by Brey Willows
Tis took Kera’s hand in hers. “I was there, not long after it happened. Because of the nature of it, and how many people were involved, the Loas asked for help. My sisters and I came to deal with the gang members who had killed so many innocent people.”
“YES!” Kera punched the air. “They didn’t get away with it?”
Tis shook her head, looking at Kera thoughtfully. “They lived, most of them. But life was far from pleasant.” She slipped her hand out of Kera’s. “But what I do, the justice I have to serve, is never something I take lightly. Making sure people are held responsible for their actions and stopping those who take other’s lives for granted is necessary. But it also comes with terrible responsibility.”
“Power, responsibility, seriousness, punctuality, wearing black, solemnity. I get it. It still makes me happy. I’ll never be sad when murdering bastards get what they deserve.”
Tis frowned and stared at the seat back in front of her, clearly mulling that over. The sound of the landing gear coming down punctuated the tension between them. Kera looked over her seat at her stoic-faced bodyguards. “Isn’t this going to be fun?”
Chapter Sixteen
Tis loved the heat of the Caribbean. It was so fantastically intense, so much like the sun had been in ancient Greece. Of course, the earth was warmer overall now, but even so, it was a lovely reminder. They grabbed their bags off the carousel, and Tis rolled her eyes at Kera’s attempts to get her bodyguards to lug the baggage out to the car. They were surprisingly good at ignoring her completely, and Tis found Kera’s frustration at failing to get a rise out of them more and more amusing. Tis went outside for air, figuring they’d catch up with her. The airport doors swished open, and Tis began to laugh.
“Papa Ghede! What on earth are you doing here?” She returned his massive hug, laughing as he snuggled his face between her breasts. She’d forgotten how short he was.
“Looking for you, of course. Old white beard rang to say you were coming and to make sure you had whatever you needed. Ain’t no little Black god ever gonna say no to a White god with lightning in his hands, eh?” His genuine smile belied the sting of his words. His ever present cigarette never left his lips, and his black top hat sat slightly askew, making him look more like a caricature from a movie than one of the older gods.
He turned to Kera who came out telling some bawdy joke to her bodyguards, who didn’t look amused. “And I’m here because of your mama, girlie. She was a fine woman, a fine priestess, and she had the finest ass ever slapped on a human. I’m here to help her cross.”
Kera stared at him, looking completely bemused. “Did you just talk about my mother’s butt? Who are you?” She looked at Tis, who still stood with her arm around him. “And how do you know one another?”
He laughed and flicked his cigarette to the curb as he motioned them into the large SUV. Tis took note of the bulletproof glass and was glad he was looking out for their safety. Gods weren’t always cognizant of how fragile human bodies really were. But perhaps the loa, known for “mounting,” or inhabiting their followers, were more aware than the gods who only saw them from the outside. She thought about Kera’s reaction on the plane when she thought she’d seen someone she’d known. Her fear had called to Tis like a bullhorn, and although Tis had mentally searched the plane for anything dangerous, nothing—and no one—had felt out of place. She was grateful there’d be more of the supernatural sort around if anything went bad.
He got in the driver’s side and turned to Kera, who was sitting in the passenger seat. He seemed to grow darker, his clothes blacker, and his eyes became endless pools of night. The scent of summer apples filled the car. “I’m Papa Ghede, child. You’ve heard your mother talk to me enough, haven’t you? I’m the guardian of the gates, and I’m going to make sure your mama gets to the good side she deserves to be on.” The darkness faded, he returned to his normal state, and he looked over his shoulder at Tis in the backseat. He gave a loud laugh and slapped the steering wheel. “And as for me and your lady in white, well, that’s a tale best told with food and drink.”
“So, what? You’re god’s taxi service?” One of Kera’s bodyguards snickered, and she spun around to look at her. “You find that funny, but not my jokes? I don’t get you at all. I’m going to tell Petra I need shadows with a better sense of humor.” She turned back to Papa Ghede. “Sorry, go on. You were explaining why a loa picked us up from the airport instead of the cute redhead chauffeur I asked for.”
He inclined his head, another cigarette already perched between his lips. “This is the first time I’ve been called, actually.” He glanced at Tis in the rearview mirror, and she saw the seriousness in his eyes, although he was smiling for everyone else. “You see, it’s not often we get visits from the folks at Afterlife these days, so it seemed like a good idea to make sure you were squared away. And that cute girl moved to the States. Now they’ve got a man who barely fits behind the wheel and smells of old fish every day. Be glad you got me, girlie.”
“Hey, no complaints here. A loa picking me up from the airport means I really must have come up in the world. I mean, Dad’s going to be so proud.” She pretended to wipe away a tear, and Tis leaned forward to flick the back of her neck.
“I believe ‘thank you’ is the customary response to someone picking you up at the airport.”
Kera rubbed the back of her neck and mumbled, “I would have been more thankful if it had been the redhead.”
They rode in silence for a few minutes, with Papa Ghede humming cheerfully as he smoked. Tis had been hoping to make her phone calls on the way to the restaurant, but packed in as she was, there was no way. She closed her eyes and thought of her sisters, and was confused when she felt them at a massive gathering of humans, with intense conflict and aggression surrounding them. She certainly wasn’t worried about their safety, but she couldn’t get a sense of what was going on. She let go of the mental link, not wanting to distract them. She’d call the office when they were stationary again.
Suddenly, Kera said, “Hey, why don’t you guys stay at Afterlife HQ? I mean, that’s where all the other bigwig magic slingers live, right? Did you kill someone’s pet chicken?”
“We’re vegetarians now. Didn’t anyone tell you?” He laughed. “As if. Can you imagine feeding the loas broccoli? We’d kill you for trying. Zed offered us a place at Afterlife, and we considered it, long and hard. But we don’t have followers all over the place like the other gods do. Our home is here, and sometimes we head to Louisiana for a bit of fun, when they call us. There wasn’t anything for us in California except some nice tail, and even then, most of them are too skinny for my liking.”
Kera shifted around to look at Tis. “Are all gods this crude? Because, really, I would like them a hell of a lot more if they’re all like this.”
He nodded sagely.
Tis grinned. “Some are, but there’s no one quite like Papa Ghede. His interest in sex is unparalleled, as far as I’m aware. Even Aphrodite isn’t quite so…”
“Ready to go and willing to get.” He laughed.
Tis was glad to see Kera laugh with him. She knew how Kera felt about the gods, immortals, and anything, generally, that didn’t die. Fortunately, Papa Ghede seemed to be on her wavelength.
They pulled up outside a small restaurant with a bright green awning and equally bright tables beneath its shade. “Figured you’d want to see your dad first, eh?”
Kera nodded and started to get out, but stopped when he dropped the seat back and pulled his top hat over his eyes. “Not coming? What, my father isn’t sexy enough for you?”
“Nope. No ass on that man at all.” He peeked at her from under his hat. “Not to mention, he’s not a big fan of ours, eh. Never was.” He closed his eyes again. “I’ll be here when your fine asses want to head to the house. Don’t you worry.”
Tis took Kera’s hand in her own as they headed toward the front door. “You okay?”
Kera took a deep breath and looked at he
r seriously. “I knew this was going to be strange, that it would feel surreal without my mom here. But we just got picked up by the god my mom used to pray to all the time, as though that’s the most natural thing in the world. I’ve got the most beautiful woman in the world at my side, and she can explode people’s heads when she gets pissed off. Surreal isn’t really covering it at this point.” She looked at the restaurant. “And I haven’t seen my dad in ages. What do I say?”
Tis squeezed her hand and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Don’t overthink it. Start with a hug and go from there.” Tis knew she was the last person to give family advice. Aside from her sisters, she didn’t have the kind of family Kera was used to. But it still sounded good.
“Didn’t you say your father ate his kids, usually?”
Tis shrugged. “We all have our family issues.”
“Well, I guess my reunion wouldn’t be anywhere near as uncomfortable as yours. Let’s get inside.”
They entered, and Tis loved the bright décor with typically Mexican murals everywhere. The smell of green chilies and paprika wafted out of the kitchen, and she was instantly salivating.
“Dad?” Kera called. She turned to her bodyguards. “Shoo, little barnacles. I don’t need my dad thinking I’ve joined the mafia. Or a lesbian shot-putter squad.”
They winced almost at the same time, though Tis saw one crack a smile. They took seats near the door, looking as inconspicuous in their all black suits as a pair of clowns in a cemetery.
A tall, handsome man with a handlebar mustache came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. When he saw Kera, he threw the towel behind him and opened his arms. “Mija.”
She stepped into his embrace, and Tis could feel the love they held for one another. She realized how rarely she was around humans who were happy, loved, and desired by one another. She’s showing me so many new things.
He held Kera at arm’s length and studied her. “You look tired. And like you’ve been living in California, eating granola and grass.” He looked over her shoulder at Tis and raised his eyebrows. “But you’ve obviously done something right.” Then he looked at the two women by the door. “Or you’ve kidnapped her.”
Kera turned and motioned Tis forward. “Dad, this is Tisera Graves. She’s my…” Kera grinned. “My escort. Tis, this is my dad, Ben.”
Tis shook his hand, liking the warm, gentle energy exuding from him. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“And I, you. Come, girls, sit down and have some of my fresh tamales.” He looked at the bodyguards. “Do I feed your dark, probably overheating friends, too?”
Kera slid into a chair. “I’d be interested in seeing them eat, actually. I’ve come to believe they feed on the essence of black clothing and rocks. Unlike Tis, who eats people and peanut butter ice cream.”
He shrugged, as though used to bizarre things coming out of his daughter’s mouth. “I don’t have any of those things, but I do have tamales and fresh salsa. Be right back.”
He hustled back into the kitchen, and Tis liked how incredibly relaxed Kera seemed. “See? Nothing to worry about.”
Kera looked contemplative. “He’s thinner than he used to be. I don’t remember that much gray in his hair, either.” She took Tis’s hand. “That human limitation thing, huh?”
Tis squeezed her hand gently. “Sadly. But he had your mother and you, and that can make life very much worth living.” Even as she said the words, she felt like an utter hypocrite. She, who’d spent decades alone because she’d become disillusioned with her work and yet, buried herself in it at the same time. She had her sisters, and perhaps that was along similar lines. But then, they’d never die, so it wasn’t exactly the same. It seemed like a higher value was placed on things and relationships when someone knew they were, one day, going to lose them. It made her wonder if she’d been taking her sisters for granted. And even maybe Zed, who as God relationships went, was kind of like an uncle. Or was she his aunt? Either way, he was family. Perhaps it was time to start treating him like it.
She was startled from her reverie by Ben bringing in large platters of tamales, with sides of refried beans and Mexican rice. It was an enormous amount of food, and it wasn’t even eleven in the morning, but Tis dug in eagerly. He then took two more plates to Kera’s bodyguards, who graciously accepted the food, and ignored Kera’s instructions to put aside their desire for boulders instead.
He sat with Tis and Kera while they ate, and he and Kera caught up on the news of Kera’s many “aunties,” only two of whom she was actually related to. But her mother had been a popular priestess, as well as a friend to many, and Kera had grown up surrounded by loving women.
“Ben, why did you come back to Haiti?” Tis asked when Kera’s mouth was full. “I understand you and your wife lived in Florida for most of your time together?”
He looked at Kera fondly before answering. “We loved Florida. We lived in Louisiana, too, down New Orleans way. Hell, for a while we even lived in New York.” He rubbed his arms like he had goose bumps. “Coldest place I’ve ever been. We hated it, all that concrete and noise. It was like the city just went and gobbled up the night sky.” He wiped at the tears in his eyes. “Eventually, we had enough money. We had enough everything, and we wanted a simpler life. I’m from Mexico City, and I didn’t have any desire to live in a city again. I loved the weather, the beaches, the slow way of life here, and this place was my wife’s heartbeat.” He shrugged. “So, with Kera running around the world saving humanity, we figured we’d come back.” He took Kera’s hand in his own. “She was happy, at the end. You should know that. She was so damn proud of you, and when all those photographs of you and various women would show up in magazines or on TV, she’d just pop another cigar on the altar for Papa Ghede and Erzulie and hope you were having a damn good time.”
“You’re a follower of Vodun as well?” Tis asked.
“No, mija. Not me. I was an atheist, actually. I thought it was all based on superstition and folks who liked incense. Now that they’re here…well, I can’t say I don’t believe in something standing in front of me. But I don’t have to like that they’re here, and I don’t have to agree with them.”
“Amen to that.” Kera swallowed the last bite of her food.
Tis flinched slightly, trying not to take it personally, though it stung. They’d set aside their differences for the moment, but faced with two people who wished she, and people like her, didn’t exist, was not only insulting, it also hurt.
“Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll go wait with one of those beings now.” She stood and shook Ben’s hand, allowing her eyes to change ever so slightly. “Thank you for the meal. It was lovely.” She turned to Kera. “In fact, maybe it would be best if you spent some more time with your father and got a ride back with him? I’ll have Papa Ghede bring me to the house a little later, if that’s okay?”
Kera stared at her, clearly oblivious to what had happened. “Sure…okay. You’re not going to disappear, are you?” Her tone was light, but Tis could see the worry in her eyes.
“I’ll be there, don’t worry.” She gave her a light kiss on the cheek before heading into the bright midday heat. She climbed in beside Papa Ghede who shoved his hat up slightly to look at her.
“Dancing with the flames, loving a human. Especially that one.”
Tis sighed and closed her eyes. “Do you have somewhere the loa go? Somewhere behind the veil?”
He sat up and lit another cigarette before starting the car. “That we do.”
They pulled away, and the ache in Tis’s heart made her want to turn around, go back in, and listen to more stories. But then, she needed a moment to think about what it meant to be with someone who wanted her, but didn’t want her “kind.”
Chapter Seventeen
Kera’s dad cleared their dishes and she followed him back into the kitchen. She puzzled over the conversation and realized where they’d gone wrong. The problem was, as much as she wanted Tis in her life and loved b
eing around her, it didn’t change how she felt about the gods and their limitations.
“Well, that was interesting.” Her dad placed the dishes on the counter, and she saw his hands shaking slightly.
“Sorry. Maybe she was tired from the flight. Or tired of me, although I can’t imagine that being possible.” She grinned, and her dad shook his head.
“That’s not what I meant.” He faced her, a dishcloth pulled tight between his hands. “What is she?”
“Aside from a spectacular woman and a lioness in bed?” Her dad didn’t smile. Well, this is happening sooner than I planned. “She’s a fury. One of three, actually. She and her sisters are in charge of making scumbags pay for doing scumbag things.”
His brow furrowed as he thought. “It’s been a while since my mythology days. Weren’t they supposed to be hideous?”
“Believe me, you wouldn’t want to see her pissed off. And in her natural form, yeah, she looks pretty different. But she’s stunningly beautiful, in that way that makes you want to drop to your knees and praise whoever gave birth to her.”
“So, there’s an age gap. Not to mention the everything-else gap.” Her father looked genuinely bothered.
“What, specifically, is your objection?”
He leaned against the counter, looking older than she wanted him to be. “The gods are turning the world upside down. Papa Ghede is always out among the women, and the other loas are in bars, clubs, hell, they even come here sometimes. They’re not like us, and yet they are. It’s like they’re the best and worst of us, and nothing in between.”
What he said made her think of Petra’s story and the issue of fading once people had stopped believing in her. Did that mean they couldn’t exist without believers? She needed to give it some serious thought. “Tis isn’t like that. Neither are her sisters. They’re the ones who try to make the world better by making sure there are consequences to shithead behavior.”
