Mehndi

"There is no key to be given, only one to be found." Starring at me, through me, my father spoke to him, but I knew his words were for me. "Alchemy is not in possessions, it is not in actions, it does not exist in this world, but only within your heart, within your mind. There, the magic takes shape and you will it from your own existence, from the tap of your existence with all of nature." He spoke of the Mehndi.

Their leader screamed, a raucous noise that ripped through his throat. "No riddles old man! No riddles! I want gold! Riches! Or her blood will spill!"

"That is all I can tell you. The rest you must learn for yourself." His face reflected a thousand lakes in that moment and I knew.

Slowing my breath my mind filled with words of the Holy One. My blood slowed to a sure pulse. "Gone, gone, gone to the other shore, gone together to the other shore. O Awakening! All hail." They shifted through me, trailing in my body, first my groin, then my spleen, my heart, my throat, my middle eye, my crown, into the sky. And the Mehndi grew. I could feel the vines curl around my ankles, up my legs, caress my hips and stomach. It warmed me as it swirled about me, wrapping me in a golden glow, promising freedom, promising release. My sister's face crossed before me and I felt for her, deep within my marrow. The voices began to fade as I heard their leader scream once more. The knife against my throat ripped, but I no longer felt it - its tearing an empty echo. I felt pity for him, for the marauder in that moment, for he still did not understand. Flooding with joy, I opened my eyes to my mother's smile, a golden ray through the light of the Mehndi. And my lips cracked as I smiled back at her, released in the light of the Mehndi. For I have lived before and I will live again. But today, I died.