The Chosen Chapter Forty Prove It

Maria opened her eyes. She looked at the Master, then turned her head, searching for Zita.

“Here, Maria, drink some water. Slowly,” Zita said, helping her sit up.

Maria took a few sips. Her hands were weak, and Zita held the glass for her. When she had finished, she lay down again.

“Maria, say something,” the Master asked.

Maria didn’t look at him.

“Maria, please, look at me.”

She turned her face towards Zita and closed her eyes.

“My Lord, perhaps it’s better if you let me take care of her. She needs to drink more water and eat something. I’ll let you know when she’s better.”

The Master looked at Maria. He was still holding her hand, but she didn’t respond to his touch.

“Yes, Zita. I’ll come when she’s better.”

He vanished. The darkness and fire he had summoned slowly disappeared, leaving the room quiet again. Outside, the witches stopped singing.

“Maria, he’s gone. You can open your eyes.”

Maria opened them and looked at Zita.

“I’ll get you something to eat. You need to start slowly. For a long time, I’ve been feeding you only fruit and vegetable purées.”

“You took care of me, Zita?”

“Of course.”

“For how long?”

“Six months.”

Maria stared at her.

“Six months?”

“Yes, my little flame.”

“You bathed me?”

“Of course, Maria.”

Maria looked towards the window. The curtains were open, and she could see the trees moving gently outside.

Six months.

She tried to understand how so much time could have passed while she had been sleeping.

“My father?”

“Your father is at the Sacred Grounds. Amada is there too.”

“And Lúcia?”

“Lúcia went away.”

Maria turned to Zita.

“Is it true what she said?”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“Please, Maria, stay calm. I’ll explain everything, but first you need to eat. You have been sleeping for a very long time, and your body is weak. Please don’t cry. Everything will be all right. Trust me.”

“I trust you, Zita.”

Zita kissed her forehead and left the room. In the kitchen, Satea was already preparing Maria’s food. The smell of vegetables filled the air, and a small pot was simmering on the stove.

“Our little flame finally woke up,” Satea said.

“Yes, she’s awake, but we need to keep her calm. We don’t want the wind and rain to start again.”

“No, my Lady. We certainly don’t want that.”

Satea removed the pot from the fire.

“Her soup is ready, and I’ve prepared some passion fruit juice. It will help her relax.”

“Good. Satea, prepare the roots for her bath. The strongest ones. She has been in bed for six months, and her body needs to recover.”

“Ginger root, levante and rosemary, my Lady?”

“Yes. Prepare them carefully. I want her to regain her strength. We need our Maria back.”

“I’ll prepare everything.”

Satea began selecting the herbs. She knew each one by its shape, its scent and the way it felt between her fingers. She cut the ginger root into small pieces and placed it beside the leaves of levante and rosemary. Zita took Maria’s soup and juice upstairs. Maria was lying in bed, looking outside the window.

“Here, my little flame. Let’s get some food into you.”

“Zita, I’ve never felt so much pain in my chest. I was betrayed. He lied to me, and Lúcia humiliated me.”

“Yes, she did, Maria.”

“Why did she do that to me?”

“She was hurting too, Maria.”

“I didn’t do anything to hurt her. Or did I?”

“No, Maria. You didn’t do anything. She felt jealousy and envy. That’s why she acted that way. Believe me, what she was feeling was very painful for her.”

“Really? Why?”

“Because envy is one of the worst feelings a person can experience. She wanted something she knew she could never have, and she couldn’t accept it.”

“What did she want?”

“To be you.”

Maria looked confused.

“She wanted to be me? Is that why she treated me like that?”

“Yes, Maria. She wanted to be you, and that was impossible. She couldn’t contain what she was feeling, and she exploded.”

Maria remained quiet for a moment.

“But is she all right now?”

“Yes, she is. Mei and Nara are taking care of her.”

“They’re taking care of her?”

“Yes. She’s safe.”

“Will she come back?”

“When the time comes, she will.”

“So she doesn’t hate me?”

“No, Maria. At that moment, she hated herself because she couldn’t be you. She was unhappy, and she allowed those feelings to hurt someone else. It was a moment of sadness she couldn’t control. Very human, very normal.”

Maria thought about Lúcia standing in front of her, shouting those terrible things. She could still hear her voice.

“So I shouldn’t be angry with her?”

“You have every reason to feel hurt, Maria. But you can also think of her with love and kindness.”

“I understand, Zita.”

Zita lifted the spoon.

“Now, eat your soup.”

Maria ate a little before speaking again.

“What about the Master?”

“What about him, my child?”

“He lied to me.”

“You never asked him if he had fiancées or concubines.”

Maria stopped eating.

“Why would I ask him something like that?”

“Because there are things you still don’t know about his world. You need to speak with him and understand what he wants.”

“He told me he loved me.”

“I know, Maria. Here, eat a little more.”

Zita continued feeding her. Maria ate slowly, although her mind was elsewhere.

“This is very good. Who made it?”

“Satea. She’s been preparing your food all these months.”

“All of it?”

“Yes. The soup, the fruit purées, everything.”

“But how? She’s blind.”

“Satea doesn’t need to see to move around the world, Maria. She knows exactly where everything is, and she has been cooking for a very long time.”

Maria smiled a little.

“She makes very good soup.”

“I’ll tell her.”

Maria finished eating and drank her passion fruit juice. For a while, neither of them spoke. Then Zita put the empty bowl aside.

“Maria, would you like to try standing? I’ve been lifting you and exercising your legs, but you need to start walking again. Your body has been resting for too long.”

“Yes, Zita. I want to.”

Zita helped her sit on the edge of the bed. Maria looked at her feet. She moved them slowly, surprised by how difficult such a simple movement had become.

“Take your time.”

Maria placed her feet on the floor and tried to stand. Her legs gave way, and she fell.

“Maria!”

Zita caught her before she could hurt herself.

“Slowly, my little flame.”

“I can’t stand.”

“You can. Try again, and let me help you.”

Maria held Zita’s arms and stood once more. Her knees trembled, and she leaned heavily against her.

“Very good. Now, one step.”

Maria moved one foot forward.

Then the other.

It was exhausting. By the time they reached the bathtub, she was breathing heavily.

“Do you want to take a bath, Maria? It will help your muscles relax.”

“Yes, I want to.”

“Satea has prepared something special for you.”

Maria looked at the bathtub. The water was warm, and the scent of ginger and herbs filled the room. The roots had darkened the water slightly, and leaves floated on the surface.

“What did she put in it?”

“Ginger root, levante and rosemary. They’re for strength, courage and healing. Satea knows these herbs very well.”

“Will they make me stronger?”

“They will help your body recover. You need your strength back.”

Maria touched the water with her fingers.

“Is it just us in the house?”

“Yes. I’ve let everybody else go.”

“Why?”

“Because you needed peace, Maria. You needed to sleep without anyone disturbing you.”

Maria nodded. Zita helped her undress and enter the bathtub. Maria lowered herself into the water and closed her eyes. The warmth surrounded her body. At first, her legs still felt heavy, and her muscles ached from the effort of walking. Then the herbs began to work.

The magick was already in the water.

It moved through her tired muscles and into the parts of her body that had been weak for so long. The pain in her legs began to ease. Her breathing grew deeper, and the terrible heaviness she had felt since waking slowly disappeared.

Maria opened her eyes.

“Zita?”

“Yes, my little flame?”

“I can feel something.”

“It’s the bath. Let it work.”

Maria moved her legs beneath the water. They no longer hurt as much. She looked at Zita and smiled.

“I think it’s helping.”

“I know, Maria.”

Zita remained beside her while the herbs continued their work. When Maria finally left the bath, she could stand with much less difficulty. Zita helped her into a clean dress, and together they walked out of the room.

“Can we go outside, Zita?”

“You want to walk in the cemetery?”

“Yes. I want to see everybody.”

“Very well, but slowly.”

They walked through the house and into the cemetery grounds. The sun was beginning to disappear behind the trees. The old graves stood among the flowers, and the air smelled of damp earth. Everything looked as though nothing had happened. Maria stopped and looked around.

“It’s all the same.”

“Yes, Maria.”

She remembered the terrible rain, the wind and the pain she had felt before falling asleep. Now everything was peaceful. The witches who were still on the grounds came to greet her. Some embraced her, others kissed her cheeks, happy to see her awake. Maria hugged them, smiling for the first time since opening her eyes. Satea approached.

“My Lady, we’re all so happy you’re awake.”

“Thank you, Satea. Zita told me you’ve been taking care of me.”

“It was our pleasure, little flame.”

“Your soup was very good.”

Satea smiled.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“And the bath helped me. My legs don’t hurt anymore.”

“Good. That’s what we wanted.”

Zita watched Maria speaking with the witches. Her colour had returned, and she was walking without needing to hold Zita’s arm every moment.

“Come, Maria. Let’s go inside. We need to talk.”

Maria said goodbye to the witches, and they returned to the house. Once inside, she sat down.

“Zita, why did I sleep for so long?”

“Your heart was broken, Maria, and you were very angry.”

“I remember.”

Maria looked down at her hands.

“Zita, is it true that the Master has all those concubines?”

“Yes, Maria. It’s true.”

“So he fooled me.”

“No, Maria. He had many fiancées and concubines, but he never wanted to marry any of them. He wants to marry you. He says he loves you.”

Maria shook her head.

“I won’t marry a man who has many concubines. I don’t share.”

“I know, Maria. But this is something you need to discuss with the Master. Only he can explain his intentions.”

“I don’t want to speak with him.”

“Sooner or later, you’ll need to speak with him, Maria.”

Maria looked away.

“Now, rest. You’ve done enough for today, and your body still needs to recover.”

Maria returned to her bedroom. She lay down and soon fell asleep again.

This time, it was an ordinary sleep.

Zita waited until she was certain Maria was resting, then disappeared.

Baba Carlos was at the Sacred Grounds when Zita appeared before him.

“Baba Carlos, Maria woke up.”

He stood immediately.

“She’s awake?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, finally. Thank the Orixás. Zita, this is the best news I’ve heard in months.”

He approached her.

“When are you bringing her to me?”

“As soon as she’s stronger, Baba Carlos. She’s been sleeping for six months. Her legs are weak, and she’s only just started walking again.”

“Is she well?”

“She’s recovering. Satea prepared a special bath for her, and it’s already helping.”

Baba Carlos looked relieved, but his expression soon changed.

“Six months, Zita. Six months without seeing my daughter.”

“I know, Baba Carlos.”

“She needs to come here. She’s been away from the Sacred Grounds for too long. She needs the Axé of the Orixás.”

“I’ll bring her when she’s ready.”

“Bring her tomorrow, even if she can’t walk properly. We can take care of her here.”

“I’ll do what I can, Baba Carlos.”

“Tell her that her father is waiting for her.”

“I will.”

Zita disappeared. Baba Carlos remained standing where she had left him. He looked towards the temple, then closed his eyes.

His daughter was alive.

Tomorrow, perhaps, he would finally hold her again.

The following morning, Maria woke feeling as though she had never spent six months in bed. She sat up, stretched her arms and moved her legs.

There was no pain.

She stood beside the bed, walked to the window and opened the curtains. The morning light filled the room. Zita entered.

“Good morning, my little flame.”

“Good morning, Zita.”

Zita watched her walking towards the wardrobe.

“I see your strength has returned.”

“Yes. I feel very well. Look, I can walk normally.”

Maria walked across the room and back, smiling.

“The bath worked, Zita.”

“Yes, it did.”

Maria embraced her.

“Thank you.”

Zita held her for a moment.

“Would you like to go and see your father and Amada?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Good. Baba Carlos is waiting for you. I told him yesterday that you had woken up.”

“Is he angry with me?”

“Why would he be angry?”

“Because I haven’t seen him for six months.”

“He knows you’ve been sleeping, Maria. He’s worried about you, and he wants to see you.”

“Then let’s go.”

Maria got dressed, and they went downstairs. She was walking towards the living room when a voice stopped her.

“You cannot go anywhere before speaking to me!”

The Master stood at the entrance. Maria stopped.

“Maria, we need to talk. I want to explain to you how things work in my court.”

She looked at Zita.

“Zita, I don’t want to talk to him.”

“Maria, you don’t need to talk. Perhaps you could just listen.”

“Yes, Maria,” the Master said. “You need to listen. Just listen.”

Maria looked at Zita again.

“I can do that.”

The Master approached and sat in front of her.

“Maria, listen to me. Before I met you, I had many fiancées and many concubines. It’s normal. It’s part of being who I am.”

Maria remained quiet.

“But when I told you that you would become my time, I meant that I was ready to have only you. Maria, I’ve been waiting for you for three hundred years. I would do anything to marry you and be with you.”

He leaned towards her.

“I will give up my concubines. All of them. I’ll have only you, and you will have me only for yourself. I love you, Maria.”

Maria kept looking at Zita.

“Maria, please, say something. Look at me.”

She finally spoke.

“You lied to me.”

“When did I lie to you?”

“You didn’t tell me that even Lúcia was one of your fiancées.”

“I didn’t lie to you, Maria. We never spoke about this.”

“You didn’t tell me. It’s the same thing. Omitting something is also a lie.”

“Maria, I was too busy giving you my attention. There were so many things happening. I wanted to make you happy.”

Maria looked at him.

“I will marry only for love.”

“Maria, I love you.”

“Why do you want to marry me?”

“Because I love you, Maria. I’ve told you.”

“Prove it.”

The Master stared at her.

“What do you want me to do?”

“If you’re being sincere, your sincerity will convince Xangô to let you enter the Sacred Grounds.”

The Master stopped moving. Maria continued.

“If Xangô grants you permission to enter, and you ask my father for permission to marry me, then I’ll know you’re sincere. Then I’ll marry you.”

“Maria, a pact was made. My power cannot enter the Sacred Grounds. That pact was made so long ago that I can’t even remember what the Orixás look like. They will never grant me passage.”

“They will if you’re sincere.”

“Maria, you don’t understand. There are rules that cannot be broken.”

“Then ask them.”

He looked at her.

“You think they’ll simply allow me to enter?”

“If you are sincere.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“Because the Orixás love me.”

“Maria…”

“If you truly love me, they’ll know.”

The Master remained silent. Maria stood.

“I’m going to see my father now.”

“Maria, listen to me.”

She turned towards him.

“The next time you see me will be at the Sacred Grounds. If you aren’t granted passage, you will never see me again.”