Free Secrets of the Jaguar (Crimson Romance) by Jaye Shields Page A

bestiality, then the people created important rituals that acted out copulation between the human and the jaguar. The point would have been to manifest energies that would pass the powerful traits of the jaguar to the clan children being born to the blood-letting individual. These all took place near the cenote and jaguar doorway carving.
    Too many artifacts at the site described to me a life where the jaguar infiltrated every level of existence. Both men and women were often portrayed as half-jaguar, even children, and these children were highly celebrated. It was also obvious to me that life in this clan was led by a powerful shaman.
    Looking back, I suppose an archaeologist should avoid the term bestiality when referring to an ancient people. I’ve been called a racist bigot, an illiterate hippie, and a lunatic. I still maintain that these images reflect scenes from their heavens and underworld. However, there is no way these copulation images represent punishment in some sort of underworld, because the process seems so obviously worshipped.
    I am still convinced there is something unique about these people that will blow our minds if we ever solidify the significance of the jaguars. Unfortunately, the blatant refusal to investigate even the “oddest” or most “outlandish” theories is holding Olmec archaeology back. My resources for archaeological investigations are nil; I can only hope that a new generation of archaeologists will emerge who challenge mainstream thought. Only then can we tap into the ancient peoples of the world.
    Michelle took a deep breath.
I would definitely think this guy was nuts. If I weren’t a shape shifter, of course.
    Shutting her laptop, Michelle decided to let sleep finally consume her. As her eyes closed, she fell asleep with the image of the cave haunting her mind.
    • • •
    The dreamland that stretched across Michelle’s subconscious was thick jungle. A dirt pathway lay before her, leading through a fog-laden tropical forest. The mist was so thick she could hardly see past her arms stretched out before her, her fingers twisting in the wet air. A cute howler monkey leapt down from the jungle canopy and landed on her shoulder. In real life the creature would frighten her, but the dream primate assured Michelle they were good friends.
    Suddenly, it jumped down from her shoulder, landing softly on the ground, and ran forward into the mist. Michelle followed her new pint-sized friend. Her legs quickened their pace to keep up with the monkey as it disappeared into the fog, and soon she was running.
    The mist suddenly evaporated and Michelle skidded to a halt before running smack into the jagged stone of a mountain. The howler smiled up at Michelle and pointed with a nimble finger before taking off in a flash.
    The monkey had pointed to a cave entrance. As Michelle closed in on it, she noted the glow of fire coming from inside. Standing at the entrance of the cave, she took in the sight before her. Every inch of the cave floor was covered by a kneeling body. The people bowed their heads to the cold stone ground in the direction of a massive sinkhole. Save for the glimmer from the fire, the water that filled the sinkhole was black. On the walls surrounding the sinkhole was a massive stone carving of a jaguar mouth. Before her dreaming eyes, the deep carvings into the stone wall began to glow with a hazy, white light. Lightness began coming from the water.
    White light nearly blinded her, and even in her deep state of sleep, she wondered if morning sun was coming through her blinds. Instead, the cave flashed with brilliance and she saw stars.
    The prisms blurring her vision finally subsided and she gaped at the dream creature before her. Walking slowly out of the cenote water came a goddess with deeply tanned skin and glowing, golden eyes framed by dark hair that clung to her curves and trailed on the ground behind her. An intricately woven, brilliantly blue skirt wrapped around the