January 14, 2012

Well everyone here is chapter 21. It is a bit short but there is a lot in it. Those of you who have read So What Now will recognize the parts from the 'other' timeline that Dimitri mentions. This chapter is one of the major tie-ins to SWN which is the first of my Alternate Time-line stories.

I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year. I am happy to tell you that as of a week ago I am not 40 yrs. old. For my birthday I went on a cruise with my friend Mike. It was a blast but I think I would have had more fun with a gal pal. Mike is a great buddy but I was soooooooo happy to give him back to his wife. She just laughed when I text her to tell her I wanted to toss him overboard.

If you ever get a chance to go on a cruise I say go for it. I had a load of fun; I ate lots of good food and hung out with my friend of 25 years. The only thing that would have been better is if I had gotten to meet a hot man. (Going with a man buddy is not conducive to flirting.) I did get kissed by two hot drunk collage age guys who were kissing every woman they passed.

Anyway on to the story
Suzanna

Chapter 21: Wakanda

Sometime in the 1500's to Late November of current time.

I was born in the Sioux Indian Nation at a time when the few Moroi born to us lived in harmony with our Human brothers. Strigoi were almost unheard of amongst us and the white man was just barely beginning to come across the great waters to live in this land. I was born with the ability I would later know as Spirit. My name itself means she who possesses Magical Power. As soon as my magic made itself known I began training with the Shaman. As a Shaman I would use my magic to heal and help my tribe and the tribes around me.

When I was in my fourteenth summer my father offered me to the son of the chief. Takota was two summers older than I and we had always been friends. The chief agreed to our union and we were wed within a one moon. Takota was always good to me but in all truth our love was not that of a husband and wife. He lay with me only for the sake of bringing forth a son. Unfortunately for us I gave him two daughters before baring him a son in our fifth winter together.

While I was still waiting for the birth of my son I had many dreams of a young maiden from a tribe far away. She had lost her people in a wild grass fire. She was strong and determined to survive even if she must do so on her own. I envisioned her crossing our path in six moons. This was the woman who was meant to be Takota's wife. I found it strange that I should dream of her but still I found peace that one day Takota would find true love.

One night I began to have terrible visions of people with dead pale skin and red ringed eyes. I knew it was my destiny to fall prey to these walking dead. But I saw a glimmer of hope. Though I would become one of the living dead, I didn't have to live as they did; killing people, causing destruction and pain. My spirit guide came to me in the form of a she wolf and explained to me how I would be able to retain my core self. The she wolf told me that I was being called on for the strength of my magic. It would be my task to pass on my magic to the spouse of the next Great She Wolf.

Moons passed and I prepared myself to do the things the she wolf had told me to do. I waited knowing that she would tell me when the time was right. Two summers later the she wolf came to me again but this time she transformed into a woman. Her hair was red as the setting sun; her skin was a soft white like the shell of a bird egg and her gentle eyes, green as the new moss. She told me that my time had come to prepare.

My dreams told me to take new silver and pound it into small thin sheets. I called on all blood drinking brothers and sisters from neighboring tribes, and asked them to pray over the silver with me; the Fire talkers, Wind talkers, Rain talkers and Earth talkers; each prayed that the silver would keep my inner spirit safe. A shaman from a sister tribe cut open my chest and laid the silver alongside of my heart. Once the silver had been lined around my still beating heart shielding all but the vesicles running with blood, the earth talker meld the sheets together forming a solid shield. The Shaman pressed her hand over my wound and sealed it so that it could not be removed from me.

I knew that I had to leave my people or they would suffer for the curse that was about to befall me. It was now that I realized why I dreamt of, Chilaili, the maiden that joined our tribe eighteen moons ago. A day before my departure I sat down with Takota and Chilaili. I explained to them that I was being sent on a long quest and would not be returning to the tribe. I explained that though I know that Takota had never been unfaithful to me that I could see the love that had grown between them. I was not hurt or upset by it at all. The knowledge that Takota would be well loved and so would my children, gave me peace. Chilaili promised me that she would care for my family and always remember me to them. I kissed my family goodbye and walked away from my people.

I walked for many days before finding the place from my dream. I stayed and waited through three moons. The spirit wolf kept me company and gave me farther instruction on what to expect once I became one of the dead ones. One of my greatest sorrows was that I would not be able to sleep; thus I would not be able to dream. She told me that I would be able to use vision ceremonies to but only if I remained strong and fought the evil.

On the darkest night of the third moon cycle my wait was over. The dead one spoke with a cold tone but his words were incomprehensible. In a flash he took me in his arms and pulled my head to the side; exposing my neck to feed. My life faded; it was time to give my soul to the Great Spirit and beg that he would continue to guide me even when I couldn't hear his voice.

I awoke later in a cave. The dead one was there waiting for me. He was young like me but his eyes looked much older. When he spoke he no longer sounded cold. I felt thirst as I never had before. Having left my people and having not had anyone to offer me blood I had taken to drinking from the dear and rabbits. I wanted to hunt but when I tried to leave the cave he wouldn't let me. I wanted to fight him but instead I trusted him. Once the dim sunlight that had shown at the entrance of the cave had vanished and darkness fell he took my hand and let me out. I pounced on the first creature I saw, it was a moose. He followed my example and pounced on another.

As soon as I had my fill of animal blood I began a vision ceremony. My guide came to me again as the white woman. To my surprise she showed herself to both me and the dead one with me. She said a prayer over us and gave us the ability to communicate with each other. We learned that because my blood was charmed with the silver that protects my heart; the dead one regained the connection and control over his body. So long as neither of us takes a human life we were protected and would keep our control but if we should ever take a life then we would be lost to the evil forever.

Levi, the other dead one, a Strigoi; and I became friends and companions. We vowed to help each other stay strong and fight the inner monsters that wanted the evil to prevail. We continued to exist on the blood of animals for fear of tempting the inner monster. We stayed near enough to the white man's settlements so that we could stay current on the changes of the world around us but far enough away that we would be able to hide from them. After the seasons had made over a hundred full successions Levi and I realized that we had feelings of genuine love for one another. This fact surprised Levi because he had lived many hundreds of seasons or years, more than I had. In all his time as a Strigoi he had never felt any kind feelings for anyone; let alone feelings of love.

We've been together for more than five hundred years. We mostly lived in seclusion staying in cabins or caves. The last five years we have maintained a cabin close to the Hay River Indian Reservation in the Northern Territories of Canada. Finally, my spirit guide told me to leave our place of hiding and travel to where the Great She wolf waited. She instructed me to follow the Raven that would come to us at night. True to her word a raven appeared on our porch railing that very night. He lead us due south for many nights. Before dawn he would lead us to a safe shelter such as a cave or abandoned dwelling where we would be safe from the sun till nightfall.

We arrived at the gate of protecting a small community. Meeting us at the gate was a small young woman with dark yellow hair and eyes that have a combination of brown, blue and green. She seems so young but the roundness of her belly tells me that she is more woman than girl. This young woman The Raven lands on the gate and nods its head to the girl. She walks towards us with no trepidation and held out her hand to me.

"My name is Emma; Raven tells me that you are here to help me heal my mother."

..~*~..

Levi POV

We have waited for so many years to be called into service. Though I cannot say that the wait was insufferable because I have had my beautiful Andi (Wikanda) at my side; but at times I felt it was interminable. In my mortal life I was once a man of science. I had a respect for religion because for me the wonders of science only proved to me that there had to be some greater power guiding all my 'science' along. I believe in an afterlife and I wanted it. The demon that has possessed me, has kept me from that sweet peace for nearly one millennia. My sweet Andi has been my salvation in many ways. Her blood gave my soul strength to fight the monster within me; her company has kept me happy and her love has given me hope.

They young lady at the gate took us into her home and explained that her 'Ghost Guide' had informed her of our quest. She was told to wait for the messenger to deliver us to her. Once confirming our purpose; she set things in motion.

Emma further explained the situation to us. Her mother was fatally ill from the damage done to her by Strigoi. Her father is said to be the only one who could save her mother but he lacked spirit magic with which to heal her with. The belief is that if they are able to awaken him and later transform him back he will then gain spirit ability.

The man was called but before allowing Andi to awaken him a doctor drained almost all his blood into many small bags. Once he was drained to within a hairs breath of life he took hold of his wife's hand and tilted his head to offer the last of his life's essence to my Wikanda. His gaze never left his wife. She cried as his life left his eyes. Wikanda offered me her wrist so that I might bite into her flesh and open her veins. As I bit into her wrist I prayed to God that this man's sacrifice was not in vain. Wikanda placed her open wound to his lips; at first nothing happened. Five, nearly incessant minutes later his lips and tongue began to move and pull in the flow of thick, dark Strigoi blood.

Emma's husband stood close by holding a peculiar stake ready should the man not have control over the monster that was taking root within him. The process of awakening takes nearly a full day whole time his wife stayed by his side keeping a constant vigil. When he finally awakened he took her into his arms in the gentlest manner I have ever seen from a Strigoi. He cradled her and wept with her.

With our first task completed Emma pressed her hand to Wikanda's heart and recited a prayer of forgiveness to her. Though I couldn't see the demon; I knew when it had left her body. For a moment her shoulders slumped as if she was being pulled to the ground but then lifted back up as if she had let go of a heavy weight. Her face glowed with peace and joy. When it was my turn and I was given the choice to take my forgiveness and enter into the gates of heaven or stay here on earth with the knowledge of forgiveness and life; I chose life. I know that I have longed for the afterlife but I could not bear to leave my Andi.

I embraced my Andi and asked her to give me her hand in marriage. Emma and her husband Ben brought us to a church and asked the priest to bless our union. They offered as a small cottage on their compound. I know that most people would take some kind of trip away with their bride but for Andi and I our cottage was the only place we wanted to go. For the first time in all our years together came together and consummated our love.

..~*~..

Dimitri POV
The night of Dimitri's Transformation

I lay next to Roza as she rested. She does a lot of that now. She is so weak that I could only pray that she has the strength to transform me back and wait till I develop the spirit ability that I am hoping to get. Every day she gets visited by at least two of the two dozen Spirit wielders around here. Many of these Spirit wielders are former Strigoi that she herself has transformed. Ten of them are leaders of both Roza's and Emma's Beta Packs. Three of them are people she considers family Lissa, Adrian and Oksana. The Native American woman who awakened me comes quite often. Though none of them can cure her they are able to help her hang on.

I am quite amazed at her Magic. From what I Adrian has told me she is the most powerful Spirit Wielder he has ever encountered. So far that we know every Spirit wielder is strongest in one aspect or another. Lissa is a wonder at healing whereas Adrian and Oksana can heal fairly well, they are nothing compared to her. Oksana is more proficient when it comes to mental things; she can read minds and is very empathic. Adrian is fair with empathy but his best skill is with Dream Walking. He can also locate people he dream walks with if given enough time in the dream to connect with them. There are others who are best at working with plants and animals. An Earth Wielder may be a good gardener but a Spirit wielder can take a seed and make it grow into a fully grown plant already ripe with fruit within hours. All Spirit Wielders are very charismatic and can compel others almost effortlessly. From what Adrian tells me about Wakanda; she is equally strong in all areas. And yet still she cannot cure my Roza or my daughter.

Roza mumbled in her sleep again and moved her hand to rest on her lower abdomen. This is another thing she does a lot; I can only guess that she is experiencing pain there. I know she is in a lot of pain but she never complains especially to me. I rest my hand lightly over hers and pray for her pain to be lessened. In her sleep she smiled and pulled her hand out from under mine only to quickly place it over mine and press it to her body.

As we lay together I thought back to everything I have been studying over the last two months. I have studied everything that I could get my hands on about cancer, cellular biology and Micro surgery. Emma and I have been pouring over The Book of Prophecy and Alternate Timelines. There isn't much to go on but what we found had a description from the other Dimitri; he compared the way he healed his Tasha's cancer to doing Micro Surgery. I have spoken to the other Spirit Wielders and from their description of healing; they do things differently, for them it is more a matter of picturing the outcome. Emma feels that the reason that I will be the only one to be able to heal this kind of cancer is because of my medical education.

Another thing I have learned from Emma's book is the timing of events. The other Dimitri had been Strigoi for almost a year. The last three months of that time he had the silver pellets and other silver charms helping his soul keep control over the demon. He became shadow kissed to Adrian (Who incidentally had married Rose to help protect her and our child from me as a Strigoi.) Adrian taught him how to use spirit over a matter of a year before Adrian succumbed to Hemometabolic Dysfunction. Upon his death Adrian somehow gave Dimitri the rest of his spirit ability. It was nearly two years later that Dimitri healed Tasha of her cancer.

It was very strange reading about events that happened to our parallel selves. The oddity of the parallel aside I was worried about the timeline. I was also worried about the fact that I might end up shadow kissed to someone. Though I am not as close to Adrian as the parallel me was, I would not want him to die for me to have his spirit ability. Also in the other timeline it took three years from the time that Dimitri first became part Moroi after his transformation and the time he healed Tasha. My Roza has so little time left. I can only pray that I can develop Spirit and learn how to use it in time to save her.

In her Sleep Roza pressed my hand down on her lower abdomen again and sighed. I think the pressure helps her pain. Every day she tries to eat and she throws up almost everything. She gets most of her nutrition via IV and even receives a daily vitamin complex in her IV. I am proud of her for fighting so hard. I remember how she had told me she was ready to die but once we made love it was like a switch was turned. I don't know what changed but I thank God for it. I pray every day that she will have the strength to pull through.

POP QUIZ

1. What are your thoughts about Wakanda and her history?

2. Who is the Great Spirit Wolf who guided her?

3. Levi and Andi (Wakanda) have spent about five hundred years together as Strigoi. Now that Wakanda is Moroi again and Levi is once again Human how do you think things might go for them?

4. Dimitri is very worried about how he will develop and learn to use spirit. Do you think things will happen the same way as they did in the other time-line?

5. Who do you think will be most instrumental in teaching Dimitri how to heal? What might it cost them?

6. What triggered the change in Rose that made her start to fight to live rather than being ok with death?

Please review. It would make a wonderful Birthday Gift.

Suzanna