something to JD. He nodded and got out a very special vinyl, spinning it in his hands on the way to the turntables.

  Jolie blew a kiss to Maeve as the lyrics started, You and me baby ain't nothing but mammals, so let's do it like the do on the discovery channel. Izzy danced around like a fool, air humping the world and making Maeve laugh. It was their little joke. Funny, but nothing could take Maeve's mind off of the conversation she was going to have with Aaron.

  She was getting hot and signaled for an unscheduled cool blast. The scaffolding moved into place quickly at her request. The canisters blasted and the floor was blanketed in white. Maeve wished she could float there in the numb cold, waiting for all of this trouble to blow over.

  Somebody grabbed her. Her wrists was tightly clamped by a strong hand and she was tugged to the right. She was blind in the fog, and the music was so loud, no one could hear her call out. She tripped and somebody caught her and lifted her up. The hand restraining her arm let go.

  She tucked her face into the familiar shoulder. Aaron's sideburns scratched at her cheek as he carried her out onto the private patio.

  “Did you know him? He didn't even slow down when you fell.” He set her up on the thin outdoor bar and examined her twisted ankle.

  “I didn't even see him. He grabbed my hand in the fog and yanked me off the dance floor.” She rotated her foot as he indicated she should.

  “I was just standing there waiting for the fog to break up and then you come stumbling out of the mist and practically fall into my arms, like he threw you there.”

  Maeve caught a glimpse of the guardian in the window behind Aaron's back. So maybe she WAS thrown into Aaron's arms. She would have to have a talk with the guardian. An assignment was one thing, physically forcing her was quite another. The guardian looked out of place in jeans and a black tee-shirt, like some sort of narc. As odd as it was to see a man in a cloak, his normal attire fit him better.

  “Wait, you shouldn't be catching anybody. Don't you have some broken ribs?” She looked at his face closely. The bruises on his face were gone and the lacerations and cuts were just pale pink lines. She yanked up his shirt to examine the side she knew was smashed last night. There was only the faint yellow of a month old bruise, not the tender purple that she expected.

  Aaron tugged his shirt down to protect against the cold. “The doctors thought I did, but this morning I woke up feeling fine. The nurse said maybe my X rays and chart got mixed up with someone else's. Don't worry about me; I guess it wasn't as bad as it looked.”

  Maeve knew better; she had seen him get stomped on. She had seen his bloodied face where the college rings on meaty hands had split his skin with blows. “It wasn't a mix up; it was a miracle.” A recognizable miracle that she intended to thank Camilla for. Camilla hardly ever left the capacitors storage room anymore.

  “The real miracle's my mom. Maeve, I went to see her today and she was sitting up in her chair feeding herself! She was making a mess, but a lot of it was getting to her mouth. I know it doesn't sound like much, but that's amazing progress when she hasn't made any in over a year.

  “Then she looked at me and said my name. I couldn't believe it. She hasn't spoken a word in three years. I stood there like an idiot for who knows how long before I even noticed the doctor standing in the corner.

  “He introduced himself, and asked me how I was feeling. I can't remember his name for the life of me. He told me that I had you and the Daughters of Women to thank for this. He said you hired him to heal my mother. He said that she just needed a little more time than I did but, like me, would make a full recovery. A full recovery?!

  “He said he'd given her something to live for, to look forward to. Getting her life back, not being a vegetable's what it was. Living on her own's something to look forward to.

  “Then she pointed to an old picture on her chest of drawers and said, 'baby'. It was crazy. She hasn't said a word in YEARS, and now two in 10 minutes. Then she said it again, 'baby' and pointed at me and said 'Aaron'. I laughed and said that 'yes, that is baby Aaron'. She looked a little confused at my answer, but happy at my response.

  “I spent the whole day with her. The doctor did too, like he didn't have another thing to do. He just stood near her all day. He touched her head a couple of times but that was it. He told me several times that I had you to thank for this, and that's what I intend to do.”

  He reached up and put his palm on her cheek, grazing her lips with his thumb. His other hand slid up her long skirt and tickled the back on her leg behind the knee. “Maeve, I've never met anyone like you. You've changed my life forever. I don't know how to thank you for what...”

  “Don't. I don't deserve your thanks. The daughters didn't heal you and your mother out of the goodness of their hearts. They...we want something in return.”

  “Whatever it is, I'll do it, give it, be it.”

  “You shouldn't have vowed so quickly. You haven't heard what it is yet.” How to even start this, she didn't know. “You've changed me forever too, Aaron. What the sisterhood took from me, you gave back.” For this small happy time in her life she owed Aaron something, but it couldn't be the something he wanted. “Our relationship, whatever it was, is over. I've gotta matchmake for you. It's no longer a choice for me.”

  Aaron stood stunned. He should have known that the cost of such miracles would be high. He should have known that they would want Maeve back for themselves. “And if I refuse?”

  “Then I won't be allowed to see you anymore anyway. They'll assign some other girl to do it. Some girl who you don't know is a sorceress, who can cast the spell without you realizing it. Either way, we have a day or two left together, that's it.”

  “But I don't want to.” Aaron sounded a little like a stubborn child not getting his way. Maeve could hardly blame him. She didn't want to either.

  She hopped down off of the bar and stood beside him. She took his hand in hers, “It's not good that man should be alone. You need a partner, a help mate, better than what I could be.”

  She could see the determination on his face. “You told me on our first date, that you wanted to see what it felt like to be with a beautiful woman who wanted to be with you too. I can give you that. You deserve it. The connection you'll feel with your mate is unimaginable. It's so beyond what I can personally be for you.”

  His jaw was set. She could see that another tactic was needed. “The way I see it, you have two choices here. Either we can enjoy a night of love, sex and magic together. Or,” She spun him around to face the window and the guardian staring out at them, “I can walk back inside and go home with my body guard, who's watching carefully to report our decision to my superiors, never to see you again.”

  When he turned back to her, he could see she was shaken. He took her in his arms, ever conscious of the eyes on them. He kissed the top of her head, “What do you want? I'll do whatever you say, Maeve.”

  “I say one night together's better than no night. I've never wanted anything as much as I want to be with you. I'm not sure I can continue my life without even one memory of us tangled together.”

  “Then that's what we'll do. We'll fit as much love as possible into our night together. But,” He hesitated to ask but, “I need some rest. I haven't had much sleep and I am not exactly ready to bring my A game. There are some things I'd like to do. Is there anyway they'd let us have until tomorrow night?”

  Maeve signed her inquiry to the guardian. He bowed and then disappeared back into the crowd. They had their answer.

  “Okay?”

  Maeve nodded. She needed some rest too. She was starting to feel old. Maybe she would join the capacitor ranks soon; maybe the need for love was what always drove matchmakers to the inner circle faster than other
gadishtu.

  “Great. I'll pick you up at 7 for a proper date and then we can spend the night at my house.”

  “Oh, wait, I forgot. Tonight's the winter solstice celebration. We have a big ceremony that I really can't miss.” She paused to think about it. Outsiders were allowed; many women brought their families and friends. The mothers’ celebration was always a lot of fun. Why shouldn't Aaron be allowed? If he was going to be part of them, then he needed to see the Sisterhood in a more positive light. “Would you like to come as my escort? I'd really love for you to be there with me.”

  “Of course. Do I need to do or bring anything?”

  Maeve shook her head no. “The children will work all day tomorrow to get ready. Just dress warmly since most of the party happens outside.”

  They were in the darkest corner of the private patio. The cold had driven everyone else inside, even smokers were finishing their cigarettes fast these days. They were all alone.

  He kissed her tenderly, just the way she wanted. His lips barely parted to moisten hers. He drew in her sweet breath and claimed it as his own. He would never forget how she smelled and tasted like vanilla cake, so enticing, so irresistible. “It's after midnight, so technically, today's my birthday.”

  “Really? So close to mine? You should have told me.”

  “You didn't warn me that yours was the 19th. But I'll tell you what I want.”

  Maeve saw the glistening of the tiny pocketknife in the moonlight. She made a small gasp, and he put his finger over her lips, “Shhh...”

  Her eyes got wide as he lowered it down and lifted her skirt with it. She went stiff as she felt its cold metal against her inner thigh. Aaron brushed her most sensitive part with his knuckles and then expertly inserted the knife blade between her and her panties. With one swift movement he sliced through the crotch of those panties, completely exposing her to his exploits.