“As difficult as it may be to comprehend, there is no ‘why.’ Evil and darkness simply exist like their counterparts of good and light. Like new life flourishing after a devastating wildfire. The cycle of life and death . . .”
“But the bad always seems to win.” Like the Ancient Ones.
“Think of it like a galactic sports league. Each league desires its team to win the championship. The difference being, the Ancient Bloodlines have broken the hallowed laws of karma in their atrocious act of unraveling the Akashic Records—for their tainted victory!”
The riddles. Scarlett didn’t have time or the patience to decipher riddles. “So, do we have a—chance?” Scarlett finally asked.
The Silver Lady’s ghostly image appeared before her closed eyes. “Heed my words. Explicitly! Watch yourself, watch yourself, watch yourself . . .” The phrase repeated in the background like a broken record as she continued. “For when the time comes, a sanctuary, if you will, hidden in a fold of Earth’s matrix shall reveal itself. The Ancient Ones know of this but cannot cross into this dimension. You and your friends must find it. Before I leave, promise me this: explain to Twila when the time is right that I had to leave.”
“Why don’t you tell her?” Scarlett shot back.
“Twila’s volatile nature could thwart everything we worked so hard to accomplish.”
Scarlett understood her reasoning. Twila might spiral into a foul mood for days. If not weeks. “What about Mindy?” Scarlett worried Mindy served as a beacon alerting the Ancient Ones. “She only protects herself and her child.”
“When that happens, presume danger is nigh.”
“And Zac?” Scarlett couldn’t swallow the sadness clinging to her throat.
An uncomfortable silence followed, as if her mystical spirit guide deliberated over her choice of words. “Alas, I am verboten from overseeing his progress. Too much meddling on my part, I suppose. Know that he loves you. That he will do all in his power to find you. And know this. Dreamtime connects you to the cosmic consciousness of all that is—that ever was—and will ever be. Listen with your heart. See with your mind. And love with your soul! Eventually, I shall return to check on the New Hu. That is, if the Ancient Bloodlines have not erased my soul”—her voice quivered—“from existence.”
Scarlett grasped the lapis lazuli pendant under her shirt. Despair overtook her. “And what about the creeper claiming to be the Queen of the Undead? The one who returned the lapis lazuli pendant.”
“Unforeseeable at this time. Furthermore, that shall be Twila’s mission—if our bold plan succeeds,” the Silver Lady said vaguely.
“Where is this sanctuary?” Scarlett finally thought to ask the most vital question of all.
“I must not speak of it. For traitors skulk the etherworlds. Know this: you and your soul-friends are entangled in time.”
Scarlett vaguely recalled a vision-like dream mentioning entangled in time. Whatever that meant. A peculiar gnarly tree with antique pocket watches flashed her third eye.
“Banish such thoughts from your mind!” the Silver Lady demanded. “Farewell . . .”
“Wait!”
But she was gone. What would they do without her spirit guide’s guidance, cryptic as it was?
An unexpected surge of energy swelled in her heart. The ley line’s energy or—hope? She opened her eyes, only to squeeze them shut. The sunrise swirled with brilliant specks of orange. She jolted back to reality in the middle of a flipping sandstorm.
Sandblasted from all directions, Scarlett climbed down the boxcar’s ladder and hurried to Dean and Luther. The wind and sand pelted into the boxcar as she struggled to close the door.
Luther helped her close the door, spitting out sand. “Good God Almighty, you all right?”
“I guess we aren’t leaving at dawn after all,” Scarlett mused as the whistling wind lashed at the boxcar.
Dean rubbed his face, waking up. “Naw, a sandstorm? Lucky we weren’t out in the open.”
“You were right all along.” Luther clapped Dean on the back. “I should know better than to doubt you.”
Dean waved him off.
Scarlett huddled against the wall, imagining the perfect world of Shambhala. Shari’s mystery school teachings revered a spiritual and yet physical Heaven on Earth. Shangri-La, Eden, Paradise, Elysium, Nirvana, known by many names by so many cultures. Did that mean such a place actually existed?
***
Scarlett awoke to pounding at the boxcar.
“Guys! Guys!” Justin yelled. “Someone’s coming!”
Luther and Dean slid open the boxcar’s door, weapons at the ready.
“We ought to be able to handle a lone rider,” Dean assured through binoculars.
The sandstorm had subsided. Scarlett stared beyond the sand flickering in the noonday sun to analyze the rider’s aura. She nearly doubled over. Zac? His distinctive vibrant aura had been forever ingrained in her memory. Perhaps she was merely in the midst of one of her lucid dreams. They always seemed so real.
Twila ran out of the caboose. “Yay! I told Onyx to hurry.” She bounced around cartwheeling and pirouetting.
All Scarlett could think was Zac had found—her! “Why didn’t you tell me?” She was too ecstatic for a scolding.
“ ’Cause, Mommy, I knew you wouldn’t stop thinking about him. And the bad ones would see.”
So true. Scarlett approached the horseback rider who was followed by a packhorse.
“Well, twinkle me Mary.” Dean gaped. “I do believe that’s Zachary Padilla.”
Justin shook his head adamantly. “No way!”
“How’d he’d find us way out here? Aunt Mattie?” Luther accused, mumbling on about Voodoo.
Zac waved wildly. Time seemed to tick faster and stop simultaneously. When she was close enough to see the rider’s smile. She had no doubt. He must have known it was her despite her grimy oversized clothing, for he didn’t wait for Onyx to stop. Instead, he jumped off.
“Scarlett from Roseville?” Zac’s voice faltered.
They collapsed into each other’s arms. Time spun around them with fragments of the Akashic Records floating in her mind. Was he the “why”
