'C'mon Cilla. Let's walk a little faster.'

'No Ca.'

Cathy stopped short and kneeled down in front of Cilla, no mean feat in her slim-fit skirt and high heels. Cilla was to make her first visit to the school which she would attend in September. There was an uncertainty about her exact age but her behaviour suggested she may be ready for school. No records existed for the little girl's birth. Her biological mother was dead at the hand of Cilla's father who now languished in prison. Both parents had been seriously addicted to drugs. Her father was barely able to remember killing her mother much less the dates when the unwanted children had been born. Cilla was a quiet child, slow to talk and almost forgotten in the medical intensity surrounding Mea's liver disease. Her words were few but always profound and never wasted. She spoke her mind.

Despite the summer sun and warming days, Catherine had not felt strong enough to leave the house alone. Rather than add undue stress to her mother in law, Cathy offered to take Cilla to school for a 'meet and greet' parent/child morning. Cathy knew when she married Jacob that Cilla and Mea would become their responsibility if anything happened to Catherine or Vincent. The transition would not be difficult. Sharing different sections of a house, no matter how big still felt more like a family than living apart. For Cathy, who had been an only child, the opportunity for the closeness of a warm and supportive traditional family was a blessing she cherished each and every day.

She sighed cuddling the little body.

'Tell me why you don't want to go Cilla.'

'My tummy is sick.'

'How about ..... we go to the park and sit on a bench. Would you like to do that?'

The nod was clearly a sign of relief. Cathy understood nerves. She would talk to Cilla for awhile and see if they could find common ground to move forward to the school.

They spoke a little about subjects other than school. It was clear that the possibility of a separation from her family during the day was a big threat to a small child who had a history of abandonment.

Cathy could feel the vibration of her cell phone and asked the little girl for permission to interrupt their talk. She knew it was Merindia returning her message. They had agreed to meet during an earlier call. It appeared that she would be even later if Cilla continued to dawdle.

'I am trying to encourage Cilla to walk on but she is having a case of the willies.' Cathy heard a little chuckle from Cilla but carried on. 'Perhaps we could make it a later lunch instead?'

Merindia agreed. Cathy hung up and looked at her little charge. 'Well little sister, are you ready to move on now.'

'Am I your sister?'

'Yes of course Cilla. Didn't you know that?'

Cilla looked puzzled, not really understanding.

'I am your big sister and Jacob is your brother. We both love you a lot.'

Cilla placed her hand in Cathy's and stood up indicating her readiness to go. Smart enough to say nothing further, Cathy grasped the little hand and walked on towards the school at the end of the street. Walking through the park was more fun than the sidewalk. Both the flora and the fauna of the park provided enough distraction.

Surprisingly, Cilla showed no further signs of reluctance. She clung to Cathy's hand but on their arrival at the small private school, she greeted the new teacher with a polite hello and consented to be led to an area which contained shelves of books and learning games. A few other children were seated around a small table. Every so often she looked back, as if to ensure herself that Cathy was nearby.

The principal of the small private school came in to share some conversation with the parents. She approached Cathy offering a few words of support.

'I know her mother was unable to come today. I hope that we have provided you with enough reassurance. We want to enable Cilla to feel comfortable with us.'

'I think your setting is very conducive to learning. Cilla has had quite a challenge letting go of her safety net but she is bright and catching up quickly to her peers. This setting seems perfect for her.'

'Are you a teacher Miss…er..?'

'Mrs. Cathy Wells. Cilla is my little sister.'

The perfectly shaped eyebrows rose a little. 'I thought her sister was younger?'

'I am married to her older brother.'

'I see.' Clearly the principal did not see at all.

Cathy smiled but offered no further information. She thought Catherine probably chose not to enlighten too many people about their private lives.

What Cathy realized, as she observed the activity around her, was the separation of the two small girls from her life with Jacob left an uncertainty within Cilla about who they were. She visited upstairs often but the physical disconnection of day to day life puzzled her. Catherine and Vincent were determined to allow the young married couple to have an independent life without the burden of children but the impact on Cilla was definitely misinterpreted.

Who knew or understood the mind of a child, especially one who had been forcibly abandoned by her biological mother. It was obvious that Cilla needed to identify the people in her life and get a sense of her own role. She watched as the little girl tentatively made friends, shared some toys and enjoyed a small snack provided by the school. Cathy discreetly took a picture of her laughing over a game and sent it along to Jacob with a short message.

The get acquainted session ended happily. Cilla was ready to come back again the next day and seemed disappointed that she would have to wait longer.

'Today is a special day to see if you would like it.'

'Yes Cat. Can we come back 'amorro?'

'We will find something else to do tomorrow but you can tell Mommy and Daddy all about your day when you get home.'

Cathy glanced at her watch. She would be unable to return Cilla home and meet Merindia on time. She hated to call again to rebook. Looking at the face of the eager little girl, she thought her sister might just enjoy a 'girls day'. She hoped Merindia wouldn't mind. A tactful call to Catherine was all that was needed to set out on their unplanned adventure with a clear conscience.

They jumped in a waiting taxi and enjoyed the ride to a discreet restaurant located on the upper floor of an art studio. Without Jacob at her side, Cathy was very nervous about ground floor establishments. Like her nickname, she adopted the stance of the feline which preferred to hover above its prey so as to observe actions from a perch then pounce when the time was right. She never again wanted to be trapped on a ground floor during a gun fight.

Merindia had no qualms or concerns about having the little girl share their conversation.

Cilla, sensing something important between the two women, shook hands politely, called her new acquaintance, India, and sat with crayons and a picture to colour while they waited for lunch.

'I am sure you know I was surprised to get your call.' Merindia offered when they were settled.

'I know. I can't apologize for my feelings towards Brian but I like you. I want us to be friends. I told Jacob that if I could see Brian through your eyes, I might perceive him a little more kindly.'

'I appreciate that. I feel like I owe you a great deal Cathy. Without your sanctuary, I would have been lost.'

'On that score we are even. What you have brought to us in terms of supplies and services has made a huge difference to the women.'

Over a delicious meal of pasta salads and ice tea, the two women talked about the wedding and what it would mean.

'I have always wanted a big wedding, lots of guests and food and wine, dancing until all hours.' Her eyes shone while recounting the dream but quickly changed at the reality. 'Now I have to settle for a lot less.'

'Merindia, I don't want to sound ignorant of the issues facing you but I need to understand why you have to avoid a man who is so far removed from your life here. I know a little of the history of the family but why is it so important?'

'What history do you know?'

'About Egypt mostly and the cult which associated it self with the Goddesses Sekhmet and Bast. I have never been one to study mythology in any depth. Frankly, when Jacob was telling me about it, I was so busy with my studies; a lot of it went over my head.'

'I can't do a précis of 3,500 years of history in a lunch time so I am going to make it as short as I can.'

They both stopped for a moment to engage Cilla in a little conversation and admire her drawing. She showed no signs of restlessness. In fact, she seemed fascinated with the bracelet which Merindia wore around her wrist. She fingered the beads with such longing that it was soon doubled around her own wrist. Cilla smiled her thanks and settled back into her drawing.

Once the meal was served they resumed their conversation.

'Cathy, our shared history is quite remarkable. If I go back to ancient times, it would take days but I want to move forward to the last one hundred years or so. Before I can make this whole crazy business sound even plausible, you should know that in those ancient times, people tried to emulate or copy the behaviours of the Gods and Goddesses. It was just the way of life. Our most significant family patterning occurred in Roman times. Jacob could probably tell you more about it but it had to do with a sacrifice of the Virgin.'

'Sacrifice of the Virgin? You mean the Virgin Mary?'

Merindia chuckled. 'No this is so far away from Christianity and well before the birth of Christ. What is most surprising is that the virgin was a man.'

'What?… well there's a twist on an old story.'

Merindia grabbed a piece of paper from her purse and drew eight boxes while she continued talking. 'According to our family legend, some Goddess who was imported from the far east, Phyrigia I think, demanded a sacrifice each year of some virgin, particularly one with golden hair. A young woman was chosen. Unfortunately, she had already been betrothed to a handsome young man but the elders called for her because she was the most beautiful. Her young man, couldn't bear the thought of seeing his beloved dead and offered up his own body. He cut off his genitals, put on a wig and presented himself to the fiery cauldron in her place.' Merindia's hands danced with descriptive emotion as she spoke.

'Oh…ouch!' Cathy chuckled. She never had a real friend to share the ups and downs of life. It was hard to invite girlish confidences when your mother was a street prostitute and you moved often. Jacob was her first real friend. She did not regret reaching out to Merindia, in spite of her relationship with Brian. The young woman, away from the restrictions which had been placed on her, thrived and was a funny, entertaining companion.

Merindia completed drawing her boxes and fitted in names before turning the paper around to show Cathy. She was not surprised to see the name of Vincent at the top. Also on the list was Gabriel, Escobar, Virgil, Seigo, Brian, Kardin.

'I could marry the offspring of any one of these men but Virgil is the most closely allied with the Cult of the Golden Lion.'

'Virgil? I thought that was the man you were going to marry?'

'No Virgil is an acronym for Virgin Initiates Regnant in the Goddess of the Golden Lion.'

'Better you than me Merindia.'

'You have already married the offspring of Vincent. You are in the Cult in two ways already, through Edgar's family, and through marriage. Look, this story is endless and I can't tell you all of it in a lunch hour but next time we meet, I would love to share more.'

'I'd like that Merindia. Just one question? What is the name of the Goddess? I want to google the name so that I can be a little more knowledgeable when we meet again.'

'Cybele!, also known as the Magna Mater of Rome.'

'Sybil? Mama?'

Both women stared at Cilla who was so quiet and almost forgotten in the intensity of the conversation.

'What did you say Cilla?'

There was no response from the little girl. She continued to colour her picture and smile sweetly.

Cathy let it go. She could not however, ignore the lateness of the afternoon. She regretfully said goodbye to Merindia, refusing an offer of a drive.

'We're fine. A taxi will get us home just as quickly.'

Cathy took the paper with the chart on it. She was intrigued by the list and the way Merindia had put the names in boxes. On the way home she stared at the paper trying to see something beyond the obvious. Beside Gabriel, Seigo, Escobar and Brian, Merindia had marked a 'K'. These would be the names of the cult members whose lucrative trade was either owned or controlled by her father, now a reformed criminal. As she looked at the paper, Cathy wondered what a rehabilitated crime lord would do with vast illegal holdings. She sighed, smiling at Cilla who continued to stare at the beads on her new bracelet loving the shiny small stones.

Jacob, sitting in his small, comfortable office was also smiling at the picture of his little sister looking intently at a toy, a serene smile on her face. She had certainly captured his heart strings with her sweetness hidden behind a serious demeanour. It was just another thoughtful characteristic of his wife to send a photo so that he could share the moment. His subconscious mind had just returned from a peek at the troubling aspect of the enormous bird which hovered over him. The picture of Cilla was a welcome respite from his troubled thoughts.

Jacob became aware of his surroundings with great difficulty. His mind had wandered into an unknown distance, even as he tried to focus on the tasks he set for himself. He went through a quick review of where he had been. Only the ongoing image of the large bird remained clear. Once again, the spirit of the condor was able to supersede all else. He returned his attention to the message from Cathy, staring at the face of Cilla, happy and smiling at her new school. He looked at her closely wondering why she was different. In a flash of insight, Jacob realized that he had not seen her so happy before. Clearly she needed to get out more.

For the first time he considered that his mother may not have the stamina to raise the two young girls. Mea's illness had been quite a strain on the whole family. His mother was not as strong as she would have everyone believe. She took in the homeless girls because she had a kind heart, but not a physically good heart. No one knew or suspected that Mea would have been so ill. The life and death sickness took a heavy toll on his mother and yet it was Cathy who spent night after night at the hospital. Jacob felt a decision would have to be made soon. Perhaps he and Cathy would have to take on more responsibility for at least one of the girls by playing a more active role. If his mother faltered, his father would shift his focus to her leaving Cilla and Mea to others.

Jacob left the vision of full time fatherhood and returned to the troubling image of the condor. The computer screen in front of him was set to Google whatever information was available online. It revealed an interesting possibility. According to legend, the condor had been sacrificed ceremoniously by the western tribes to gather its power. From his own history Jacob understood how an animal totem was used to transfer the best qualities of its spirit to the worshippers. He was a product of such a transfer with his own leonine abilities. What the ancients had done, if the Google story held true, was to take the graceful, elegant bird and use it for sacrifice. None of its byproducts was wasted. The feathers were often applied to the body of a shaman or a chosen one or stitched together and worn as a mantle.

Even as he processed the information, Jacob simultaneously recognized that he would have to take the mantle of responsibility from his parents, not just for Cilla but also in the battles ahead. The message from the West in the form of the bird was clear. The herb burdock, which it carried in its mouth was a gauntlet demanding confrontation. The 'family' was gathering. Leadership would be challenged. Merindia's decision to marry Brian had a lot to do with it. Certainly her choice was leading to some complications.

Jacob could not regret the outcome of his actions which freed Kardin and therefore his daughter to live a different lifestyle. A battle for supremacy was the inevitable conclusion to the changing dynamics of an ancient organization whose history was merged with his. He would not invite a challenge but understood that if defending his family was needed, he was ready.