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SARITA AND HALAS LANDED on a small, barren island. The place looked deserted, with overgrown weeds, trash, and brown grass. Sarita met Halas’ gaze. “This is where the High Priestess for Salah lives?”

Halas smiled as she unsnapped her seat belt and stood. The pilot stepped out the cockpit wearing a white surgical mask, opened the exterior door and released the stairs. He nodded at them, returned to the cockpit and closed the door.

“Come, let’s go.” She held up her finger. “Before, everything was numbed, but once we hit this atmosphere, everything is stripped away; you’ll feel everything. Try and hold it together until you meet Isodora, it’s going to be hard, but you’ll need to try.”

Sarita’s eyes rounded as she watched Halas walk down the aisle and head outside. Swallowing hard, she stood, said a small prayer as she grabbed her bag and carry-on.

The moment she stood at the top of the steps a cool breeze brushed against her. Fire raced through her body, forcing her to bend over for several seconds breathing hard. She’d never experienced pain like this. Her entire body throbbed and vibrated with pain from the vines.

Focus, she thought as she fought to straighten and looked down. Her vision wavered. Was that Halas? She couldn’t be sure. Instead, she focused on reaching the next step, then the next, and the next until she reached the bottom. Breathing hard, she leaned on the handle of her suitcase.

“What’s going on? I’ve never felt anything like this,” she said. When Halas didn’t answer, she looked around but didn’t see anyone. “Halas?” she called looking beneath the plane and down the path. When the stairs retracted she jumped. “Where’s Halas?” she yelled to the pilot.

He shrugged and closed the door.

“What the hell?” Sarita muttered and then bent forward as another wave of pain slammed into her, almost sending her to her knees. Taking gulps of air, she thought of her parents, the nursery growing up, playing with her brother and the other kids, anything to take her mind off the pain.

Moving slowly, she walked down the only path toward whatever was beyond the small hill. The pain grew worse and she fell to the ground and prayed. “Goddess, please help me.”

Standing slowly, she continued forward, stopping when the pain became unbearable and moving forward when it was tolerable. At the top of the small crest, she looked at more desolate land in shock. There were no buildings, no palace, or church or anything.

Was this some kind of joke? Bring her to a deserted island and leave her? Unrelenting pain slammed into her again. She fell to her knees, bent over with tears streaming down her cheeks. She wanted her mama. If she could go home right now, she would.

How long she sat there staring at the barren land she didn’t know. The sun beat on her back as she endured the agony assaulting her.

“Think of your gifts, child.” The voice became a whisper on the wind.

Sarita tried to remember the gifts but the pain stripped all memories from her mind.

“Invisibility?” how would that help she wondered while trying to recall the others.

“Travel between planes?” That idea caught her interest. What if the Priestess was here but on a different plane? How could she access it? Pain rolled across her back and stomach, stealing her breath.

As soon as the wave ebbed, she held onto her luggage and bag. “Take me to the Priestess,” she said. Immediately the wind whirled around her, lifting her as if she were in a vacuum, easing her discomfort. When the wind settled, she stood on a light blue polished floor. Several women stood a few steps above her. One of them was taller than the others and stepped forward.

“Sarita, welcome, I’m glad you’re finally here.” She walked toward Sarita with outstretched arms and tears in her eyes.

Sarita stepped back and held up her hand. “I’m infected. Plus, I don’t know you, no offense. But I’m really careful about who touches me.”

Nodding, she wrapped her arms around her waist and stared at Sarita for several seconds.

Uncomfortable with the silence in a strange place, Sarita cleared her throat. “If you could point me to the Priestess I’d like to have these marks removed from my body, my friend needs my help and I need to get to him.”

The female appeared stricken but looked away quickly. “Follow me.” She turned and walked up the steps. The other women stared at Sarita but didn’t return her greeting.

Inwardly, she shrugged and continued following. The woman stopped in front of a double door, opened one and walked inside. Sarita went to follow her but was stopped when someone placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Remove your shoes, please.”

Sarita noticed no one wore shoes and toed hers off and stored them in her suitcase. Placing her hand on the door handle, she absorbed the tingle that ran through her body before the door opened and she walked inside.  The woman who greeted her kneeled in front of an altar with her hands clasped together.

Sensing this place was special, Sarita remained in the back to wait. A few minutes later, she fell to her knees and closed her eyes as her life ran across her vision. Starting from her days at the Liege, to her escape, meeting Cameron, Hawke, Damian and her mom, Asia. Her time in the nursery growing up alongside La Patron’s pups, being accepted by Mama Jasmine as her own. The kidnapping in elementary school, middle school sports and clubs, high school prom with David, their first kiss, him telling her she was his mate, and her leaving for vacation, college and then the curse, the heartbreak of missing her mom, dad, and family. Kneeling in this foreign place, her entire life was displayed and judged. When it stopped, she slumped over, spent.

Hands gently lifted and moved her. Something cool touched her cheek and covered her body. Exhausted, she fell asleep.

###

SARITA’S EYES FLEW open. She rolled to the side, fell on the floor, squatted and peeked over the bed at the young woman staring at her with a silly smile.

“Hello, I’m Carina. You need to wash and prepare to meet the Priestess, you slept too long, but you were so tired she allowed you to rest a little longer. Now we must hurry.” She waved Sarita and walked forward, down a few steps. Seconds later, the sound of swirling water reached Sarita.

“Come, Sarita, we must hurry. There is much to do and learn.”

“Where’s my suitcase?” she looked around to retrieve clean underwear and her toothbrush.

“I don’t know. Everything you need is provided.” The younger looking female waved her forward and tried to assist her out of her clothes.

“No thanks, I’m good.” She pulled off her top and unbuttoned her pants. Since arriving, she hadn’t experienced any pain and forgot about the vines until Carina gasped.  Uncertain how she felt, Sarita ignored the female, stripped naked and slid into the swirling waters.

Carina offered her a bottle filled with a creamy liquid and a cloth. The scent was delicious. Soon Sarita was cleaned, refreshed and dressed in a light green garment that brushed against her ankles and displayed the vines on her shoulder. Her hair was wrapped in the same colored fabric.

They entered a room where everyone was seated at long tables, talking until she walked in. With all eyes on her, Sarita’s cheeks warmed as she moved to sit at the nearest table.

“Up here with me, Sarita.” The woman who greeted her when she arrived waved her forward.

Her belly filled with butterflies as she walked the long, length of the room to the front table. Whispers regarding her vines followed her until she took the seat next to the woman she assumed was the Priestess.

“Thank you,” Sarita said, remembering she wanted the curse lifted and a ride to Canada to find David.

“You’re welcome, it’s good to see you. Eat, you must be hungry after your trip. I think you’ll recognize some of these dishes.” She pointed to a bowl of fried meat. “Chicken. Mashed potatoes, corn, rolls.” She smiled as if she’d presented a five-star meal.

You need her help, Sarita reminded herself as she scooped the food onto her plate and ate in silence. Nothing was seasoned, but she ate everything with the hope of getting through the meal to start a discussion on healing and then leaving to help David.

“Your thoughts are far away.”

Sarita looked at her hostess and nodded. “I’ve got a lot on my mind. When will we... talk?” Halas said the Priestess would explain what was required and discover if her Aunt was infected or not.

“Whenever you want.”

“What’s your name?” Sarita asked.

“I’m Isodora, the Priestess but I think you figured that out already.” She touched Sarita’s face and stared into her eyes. “Your eyes, gray like the mists of dawn.” She touched Sarita’s hair. “Black like a raven’s wing, simply beautiful,” she whispered.

Unsure what to say, Sarita remained still while Isodora looked her over. “You suffered, as did many, but Salah protected you with good parents who loved and took care of you.”

Thinking of her mom and dad brought a lump to her throat. She nodded and looked away. They were alone in the room, she hadn’t heard the others leave. Surprised she looked at Isodora who returned her gaze before nodding.

“Ask your questions?”

“Who is my mother?” The question surprised Sarita since she fully accepted Asia as her mom and never searched or asked questions regarding her biological parent.

Isodora’s brow rose. “Your mother, the woman who raised you?”

“Never mind, that’s not important —”

“It was the first thing you asked, it’s probably important to you on some level. Would you be here if it were not for her?” Isodora watched Sarita for a few seconds. “Do you understand the gift or curse of being a descendant of Salah’s?”

“Halas explained it to me,” Sarita told Isodora what she’d been told.

“I see. Halas told you I’d explain the balance?”

“Yes.” Sarita inhaled and met Isodora’s soft brown gaze. “Two things. One I was with my pregnant aunt and want to make sure she’s not infected. My best friend is in danger and needs my help. I’ve got to leave to help him. Is there any way you can remove the lines so I don’t infect anyone on the way to help him?”

Isodora’s gaze dropped for a few seconds before she responded. “As far as the babe in the womb or your aunt neither is infected. No worries on that score. I’m not sure what you mean by removing your birthmark, that’s not possible. You can hide them, but they never go away. I know Halas didn’t tell you they would,” she added.

Frowning, Sarita thought back on her conversations and admitted Halas never said they’d be removed. “Am I still contagious?”

“The disease is still in your body and can damage others,” she said.

“But am I contagious? You haven’t answered me,” Sarita stressed. If she could be around others to find David, that’s what she planned to do.

“Yes, you’re contagious. Full-bloods can catch the disease from you.”

Hope deflated like a week-old balloon. “How soon can we fix it? Will you teach me to hide the lines?”

Isodora released a long breath, stood and walked off a few steps with her hands behind her back. “You come here asking for favors without acknowledging family ties. Being a descendant means you’re a part, those lines on your body that you clearly despise are Salah’s marks, her handwriting claiming you as one of hers. None of that matters to you.” She looked over her shoulder at Sarita and shook her head. “Why should I help you?”

Stung by the accusations and surprised by the question, Sarita realized she didn’t have an answer. “Because I’m asking for your help?”

Isodora’s darkening gaze said that wasn’t good enough. “Help? To remove your birthmark?”

“Or hide them, so I don’t infect anyone,” Sarita said feeling smaller by the second beneath Isodora’s disappointed stare.

They regarded each other for a few seconds. “I must teach you...” Isodora waved her arms around the room. “Once you entered this place, you changed. Still full-blood, but with knowledge and empowerment from Salah. To leave without training is dangerous to those around you.”

“What?” Halas hadn’t mentioned that.

“What do you think I do? I train the descendants of Salah to fulfill her work. This isn’t a hospital or clinic where you check in for a day, get a shot and then leave. What we do is important, without healthy pups, Packs cease. Our people disappear. There’s a lot going on that must be stopped or we’ll lose another generation or worse.”

“What’s worse?” Sarita couldn’t help but feel Isodora’s passionate conviction. She’d been a pup who needed a savior and was given one, maybe one of Isodora’s helpers.

“The making of pups outside normal means. It’s been happening for years, we’re going to stop the cross-breeding farms before they go too far.”

Cross-breeding? She hadn’t heard about that. “How long does training take? I’m not trying to be rude, but I really need to get to Canada to find my friend and help him.”

Isodora closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose for a few seconds while Sarita watched. Had she pushed too hard? What if Isodora said no? Stuck in the middle of nowhere, Sarita had little choice in the matter. Hopefully, Isodora would be kind and help her out.

“Training goes at your speed, however long it takes you to learn.” She turned and faced Sarita. “We’ll start in an hour. Have three questions about Salah prepared for discussion during training.” She held up three fingers. “Every time we train, we will discuss three facets of your lineage, is that understood?”

Pleased things were moving along, Sarita nodded. “Three questions.”

“Different questions on different topics,” Isodora amended.

Sarita’s smile slipped slightly but she fought to remain upbeat.

“I will send for you when I’m ready.” Isodora turned and walked off.

Sarita headed toward the door she’d entered, it opened automatically. Carin stood outside and smiled when she saw her. “Ready? I’ll show you where everything is so you don’t get lost.”

Sarita nodded and followed Carin, but her mind was on how disappointed Isodora seemed. It bothered Sarita that she had a knack for making people unhappy, it wasn’t intentional. She simply spoke her mind honestly, lies were headaches.

“This is the training area where you’ll return to tonight.”

Sarita stepped forward and looked inside. It was a large room with hardwood floors and white walls. How did they train without equipment? Maybe she’d use that as one of her questions.

The impromptu tour didn’t take long and fairly soon Sarita was back in the room where she woke up. She climbed on the bed, inhaled and focused.

“David?” she called.

Nothing.