"It came in with Berkfield, because it was embedded down deep in Carlos's system, and Berkfield unknowingly pulled it up and out into him, ma'am," J.L. said. "Otherwise, the way we've got security systems locked andloaded, a hostile fly can't come through here undetected without getting fried. If our alarms sound, you head for your daughter and Mike, and they'll tell you where to hunker down with the baby-until we can get you acclimated to defense protocols."
Delores shook her head. "Meand Ayana aren't sleeping in some room alone. We're all gonna be together."
Mike looked down at his boots. "That's no problem, ma'am . . . until you all feel safe.All right?"
Inez simply nodded and looked away.
"Nope," Marlene said, placing her hands on her hips. "Not all right."
All eyes went to Marlene, especially Mrs. Filgueiras's.
"Here's my problem with this on many, many levels, Delores," Marlene said flatly. "While this looks like something out ofMTV Cribs, this is a barracks. Number one, you are eventually going to have to pull your own weight in here. Crying, running around wringing your hands, and otherwise being hysterical won't cut it. Two, the baby is going to have to learn her limits real quick-even at her age, because we've got ammo in here and all sorts of child-unfriendly hazmats. Third, you have to learn the basics, because God forbid, one day your daughter and Mike aren't around, just like that morning when a vamp crashed in on Ayana, you're going to have to know what to do. Then there's the not-so-small issue of rest for two soldiers. Mike and Inez are beyond exhausted. They are critical members of this Guardian team. If my big audio is off, or one of my seers can't see because she's fried, then that puts the team at risk."
Marlene strode away from where she'd been standing to come closer to Delores. She looked her dead in the eyes and didn't blink and didn't stutter.
"Woman to woman, mother of a grown daughter to mother of a grown daughter, last but not least is this-your daughter ismarried . If we go by biblical law, since you're an aficionado of Scripture, herhusband comes first, just like your daughter, hiswife comes first . . . yeah, beforeall others, it says. So hell no, I'm not allowing you to be in their room after they just came out of a harrowing, traumatic battle, keeping them up all night, bitching, crying, and feeling sorry for yourself. Not having it. Mike and Inez need a married couple's space. End of story."
Marlene walked away,then stopped as though someone had slapped her, and she cocked her head to the side.
"And, no," Marlene said, fury in her expression as she turned to stare at Delores. "Don't even beginthat guilt trip. This ain't about the baby; it's about what your stubborn ass wants. The baby is not suddenly going to start sleeping with them, either, giving you a reason to be running into their room or their business at will. Before you showed up, we had peace in this house. It's gonna stay that way, trust me. I have second-sight like you wouldn't believe, sis-plus a whole lotta hard-earned wisdom to go along with it . . . therefore, I can and will say stuff to you that your daughter just can't bring herself to say and that Mike is too much of a sweetheart and a gentleman to say. But see, I gave up being a lady a long time ago-and I will ride your ass like a cowboy if you start some shit up in here."
Marlene folded her arms. Delores angrily looked away.
"The baby is going to bed at regular hours-starting at eightP.M. so the child is on a schedule and isn't cranky. At three years old, yes shewill take a nap during the day, too. In addition to your basic boot-camp information drills, you and Val will be added to the house chore schedule. Everybody in here pulls their weight. You're also going to get a rude wake-up call in the kitchen. We only do the heavy meal, heavy fat thing forreal special occasions, because we're not trying to have warriors in the streets coping with diabetes, heart disease, cancer, you name it. So we do healthy. And we don't do subversive. Everybody here works in harmony-we've already had our trials with that, and I'll turn your ass out into the street and let the werewolves feed on you before we go through that again . . . this way, it won't be on your daughter's conscience-and I can live with it."
Shabazz landed a hand on Marlene's shoulder and then kissed her cheek, chuckling. "Retract the canines and the claws, baby. Damn, if I was bad cop, you're RoboCop."
She didn't care what anyone on the Neteru Councils of Kings andQueens said,she wasn't moving any more than an inch or two from Carlos's body. Damali leaned down and kissed his forehead again and held his hand tightly while Eve and Aset laid hands on the sites of his wounds.
As Aset and Eve carefully stripped away his ragged T-shirt and cut away Carlos's bloodied jeans, she could see how thoroughly angry, bloodied, blue-black welts covered the entire front of his torso. Places that weren't the dark-stained hue of bruised blood trapped beneath skin had a yellowish-greenish tinge. She hurt for him; what he must have endured brought fresh tears to her eyes. When Aset gently lifted another strip of fabric away, that's when she saw a rib move in an unnatural way beneath his skin. Yet they worked without ceasing, cleaning him off as they laid strips of delicate linen across his groin.
Surrounded by opalescent alabaster walls that throbbed with pulsing white-light energy, they had brought him to what could only be described as a Kemetian ER. Hieroglyphics of Ausar's conquering death with the help of his wife, Aset, frescoed the ceiling. Damali tried to steady her breathing. The Neteru energy was so all-pervasive that she felt disoriented by it, almost woozy.
Silver and alabaster canopic jars delicately decorated with colored faience and carnelian made her nervous, though. She knew what those were for. In the days of mummification . . . Damali briefly closed her eyes and disallowed herself to even think it.
Light was everywhere. Adam and Ausar stood at the ready to lend an infusion of necessary, balancing male energy. One carried the ceremonial Pharaoh's crook made of gold, while the other grasped the traditional flail-their stance symbolic of the joining of upper and lower Kemet, the Smai Tawi, the Great that could not be divided, just as Carlos's spirit could not be divided, from his mind, nor his body.
The male Neteru Kings had spoken through theBook of Coming Forth by Day , Ausar's original copy of thePert M Heru M Gher, and had renounced Set, then placed the all-seeing eye on the long white marble table above Carlos's crown chakra and the feather of Ma'at at his feet. But this delicate work of healing the spirit remained in the province of women. The Caduceus had rendered futile results, and that terrified her.
"Neith, Selkis, Nephthys, Isis,"Eve murmured. "From the sacredAmduat I call theshabti of life and Light, those who labor for the Pharaoh in the Light in the afterlife to bring forth healing, to convert pain into knowledge, heartbreak into joy, destruction into creation . . . where life is ebbing, let it flow. Where the moon of his breath is waning, let it wax."
Aset breathed out a slow breath, opening her hands to form a glistening amethyst ray of light between them. She stood on one side of Carlos, left palm up, right palm down. Eve mirrored Aset, standing across from her with left palm down, right palm up, pulling the light across him in a wide band that they slowly brought down the length of his body as though giving him an MRI.
Perspiration beaded on Aset's regal forehead, her golden robes beginning to cling to her flawless, cinnamon-hued body. Eve's moss-green robe darkened with moisture against her ebony skin as they worked in tandem.
"Damali," Aset finally murmured. "Your mother's line is that of Powers angels-this we now know. Your father carried the Neteru gene. You must join us . . . you are Carlos's wife. From here, your prayers and energy will be heard throughout the realms."
Damali stood where Adam indicated, at Carlos's head. As soon as she joined hands with Aset and Eve, creating a physical pyramid around him, a gentle, healing green glow spilled from her heart into the center of their outstretched arms. Slowly and carefully, Aset led the movement down Carlos's body, forcing Damali to step around the table and walk with her and Eve.
Aset finally released Damali's hands and then looked at Ausar. He simply nodded with Adam, and both male Neteru Kings stepped forward and placeda silver Eye of Heru on Carlos's forehead and the feather of Ma'at over his heart. They took up his hands and gently placed the crook and staff within his grip, folding his arms over his chest.
"The judgment is up to the All," Aset said quietly, drawing Damali away from Carlos's side. "Whatever is decided for your Pharaoh, you must accept it, and rule on in dignity and honor."
Damali clutched Aset's hand and stared at her, blinking back tears. "I don't understand what happened to him . . . why this time . . ."
"The attack stripped away the Neteru fortificationinside his body," Eve said quietly, touching Damali's cheek. "Outwardly, he was still Neteru . . . but inwardly, he was becoming more and more human . . . more normal mortal, the more the hate festered. And he sustained mortal injuries, beloved daughter. His Guardian brother took some of the brunt, and the healing serpents of the Caduceus tried to chase out the poison, but the healing of his body took so long. We just do not know the outcome, and have called upon the Divine Creator, Neter, and all the angels, even by their ancient Kemetian names."
Tears filled Aset's eyes. "This was not supposed to be that young king's path," she said in a harsh whisper, suddenly hugging Damali.