Back into the past

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Inside the house was a thick darkness, only the cracks in the walls shooed the shadows away. Save for a big round rug on the wooden floor, there was no furniture. The rug, though, suggested that it once had rich golden embroidery. As Anya's eyes adjusted to the gloom, she also noticed something on one of the walls that was concealed with a piece of rumpled clothes.

"All of your trips are this odd?" Anya whispered in Rill's ear, looking around the room. A home usually characterized its owner. Yet, in here was hard to conclude anything.

Meanwhile, Capac sat right on the rug and made an inviting gesture, encouraging everyone to join him.

Rill shrugged casually. "I'm shocked as well," she whispered back and, before sitting, added, "But what is it if not the beginning of something truly interesting?"

The daitias and Anya seated themselves on the floor, exchanging tense glances. Nikk and Daphne seemed to be the wariest, their eyes restlessly searching, jaws tightened, both ready to sprint and attack at the sight of a slightest danger. Amarillis was simply shining with joy, while Eirney took his time to brush dust off the rug in the place he was going to sit.

Anya knew she had to feel highly suspicious, but still couldn't fight an increasingly growing curiosity inside her.

As everyone finally settled, indistinct footsteps were heard from outside. A young man wearing stripped poncho entered the hut, a lit candle in his hands.

"This is my nephew Sinchi," Manco introduced him.

Sinchi uttered not a word. He took the piece of clothes off the wall, revealing a gold bas-relief carving of a roundish face with hieroglyphs and patterns spreading in different directions like sunrays. It made the relief truly look like a sun, and its features, Anya thought, resembled the ones of Manco.

Capac's nephew placed the candle before the relief, and the whole room was instantly filled with warn light. He spoke briefly to his uncle in their native language, nodded, shyly flicking his eyes to the guests, and left.

"Hey, look," Eirn said quietly to his friends, his eyes wide and fixed on the carved relief, "those symbols, the map has exactly the same! What do you think is it?"

"Not what is it, but who is it," Capac corrected him, his face bright with laughter. "He is Viracocha. The greatest Pachacuti who our people worship since the beginning of time. The creator of our realm."

Footsteps reached their ears once again, and Sinchi returned, carrying a tray of food and a jug. He made an attempt to smile, but blushed in rich red as he put the tray on the floor before the guests.

"Ku-ma-ra," he said with a rather strong accent, pointing at the plate, and hurried away to sit in the corner of the room, away from the daitias and Anya.

"Sweet potatoes," Manco translated, filling the mugs with what was in the jug. "And this is called ayahuasca, a drink of knowledge."

At the sight of the food, Anya's stomach groaned, betraying her hunger. She ate nothing since the morning, yet she hesitated. Outside the house, the world grew mistrustfully quiet, and shadows the candle flame creating danced menacingly across the walls and the ceiling. The whole atmosphere was, say at least, spine-chilling.

"Well, are you going to tell us about Paititi?" Daphne asked Capac in a businesslike tone. She watched every move of the old man. Anya could only guess what the daitian was trying to see.

Manco finishing filling the mugs and said, "Let me ask you a question first." His bushy eyebrows shot up teasingly. "Are you ready to go back into the past?"

Next to Anya, Nikk frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Many centuries ago," the old man intoned, ignoring Nikk's question, "as many as none can any longer remember, people of Inca lived knowing nothing of the good and the evil. Not cognizing what love is and what is betrayal, they knew not how to tell a truth from a lie. And they lived that way for many years... Until once, shining gods Pachacuti came out of the waters of Mamakuna lake. They taught the first Inca how to tame the Nature, how to fight the Chaos. They taught us what happiness is and what is life... Time obliterated much of the human memory, including his name... The true name of the great Pachacuti. Nonetheless, we remember his deeds, and thus we call him Viracocha, which means the Creator of the World."

"Wow..." Rill breathed, sipping her drink.

Anya couldn't make out were the daitian's exited voice regarded to the story or to the drink, so she decided to taste this mysterious ayahuasca, too. Anya carefully sniffed the mug and then took a small sip. The liquid was bitter, making her tongue tickle. At first, Anya had a nauseating feeling down her throat, and was afraid she was going to vomit, but then... Then the warming sensation rushed over her entire body, relaxing her limbs.

"I don't know what this thing is," Nikk whispered to Anya, pointing at his own mug with a nod, "but drink less and eat more."

Why? Anya planned to say, but suddenly realized she forgot all the words as she met Nikk's eyes. His brown eyes are so... brownish. Amazing. And his white skin is so whitish and... Anya's wandering gaze stopped on Nikk's lips. What color is that?.. Lippish? Anyway, his lips look so soft. Are they really so soft as they look? Anya raised her hand and was about to touch Nikk's mouth to make sure.

"Are you all right?" Nikk stared at Anya's arm hanging in the air halfway to his face.

What the hell am I doing?! This thought startled Anya. She hurriedly lowered her hand and looked away, blushing. "I'm fine."

"Funny," Nikk whistled, his voice drowsy, "I thought you were going to touch my lips."

In confusion and embarrassment, Anya glanced at Nikk's mug. The mug was nearly emptied.

"...Pachacuti built a gold city of Paititi," Manco went on with his narrative. "In the city, they kept their countless treasures and priceless knowledge. Thus, Pachacuti were living among us—"

"Wait a second," Daphne was the only one whose voice was still clear and firm, "I don't understand. The Pachacuti of yours, is it he or they?"

"The Pachacuti are many, yet they are one." Capac was too good at speaking in riddles. "In the heart of the city, a sacred temple reared. The temple allowed traveling beyond time and space, the temple kept the greatest mystery of the world hidden... Only the chosen ones knew where Paititi was and how to get to the city of gold."

"The city is literally made of gold?" Eirn raised his eyebrows, chewing potatoes loudly and swallowing the last of his drink.

"It sure is," Capac's eyes flickered with amusement. "Every inch of it is—or was—covered in gold. But that gold wasn't the most valuable thing. When blood-shedding wars came to our grounds, the gods left this planet, and only a few of us were allowed to go with them. The city vanished. However, the guardians of the secret still know the way in."

Daphne snorted. "The city is gone, but the way in exists."

Manco gave her a slight smile. "The way exists for the guardians. They are patiently waiting for the Pachacuti to return and restore the harmony. Till today, the route to the city is guarded by a tribe of merciless warriors, they're called the Twilight Dancers..."

Manco's voice was slowly drifting away from Anya. Was it because of the drink or his monotonous tone? Who cares... Anya desperately wanted to close her eyes and fall asleep. Sleep for hours and hours. She swung her head, shaking the slumber off, and looked at the carved relief on the wall, trying to occupy her mind with something. The flame of the candle licked the image of golden Viracocha; the god looked back at Anya, mesmerizing her.

Gasping, Anya forced herself to turn away and suddenly caught Sinchi's eyes peering at her from the corner he was quietly sitting. Manco's nephew flushed and shifted his eyes to his uncle, pretending to listen to the language he barely understood.

"...The immortal guardians wait when the door between the dimensions of time open once again," Manco was saying. "Then our Pachacuti will return, and a new breath will be given to the world."

At last, he quieted; the room fell into utter silence. Anya could hear the wind howling outside, singing the nature to sleep. Her eyelids were getting heavier, but she still managed to fight the sleep.

"So what's the secret your people guard for centuries?" Daphne finally asked. During the evening, she only took one small sip of ayahuasca, and put her mug aside in disgust. And she never touched the food.

"Ah, it is the secret of the shining gods. We are not allowed to know," Manco shook his head gently. "It's for you to say, since you came seeking it."

Daphne didn't answer, she glanced at Nikk who was sitting across from her, but found no support in her brother's sleepy face, and rolled her eyes, sighing.

Looking at Daphne, Anya regained a piece of her wits for a second and suddenly felt cold inside. Did Manco know the most of his guests were daitias, not humans? Did he know what they were actually searching for? He spoke in riddles and, even though he'd told the story about Paititi, he did not reveal anything informative, did he?

Rill loosed a beatific breath and shivered, "Manco, will you help us to learn the secret?" She was fidgeting on the rug with her legs crossed, making odd motions with her arms as if trying to swim through the air.

Anya realized she'd never seen the crimson-haired daitian, whose body had always been so graceful and lithe, to be so gawky and ponderous. And how ponderous Anya must be looking herself—she felt dizzy and was in a desperate need for sleep.

Eirney yawned, "Yeah, Manco, will you help us? We have a map that—" he cut off as Daphne's angry gaze bore into him.

"I see I should let you rest," Capac nodded to his nephew. Sinchi exclaimed in agreement and stormed out of the hut.

"You haven't told us anything useful yet," Daphne folded her arms on her chest. How could she still be so clear-headed? Anya thought. And who wants to go to Paititi anyway? Let's just sleep...

"There is no need to rush things up," Manco replied. "What awaits you will wait."

Nikk's sister grimaced. "I'd love to hear something more specific."

"The darkest hour is always before the dawn, yet it contains all the answers." Manco stood up and went out of the house, walking past Sinchi who ducked in, carrying blankets.

"I won't sleep on the floor," Eirn started to groan, but gave in quickly. "Although... whatever. I won't find the car now anyway."

"No worries," Daphne muttered, her tone sour. "I'm not going to sleep, have watched all of my dreams back on the plane. I'll make sure you don't freeze to death in a rigorous tropical climate."

Pulling a blanket around her shoulders, Anya closed her eyes in delight. She could finally sleep. Nothing else mattered. The world would wait while her heavy head rested. Anya turned onto her side, and her shoulder unexpectedly bumped into someone's back.

"Good night, Anya," Nikk's words were the last thing she heard before the reality faded away...

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