Chapter Thirty-Nine
The universe never gives a gift unbalanced.
We’ve known all along that our sacrifice would one day need to be paid anew. Our gifts have been taken and spoiled until they’ve become more curses than anything else.
And the thing is, they were gon’ kill us either way. Now or in the future, us or our blood, it don’t matter really. But this baby of mine, she can’t die.
After our meeting in the tunnels, three more women come to me. Say they hear the things I hear. Say they seen what I seen.
One, two, three, four of us.
Water, Earth, Air, Fire.
Mothers.
Foremothers.
Harbingers.
Bearers of the Cardinal prophecy.
By chance, by migration, by divine celestial intervention.
From slave ships to a remote Maroon village in the mountains.
Led here by the invisible hand of the universe. Brought together for this moment.
I know now that there is power in love. In kinship.
That there is power in sacrifice.
Some decisions are meant to break you, to weave into your very core and change the foundation of your being.
Some decisions are worth that.
It is said that when we’re together, there is no iron blade, no accusing tongue, no devil-white fist that will prosper against us. For we are of stardust. The most ancient. The most high.
We are the Zodiac.
But that don’t stop them from trying. And if we are unable to stave off the war before the Cardinals take flight, we will cease to exist.
This why Ms. Lois, Ms. Bessie, and Ms. Sylvia done led the others down to the covenstead. Collected all our precious things. Stored them where won’t nobody find them.
It’s why they drew a circle of protection around the wooden frame.
It’s why they lit the schoolhouse ablaze.
—Nora