The lyrics from an old Southern rock band, …don’t hand me no lies and keep your hands to yourself by the Georgia Satellites, never crossed her mind when Big Crow, totally out of character, embraced her. Little did she know that the feeling in her heart toward him and the desire to embrace him straightaway was known to him. It seems there is more than a connection thicker than shared ancient blood…or maybe because of it. Kat was in a dilemma with so many things causing chaos in her life, not the least of which was a deepening relationship with an ancient medicine man that was a volatile mix of satisfaction and terror. Stumbling into new powers because of her blood, Kat, in her estimation, lived an out-of-control life, and Kat needed to be in control. She needed help.
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Chapter #21 – Thicker Than Blood
Back in her condo, Kat wondered if Big Crow was clairvoyant or if he could sense her instincts to hug him when he stepped closer and surprisingly embraced her first—where did that come from? Had something changed between them? Where was this going? His show of emotion blindsided her, and then the near-immediate disappearing act added contradictory punctuation, leading to more confusion. His actions sent her head into an emotional spin. It was time for her to circle the mental and heartstring wagons, so to speak, and clear her head to protect what grew stronger in her heart. Logic told her there could be no relationship with a hundred-sixty-plus-year-old medicine man spirit in her life, yet a question lingered: could it?
What does one do when there are more questions than answers about the best path? Of course, emotions running at a fervor pitch did not grease the skids for an easy solution. Kat resolved to look inward. In her professional life, she always had solid direction and commitment to whatever she worked on. Of course, those situations were under her control. This whole situation with Big Crow was not, and had taken an unexpected turn, but, at the same time, welcomed with no reservations on the surface until doubt showed up to ask if she was crazy.
What about work? Her boss, Cassie, had graced her with time away to get herself together, but between the lines, an unspoken threat hung over every day she did not go into the office. Good friends can only spread grace so far when the business needs must take precedence. How far was she from crossing that line when business pressures would exceed the need for her continued employment? Seven years of her time and effort had been invested in the company, and it shocked her that she would consider walking away to pursue some craziness in her life, and what was that, who was that…a man who came and went in a puff of smoke. How uncontrollable and unbelievable was that?
When Kat sat back in the recliner, all she could think about was juggling her feelings about being with Big Crow, reversing course, and coming back into what was more likely a reality she could count on. Thoughts pinged and ponged in her mind as she fought to make sense of her next steps. Those steps, whatever they might be, were interrupted by the smokey arrival of Dew on Flowers.
“Hello, Katherine.”
Kat responded sarcastically, “Oh, great, another spirit to brighten my day, and according to Big Crow, you’re the spirit who did not break the connections with the evil ones wishing to end my baby and quite possibly me.”
Dew on Flowers approached and reached out to touch Kat. “Katherine, please let me assure you…”
Kat stepped away from her touch, “Don’t touch me. I don’t need you laying that calming voodoo effect on me. I’m enjoying my angst and don’t need you messing with my head…or my heart. Please, what do you want? What do any of you want?” Kat was on the verge of tears, but she had the comfort of knowing the tears were hers to cry…something she controlled.
Dew stopped her approach and lifted her hands in surrender to show respect for Kat’s agitation. “Katherine, I’m sorry. My intentions to calm you were out of my concern for you, not, as you call it, laying my voodoo on you. I’m not sure I understand your concept of voodoo or your understanding of the roles Big Crow with Little Feet, and I are here to fulfill.”
“Well, maybe you should fill me in, Dew on Flowers.” Kat always used their full names whenever her threshold for tolerating bullshit broke. She was pissed and feeling overwhelmed and did not even begin to define where she was in her heart of heart. Right, out of control. Her world had been turned upside down all because of a dream. When Big Crow reached out and embraced her, it was a shock…a pleasant shock…but it was still a shock that turned her expectations in a new direction. And then, as expectations shifted, the bastard goes up in smoke. Yeah, she was pissed, and seeing Dew on Flowers so soon after Big Crow flirted and bolted was not good timing for Dew on Flowers.
“Big Crow is a healer, a medicine man; by others, he’s known as a shaman. We can bridge your physical world and the spiritual realm. Our voodoo, our powers, mine, and Big Crows come from the spiritual realm and are not found in this physical world. You are an exception because of the spiritual bloodline that has been part of you for generations. Those powers lain dormant in you because the physical world does not need them. The presence of those powers is part of you now.”
“But what if I don’t want any of this, any of these mysterious powers, Dew?” Kat’s silent cry began as tears traced down her cheeks, and she reached out to Dew of Flowers for a calming embrace. “I’m sorry I pushed back when you arrived. I just…I don’t know what’s happening to me.” Between deep sobs, she continued. “My life rolled along so smoothly before I met any of you…no problems I couldn’t overcome, no major dilemmas or especially any concerns over ambushes by evil spirits who want to kill me and the baby.”
Dew on Flowers took the opportunity for a teaching moment. “You discovered a power of strength when adrenalin called for fight or flight in your recent ambush. That power is real and will protect you, but it must be controlled, not abused. You have a lot to learn about using your powers. Here’s a perfect example: I reached out to calm you when I arrived because I felt for you, not because I wanted to calm or subdue you for purposes you would perceive as losing control. Control is important for you to feel a sense of comfort, but it is also something to respect and not abuse. You truly are exceptional, Katherine, and you have more access to control than ever by the powers you are awakening to. I’m here…Big Crow is here…we are your bridge to powers only available to spirits like us…and now, you. Teaching you about your powers and protection of the unborn child in your womb are the reasons we are part of your life.”
Kat still sniffed, pushed back from Dew on Flowers, and complained with renewed sarcasm. “I get that, but I never wanted to be raped…oh, I’m sorry…have forced spiritual union with your fiancée.” She started to roll, “I did not want to be a mother, but now, I am headed down that path. I did not want to be on an evil spirit hit list for people…hell, they’re not even people…who tried to kill me and my baby. I did not want to be in a relationship, but it feels like something is happening with Big Crow, and it’s a contradictory mix of satisfying and terrifying. I didn’t want to alienate my sister by introducing her to Big Crow and then defending myself when I share how chaotic my life has become, but here we are, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg of my life.”
“I understand what you are saying and can feel it. As spirits with a blood connection, we share things of the heart. This is true because you felt something changed in Big Crow’s heart. Trust me, he has not been looking for a relationship for the last 160-plus years, and don’t look at the grey braids fool you. Big Crow with Little Feet was not always a medicine man who could communicate with the spiritual realm. His hair was as long and black as mine until the spiritual realm opened to him. He is a powerful and attractive man, and I know he has changed his manifestations when visiting you.”
“So, I suppose he’s felt my heart change toward him,” Kat said as she tapped her lips thoughtfully. No secrets then, is that what you’re telling me?” asked Kat.
“Are secrets necessary when you are sharing from the heart?” Dew of Flowers asked gently. “May I offer some advice?”
The sarcasm left Kat’s voice and tight body posture relaxed, “Help me, Dew.”
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I hope you enjoyed chapter #21! This story keeps coming at me, so I’m still writing. The Relentless Wench Muse, who manages to remain just out of reach, said there’s more story here. “Puye Prophecy” may become a book one day. I’ll continue to share each chapter as I tire of editing, so keep checking back. I would love to know your thoughts so far. gdogwise@live.com
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