Page 35 of Claiming Starlight
And everyone in the room.
Before Micah could speak, the oldest woman seated at the table cleared her throat “Well, isn’t this lovely? What a delight. It wouldn’t be my birthday without a little spilled blood. Let’s go into the backyard then, shall we? Because we know this isn’t about Pek. Where is my cane?”her tone was laced with irony and a heavy accent. Her birthday? This must be Avó’s, Sophie realized. Right now, it didn’t seem that important though. She glanced back at the shifter on the floor, a million questions running through her head.
*
“Avó, what do you know about Pek?” Micah asked cautiously.
“Oh, I know all kinds of things,” Avó replied dismissively as she tottered towards them, leaning heavily on the cane she’d just been handed.
The older woman’s cane made Sophie uncomfortable. Micah said Avó was a seer, but she held a walking stick witches would sell their souls to get their hands on. Made from gnarled yellow hardwood, the upper half of the walking stick was intricately carved with stylized Mayan folk art. Looking closer, Sophie realized the carvings depicted sacrifice rituals to a South American blood god Did Micah not know? The staff was old and hummed with latent memories and power. It gave Sophie heartburn just looking at it.
She knew little of the Maya, the library had a few books, but she’d always focused on unnaturals sighted after Apocalypse Day, not ones from earths stone age. She did know they built great civilizations and offered beating human hearts to their higher power of choice to gain favor.
Were there Mayan gods walking around now?Was that why the Reaper had come?
The older woman saw where Sophie was looking and smiled at her with coffee-stained teeth. “Well, aren’t you a clever girl?”
Micah said, “Avó, you look well. It’s good to see you.” Like Sophie imagined a son might come home to his mother, he gave Avó a hug. She squeezed him back hard while pouring out a torrent of Spanish.Sophie tried not to be impatient, but desperately wanted to know what was going on with Pek and her brother.
“Too long since I have seen you. It takes me getting old and weak to get a visit from you? What trouble have you been in? Who is this lovely girl? Why is your face so thin? What have you been eating? Did you get a plate yet?”She asked one question after another so fast, Sophie missed half of them, and Micah had no room to answer.
When he tried to end the hug, she squeezed him tighter and said more things Sophie couldn’t understand. The consensus seemed to be she’d missed him.
Stepping back to Sophie, Micah stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders, moving her shrug out of the way so he could connect with her skin. Having him close warmed her insides and took away a little of the tension. His big palms felt good, and his presence at her back felt even better. He made her feel safe.
“This is Sophie,” Micah said, introducing her. Behind Avó, the other women went back to organizing the kitchen, sorting food and cleaning counters, and stealing glances at the trio.
Avó smiled forehead to chin, one happy wrinkle after another, with genuine welcome. “Hello, Sophie.”
Micah asked, “Have you set me up? You told me it was important I be here. Did you see something I should know? Something to do with Pek, maybe? Sophie’s brother?” he asked, his expression turning serious.
“Set you up? No, you did that on your own, big wolf. Why haven’t you gotten a plate for your pretty girl here? She needs some food.”
Avó pointed to the dining room behind them. The picture of kind and grandmotherly, all the pieces of the gray-haired woman fit seamlessly together to make the perfect matriarch—her bearing, her home, the food, and family. Everything but the relic in her hands connecting her to bloodthirsty, war-loving gods. That didn’t quite fit her image.
“I bet you’re hungry. The brisket should almost be finished but there is sausage, ribs, steak, burgers. Pasta salads, three-potato salads, frijoles y arroz, green beans, corn-chili con carne made therightway. Get a plate and come to the backyard. I’m in a mood to spin a grand tale today.” She patted Micah’s hand.
Still standing beside Micah, the man named Ben spoke up. “Liked the ribs best myself, perfect sauce. But where did you get the grapes for the fruit salad? That’s what the round, juicy things were, right? Grapes?”
“Yes. Weren’t they sweet?”
“What is this story you plan to tell?” Micah asked.
Beside him, Ben added, “I am sure it will be a good one. Avó always has the best stories. Sometimes she knows a little more than I’d like her to, though.”
“No doubt.” Micah agreed.
Avó laughed, a friendly sound without a hint of scheming cackle or witchy smugness. “Boys, you know I am harmless.”
Sophie stayed quiet, wondering when someone was going to acknowledge that the man last seen with her brother was at this party, and had just tried to run from them.
“And it’s my birthday… we must indulge my moods. Please. My house is your house. Get your bright girl something to eat, then come to the back. I have it all prepared. Ben, would you come with me? I need my chair.” Avó said.
The shifter joined the antlered blue-blood, Agehya, and Tantie around Avó, each taking a place on the old woman’s side, acting like solicitous helpers. Sophie had seen enough brood-house politics and maneuvering to recognize pandering when she saw it. They loved her. But they loved their position at her side just as much.
“All right, girl, let’s do as the great mother says and get you some food.” Micah turned her in his arms and kissed her forehead.
“But… Alexi…” Sophie muttered unhappily.
