“Maeve?” Diane whispered the name. Even the sound of her daughters name was like knifes along her throat, it hurt so much. Diane never said her name out loud if she could help it, only whispering it inside her. She had lost her daughter thirty years ago. She was fifty now. Her daughter had been hit when she was ten.
Diane had grieved for her daughter every day of her life since she had been taken away. “Maeve, how can you be here?”
“I’m not really here Mama, just a part of me. The part that matters. Don’t worry, my grave is fine, it’s my spirit that can move around. I have to get you our of here. It’s like a game, see?”
Tears were running down Diane’s face now and she did nothing to stop them. “My darling girl, I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Mama. These things happen. You have to listen now, the Lady in White can help you, she needs your help. You have to trust the Lady. You can’t be afraid.”
“What are you talking about? What is this place?”
“It’s the magic man’s mirror. He goes by other names, but the spirit is the same. It doesn’t matter who it inhabits, it always created havoc. It seeks out those evil enough to inhabit it. He was a man once, too, and he can be killed. You need to remember that, Mother.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you have to fight back. You can’t just accept the fate he has in store for you. Wood burns, mother, and what is your apartment building but a pile of wood?”
“We have to burn the building down?”
“It’s the only way. His spirit has been fed too much, he grows too strong. It’s what you must do. Now hurry, you don’t have much time.”
Maeve reached into the stone of the wall behind her, plunged her hands into the concrete up to the wrists and pulled her hands apart. The wall went with them until a small hole appeared. Diane could see Moira beyond, and one men in women’s clothes. LaWanda was on the floor, her purple dress spilled around her like water.
“Oh, Maeve, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I grieved for you every day.”
“Don’t grieve for me mother, I’m fine and happy. You must go back to your friends You must be strong.”
“Come with me, Maeve, come with me.”
“I can’t mother. You must go back, do not let him win. You have to end it.”
“I can’t do this without you, it’s like losing you all over again!”
“Don’t grieve for me, go back and truly live.”
Diane nodded and went to the stone hole. She looked back at her daughter one last time, tears sliding down her cheeks. “I’m so alone without you.”
“I’m always with you. You carry me in your heart. Now go. I love you mother.”
“I love you too, angel.”
And Diane moved through the stone hole and into her living room. The others present looked at her and Valhalla ran into the room. “Thank goodness!” She cried. “Diane honey, I found your body and then it was just gone! What happened?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“What with everything that’s going on, I don’t think it’ll be a problem.” Valhalla said.
Diane went to her. “Thank you for looking after me. I’ve always wanted a sister.”
A tear came to Valhalla’s eye. “Thank you. I’ve never been anyone’s sister.”
There was an angry noise from Barbarella. “And what am I girl? Fucking chopped liver? Bonds of drag sisterhood indeed bitch!”
Diane turned to the other drag queen. “Shut the fuck up.”
Barbarella did and as she closed her mouth, there was a gasp from LaWanda’s. She sucked in air as if she would never breathe again. There was terror in her eyes and, looking at them, Diane knew that whatever was coming would be bad.
They would have to be ready when it came, or all would be lost.
69B 