Page 3 of Lost

“I get no pleasure in saying this, but no. You may not come in. I see that you made the Change.”

“Yeah, months ago. I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you until now, but you know why I didn’t. I had to be sure I could control myself. Well, I’m sure now, and the reason I’m sure is incredible.”

“I’m sorry, Kevin. Today is not my day to die, and even were it, I would not want to meet the Great Goddess after my grandson turned me into a ravenous monster. No. Please leave, child. You are breaking my heart, and it is already in more pieces than I can count.” Sadly, slowly, Grandma Redbird began to turn from the door.

“Wait, G-ma. Please look at this first.” Kevin lifted the medicine bag from around his neck and held it so that Grandma Redbird could get a good look at it.

Her brow wrinkled in confusion. “That is mine. But, I’m wearing it…” Her hand lifted automatically, going to the leather cord that held an identical medicine bag around her neck.

“G-ma, you gave it to me.”

“No, Kevin.” She lifted the identical beaded bag. “Thisis mine. That one, well, it is a strangely similar copy.”

Kevin couldn’t cross the barrier of her doorway unless he was invited in, but the bag definitely could. “Here, look at it. You’ll see.” He tossed it to her, and G-ma caught it easily.

He watched her open the little bag and pour the contents into her palm. There was a purple amethyst crystal and a piece of raw turquoise shaped like a perfect heart, as well as a sprig of lavender, the breast feather of a dove, and a spoonful of red dirt. The last thing that fell out of the bag was a rolled-up strip of lavender-scented paper.

With steady hands, G-ma Redbird unrolled the paper to reveal two words, written in her strong cursive script.

Trust Kevin.

G-ma’s sharp brown eyes found his. “Where did you get this?”

“Like I said, from you. In another version of our world. After Zoey called me there and Aphrodite and Nyx restored my humanity. G-ma, it’s a long story, but I swear on Zoey’s memory that you did give this to me and told me to go to you and show you. I need you, G-ma. I don’t know where else to go or who else I can turn to. Will you please let me come in? I won’t hurt you. I won’t ever hurt you.”

Sylvia Redbird studied Kevin carefully. Then her gaze fell, once again, to the two words written in her own hand on the stationery she made for herself there on the lavender farm that grew such fragrant, unique plants that the vampyres left her in peace—as long as she kept providing them with the lavender products Neferet so enjoyed.

“Kevin, I would like to invite you into my home.” The old woman stepped back, holding the door open for her grandson.

He entered the cottage and took a deep breath of air scented with childhood memories. Through the tears flooding his eyes he grinned at his g-ma. “Do I smell lavender chocolate-chip cookies?”

“You do, indeed. Would you like some?”

“More than almost anything,” Kevin said. “But first, could I please have a hug?”

“Oh, u-we-tsi, that would bring me great pleasure!”

Kevin held open his arms, and his tiny, loving, beautiful g-ma stepped into his embrace. And suddenly he found himself sobbing as she held him and patted his back gently, while he released the sorrow and loneliness and regret at having to leave his sister and return to a world filled with struggle and fear.

“It will all be okay now, u-we-tsi. It will be okay. I am here. I am here…”