Chapter 21: The Ties that Bond
"Well child? What is it that you see?" the rich speech of a woman dressed in finely woven golden dress inquired suddenly as she looked on at the young blond girl standing before her.
"I see shoes moving along a dusty path and I can smell salt in the air. They are near the sea, Mother Jebel..." She whispered hoarsely as small beads of sweat rolled down her face as she continued to concentrate.
The woman in the golden toga turned to the young woman sharply "Look harder, Maya! Try to see their faces! You must show them to us! You must tell us more about them!"
With her hands outstretched upon a cool slab of marble with plainly carved religious icons, Maya once again focused all of her concentration on the group. She could just make out their fuzzy voices.
"...Boats. I hear something about boats, Mother Jebel. I am tired Mother. I can't see no more." She offered weakly, collapsing to her knees from the strain of the mind connect. Withdrawing from the field mouse's mind, she took a deep breath. It was much harder to connect with the minds of the beast of the wild than with those of other people, due to their primal thoughts. Yet it had to be done. It was her calling to do so.
Walking briskly to the crestfallen girl, Mother Jebel loomed over her "Next time you must try harder, child. We need to know where the creature is in order to destroy the filthy abomination. I admire your dedication but it's simply not enough, my dear." She gently scolded as she bent down to pick her up. "Now go and pray to the goddess and ask her for strength during your trials."
Maya nodded her head in response as she arose and slowly left Mother Jebel in the Room of Relics. Following Maya's heels, the elder locked the heavy timber door and untied her neatly braided coiled hair, symbolizing that religious practices were over and she was now ready to be approached by the unsaved.
"I see what you mean." A hard voice reverberated within the room "And you think she is one of the legends, also?"
Mother Jebel glided over to a huge bookshelf lined with well-used scrolls, leaflets and other paper material. Within the parchments sat a rolled up green lined cloth. Unfurling it revealed one particularly worn manuscript. With the paper resting gently within her hands, Jebel made her way over to the marble slab and placed the delicate relic upon it.
(1) "This is one of the oldest scrolls telling of the history the goddess of Eva, the earth mother, Gi." She began pointing to the ripped end of parchment. "It was written in old tongue, most of it lost in translation into modern language. Notice the difference in writing styles in the text. This show how many different hands wrote this story over the years. It was estimated that over seven languages were used in its writing. "
"So what does this have to do with the matter at hand, my lady?" came the man's sour reply.
"The girl you just seen was able to translate all of them in a matter of minutes, when she first learned how to read, sir knight." Mother Jebel offered solemnly.
The man stiffened slightly at the remark "She could be making it all up, you know. How could you tell the difference, Mother?"
Mother Jebel, crossed her arms under her breast taking a defensive stance "That would be highly unlikely, Sir! First of all our daughters are not taught to lie, it is a sin against the goddess. Secondly, I did state that some of it was translatable in our modern tongue."
The man snorted in response "Madam, You may have taught your young ladies not to lie but many of them hid the truth very well. I see that you don't realize how many of your daughters are secretly dating my men." The woman face reddened with embarrassment as he continued on "Nevertheless, if what you say is true then we indeed have a predicament of significant proportions. This prophecy you speak of? Can a simple being really destroy the world?"
"Yes, the old tongue spoke about a third world war, beast against beast, humans against human. It's the final war in which the fate of this planet will be chosen. This abomination we speak of, if given the chance, will rise up and lead the unclean. We can not allow that to happen before Maya 'remembers' who she truly is." Mother Jebel said smoothly.
"Maya is able to wield magic without the use of wands or other methods that require chrysm gemstone. That is something only those of the higher power can do. In many of the unsaved believe the Daughters of Eva are more than regular mortals but she...she is truly different. I believe within my heart she is the one the scrolls mention, Commander Kenneth."
The Commander ran his hand along her salt and pepper hair and gave a sharp sigh.
"Unfortunately my lady, you must forgive me for my jaded view upon this subject. I must have proof of what you say and if she is as you believe then she must be put to the test. Execute the plan we spoke about and tell me of the results. I will await your response. " With that he unlocked the heavy door and went his way. Mother Jebel leaned her hands upon the table, releasing a shaky breath. It was too close for comfort for her to deal with this particular unsaved.
When the signs of the spawn first began to surface, she didn't know what to do yet she knew she needed help in an immense way. Originally, Mother Jebel and some of the other mothers went on a pilgrimage across the nation to raise awareness to the unsaved but many of the fallen had ignored their warnings. In desperation, she turned to the leader of one of the greatest armies known, Commander Kenneth. He was reluctant to aid them, at first calling their cause "religious nonsense."
Yet, in a strange turn of events, the goddess gave her answer to Mother Jebel problems when Commander Kenneth sent his unknown response in the form of a one winged angel.
Mother Jebel fondly remembered the time Maya immediately took to the girl and aided her during her short stay at the church grounds. No one else noticed it but she did. Maya had yielded to her destiny and begun her following that day.
Realizing the bargaining chip she held within her hands, Mother Jebel notified the Commander that she had important information concerning his troops, especially one very important prodigal soldier he told her about in confession. She knew the exact locations of his son through Maya's mind connections.
Only, she wouldn't tell him where he hid until he helped her finish her mission to kill the Blue beast.
Kenneth's personal vendetta against his son made for the most awkward of situations and Mother Jebel used that against him. It made her life difficult to go against her upbringing, especially when she and all the Daughters of Eva are taught to forgive, hold to peace and to love above all things in their pilgrimage through this life. Now as strange bedfellows, they have come together in a turbulent stalemate. The proverbial "I scratch your back, if you scratch mine."
"Sister Jebel." a plump woman dressed in similar garb called to her from within the doorway "Has any progress been made? What of the Commander?"
Wrapping her hair back into her comforting tight coil, Mother Jebel walked outside of the Room of Relics, linking her arms together with that of her sister "Let's not talk about such things in the open. One never knows who might be listening."
--Elsewhere on the grounds, Within the Chapel of Recovery--
"Earth mother, I don't understand. Why do I have to do this? Why me? Please tell me what to do!" (2) The young woman mulled over with her fingers continuously folding in different positions. Praying in front of the cool sandstone sculpture before her had always calmed her but now it only made her more nervous.
She was earnestly trying to play the role called for her to do, save the earth at all cost. When it all came down to it, it was a simple decision, Kill the abomination. Yet her heart was troubled and she couldn't fathom why.
When she tried to mind connected with the beast, a stronger force always impaired her vision, immediately sapping her of her strength in the process, as if to warn her to stop. Yet the loss of her energy was never painful or harsh, it was calming, almost loving in a sense. A sickening knot twisted in her gut the more she thought about it. Something was all wrong about this and she couldn't figure it out.
Maybe it was the old dragon. She thought he the abomination but after meeting with the increasing weakened monster in her visions at various points in her life she knew better. He was desperately searching for the abomination too. The 'awakening' he called it.
"Please give me a sign, Earth Mother! Please tell me what I am doing is in your will!" Maya questioned solemnly. The sculpture continued to glare down at her, no great visions, no all-knowing songs, no mystical replies, no nothing. Crushed, Maya gave up on her prayer. Bowing gracefully in front of the statue, she asked the earth mother for forgiveness of her disobedience.
'Praying without full concentration or heart is almost as bad as spiting in another person's face,' she repeated the well-drilled lesson thoughtlessly.
Walking past the other young women deep in prayer, Maya made her way outside the cathedral in to the bright sunlight. Lifting her closed eyes to the warm rays of light, a gentle breeze caused her blond hair to swirl around her face. The beauty of nature didn't calm her as she thought it would. Her mind drifted back to her earlier thoughts. Was she able to do it? Could she actually save the world like the Mothers whispered to her?
"How could so many unsaved take these simple pleasures for granted?" she thought resentfully "If they just appreciated the plain wonder of life and nature, the beast would have never came and I wouldn't have the weight of the world upon my shoulders!"
Sighing, she sat down upon the cathedral white stone steps. She knew the Mothers would call her to mind connect again in order to see if she could progress. The Mothers always pushing her to do more, ignoring the toll it took on her body. All the time it took the Mothers to create the ultimate plan for peace, how could she tell them about the uneasiness she was feeling inside? Could she turn her back on the only family she ever known over this nagging feeling of empathy?
"Damn it all!" she swore under her breath, quickly recanting it.
All the teachings of love all others, put away wicked practices and thoughts, to place your faith in the goddess, where had they gone? She didn't want to be the person they were asking her to be. She wanted to be free to love, desire and hope. She was beginning to feel like a puppet on a string that the Mothers planned, produced, and ultimately directed.
Mother Kaina voice echoed in Maya's brain. "We must stop the beast. You are our beacon of hope! You shall be our weapon!"
Mother Beca chimed in hauntingly "You must become the warrior for the goddess!"
The eldest, Mother Jebel's voice came as a soft whisper, "You are important to us, Maya. As a child we once saved you, now you owe the goddess for her blessings! Your wonderful powers will heal the world in her name! You must save family."
"Why won't they leave me alone? I just want to be left alone," she whispered to herself, grabbing her hair in her hands. Nothing was making sense anymore. She loved her Mothers, they raised her, sheltered her, gave her peace of mind, the love and understanding she needed. But now it seemed they were Hades bent on causing nothing but turbulence, all in the name of the goddess.
These strange powers that developed within her were pulling her towards something, but to what? She had the ability to do things, things people have never witnessed before. Capabilities the unsaved couldn't even contemplate. Yet, with all this she couldn't understand why she felt so alone, so powerless to stop the growing nagging in her heart.
"I could just leave, never come back..." she reasoned within her inner self.
"But they took you in when you where left on these very steps as a baby, how could you leave the only family you know." came the simple reply of her soul.
"Why doesn't the goddess answer my prayers? Why doesn't she give me the guidance I need to protect these unsaved?" she cried inwardly, her anger beginning to flare.
Feeling a light touch upon her shoulder, Maya's head jerked up in surprise. There casting a shadow upon her stood a smiling, heavy set young girl. Her chocolate eyes shined bright with compassion and worry as they look upon Maya. Shana was the only girl that wasn't jealous of her new found "fame" of the Mothers. In reality, she was the only friend she ever confided in.
"Are you okay, Maya?" she asked softly. Maya nodded, placing her head upon her arms. "I'm having second thoughts about what they want me to do." Shana took a close seat to her friend, placing an arm around her.
"You can always leave the sisterhood, Maya. You can live me and my family, if you want." Shana offered honestly.
Maya chuckled slightly as she turned to her friend "Shana, you have six brothers and four younger sisters, where in the world would I sleep?" Shana openly smiled giving a full view of her bucked teeth in the process.
"The same place I sleep, standing up in the broom closet!" With that she let out a hearty laugh. Her infectious banter crawled into Maya causing her to laugh out loud. Shana stretched very unladylike upon the steps as she turned her head towards Maya.
"Have faith, Maya. Whatever it is called for you to do, it will be done when the goddess chooses it to be done. I know the Mothers are putting you in the spotlight as of late. But don't sweat it, what will be, will be. Hey, I want you want to meet someone. I met him while you've been busy with the Mothers. He's down at the river with the other studs from the Alliance force, who swim au natural mind you."
Maya's head perked up as she turned and noticed Shana's neck. A small purple mark was peeking out from her sister's dress. Maya swatted the mark as Shana recoiled with a soft "ow!"
"I see you've been busy too, you trollop!" Maya stated as laughter mingled with mock horror in her voice.
"Lately, you haven't been around to be my conscience, so I blame you for my descent into debauchery and sin. And if anyone ask that is my story and I'm going to stick to it. As a matter of fact, I'm so insulted by your negligence that I am going to the river to swim naked and cool down." Shana added devilishly, getting up and walking towards a dirt path.
"Shana!" Maya roared with laughter at her friend rants. "Isn't that where your friend is?"
Shana gave a sly sideways glance to Maya as she continued on. "Why yes, yes he is. Would you care to join me in my fall from grace?" Maya jumped at the opportunity and the two linked arms and sped walked away from the cathedral.
Along the way through the brushwood, Shana hummed a upbeat hymn only to abruptly stop and ask "What does it feel like? I mean, to uses your power to be in favor with the Mother's? "She questioned softly.
Maya took a deep breath as she look towards her friend. "Sometimes I feel like I'm making a huge difference in saving the unsaved other times, its one big pain. I keep thinking I'm doing the will of the goddess but at the same time the Mother's make me feel like I have to do this, like I don't have a choice in the matter. At times, I wish I never had these powers."
Shana slowly nodded "I'm sorry, I never knew you felt that way. I hate it when you get all 'thinky' and introspective like this. You start to get depressed and stuff, so let's promise never to talk about your powers ever again, deal?" She made a grand gesture to offer her hand to shake.
Giving her friend a slight smile and grasping her hand, Maya replied "Sure. It's a deal, crazy lady."
Pulling her friend along, Shana imitated an exasperated sigh "Come on, slow poke before the Mothers come looking for us and we can't see any beefcake!"
The young women picked up their pace, falling into a friendly silence as they moved along. Maya turned back to see the top of the cathedral. She knew she would do her best to protect this world, not because of the Mother's teachings, not because of the Earth Mother, not because of the undeserving unsaved that walked this planet. No, she would save the world in honor of her friend, the only person that didn't care what she was or could do.
With a slight smile, Maya turned her face to look forward only to have it darken in color when she realized that Shana wasn't kidding when she stated the men like to swim naked.
Author notes--
(1)Take note that the Mother's have a scroll...details to follow.
(2) I loved Sailor Moon growing up. Fellow "Moonies" know where i got this from. I had to put this in here!