Usual disclaimers apply.
Chapter 9
I tossed and turned in my bed. No matter what I did I wasn't able to sleep. Hearing the low voices of my moms talking wasn't helping, nor was the low rumble of Auntie Dite's snoring. How she could sleep at a time like this was beyond me, but then again, she wasn't used to sleeping so maybe it just happened to her, like it did to babies. I didn't really know and figured I probably never would.
The conversation Aphrodite had had with my moms echoed in my head. I wasn't supposed to know about it, but I had snuck into their bathroom and lay with my ear on the floor vent. From that position I was able to hear almost everything that they'd said.
I didn't understand some of it, but I knew that Aphrodite was scared. Mama was furious and Mom was somewhere in between. It didn't seem like there would be much more time until I would be called to travel, and Mama was still determined not to allow me to go. Mom agreed with her on an emotional level, but logically couldn't figure another way to save love for the world.
Deciding I'd had enough of not knowing, I pulled some sweats on over my pajamas and slowly opened my door. If nobody was going to tell me anything, then I would just take matters into my own hands. I needed to find that satchel. It had the answers I needed in it, but first, I'd go visit Mavri. I needed to talk to someone, and he was just about the best listener I knew.
Holding my breath, I let it go when I didn't hear a sound from my parent's room. I walked as quietly as Mama had taught me and made it to the landing when I heard a noise behind me. Before I could turn, a hand was on my elbow and I was being turned, my bottom the recipient of two hard swats. Mama then picked me up and carried me to her room.
Placing me on the bed next to Mom, she disappeared and came back with my elephant. Handing it to me, she held out her hands and waited until I had taken off the sweats and was once again in only my pajamas.
The room was eerily quiet until Mama slipped into bed on the other side. "Lie down, Sam," she instructed quietly.
I did so. and laid my head on Mom's shoulder as Mama curled next to me, holding both Mom and me in her arms. She began to sing and I quickly succumbed to sleep.
*****XENA******BARD*******XENA*******BARD******
I awoke from my dream with a start and quickly started to climb out of bed. Crawling over Mama, I heard a mumbled "Sam?" before my feet hit the floor.
"Bathroom," I said hurrying toward the room of necessity. Finally making it, I was just about to return to bed when the locket around my neck began to feel warm. Touching it, I realized it was definitely hot. My fingers had barely grazed the clasp when a flash of light was emitted and my satchel appeared in front of me.
Gulping, I started to pace. Okay the heat and flash of light were new. What on earth was going on? I needed to talk to Aphrodite, but couldn't. I mean, it was the middle of the night; she was probably still snoring away. Not to mention that it was certain one, if not both, of my mothers would awaken pretty soon and come looking for me.
I started to really panic when I heard footsteps and a knock on the bathroom door. "Sam, honey, are you okay in there?"
I grabbed the satchel and looked around in wide-eyed panic. "Breath, Sam, breath," I thought. "Yeah Mama, I'm just fine," I answered. I quickly opened the cupboard under the sink and threw the satchel in, pulling a towel on top of it. I closed the cupboard door a little too loudly but figured I couldn't redo it now. Opening the bathroom door, I scooted past Mama and climbed back into bed next to Mom.
Mama looked at me and then entered the bathroom. I tensed as I heard her open the cupboard door and sighed with relief as she turned off the light and crawled back into bed. Pulling me close, she kissed the top of my head. "What were you doing in there?"
I yawned, possibly louder than needed. "I thought I saw something run in there. Like a kitten or something. Must have been dreaming," I stated, yawning again.
"Uh-huh." Mama's tone was even but not threatening. She kissed me again. "Go back to sleep, little one, we'll talk in the morning," she directed before I turned on my side snuggling once again toward Mom, while Mama's arm continued to hug me before I once again fell asleep.
***XENA***BARD*****XENA*******BARD****XENA******
"Gabrielle, what are these called again?"
"Pancakes, Aphrodite," Mom answered placing another stack on the table.
"They're almost as good as ambrosia."
I watched as Aphrodite took another bite of pancake and moaned. I looked at Mom who just shook her head and finally sat down to join us.
"Where's Mama?" I asked tucking into my own pancakes.
"Looking for something in the barn," Mom answered.
My stomach dropped and I suddenly wasn't so hungry. Hearing the back door open and close, I suddenly had the urge to run. A heavy hand on my shoulder prevented it.
"Morning, Sam."
"Morning Mama." I answered shoveling a forkful of pancakes in my mouth.
Hearing a loud moan, Mama looked toward Aphrodite and shook her head. "I never thought I'd see the goddess of love eating pancakes in my kitchen," she mumbled before turning all attention back to me.
"Okay Sam, tell me where it is."
"Where what is Mama?" I asked around another forkful of pancake.
Mama raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Right now, young lady, before I decide to take you out to the barn again."
I gulped. "I don't what you're talking about, Mama."
"Where's your satchel?"
"I don't know, honestly, I have no idea," I answered as her eyes flashed.
Standing, Mama glared at me. "Come on then, let's go."
"Go where?"
"The barn," Mama had me on my feet and half way to the door before my rescue came.
"Xena, what on earth is going on?" Mom asked rising and blocking our exit.
"Sam's satchel is missing. She was trying to hide something in our bathroom last night and now she's outright lying to me. She knows that lying is not tolerated in this family, and I'm not about to let her get away with it." Mama ran her hand over her face. "This is too serious for her to play with, Gabrielle."
Mom looked at me and back to Mama. "Sam, do you know where the satchel is?"
I shook my head. "No. I mean, last night in the bathroom it came out of the locket, and I panicked so I threw it under the sink. If it's not there, I don't know where it is."
Mama turned me around until I was looking up at her. The tears had already started to fall and I saw her face soften. "You really don't know where it is?"
I shook my head. "No idea."
"Nothing to worry about warrior babe," Aphrodite suddenly said from the table. "The locket will give it back to her when it's needed. Until then, it keeps it safe for her." She resumed eating her pancakes as Mama's face once again fumed.
"Maybe you're the one that needs the trip to the barn, Aphrodite," Mama threatened.
The goddess looked up at Mama. "Now why would I need to go to some smelly barn and commune with animals?"
I slowly turned toward the table. "Um Auntie Aphrodite?"
"Yeah my little warrior bard?"
"I'm still sore from the last time Mama and I had a special talk in the barn," I emphasized, rubbing my backside at the memory.
"Why on earth would you be sore from talking?" She finally put down her fork, as the realization dawned on her. "Oh really," she suddenly grinned.
Mom groaned and Mama threw her hands up in defeat. "Forget it, you'd probably enjoy it."
"Enjoy what?" I asked, wondering if we were all talking about the same thing. I knew no one could enjoy what I was talking about, but then sometimes grown-ups just said weird stuff.
Aphrodite grinned as she picked up the wooden spoon from the counter. "Could we use this?"
Mom looked at Mama. "See, I knew she'd enjoy it."
Aphrodite looked at my parents. "Well, I'm not the only one in this room who enjoys chatting am I?" She asked as my Mom blushed a lovely shade of rouge.
Mama laughed. "She's got us there, Gabrielle."
Mom hit Mama on the arm and shook her head pulling me to sit down with her at the table. "We still need to talk about what this locket can do," she stated successfully changing the subject.
I looked around a little confused. "Auntie Dite, what were you talking about?"
She winked at me and grinned. "When you're older, sweet pea, when you're older."
Mama sat down next to me as Auntie Dite retook her place at the table. "Tell us more about this locket."
"What's to tell?" Aphrodite took a large drink of her orange juice. "It's a magic locket and will give Sam the things she needs when she needs them."
"Like the satchel?" Mom's voice was terse.
"Yup. Just like that. She must not need it now, or Sam would have already gotten it." She took another drink of juice. "Look, it's no big deal; it's just how this thing works right now."
"No big deal she says," Mama shook her head. "Aphrodite, it is a big deal to us when our daughter is involved."
Aphrodite sighed and looked at me. "Okay sweet pea, tell your wonderful goddess mother what you were thinking about when the satchel appeared last night."
I looked at my parents and back to Auntie Dite. "I'd rather not say."
"Tell me, Sam," Aphrodite asked again.
I gulped. "I was thinking about needing to find the satchel before anything else happened," I said quietly.
"See, problem solved. She thought about it and it showed up. You only have a problem if it shows up before you're thinking about it."
"Fine. Then I know just how to fix this problem," Mama intoned looking at me. "Sam, you're not to think about the satchel anymore."
"Xena," Mom scolded Mama, much to my relief. "You can't tell her what to think and what not to think."
"To hell I can't Gabrielle. I'm the parent, she's the kid. She'll do what I say. That's the end of it."
"Xena," Mom's tone got dangerously low. "I want to talk to you outsideā¦..now."
I watched as my mama reluctantly left the kitchen and became totally confused when my mom grabbed the wooden spoon off the table. As they left, I could hear nothing but harsh whispers.
Auntie Dite however captured my full attention as she mumbled. "Now let's see who gets to have a chat in the barn."
I scratched my head, the whole mess with the barn and the joke that everyone seemed to get but me was giving me a major headache. Deciding not to worry about it, I didn't have to wait long for my moms to return. When they did, Mama seemed quieter than usual, and if I didn't know any better, I could swear she was pouting.
"Samina." The tone of Mom's voice almost made me jump. "The next time that satchel or anything else comes out of that locket, you are to bring it to me or your Mama. Do I make myself clear?"
Thinking it was in my best interest to agree, I nodded, followed by a quick, "Yes, ma'am."
"We'll look at anything that comes out of the locket together," her voice softened.
I smiled. "Yes ma'am," I repeated. Since this was what I wanted all along, maybe now I'd get some answers since I was no longer being shut out.
"But that doesn't mean that you're going anywhere," Mama grumped, adding in her two dinars.
I glanced at her for a moment before nodding and giving her a quick, "Yes ma'am," as well.
