“There’s more,” Dominique said, stepping past them. She flipped through the stack that leaned against the wall. The second one was also of Guatemala, but it was an image of the great corpse-like Maya god of death.
“By all the gods,” Livvy muttered.
The third was a chaotic image of dark water filling the entire canvas. White bubbles rose diagonally to the top right corner through blue and black swirling eddies. Livvy felt pressure building in her lungs and was careful to breathe normally.
My trip through the cenote?
The Hopi Underworld flipped by. The buff tans and oranges of the little village filled the canvas. The round faces of children smiled so happily at her that Livvy found herself smiling back, until Dominique flipped to the last canvas. It was like looking in a mirror. Livvy stood in front of the fountain of the Underworld, one hand on her hip, the other reaching out. The water behind her glittered with a reality that made the canvas seem wet. Dominique let the paintings fall back into place.
“She won’t let these go,” Dominique said and shrugged. “In the beginning, they’d have been worth a lot. Now…” She shrugged again.
Pictures of the Lightning Shaman, Livvy thought. Once worth a lot, but not anymore.
Nicole’s canvas was angled toward the light of the soaring windows behind her. As they all stepped closer, Livvy could see it was another view of the mountains, but if possible, even more radiant. A shining orb hung in the sky like a multi-colored jewel. It might have been the sun, except it appeared to be faceted.
“Is that the sun?” Livvy asked Nicole.
Though she was obviously Dominique’s twin, there was something slightly different about their faces. Nicole’s eyes were soft, if staring, and her mouth hung open slightly.
“She won’t answer,” Dominique said. “The only time she’s ever uttered a word is in the Multiverse.”
“Is she a shaman?” SK asked.
Nicole kept painting, oblivious to the conversation. Her brush dabbed repeatedly in small dots. Her hand deftly darted between palette and canvas. The image seemed to grow and solidify as Livvy watched.
“No,” Dominique said. “In fact, she used to be terrified of the goggles.” At the word, there was just the slightest hesitation in Nicole’s hand. “Until that day in the Multiverse.”
That day, Livvy thought. Her hand involuntarily rubbed her hip. She remembered the last time she’d seen her mother. A lot had changed on that day, apparently even Nicole.
“I don’t think it’s the sun,” Dominique said.
She stood on Nicole’s other side now, the twins together. The resemblance was remarkable, though Nicole’s hair was shorter and she was dressed in a white t-shirt and baggy, white sweatpants.
“Why can’t it be the sun?” Livvy asked.
“Look at the paintings,” Dominique said. “She can paint. If she wanted to paint the sun, she’d paint the sun.”
Livvy had to admit that was true. For a few moments, they just stood in silence and watched Nicole.
“So,” Dominique said. “What’s the plan?”
Before Livvy could even react, SK pointedly turned and walked away.
“Don’t tell me you don’t have a plan,” Dominique said, looking between the two of them. “You’re joking, right?” She stared at Livvy. “Then why are you here?”
“We’re trying to figure out what’s happened,” Livvy said, keeping her voice low, trying not to disturb Nicole. “I’m trying to understand how everything changed so fast.”
“The Lightning Shaman left,” Dominique declared as though it was obvious. “That’s how.” Dominique scowled at her. “What did you think would happen?” She snorted. “It was good for a while, until the Institute arrived. Lots of shamans went that way.” Livvy didn’t understand and Dominique must have seen the puzzled look on her face. “If you work there, you can live there–for free.” Livvy arched her eyebrows and Dominique nodded. “Right. They got lots of shamans to sign up.” She crossed her arms over her chest and shot a gaze around the loft. “Even some of my old crew.” Her face looked as though she’d smelled something bad. “What did you think would happen? Nothing? The vacuum was filled immediately.”
“I’d have thought,” said SK, “that you and Mayet would have done your part to fill the vacuum.”
“Mayet?” Dominique said, her voice rising as she stepped around Nicole. “The coward was useless.” She spun back to Livvy. “But now that you two are back, we would have a tactical advantage.” Dominique pumped her fist. “They’d have more than one shaman to deal with for a change.”
SK jammed his hands in his pants pockets. “No thanks,” he said.
“Dominique,” Livvy said. “Honestly, we’re not here for a plan.”
“Well you should be,” she retorted. She paused. “I’m not the first shaman you’ve seen.” She glanced between Livvy and SK. “Am I?”
SK grimaced and Livvy could see his jaw muscles working.
“No,” Livvy eventually answered.
“But I’ll bet I’m the first one who’s still working,” Dominique said. She stood tall, feet apart. “Aren’t I?”
“Sure,” SK said. “And I can imagine how.”
Dominique’s face clouded and fell. “Not like that,” she said, the wind taken out of her sails a bit. “Not since then.”
“Sure,” SK said again. “Whatever you say.”
Maybe this had been a mistake. Livvy hadn’t realized the depth of SK’s feelings when it came to Dominique.
“No dark shamanism,” Dominique said. “No doubt you’d have heard by now if that wasn’t true.”
SK merely returned her stare.
“Then how are you managing to work?” Livvy asked.
Dominique nodded at her as though that were the first reasonable thing she’d said.
“On the margins and down low,” Dominique answered. “Where no one can see. Where no one cares.” She looked over Livvy’s shoulder at Nicole. “We get by.” Then Dominique fixed Livvy with a glare. “We don’t have a choice. Not like Ursula who already sold herbs or…Mamacita.” Dominique smirked. “That traitor is getting what she deserves.”
“I’ve heard enough,” SK said, already heading to the door.
“Always so fast to run,” Dominique sneered. She turned to Livvy. “But you, Lightning Shaman. You’re not one to run, are you?”
“I think you know I’m not,” Livvy said. “But I just wanted to see the paintings.”
SK was already opening the door.
“Mayet left,” Dominique said quickly to her. “Did you know that?”
Though Livvy was headed to the door to join SK, she stopped.
“I did,” Livvy said.
“Well, my clients were used to a Water Baby,” Dominique said.
SK snorted. “You have your nerve,” he said, seething.
“You want paintings?” Dominique demanded. “I’d sell you one except all the paintings she’ll part with are already gone.” She strode over to Nicole who was blithely unaware. “Paint is expensive,” Dominique said over her shoulder. Livvy tensed as Dominique’s voice took on the strident tone that Livvy remembered from the Multiverse. “Let me show you what happens when there’s no paint.”
Dominique snatched the palette and brush from Nicole’s hands.
“No!” Livvy exclaimed.
But she needn’t have. Nicole hadn’t even tried to stop Dominique. Instead, Nicole’s hands dropped to her sides. She looked listlessly around for a few moments, but other than that, there was no reaction.
“That’s it,” Dominique said. “That’s the beginning. Then she sits in the corner. Then she stops eating.”
“That’s enough,” SK said.
“And here,” Dominique said, striding toward the stacks of paintings against the wall. “Here’s what it’s like trying to sell one.” Still holding the palette and brush, Dominique grabbed a canvas and headed to the front door. SK barely had time to get out of her way as she all
but tossed the painting at him. “Hold this,” she ordered as she opened the door wider.
It was all SK could do to keep it from hitting him in the face as the door flew open. A piercing wail filled the room. Livvy jumped in place as her hands flew to her chest, and she spun around.
It was Nicole. She had squatted in place, put both hands over her ears, and was screaming. High and keening, the sound reverberated off the glass and polished cement floor. It filled the studio like a siren, and the pain it voiced was withering.
“Stop!” Livvy screamed at Dominique. “Stop it!”
“For godssakes!” SK yelled. He dropped the canvas on the floor, grabbed the edge of the door, and slammed it shut.
A deafening silence reigned, the sound of the door still echoing.
“Gods,” Livvy breathed, her heart pounding.
“Welcome,” Dominique said, her voice dripping with irony, “to our little corner of the Multiverse.”
Calmly, she took the palette and brush back to Nicole. Still squatting with hands over ears but with her lips pressed into a tight line, Nicole’s eyes seemed to follow the tools. As Dominique handed them down, Nicole took them in trembling hands, stood, and began to paint.
SK picked up the painting and stood it against the wall next to the door.
“That wasn’t necessary,” he said, his voice tight.
“Oh, I think it was,” Dominique said. She realized she had paint on her hands, wiped at it, but stopped. “The drugs are expensive,” she said, letting her hands dangle at her sides.
The transformation in Nicole had been instantaneous. Livvy recalled the prescription bottle that she and Ursula had once sealed into a vodun statue. Diazepam. It inhibited seizures.
“What is it you want?” Livvy asked.
Dominique laughed, a harsh and bitter sound. “Money.”
“I can give you that,” Livvy said. “I have–”
“Not your money,” Dominique snapped. “I don’t need your charity. We don’t need your charity. I’ve always provided for my sister. Always. Don’t think for an instant that I can’t.”
Livvy waited. Dominique’s glare eventually drifted to SK. His jaw tightened and he pursed his lips, but he didn’t say anything.
“I have a client day after tomorrow,” Dominique said.
SK took a deep breath. Emotions were at war on his face, but there was no way he could refuse. He was an intercessor, born to his role, same as Livvy. He turned a grim look on Dominique. “What time?” he asked.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THOUGH THE WEIGHT of Oleg’s arm on his shoulder was massive, Valentin stood straight. He imagined that an older man, an infirm one, would have buckled under its weight. That, of course, was not him. He grasped Oleg around the shoulders as well and gazed down at his old friend, smiling. Oleg Sidirov was an oaf, but a useful one. As they strolled side by side past the shaman stalls, Oleg hugged him close.
“No Lightning Shaman,” Oleg said. “We’re clear. Right?”
“Very,” Valentin replied.
He couldn’t agree more. Bradley hadn’t exactly asked his permission, which was a disturbing development.
Someone behind one of the thick, dark brown curtains began coughing.
“You know the rules,” Oleg said. “Right?”
Of course Valentin knew the rules. He’d created them. As Deputy Director of the Russian-American Institute of the Healing Arts, he was in charge of the shamans. Everyone knew the rules, but that wasn’t going to stop Oleg from repeating them.
“No intercessors,” Oleg said, giving him a final squeeze before letting him go. “No outside shamans.” He nodded once. “Good.”
Down the long aisle in front of them, most of the curtains were drawn. That meant business was good, though Valentin was sure that Oleg had no idea why. All his friend knew or cared about was the fact that, since Valentin had arrived with Bradley, business had improved dramatically. Oleg didn’t want to see that end. Neither of them did.
“This is just a friendly heads-up, as they say,” Oleg said. “I wanted you to know.” He poked Valentin in the arm with a pudgy finger.
“I appreciate that,” Valentin said, which was true. Let Oleg take care of the Lightning Shaman.
“Perhaps she’s a passing interest for the boy,” Oleg said and winked at him. “Maybe she’d like to work upstairs.”
That was the so-called massage therapy floor. Valentin knew Oleg’s penchants too well. It didn’t appeal to Valentin, but as long as they all got what they wanted, he didn’t care.
Valentin carefully smirked back at him. “Maybe you should interview her,” he said.
Oleg laughed, tossing his head back as he clapped Valentin on the back. His eyes became slits in the puffy face. “Oh, not that one,” he said, as the laughter died. “No, no, no.” He waggled his finger in the air. “I’ve seen what that one can do.” Oleg patted Valentin on the shoulder. “Better that you interview her, my friend. Not me.”
Highly unlikely, Valentin thought. The last thing he needed was competition for Bradley.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“WAIT JUST A sec,” Colin said. “I’ll see what’s taking her.”
Before Livvy could say no, he’d dashed upstairs. Though she and SK had come to see both Min and Colin, it might have been good to spend some time just with him. He was the man her best friend had married, and Livvy hardly knew him. Then again, it wasn’t hard to see what he was like. He was Min, except in an Irish-American body. They had the same infectious smile and light-hearted laugh.
But Livvy also knew she was stalling. She’d taken time to talk with Brad’s parents. She’d dragged SK through the baby section of a department store. The last thing she wanted to do was be the bearer of bad tidings, particularly these ones, particularly now. It ought to be a happy time for Min and Colin.
As she and SK waited on the couch, Nacho wound sinuously around SK’s shins. Though Livvy tried to pick him up, he deftly avoided her grasp. She’d left the cat carrier next to the front door and wondered if maybe Nacho had seen it. In a way, Livvy felt bad about taking Nacho from a place where he seemed happy. On top of that, the person he obviously wanted to see wasn’t her. But with a baby on the way, having to take care of her cat was something the happy couple probably didn’t need. More to the point, though, Livvy missed him.
She set the baby gift on the coffee table. The pink rattle tied into the bow made a sound, and Nacho’s ears instantly pricked up. SK chuckled a little as he continued to scratch Nacho’s head.
“Thanks for being here,” Livvy said, taking SK’s hand as a spark popped.
SK squeezed her hand as Nacho circled to the other side of the coffee table, doing his best not to look as though he was staring at the rattle.
“This isn’t the final word,” SK said.
“I know,” she said quietly.
But the unsaid truth was that, according to everything she knew, it was. Even Alvina hadn’t had any new information. If anything, she’d given them even more to think about.
There was a noise on the stairs. Nacho put a testing paw on the edge of the brightly wrapped package and managed to nudge it. The rattle made a little sound. Before he could leap on it, Livvy stood and picked it up. Nacho returned to SK as though he’d been interested in nothing of the kind.
“Uh huh,” SK said to him. “Nice try.”
“Oh,” Min said. “A cat carrier? They’re not taking Nacho are they?”
Livvy could see her and Colin’s feet on the stairs now, nearly at the landing in front of the door.
“I don’t know, Minty,” Colin said. “We’ll just have to ask them.” He was backing down the stairs in front of her, one step at a time. And though it seemed like overkill to Livvy, when she saw Min’s face, she understood why. Min was white as a sheet.
“Oh gods,” Livvy said, heading directly for her. “Min? What’s the matter?”
Min smiled sheepishly. “Morning sickness,” she said. Then her face brighte
ned. “Is that for me?” she asked, looking at the gift.
Livvy held it out to her, but Colin was the one who took it.
“We love baby presents!” Colin said. He shook the package to make the rattle sound.
The two of them giggled. Livvy had to giggle just because they did.
“And I see you’re hoping for a girl,” Min said.
Livvy froze. She knew it was a girl, of course. But apparently they hadn’t yet had a conclusive ultrasound.
“A girl would be so great,” Colin said.
“Maybe you should sit,” SK said, still at the couch.
“Sounds good,” Colin agreed, but Min wasn’t moving.
“Uh oh,” she said and covered her mouth with her fingers.
“Right here, Babe,” Colin said. He handed the gift back to Livvy and led Min to the little half-bath at the end of the living room. He reached inside and flicked on the light. “Here you go.” Min went inside and he closed the door. “I’m right out here,” he called to her.
“Morning sickness,” SK said.
“Wow, yeah,” Colin said. “Right out of nowhere.”
Livvy and SK exchanged a look.
“Out of nowhere?” Livvy asked.
“And like non-stop,” Colin said, his eyebrows pulled together as he tried to listen at the door. “She hasn’t been able to keep anything down.”
“Since when?” SK asked.
“Yesterday morning,” Colin said. The whirring of the bathroom ceiling fan made it hard to hear, but Colin seemed to have heard something and nodded. “Not once in the last seven months and then suddenly yesterday morning. Boom. Out of nowhere.”
Yesterday morning. When our plane landed. Livvy had a sinking feeling.
“Hyper…hyper something,” Colin said.
“Hyperemesis gravidarum,” Livvy said.
“Right!” Colin said. “Right! That’s what her doctor said. Not too common in the third trimester. We’re hoping it’ll pass quickly.”
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