Welcome to Gaia! ::

The forests eventually turned into swamp lands with a rickety wooden path of planks carefully weaving through the territory. The further one traveled down the path the thicker and heavier the air felt. The atmosphere was not a welcoming one as alligators snapped their jaws on prey and spirits drifted eternally without a destination. Diamond had managed to get to the shack in one piece and that alone was a miracle. Mariette was a woman who hated trespassers and often times her many deal-bound servants would run off the faint of heart. Mama had been waiting for the guest since she reached the edge of her lands. The shadows were her eyes and the spirits her silent ever watchful alert system. Their disembodied screams and shouts only became more frequent and dramatically increased in volume.

Well, that was until she stepped onto the porch. The ghoulish sounds ceased rather suddenly and the door creaked open on its own. The quick of eye could catch the glimmer of a shadow that stretched under the door just before melting away into the natural darkness of the area. A breeze shot out of the building and drawing with it the veil that seemed to mask the presence of a resident in the shack. "Come on in...~" A hushed echo of the words were brought to life for a mere moment, after that, they were gone. The only presence remaining after that was the voodoo priestess herself and the large python that was curled around her body and lazily draped atop her shoulders partly.

"Mama knows why you are here arch-angel veiled in the shadows of a world belonging to man. Welcome to my humble abode." Her single golden orb fixed on the woman. She approached with a well placed step and took place at her side to guide to woman in, even if it was not exactly... a willing move.

"Mariette's friend whisper many things to her. Even the things I see for you, unlike many, to them there is little blur. I sense your purpose. Your desire if you will." Mama Lahvayeau's tone kept its tempting nature. The ways she spoke with a confident tone it gave away that she knew more but refused to say it. "Come! Sit down and put your mind at ease. It will allow me to tell you more if you please."

The door snapped shut behind them on its own as a few stray shadows seemed to jitter abnormally. The only table in the shack was adorned with shrunken heads and a deck of tarot cards. The playing car sized rectangles began to float and dance about when Mariette gave a faint wave of her hand. " Of course... that is if you are willing to pay. See... there is always a price." Her words were quiet as the cards continued to dance around the table in a haunting manner. The situation only evolved further once the snake slithered from its resting position and towards her hand. The creature shrunk and contorted into a scroll like object that unfurled shortly after. " What is the knowledge you seek from Mama Mariette worth?"

Mama watched with her joyful golden orb as Diamond signed the paper so naively." Yes..." She half purred as the chair diamond was sitting in scooted closer to the table. The aura of the room shifted rapidly as the darkness was illuminated by an array of voodoo masks glowing more specifically the horned demon ritual mask that formed over her face with a swipe of her hand. The mask hid her face and the golden glow of her eye accompanied by the murky white one was all that had become visible of Mama. "Mama has much to reveal. She wonders if indifference is all you will continue to feel. " Her words echoed in the darkness as the cars themselves shot from the outer edges of the tables and inwards piling themselves into a neat stack.

Mariette laughed once the contract disappeared into the darkness for safekeeping. The cards were lifted from the table and shuffled once more before being tossed onto the table in a six card spread. The rest seemingly vanished into nothingness as she flipped the first card over. "Death, the card of change. Something you will come to know sooner than you think. With this card the universe is moving in your life. " She smiled as another card flipped itself over. " The empress, this card represents you child, more specifically the aspect of fertility." Mama tilted her head as if studying the cards before the glow of the mask peered at Diamond. " You are with child." Mama stated that fact so that she would know just how much her carelessness had cost her for the information that would be delivered.

The remaining cards flipped over and revealed their images to Diamond. The World. The Tower. Justice. Eight of swords. " This is a time of cataclysmic change. It is change that will affect more than just our world. In this time balance will be lost and even the future is uncertain. Your brother is no longer bound by land. He is at sea a destination I can reach. He lives as you know." Mariette slid her hands over the cards and then snapped her fingers. They burned away leaving scorch marks in the table that were runes of a strange nature and language.

"I have ways of getting you to him but you mustn't fear the darkness. It cannot harm you but will reveal the darkest truths to you in its shadowy mirror." Her words were spoken softly as the masks seemed to chant something. One could easily sense the thinning of the veil between the physical and spiritual realm as they muttered more and more information to Mariette. The woman grabbed her mask and tore it off to look Diamond directly in the eyes.

" I extend the offer of safe delivery to your brother free of charge due to the nature of what is currently written to come in the book of fate." Her words were ominous even with her subtle accent smoothing them over. She wouldn't say anymore and would allow for Diamond to take the information in. She had afterall just dropped a bombshell.