“Whatif I freak out?” I asked him, getting nervous. He took a small chunk of my hairand cut it off quickly. My hand flew to the spot he had cut.
“Hey!I’m getting married. I need cute hair,” I scolded him.
Hewrapped my hair in a circle and placed it in his medicine bag around his neck.“No matter what happens, no matter what you see or feel. Know that your soul issafe with me. I will guide you. I will keep you whole.” There was a seriousnessin his voice, like he was stating it to the whole Universe.
Inodded.
AfterI drank the horrid, bitter “medicine” tea, we said goodbye to Alma and beganour hike up the mountain. Nahuel said when we reached the top all would be clear.The six warriors hiked in a flanked position around me. Three on my left, threeon my right. Nahuel was at my side. He hummed softly. I was the only one whodrank the tea. I guess that was a good thing. Someone needed to stay sober. I hadtexted Kai before I left that he might feel some weird vibes from me, but notto worry.
Ihad my backpack on and I felt good. This felt right. The sweat ceremony thenight before was good and this would be good too. My stomach grumbled. Hungerand nerves did not go well. I felt nauseous after drinking the tea. Alma puthoney in it but the taste was still bitter. I shook off the icky tummy andpushed harder into the hike. I always liked a good work out. Nahuel picked upthe pace next to me. I glanced sideways at him and become transfixed by thejaguar tattoo on his arm. It blinked and I gasped, shaking my head.
Nahuelgave me a sly grin. “Easy sister, slow your pace.”
Irealized I was running. I slowed to a fast walk. I loved the trees! I lovedtrees in general. The big ones had been there forever. Before me? Beforewerewolves? The thought spooked me. I slowed my pace more and drank some water.It felt like a million ants were sliding down my throat as I drank. I spit itout.
ThenI heard a child laughing in the distance. It was a happy laughter and I wantedto find it. I walked toward it. It was growing louder. I pushed through a densewall of trees to find a little blonde-haired girl spinning around and aroundwith her little brother.
“Ringaround the Rosie, pocket full of posies,” she sang as her and her brotherlocked hands and spun around. When she got to the part where they fell down,she looked up at me laughing. It was me! It was me and Drake when we were kids.It was a memory, a good memory I had lost.
Nahuellightly grabbed the sides of my face. “Remember why you are here. What is yourpurpose?” The children dissipated like ghosts.
Thetea was working in full effect. Nahuel looked like he had just stepped out of awatercolor painting. His nose dripped off of his face. What was my purpose? I’mthe Matefinder. I kept walking.
Howold were werewolves? Who came first? If Great Spirit or God or Sky Fatherexisted, than why did he create all of these different species? Why did evilhappen? Why were we here at all? Was this an experiment? My mind was racing.
‘Balance.’I heard a whisper in my ear. I quickly turnedmy head to the right. A tree was shimmering like it was made of rainbows.Nahuel got in my line of sight. The tree over Nahuel’s shoulder ripped in halfand I saw a vampire wearing a human skin coat with the hair and eyes stillattached.
“No!”I screamed. One of the warriors slashed the vampire with his spear and he wasgone.
Nahuelgrabbed my face gently. “You’re ready.”
Istared into his eyes, Nahuel had a good soul, I could see it. I could see hissoul! It was blue and purple and kind. It was linked to mine. Our paths weredestined to cross.
“Callon your twin spirit. Call out the Devi,” he told me.
TheDevi. How dare she attach to my soul and use me like a car! Drive me allover to do her bidding. I looked down at my hands; they were glowing. My soulwas yellow and white and faintly purple.
“Devi,come out. Show yourself!” I said with fierceness. The warriors had taken upstances around me. We were high up on the mountain. Nothing was happening. Iinstinctively rubbed my palms together warming them up. Mist began to flow outof them. I heard the warriors around me chanting and clanging with theirspears. I looked down at my hands again and gasped in shock as I literallywatched a ghost climb out of my body. She was beautiful. Caramel skin, longblack hair and almond-shaped eyes. She wore a flowing, gold, long sleeved gown.
Shebowed to me deeply. “Aurora, it is a pleasure.”
Iwas speechless. I shook my head and blinked a few times. This tea was crazy.
“Whatdo you want with me? Why are you using me?” I asked her. When I spoke, itsounded like birds were chirping out of my mouth, but she understood me.
Shefrowned. “I forget that you don’t remember things when you come to Earth. Wemade an agreement before you incarnated that I would join your body to helpbring balance to the earth. You volunteered. I am a Devi, an angel, a puresoul, a God, whatever you want to call me, so I cannot inhabit a body alone. Iwould shatter it. I would never do so without your permission. Your good,loving soul is working with me to bring about the change needed on the earth. Youagreed to help the inhabitants here.”
Itwas too much, I sat down breathing heavy. Nahuel handed me water and beganwaving his hands around my body. Golden light poured out of his hands and Ifelt better.
“I’mnot leaving Kai when you are done. I’m not dying early!” I told her firmly.
Shelooked at me with sadness. “We agreed, Aurora. We agreed that I would join yourbody in your twenties and when I left, you knew it may expire your body.”
Herlook of pity sent terror through me. Tears ran down my cheeks. They felt likecement. “No! I don’t want to expire.” She glided over to me and raised herhands toward my head. I flinched. She looked hurt.
“Aurora,it’s okay. I would never hurt you. See what I see. Remember.”
Shegrasped my head. One thousand images invaded my mind, most of them I couldn’tinterpret. Thoughts, words, stories, all downloaded there. I knew things. Ifelt things. Reincarnation was real. Tara was Max’s first wife reincarnated,when his wife died during labor, her soul reincarnated into Tara. If they gotmarried again, they would have the same baby. The same soul. Bodies were justvehicles to explore the world. Nahuel was my brother in a past life. That’s whyhe called me sister. He knew. If the body expired, it wasn’t a big deal. Yoursoul could come back. But the choices you made while in that body hadconsequences. Karma was real. Everything was energy. I startedhyperventilating.
