Shadow of the Spark by Adrian Santiago

Author:Adrian Santiago
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, sci-fi fantasy, lgbtq representation, female lead, polyamory, drug culture, detective, ensemble cast, diverse cast, psychedelic, throuple, epic, gritty, cyberpunk, murder, sci-fi, fantasy, noir, black lead, latino lead, triad, polyamorous, marijuana, cannabis, mushroom, psilocybin, dmt, pyramids, ayahuasca, science fiction
Publisher: BOOKS BY ADRIAN
Published: 2023-04-30T00:00:00+00:00

FAYE BARGED INTO HER home and slammed the door shut. She stood with her back to it, catching her breath. Everything was so quiet. So still. She felt like she was floating in space, like she was back on the ferry.

Something is happening to me...

“Look to the face of Gaia,” her grandmother had said. Or was it Gaia herself?

Faye looked in the mirror at the flower in her hair. She touched the pedals again with the tips of her fingers. Her eyes darted to The Little Blessing, snug in its base on the terrace garden. Her eyes returned to the flower in her hair, and she remembered all the times she pinned a flower to the strap of her top or dress. Right by her heart. Or placed a flower in her hair. Near her brain.

Faye’s eyes narrowed. Her lips pressed together with determination. She marched outside and scooped up the tiny Gaian tree. She brought it inside and set it on her table. She ran her fingers over the winding trunk, detouring through all the branches. Her touch sent the little flowers tumbling off the little tree and floating down to the tabletop.

Once all the flowers were plucked, she collected them all and ground them up into trimmings. She packed them into a pipe, grabbed a lighter, and said a prayer.

“I don’t know what power lies in you or me. But please show me. I need help. Protection.”

With a flick of her thumb, the lighter took flame. She kissed the flame to the bowl’s edge and inhaled. These flowers didn’t burn the same as cannabis. The whole bowl took flame in an instant. Her lungs drew in the smoke. She held it, closed her eyes, and exhaled it all in a great plume of pink and purple smoke.

When she opened her eyes, she found her walls were melting. The plants, the furniture, and the skyline view out her terrace windows; all melted down, down, down. Behind the melted reality was a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. There were walls, but they were moving. Swaying. Swirling. Lights were blinking and twinkling in the air. Bells were ringing in her ears.

“What is this place? Where am I?”

A strange and agile being dressed as a court jester cartwheeled into her field of vision. He had pointed ears and pale white skin.

“Not a place. Not a where. Not a what.” He cartwheeled away.

Faye looked around. There were small puffs of mist floating around in sporadic little clumps. She walked towards the nearest one, and from within it jumped out another court jester. He looked identical to the last, but Faye knew this was someone new.

He held a finger to his lips, “Shhhhh...”

“What’s happening?”

“Nothing! Everything! Didn’t you know that? It’s obvious.” He flicked her forehead with his finger.

“What do I do? Where do I go?”

“No, do. No, go. Just be.”

It disappeared again into the mist.

Faye walked around. She studied everything she could see. Touched everything. Spoke to everything. Most things spoke back. But no answers yet.

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