"Since your spirit can't be in the same time twice?" I asked.
Nico nodded. "Hopefully, presuming this future progeny is as trustworthy as Marie has suggested, I'll come back shortly after. Maybe this version of me, matured by another couple of centuries, will see you again, too."
I gave Nico a hug. "Thanks for everything."
Nico hugged me back. Then he grunted. "One more thing. I have all the time in the world. I might do a little research to see what I can learn about how you could stop Marinette. If I find anything, I'll leave it with Ramon or whoever my future progeny might be. Be sure to check in when you get back."
"Thank you, Nico. I really appreciate it."
Nico nodded. "Of course, Joni. Give 'em hell, won't you?"
I chuckled. "I'll do what I can."
Nico nodded. "I'll step out while you do this. Anyone in here sort of goes along for the ride."
I nodded. "See you in another lifetime."
Nico smiled as he walked out the door. "It will be nice to see a familiar face from my past. One that isn't a vampire, I mean."
I stood there at the pharmacy counter, staring at the skull. A part of me wondered whose head it was. Someone's skull got co-opted into some crazy time-travel magic at some point.
I might be the only one who thinks this way. But when I see the traveling mummy exhibits at the museums, a part of me can't help but think about who the person must've been. What would he think if he realized his body would be paraded around in a plexiglass case centuries later? This skull once belonged to someone's child. Perhaps someone's father or mother. A person with desires, dreams, passions...
Now, sitting behind Marie's counter, with a charcoal line drawn across his cranium... When I got back, I'd have to ask Marie who he was. It seemed like, whoever the skull once belonged to, should at least be acknowledged. Honored, even.
I grabbed the skull with one hand and started tracing my finger along the line Marie had prepared for me.
Again, as I moved my finger slowly, different music from different eras started to play—a little jazz. I moved my finger a little further—Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees. At least the message was apropos. I continued moving my finger along the spiral. I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) by Meatloaf. I bit my lip. Still didn't know what it was that wouldn't do for love. Clearly, it wasn't that. A little further now. The real Slim Shady came back, back again. Then I reached the end of the spiral.
When I removed my finger from the skull, the room around me changed. I was back in the headshop. But it was dark. It was the middle of the night.
"Marie?" I asked, peering through the beaded curtain.
No answer.
I looked all around, but no one was there. Technically, it wasn't like that line on the skull was exact. And there was no guarantee I'd lifted my finger at precisely the proper moment.
I'd assumed Marie lived in the back room of her headshop. Maybe she did. Maybe she didn't. But she wasn't there at the time.
The door to the headshop was locked. I could unlock it and let myself out, but I didn't think I'd be able to lock up again without the key.
Usually, you know, because the world's fate was potentially at stake, I wouldn't worry about it. I mean, how much could the wares of a headshop be worth? But with a skull, here, that could take people through time...
I went back to grab the skull. As I stepped through the door, the skull was ripped out of my hand, falling on the floor.
I cocked my head. That wasn't a case of butterfingers. It felt like the second I hit the threshold of the door, the skull just couldn't go through.
I tried again—the same result.
I shrugged, picked up the skull, and put it back where Marie kept it under the counter. I supposed if anyone broke in, the worst they'd take would be some hemp lotion, glass pipes, and various oils and incense sticks.
I wished I'd had a phone. Hadn't had one since I went to Fomoria. It would have been handy to check the time. Based on the streets, though, I guessed it was later than the bars were open. Probably three or four in the morning, give or take an hour on either side of that span.
Nico said he'd see if he could figure out anything that might help. He'd leave a note with either Ramon or his yet-to-be-turned progeny.
Since it was the middle of the night, the vampires would surely be awake. I wasn't sure if they'd be a Casa Do Diablo, but the old mansion was the first place to check. Beyond that, I didn't have the first clue how to find a vampire who was out and about. I suppose vampires are magical, in a sense. But they don't have any actual magic that I can siphon. That meant I couldn't sense where they might be.
Thankfully, when I knocked on the door, what looked like a young female vampire-roughly my age by appearance, though likely quite a bit older in vampire years.
"Who are you?" the girl asked.
"Name's Joni," I said. "I'm a friend of Nico's."
"Hey Ramon," the vampire shouted. "I think that mermaid Nico said might stop by is here."
A blur materialized behind the female vampire. Ramon stood there, his hands on his cheeks. "Well, you don't look a day older than I do after so much time, mademoiselle."
"So it's her?" the female asked.
"Oui, ma chérie."
"The name's Mercy. Nico said you might show up. We just expected you about two years earlier."
I cocked my head. "Two years earlier?"
Mercy shrugged. "He may have been mistaken. Not like he's around right now to ask."
"He said you might have something for me. If he discovered anything that might help, I mean."
Mercy narrowed her eyes and looked at me carefully. "He left you something."
"Thanks," I said.
"I'll go get it," Mercy said. Then, as she was starting to walk away, she glanced back at me. "You can come inside if you'd like. I won't bite. Unless you want me to."
"Thank you," I said, stepping through the door and closing it behind me.
Ramon looked at me intently.
"Stay away from the mermaid, Ramon," Mercy said. "Exercise a little restraint for once."
Ramon nodded and walked away. Just like that. I wasn't sure what it was, but this vampire had an air of authority about her. She was undoubtedly younger than Ramon, but the way he nodded and quickly complied with her command suggested she was the one Nico had left in charge while he slumbered.
Mercy disappeared in one of her back rooms and returned about a minute later, holding a small, wooden box in her hands.
"Thank you," I said, taking the box.
Mercy looked at me curiously. "I believe there's a note inside to explain. Would you believe it took Nico nearly thirty years to figure this out?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Just open the box."
I gasped as I looked inside. Four hooves. Not large. Two pieces of paper. I pulled out one—an odd heart-shaped drawing. Didn't mean anything to me, so I grabbed the second piece of paper—a letter from Nico.
Joni,
It took me a while to sort this out. But something about Marinette animating the dead never sat well with me. Such is typically the domain of the Ghede. I've included here the very hooves of the black pig that Marinette sacrificed at the start of the Haitian Revolution. What I did not know, at the time, was that the Loa to whom Marinette offered her sacrifice was Erzulie Dantor. A strange choice, it seemed. Erzulie is often hailed as the Loa of love. But Marinette gained her status as a Loa while mounted or possessed by Erzulie. Perhaps you know this Loa. Even in writing, I hesitate to mention it. Still, surely you know already your husband, Agwe, and Erzulie were married before.
I tried, even with Marie's assistance, to call forth your husband from the void. However, he is unwilling to pass through the crossroads at the bidding of any other than you. Nonetheless, if Marinette has used the power of Erzulie to create these sharks. Her sacrifice, made in the manner of the bokors, bound Erzulie to Marinette's will. Even as Marinette, in turn, was previou
sly bound to the bokors who summoned her before you helped Odette free her.
If, however, you summon Erzulie using the remnants of the same offering Marinette once offered, you may be able to bind Marinette, whose abilities are derived from Erzulie. I cannot say what will happen to the sharks if her influence is removed. Still, perhaps if they are left unguided by the compulsion of Marinette, they might be more easily eliminated.
Since I've only ever had the aspect of Baron Samedi, a Ghede Loa, as a vampire, I've only ever been able to control the animated dead if they were raised by a Ghede. My progeny can testify to the same. But this depends on our connection to Samedi. If such a connection were ever severed, I imagine, we'd have no such ability. This is the basis of my theory. If you can sever the connection Marinette has with Erzulie, then you should be able to loosen their power over the undead sharks. Suppose the animated dead are unbound to any other Loa's power. In that case, my progeny may be able to take control of them and eliminate them on my behalf.
I hope you are well. I look forward to meeting again soon.
-Nico.
I took a deep breath and exhaled again before folding up the letter. "Well, this is a lot to swallow."
Mercy nodded. "I have practiced witchcraft before, but when it comes to Voodoo, all I know is my own experience with Baron Samedi, who appeared to me when I was first turned."
I shook my head. "I've encountered him before, too."
"I don't know anything about Erzuli," Mercy said. "But Nico has asked me to assist you in any way I can. Particularly with that last bit in his letter. Taking control of the sharks."
I nodded. "I appreciate that. Not sure what you can do, but thank you for giving me this. I'll have to share this with Agwe once I manage to bring him back from the void."
"I agree. I don't intend to go anywhere. If you need my assistance in any way, I'll be here."
"Thanks, Mercy."
I left Casa do Diablo as confused as ever. The one thing I knew I needed to do, though, was bring Agwe and Ruach back. And if I was going to do that, if I was going to wield Legba's aspect, I needed to return to Fomoria. I needed to embrace my position as queen. If it came down to it, Tahlia could probably get me some psychedelic kelp.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
I dove head-first into the ocean from the docks of the modern-day Port of New Orleans. In mid-air, I drew on the magic from my medallion and shifted into mermaid form.
As a human, I wasn't the most graceful diver in the world. As a mermaid... no splash. Ten out of Ten. Where's my Olympic medal?
I didn't know if Tahlia was watching the map. Probably not. She was more of a free spirit than I ever was. Under normal circumstances, she'd probably see mama queen was gone and throw a massive kingdom-wide party. But Tahlia wasn't irresponsible. A free spirit, sure. Party animal-literally, since she could turn into an eel-definitely. But when push came to shove, when it came to things that really mattered, I trusted her as much as anyone.
She'd see me coming. I expected she'd be waiting for me. I summoned my trident for good measure. Indeed, it was a good idea to have it ready in the open sea, especially with a zombie epidemic infecting the aquatic life.
I saw a massive shadow approaching from a distance as I kicked my tail. Was Tahlia coming with Tohu V'Bohu to meet me?
Then I saw it more clearly. The red eyes. Zombie eyes. Not just one pair or two. The shadowy mass wasn't a wyrm, it was hundreds of zombie sharks, and they were moving in my direction.
"Shit," I said out loud, gripping my trident. If it was one, I'd like my chances. If it was two, it would be risky but not beyond the possibility that I might defeat them. But hundreds? I turned and made my way back to the surface. I wasn't sure if I had enough magic to shift again. Probably once. Certainly not twice.
How much time had passed since I left? The zombie shark problem was bad enough before, but it wasn't anything like this...
Mercy said she expected me two years earlier... two years? Did my finger slip a little when I traced the spiraled line on Marie's skull? Had I went too far forward by accident? But if it had been two years, and the zombie epidemic hadn't spread beyond the ocean, it was either an incredible stroke of luck, or they'd been restrained somehow.
I kicked hard, reaching the surface.
I didn't bother looking back. I didn't have time to waste.
Then, just as I was about to shift into dragon form and flee, something else emerged from the water behind me.
Hold on tight, La Sirene...
It was Nammu! I tucked my tail beneath me and landed on Nammu's back... in what looked like a saddle of some kind? In fact, Nammu's whole body was covered in armor of some kind. It wasn't metal. It looked like some kind of thick hide or material. Sea silk, maybe?
Nammu, I said through our psychic connection, What are you doing out here? Your babies!
Nammu laughed as we crashed back, wyrm headfirst into the water. Seven more wyrms were there waiting, ready to face off against the swarm of sharks.
"Tahlia!" I shouted. She was riding Tohu.
Tahlia turned and grinned. "Nice to have you back, Your Highness."
But these other wyrms... smaller than Tohu or Nammu, but large no less. Nammu's babies? They must've been. Two years...
Titus was on what looked like the largest of the six, and other merlegionnaires were mounted on the others.
"Would you like to resume command?" Tahlia asked.
I shook my head. "You clearly have things handled. You take the lead, for now, Tahlia."
Tahlia smiled and nodded. "Titus, give us a turn and burn. Let the sharks know our queen is back, and we aren't playing around."
Titus laughed. "About time!"
"What's a turn and burn?" I asked Tahlia as Nammu brought me up next to her and Tohu.
Tahlia smiled. "You'll see. We've been waiting for a chance to unleash this one."
Titus charged on his wyrm direct at the crowd of sharks. His wyrm was armored too. All of them were. It was brilliant. The wyrms were vulnerable to zombie bites-but the sharks would have to find a place to bite first.
The pragmatics of it all, how they managed to acquire so much sea-silk, forge the armor, and strap it on the wyrms... I'd have to ask those questions later.
As Titus charged the crowd, the other five youthful wyrms and their legionnaires fanned out into a semi-circle behind him.
As Titus neared the swarm of sharks, he quickly pulled back on the reins he was holding-I doubted they'd given the wyrms a bit and bridle; the reins were probably more for the rider's sake, to prevent falling off. The wyrm he was riding practically folded back on itself, doing a complete one-hundred-eighty-degree turn.
The sharks went into a rage, their red eyes brighter than before. Like birds in a flock or fish in a school, all seemed to follow the lead of one of their number and moved as if of a single mind. The sharks took the bait and followed Titus and his wyrm.
He'd gotten close enough, given them enough of his and his wyrm's scent, that the zombie sharks seemed possessed by instinct. Whatever was controlling them before, overpowered by what I assumed was the sharks' craving for merman and wyrm brains.
"Come with us," Tahlia said.
I nodded as Tahlia and Tohu swam forward, Nammu following close behind and bringing me along for the ride. We took our place at the end of the semi-circle of the other wyrms.
As Titus and his wyrm passed us, and the shark swarm followed him, one by one, the other wyrms released a torrent of what looked flames-but it was black and didn't radiate any heat-showering the sharks in whatever the hell it was as they passed by.
The sharks were oblivious to it. Their bodies started to disintegrate as the swarm passed through one wyrm's "breath" into the next.
"Holy crap!" I exclaimed.
"It's highly acidic," Tahlia said. "The new babies all seem to be able to do it."
"Then what are we doing here at the end of the row?" I asked.
As one shark, almost entirely
disintegrated, made its way through the last blast of wyrm acid, Tohu took a giant bite, smashing the shark's head.
Tahlia giggled. "Just here to clean up the leftovers."
I couldn't believe all the sharks were falling for it. But these weren't rational creatures. Even if they were being manipulated by a bokor, probably Odette and Nephtalie, certain instincts remained irresistible. Tahlia, and the wyrms, had figured out how to use that to their advantage.
Once the last shark was dealt with, Tahlia smiled at me. "Nice to have you back, Joni."
I nodded. "I didn't realize so much time had passed."
Tahlia nodded. "Let's head back to Fomoria. We have a lot of catching up to do."
Chapter Thirty-Nine
"Sea silk armor?" I asked. "Brilliant. It actually stops the shark bites?"
Tahlia nodded. "Sorry to say, most of the regalia you'd had commissioned was re-purposed."
I laughed. "No worries. I didn't care much about that stuff anyway."
Tahlia nodded as we both settled into my old chambers. She'd seemingly made herself at home there. "We can defend Fomoria. We've had a lot of luck preventing the sharks from getting too close to shore. But they're reproducing faster than we can take them out."
I nodded. "Two years... I can't believe you've held them off for two years. And Nammu's babies..."
Tahlia shrugged. "They grow quick, those Wyrm babies. You should have seen them when they hatched. No bigger than me, in eel form. We formed a pretty tight bond."
I shook my head. "I don't know how you did it, Tahlia. I don't know if I'd been here if I stayed here if I could have ruled as well as you have."
Tahlia pressed her lips together. "I did what I had to do, Joni. But this is your job. I'm glad you're back. And I'll help you transition back into power. But in all honesty, all I've managed to do is buy some time. We didn't know for sure if you'd ever come back. Please tell me you have some answers."
I nodded. "I'm not so sure if I have a clear solution yet. But I've discovered a lot. I'll fill you in as soon as I can, but first, I need to try and bring Agwe and Ruach back from the void."
Wyrmrider Vengeance: An Underwater Magic Urban Fantasy (The Fomorian Wyrmriders Book 2) Page 20
