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Amber couldn’t sleep. She leaned against her window sill, staring out into the Parisian night. She was learning so much about herself, answering quiet questions that had rustled in her mind since she could remember. The sudden visions that laid a person’s emotions bare to her made sense now. For so long she thought she was a mean person; now she knew she was expressing a talent she couldn’t control. It didn’t take away the pain, but knowing made it easier to deal with.
Her musing was interrupted by a tapping on the hotel door. She tensed; who would be knocking at this time of night?
“Don’t answer it, baby,” her grandmother said. She rose up from the bed, concern on her face. “I’ll call the desk.”
“Mama Alake?” The voice seeped under the door and Amber jumped. Her grandmother scrambled from the bed and donned her house robe. She shuffled to the door.
“Who is it?” she challenged.
“It is I, Bissau,” the voice answered back. “I have come for you and your granddaughter.”
Grandma’s eyes widened and a smile came to her face, a smile so joyous Amber smiled as well.
“We are close now, Amber!” She opened the door wide and Amber’s smile faded. Bissau, the man sent to escort them to Marai, was a boy. Not necessarily a boy, for he was at least Amber’s age. He was definitely not what she expected, but he was handsome, very handsome. There was something else as well, a feeling that seemed to shout for attention but she couldn’t grasp. She was too busy staring at him.
Bissau looked at them and returned their generous smiles. “It is an honor to meet both of you, but time is short. I apologize for my delay. There are others that do not wish to see you return to Marai.”
Grandma’s face became concerned. “I understand. We will pack immediately. Come, Amber. We must hurry.”
Amber lingered as she stared, trying to decipher the feeling of doubt flittering in her mind. Bissau’s smile disappeared to a look of nervous concern.
“Honored lady, do you feel well?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” she replied. She backed away and followed her Grandma to her room.
“Grandma, are you sure about this?”
Grandma looked into Amber’s eyes. “I know it seems strange to you that such a young man would be sent to us, but in Marai Bissau is a man. He has done things that boys his age in this world couldn’t imagine, and if my father sent him he must be a young man of many talents.”
Amber couldn’t shake her doubt despite Grandma’s words. “You know this world more than I, but something doesn’t seem right.”
“This is new to you and your talents are still raw. Trust me, Amber. Now go pack your things.”
Amber went to her room, glancing at Bissau as she entered. He looked at her and smiled. Her cheeks warmed and she turned away. She packed her luggage, scouring the room one more time to make sure she didn’t forget anything. Once everything was packed she looked into the mirror to make sure her hair was straight. She also wished she had some makeup, but neither Mama nor Grandma would stand for that. She sighed then left the room. When she came into the sitting area Grandma and Bissau waited. They were about to leave the room when Grandma held up her hand.
“Wait, I must let baba know you have come,” she said.
“We have no time,” Bissau said sternly. “The taxi is waiting downstairs and our flight leaves soon.”
“Flight?” Grandma looked puzzled and Amber’s worry escalated. “I thought we were going to use a mirror.”
Bissau looked confused for a moment before replying. “Powers reach out from the city, disrupting the Jele’s plans. We must use what works.”
Amber looked into her Grandma’s face and saw worry. Her Grandma gazed back and grasped her hand. She was trembling.
“I was hoping we would return to Marai unnoticed but that is not to be,” she said. “We must be careful now. If someone attempts to harm us beyond the Veil it means they have defied that which was decreed long ago. Stay close to me, Amber.”
Amber squeezed her Grandma’s hand. “I will, Grandma.”
“Come, we must leave now,” Bissau urged.
They followed their guardian to the elevator and into the lobby. Grandma checked out and they exited into the night and into the taxi. The three sat together in the back seat, Grandma sitting between Amber and Bissau. Amber let out a sigh. She was hoping to sit beside him.
Bissau leaned forward to look at them both, his eyes lingering on Amber.
“Our flight will take us to Dakar. From there we’ll link up with Tuaregs and travel into the desert to their salt camp. I’ll lead us to Marai.”
The taxi stopped before the gates and they entered the airport. Bissau went to the ticket counter and purchased their tickets. He came back to them with a childish smile on his face.
“Have you ever flown before, Amber?”
Amber looked confused. “How do you think we got here?”
Bissau laughed. “Yes, yes, of course. I apologize. This is all new to me. But don’t worry. Once we get to the desert I will be in complete control.”
Amber looked at her Grandma. Grandma looked back with an amused grin.
“You’ll have plenty of stories to tell when we return to Marai.”
“Yes indeed.” Bissau handed them their tickets. “I got us first class seats. They’re much more comfortable.” He raised his hand before Amber could scold him.
“You know this, of course.”
“Of course,” Amber snapped. Despite his good looks Bissau was beginning to get on her nerves.
* * *
THE REAL BISSAU STRAINED to move his legs, then his arms, then finally his head. Nothing cooperated. Aisha’s paralyzing powder had kept him immobile for hours, locked in an awkward pose. The sun crept through the blinds, slipping across the carpeted floor to rest across his eyes.
“Monsieur? Monsieur?”
Bissau watched the door knob twist and the door ease open. The maid stuck her head in and looked around.
“Bonjour, monsieur!” She opened the door wide and rolled in her cart. She was heading to the bathroom when she saw him sprawled on the floor, looking up at her with glazed eyes. She screamed and ran from the room.
Bissau struggled to move and was rewarded with sensation in his left foot. He was working his ankle when the paramedics arrived. They crouched around him, speaking French too fast for him to understand. A stretcher was rolled into the room then the paramedics lifted him onto it. Ceiling lights streaked past his eyes as he trundled to the elevator then down to the lobby and into the ambulance. Feeling progressed up his foot to his leg and his right foot was beginning to move as well but he remained still. There was no reason to do anything now. If he moved or spoke they would ask questions he could not answer. So he remained silent as sensation crept throughout his body. The ambulance careened through traffic, the high speed just as disconcerting as Aisha’s powder. It pulled into the emergency entrance and Bissau was rolled into the hospital, surrounded by babbling Frenchmen. He was taken to a private room, undressed him then wrapped him in a robe-like shirt that tied in the back. His arm was pricked and he was hooked to a bag of water. The nurse, a black woman who spoke French as if it was her homeland, tried to soothe his nerves.
“You’ll be alright, mon ami,” she assured him. “This is the best hospital in Paris. We’ll find out what’s wrong with you.”
“Where are my clothes?” he asked.
The nurse pointed at a bag resting in a metal chair.
“Don’t worry. The doctor will be here shortly.”
No sooner did the nurse leave did Bissau jump up from the bed then carefully remove the needle from his arm. He stumbled to his clothes then searched his pockets and found a small amount of mirror dust. He wasn’t sure if it was enough to contact Jakada but he had to try. He shuffled to the small mirror hanging over the sink and blew the dust into the mirror. The glass shimmered and his reflection disappeared. After a few moments Jakada’s face appeared.
“Bissau, do you have Alake and Amber?” Jakada asked.
Bissau dropped his head, embarrassed. “No, Jele. Aisha attacked me in my room. She has assumed my identity. I fear that Alake and Amber are with her.”
Jakada closed his eyes then opened them, his expression serious.
“Put your hands on the mirror,” he ordered.
Bissau put his hands on the glass. Jakada placed his hands opposite Bissau’s and a blinding jolt consumed Bissau. His mind cleared and the dregs of Aisha’s concoction dissipated. Jakada dropped his hands and released his protégé.
Jakada’s image wavered. “I have passed you my nyama. It will take time for me to recover. Until then you are on your own. Find my daughters. Stop Aisha.”
Jakada disappeared. Bissau felt renewed, although guilt and disappointment accompanied his new energy. Jakada felt him not capable of aiding his daughters on his own so he had sacrificed his own nyama to help him.
“I will not fail you, Jele,” he whispered.
Bissau dressed quickly. He was zipping his pants when the nurse’s voice interrupted him.
“Mr. Bissau!”
Bissau spun to see the nurse and a man he assumed was the doctor staring at him. The man wore a white coat with some type of instrument hanging from his neck. He reminded Bissau of a Marai healer.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Dubois,” the tall bearded man said.
“Thank you for your help, but I am fine,” Bissau said. He attempted to leave but the doctor grabbed his arm.
“You can’t leave just yet. You were paralyzed. Although I’m glad to see you standing you must stay. We don’t know what caused your paralysis and it might happen again.”
Bissau’s eyes narrowed. “I know what caused it and it will not happen again, not if I can help it.”
The doctor tightened his grip. “Monsieur, please.”
Bissau shrugged and the doctor flew from his feet and into the wall. Bissau stared at the unconscious man, stunned by his newfound strength. The nurse stumbled away, her hands flying over her mouth.
Bissau ran from the room as the nurse screamed. He slid across the floor then winced as he slammed against the wall. He steadied then ran to the end of the hall to the exit stairs. He burst outside into the crowded street, startled Parisians staring and pointing at him as he continued running. He didn’t stop until he was blocks away, amazed with his new-found talents. He was barely winded though he had run miles. But Bissau had no illusions about his powers. They were temporary. He didn’t know how long they would last but he would use his time wisely. He would find Alake and Amber.