Lifelight: Calypso Returns

10.

Light hit her eyes like shards of glass and she ached everywhere. Cloaking felt like the world's worst hangover. She found Diira, Yuli, and Kairu having tea in the kitchen.

"What the hell was that? Maybe a little warning next time. I'm going to probe you with my mud-brown tentacles?!" Hera said.

"Would it have helped?" Diira said.

"That is beside the point." Hera said.

"It had to be done and cloaking was never meant to be quite so intensive.There's just so much to hide." Diira said.

"It is still not OK." Hera.

"Here,I made soup from a bird much like your chicken." Diira said.

Hera took the soup and decided to let it go for the moment but no witch would ever fool her again. In between mouthfuls of the multiverse's best chicken soup, Kairu told her about the rest of their trip to the capital. It would take just two days and there was a rest stop at a theme park the size of the Vegas strip.

They left Diira's at dusk the evening after the ritual. Hera had a moment alone with her as Kairu and Yuli packed them up again.

"If I can, I'll visit soon, after this madness is over." Hera said.

"I look forward to it," Dira said, "I feel it is my duty, as a friend, to tell you something. Hard times lie ahead, you are important because something precious lives within you. But it sought refuge with you because the unspeakable happened. You must face the whole truth of your existence soon, nothing can shield you from the pain of it."

"Wow, you are nothing like Clio." Hera said.

"That delusional hag," Diira smiled, "My point is that having met you,I feel that you will survive it and even thrive in the wake of it. You can always call on me Sithera."

"Thank you." Hera said.

Their journey to the theme park involved reptilian ostriches called guirholl, a boat ride on the hollowed out shell of a giant fresh water turtle, a rendezvous with Jilo's pack, and a train ride. It all took place within 36 hrs.

"I think I still have puppy goo in my ear." Hera said.

"That's what I smell, it's been bugging all night." Kairu said.

They were walking along a path cut into a forest that led to the theme park. Hera could hear the music and see the glow of lights in the sky. She had never been to one before. Her aunt did not like to leave Lithia and her uncle never gave her money to go on her own. She did not even try to hide how excited she was to see it.

Welcome to the Wild and Wonderful Baril and Potts Theme Park and Emporium. A voice boomed out in time with the floating neon words spelling out at the entrance. The gate was suspended in the air and attendants hovered over the line selling tickets.

"Don't feed the animals, any fruit thrown at performers will be tossed back at you, don't be a wiggy." Hera read aloud, "What's a wiggy?"

"A person who likes things ironically." Kairu said.

The place was packed but Yuli cut a path ahead of them. There were standard game shops where prizes were handed out to winners, small theaters where shows were being performed, rides and food carts. Hera did not know where to start.

She paused by a tent that was hosting fights between 'legendary warriors of the North'. She was about to go in when she was distracted by a ride next door. The Ferris wheel was flying.

"That, I want to go on that." Hera said.

Kairu chuckled, "I thought you might."

The wheel spun higher and higher in the sky until it became just a dot and then rushed back down and screwed itself back on its axle.