Iridescent Cord

"Wake up Jazilysse wake up,'' my mother says as she walks into my room. ''Happy 18th birthday, today you learn the history of our family and why we are so secretive. Today is the first day you will immerse yourself in your role within our family. I know this is something you want to huff and puff about, I know this because I was in your shoes once upon a time. But after you get the knowledge you will understand everything. And you will see there is nothing to huff about. Now get dressed, we are going to your favorite breakfast spot." Its funny how much my mother knows me because indeed I am huffing and puffing internally. I am also rolling my eyes, though I wouldn't dare do so to her face. My mother Zulimae is such a sweetheart, she raised me with so much love and understanding, that I could never disrespect her. In my heart there is nothing but love and admiration for the woman who birthed me. My father died a few years ago, to some strange unknown cause. The impact it had on our family was big. My older brother Francisco, who we lovingly call Junior became extremely withdrawn, barely speaking to anyone without them initiating conversation. My younger brother took to football with such vigor. He told me once, he uses the anger inside to propel him when in a game. His team hasn't lost a single game since my father passed. Me? I'm just so confused as to why my father is not here anymore, especially since to me, we did not get the needed closure. The mystery behind his passing is daunting to say the least. One day he was here, blessing us with his vivaciousness, his beautiful childlike smile that I was blessed with... the next? He was just dead. It makes no sense to me. He was strong and full of life. Everyone loved him. the best baseball pitcher you will ever meet. In his free time he would volunteer with the local baseball leagues to give them pointers on how they could perfect their gifts. He should be here, and he isn't. My mother took it the worst. She cries a lot, almost every night. I can hear her from my room sobbing. In the beginning I would go into her room and try to console her. But that seemed to make her cry more. So I stopped going in there. Lately its been less. She changed physically as well. Within years she grew older. The wrinkles that adorn her face weren't there before. Though she tries not to sometimes she has snapped at us. When that happens we give her space. I hear here talk to him, to my dad that is. She says it makes her feel better to imagine him there. I tried doing that but it doesn't seem to help me. But I don't want to spend my birthday thinking about my father. It saddens me too much, and today is a day to celebrate the 18 years of life I've had. Today is a day for life. Not death. With that in mind I get out of bed and get ready to get some breakfast. Stepping into the warm cascade of my shower I clean myself, brush my teeth and wash my hair. My clothes are waiting on my bed. Simple black shirt, faded ripped jeans, black belt, and cute bright socks. I get my favorite pair of combat boots, the last pair of shoes my father bought me. Now all I have to do is brush out my long curly hair. Looking into the mirror I don't see a change. I am the same person I was yesterday, same golden skin, same golden eyes, same golden locks. Everything golden. The golden girl as my friends affectionately call me. But in my gut I have a feeling the change is big. I just don't know yet how big it is . "Maaaa, I'm ready to get my grub on!" I yell at her as I race down the steps. I'm so hungry, always woke up with a grumbling tummy. I list off in my head everything I'm gong to order. Eggs benedict, fruit salad, side of home fries, and my mock mimosa, half ginger ale half orange juice with a strawberry. Mmmm yummy I think as I start sucking my thumb to staunch my hunger. I've been told for as log as I could remember that sucking my thumb is a "bad habit" that is will end up with a case of the overbite. That it isn't cute for someone as pretty as me to suck my thumb. But I don't care. My thumb brings me piece and it doesn't hurt anyone. So I suck it when I want. plus, my siblings needed braces... but guess who didn't? This girl right here, and I chalk it up to faithfully sucking my thumb. Once everyone has ordered their food my mother turns to me with a serious look in her eyes "Jazilysse, today your family will be visiting. I need you to remember that we love you. No matter what happens tonight just know that you are loved and nothing is what it seems, everything happens for a reason, and with great power comes greater responsibility." With those words she began eating. I didn't put too much thought into what she said but looking at Fransisco I could see he was staring at me intently as if trying to convey some hidden message to me. I just smiled at him and dug into my food. ***Fransisco's POV*** My little sister. I couldn't think about anything other then what she would go through within the next few hours. How her plate was much heavier then any of ours would ever be. I felt pride and sadness at the thought. wishing I could shield her from what's to come, and knowing that our whole family was depending on her and the steps she takes after the ceremony. There's no room for mistakes. not with her role. Not with what is needed of her. This isn't something she would be allowed to reject, because the more she tried to reject it the stronger of a hold it would take on her. The first female to be born under my fathers line, and the last to be born in my mothers line. The feminine energy she exudes will be immense, and after the ceremony he will come for her. Hopefully she understands this is not something that we have control over. Looking over at her she gifts me a sweet smile, and in that moment I want to burst into tears and take her far away from everything. When we were younger I was her protector, though I tended to get us into interesting situations. Her laughter and the sparkle in her big golden eyes always made me so proud to be her brother. Hopefully she keeps it once this starts. She will need every bit of joyful happiness. maybe that's why its her. maybe that's why she is the one that will take on this task. Our younger brother Antios has no clue what is going on. To him its some wacky witchy thing my mom is constantly going on about. But since I am the eldest I know it is anything but that. My ceremony left me somber. The rug was literally swept from under my feet. My ups became my downs and my downs became my ups. I doubt this will be any different for her. Once we have finished our morning meal we head back to the house to get ready for our relatives. Every time we se them, its a lot going on. Never can be a simple family gathering with us. Pulling up to the house we see there are two sleek cars parked in front of our house, and once we are out we see our cousins Evilio JR, Tilin, and little Ashley-joe along with our uncle Evilio with his wife Dornia. guess my uncle doesn't know the fashionably late saying. "Aye my man get over here and give your uncle a hug!" He exclaims as he throws his arms out wide sweeping me up into a tight hug. Whenever I see him I imagine he is my dad. They are identical twins and it makes me so nostalgic for my own father. Damn I miss him so much. Sometimes I call his cellphone just so I can hear his voice recording. "Hey uncle how are you?" I ask as I try to hide the tears forming in my eyes. "Its ok my boy," he says as he hugs me again, "You can cry. Crying is the way our souls clean themselves." I sigh at that. Its true, after I cry I feel as if my soul has cleansed a bit. "Yeah uncle, its just the cold wind" I reply though its about 80 degrees outside. We all say our hellos and I see how my uncle stares at my sister intently. the golden girl. she is a miracle they say. All the uncles thought that no son would ever have a daughter. So guess their surprise when my sister was born. Even at the ultrasounds the technician said she was to be a he. But to be honest I love having her as a sister. She is amazing. Walking into the house I go with my cousins who have all gone through the ceremony to my room. Closing the door behind us the bombard me with questions. I try my hardest to answer them but being honest most of my answers are an I don't know. The only ones I can truly give an answer to are if my sister has shown any signs yet, which is a resounding yes. And if I think she will take to the ceremony or if she will try to reject it. Knowing her she will try to reject it. that's just the way my sister is. She doesn't do well with the unknown. She will close up like a clam and withdraw herself a bit like how I did. though I didn't reject the ceremony, I did close off to much of the aftermath. But she doesn't have the same option. It could kill her, he could kill her. And that is something we can not let happen. ***ANTIOS POV*** Great I'm going to have to sit through this bullshit. have a smile on my face as my aunts uncles and cousin all smile in true happiness. how can they smile when my dad isn't here? Don't they see that he was the glue? the inly one who seems to understand anything is my sister. junior just closed off to everything before my dad died so he is no help. my sister she talks to me about her feeling though. she shows the anger that reflects my own. I don't want to be here. i just want to go back to sleep and hopefully dream of my dad pitching a ball at me to bat. let me go to my room. I don't care about this witchcrap anyways. ***JAZILYSSE POV*** I take a deep breath as I head to the basement sitting down in one of the library chairs. Everyone but my aunt Zaida is here. she loves showing up late and making a statement with her big furs and extravagant attire. Just as I smile at the thought of my aunt in one of her rambunctious get ups I here the signature "ZUUULLIIIIMAAAAAE" unique only to my aunt. I laugh as I run upstairs to hug my aunt. auntie Zaida how are you? I ask as I let her hold me at arms length to take a look at me. "Oh how you have grown up Jazilysse! look at you!!! You're figure came in quite well. you must have all the boys going crazy for you." she says as she reaches into her purse and hands me a thick envelope. "Don't tell your mom I gave you that but thought after tonight you might need it" everything is so cryptic about tonight. What can be so important to get everyone under one roof and why cant they just tell me already? "Auntie," I exclaim as I huff, "Can you give me a clue as to what is going on here please?" I ask her as I pout. If anyone in the family will give me some sort of inkling as to what is going on it would be my aunt Zaida. As I look at her, her eyes start shifting colors. start off her normal golden eyes so signature to the women of my family, then they turn green, then blue, before my eyes they turn blood red... and I have to blink a few times to make sure I am not imagining this. But when I look at her they are back to their normal golden color. "Noooo, I can not tell your anything baby. you are just going to have to wait." she says as she smiles big and winks at me. for a moment it seems like she is a completely different person. I have to sit down I think as i watch her walk off. so strange. Everything about today so far has been strange. A few hours have past and we are all sitting at the long table designated for family gatherings. the food before me looks amazing, but for the first time since my father passed I have no appetite. nibbling on a piece of shrimp I watch as the family eats and talks and laugh. The only one that seems to be as somber as me is my brother Antios. He looks at me and I make a gun with my hand and act as if I have shot myself. this gets me a shadow of a smile that used to grace his handsome face. Sigh. Our family changed so much in such a short period of time. "Ok family," My mother says as she gets up and looks at us all resting her eyes on me. "Most of us already know why we are gathered here today. Jazilysse is becoming a woman and today marks her 18th birthday. For generations it has been a time of understanding and evolution for us. Today is not exception. On the contrary today is even more important since she is the first female from her fathers line." mother mother droned on and on about how important tonight is, how I will be learning my role in the family and blah blah blah. "Now i ask that Antios take the younger children to the movies while we take care of things here" with that she hands him a few bills to cover the cost of the tickets and snack. "You don't have to tell me twice," he says grabbing the money "Come on little midgets." He says affectionately to the kids and off they go. Once the kids have left, everyone turns to me simultaneously with serious faces. "Come my daughter it is time for you to learn the ways of our people" my mother says gently taking my hand and guiding me down to the library in the basement. Everyone follows closely behind us. She walks to the section that holds boring books of law and whatever else is in that section and she lifts one. Before my eyes the wall opens up revealing a hidden room. Holy crap we have a hidden room!!! I think as I look at everyone with winder. they keep the same serious face as my mother guides me down a long corridor that opens up to a room you see in those masonic movies. WTF is going on here I think unable to talk. Are we devil worshippers?!?!?! Ok calm down Jazilysse I say to myself as everything inside of me starts to scream to run away. To hightail it out of there. But its as if I am glued to the floor. I'm frozen in place. a small whimper escapes my lips as they make a circle around me and start chanting in some unknown language. Then I start to feel something inside of me vibrate. it start softly at first, kind of like a purr but it grows in intensity with every word they chant. before i know it I am screaming at the top of my lungs, as tears fall freely from my cheeks. my aunt breaks the human circle and collects my tears in a small vile. Not breaking the weird chant. My eyes must be wild at this point. I look around and everyone has a serious look on their face, everyone but my older brother, he looks like he wants to save me from whatever they are doing to me. My mother comes into view and she is holding a chalice adorned by jewels of all different colors. This makes me stop in my screaming though the vibration now feels as if I am being electrocuted from the inside out. "Drink babygirl." she says as she holds the chalice to my lips. I try to move my head away from whatever liquid is slushing in it, but I can not move. I start crying again and my aunt collects my tears. "You must drink my love, it will help you with the transition, remember what I told you this morning, we love you," she says as she tries to place the chalice to my lips again. this time I take a tentative sip of whatever is in the chalice, and my body instantly warms ad the liquid makes its way down my tummy and gathers in my womb. now a new sensation takes over and I start to moan. I am so embarrassed but I can not help it. the sensation is too strong. before I know it my head is thrown backwards and I c****x right there in front of my family. But that's not what has me so perturbed what has me thinking what the actual f**k is that it feels as if someone is inside of me making love to me. Then I hear a voice saying 'thank goodness my love. I am coming for you.' but its not coming from one of my family members the voice is in my head. and with that the world goes dark and I pass out.