Saira - TI5 (23 page)

"What now?" She growled and focused her gaze to the left side of the bed. The beast inside her stirred nervously and huddled in the dark recesses of its lair. It wasn't happy and neither was Yemaya.

Dakota stared at the empty spot and frowned. "Are you okay?"

"I was." Yemaya glanced apologetically at Dakota and then back at the same spot. "Well. Do you need something, or do you just want to watch?"

Frowning, Dakota wasn't sure what to do or say next. The problem was quickly resolved when a white, ghostly figure shimmered into existence in front of them.

"Eeeek!" Dakota squealed and jumped backward. She grabbed the sheet and pulled it over her naked body.

"I apologize for the intrusion," the apparition said. "I needed to talk to you before I move on."

"You could have picked a better time," Dakota said.

"I didn't pick the time. It picked me."

"What does that —"

"I know you." Yemaya interrupted Dakota while closely examining her uninvited guest.

"Yes, we've met before."

Yemaya frowned. "In the sarcophagus. You were there with me."

It was Saira's turn to frown. During her visit with them in the spirit world, she had explained all of this. Perhaps their transition back to the mortal world had affected their memories. That would explain why she felt the need to return to them again. If they had forgotten their previous encounter, Yemaya would still feel uncomfortable not knowing what had happened during her illusion.

Saira nodded. "I almost cost you your life."

Dakota looked from the apparition to Yemaya and then back again.

"I felt you," Yemaya said.

"I distracted you. The air ran out before you could regain your concentration."

"Excuuuse me," Dakota said. "Am I missing something here?"

"Who are you?" Yemaya asked, ignoring Dakota.

"My name is Saira."

"Saira, and what are you?"

Saira shrugged. Even she wasn't sure exactly what she was. A few of those sensitive enough to feel her presence thought she was a ghost or energy left behind by some unhappy mortal. Others believed she was from another plane of existence or an alien. Picking up on Dakota's thoughts, she chuckled. Humans were enamored with the concept of ghosts. One day, someone would discover what they really were and mankind would never be the same.

"I'm not sure there's an answer to your question. I am what I am, just as you are what you are."

Yemaya nodded her understanding. Some questions didn't have easy answers. Somehow she knew Saira was referring to the beast inside her.

Mari is right about her,
Saira thought.
She is special... more, even, than I first imagined.
"Anyway, I came to explain what happened to you."

Saira again described how her appearance had unintentionally disrupted the balance in Yemaya's time string.

Without waiting for their response, she began to fade away.

"I must leave now. Time calls me. I just wanted to apologize for disrupting your life. I never realized the effect my presence could have on mortals."

"Apology wasn't necessary. It gave Dakota and me a chance to take a much-needed vacation."

"Good. Then we'll leave it at that. Until the next time."

Saira vanished as quickly as she had appeared.

"Would you mind telling me what just happened?" Dakota wanted to pinch herself to see if she'd been dreaming.

"Now?"

"Now."

Laughing, Yemaya wrapped her arms around Dakota and pulled her close. "Okay... But this does not bode well for our relationship."

"What?" Dakota gave her a questioning look.

"Choosing talk over mad, passionate love. It sounds to me like the honeymoon is over."

Dakota snorted. "Not in this lifetime or the next. Now, quit stalling and start talking."

Leaning back, Yemaya pulled Dakota on top of her and proceeded to tell her about the incident in the sarcophagus. Seeing Saira had brought back the memories of what had happened. There would still be unanswerable questions, but she was confident that between the two of them, they could come up with some reasonable conclusions.

*
 
*
 
*

Mari and Maopa were relieved to see their descendants happily curled up in bed. Mari waved her hand across the Eternal Flame, and the images of the two women vanished.

"Looks like thangs turned out just fine."

"A good thing too, but I suspect we're still going to have some explaining to do once they get back to normal."

"Yep. They shore gonna be serprized when Tommy brings them newest toys we done ordered. It be a shame we can't gets him ta delivers them thangs here," Maopa said sorrowfully.

"There's nothing to say we can't make our own. After all, we're spirits. We can have anything we want in our realm."

A slight cough distracted them.

"If you'll excuse me, I think I have other things to attend to." Before either could answer, Intunecat disappeared.

"I'll be danged. I ain't never seen a spirit blush quite like that befer."

"Neither have I," Mari said with a laugh. She took Maopa by the hand, and the two spirits vanished, each one mentally designing what they hoped would be the ultimate toy.

U
NWILLING TO INTRUDE on her father during one of his infamous orgies, the Child waited until all of Dis' guests and sycophants had departed. Only then did she walk boldly into his abode, ignoring the furtive looks of the minions who faithfully served him.

"So," bellowed the Underlord, eyeing his daughter appreciatively. "Have you finally cut the apron strings to your mother?"

"There were no strings, Father, and you know it. Mother and I have an understanding."

"I see. An understanding. How civilized. And is that why you've come to see me now? Are we to have an
understanding
?"

"I think we understand each other quite well. Don't you?"

Dis laughed. She was definitely his daughter, a fact of which he was both proud and wary. The blood in her veins ran hot with power. Having the Underlord as her father would have been more than enough to make her a capable adversary. With his sibling's blood also in her veins through the Twin's creation, Lilith, it provided her with a lineage unique to any other living creature. She possessed a potent mixture of two of the most powerful beings in existence, creating infinite possibilities.

Had she been anyone else but his daughter, Dis would have immediately destroyed her, ridding himself of a potential rival. Instead he was curious: curious about her plans to dethrone him, of which he was well aware, and curious about his own feelings concerning her. The Underlord had many offspring, but none stirred his emotions like the Child. Then again, none of his wives had held his attention or affection like Lilith.

Like mother like child,
he mused silently before answering her question. "Yes, I believe we do," he said, motioning for Caelene to sit. "I'm sure this isn't a daughterly visit. What can I do for you?"

He poured one of his favorite drinks, a cold Coke, and handed it to her. Sipping it, the Child smirked.

"You can be so human," she said, indicating the beverage.

"I can be a lot of things." He was amused at her observation. "When I want."

"A warning, Father?"

"Why would I need to warn you of anything?"

"Why indeed," Caelene said, enjoying the verbal duel but realizing it was going nowhere.

Dis sat down across from her, crossed his legs, and relaxed against the backrest. His brightly polished burgundy hooves glistened, reflecting the dancing flames from within the fireplace. Reaching down, he flicked a small object off his right hoof.

"It's so hard to get good help these days," he said absent-mindedly. "You'd think after all this time my staff would be able to keep this place clean."

Caelene shrugged. "You want the impossible. The Underworld isn't any different than other realms."

"Ah. The voice of experience. And just how much traveling have you done since your release?"

"You're getting old, Father. You forget that I spent an eternity observing worlds."

"I don't forget anything, daughter, but observing isn't the same as experiencing, now is it? Enough of the verbal sparring. Why are you here?"

"And I was just beginning to enjoy this little duel. Perhaps another time. I want to talk to the Twin."

Dis stared at his offspring, his chocolate brown eyes giving no indication of his thoughts. If the Child had been able to read his mind, she would have had the satisfaction of knowing she had jolted him from his normal complacency. Fortunately for Dis, he was a master at concealing both thoughts and emotions.

"And why would you want to do that?" he asked, his deep baritone voice indicating nothing more than curiosity.

"That's my business."

"I see. Then I guess this little chat is over."

Now it was Caelene's turn to be surprised. She had expected her father to show more curiosity. Disappointed, she realized that if she left now, the topic could never be broached again. Once the Underlord dismissed something, it became a dead issue. She sat silently, battling over her desire to confront the Twin and her reluctance to open up to her father. Dis watched his daughter's face and knew he had won. Although she would have appeared stoic to anyone else, he was a master at reading expressions. Lilith was the only person who had managed to frustrate him. He never knew what she was thinking or feeling unless she wanted him to. Thankfully, Caelene hadn't inherited or learned that particularly unpleasant skill.

"I have questions," the Child blurted out and then bit her lower lip, regretting the temporary loss of control.

Dis smiled faintly.
So old and still a child. But a dangerous one.
"What questions? Perhaps I can answer them."

"You can't."

"Can't, or you just don't want me to?"

Caelene hesitated before answering. It was true Dis could probably answer her questions, but she wanted more. She wanted to meet the Twin, the creator of her mother, to understand what type of person her uncle was, to know the one whose blood ran through her veins.

"Both. You could probably answer most of my questions, maybe all, but you can't give me the one thing he can."

"Which is?"

"The personal experience. The one-on-one, face-to-face feeling you get meeting someone for the first time."

"That's it?" Dis knew there was more, but really didn't expect the Child to answer his question. He was surprised she had given him that much.

"That's it," Caelene said, aware that her father wasn't fooled by her lie.

"What makes you think he wants to see you? I imagine you're not one of his most favorite people, even if you are kin."

"I'm not asking permission, Father. I just want to know how to reach him. I can take care of the rest."

Dis threw back his head and laughed. The sound carried to all the corners of the Underworld, causing its inhabitants to stop what they were doing and listen. It was rare that anything amused their master to that extent.

"You certainly have courage, even if you don't have a lot of sense. Even if I told you, it wouldn't help. No one sees him unless he wants them to... well, except me," Dis said, smirking. "Blood trumps blood."

The Child thought about those three words and smiled. It was the key she needed.