Carlos just looked at Berkfield for a moment. Shabazz and Rider's eyes burned against his skin, waiting for answers. What he couldn't immediately bring himself to tell them was if Yonnie had rolled in there and Lilith had ambushed him and Gabby, then there should have been tracers of black blood from both demons-and no master vampire would have come out on top against a Level Seven entity... not to mention that Gabby's blood had Lilith's turn-bite saliva in it. The woman was most likely dead or dying from a serious bite with no going back.
"Yeah," Carlos finally said after a long pause, walking away raking his hair.
"That makes sense, right?" Berkfield asked, pressing for a more conclusive statement from Carlos.
"That's what you should tell Marjorie when we get back," Carlos said in a sad tone. "Krissy, Bobby, Jasmine, and Heather need to know she's probably somewhere with one of our people."
"You didn't say that with a lot of confidence, brother," Shabazz muttered and looked at Carlos hard. "I'm feeling a weird vibe coming off you, man."
"I ain't got a lot of confidence, right through here," Carlos admit�ted. "Since all of us are working from theory."
"So, let me ask you this," Rider said in a tight voice. "Since we're not sure if Yonnie's system has been purged of a Lilith influence, es�pecially since he didn't have the benefit of a healing nymph going up his nose... Ya think at least we should bar him entry to the castle, until we know for sure-or is it me?"
Carlos nodded and closed his eyes. There was no getting around it until he knew beyond a reasonable doubt that Yonnie was stable. "Sho' you right."
Her lower back felt like someone had been beating on it with a ham�mer. Adding to the body aches and fatigue, her forehead thrummed with a nagging headache behind her eyes. Damali slowly made her way to the huge stainless steel and white walled kitchen to find a gathering of women already there. Elbows leaned on the large, center island, and Spanish-tiled counter. Weary heads were bowed over cups of red raspberry teas and tinctures. Marlene was working the stove. Lights danced off large copper pots and pans that hung overhead, making Damali squint.
"I brewed a big pot," Marlene said. "Want some?"
"Yeah," Damali muttered, and dropped onto a vacant stool beside Inez.
"You all should have seen Dan negotiating forsupplies," Marlene said with a smile. "Usually Marjorie handlesthat kind of shopping, but under the circumstances..."
Damali looked around at the fatigued, ashen expressions. "Every�body came on at the same time?"
"Girl..." Inez sighed, sipping her tea. "Marlene has been trying to tell us about how in tribes and close family units, every woman in the group's cycle syncs up at the same time, but this shit is ridicu�lous."
"Like we need this right now," Juanita said with her eyes closed.
"You ain't sensitive to light, or nothing?" Inez said, giving Juanita a fishy glance. "I ain't trying to be funny, but right before the hacienda burned, Jose bit the shit out of you."
Juanita just held up her hand, "Don't start the drama while I'm PMS-ing, 'Nez. Youwill get your ass kicked today."
Damali groaned and accepted a cup of tea from Marlene.
"It was so much simpler when there was only one ovulating female in the house," Marlene said, glancing at Marjorie.
"Tell me about it," Marjorie said on a weary sigh.
"I'm just glad I'm not pregnant," Heather whispered, and then crossed herself as she took a sip of her tea.
Jasmine, Inez, and Juanita followed suit-Krissy looked out the window with an expression that said,Thank you, Jesus. Damali just looked down into her cup, staring for answers.
"I can't really rest, though," Juanita finally said, glancing at Damali. "Lemme be honest, sis. I'm scared."
"I feel you," Inez said, oddly agreeing with Juanita. "I don't think I'ma ever be right after seeing Mike change into a... a thing."
Juanita nodded. "Shit, let him sleep in the room with Jose. I'd rather be in a room with you until I know if they're gonna flip out again, or what."
Inez pounded Juanita's fist. "I ain't trying to play."
"All right, ladies," Damali said, jumping into the discussion. "Maybe that's not a half-bad idea. But I don't think it'll happen again... something kicked off that was abnormal, and-"
"I should have been covered," Marlene said in a tense voice. "Just like I should have married Shabazz a long time ago."
The group went slack-jawed and nobody moved for a moment. Marlene stood by the sink clutching a teacup between her hands so tightly that Damali hoped it wouldn't break. The group stared at Mar�lene, new awareness filling them as their matriarch broke down and cried.
"As many clerics as we've been around, as many priestesses in every culture that 'Bazz and I were around, and we never formalized it un�der a shield... don't matter what religion. Those astral visits wouldn't have been possible, nor would those old nicks have been able to break through... if..." Marlene's words trailed off as she looked at Damali for answers. "There's a shield to the union, isn't there? A special something you can't see with the na**d eye-doesn't have to do with paperwork, it's the holy union, right?"