Three

Niylah

Niylah awoke to the sound of laughter. It didn't alarm her one bit, in fact it sounded familiar. She opened her eyes slowly and looked about. It had grown dark while she had slept. Seeing where or who from which the laughter came was nearly impossible. Fortunately, she was prepared and reached for her bag.

The instant the candle was alit, Niylah saw movement in her peripheral. She should have been alarmed, but wasn't. How could this be she asked herself? Rising slowly from her feather bed, she stood tall and extended an arm. Her reach changed the lighting just enough to allow the image of a flame to bounce off the eye of what appeared to be a messy haired and obviously curious little girl.

Without hesitation, Niylah whispered softly and slowly. "Hi, I'm Niylah. What's your name?"

The little girl smiled widely, but didn't answer. She looked to her left instead. She appeared to be seeking permission.

Niylah looked to the little girls left as well. There, just outside the candlelight's reach was the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen. Shadows fell all around this magnificent creature and yet Niylah could still tell she was someone from another realm; someone of Goddess lineage; someone she felt she had met before, but couldn't remember when or where. Perhaps in a dream or a memory from childhood? She settled on the latter and tried to connect the similarities between the otherworldly Empress before her and her Mother's mysterious friend. There were some, but not many. It was very clear this woman was not entirely human.

It was as if time slowed. Niylah could almost hear it braking. Time; she could literally hear time, or what she thought time might sound like. She could only describe it in a tactile sense. It was like fog, thick and miasmatic. The kind of mist so dense it turned to ice when it touched frozen ground. She stood speechless in the slowing as the Goddess nodded toward the little girl who enthusiastically turned time back to its normal pace. "I'm Tahneysa," she blurted then lowered her eyes and shifted on her feet with an absolutely adorable display of curiosity.

Niylah, still felt no fear; in fact what she felt was the opposite of fear. She felt brave and powerful like she was in her rightful place. Like she was with her people, once again, even though they weren't her people. She fell to her knees and said, "Well hello, Tahneysa. It's very nice to meet you."

Tahneysa giggled and smiled an electric smile. The gorgeous woman moved closer and placed her hands on her shoulders. Tahneysa seemed to relish in the sensation. She looked up and held the woman's gaze, providing Niylah with a chance to take in the rest of her features. She guessed she was about six years old. She had brown eyes and wild messy brown curly hair that was obviously so unruly that no one bothered trying to tame it. She had full lips and a small chin; she was small boned as well, with tiny wrists and a petite frame. At the same time, she appeared athletic. Niylah imagined her running like a dear and climbing like a feral cat.

Niylah's then let her eyes fall upon the woman's hands. Her core alit with energy as vibrations ran up and down her spine. She rose to her feet and regained eye contact with the woman before her, feeling somewhat abashed by the desire surging through her. She waited for the woman to speak. With time moving as slowly as it was, she had what felt like unlimited access to examine every aspect of the creature before her. She took in everything she could; her long thick straight auburn hair, her hazel eyes and the way they sparkled with flecks of amber, even in the dimmest of light; her tone arms and arced collar bones, her highly defined features and slightly arched eyebrows, her full red lips and perfect skin, her fit and curvaceous frame. She was beyond beautiful. The vibrations within Niylah grew in both pitch and frequency. She swallowed hard. What was happening? Was she falling under a spell? She grounded herself quickly and realized she needed to apologize for intruding upon their space. She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off.

"It's okay, you're welcome here."

Niylah felt week. Had her mind been read? She worried she may faint. The woman's voice was so sensual and so soothing it seemed to penetrate her very essence. Her id screamed for attention.

"It's okay, Dear One. Please sit," the woman husked and made a motion with her hand toward one of the large stones next to the fire. "I will make you a tea. Please, have a seat," she repeated with the same alluring assertiveness and hand gesture.

Niylah did as directed and watched as the woman before her set to fixing. Tahneysa went with, but didn't stay long. Within seconds she was at Niylah's side toting the goatskin drum from the shelf.

"Do you play?" Niylah whispered smiling. She couldn't help notice the way the eyes of the little girl lit up. She appeared to be ancient and wise, all at once. She was so striking. Her eyes were soft, yet fierce. She was young and ancient. She seemed wounded, but Niylah couldn't quite pinpoint exactly where or how. She seemed joyous and resilient. She was a mixture of extremes.

Tahneysa nodded and played a few beats, then looked to the woman for permission to continue. Niylah wondered if she were her daughter. She felt compelled to ask, but didn't. She hadn't even asked the woman her name, yet. And she couldn't tell whether the woman could read her mind or not, though she felt brave and safe enough to test waters. She inquired telepathically. The woman turned around and made eye contact, but did not answer. This lead Niylah to believe she could read energy, not thoughts. And, apparently Tahneysa could as well for she immediately put skin to skin.

The rhythm Lil T, a nickname Niylah instantly formed in her mind, offered was hypnotic. Niylah felt more and more relaxed with ever downbeat. It was as if the cadence were taking over her psyche, lulling her in and pulling her down. She understood the timing of it completely. It was an ancient song she hadn't heard in this lifetime yet, but knew it well from so many before. The vibration left her spine and spread throughout her entire body. She drifted off and only returned when the memorizing hazel-eyed woman placed a hand on her shoulder and offered a steaming mug.

Niylah accepted the tea and for one brief second their fingers touched. The contact sparked a fire like no other. Niylah could have sworn she saw a flash of lavender light bounce from the place where their hands had touched. She opened her mouth to speak, but then thought better of it. What if words ruined the moment? They didn't seem enough somehow, or capable of such beauty.

The woman looked into Niylah's eyes softly, as if understanding, quite possibly agreeing. She whispered, "I'm Damartrea. We've been expecting you."

"You have?" Niylah asked curiously, the sensual tone in her own response offering up an element of surprise. It was her voice, she knew it, but it didn't sound like her. How could that be, she wondered? Who were she in this moment, if not herself?

"I knew your mother well," Dameartrea said pulling Niylah from her thought.

"You did?" she responded with tears welling in her eyes.

"Yes, though Jahdi and your mother were far more connected than she and I were."

"Jahdi?"

"Jahdi," Damartrea said waving a hand toward the darkest area of the cave.

Niylah squinted her eyes and searched the shadows. She could just make out the silhouette of a woman she took to be an elder, though it was only her body that appeared to be elderly, nothing else.

Jadhe smiled at Niylah and slowly approached; her bright eyes reflecting firelight; her small frame showing strength and grace; her energy field shining bright and reaching into every crack and crevice. She was an older version of her Mother's mysterious friend, but it couldn't be possible that she was the same person. Still, the markings on their bodies were similar. She was adorned with symbols and maps, geography, topography, astrological patterns and designs. All were artfully placed. She was stunning, to say the very least. And yet her physical beauty paled in comparison to the wisdom that so clearly emanated off her being. Niylah knew before Jadhi reached her seat that she was in the company of some version of the Triple Goddess.

Damartrea gracefully lifted to her feet and poured two more cups, inviting Tahneysia to join them. The little girl smiled widely, making it obvious she appreciated the invitation. She put the drum back on the table reverently, sipped slowly and kicked her dangling feet about occasionally, reminding the other three of her youthful brilliance.

All drank in silence. Niylah felt so welcome, so at peace. She'd found the place from which she came. But, was this possible? Could she have been born here, she wondered? She knew so little about her birth. She had so many questions, but didn't know how to ask any. Yet, it was as if her need, her absolute need, to have her questions answered had no power. It was a need without pain, need without urgency, need without grasping. She was fulfilled with the unknowing. She trusted the answers would come, when she truly needed them; Goddess wisdom would be shared.

Niylah felt the warmth of the beverage spread throughout her body. Her mind drifted back in time to memories of her Mother and the next thing she knew, she was in her bed awakening, as if it were all a dream. It was morning now and birds of first light sang their songs. Niylah looked up and realized everything was different; not only was the sky bluer, her skin felt softer, and the air seemed clearer, in fact her lungs were energized with every breath. Her hunger was stronger than ever, as well. She lifted herself slowly and padded toward the center. The fire was still burning and there was a pot of mixed berry and grain porridge warming on coals. A clay teakettle was there as well. It was steaming and by its side was a mug identical to the one she had sipped from the night before. She instantly wished there were four instead of one. She knew Damartrea, Tahneysa and Jahdi were real. She wondered if they would visit her again in her sleep and thought of returning to her bed simply to find out. Then she realized she might be able to call them into a sacred circle instead. She opted to eat and drink before making any decision. Her main reason for being there was to take her first journey to the Other World, though she couldn't help but wonder if she hadn't already. The Other World didn't look like she thought it would, but nothing could be ruled out at this point. Nothing.