Maria strode forward to slide her hands down the side of her beloved Chevy, feeling the smooth, waxed coating over one of her most prized possessions. She wasn’t particularly interested in why Jeanne was wearing a wig or anything else right now. All she wanted to do was feel the power of the engine roar to calm her racing heart.
She went to the car, circling it with a fond smile. “There you are, Alejandro,” she whispered, fondly, caressing the hood of her 1969 Chevy Impala SS, the convertible hood pulled back. “Finally got the hydraulics goin’, bro?”
“It’d help if you didn’t leave it so low to the ground!” Her brother grunted. “Who’s the Karen yelling at ya?”
“Nobody,” Maria replied, stopping at the back of the classic, white-painted car to run her hands over the 808 angel number artwork on the trunk; it had some rain spots on it. “Aye, jump out, will ya? I’m good to drive now. No slurring, huh?” she asked, Mexican accent thickening with her excitement.
“Uh. No, but are you sure…”
“Get your ass over,” Maria laughed, nudging him to hop into the passenger side. “Yo, Fi, you good with the top dropped?” she asked, falling into the driver seat as her brother left with a dirty look, no doubt wanting to drive the car she never let anyone touch.
The fairy floated down onto the dashboard to sit cross-legged, wings and green glow vanishing as she released her magic and held up her thumbs. “I’m good! Cool car. We’re going to party, right? I just want to forget everything… like my parents not picking up the phone!”
“Uh-huh.” Sensing the young woman wanted to get away from all the stress that had happened, especially all the torture she’d been through since becoming a fairy, Maria was happy to show her a good time around her hood.
Grabbing the hat off the dash that had ‘Little Havana’ stitched on the front, Maria pulled her braid through the back to settle it on her head. Next came the rimless sunglasses as she smiled and turned up the cassette mixtape Lita made for her birthday when she was a little girl. Summer Nights by Lil Rob came on, hitting the amplifier, subs, and speaker.
Jeanne stood nearby, studying them with a critical eye, not so antagonistic now as Roy hopped into the back seat; she didn’t seem all that put off now that things were settling down, and if she wanted to take her license plate, QUEEN69 wasn’t hard to remember. The birth year of Lita; it had been her car before it came into Maria’s possession, after all.
Maria put two fingers to her hat as she pulled away, and Jeanne actually smiled and waved, holding her purse at her front. The wind picked up as they hit the streets, and finally, they were on the move again. Passing the checkpoint, she got a few cheers from the soldiers as she passed, holding a fist. Her brother put on his own dark shades, sitting back and breathing out all the stress he’d no doubt felt as she slept.
Roy directed them to the college to check on Selvaria, and she saw a grin on Fiona as they freely cruised down the somewhat empty streets. At least half the businesses seemed to be back open, making Maria nod; people had to make a living, and life went on.
She saw Beastkin, Faekin, and everything in between strolling with loved ones. Love was coming back to the neighborhood, and she could see it in the faces of the residents. Tourists appeared somewhat sketched out still, being so far away from home, but Miami was a welcoming community.
Arm resting against the door, she vibed to the chill sound of the mixtape. A lot would have changed in the criminal network of Florida with Terrell and several other gangs taken out of the picture. Ironically, it was the bad actors that flocked to Relica’s side.
Right now, peace was looking likely, and Miguel would have moved to fill the hole. Little Havana was about to take center stage. Maria was here for it since it would allow them to put a more positive spin on keeping the hood safe from outside forces.
Spinning the wheel left and right, she had fun on the drive, swapping lanes and enjoying the energy people sent them from the sidewalks or the salutes from other vehicles.
Roy pointed them to the college Coast Guard checkpoint, updating them on what they knew about the conflicts during the operation, what happened to them, and the State’s current affairs. Classes seemed suspended until further notice as students returned to their families until everything smoothed over.
Still, there were a few people exercising or wandering around the grounds as they circled the parking lot to find an empty place. It seemed the military was doing a good job of keeping things organized after nearly a week into The Oscillation.
Taking two stalls, Maria dropped the hydraulics down low and got out, Fiona giggling as she stretched out in the air, and her brother hopped out, keeping his sunglasses on.
“Do you just drive a lot to pass the time, Maria? So many people waved at us and shouted like they knew you.”
Putting her glasses on the brim of her hat, Maria shut the door and locked the car when everyone exited. “It’s relaxing, girl. Doesn’t it feel good just to pull out and chill with the homies, bumpin’ good music, and seein’ the changes to the city? It’s the vibe, ya know? Ya gotta let go and relax after the grind. Enjoy life.”
“Because it’s short,” her brother repeated, flashing his teeth as he fell in lockstep with Roy. “I hear the President is doing nightly updates on stuff.”
“Have you listened to them?” Fiona asked, keeping even with their heads so they could talk as her green glow carried her through the air. “What’s going on?”
“Naaa,” Felix scoffed. “Busy with other shiz.”
“A lotta shit is happening,” Roy chuckled. “Mostly in the big cities, but there are some country murders. Local police and the FBI are taking control. State and city leadership should be taking the reigns back soon. Martial Law is only supposed to be used for a short period when social collapse is happening. We’ll probably still have some presence here to support the governors; it’ll mostly be in extra personnel rather than combat, though.”
“Cool,” Maria grunted, noting the military vehicles posted around the campus. “So, we gonna see this leviathan girl, huh? She’s in here?”
Roy opened the doors for what appeared to be a giant pool. “Yeah, she needs seawater, and the college has a pool. Her mom’s here, so putting her mind at ease should help.”
Scanning the large, echoey area, Maria lifted an eyebrow as they stopped at the pool’s edge to look down at a sleeping, monstrous-looking woman near the bottom, blowing bubbles up to the surface in her dreams.
Her brother rubbed the back of his neck. “I, uh, expected… more?”
“Hahaha. You should see my daughter when she transforms. She’s quite the looker.”
Maria looked to the side as an older woman approached them. “Hello. I assume you’re the Unicorn Mythickin that they said would come to check on her condition?”
Horn flaring to life, she looked into the lightly rippling waters, beams shining through the liquid to touch the leviathan. “Yup, same as the others… spiritual fatigue. Damn. Shit’s no joke; drops ya like a bag of rocks. Give her a few more hours, and she’ll be good. No problems.”
“Haaa. That’s a relief,” the lady sighed, giving her a thankful smile. “I appreciate you coming all this way. Can I do anything in return?”
Maria held up her hand and walked away. “Ain’t nothin’ I need right now. I do gotta head out, though. I got a party to hit. Later.”
“Is that it?” Fiona asked, worry creasing her eyes while looking back at the mother. “Isn’t there anything more we can do? Umm, do you have a name, Ma’am?”
“Aww, thank you, Fiona; you’re kind. And it’s Teri.” The woman shook her head as they paused. “And I’ll be fine. I’m sure you’re very busy with amazing powers like yours. If it’s just a few hours, I can plan on taking Selvaria to Garcia Seafood Grille to celebrate. Thank you, Maria.”
A little put off by how she knew her name, Maria shrugged it off; it was probably passed around by Rachel or something since everyone seemed to know her. “Sure, whatever.”
Roy fell in line with her on their way back to her car. “You’ve been a lot calmer than what Cameron told me. Other than that weird drunk spell, since we left the hospital, you’ve just been coasting.”
“That’s a good way to put it.” Maria hummed and looked up at the sunny heavens. “I’m just glad the kids made it through that shit… Damn, they’ll have nightmares, for sure, but at least they’ll live to work through it. Kids can be tough if you let ‘em. Aye, but I got places to be. No more side shit!”
Loading up into her Impala, the sun dropped in the sky as she took them to Little Havana, driving slow and low. She let herself be seen, calling out to the locals and showing the city everything was on the up. Felix shouted out their block was having a party, getting some of the older folk to do funny little dances, singing old Cuban hits.
By the time they rolled up to the block, Maria was wearing a grin, seeing the crowded streets, people passing between houses and collecting food. Classic cars lined the road in anticipation of the after-party cruise, bumping songs in unison for people to dance to, and when her jam came on, she fast-forwarded the track to Neighborhood Music by Lil Rob.
She saw grills being wheeled to the nearby park where everything was going down, but her first stop was a little brick duplex on the block: her house, right next to Zarita.
“Queen!” A fifteen-year-old Honey Badger girl cried, jumping out of the front door as they pulled up. “Yo, what the hell happened in Miami Beach?! I heard you took out Terrell’s clique! Why the hell didn’t you bring me, bitch!?”
“Aye, Queenie!”
“Yo, Maria. Check out this bomb weed! We got the joints!”
Maria got out, waving at all the folks she’d known almost all her life, supporting each other wherever needed. “Haha! Don’t burn it all before the party, niñitos.”
“Naa, just a taste, Queen! Ack-haha!”
“Dude, give me a hit!”
She turned away from them to run her fingers through the girl’s thick, dirty silver hair as the Honey Badger ran up to her, everyone else going back to the party preparations.
“Yo, Elena, chill, chica. You know you ain’t old enough for the biz. Thug around the block if yer feelin’ jumpy. How’s la anciana; her back still actin’ up?”
The pouty Beastkin girl’s leery eyes darted off Roy and Fiona, excitement budding as she showed her sharp fangs. “You’re strong enough now?! You can heal my mom?”
“C’mon.” Maria nudged her head for her to go inside, forcing the troublesome teen into a one-armed hug. “How’s things with Uncle Miguel? He been by?”
“Yeah!” Elena punched the air with a wicked grin. “They hit Terrell’s spots with the boys; they brought back a shit ton of food, weed, and other stuff for the blocks! We got steak!”
“Steak, huh…” Maria grumbled, knowing she couldn’t stomach it with her new diet of only fruits and vegetables; it sucked. “Sounds real good. Yo, Felix, go shout to Miguel that I’m posted in the hood.”
“Aye, on it, Hermana!”
Going inside with Elena by her side, she caught Roy staying by the car, surrounded by Mexicans and Cubans, as they saw what the military man was about. She heard Zarita’s thick accent as she tried to get out of bed.
“Ugh… Elena, is that Lil’ Maria? Is she back?”
“Aye, Anciana; yeah, I’m home.”
“Good…”
“What’s up?” Maria held up her hand as the damnable woman came out with a slipper to smack her raised arm. “Aye! Cut it out, Aunt Z!”
“Ya go off and startin’ shit with people—leavin’ me ta worry shitless about your fat ass! You almost gave me a heart attack!”
“Ma, chill! Ma!” Elena hissed, trying to pull her back, ears pulled back. “She just got outta the hospital! You’ll hurt yourself!”
“Oof!”
As expected, Zarita doubled over, hissing and grasping at her back.
“What did I tell you—dammit, Mom…” Elena snarled, helping her to the couch. “I’ll get you the ice packs.”
Chuckling at the angry woman who had been fretting over her since she was five, Maria activated her powers; horn flaring to life, she felt the metal holding Zarita’s body together firing off her nerves, her failing pancreas, and a host of other problems.
“Hey, I’m here for ya, Aunt Z…”
[Heal II], [Purify II], and [Cure Defect I] activated, healing and relieving her of all the pain the woman would have felt for nearly two decades.
Pinched face, wrinkles, and heavy expression smoothing over with healthy, rich skin, her second mother opened her eyes wide as her torment faded. “Maria…”
“Thanks for everything you’ve done for Felix and me,” she whispered as Elena sniffed back tears, which was big for the Honey Badger. Leaning down to kiss her forehead, Maria fixed her hat and smiled down at her. “You took that beatin’ for me when I was a kid… So let me take care of you now, okay? I love you.”
Zarita stood up and pulled her close, quivering with all her addictions and birth defects purified. “I never did it for payment… When my sister—when she took you girls in when your father got locked up, and then she… You’re my daughter, so don’t go biting off more than you can chew and break my heart… because you can’t heal that.”
“Aye… You know I learn fast, Aunt V,” Maria soothed, rubbing her back as the tattooed, rough man she’d looked up to as a kid came through the front, pulling off his sunglasses. “Speaking of… I gotta talk ta Uncle Miguel.”
Zarita turned to glare at the fifty-year-old bald man. “Don’t you get her wrapped up in more shit.”
“Yo, you know I don’t want that smoke, Z. I don’t need an ass beatin’; last time you kicked the shit outta me, ya know? Haha. Lil’ Maria was the one lookin’ for me. Aye, you lookin’ good, though, Z. I like that glow on ya; haven’t seen it since we was young.”
“Oh, shut up,” she grunted, blushing as she looked into the front room mirror to see how her aging had been healed. “Don’t take all of Maria’s time. This is a party, not a place to discuss street jobs or business.”
“Understood.”
“Go out back—and not you, El!”
“Aww… You’re always hounding me!”
“El… Haaa.”
Sniffing, Miguel chuckled as the teen huffily went to her room to slam the door, turning up her stereo to bump Chino Grande, Under the Sun.
“Teens be teens, Z; they be wylin’. Aye, I keep to myself,” he said, holding up his hands at her glare. “Queen.”
Maria walked with him to the back, grabbing some water from the fridge and tossing a beer to the man. He popped it open on the counter, following her to the lawn chairs to sit and stare up at the heavens. She was a little surprised when he started, rubbing the cross tattooed atop his head.
“Yo, Maria, eyes open… Everyone’s sayin’ your crew took out Terrell and the Columbian Cartel clique; your name’s gotten pretty big, Kid, so watch your back. A lot of respect for it on the streets, and there’s talk about the Black Devil Bunny in your posse; they say she’s a loco killer off her leash. Naa. A lotta talk hittin’ the streets these days, Kid. We got some new faces cruisin’ the streets, too, lookin’ to get your blessin’ ta set up shop.”
She settled in, glaring at the few clouds in the sky. “I don’t run with snake bitches lookin’ for a slide-in. Pop-bitches be lookin’ for a quick leg-in ta ruin the blocks and run ‘em dry with dope. I ain’t seein’ that as a solution, but, aye, I got a new business proposition, ya know?”
Miguel lifted an eyebrow, turning a bit to look at her through his black sunglasses. “That loco bunny chica, huh? What’s the terms and score? Who you workin’ with?”
Drawing in a long puff of air, Maria breathed it out in a long stream. “Rachel said we could make real money… like major scores. She wants to start some private military shit to run these Crystal gateways, and the feds seem chill on the idea. You heard of them?”
“Bits and pieces here and there. Monster shit,” he grunted, fingers tracing his trimmed mustache. “I hear you can bring back space shit. I don’t know; feels kind of sketchy, and who’s to say it doesn’t close on ya? Private military, though, huh? Damn. We talkin’ legit shit—army shit?”
Maria nodded. “Government-funded shit. Big bands. Rachel’s got some connections, for sure. I don’t know all the details, though… Seems a bit too… Haaa. Yeah.”
Miguel bobbed his head to the music Elena bumped in her room as he thought. “Hmm. What’s this Rachel bunny like?”
“Hare, actually,” she muttered. “Ugh. She’s hella real. I think you’d like her; she doesn’t take shit and takes care of business. She hella moves. Girl’s scary, motivated, and risky. She plays the right cards, though.”
He pushed out his lips while stroking his braided beard. “She gets results, huh? She takes necessary risks, hmm? If ya want my thoughts, Kid, I’d say test the waters. See what she’s about. An average chica doesn’t snatch the attention of the US military without reason, you know? Whatever they know, it’s something ta evaluate…”
Miguel trailed off as a knock came at the back door, and Roy cleared his throat, stepping through. “Yo, what’s up, Special Forces? Got somethin’ for us?”
Roy nodded at him before addressing her. “Hey, Maria, I just got orders from Captain Barbara. The President wants everyone brought to DC. We leave tomorrow morning.”
“The President, eh?” Miguel drew in his mouth and nodded. Rising to his feet, he tapped the side of his glasses twice, telling her to be smart and keep her eyes open. “Catch ya at the park, Kid. We’ll start the cruise around nine to hit the city. You good?”
“Yeah, we’ll get by. Later, Uncle M.”
“Eyes open. Keep it real, Special Forces, and thanks for the service.”
Roy nodded as he held up his beer to him and left. “Haha. Fiona’s getting a bit nervous from all the kids circling her like sharks. I think she’s looking for some rescue.”
“Eh. Aye, chica’s got fire. She’s fine, but I should show her around the block. ‘ight. Party and then ta DC. Damn. I guess I should pack some shit. The President… Shit.”
Getting up, she walked through the house, hugging Zarita and popping in to let Elena know she could tag along. The teen had snuck out of the bathroom window during her talk, though, which was like the Honey Badger, prompting Zarita to storm out to find her.
Maria shooed off the enthralled kids, asking Fiona to show them her magic and wondering if they could out-speed their favorite-looking car on the block.
“You good, short-stack?” she asked, hands in her pockets and leaning against the trunk of her ride as Roy came to join her. “The niñas and niños seem ta like ya.”
Fiona showed a strained grin as she floated at eye level, green wings drawing eyes like a traffic light race. “Eh-heh. I’m sparkly, little, and cute… Haaa. I want to talk to Nora now.”
“Lil’ Sis?” Maria questioned with her melancholy, downward gaze.
“Yeah, she’s three years younger than me,” she whispered, staring after the flirting older teens as they tried to skip out on tasks and sneak away. “Mateo told me a lot of phone grids are down across the world, and Ireland is going through some kind of political thing with the UK not sending enough resources to help. I just want to know if my parents and sister are alright.”
Nodding slowly, Maria looked up at the blazing overhead sun. “I feel ya. It’d be nice to know if my familia are good back in LA. Damn, it’s been a while since I talked to them.”
Fiona’s face brightened as her lime-green eyes found Felix. “You and your brother seem close. Does he miss family back west, too?”
“Ah.” Maria waved her hand dismissively. “Naaw. Felix and I aren’t blood-related like that. My dad moved us out here after gettin’ some heat in Cali and caught a case here. So, my aunt Lita took us in since she just got her green card and got here from Cuba—her sister married my uncle Eustacio,” she added at the fairy’s confused stare. “We come from big families.”
“What about your mom?” Fiona asked, eyebrows drawing in.
Maria paused, thinking back on her life. “Meh. Ran out on me when I was, like… one? No clue. Lita was my mom growin’ up; she couldn’t have kids, so she took in what niñas and niños she could.”
Sucking in her cheeks, she saw her second mom fending off congratulations at being healed while searching for Elena; she didn’t get to know Lita as a mom like she had.
“Are you okay?” Fiona asked, gliding in front of her, hands held against her chest. “I’m sorry if I brought up bad memories.”
“Naaa. I ain’t got nothin’ for my birth mom. Lita and Zarita raised Felix and me. Elena’s like my lil’ sis; she’s a good mujer joven under all that attitude. She’s just tryin’ ta find her place in the familia. Hmm. Aye, Roy, you free ta chill, or are ya gonna be a killjoy all night, eh? Grab a beer, hombre!”
Roy chuckled and crossed his arms. “I mean, I do need to fit in, right?”
“Pfft! Not with that Spanish accent, mi chico! Aye, loosen up, huh? It’s a block party!”
Fiona’s smile returned. “Show us around your block!”
“Aye, that’s the spirit! Let’s have some fun!”
Guiding them away to enjoy the thrill of the party, Maria took them to the party to join in the dances of the mixed Mexican and Cuban cultures in their neighborhood. Eventually, as the night went on and they finished driving around Little Havana, Maria found herself pulling into the little church she’d always attended.
Fiona, Roy, and Felix followed her inside as Maria hugged Father Pomar and sat in the front row. She waved at several others who had come to the sanctified ground. She could feel a sense of peace in the place as she looked up at Mother Mary, holding baby Jesus and a soft sigh puffed through her lips.
Making the sign of the cross, she kissed her silver rosary and leaned against her thighs, spiritually sinking guidance after everything that happened swept through her.
Rachel still was a mystery that she had to figure out. If the hare did have a way to lift up her community and give these people a better life, then she’d do it. The young woman also had to explain this devil shit because Maria didn’t touch evil stuff, and whatever that Nia kid turned into, it certainly felt hellish. Then again, from what Roy told her, Rachel had saved all the children, which was far from evil.
She’d find out soon enough because as her brain had cleared, she realized part of the reason she’d been so overwhelmed was due to three unique souls within or near Rachel, and one had been insanely powerful. Something was inside Rachel’s clothes, and at least one of them would be conscious soon.
Maria strode forward to slide her hands down the side of her beloved Chevy, feeling the smooth, waxed coating over one of her most prized possessions. She wasn’t particularly interested in why Jeanne was wearing a wig or anything else right now. All she wanted to do was feel the power of the engine roar to calm her racing heart.
She went to the car, circling it with a fond smile. “There you are, Alejandro,” she whispered, fondly, caressing the hood of her 1969 Chevy Impala SS, the convertible hood pulled back. “Finally got the hydraulics goin’, bro?”
“It’d help if you didn’t leave it so low to the ground!” Her brother grunted. “Who’s the Karen yelling at ya?”
“Nobody,” Maria replied, stopping at the back of the classic, white-painted car to run her hands over the 808 angel number artwork on the trunk; it had some rain spots on it. “Aye, jump out, will ya? I’m good to drive now. No slurring, huh?” she asked, Mexican accent thickening with her excitement.
“Uh. No, but are you sure…”
“Get your ass over,” Maria laughed, nudging him to hop into the passenger side. “Yo, Fi, you good with the top dropped?” she asked, falling into the driver seat as her brother left with a dirty look, no doubt wanting to drive the car she never let anyone touch.
The fairy floated down onto the dashboard to sit cross-legged, wings and green glow vanishing as she released her magic and held up her thumbs. “I’m good! Cool car. We’re going to party, right? I just want to forget everything… like my parents not picking up the phone!”
“Uh-huh.” Sensing the young woman wanted to get away from all the stress that had happened, especially all the torture she’d been through since becoming a fairy, Maria was happy to show her a good time around her hood.
Grabbing the hat off the dash that had ‘Little Havana’ stitched on the front, Maria pulled her braid through the back to settle it on her head. Next came the rimless sunglasses as she smiled and turned up the cassette mixtape Lita made for her birthday when she was a little girl. Summer Nights by Lil Rob came on, hitting the amplifier, subs, and speaker.
Jeanne stood nearby, studying them with a critical eye, not so antagonistic now as Roy hopped into the back seat; she didn’t seem all that put off now that things were settling down, and if she wanted to take her license plate, QUEEN69 wasn’t hard to remember. The birth year of Lita; it had been her car before it came into Maria’s possession, after all.
Maria put two fingers to her hat as she pulled away, and Jeanne actually smiled and waved, holding her purse at her front. The wind picked up as they hit the streets, and finally, they were on the move again. Passing the checkpoint, she got a few cheers from the soldiers as she passed, holding a fist. Her brother put on his own dark shades, sitting back and breathing out all the stress he’d no doubt felt as she slept.
Roy directed them to the college to check on Selvaria, and she saw a grin on Fiona as they freely cruised down the somewhat empty streets. At least half the businesses seemed to be back open, making Maria nod; people had to make a living, and life went on.
She saw Beastkin, Faekin, and everything in between strolling with loved ones. Love was coming back to the neighborhood, and she could see it in the faces of the residents. Tourists appeared somewhat sketched out still, being so far away from home, but Miami was a welcoming community.
Arm resting against the door, she vibed to the chill sound of the mixtape. A lot would have changed in the criminal network of Florida with Terrell and several other gangs taken out of the picture. Ironically, it was the bad actors that flocked to Relica’s side.
Right now, peace was looking likely, and Miguel would have moved to fill the hole. Little Havana was about to take center stage. Maria was here for it since it would allow them to put a more positive spin on keeping the hood safe from outside forces.
Spinning the wheel left and right, she had fun on the drive, swapping lanes and enjoying the energy people sent them from the sidewalks or the salutes from other vehicles.
Roy pointed them to the college Coast Guard checkpoint, updating them on what they knew about the conflicts during the operation, what happened to them, and the State’s current affairs. Classes seemed suspended until further notice as students returned to their families until everything smoothed over.
Still, there were a few people exercising or wandering around the grounds as they circled the parking lot to find an empty place. It seemed the military was doing a good job of keeping things organized after nearly a week into The Oscillation.
Taking two stalls, Maria dropped the hydraulics down low and got out, Fiona giggling as she stretched out in the air, and her brother hopped out, keeping his sunglasses on.
“Do you just drive a lot to pass the time, Maria? So many people waved at us and shouted like they knew you.”
Putting her glasses on the brim of her hat, Maria shut the door and locked the car when everyone exited. “It’s relaxing, girl. Doesn’t it feel good just to pull out and chill with the homies, bumpin’ good music, and seein’ the changes to the city? It’s the vibe, ya know? Ya gotta let go and relax after the grind. Enjoy life.”
“Because it’s short,” her brother repeated, flashing his teeth as he fell in lockstep with Roy. “I hear the President is doing nightly updates on stuff.”
“Have you listened to them?” Fiona asked, keeping even with their heads so they could talk as her green glow carried her through the air. “What’s going on?”
“Naaa,” Felix scoffed. “Busy with other shiz.”
“A lotta shit is happening,” Roy chuckled. “Mostly in the big cities, but there are some country murders. Local police and the FBI are taking control. State and city leadership should be taking the reigns back soon. Martial Law is only supposed to be used for a short period when social collapse is happening. We’ll probably still have some presence here to support the governors; it’ll mostly be in extra personnel rather than combat, though.”
“Cool,” Maria grunted, noting the military vehicles posted around the campus. “So, we gonna see this leviathan girl, huh? She’s in here?”
Roy opened the doors for what appeared to be a giant pool. “Yeah, she needs seawater, and the college has a pool. Her mom’s here, so putting her mind at ease should help.”
Scanning the large, echoey area, Maria lifted an eyebrow as they stopped at the pool’s edge to look down at a sleeping, monstrous-looking woman near the bottom, blowing bubbles up to the surface in her dreams.
Her brother rubbed the back of his neck. “I, uh, expected… more?”
“Hahaha. You should see my daughter when she transforms. She’s quite the looker.”
Maria looked to the side as an older woman approached them. “Hello. I assume you’re the Unicorn Mythickin that they said would come to check on her condition?”
Horn flaring to life, she looked into the lightly rippling waters, beams shining through the liquid to touch the leviathan. “Yup, same as the others… spiritual fatigue. Damn. Shit’s no joke; drops ya like a bag of rocks. Give her a few more hours, and she’ll be good. No problems.”
“Haaa. That’s a relief,” the lady sighed, giving her a thankful smile. “I appreciate you coming all this way. Can I do anything in return?”
Maria held up her hand and walked away. “Ain’t nothin’ I need right now. I do gotta head out, though. I got a party to hit. Later.”
“Is that it?” Fiona asked, worry creasing her eyes while looking back at the mother. “Isn’t there anything more we can do? Umm, do you have a name, Ma’am?”
“Aww, thank you, Fiona; you’re kind. And it’s Teri.” The woman shook her head as they paused. “And I’ll be fine. I’m sure you’re very busy with amazing powers like yours. If it’s just a few hours, I can plan on taking Selvaria to Garcia Seafood Grille to celebrate. Thank you, Maria.”
A little put off by how she knew her name, Maria shrugged it off; it was probably passed around by Rachel or something since everyone seemed to know her. “Sure, whatever.”
Roy fell in line with her on their way back to her car. “You’ve been a lot calmer than what Cameron told me. Other than that weird drunk spell, since we left the hospital, you’ve just been coasting.”
“That’s a good way to put it.” Maria hummed and looked up at the sunny heavens. “I’m just glad the kids made it through that shit… Damn, they’ll have nightmares, for sure, but at least they’ll live to work through it. Kids can be tough if you let ‘em. Aye, but I got places to be. No more side shit!”
Loading up into her Impala, the sun dropped in the sky as she took them to Little Havana, driving slow and low. She let herself be seen, calling out to the locals and showing the city everything was on the up. Felix shouted out their block was having a party, getting some of the older folk to do funny little dances, singing old Cuban hits.
By the time they rolled up to the block, Maria was wearing a grin, seeing the crowded streets, people passing between houses and collecting food. Classic cars lined the road in anticipation of the after-party cruise, bumping songs in unison for people to dance to, and when her jam came on, she fast-forwarded the track to Neighborhood Music by Lil Rob.
She saw grills being wheeled to the nearby park where everything was going down, but her first stop was a little brick duplex on the block: her house, right next to Zarita.
“Queen!” A fifteen-year-old Honey Badger girl cried, jumping out of the front door as they pulled up. “Yo, what the hell happened in Miami Beach?! I heard you took out Terrell’s clique! Why the hell didn’t you bring me, bitch!?”
“Aye, Queenie!”
“Yo, Maria. Check out this bomb weed! We got the joints!”
Maria got out, waving at all the folks she’d known almost all her life, supporting each other wherever needed. “Haha! Don’t burn it all before the party, niñitos.”
“Naa, just a taste, Queen! Ack-haha!”
“Dude, give me a hit!”
She turned away from them to run her fingers through the girl’s thick, dirty silver hair as the Honey Badger ran up to her, everyone else going back to the party preparations.
“Yo, Elena, chill, chica. You know you ain’t old enough for the biz. Thug around the block if yer feelin’ jumpy. How’s la anciana; her back still actin’ up?”
The pouty Beastkin girl’s leery eyes darted off Roy and Fiona, excitement budding as she showed her sharp fangs. “You’re strong enough now?! You can heal my mom?”
“C’mon.” Maria nudged her head for her to go inside, forcing the troublesome teen into a one-armed hug. “How’s things with Uncle Miguel? He been by?”
“Yeah!” Elena punched the air with a wicked grin. “They hit Terrell’s spots with the boys; they brought back a shit ton of food, weed, and other stuff for the blocks! We got steak!”
“Steak, huh…” Maria grumbled, knowing she couldn’t stomach it with her new diet of only fruits and vegetables; it sucked. “Sounds real good. Yo, Felix, go shout to Miguel that I’m posted in the hood.”
“Aye, on it, Hermana!”
Going inside with Elena by her side, she caught Roy staying by the car, surrounded by Mexicans and Cubans, as they saw what the military man was about. She heard Zarita’s thick accent as she tried to get out of bed.
“Ugh… Elena, is that Lil’ Maria? Is she back?”
“Aye, Anciana; yeah, I’m home.”
“Good…”
“What’s up?” Maria held up her hand as the damnable woman came out with a slipper to smack her raised arm. “Aye! Cut it out, Aunt Z!”
“Ya go off and startin’ shit with people—leavin’ me ta worry shitless about your fat ass! You almost gave me a heart attack!”
“Ma, chill! Ma!” Elena hissed, trying to pull her back, ears pulled back. “She just got outta the hospital! You’ll hurt yourself!”
“Oof!”
As expected, Zarita doubled over, hissing and grasping at her back.
“What did I tell you—dammit, Mom…” Elena snarled, helping her to the couch. “I’ll get you the ice packs.”
Chuckling at the angry woman who had been fretting over her since she was five, Maria activated her powers; horn flaring to life, she felt the metal holding Zarita’s body together firing off her nerves, her failing pancreas, and a host of other problems.
“Hey, I’m here for ya, Aunt Z…”
[Heal II], [Purify II], and [Cure Defect I] activated, healing and relieving her of all the pain the woman would have felt for nearly two decades.
Pinched face, wrinkles, and heavy expression smoothing over with healthy, rich skin, her second mother opened her eyes wide as her torment faded. “Maria…”
“Thanks for everything you’ve done for Felix and me,” she whispered as Elena sniffed back tears, which was big for the Honey Badger. Leaning down to kiss her forehead, Maria fixed her hat and smiled down at her. “You took that beatin’ for me when I was a kid… So let me take care of you now, okay? I love you.”
Zarita stood up and pulled her close, quivering with all her addictions and birth defects purified. “I never did it for payment… When my sister—when she took you girls in when your father got locked up, and then she… You’re my daughter, so don’t go biting off more than you can chew and break my heart… because you can’t heal that.”
“Aye… You know I learn fast, Aunt V,” Maria soothed, rubbing her back as the tattooed, rough man she’d looked up to as a kid came through the front, pulling off his sunglasses. “Speaking of… I gotta talk ta Uncle Miguel.”
Zarita turned to glare at the fifty-year-old bald man. “Don’t you get her wrapped up in more shit.”
“Yo, you know I don’t want that smoke, Z. I don’t need an ass beatin’; last time you kicked the shit outta me, ya know? Haha. Lil’ Maria was the one lookin’ for me. Aye, you lookin’ good, though, Z. I like that glow on ya; haven’t seen it since we was young.”
“Oh, shut up,” she grunted, blushing as she looked into the front room mirror to see how her aging had been healed. “Don’t take all of Maria’s time. This is a party, not a place to discuss street jobs or business.”
“Understood.”
“Go out back—and not you, El!”
“Aww… You’re always hounding me!”
“El… Haaa.”
Sniffing, Miguel chuckled as the teen huffily went to her room to slam the door, turning up her stereo to bump Chino Grande, Under the Sun.
“Teens be teens, Z; they be wylin’. Aye, I keep to myself,” he said, holding up his hands at her glare. “Queen.”
Maria walked with him to the back, grabbing some water from the fridge and tossing a beer to the man. He popped it open on the counter, following her to the lawn chairs to sit and stare up at the heavens. She was a little surprised when he started, rubbing the cross tattooed atop his head.
“Yo, Maria, eyes open… Everyone’s sayin’ your crew took out Terrell and the Columbian Cartel clique; your name’s gotten pretty big, Kid, so watch your back. A lot of respect for it on the streets, and there’s talk about the Black Devil Bunny in your posse; they say she’s a loco killer off her leash. Naa. A lotta talk hittin’ the streets these days, Kid. We got some new faces cruisin’ the streets, too, lookin’ to get your blessin’ ta set up shop.”
She settled in, glaring at the few clouds in the sky. “I don’t run with snake bitches lookin’ for a slide-in. Pop-bitches be lookin’ for a quick leg-in ta ruin the blocks and run ‘em dry with dope. I ain’t seein’ that as a solution, but, aye, I got a new business proposition, ya know?”
Miguel lifted an eyebrow, turning a bit to look at her through his black sunglasses. “That loco bunny chica, huh? What’s the terms and score? Who you workin’ with?”
Drawing in a long puff of air, Maria breathed it out in a long stream. “Rachel said we could make real money… like major scores. She wants to start some private military shit to run these Crystal gateways, and the feds seem chill on the idea. You heard of them?”
“Bits and pieces here and there. Monster shit,” he grunted, fingers tracing his trimmed mustache. “I hear you can bring back space shit. I don’t know; feels kind of sketchy, and who’s to say it doesn’t close on ya? Private military, though, huh? Damn. We talkin’ legit shit—army shit?”
Maria nodded. “Government-funded shit. Big bands. Rachel’s got some connections, for sure. I don’t know all the details, though… Seems a bit too… Haaa. Yeah.”
Miguel bobbed his head to the music Elena bumped in her room as he thought. “Hmm. What’s this Rachel bunny like?”
“Hare, actually,” she muttered. “Ugh. She’s hella real. I think you’d like her; she doesn’t take shit and takes care of business. She hella moves. Girl’s scary, motivated, and risky. She plays the right cards, though.”
He pushed out his lips while stroking his braided beard. “She gets results, huh? She takes necessary risks, hmm? If ya want my thoughts, Kid, I’d say test the waters. See what she’s about. An average chica doesn’t snatch the attention of the US military without reason, you know? Whatever they know, it’s something ta evaluate…”
Miguel trailed off as a knock came at the back door, and Roy cleared his throat, stepping through. “Yo, what’s up, Special Forces? Got somethin’ for us?”
Roy nodded at him before addressing her. “Hey, Maria, I just got orders from Captain Barbara. The President wants everyone brought to DC. We leave tomorrow morning.”
“The President, eh?” Miguel drew in his mouth and nodded. Rising to his feet, he tapped the side of his glasses twice, telling her to be smart and keep her eyes open. “Catch ya at the park, Kid. We’ll start the cruise around nine to hit the city. You good?”
“Yeah, we’ll get by. Later, Uncle M.”
“Eyes open. Keep it real, Special Forces, and thanks for the service.”
Roy nodded as he held up his beer to him and left. “Haha. Fiona’s getting a bit nervous from all the kids circling her like sharks. I think she’s looking for some rescue.”
“Eh. Aye, chica’s got fire. She’s fine, but I should show her around the block. ‘ight. Party and then ta DC. Damn. I guess I should pack some shit. The President… Shit.”
Getting up, she walked through the house, hugging Zarita and popping in to let Elena know she could tag along. The teen had snuck out of the bathroom window during her talk, though, which was like the Honey Badger, prompting Zarita to storm out to find her.
Maria shooed off the enthralled kids, asking Fiona to show them her magic and wondering if they could out-speed their favorite-looking car on the block.
“You good, short-stack?” she asked, hands in her pockets and leaning against the trunk of her ride as Roy came to join her. “The niñas and niños seem ta like ya.”
Fiona showed a strained grin as she floated at eye level, green wings drawing eyes like a traffic light race. “Eh-heh. I’m sparkly, little, and cute… Haaa. I want to talk to Nora now.”
“Lil’ Sis?” Maria questioned with her melancholy, downward gaze.
“Yeah, she’s three years younger than me,” she whispered, staring after the flirting older teens as they tried to skip out on tasks and sneak away. “Mateo told me a lot of phone grids are down across the world, and Ireland is going through some kind of political thing with the UK not sending enough resources to help. I just want to know if my parents and sister are alright.”
Nodding slowly, Maria looked up at the blazing overhead sun. “I feel ya. It’d be nice to know if my familia are good back in LA. Damn, it’s been a while since I talked to them.”
Fiona’s face brightened as her lime-green eyes found Felix. “You and your brother seem close. Does he miss family back west, too?”
“Ah.” Maria waved her hand dismissively. “Naaw. Felix and I aren’t blood-related like that. My dad moved us out here after gettin’ some heat in Cali and caught a case here. So, my aunt Lita took us in since she just got her green card and got here from Cuba—her sister married my uncle Eustacio,” she added at the fairy’s confused stare. “We come from big families.”
“What about your mom?” Fiona asked, eyebrows drawing in.
Maria paused, thinking back on her life. “Meh. Ran out on me when I was, like… one? No clue. Lita was my mom growin’ up; she couldn’t have kids, so she took in what niñas and niños she could.”
Sucking in her cheeks, she saw her second mom fending off congratulations at being healed while searching for Elena; she didn’t get to know Lita as a mom like she had.
“Are you okay?” Fiona asked, gliding in front of her, hands held against her chest. “I’m sorry if I brought up bad memories.”
“Naaa. I ain’t got nothin’ for my birth mom. Lita and Zarita raised Felix and me. Elena’s like my lil’ sis; she’s a good mujer joven under all that attitude. She’s just tryin’ ta find her place in the familia. Hmm. Aye, Roy, you free ta chill, or are ya gonna be a killjoy all night, eh? Grab a beer, hombre!”
Roy chuckled and crossed his arms. “I mean, I do need to fit in, right?”
“Pfft! Not with that Spanish accent, mi chico! Aye, loosen up, huh? It’s a block party!”
Fiona’s smile returned. “Show us around your block!”
“Aye, that’s the spirit! Let’s have some fun!”
Guiding them away to enjoy the thrill of the party, Maria took them to the party to join in the dances of the mixed Mexican and Cuban cultures in their neighborhood. Eventually, as the night went on and they finished driving around Little Havana, Maria found herself pulling into the little church she’d always attended.
Fiona, Roy, and Felix followed her inside as Maria hugged Father Pomar and sat in the front row. She waved at several others who had come to the sanctified ground. She could feel a sense of peace in the place as she looked up at Mother Mary, holding baby Jesus and a soft sigh puffed through her lips.
Making the sign of the cross, she kissed her silver rosary and leaned against her thighs, spiritually sinking guidance after everything that happened swept through her.
Rachel still was a mystery that she had to figure out. If the hare did have a way to lift up her community and give these people a better life, then she’d do it. The young woman also had to explain this devil shit because Maria didn’t touch evil stuff, and whatever that Nia kid turned into, it certainly felt hellish. Then again, from what Roy told her, Rachel had saved all the children, which was far from evil.
She’d find out soon enough because as her brain had cleared, she realized part of the reason she’d been so overwhelmed was due to three unique souls within or near Rachel, and one had been insanely powerful. Something was inside Rachel’s clothes, and at least one of them would be conscious soon.
