Pearl nodded, “While the light of the full moon would be a blessing, I agree with you. The sickle moon would be a safer time to make our way through the bayou.”
“We can easily rent a boat, a motor boat would be best.” Pearl stated. “I would like to set off in the late afternoon.”
Lilly nodded in agreement, “We may arrive at the Faery village before the sun has fully set. If our relatives are still in their pajamas, I don’t care. I would prefer to arrive for afternoon breakfast than be detained by slimy swamp things.” Roland stared at his hands knotted together on top of the table as three women laughed nervously.
“All will be well,” Pearl said in a matter of fact voice. “We are not helpless. I lived in the village for many years and managed to avoid being eaten by an alligator.”
Kumira nodded her head and looked from Lilly to Pearl, “We have talismans, Lilly’s tingling hands, the protection of Quetzalcoatl and the power of love accompanying us on our journey.” The sacred chant, “Ooooeeeeaaaahhh,” vibrated through the room.
The week passed quickly and everyone was ready to go. The day of their scheduled departure arrived bringing torrential rain, followed by another day of steady rain. The group struggled to stay calm and centered.
They had packed, discussed, meditated and cooked together. Everyone was ready to go. The missing light of the Inanna crystal worried Jolene more than she dared say. Lilly held the dull crystal in her hand as she paced around her apartment chewing her bottom lip. Heavy morning rain cleared by lunch of the third day and the group began their journey.
The sun shone through low hanging clouds in LaPoint, trapping the humid air at 70 degrees. Quickly loading overnight bags into the boat, along with fruits, candies, soaps, lotions and a variety of other gifts for the Fae, they gingerly climbed into the boat.
Roland had a compass on a cord around his neck, sun glasses, a straw hat and a serious look on his face. The ladies, similarly attired, were quiet. Steering the boat across the basin into a nearby channel, they traveled at a steady 15mph. It was a good ten or twelve miles before the purple irises and pink azaleas lining the channel gave way to the red swamp maple, cypress trees, thick vines and hanging moss of the Deep Bayou.
Roland looked at Pearl, “Which way?” She nodded her head to the left. He steered the boat around a clump of land where a flock of Ibis gathered beneath a willow tree. He slowed the boat to a crawl as he navigated through cypress knees.
Lilly took out a bottle of “bug off” from her bag and slathered it on her exposed skin. She passed it around and everyone applied the oily herbal concoction, hoping it would be strong enough to repel the enthusiastic mosquitos inhabiting the bayou.
Kumira jumped suddenly and the boat rocked precariously as she pointed silently to two eyes floating eight feet from their boat. Lilly had seen many gators on her trips to the bayou. Obviously, Kumira was shaken by the site of the huge reptile. Roland sped the boat up a bit and left the scaly creature behind.
“Okay everyone, relax,” Pearl instructed. “Let’s all take a deep breathe. We are enjoying a peaceful boat ride in one of the most beautiful natural environments on the planet. Let’s enjoy the sites and one another.” Kumira gave a nervous laugh, Roland took his sunglasses off and wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his arm. Lilly opened her canteen, took a sip of cold water and passed it around to her friends. The tension eased a bit as Pearl and Lilly exchanged a smile and a wink.
Pearl spoke softly to Roland and pointed, “Steer towards the big oak tree.”
Roland’s eyes widened, “The one with the snake hanging off the low branch?”
Pearl made a simple grunting tone, cleared her throat and with patience instructed, “Yes, but go around the left side of it, no need inviting a snake into the boat.”
Roland maneuvered the boat around the small island hosting the ancient oak.
Pearl nodded her head again and continued, “Let’s find a way around the wall of hanging moss and go straight for a bit.”
The Deep Bayou brought back bittersweet memories for Lilly. She and her dad had shared many lazy summer afternoons fishing on the bayou. Avery LaCouer had spent those precious hours teaching his daughter how to bait a line, the best places to fish and how to charm the fish onto the line. Lilly had vague memories of other secrets he had shared with her, but nothing she could grab onto and pull into her present reality. She remembered how it felt to be with her father more than what he had said. His sparkling eyes, easy smile and gentle voice appeared in her mind. Tears pricked her eyes and she swallowed a sob.
Aunt Pearl put an arm around her and drew her close. Putting her head on Pearl’s shoulder, Lilly let the tears come as Aunt Pearl reminisced about growing up with her brother. “Avery was a sweet child, mischievous but never mean spirited. His Faery blood was strong and manifested in his ability to create beauty. He embodied the soul of an artist and a philosopher. He loved you so much, Lilly. It is a great mystery to me what he saw in your mother. She was his opposite. Over time their relationship fell apart. Once your mother took Rex as her lover, the situation became unbearable. Avery was planning to bring you out to the bayou village and raise you with your Fae family when he disappeared.
“Aunt Pearl, you mentioned murderous tendencies apparent in Rex’s aura. It was my father he murdered, isn’t
