Chapter 143
Loiza's POV
"Paco how long will it take for both arms?" It was a few hours until sunset yet, but I was so inpatient. So instead of counting the seconds for his return, I decided to get this done. Tomorrow is going to be a long day and I want to make sure that both packs have my full attention.
"Meh... I can get this done in an hour, two at most. It's very simple and it doesn't require any shading or anything. We can do this fast Izz! Even with the mandala hand coverings!" I did a little research after they had showed me the original tattoos and went to the library to see if there was any additional protection to add to it, the mandalas were recommended as they are in Gaia's grimoire. I already fed the twins and they went under again fast...
"Alrighty Paquito, ink away! Is there anything you need? And yes I got the herbal ready, do you want a beer?" I link Nina to come over for a second try at this and to bring a joint.
"Fuck yeah! Let us begin shall we My Lady?!" Ha! I know he, Nina and half the island were weirded out by me, however Paco treated it more like a joke. He would do all the protocol as it was expected, yet he always did it in such a manner that everyone knew he was not serious. I really appreciated that, Nina and Natalia used to hang out with him all the time at his house right across the street from ours, their house shares the same drop-down cliff as The Fort, but the back of their house is part of the massive wall surrounding all of the citadel that protected from invaders and their cannons centuries ago. His family is a Legacy Kappa family who have hailed as some of the best artists of Karaya and like our family, come from the island natively called Borikén, The Land of the Brave Lord. Grand name for a land that has been colonized twice and now is called Puerto Rico, it tasted a little bitter in my mouth. In our blood flows the history of this region, we who fought back and yet were almost extinct, we came together, we swore the sacred oath of loyalty to each other till death.
His mate, two of his sisters and one of his nephews died in the incident. They came back to the island dusted off and kept on going, he even got a second chance mate! That does not happen to everyone. That is why their family holds the position they have in the tribe. Let them call me a butcher if they want... Wouldn't be the first time.
'Do you want me to bring anything else over?' She asked.
'Nah, just your fabulous self, Paco's here for the tatts, we'll order an early dinner or a platter, ok?' Last I ate was with Kayden and yeah, my nerves have me a bit peckish.
'On our way!' I really want to get this out of the way, I fucking said his cursed name IN THE WATER! I saw that I had done that before in His memories and it didn't look like there was a problem, maybe I'm becoming paranoid. Pasha said herself quoting the humans that better safe than sorry, I guess I owe her this much. The Mermaids have found sanctuary and here I am invoking a monster!
"PAQUITOOOO!" Nina and Tony walk in and Nina goes to him while Tony sits across from me and starts rolling up! He's gotten so good at it that Ura now just chills out and let's him do it.
"Hey Hermosa! I hear you almost done with the city in the Caney District! Tony here, add some of Lady Ayana's brew! I say we mix that shit up!" Nice!
"Whoa that's an intriguing mix! I thought mine was good until I tasted Magdalena's and mixing it up with Ayana's should be interesting! I haven't tended to a garden since I finished my High Priestess title I'm starting to feel a little rusty, I'm going to have to start the Prime Priestess training soon, that's the one that really has a little nervous." Like the pro he is, Paco already has the first stencil up before the first Puff, I link Domingo at the kitchens telling him to send up a platter because I was little hungry and I left it on his gracious hands to choose whatever he thought we would want.
'As our Queen commands! Loiza dear, I'm still recovering from this morning, and then I hear you have several events happening afterwards... are you feeling all right mija? And I don't want to hear anything about it you are a QUEEN darling! So you're going to have to take it!' Sigh...
'I'm all right Domingo, really. Thank you for asking old friend. You say you still feel it, do you feel discomfort?' Tony FINALLY lights it up and pases to Nina.
"Hey guys I ordered beers and a platter do you guys want anything else?" Nina takes her puff and passes it at me and I take a hit and pass it to Paco.
'Oh honey! Nothing like that! Everyone's response to that after saying 'FUCK YEAH!' Is HARMONY! Hay mija, your Mami would be so proud of you, WE sure are! I can't wait to gloat that I made you your first Besitos de Coco when you were two!' That IS true! Ha!
'You gloat away! You have earned it as you have earned my heart!' Paco gets his hit and pass.
"Oh I definitely want something! I'll order it!" I'm already feeling the scratch of the needle on my skin, he decided to start by my shoulder opposite Sophia, I can feel him gaze at her
"Paco, Nina and I are going to talk some personal things right now, I swear to the Goddess that if you start a gossip chain I'll kill you! Do you understand? Or do you need me to put in a command?" I love Paco to death, his family and mine have been neighbors for centuries! It's like we are family in a way, but the man can't keep his mouth shut to save his life! But still I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, I don't want to give an Alpha command to an old friend.
"Izz, I won't be offended if you command me! And I know myself, so if you guys are going to talk personal things I'd rather you command me so that I definitely don't start any gossip chain, you guys are like sisters to me especially the annoying shopaholic one who can't drive!" DAMN! I look over at Nina and she's just grinding her teeth! And Tony started totally laughing at her. And of course I join in because I already feel baked! When's the food coming?
"Chèri, it seems you can't catch a break anywhere! Are you all right? I really like this combination Paco! Izzy, my dearest sister can you please beg the Lady Ayana to send us more of hers so we can mix it!" So it's not just me! Awesome I can still have The Circle! I was a little afraid after my Awakening that this would have no effect on me whatsoever and I am pleasantly pleased to report herbal Izzy is spiritually grounded for now!
"I definitely will Tony, this is amazing! Nina honey are you okay?" Tony goes and opens the door to get the food and the beers.
"It's okay. I think it's best I hear it from you guys, but just so you assholes know I will change what I really think I do need major improvement but I'm going to still be me so suck it up!" You see? I did know this was going to be a good thing! I love patting my own back!
"Hey Paco here have some, Tony can you pass me one of those? Nina I told you guys that this is going to be a good thing! It's like draining a festered wound! You'll see we'll be fine and what happened this morning proves it!" I hope she backs me on this.
"Nina part of the reunion is not just venting out all of our pent-up shit, I want to name Maco officially as Head of our family what do you think? And yes I did consider Natalia, she was a very close second. I can't do this part Nina, all the crap I have to deal with as well as Bayo is not good energy to pass down. Look at us now girl!" She took a sip of her beer and was contemplating the the matter at hand and I could tell that she was definitely taking every matter to consideration. Then she started nodding.
"I agree, it wouldn't be productive to put Tia in that position, she has more or less the same values that basically brought us to this. I have talked to Talia about this before and she is of the same mind... Sigh. Yeah, the one that usually gives off the most chill vibes of our lot is Maco, he always finds a way to accommodate everyone, Natalia usually doesn't take anything personal, although I know that she does have her own simmering issues. Just so you know I will back your choice." I KNOW Ura and Lola will be on board, we HAVE spoken of this senario a few times when we were on the field, it was always a very smooth operations with both of them and we had extra days to hang out and get to know interesting things from the countries we were in. This is when I most practiced what Nina taught me about humans, I still remember seeing Machu Picchu for the first time! It took my breath away... Literally, thank the Goddess for the coca leaves.
"I agree with that decision, you guys really need chill vibes! I mean the last time I saw Lola and Umbros he was spouting some venom at her!" Paco adds. Yeah I will never understand that relationship because Lola is super chill unless pushed to otherwise. However he is a Truth Seer so I don't know if he knows something I don't know.
"Yeah no shit! And it was just from a few years back to now. I really have no idea how that even started." Nina passes to me so I can take a hit and I hand it to Paco. And I got completely distracted because I am just noticing now I'm feeding Sophia something from the platter and I know she shouldn't be eating, it's just habit. I ordered some corn from the kitchen for her, meh... she always eats anything I'm eating anyway.
"Hey Paquito do you know if your cousin can come over tomorrow? I really want her to make a perch for Sophia." I start wiping her beak with a napkin trying to get whatever is she has in her beak but she will be relentless. Once it's hers it's HERS!
"Yeah I was just about to ask you about your creepy bird! Has Bayo seen it?!" And he just starts laughing with that hardy laugh of his! And I just basically linked to all of them what happened leaving some minor details out.
"Does he really still have that bird phobia? We're on Earth did he get that?!" Nina asks. No idea.
"Guys I would really appreciate it if you guys stop calling my Raven gifted to me by my mate like that! She has a name you know!" And I just realized I hadn't given it to them. Someone will ask eventually.
"Wait, Bayoán is really afraid of birds?" Tony asked and we all nodded to him rolling our eyes. Once Moraima was found they started her treatment again. The problem is her phobia is a much bigger problem, it must be extremely difficult for a werewolf to be terrified of wolves! And what happened to her is no joke, she was almost destroyed! It took a very long time for her to heal because she refused to shift. I imagine she lets her wolf out at the very least on the full moon because it must be hard as shit, but from what everybody says she doesn't do it at all! She is an amazing Warrior and Beta! Her family too is a Beta Legacy family, just like Victor's and my family. Her family still holds true to their original Taíno name, the Ayraguay family stems from what is now the country of the Dominican Republic. Victor used to joke saying that if we were mated and had Beta pups he wanted them fostered with them.
Suddenly I caught his scent! Aryn was very excited...