[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
tails of flame in their wake. Staring out at the unbelievable sight, she felt
a rush of nausea.
See! Mikki waved her hand in a frustrated gesture, fighting back the
dizzying sickness. There s another thing I don t think I could have made
up little nymphlike servants lighting tiki torches.
You are not fabricating what you are seeing, nor are you going mad, Mikado
Empousai.
Mikki sucked in a breath and jumped as a woman s strong, throaty voice
surprised her. Shock chased away the weird vertigo feeling that had gripped
her. She turned quickly to a woman who had suddenly materialized and who no
doubt reigned supreme over them all. Overwhelmed, Mikki couldn t find her
voice. She could only stare at the woman like an awestruck child.
She was tall and wide shouldered with a statuesque, appealing body and a
strong, intelligent face. Her lips were full and crimson, and her wide,
watchful eyes were a startling, piercing gray. She wore a gown that was layer
upon layer of shining black silk, draped to flowing perfection around her
body; the curve of her waist was girdled with a chain of silver roses linked
together by stems of rubies. Through a slit in the shimmery gown Mikki could
see part of her long, slender leg so perfect it appeared to be carved from
living marble. Her feet were covered with golden sandals, and beside them
reclined two of the most enormous dogs Mikki had ever seen. The black
creatures unblinkingly met her gaze with eyes that glowed an unearthly red,
and Mikki hastily looked away, her startled gaze skipping from the flaming
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
torch the woman held in one hand, to the gleaming headdress that was wrapped
around her head. Nestling in her dark, intricately braided hair was a
waterfall of shining pinpoints of light. They twinkled like miniature stars in
the night of her hair.
Then the woman spoke again, and the power that filled her voice sent a thrill
of fear through Mikki.
I am the Goddess Hecate, and I welcome you to the Realm of the Rose.
CHAPTER NINE
HECATE? Mikki s mouth felt numb again. There was something unnamable about
the woman that caused her knees to go to liquid as she automatically moved
back until she was pressed against the marble railing. Medea s Hecate? she
rasped, her voice barely above a whisper.
Indeed, I am Medea s goddess. Hecate spoke in hard, sharp words. If you
faint like a typically weak woman, I will be very displeased, Mikado.
I ve never fainted before. Mikki blurted the first thing that came to her
amazed mind.
Do not start now, the goddess said.
Mikki could only nod with a jerky motion of her head.
Hecate studied Mikki silently. Her strong face was inscrutable, and Mikki had
a childish, nerve-filled desire to wring her hands and fidget, but she forced
her arms to her side and stood still, even though the goddess s gaze was so
sharp she imagined she could feel its touch.
I am not simply Medea s goddess. Hecate broke the silence suddenly. I am
Goddess of Beasts, Magick and the Ebony Moon. I have dominion over the dark of
night, dreams and the crossroads between the known and unknown. The goddess s
words rang with authority, and Mikki felt the power of them slide over her
skin like hungry, searching snakes. Then Hecate s voice lowered dangerously,
and Mikki had to work hard not to cringe away from her in fear. I knew your
mother, Mikado, and her mother before her, and hers before that . . . for
generations I have watched the women of your family. I continued to watch and
stay faithful to them, even after the women all but forgot me.
Complete surprise had Mikki crying, My mother! My grandmother! How? I don t
understand any of this.
Almost imperceptibly, the goddess s expression softened. Have you never
wondered at the origin of the gifts you ve been given, Mikado?
Gifts?
Yes! Think! the goddess snapped. The dogs at her feet growled restlessly.
Do not stand there stupidly as if you are a man and can think with naught but
the flesh that hangs between your legs! Acknowledge your gifts, Empousa!
Mikki responded automatically to the goddess s command with a voice that shook
only a little. My blood makes roses grow. I mix my blood with water and
during the new moon . . . She paused, eyes widening as she realized what the
title, Goddess of the Ebony Moon, implied. During the new moon I feed my
roses with my blood.
And your roses always grow, the goddess finished for her.
Always, Mikki whispered.
That is one gift. The other is also something the women in your family have
carried with them from generation to generation, Hecate said.
Thinking, Mikki frowned. Then her face cleared. My last name! All the women
in my family always keep their last name, Empousai. We never change it no
matter what. It s tradition, an unwritten rule that we ve followed for
generation after generation. Even when it was unheard of for a woman to insist
that she keep her own name and not automatically take her husband s, the
Empousai women stuck to their tradition. Trust funds have been set up and
whole wills have been written under the strict provision that the Empousai
women always retain their name. My mother told me stories about Empousai
brides who broke off engagements when men refused to follow the tradition.
Mikki clamped her mouth shut suddenly, certain that she was babbling like a
hysterical fool.
Hecate dipped her head in brief acknowledgment. That is because within the
Page 40
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
veins of the women of your family runs the rich blood of the Empousa my most
cherished priestesses. It has been a long wait, but it gladdens my heart that
finally you have rekindled the goddess flame within you, anointed yourself,
mixed blood and water, and called upon my name. For an instant the goddess s
formidable face almost looked kind. You can see that I rewarded your faith.
You awakened my Guardian, and you have returned to the Realm of the Rose.
But it was an accident! I didn t do any of it on purpose. Mikki felt like
sobbing.
Explain yourself. How could you possibly have anointed yourself and invoked
me accidentally? The goddess spat the word like it had a foul taste.
The marble of the balcony railing felt like cold iron as it pressed through
the back of Mikki s sheer nightdress. The huge dogs at the goddess s feet
pricked their ears at her, as if they, too, were curious about her answer.
Mikki wondered semi-hysterically if Hecate would command them to eat her when
she found out that this whole thing had been nothing but an insane mix-up.
Mikki drew a deep breath and met the goddess s icy gray eyes. You say I
anointed myself by that I assume you mean the perfume I m wearing.
Hecate raised both brows. Perfume? Indeed. And how did you manage to acquire
a perfume that is the exact fragrance of my High Priestess s ceremonial oil?
It was given to me by an old woman I met earlier today . . . She paused. Had
it been earlier today, or had several days, or for that matter years, gone by?
She couldn t think about that now; it really didn t matter. The only thing
that mattered was that Hecate understand that she didn t belong here. Or none
of this mattered at all because she was wrong about this place being her new
reality, and she had really gone stark raving mad and was curled up in a fetal [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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tails of flame in their wake. Staring out at the unbelievable sight, she felt
a rush of nausea.
See! Mikki waved her hand in a frustrated gesture, fighting back the
dizzying sickness. There s another thing I don t think I could have made
up little nymphlike servants lighting tiki torches.
You are not fabricating what you are seeing, nor are you going mad, Mikado
Empousai.
Mikki sucked in a breath and jumped as a woman s strong, throaty voice
surprised her. Shock chased away the weird vertigo feeling that had gripped
her. She turned quickly to a woman who had suddenly materialized and who no
doubt reigned supreme over them all. Overwhelmed, Mikki couldn t find her
voice. She could only stare at the woman like an awestruck child.
She was tall and wide shouldered with a statuesque, appealing body and a
strong, intelligent face. Her lips were full and crimson, and her wide,
watchful eyes were a startling, piercing gray. She wore a gown that was layer
upon layer of shining black silk, draped to flowing perfection around her
body; the curve of her waist was girdled with a chain of silver roses linked
together by stems of rubies. Through a slit in the shimmery gown Mikki could
see part of her long, slender leg so perfect it appeared to be carved from
living marble. Her feet were covered with golden sandals, and beside them
reclined two of the most enormous dogs Mikki had ever seen. The black
creatures unblinkingly met her gaze with eyes that glowed an unearthly red,
and Mikki hastily looked away, her startled gaze skipping from the flaming
Page 39
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
torch the woman held in one hand, to the gleaming headdress that was wrapped
around her head. Nestling in her dark, intricately braided hair was a
waterfall of shining pinpoints of light. They twinkled like miniature stars in
the night of her hair.
Then the woman spoke again, and the power that filled her voice sent a thrill
of fear through Mikki.
I am the Goddess Hecate, and I welcome you to the Realm of the Rose.
CHAPTER NINE
HECATE? Mikki s mouth felt numb again. There was something unnamable about
the woman that caused her knees to go to liquid as she automatically moved
back until she was pressed against the marble railing. Medea s Hecate? she
rasped, her voice barely above a whisper.
Indeed, I am Medea s goddess. Hecate spoke in hard, sharp words. If you
faint like a typically weak woman, I will be very displeased, Mikado.
I ve never fainted before. Mikki blurted the first thing that came to her
amazed mind.
Do not start now, the goddess said.
Mikki could only nod with a jerky motion of her head.
Hecate studied Mikki silently. Her strong face was inscrutable, and Mikki had
a childish, nerve-filled desire to wring her hands and fidget, but she forced
her arms to her side and stood still, even though the goddess s gaze was so
sharp she imagined she could feel its touch.
I am not simply Medea s goddess. Hecate broke the silence suddenly. I am
Goddess of Beasts, Magick and the Ebony Moon. I have dominion over the dark of
night, dreams and the crossroads between the known and unknown. The goddess s
words rang with authority, and Mikki felt the power of them slide over her
skin like hungry, searching snakes. Then Hecate s voice lowered dangerously,
and Mikki had to work hard not to cringe away from her in fear. I knew your
mother, Mikado, and her mother before her, and hers before that . . . for
generations I have watched the women of your family. I continued to watch and
stay faithful to them, even after the women all but forgot me.
Complete surprise had Mikki crying, My mother! My grandmother! How? I don t
understand any of this.
Almost imperceptibly, the goddess s expression softened. Have you never
wondered at the origin of the gifts you ve been given, Mikado?
Gifts?
Yes! Think! the goddess snapped. The dogs at her feet growled restlessly.
Do not stand there stupidly as if you are a man and can think with naught but
the flesh that hangs between your legs! Acknowledge your gifts, Empousa!
Mikki responded automatically to the goddess s command with a voice that shook
only a little. My blood makes roses grow. I mix my blood with water and
during the new moon . . . She paused, eyes widening as she realized what the
title, Goddess of the Ebony Moon, implied. During the new moon I feed my
roses with my blood.
And your roses always grow, the goddess finished for her.
Always, Mikki whispered.
That is one gift. The other is also something the women in your family have
carried with them from generation to generation, Hecate said.
Thinking, Mikki frowned. Then her face cleared. My last name! All the women
in my family always keep their last name, Empousai. We never change it no
matter what. It s tradition, an unwritten rule that we ve followed for
generation after generation. Even when it was unheard of for a woman to insist
that she keep her own name and not automatically take her husband s, the
Empousai women stuck to their tradition. Trust funds have been set up and
whole wills have been written under the strict provision that the Empousai
women always retain their name. My mother told me stories about Empousai
brides who broke off engagements when men refused to follow the tradition.
Mikki clamped her mouth shut suddenly, certain that she was babbling like a
hysterical fool.
Hecate dipped her head in brief acknowledgment. That is because within the
Page 40
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
veins of the women of your family runs the rich blood of the Empousa my most
cherished priestesses. It has been a long wait, but it gladdens my heart that
finally you have rekindled the goddess flame within you, anointed yourself,
mixed blood and water, and called upon my name. For an instant the goddess s
formidable face almost looked kind. You can see that I rewarded your faith.
You awakened my Guardian, and you have returned to the Realm of the Rose.
But it was an accident! I didn t do any of it on purpose. Mikki felt like
sobbing.
Explain yourself. How could you possibly have anointed yourself and invoked
me accidentally? The goddess spat the word like it had a foul taste.
The marble of the balcony railing felt like cold iron as it pressed through
the back of Mikki s sheer nightdress. The huge dogs at the goddess s feet
pricked their ears at her, as if they, too, were curious about her answer.
Mikki wondered semi-hysterically if Hecate would command them to eat her when
she found out that this whole thing had been nothing but an insane mix-up.
Mikki drew a deep breath and met the goddess s icy gray eyes. You say I
anointed myself by that I assume you mean the perfume I m wearing.
Hecate raised both brows. Perfume? Indeed. And how did you manage to acquire
a perfume that is the exact fragrance of my High Priestess s ceremonial oil?
It was given to me by an old woman I met earlier today . . . She paused. Had
it been earlier today, or had several days, or for that matter years, gone by?
She couldn t think about that now; it really didn t matter. The only thing
that mattered was that Hecate understand that she didn t belong here. Or none
of this mattered at all because she was wrong about this place being her new
reality, and she had really gone stark raving mad and was curled up in a fetal [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]