by Maya Daniels
My grandmother walks up to me after giving everyone a hug and nodding her head at Inanna. She wraps her arms around me and holds me tight for a little while.
“I will miss you just as much, pussycat. Remember that, always. But I will be there watching over you, so make me proud! And don’t just exist, live! Experience it all, because life is nothing but a blink of an eye. Regrets and fear have no place in it. Be happy, love, laugh, show compassion, especially when there is no room left for it. No matter what, do not lose your humanity. It’s not something that anyone can take from you. It’s who you are. You are one with it, just like your water. Embrace all that you are, my beautiful child. I will always be with you. I love you, Alexia”
“I love you, too, grandma,” I choke the words out and slowly feel her fade from my arms.
I stand there, looking at the spot that she occupied a few seconds ago, feeling tears trying to overflow from my eyes. I remind myself I will see her again just as I feel arms wrap around my waist and I lean back on Lucifer’s chest.
“Are you alright?” he asks, nuzzling my shoulder.
“No, but I will be,” I tell him honestly.
“I know you will be. It would make me happy if you lean on me when you need it, witch. I think I need that, too,” he says for my ears only, and I turn my head to the side to look at him.
Something has changed in him, too, tonight. My grandmother always had her way of making everyone around her reflect on themselves. Obviously, the angel is not immune to it, either. I smile at him.
“I’ll do that.” I give him a peck on the lips and turn around to see the others. “We can do it now,” I tell them, and they all spread out in a semicircle around me.
Lucifer doesn’t move an inch. Still holding on to me, he simply shifts so that I’m staying in front of him again, and he holds his hands loosely on my waist.
“When the gate opens, I’ll go first and the rest of you follow,” I start but Meda cuts me off.
“No! I will go first and you will follow, A-Ma. It’s how I saw it in my vision,” she says, firmly for a change, but she won’t look me in the eye.
“Why? What’s on the other side?” I ask her and watch her body and face for any sign she’s not telling the truth.
“Ishtar’s realm, isn’t that where we are going? The gate has a gatekeeper and we are friends. We have known each other through many lifetimes. It’ll save us time in going through, that’s all.” She clasps her hands in front of her.
I look at Remi and Jezzinta, and they each lift a shoulder as if to say it doesn’t matter to them. Daisy is looking at her hands, twisting them like she’s trying to test how far her fingers will bend. I guess she feels sad for my grandmother leaving. I can’t blame her. Faith, on the other hand, is looking at Meda, just like me, assessing whether she’s telling the truth.
“I’ll go with her, mate. Nothing to worry about,” she says, making a chopping motion with her hand as if that stops the debate.
Meda opens her mouth to start protesting, but she shuts it when I narrow my eyes at her. Faith is a fire elemental—a good and powerful one at that. I’m good with her going with Meda. If anything happens, she can at least hold on until we come through.
“Okay, then! Let’s do this.” Will and Archie speak at the same time, not paying attention to Meda’s paling face.
“No time like the present,” I mumble. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I try to connect to the energy of the earth.
At first, all I feel are those around me, our essences mixing and mingling together like a living organism. With each breath it gets stronger until it feels like the ground drops from under my feet. I splinter in million directions, connecting to everything. The pulses of life from the planet hit me in the center of my chest, disrupting my breathing pattern, but I stay focused, and in no time at all, I feel the earth’s pulse and mine match rhythms as if we are one. My body is her body. My breath is her breath. The oneness is overwhelming.
“Holy shit, that’s powerful,” Will says under his breath and then grunts because someone elbowed him in his side. Probably Archie.
I smile. They are light-workers; they feel this connection all the time. Now I understand why Inanna pushed me into the world of quantum physics before I even knew who she was—before I even knew who or what I was. She wanted me to understand it and be ready for anything. I feel the trees adding their essence to the mix and it seems even more alive. A person could get addicted to this feeling and never want to come back from it. I, on the other hand, have a job to do. Pushing everything else out of my mind, I lift my arms in the air, feeling the crackling of power at my fingertips and start invoking the gate.
“Spirit of Venus, Remember!
Ishtar, Mistress of the Gods, Remember!
Ishtar, Queen of the Land of the Rising of the Sun, Remember!
Lady of Ladies, God of Goddesses, Ishtar, Queen of all people, Remember!
Oh, bright rising, torch of the heaven and of earth, Remember!
Oh, destroyer of the hostile hordes, Remember!
Lioness, Queen of the battle, Hearken and Remember!
From the gate of the great Goddess Gaia, I call thee!
By the name which I was given on the sphere of Gaia, I call thee!
Lady, Queen of harlots and of soldiers, I call to thee!
Lady, Mistress of battle and of love, I pray thee, Remember!
In the name of the covenant sworn between thee and the race of men, I call to thee! Hearken and Remember!
Suppressor of the mountains!
Supporter of arms!
Deity of men! Goddess of women! Where thou gazest, the dead live!
Ishtar, Queen of night, open thy gate to me!
Ishtar, Lady of the battle, open wide thy gate!
Ishtar, sword of the people, open thy gate to me!
Ishtar, Lady of the gift of Love, open wide thy gate!
Gate of the gentle planet, Libat, open unto me!
Open thy gate for Semiramis, the gift of the Sea!
Ia gushe-ya! Ia Inanna! Ia Erninni-ya! Ashta pa mabacha cha kur Enni-ya!
Rabbi lo-yak zi Ishtari anpa!
Innana zi Amma kanpa!
Bi zamma Kanpa! Ia Ia be-ya Razuluki!”
As the last words in a language not spoken by many leave my lips, I open my eyes to see purple magic burst from my hands, swirling like a cyclone in front of me, picking up speed and whipping my hair around my face. Lucifer’s arms tighten around my waist but he stands still, not saying a word. I feel the veil start pushing and pulling like it’ll burst open any second. It feels like I’m waiting forever, but it’s probably just a few seconds before a round metal gate appears within the purple light—bright symbols glowing around it. It looks slightly open, like someone has forgotten to push it all the way closed. I feel its power pulling me towards it, and my foot starts inching forward. The only thing holding me in place is Lucifer. Like my anchor, he stands firm and steady, not giving an inch. I turn my head to look at Meda. She is standing next to me and I didn’t even feel her move. Smiling gently, with tears in her eyes she gives me a tight hug.
“I love you, A-ma.”
“I love you, sister,” Faith grabs me in a tight embrace, startling me with its intensity.
With those words and before I can react, Meda steps through the portal, Faith right on her heels. As they both enter, a bright thunder hits the spot, cracking so loud it leaves spots in front of my eyes for a second, and I blink fast to clear them.
“What the hell was that?” Jezzinta yells to be heard over the boom still echoing around us. As fast as it started, it abruptly stops and in the deadness of the silence Daisy’s words pierce my soul even if it’s not present in my body.
“The gate always takes a sacrifice to let anyone pass.”
“NO!” I scream and lunge at the gate, Lucifer right next to me. Remi’s and Jezzinta’s screams follow us through the gate, splitting my heart into more pieces.
28
/> Lucifer…
I follow Alexia through the portal, angry with myself for not putting it all together before it happened. I want to turn back and go strangle Inanna for keeping quiet and not saying a word. She would’ve known. Damn it all, I should’ve known. This gate is not used often, since we open portals anywhere we need to go. I cannot remember when it has been last used, if I am honest with myself. It has been centuries. The ruby around my neck pulses and burns bright, telling me how much she is hurting inside. Hell, I only knew Meda in passing and not that well, but I still feel like someone has stuck a sharp spear in my chest.
I should’ve protected her. But how do you protect someone from this? Give me an enemy I can physically fight and I will rip them to pieces. I cannot fight what I cannot see coming. Her screams rip my soul apart, but I stay close to her. I will not let her out of my sight. Things get from bad, to worse, in a blink of an eye. As we pass the gate, we see a young woman dressed all in black standing to the side watching us with green, somber eyes, her fiery red hair pulled back from her face. Alexia doesn’t waste time; she rounds in on the girl.
“Where are they?” She gets in the girls face, making her take a step back.
“Where is who?” The girl asks fearfully.
“Meda and Faith! Where are my sisters? Speak, girl, and speak fast or I will wring your neck in a second,” Alexia yells, beside herself from the pain she feels.
“You are the first to walk past the gate in a very long time. I didn’t think anyone will give the sacrifice anymore,” the girl speaks like she is in shock for seeing people here, not realizing that her words made things worse.
Before I can grab Alexia, she wraps her hand around the girl’s neck and lifts her off her feet. The girl’s hands fly at her throat, clawing at Alexia’s fingers to loosen the grip. As I reach to pull them apart, another voice breaks the rage overtaking Alexia’s mind.
“Let her go this instant.” They’re softly spoken words, but they hold so much warning that the hairs on my neck stand on end.
Alexia’s eyes widen as if seeing the girl for the first time and releasing her hold, she takes a step back, bumping into my chest. I shove her behind me. Whoever that is will have to deal with me first. The girl is curled on the ground, coughing and trying to catch her breath, mumbling, “I’m fine, I’m fine.”
“Show yourself!” I growl, looking around. “Only cowards sneak around threatening women.”
“Only cowards watch women hurt each other, angel.” The voice comes from a different direction, and I turn around, pulling Alexia with me so she is protected.
“I was not watching. I was about to stop it when you got involved. Who are you? Show yourself!”
Out of nowhere, a male and a young woman appear in front of me. My wings burst out and I bend my knees, ready for an attack. The woman cringes but doesn’t take a step back. She is covered from head to toe with a lace veil.
“Tara? I’m fine! I’m fine,” the red-haired girl at my back mumbles.
“I know. I can see that you are,” the veiled woman says sarcastically
The male is as big as me, only much thicker in the shoulders and arms. Alexia tells me all the time I am beautiful, even too perfect to be real, but looking at him I think she needs to change that statement. Whoever his creator is, they have made perfection. His dark eyes hold an animalistic glint. I know a predator when I see one. The one standing in front of me is on the top of the food chain. His dark, straight hair falls over his shoulders and down his back. If not for his muscled body, one could mistake him for a woman, and a beautiful woman at that. I know Alexia shares my sentiment, because I hear her sharp intake of breath no matter how hard she tries to hide it from me. I growl at the male, and he steps forward, flexing his arms as if ready to pounce, his tribal tattoos moving like a living thing around them. His eyes, narrowed down to slits, glow eerily and his ears start growing up pointed, while his entire body starts darkening. Not a demon then, no. This one is a traveler. Obviously, Anubis found this important to let one of them wander around the realms.
“Stop, Maika. Can’t you see she’s hurting? It’s a misunderstanding. I can feel it.” The veiled woman places a hand on the male’s arm and he instantly stops; turning back to the perfect creature he was created to be, and I almost think I imagined him changing. The woman’s hand trembles and he shivers at her touch. I wonder if they are aware of that.
Alexia’s whimper breaks me from my thoughts and I turn around, wrapping her in my arms. She cries softly in my chest, her shoulders shaking as her tears soak my shirt.
“Her sister was the sacrifice to open the gate,” the red-haired girl tells the two newcomers.
“Two,” Alexia sobs harder.
“Excuse me?” Tara, the veiled woman, asks.
“Two of my sisters sacrificed themselves so the gate would let us through.” The hollowness in Alexia’s voice breaks something inside of me again. I press her tighter to my chest.
“I am so sorry for your loss,” Tara says and I can hear she is fighting tears.
“How can I get them back?” Alexia asks out of nowhere and both women gasp.
“You can’t. If the sacrifice was a willing one, you can’t bring it back,” Maika answers in his deep voice, and I feel Alexia shiver. I glare at him and he shrugs.
“Were they a willing sacrifice?” Tara asks hopefully.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Alexia and I answer at the same time. She glares at me, trying to push me away, but I don’t let her.
“They walked through it, knowing what to expect. They were willing,” I tell them.
“I was not! That must count for something!” Alexia snaps as if that will fix everything. I kiss the top of her head.
“I know, my love, but the least we can do is to honor their sacrifice, no matter how much it hurts,” I tell her softly as she starts to sob all over again.
“Who are you?” I ask them while holding Alexia up. She can barely stand from her grief.
“I am Kalipso, the GateKeeper,” the red-haired young woman says.
“I’m Tara, the Guide. I was pulled here because of you. I will lead you wherever you need to go. And this is Maika.” She hitches a thumb over her shoulder at the male. “He is a Traveler.”
Before I say a word, the rest of our group spills through the gate. Maika pushes Tara behind him and stands protectively in front of her. She barely reaches his shoulder blades, but she elbows him aside to see who is coming. He growls at her but she ignores him. I wonder if Alexia and I look the same when I am trying to protect her. Remi and Jezzinta run to Alexia and pull her from my arms. I let them. They cling to each other, sobbing.
Tara walks closer to me, Maika at her back.
“Her other two sisters,” I tell her when she lifts her head towards my face. I can’t see hers, but I know she has a question in her eyes.
“Oh! They don’t look alike,” she mumbles more to herself.
“They are sisters in everything but blood,” I tell her.
“We should start moving. It’s not safe to stand at the gate,” Maika’s deep voice stops the sobs and everyone turns towards him. Even Philip and the light-workers look dazed. I chuckle. Maika humphs but his lips twitch into a barely-there smile.
“I was not aware Anubis let you all wonder around. I cannot say I mind it; I respect that you protect the one who pulls to your soul. I understand it now better than ever,” I sigh, looking at Alexia.
Maika looks taken aback by my words and turns his eyes on the woman he is with. Wonder, confusion and maybe even fear flicker through his eyes. I can see when whatever it is clicks into place and he visibly shivers.
“I like you, angel. Protect the one you love. The realms are not what they used to be.” He looks pointedly at Tara, emotions swirling in his eyes. “Not anymore.”
“I shall take the advice, jackal. Thank you. If I can help at any time, all you need to do is ask,” I tell him solemnly. We grasp forearms
to seal my oath and he bows deeply from his waist.
“The same applies to you, angel,” he swears.
Inanna walks up to us, eyeing Maika, but he ignores her like no one is there. I smirk at her at first and then remember I am angry at her.
“You knew what would happen,” I tell her accusingly, making sure Alexia doesn’t hear me.
“I have never used this gate, Lucifer. How would I know? Do you think me so heartless I would hurt her this way?” She sounds hurt by my accusations. I watch her, but she looks back without flinching. She’s telling the truth, but it still doesn’t make me feel better.
“We must go,” Tara starts walking and one by one we all follow. I turn to look over my shoulder at Kalipso. She is still standing at the same spot where we found her.
“I must stay,” she tells me. “Stay safe!”
With a nod, I turn and follow the path behind the others, watching Alexia and her sisters clinging to each other like that will help them from breaking apart from their loss.
29
Alexia…
Overwhelmed with grief and still unable to accept that I will never see Meda and Faith again, I walk blindly forward. This journey hasn’t started yet, and it already took part of me. Remi and Jez walk on either side of me and I’m not sure who is holding up whom, but we all stumble along. Through a haze, I hear Kalipso say something, but I don’t understand a word. I can’t believe that in my pain I almost killed the woman. What the fuck is wrong with me? I feel sick. I had hoped that my murderous tendencies had ended, at least until I see Tiamat in front of me. Obviously not.
