Demon's Web Read Free Page B

years to go before it would be his turn to get his assignment from Nanaboojoo and he planned on making the most of his free time with Nokomis, who would later become the goddess of the crops. She was a beautiful maiden with long, black hair, which she always wore braided down to her hips, and flowers strewn about her head. She had large, doe-like eyes and skin as smooth and tan as the softest of calf skins. To Mel, she was pure perfection.
    Azamel had planned a quiet picnic along a babbling brook to spend some private time with her. He had the blanket spread on the green field by the water under a shade tree. A rabbit was being roasted on an open fire spit as he waited for her to arrive. He leaned leisurely against the tree when he heard a sound in the brush. Quickly, he stood and held out a bouquet of wildflowers he had picked for her.
    However, who came through the brush wasn’t Nokomis but his parents, Nanaboojoo, Jes, Coyote and several other gods and goddesses. Mel dropped the flowers on the ground and wondered what was going on, totally surprised by this turn of events.
    Nanaboojoo led the tribe, Mel’s parents and his brother trailed behind him. The rest of the crowd was even further back. Mel moved to meet Nanaboojoo, standing strong and firm despite his youthfulness and uncertainty.
    “Azamel, you have been accused of desecrating the sacred lands of your forefathers. What say you?”
    Mel thought about how astonished he must have looked as he heard the accusation. It was absurd. “I say you’re not correct. I have broken no laws, least of all being disrespectful to our ancestors.”
    Mel looked back at his parents, his brother. Surely they believed him? However, only accusing eyes from his own family greeted him in return and he felt worried for the first time in his life. He turned back to Nana, just as the elder materialized five dead deer, slaughtered and gutted. Nana then opened a satchel and unveiled a decorative ceremonial blade which Mel recognized immediately as having been given to him by his father on his tenth birthday. The metal was covered with dried blood. Deer’s blood. Mel felt his stomach sink as he realized what the implications were.
    “I didn’t do this. I swear I didn’t.”
    Coyote moved up to stand next to Jes and, with him, he had Nokomis by her hand. That alone tore Mel’s heart to shreds. Mel knew Coyote also vied for Nokomis’ attentions, but until that moment, Mel didn’t think he had anything to be concerned about. Now, as he looked into her beautiful brown eyes, he saw only hatred. He didn’t understand it. Why? What had he done to be accused thusly and not have anyone believe him?
    “Is this not your dagger?” Nana asked him quietly.
    “Yes. I did not kill those deer, though. I have not used the dagger for anything in the past week or so.”
    “Yet, it is covered in the blood of the sacred animals which roamed the holy lands. How do you explain this?”
    Mel again looked around at the others. He searched for just one who would stand by him.
    “When were they killed? Surely, the timeline will be my alibi.”
    Nana looked down at the carcasses and studied them for a moment silently before he raised his head to face Mel. “Twelve hours ago. Can you account for your whereabouts then?”
    Mel almost breathed a sigh of relief. “I was with Nokomis then. We had spent the evening watching the stars on a blanket and discussing our future.”
    Mel was sure she would step forward now. He glanced over at her and bestowed a soft smile as he saw her move up to Nana. She would tell them the truth. She would vouch he did not do this dastardly deed. She leaned over and whispered into Nana’s ear before she turned back to Mel and gave him a look of pure disgust before turning her back on him. His heart broke into a million pieces. She betrayed him? Did she not tell them he was with her?
    Anger burned within him that she would be so cold. He loved her, did that not matter? He was