Chapter 22 Oh, Hey, Likosa!
Oh, Hey, Likosa!
“This can’t be real.” I backed away from the woman who approached. “There’s no way.”
“What’s wrong?” Raymond moved with me, his body tensing like he was preparing to defend me.
“She…she—I—” I couldn’t find the words to answer him because I was completely freaked out. Standing in front of me was a woman I’d dreamed of all those years ago. There was no way she was real.
“Oh, Jericha, welcome back.” She smiled at me like we were old friends.
“What?” He looked at me. “You’ve been here before?”
“That was a dream.” I shook my head. “None of that was real. It couldn’t be.”
“That was no dream. You were here.” She held up the end of the scarf and waved it at me. “You left this here. See? I kept it all this time because, well, because it's pretty and very soft, but also because I knew you would need it again someday.”
“You're real.” I relaxed as I looked at her face, realizing she had, in fact, changed my life for the better. I didn’t know if it was self-regulation or some magic she worked on me, but I suddenly felt at ease.
All I could think of was how many things had shifted in my life after that dream.
For years, I attributed everything good in my life to that moment.
“You're like an actual living, breathing person, or demon, or I'm sorry, I don't really know what your classification is here.”
“That's alright, take your time.” Her lips lifted in a soft smile as she glanced at Raymond then back at me. “And I’m not a demon. I’m actually not even from the Bane. This is a second home for me.”
“How? How did any of that happen? Why did you bring me here, and why did you send me back without telling me anything more? You brought me here.” I pointed to the pool of water behind her. “And you took me into the water. I heard things, things that took me a long time to understand. Why?”
“To help you. You were one of the first I found from your bloodline. I let the rest of them come to their discoveries on their own, but you, I knew I had to do more. You were alone, the first one I found who was entirely on your own.” A heavy sigh escaped her lips before she continued, her voice thick with a blend of worry and concern.
“I watched you for a while, bouncing from home to home as a girl.
And when you found your foster mother, I realized she could help you.
She was magical in her own right, though I'm not sure you ever knew.”
“She was?” My throat suddenly burned as I thought of the woman who took me in and cared for me like I was her own. “I never knew she had magic.”
“She might not have known it either. There are plenty of humans in that world who have inherent abilities but never truly unlock them.” She sucked her teeth.
“A shame, really. Imagine how amazing your world would be if not for all that suppressed magic. But if you hide your gifts for too long, they become dormant.”
“Couldn’t you have awakened hers like you did mine?” I asked.
“Not exactly. Yours were genetically suppressed, needing a key to unlock them.” She mimed turning a key.
“Hers were not; they were there, just unused. Also, while magical, she wouldn’t have been that powerful.
I found it fascinating how her abilities aligned so well with yours.
Think of the way she taught you how to take care of the Earth, how to bond with and care for your plants.
Your power is based on the element, so it made sense for me to help you unlock that side of yourself so you could learn from her and really appreciate what she taught you. ”
“Anyone want to fill me in on what you guys are talking about?” Raymond looked at us. “It sounds touching, but I’m starting to feel like I’m missing a pretty significant piece of information about my…you…and I don’t like that feeling.”
That hesitation. What was that about? What was he going to call me?
I shook the thoughts from my head to explain what he hadn’t known.
“When I was a young girl, I had what I thought was a dream here, in this cave, with a woman with pink eyes. She told me I was special and took me into a magical pool.” I pointed at the water behind her.
“When I was in there, she cast a spell. When I woke up, for a long time, I felt uneasy about that dream.
I kept trying to remember the words I heard in the water.
It took a while, but I did eventually remember it.
I thought the dream was just somewhat of a prophetic moment.
I thought it was my powers unlocking themselves, but it was really you. I'm sorry, I don't know your name.”
“Likosa.” She smiled. “It’s nice to meet you officially. Our last encounter was brief. I wanted to keep you here longer, but I couldn’t risk it.”
“So you brought her to the Bane to unlock her abilities and then sent her back?” Raymond recounted what I told him, but there was a suspicious tone in his voice, like he recognized something in the information I hadn’t.
“Yes.” The simple word fell from her lips like a bird’s morning song.
How does she do that?
“Why?” He stepped between her and me. “Why would you do any of this?”
“I just explained that.” Likosa scoffed. “I know you shadow men have a hard time listening, but this is bad, even for you.”
“No, Likosa. I know there is more to it. I know who you are.” As he spoke, the tattoos on his arms shifted like they were preparing for a fight. “You don't do things just because they feel good. You do things because they must happen. What did you see?”
“I don't owe you any explanation of my visions.” She waved him off. “Don’t come into my space and assume you know anything.”
“You had visions about me?” I asked over his shoulder. “Is that true?”
“You are an important person. That's all that matters.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “And that's why I helped you. Raymond is just paranoid because he’s been running from his past for so long.”
“What do you want with her? They told me you practically tripped over yourself to help us create those charms. Your eagerness surprised me, but there wasn’t time to question it.
Now, it turns out you already knew Jericha long before she got here, which means you knew I was near her, right?
” His arms flexed more as he spoke, and something in the back of my mind told me this would not end well.
“And what about everything that happened with Metice and Rayna? You knew all of that too. You did the same thing with her and that pool of water, right? Why are you so interested in these women?”
“Don't strain yourself trying to connect the dots of things you can't even fathom exist.” There was a sharp cut to Likosa’s voice that betrayed her previously sweet tone. “Watch yourself, Raymond.”
“You're hiding something,” he insisted.
“And you're getting on my nerves,” she snapped.
“Wait, you said there are others you have found and helped? People like me.” I stepped around Raymond and ignored the way he bristled.
He had questions, but suddenly, so did I.
“Is it just Rayna, or are there more? Are you connected to our bloodline? You said you’re not from the Bane, right?
Is that why you want to help us? To connect with us? ”
“Why are you all so obsessed with this question?
Can't you just say thank you?” She sighed, throwing her hands up as she walked away.
“I got bored. Is that a good enough answer for you?
I don't belong in the Bane. So, from time to time, I look out into the verses. I try to find something to entertain myself when it becomes too mundane around here. I found your people, the originals, in their home world. They were these intriguing beings with unique gifts, and I could not stop thinking about them. I thought of leaving the Bane and joining them, but before I could, something terrible happened: their world was all but destroyed.”
She strode towards the opulent, tall seat that echoed her own bold energy and sat at the pool's edge like a throne. Her fingers gripped the armrest as her head dropped against the tall back.
“It took so long to figure out where they were, but I knew they still existed.
That magic feels so unique, one of the few with a distinct texture.
After a lot of work, I traced them to Earth.
I don't know why, but I could not get the idea out of my head that there was something more there.
Time moved so fast on that little blue planet.
By the time I found them, most of them died out, but not all of them.
Some adapted. They lived in that dismal world, and they bred with the humans. Their babies inherited those magical genes, but over time, the sound of their magic became muted as it was buried within them. I thought it might have been lost, but I had a vision that it could be unlocked.”
“So you made it your job to do so?” I asked. “Why did it matter so much to you?”
“Why, why, why?” She sighed. “Because such beauty should not be lost. It shouldn’t quietly vanish. I’ve seen it happen—magic stolen, squashed out. I couldn’t let that happen again.”
“How many?” I asked, my throat tight with concern.
“How many what?” Her face twisted in confusion.
“How many others have you unlocked?” I looked at the water. “How many have you taken in there?”
“There have been a few others of your bloodline. They exist, but not all of them can be unlocked. Some are too resistant, but there are a few more. Now that your abilities are awakened, Rayna’s as well, it may call to them. That’s something you might want to keep an eye on.”
She looked at me with this knowing expression, and I immediately thought of my sister. Could she also be awakened?
“You know the others,” Likosa continued. “They are a little more resistant to the change, but you took right to it. You even got your first companion shortly after we met, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, I did.” I thought of the little seed that turned into so much more. “Kaa.”
“She's an interesting little thing, isn't she? Honestly, she's going to be amazing when she reaches her full potential.”
“Her full potential?” I stepped toward Likosa. “What do you know about Kaa?”
“She's not from your world, so there's only so much growth she can do there. It would be wonderful to see what she’s capable of if properly nourished. Maybe…hopefully, someday, that will happen.”
“Okay.” I glanced at Raymond, who shrugged.
“Sometimes, she's a little eccentric.” He smirked.
“What about the cat?” Likosa asked, pulling my attention back to her.
“The cat? What cat? I don't have a cat.”
“The cat. Black and full of attitude.” Likosa explained. “He wasn't meant for you. He was meant to be given to someone else.”
“Maverick?” My heart raced in my chest. I knew exactly what catch she was talking about. It was a cat I had given away. I told Jackie to be careful and made sure it got to my sister. “That came from you?”
“Yes, I sent it your way with a message.” She sighed. “It can be difficult using the earthly witches to do my bidding, but I can't always go down there. It's too risky. So, I asked her to make sure you got it, to make sure you understood it had to go to someone special, someone who needed it.”
“I can’t handle this.” I looked around for somewhere to sit, but there was nothing.
“Yes, you can. You’re strong,” Likosa said matter-of-factly.
“Stronger than the last one who came here.
Brand new. She didn't know a thing about who she was, and if I'm honest, she was a little annoying.
How many times does one have to tell you what's going on before you stop questioning it?
But I can already see you're way more receptive to all of this.
You've been exposed to the magical world, and you've had time to adjust and understand there are things outside of your current understanding but not entirely impossible.”
“Why did you want us here?” Raymond asked. “Cufio said you asked for us.”
“Oh, well, about that. I don’t think you’re ready, so don’t worry about it.” She waved his question off. “My timing is off, which doesn’t happen often, but no one is perfect.”
“Ready for what? Don’t play with us, Likosa.” Raymond’s jaw tightened. “There is too much going on for you to waste our time like this.”
“The bond, obviously.” She leaned forward in her seat. “Why else would I want you here?”
“What bond?” I asked.
“The marriage of souls.” Likosa’s lips stretched in a hopeful smile, like she thought I would jump at the sound of that. They quickly dropped when I stepped away from her.
“Excuse me?” Well, so much for that calming effect she had. Panic. It was time to panic. “I didn’t come here for a marriage.”
“We are not doing that,” Raymond said. “That is not a favor you can ask.”
“Oh.” She paused, waving her fingers at us and twisting her lips. “I assumed.”
“What did you assume?” he asked, jaw tight and voice laced with venom.
“Are you two…together?” She tapped her chin. “I couldn’t have been that far off.”
“No,” I blurted, then shot a nervous glance at Raymond. “I mean, not like that.”
“Right,” she sighed. “I’ve seen, well…I guess I’ll have to wait.”
“Look, I am here to save my friend.” I held my hands up as I cleared the air. “That’s all. Whatever exists between me and Raymond is our business.”
“Of course. I must just be losing my touch,” Likosa said, but the strange lilt to her voice told me she didn’t mean what she said. She believed I would marry Raymond.
“They said I owe you a favor,” Raymond said. “What is it?”
“You? Oh no. You owe me nothing.” Those pink eyes shifted to look at me. “She does.”
I scoffed, placing my hand on my chest. “I do? When did I agree to that?”
“Yes,” she said. “But it appears I’ve miscalculated things. I’ll be here when you’re ready. Besides, you have other things to worry about now. That friend of yours…she may not last long here.”
“Natalie?” My heart skipped a beat. “What’s wrong with her? What do you know?”
“I know she’s human.” Likosa sighed, a somber expression masking her face. “Most humans don’t adapt well. They either die or they mutate. Either way, you’ll want to get her back to Earth as soon as possible.”
“Can you help us save her?” I asked desperately. “I don’t want her to die here.”
“My help comes with a bargain.” She stood from the throne and took four deliberate steps. “What are you willing to do for me?”
Marriage. She wants you to marry Raymond.
“No, we can figure it out on our own.” Raymond pulled my hand into his. “Keep your bargains for the next fool.”
The shadow wall opened behind us, and he turned, pulling me with him.
“Wait,” Likosa called out. She pulled the scarf from around her neck as she reached me. Then, with a cool smile on her face, she slowly wrapped it around my neck. “You’ll need this. Keep it close.”