Fugue Macabre: Bone Dance

by C. J. Parker

  Someone or something flew to her side. Bobbie turned to attack.

  Griffon. Kangee.

  Bobbie flew closer, touching, needing his warmth. “I can’t stand it, Kangee. I can’t do this. It’s killing me!”

  “It’s nearly over.” He drew her into his arms. “We only have to care for our dead.”

  They drifted back to earth, to reality.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Bobbie woke to the sounds of chain saws, and a village full of activity. The sun was high in the sky, bringing the temperature up with it. The humidity gave a crab boil feel to the air, repressive, heavy, mournful. Everything flooded back in a rush of emotion. She sat up looking around her. Someone, probably Kangee, had laid her on a stack of quilts on the concrete slab under her house. A damp pillow lay crushed from a fitful sleep at one edge of the makeshift bed.

  The fire pit in the middle of the compound, filled with debris and bodies, blazed. The rank odor of human flesh burning made her stomach lurch. The Outsiders were being disposed of in the fire pit, piled high with burning timbers. No grave for them. No ceremony. They would be nothing more than ash to be discarded into the Gulf or carried away by the winds.

  Tabatha plopped down beside her. “You finally woke up? Good timing.” She bumped her shoulder to shoulder. “Most of the work is done.”

  Bobbie smiled, but didn’t feel any joy in it. She glanced toward the ash pit and grimaced. A stack of bodies waited. Waiting for their ceremony, for her. “Guess I should get this over with. The sooner it’s done, the sooner everyone can move on.”

  “Um,” Tabatha hummed. “They’re not quite ready for you yet.”

  “Why? What’s left to do?” She took in the stacked herbs by the bodies. All were there. All she could see missing was her.

  “Well.” Tabatha looked away and squirmed on the quilt.

  “Just say it, Tab.” Bobbie wasn’t ready for more problems, her patience gone and she couldn’t take in Tabatha’s reluctance. “What’s wrong?”

  “We can’t find Omeda’s head.”

  “What?” Bobbie snorted then burst into hysterical laughter. “Oh, God. Why am I laughing? That’s terrible. Omeda can’t have her ceremony without her head.” Bobbie fell back onto the quilts and laughed until tears streamed down her cheeks. “Omeda must be furious with me. Thank the heavens she can’t talk to you like the Outsiders.” Bobbie closed her eyes and tried to regain her composure.

  “Pardon me, ma’am.”

  Bobbie looked up at the sound of Kangee’s teasing voice. He held out one of Aetheria’s silver platters, on it lie Omeda’s head.

  “I do try to keep my promises.” He bowed low holding out the platter.

  This time the laughter was mixed with tears. Where had she gone wrong with Omeda? She had treasured her friendship, but it had all been a ruse, a ploy to get to Kangee. After setting the tray out of sight, Kangee’s arms circled her, bringing her against his chest. His heartbeat lulled her pulse to a manageable pace. The laughter gone, sobs took their place.

  “She doesn’t deserve your tears, Bobbie. She betrayed us all. She didn’t care what was good for the whole, only what she wanted.” He gently moved her away and looked into her eyes. “So no more tears for her. You must know, because of her betrayal, Omeda can’t be put in the ash pit. She will be destroyed with the Outsiders in the fire pit.”

  Bobbie nodded, not trusting her voice yet. Standing, she reached down, lifted the tray holding the head of her childhood friend and took it to lie beside her body. Her people gathered around her as she glanced from side to side and stepped back. “Where is Cuda?”

  The Spirit Warriors parted giving her a clear view of the coyote sitting on the outskirts of the village. She strolled to him and sat at his side. “You are part of my family now. You may attend the ceremony if you want.”

  He ran his gaze over the village, all eyes turned his way. “They don’t want me here.”

  “They who, Cuda? If I say you are family, they will accept you. They trust my judgment, and I trust you.” She took his hand. “Build yourself a home here. We have room.”

  Tears filled his eyes. “Thank you, Bobbie. But I…I have to finish something first. I have to talk to my Uncle. Find out why. I need to understand.”

  Placing her hand over his heart, she smiled. “I can empathize with you there. I left wanting answers. I found some, but there were more questions.” She nodded. “Now, come to the ceremony. Send off your fellow Warriors with pride. You did right by all of them. Do not turn your back on them now.”

  He stood, hand still clasped in hers. “Then I must go.”

  “Deal.” She hugged him. “But always remember, this is your home as long as you want it to be. You will always be welcomed.”

  ~~~

  Kangee watched Bobbie and Cuda feeling no anger or jealousy. She was his, loved him, his lifemate. She was a queen accepting Cuda into her fold, nothing more. He didn’t have any more hatred or mistrust for the coyote. When Cuda walked toward him, head held high, Kangee was proud of him.

  “Cuda.” Mason stepped back into the clearing drawing everyone’s attention. He didn’t hold a gun in his hands. The villagers grumbled and others shifted ready for attack, the atmosphere grew tense and dangerous. “Come home, boy. All will be forgiven.”

  “Forgiven?” Cuda’s jaw dropped. “I’ve done nothing to rate forgiveness. I fought for my family and friends.”

  “I am your only family, son. Come home.” Mason didn’t walk any closer. A deep frown creased his brow as his eyes met Kangee’s.

  Kangee stepped forward to go to Cuda’s side, but Ashe held him back, and walked toward Mason. “Sagar.”

  “No! No, no, no. I won’t let you take him from me. He’s mine,” Mason shouted. He stumbled back a step.

  The villagers moved away from the ash pit and forward in a rush of movement. Ashe waved the villagers back. He came to stand at Cuda’s side. “Cuda is my son.”

  Kangee’s heart stopped, his face grew numb. His father’s words bumped into each other trying to make sense.

  Cuda? His son?

  Cuda spun around to face Ashe. “You? You are Ashe Ansgar?”

  Ashe put his arm around Cuda’s shoulder and nodded. “I am.”

  Kangee’s chest tightened and unshed tears burned his eyes. Cuda was the lost brother his father had told him about on Spell Weaver’s Mangrove. All this time, the brother he longed to find was right there in front of him, and Kangee had tried to rid the village of the coyote. Shame twisted Kangee’s soul.

  “It’s true.” Rhonda nodded. “I heard Aetheria tell him about Ashe and Katherine. How her brother murdered her because she had the audacity to fall in love with a shifter.” She glanced from Cuda to Kangee. “And how he stole Ashe’s son so he would never see him again. Aetheria told him Ashe searched for Cuda until his own death. She prayed they would find him and bring him home. So, see, Cuda, you were always wanted. Always loved.”

  “None of that is true, Cuda.” Mason spat on the ground. “They lie to you, boy. Don’t trust them.”

  “Uncle Sagar, for the first time in my life I recognize truth. I have something to believe and it’s not your lies. I finally know the difference.” He turned his back on Mason and walked down the path provided by the Spirit Warriors.

  Mason drew his gun from behind his back.

  “Look out!” Kangee lunged toward Cuda

  The shot rang out and flashed toward Ashe. Aetheria materialized out of thin air between him and Mason. The bullet hit her in the chest. Two of the village men grabbed Mason by the arm, preventing him from running away.

  “Aetheria.” Ashe took her into his arms. “Why did you do that? You know it wouldn’t have harmed me.”

  Tabatha rushed forward, but Aetheria pushed her away, smiling and shaking her head. “Do not try to save me. I am ready. Now, Ashe and I can be together forever.”

  “You’re dead!” Cuda shouted and strode toward his uncle the villagers behind
him in his quest.

  “No! Let him go. Mason will have to live with his lies and the deaths he’s caused. He has lost everything. He is alone. Cuda don’t be like him.” Aetheria reached out. Cuda knelt at her side, his hands balled into fists. She grasped his closed hand to her chest. “We never gave up looking for you. We did want you.”

  “I know, Aetheria. At least, I got to know one of my mothers.” He leaned his head on her forehead and cried. “Please don’t leave me. Please. I don’t want to be alone again.”

  “Oh, my son, you are not alone. Your brother…” She drew a ragged breath. “Your brother is right behind you. Reach out and accept him.”

  Kangee knelt beside Aetheria and took her other hand. “I’m here, mother.”

  Cuda jerked away, staring at Kangee. “You? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “He didn’t know.” Ashe swallowed hard enough to be heard. “We never told him. We spent so much of our time looking for you that we lost the time we could have had together. Aetheria didn’t want that for Kangee.”

  “I was wrong to do that, Cuda. Wrong for both of you. Say you forgive me,” Aetheria pleaded.

  Cuda and took her hand in his again. “There is nothing to forgive. You were protecting your son.”

  “There is more.” Aetheria coughed, the sound wet and deep. Holding the hands of both men, she brought them together in a clasp. “You must forgive.”

  Cuda’s eyes widened with sorrow.

  Kangee’s filled with tears as he dropped his brother’s hand.

  The silence stretched out for what felt like an eternity. Cuda took Kangee’s hand in his again. “Forgiveness is needed on both sides. You have mine.”

  “Any you have mine.” Kangee drew his brother into his arms. “I am proud to call you brother, Cuda.”

  Blood frothed on Aetheria’s lips. “Robertina.”

  Kangee moved aside to make room for his wife. Bobbie sobbed as she knelt beside Aetheria. “I’m here.”

  “Oh, child. I tried to do right by you.” Aetheria placed her trembling hand against Bobbie’s wet cheek.

  Bobbie brought the old woman’s hand to her lips and kissed her fingers. “You’re going to be all right. Tabatha is going to help you.”

  “No. I’m tired, Robertina. I have spent too much time away from the man I love.” Aetheria turned her gaze toward Ashe. “My time here has passed. I’ve done what I was sent here to do. It is your time now.”

  Aetheria’s hand glowed, spreading a yellow light over Bobbie’s. “The ring of the Sentinel, go to your master. I am done.” Aetheria smiled as Bertha approached out of the crowd. “Bertha, you watch over our babies, you understand me? Or I’m coming back to haunt you.”

  “I’ll watch over them.” Bertha smiled. “But I’ll keep the tea kettle on, too, and be glad of the company.”

  Aetheria gazed lovingly at Bobbie, then at Lexie who was weeping in Stephen’s arms. With a satisfied nod, she sighed. “I am done.”

  Kangee looked at Bobbie’s hand and realized the ring his mother had worn as long as he could remember, was now on Bobbie’s finger. The power had been passed on.

  “She is gone.” Ashe knelt beside Aetheria and stared up at this son. “Say your goodbyes, Kangee. It is time I take her home.”

  Everything Kangee had known as home and family was wrapped up in that frail body. Aetheria was his mother, his teacher, an essential part of his soul. And now she was gone. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Goodbye, mother. I’ll miss you.”

  “This is her home.” Bobbie sobbed into the palms of her hands. “I need her. We all need her. She is the mother, the voice of reason.”

  “Now, you must be.” Ashe placed his hand on her shoulder. Her brother, Elsu, drew her to him. Her father accepted them both into his arms.

  “This burden has been passed to you.” Elsu glanced to Tabatha and Rhonda. “Each of you will take on this burden in time. Prepare yourself. This is not over. This war will continue. The Guardians won’t give up until anyone they deem different is dead. And Mason won’t give up Cuda so easily.”

  Elsu shifted his attention to Cuda. “With your forgiveness of your brother’s sin, the curse has been lifted. Aetheria was wrong in believing it would end our kind. Only the suffering of shifting will vanish, and our children will no longer die so easily.” He drew Cuda into an embrace. “If you had taken revenge, the shifters would have died away to lore. You chose well, my friend, my brother.”

  Kangee drew his mother from his father’s arms and whispered in her ear. “We will be together again. Be happy.”

  He turned to the villagers who had gathered in a mourners’ circle, and his voice rang out. “From this day forward, I will be known as Kangee Ansgar, son of the mighty Ashe Ansgar, and brother to Cuda Ansgar.”

  He glanced to his side and nodded, allowing Cuda to embrace Aetheria and whisper his own parting words. When Cuda stepped away, Ashe lifted her into his arms and stepped into the pit. A funnel of ash surrounded them then lowered. When it cleared, Ashe placed Aetheria on her feet.

  Happiness like Kangee had never known filled his spirit. Aetheria was young, beautiful, and alive with her joy. She and Ashe embraced and slowly descended out of their view. One by one, the other Spirit Warriors stepped into the pit and descended.

  Once they were gone, the bodies of those killed in the battle were placed on the mound and the ceremony began.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  The ceremony finished, every eye settled on Mason. A circle of men surrounded him, blocking his escape. Bobbie waved them away and faced the trembling man. “How many men have you sent to prison for doing exactly what you have done here today?”

  Mason looked frantically from man to man. “I didn’t mean to shoot Aetheria.”

  “Be still, Mason! Listen to what I say. This is the luckiest day of your life.” Bobbie swallowed back the bitter words she wanted to shout at the man. She had never felt so much hate in her life. Never had she willed a man to die a horrible death, but she wished it on this one. “Aetheria’s last request was for us to let you go, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

  The tension in his body released, nearly collapsing his frame in on itself. “Thank you, thank you.”

  “Shut up!” Bobbie shouted. “What I’m about to say is the secret to your living a long life.” She paused, hopping it sunk in. “If I see you again, you die. If you hurt any of my people, you die. If you come near Cuda or mess with whatever life he chooses, you die. If I find out you are this so-called leader of the Guardians, you die. Get it?”

  He nodded.

  “You may speak. But make it short, or I might change my mind.”

  Mason wiped sweat off his face. “Cuda is my nephew, how can you say I can’t see him anymore? He is my only family.”

  “And whose fault is that? You murdered his mother and his father. Now you’ve killed the woman who searched for your sister’s son, so she and Ashe could raise him the way he should have been.” Bobbie grabbed him by the front of his shirt and brought him so close she could have ended it then and there. “You have no family, Sagar Mason. You only have enemies. And you will live the rest of your life looking over your shoulder, waiting for one of them to exact revenge. Pray that it isn’t me.” She shoved him away and turned her back on him. “We’re going into the Council House, Mason. When we come out, you’d best be gone.” She glanced to her right at the biggest of the village men. “Anderson, make sure he leaves these swamps. Make sure he gets into his car and drives away.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Anderson nodded and strode up to Mason and shoved him into the woodland. “You heard the queen. Beat it.”

  She turned to the villagers. “I need to tell you…”

  Frank Longley stepped forward. “Kangee told us everything while you slept.” He lowered his head. “We can only beg your forgiveness for letting our guard down and getting trapped by those men. We failed you.”

  “No one failed here. A new time has begun
and much is to come. I am proud of all of you. You are my people. My family.”

  Bobbie opened all the windows, swung the door open and stepped into the Council House. “My friends and I are coming in. They are my guests and are welcome.” A gust of wind blew in and surrounded her then calmed. She strolled down the aisle between the rows of benches, and turned to face her friends. “Come in and sit. We have to talk.”

  “We need to leave for home.” Hylton stood in the doorway. “I’ll leave you to talk to your people, Bobbie.”

  “Come in, Hylton, and bring your cats. You are a part of us, now.” Bobbie didn’t think what she had to say would make too many of Hylton’s crew happy, but it had to be said. “There are changes to be made.”

  “Changes?” He waved his men in and gestured toward the back rows of seats.

  Bobbie glanced at the stage and smiled at Bertha, already in position. Bobbie claimed her throne. “Lexie, Stephen, I believe these new chairs are yours.” She patted the chair to her right.

  “Are you sure?” Stephen glanced from Bobbie to Lexie.

  “If she said it, then it’s true.” Lexie leapt onto the platform, took her place next to Bobbie and reached for his hand. “Come on, Stephen.”

  Bobbie, Troy and Tabatha sat in theirs. Derek glanced around but found only Aetheria’s empty chair. “Where’s mine?”

  Troy touched the arm of the empty throne. “You have proven your worthiness to be one of the Protectors.”

  With a stunned frown marring his forehead, Derek looked from the chair to Bobbie and shook his head.

  Bobbie chuckled. “Don’t worry, Derek. No more ceremonies. No more pain.”

  “I’m not concerned about any of that, Bobbie. That’s Aetheria’s chair. I’m not worthy of that honor.”

  Her smile widened. “You’ve walked through Hell and the valley of death. You deserve it. Sit.”

  The Shades of Spirit Warriors shimmered and formed, surrounding the inside walls. “Hylton?’