"Are you blaming me for this? I believe it was your granny that was sharing that park bench."
"Oh, right. Blame Granny. Like she'd really know anything about sleazy photographers."
"I'm not blaming anyone. You started this."
"So now it's my fault you gave me the cold shoulder?"
"I wasn't giving you the cold shoulder. I was thinking."
"Well, it sure looked and felt like it. Cripes. You didn't even notice the way people were going out of their way to avoid you. Listen, sweetie, I know you hate this type of publicity, but in your line of work, it's going to happen. You can't hide from prying eyes no matter how much you want to. I'm surprised you've kept your life as private as you have."
"It's not about the picture."
"Then what is this about?"
Yemaya glanced down at her feet, avoiding eye contact. "I do not
cuddle
.
"
Her voice was so low, Dakota barely heard the words. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"Yeah, but I can't believe all of this is about 'cuddling.'"
Dakota found it difficult to keep a straight face, let alone hold in her laughter. Yemaya gave her an indignant look and stalked past her into the store.
Conversation closed.
Chuckling, Dakota followed. "Oh boy. If that isn't an image buster,"
she muttered under her breath. "Note to self. Never use the word 'cuddle' around her."
*
*
*
Dakota was doing her best to ignore Yemaya's restless prowling around the small apartment. The shopping spree was successful even though the conversation had been somewhat stilted. New sheets, towels, and underwear were safely tucked away in their appropriate spaces.
Yemaya wasn't happy. Privacy was important to her. The photo of her and Dakota on the front page of the tabloid had caught her by surprise and was annoying, but the word "cuddling" was a blow to her image. Once news of the article reached her friends and family, she knew she was going to be teased unmercifully.
She didn't realize just how quickly rumors spread until her cell phone rang. "Lysanne," she answered, her voice low and slightly abrupt.
"Well, sister, it would appear you've finally made it to the big time. The front page of
National Exposure
is quite an accomplishment, even for you."
"Are you calling me to discuss this, or is there something else on your mind?" Yemaya said coldly.
"Can't a loving brother give his sister a call now and then without you looking for ulterior motives?"
Yemaya could hear the laughter in Raidon's voice. The sound of a male giggling in the background didn't help things.
"Any brother but you, and you'd better tell Reymone to cool it if he wants to be able to take care of your needs in the immediate future."
"Yemaya, I'm shocked. Threatening violence against my lover? Tch, tch."
"Alright. The family jewels are safe, but I have other ways of getting even. Now what is it you need?"
"Actually, I was worried about you. When I heard about this photo, I couldn't believe it was you. My big sister would never be caught doing something so intimate in public. Cuddling
.
That sounds so... cute
.
And with the picture on the Internet, it's definitely going to ruin that stoic, aloof image you've managed to maintain all these years."
"Internet? Someone posted that on the net?"
"Oh yeah. You, my dear, are big news. And now it seems websites are popping up all over the place, speculating on your relationship with this 'unknown' woman. You even have an 'official' website asking for more photos and information about you and your mystery woman."
"Damn those two," Yemaya muttered, wondering how hard it was to kill spirits.
"Those two? You know who's behind all of this?"
"No. At least not as far as the Internet postings, but I sure as hell can find out who this photographer is and make his life miserable."
"Don't go doing anything drastic. It'll only cause you more heartburn."
"At this point, I really don't care if I spontaneously combust. I'll make this man regret he ever bought his first camera."
"Really, sis, you can't put all the blame on someone who took advantage of a good opportunity."
"Maybe not, but I sure can make him think twice about screwing around with people's lives."
"I've never known you to be vindictive. Is there something you should be telling me?"
"No. I —"
The cell phone clicked twice to let her know another caller was trying to reach her. "Hold on, Raidon. I have another call."
Yemaya switched to the second caller and tried not to sound so irritated. "Lysanne."
"Yemaya, have you seen the
National Exposure
yet?"
"Yes, Sonny. I've seen it, and apparently everyone else that has heard of me has seen it."
"Yeah. This is really great. You wouldn't believe the calls I've been getting since this came out. Everyone wants to know if you're gay and who the mystery woman is."
Yemaya's voice lowered to a throaty growl. "And what makes having the entire world chasing after me now so great?"
"Publicity. What else? You wouldn't believe the offers I've been getting. Hell, I could never have thought of a stunt to drum up this much interest. Even some gay organizations are offering you sponsorship contracts. You could make millions if you play this right."
"I don't need more money, Sonny, and I definitely don't need more publicity, especially this type."
"Well, you've got it, so you might as well make use of it," Sonny replied cheerfully. "By the way, what does Dakota have to say about being the mystery woman?"
"Now isn't a good time to discuss this. Raidon's on the other line. At the moment, if anyone asks, the answer is no."
"But you don't even know —"
"I said no. And make sure you keep Dakota's name out of this, or I'll find me an agent who can follow orders."
"Don't go getting all ballistic on me. You know you won't replace me. I'm too good at what I do. We'll talk about this after you've had time to think it over. Say hi to Raidon, and give my regards to Dakota."
A click of the line told her he had hung up, so she switched back to Raidon. "You still there?"
"I thought you'd forgotten me."
"As if. Is there anything else we need to talk about?"
"You know, sister, your sense of humor is sorely lacking. I hope you don't talk to Dakota the way you do to me. Hold on. Reymone wants to talk to you."
"Hey, Yem, how are you doing?" her brother's partner asked cheerfully.
"As well as can be expected. How are you?"
"If I could get this brother of yours to lighten up some, I'd be a lot better. He's such a stick-in-the-mud."
"Tell me about it."
Yemaya was extremely fond of Reymone. He was the light to her brother's darkness, and neither was afraid to discuss Raidon in his presence. A loud snort in the background told Yemaya that her brother had heard her remark.
"Do you need something?" she asked.
"Not really. Just wanted to make sure you and Daks are okay. I know how much you hate this type of thing."
"We're fine. Dakota says it will blow over in a few days. She's more knowledgeable about this than I am. I guess we'll find out soon if she's right."
"I agree with her. With all the crap going on in the world, your fifteen minutes of fame will be short-lived, I'm sure."
"Thanks, Reymone. Look, I need to go. Say good-bye to Raidon for me, and tell him his turn will come."
"Sure thing. Yemaya, I really think you and Dakota need to take some time off. You've been pushing yourself a lot in the past few months. A short vacation wouldn't hurt, you know?"
Yemaya rolled her eyes. "Right," she said and hung up. "If you only knew," she muttered. "That's what started all of this."
F
OR THE FIRST TIME in her existence, Saira's self-confidence was bruised badly. Her journey to the heart of the planet had left her shaken. She had never been lost in the web of life and time, nor had she known fear. Self-doubt plagued her thoughts even as a new tug demanded her attention.
Saira needed counsel, but wasn't sure to whom she should turn. Mari was her first choice, but she had already jeopardized the safety of Mari's child and now felt indebted to the Earth Mother. The Twin was unattainable and someone she really wasn't interested in meeting at this time. Why she even thought of him she didn't know. Dis was out of the question. Although he was a First Born, she knew his primary interests were his lust and keeping order in the Underworld. After having met the Child, Saira knew Dis would soon have his hands full. Caelene was ambitious and powerful; how powerful, her father couldn't even imagine. That left Intunecat. Of all the entities she had met, he was the least approachable, but seemed one of the wisest, perhaps even more so than Mari. Perhaps.
Intunecat was recovering from his visit to Lilith. Trips to the mortal world were exhausting at best for spirits, even one as powerful as he. He, especially, found them exhausting, since he had little tolerance for the light and humanity. He had always enjoyed his chats with Lilith, however, and this time was no different.
Confident that his sanctuary was safe, he relaxed in his favorite chair and observed the images of Yemaya and Dakota sitting in an old theater watching a movie. Intunecat was aware that Mari and Maopa inhabited their bodies, and he chuckled at the thought of the two mortals finding out what the two spirits had been doing.
The images wavered, an indication that something or someone was disturbing the balance of darkness in his realm.
Not again.
Before he had time to scan its boundaries, Saira shimmered into view and then solidified her form.
"You!"
Saira recognized the frustration in his voice. "I'm sorry to intrude like this, but I need to talk to you."
"I thought we had already talked. You weren't supposed to come back, at least not this soon," he said. "Don't tell me you have more questions."
"Yes... no... I don't know."
Intunecat could feel her confusion and motioned for her to sit. "What bothers you, Saira?"
"I'm afraid."
Those two words told the dark spirit everything he needed to know, except the cause of her fear. "What frightens you?"
"Getting lost. I'm afraid I'll become lost in the web if I continue my quests."
"After all these eons, you actually think you could get lost? Why now?"
Saira hesitated and then told him about her quest to find Gaia. Intunecat listened patiently.
"I still don't understand why you're afraid. You found your way to the present. Apparently, Gaia is sentient enough to prevent a recurrence should you wish to try again."
"Yes, she's young but she has good intentions."
"Then where's the problem?"
"This has never happened before. If it happened once, it can happen again."
"Well, if it did, which I seriously doubt, you would probably find your way forward eventually. I should think even a blind attempt would lead you to an encounter with a familiar thread, and you could just follow it home."
"It doesn't work that way," Saira said. "I can only return on the strands that are intertwined with the lives I followed. I don't necessarily need to return on the same thread, but I must return on one that is directly connected to the time and life I sought."