Lessons

PROLOGUE He woke knowing the Shaman walked. Knew his power was more. Knew he was close. The Aztec smiled briefly. Sent his thoughts beyond the boundaries of his land. To the west and his sense of the Shaman weakened. To the east. Yes. Far on this continent to the east and north. This time, the Aztec assured himself, he would not fail. “Ayocuan!” A thin, black haired boy in his mid-teens burst through the bedroom door. “Father!” The Aztec looked at his son. “Father, what has occurred? You do not hold yourself. You are coming through…others will see you.” The truth of his Father rolled down the older man’s body - the lightening of his eyes, the deep white chalk under his brown skin, the tight skin stretching over hollow cheeks. Ayocuan watched the thinly covered muscle and bone of his Father’s fingers grip the blanket. He stepped closer confused by the depth of emotion he felt as the wool fibers burst creating passages through the blanket to the palms of his Father’s hands. “No Father! Control. What do you know?” “The Shaman is close. He walks.” “How can this be? You said he was dead.” The Aztec dropped his head. Closed his eyes. Began to truly understand his son’s thoughts as they were spoken aloud. The man in the bed forced a breath. Regained his control. Lifted his eyes to his son’s. CHAPTER 1 James continued to stand on the outcropping. I continued to stand behind him touching all that I could. Facing south; arms stretched east and west. I understood. The property was clean. Truly clean. The power we had used to clean the land James had taken into himself. Did he realize the power had spilled into me? How long we stayed as we were I didn’t know. The kitchen door closing, footsteps across the driveway, up the side of the outcropping, drew my attention. Johnathan. “James. James what have you done?” Johnathan’s voice moved next to me. I could have stood where I was…never moved again. The voice became urgent. “Victoria, step back…step away.” I forced my eyes to open. “Victoria, you must step back.” I smiled, didn’t want to move. “Is James with you?” Yeah. Right in front of you Johnathan. Geez. “Please step back Victoria. Just a small step. That’s all I ask. A small step, please.” Johnathan moved behind me. So concerned? Why? He was going to pull me away if I didn’t take the step. I took the step. “Better Victoria. Another step.” Johnathan took a step back to allow me room. I lowered my arms, took the second step. The thin layer of light-filled mist on James became denser as it released me. I looked at my hands. The hair-thin layer on my skin looked denser. James moved his arms to his sides, turned to look at me. He smiled. He was fine. Didn’t give Johnathan a glance. “Victoria, you are good?” I nodded, sat on the ground. James’s eyes were light. No lightning flashes, no whites or reds. Just light. “James, what did you do?” Johnathan was on the verge of panic when James moved his eyes to hold Johnathan’s. Johnathan froze. “Johnathan, we are fine. Give us a few moments.” James looked to the driveway. Everyone from the house stood at the bottom of the rear kitchen steps. “Be careful James. You may have what you want but you have obligations.” Johnathan shook his head as he walked down to the crowd. James turned back to me. Joined me on the ground. Put his hand on my leg. Kissed lightly. Said nothing until I asked the obvious question. “Why didn’t you let it go?” “The power was clean. There was no need.” His eyes were starting to darken. I could see the edge of their irises. “Truly, Victoria. How do you feel?” I thought about it. “Like I just ate a huge, very good turkey dinner.” That was exactly how I felt, overstuffed. James nodded. “Yes. I have not felt this since I was filled at the…” James thought for a moment. “When last I pulled power from the desert.” James moved his hand to the side of my face. Traced his fingers from the edge of my eye to the front of my ear, down my neck. “Victoria, you may want to miss your meeting with Mary tomorrow. It would be good to work on your covering.” A small grin took his mouth. “What do you mean? You said yourself that my eyes were fine when I hid them.” Then it occurred to me. Shit. “The roses?” “Yes. I believe the bear has visited.” I shook my head. There was nothing I could do about the spirits; nothing. My last clean spot, the only clean spot on my body had been invaded. James was covered from head to toe with what the casual observer would think of as overlapping tattoos; what I knew to be spirits. I kept my smile. James leaned over his crossed legs. Placed a hand at the back of my neck.