Isat cross legged on the ground as Alma brought a smoking sage bundle over to me.She waved it over my body, chanting in a language I didn’t understand. I sawmist hover over Alma’s hands. She was doing magic and probably didn’t evenknow.
Nahuelsat next to me and took a deep breath as Alma cleansed him. Alma went over to aclay basin and took a ladle full of water. She poured it over the stones. Hotsteam began to rise up. Alma closed the flap over the door to encase the steaminside.
“SkyFather, Earth Mother, Ancestors, Great Creator Spirit. We are grateful for allyou give us. We are grateful for your guidance. We are grateful for yourpresence now to cleanse Aurora and prepare her for her Vision Quest tomorrow.”
Shesplashed more water on the stones and steam rose up. I was beginning to feelhot.
Nahuelleaned into me and whispered, “We will go four rounds of thirty minutes each.At any time if you need to leave, just tell me. But, if you can stay fourrounds, you will benefit greatly and I will be impressed.” He also indicated ajug of water for drinking. Well, say no more, I liked a challenge. I was goingto try to go the four rounds.
Almachanted. Every time her voice went deeper, I could feel my skin buzzing. Thefirst round went fairly easily. It was like hot yoga. My mind was racing withthoughts about Kai, our wedding, the vampires, and Emma.
Almaopened the door for a quick moment and the blast of cold air refreshed me. Thenshe returned with more hot rocks from the fire outside. She closed the flapafter arranging them. Round two.
Roundtwo was completely silent. I was beginning to get bored, when I started to contemplatewhy I was here. Not here in this tent, but here on Earth? If reincarnation wasreal then why would I come back? Earth kind of sucked. People were raped,killed and lots of other horrible things. Why would I choose to come to Earth?I was sweating profusely. I even felt a little dizzy. I drank some water andtried to push thoughts of leaving the ceremony out of my head. Alma opened theflap and came back with more rocks.
Roundthree. Alma went to her altar and brought a stick to Nahuel. It was painted andhad carvings on it. He grabbed the stick and thanked Alma. “Spirit, I ask forguidance about my path. The world has become unbalanced. The humans take toomuch from Earth Mother, they pollute Sky Father. The vampires have grown out ofcontrol in their quest to dominate. The werewolves have suffered from my people’scurse and cannot breed to grow their numbers. Help me to help Aurora. Help meguide her and protect her. Help me restore balance to our precious teacher, EarthMother. Thank you.”
Tearshad sprung up in my eyes. I didn’t think I had any liquid left. Nahuel caredabout everything and everyone. He was a nice man. I was honored to be his friend.He handed me the stick. I guess it was my turn.
“Spirit,I don’t know you very well. I don’t know much about any of this, but I do wantgood things for the earth. I care about animals and humans. I care aboutwerewolves and their fate. Please help me figure out why I am here and how Ican be of the most service. Put me where you know I need to be.” I was about tohand the stick to Alma when the flap to the tent rattled and I was sucked intoa vision.
Nahuelwas by my side. We were staring inside of a window of someone’s home. I lookedat Nahuel with alarm. “Is this real? What’s happening?”
“Shhh,”He told me. “Spirit is showing you something, pay attention.”
Itwas dark out. I peered in the window. I heard voices by the stairs. A manwalked into the living room.
“Wewent to a movie last weekend. Let’s stay in,” he argued. I inhaled. He smelledlike a vampire.
Awoman trailed along after him. “But you know I love the movies.” She smiled.
Hegrabbed her quickly, showcasing his vampire speed and spun her around. She was human.He smiled and his fangs lengthened. She looked at him with lust and he sank histeeth into her neck. She moaned. After a few seconds he pulled off and lickedthe spot he had bitten. It healed.
“Thankyou, dear. Just enough to tide me over until I can reach the blood bank in themorning. I don’t want you becoming woozy.” He tenderly stroked her face. Shesmiled and he kissed her forehead, like some perfect suburban couple. What thehell? He wasn’t like the vampires that I had met. “All right, the movies itis.” They left the house. I looked down, through the window and at a desk. Apiece of mail stood there.
Alek Crone
3546 NW BayberrySt.
Forest Grove, OR.
Thenthe world was spinning and I was somewhere else. Nahuel and I were on a sidestreet, leaning up against a brick building. The lamplight cast creepy shadowsoff of cars. A human woman was screaming and running toward us. I steppedforward to help her but Nahuel caught my arm.
“Thishas already happened. It’s a replay.”
Avampire leapt up into the air and pounced on the woman, eagerly sucking bloodfrom her neck. She screamed as he sucked on her like an animal. I pushed Nahuel’shand off of my shoulder and tried to grab the vampire, but my hands wentthrough him like a ghost.
“Itold you, it’s happened,” Nahuel said as I watched the woman be drained ofblood. The scene faded and we were standing in a corn field with the sunbeating down on our heads. It was stifling. Sweat dripped down my face.
“Whatthe hell was that?” I asked him, panting. My nerves were raw from watching thewoman be killed. Knowing it had happened and I couldn’t help her infuriated me.
Heshrugged and wiped sweat off of his brow. “That was a message. Spirit wants usto know that not all vampires are bad. There are two sides to every story,every race, every world.”
Ithrew my arms up. “Well, shit. That’s just great. As I am about to declare warwith them and Kai wants to wipe out their entire race! Now I have to worryabout killing the nice ones?”
Nahuellooked at the clouds. “Guess there’s more to the story. Wiping out an entirerace wouldn’t bring balance. Looks like rain. That’s a good omen.”
Thesecond he spoke of rain, my throat became sickeningly dry. “I’m thirsty,” Itold him. The corn field scene dissolved. Alma was standing over us, fanning uswith sage. I opened my eyes from my trance state.
