Chapter 2

Whisper wisdom

in my lover's ear

kiss away all the fear

Take his heart

hide it away

keep it locked in my safe

(Song of the Mermaids

Sung to the tune of Ring around roses)

Consuela awakened with a headache which felt like soldiers were marching in her head. The air around her felt crispy cool, and for a moment she wanted to lie back down and just sleep. A menacing set of giggles made her sit up straight. She turned her head left and right, attempting to trace the sound, but this only resulted in strengthening her headache.

"You should take it easy, sweet girl; you don't want to hurt that pretty face you got there!" The voice was deep but smooth, and it made the hair on Consuela's neck stand to attention.

"Who's there?" Consuela's voice croaked as she shouted.

"Well, well, well. Our little Jumbie Queen sounds so afraid. Tsk tsk tsk. Now we can't have that, can we ladies?" A shrill collection of cackles cascaded the air, and this prompted Consuela to jump to her feet and run. The surrounding trees swayed as the spirits of the giggling voices playfully trample through the air Consuela knew these mystics, and they could tire one out quickly if you would let them rope you into their games.

Running until she was out of breath, Consuela stopped for a while and then started her escape routine again. After a few minutes of trekking, Consuela realized she was going in circles. She was right back where she started. Frustrated, she let a scream rip through here, and it filled the surrounding area, travelling through the trees and pond.

"You know," the woman's creamy voice echoed, "for a Jumbie Queen, you are a bit dense." Her throaty laugh vibrated and sent ripples through the pond.

Consuela had heard tales before of the mystical species which lived in deeply hidden bodies of water, but she always believed them to be folklores to scare little ones into behaving. And why did she keep calling her a Jumbie Queen? She had heard of Jumbies, the lifeless, mischievous spirits which roamed the realm of the living. But for the life of her, she could not understand how such disorganized spirits could have a leader amongst them. Even more so, why was she granted the title?

"Yes Consuela, I am exactly what you believe me to be, and you are indeed leader of the disorganized little twits. Why don't you come a little closer to the pond, so we can speak face to face like women?"

This was insane, there was no way that thing, could have read her mind! And if the tales about this species or whatever it was were true, this would be the snatch and disappear stage. These varieties of mystics usually entrapped lonely, lust blinded men. Consuela thought, if they were chasing her, there must be something higher at stake.

"Why don't you come out where I can see you properly?" Consuela challenged the mystic.

"Oh, but I'm right here, my beauty!"

Consuela felt a cold stream of air begin to surround her body, accompany by a wet touch which tingle across her body. The cold air and wetness seductively transformed into the shape of a woman clothed in what could only be described as regal clothing. Her long frock was bejewelled with gems and a V-cut just deep enough to expose the brown curves of her breasts. It was as if beauty had transformed itself into a living creature. The mystic's tightly curled afro bounced as she sauntered around Consuela, and her intricate crown of seaweed and corals lie perfectly tilted on her head.

"Here I am in the flesh, Consuela, Queen of the Jumbies. I do enjoy being in the company of regality, seeing as I myself am a queen."

Every word which slipped off her tongue and through the ruby red lipstick decorating her lips were filled with confidence. Consuela had no idea what was happening, but she knew she needed answers soon. If Ma Len's stories were true, it would not be long before the mystic attempted to snatch her into the underworld of the pond.

" I'm no Jumbie Queen, just a lost soul trying to get home, so she can cook dinner and daydream about things which will never happen," Consuela lamented.

"Oh, my love, you can stay, no need to run off to a place you're not needed. As a queen, you should be demanding and not serving." The glamorous mystic's long fingernails, which were beautifully designed in a vivid turquoise colour and beaded with what looked like fish scales, gently glided across Consuela's shoulders. "Come, let's serve together, imagine the fun we could have."

Consuela smiled and turned to face the mischievous mystic. "I may not know what a Jumbie Queen is or what that has to do with me, but I know what you are, and I want no part in your games."

Closing her eyes and folding her arms in the shape of a cross in the front of her, Consuela chanted the words as she remembered Ma Len had taught her:

From the sea

whence she came

return the mystic

mermaid queen

may her soul

become wet

in repentance

as she

lives her sentence

beneath the

shadowy water

realm.

" You little twit, I will make you pay for!" were the last words Consuela heard before she heard a splash in the pond. She slowly opened her eyes and breathe a sigh of relief as she realized her tormentor had been banished. As she turned to leave, a sparking light caught her eye. Bending towards the ground, she guided her hands to the object. It was a golden ring with a crest in the centre. The crest was composed of a pelican in flight with a hibiscus hanging from its wide mouth. Consuela had seen this crest many years before, having spent countless days wading through the newspapers Ma Len would salvage along her house care duties for the wealthy. Drawing the ring closer to her face, Consuela gasped as she realized the insignia on the ring.

Why would the Mermaid Queen have a ring with her father's family crest on?