Gawonii swatted at the irksome troublemaker. She dodged his attack, laughing. No one else found it funny.
His voice was stiff when he said, “I tended to the ones that lost fluids. To prevent this from happening again, she needs to be taught to control her gifts.”
“No,” Ahyoka chimed in. “You need to keep your cock out of Chitsa.” Gawonii, done with her games, sent her flying into a wall, destroying beautiful artwork in the way. Ahyoka jumped up, hissing and now in a fighting stance.
“Enough!” bellowed Ghigau. “You’re both right.” Her eyes dared Gawonii to protest. “Your mate witnessed your adultery last evening. If you were not so enthralled by your mistress, you would have noticed that Ama was connected to you the entire time.”
My head remained down. It was quiet long enough to know that the two women were waiting for me to speak and for Gawonii to apologize.
In a huff, I heard his heavy footsteps. The door opened and then slammed shut.
“Guess that means he’s not sorry,” I muttered, letting my hands ride the tiny waves in the tub. Ghigau sat down beside me and began scrubbing me with a piece of burlap cloth.
“He’s right Ama. You must complete the ceremony this upcoming full moon.”
“What?” I straightened up. “No! I’m not doing that nightmare again.”
Ghigau shook her head. “The visions are yours, not the ceremony’s doing. You, merging with yourself, is a process, but the vision is a warning.” Ghigau’s ragged features became serious.
“Why does it even matter?” I asked her, sighing angrily. “What is it you and everyone else aren’t telling me?”
She pulled me out of the water.
“You are married by the laws of our people. You must consummate your marriage with Gawonii to protect yourself from what is after you, Ama.”
I immediately shook my head. “No. I don’t want to be with a man who feels I am useless. He told me so graciously me last night himself.”
“His words last night may have been hurtful, but they are true. Right now, you are no more than a hindrance to what we are trying to accomplish.” Ghigau said without batting an eye.
“But I saved Kasey and fought those things. Yeah, I had problems later, but how could I have fought off so many?”
Ahyoka laughed in the corner Gawonii put her in. “If you had completed the ceremony of the Spring Moon and let Gawonii’s life blood fill you, you would have annihilated them with a single look.”
“Why do I need to sleep with him? He has a bed partner.”
“He is your husband!” Ghigau snapped. “You still share a human body that is technically dying. You merging with Gawonii will make you one and very powerful.”
“You’re still not telling me something.” I pushed. Ghigau grunted.
The girlish imp moved in closer to us. “Curious one, isn’t she?”
“She asks too many questions,” Ghigau muttered under her breath.
I finished dressing in the ankle length dress the color of the sun at dusk that Ghigau handed me. Afterwards, I ran my fingers through my tangled hair. “The marriage is null and void anyway. Gawonii slept with Kasey.”
The old woman pushed me away from her. I stumbled over my feet but regained my composure quickly, scowling in Ghigau’s direction. “Stupid girl. Do you think that you are the first woman to have a husband take a mistress?” She dumped the water out of the tub and then sat down across from me. “Inola told me of your conversation.”
“Well, Inola doesn’t care for me because of my marriage to Gawonii.”
“Maybe, but she speaks the truth. It is funny you should ask about love.”
“Why is that funny? Not funny at all when you are trapped in a marriage with a person who doesn’t love you. Anymore, that is,” I said with a shrug.
Ghigau leaned in towards me. “Ama, Gawonii did not love you then either.”
“What?” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could catch myself. Never had I expected her to say that.
“He respected you and understood his responsibility to his people.”
That was my cue to exit. “Then I guess that makes it okay then, huh? Guess I’ll go back to my ball and chain.” I walked out through the front door and smacked right into Tsiyi with an umph. The impact didn’t seem to bother the giant a single bit.
“You, again! I don’t need a bodyguard,” I exclaimed, looking around him and searching for his sidekick, Onacona. “Where’s Onacona?” I failed at hiding the smile that broke out on my face. Tsiyi’s stony demeanor took the humor out of it though.
“He is suffering from the affliction you have blessed him with,” he explained flatly. “I came to ask that you lift it.”
I stood silently, contemplating his request.
“If Onacona was in a better mental state, I am sure he would ask you humbly for relief himself. He will soon go mad if you do not release him. He has learned his lesson.”
Sighing loudly, I stomped past him. “Fine. Take me to him.”
I followed Tsiyi into the home. I could hear Onacona screaming before we even went through the door. Inside, I found him convulsing in the corner and Gawonii standing by his sister, consoling her. She went into a tirade of unknown guttural sounds when she saw me. Assuming that she was cursing me to hell, I did an about face and walked right out.
That was it for me taking any more abuse from these people.
I was halfway down the path going to god knows where when I heard someone calling for me to wait. Of course, they would send Gawonii to try and talk some sense into me, but they had forgotten a minor detail. I didn’t like him either.
His hand touched my arm to stop me. Swinging around, I knocked it off and crossed my arms around my chest. I waited for him to demand that I go back and help Onacona, but none of the demands came. Actually, for the second time knowing him, he wasn’t scowling. His features had softened, giving me the same look, he gave me yesterday when he was being nice and trying to seduce me.
He meant none of it and knowing that only made me that much more uncooperative.
“Release Onacona,” he requested gently. “Please, for my sister?”
My answer was short, “No.”
Damn, that felt good!
“She is sorry.”
“Then why doesn’t she say that?” I tapped my foot impatiently.
“She is upset. Onacona is getting worse. Please.”
“Why should I do anything for any of you when all each of you have done to me is mistreat me?” My voice rose causing some passersby to stare and shrink away. I glared at Gawonii waiting for his answer. Taking by my arm, he led me the side of the little home away from any eavesdroppers.
“Do no mistake the preservation of our people as mistreatment. You, yourself, admitted wrongdoing for last night events. Yes, I am harsh, but you were stubborn and reckless, and I see that I need to protect you from yourself.”
“But you won’t tell me anything!” I cried.
Gawonii’s shoulders dropped ever so slightly. “The less you know right now, the better. You’re naturally curious, Ama. I can sit the honey outside the hive, removing any work on your behalf, but you, Angeni, would need to know how the honey is made. I have rules here that must be followed by everyone. I enforce them for your protection, not because I find joy in your misery.”
“How the hell do you expect me to follow all your demands when I feel like I am a prisoner here? Besides, he’s an ass that deserves worse than what I did to him,” I argued.
“As Queen, is it more important for you to prove your power by enacting revenge that only you have the ability to reverse, or is it better to show mercy and forgiveness while knowing that the power you possess can bring those who have mistreated you to their knees?”
I looked away.
“I heard you say that you are no longer the person you were thousands of years before. Are you deserving of this gift given? Are you worthy to rule over these people?”
We stood
in the hot sun, Gawonii waiting patiently as I thought over his words. I was still pissed, but he was right. I was better than how they’d treated me. I willed my feet to move back to the house.
“Fine,” I snapped as I passed him.
All eyes were on me when I came through the door besides Inola, who was cradling Onacona with tears in her eyes. I walked over to them, not really knowing what I was doing. When I knelt next to Onacona, Inola’s face turned to look at me. There was so much pain there over the torture he was in that my own heart ached. Fighting my own urge to cry, I thought back on what I’d thought of before that caused Onacona’s condition. I was angry at him for the things he’d said the night before, but that was all. He had insulted me about the rorrets, which ticked me off, and I had pictured him being attacked by a swarm of rorrets.
And that was it. I’d projected my thoughts onto him. He was hallucinating that he was being torn apart by rorrets.
I felt bad. And regardless how they treated me, Gawonii was right; to show this level of cruelty just because I can be a leader not worthy to rule over others.
I placed by hand over his eyes, closing them and willing the nightmare to end. Onacona’s erratic movements ceased relaxing in his lover’s arms. Inola cried harder, repeatedly saying something I wasn’t able to make out.
Standing up, I ignored the stares I received and headed back outside.
“Thank you,” I heard Gawonii say. “My sister says thank you as well.”
Keeping my back to him, I nodded and continued down the path. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to any of them. None of them were my friends. Even Kasey was gone. I was alone here.
“You’re not alone, Ama,” Gawonii said, hearing my thoughts.
“Get out of my head!” I snapped aloud.
“I’m sorry that you’re not happy here, but I cannot allow you to leave. The full moon will be upon us again soon, and we are going to complete the bonding. You are no longer safe under the pretense of a host. Nowhere else is safe.”
And again, he was right. There was nothing I could say or do.
Chapter 2
Bonded
Tonight, was the night. I knew I couldn’t turn back once the ceremony was completed. This time, there would be no running away or confusion about what was about to take place. I sighed, staring up at the full moon that beamed down over me.
It’ll all be over soon, I heard softly in my head.
Bringing my head down, I looked at the beautiful man standing across from me. He was ready. He prepared for this for centuries, knowing his fate. But I didn’t want this. Even still, I was too scared not to do it.
I believed him.
I believed that wherever I ran, I’d die. Whether it was here, refusing his protection, or back home, alone. How could I not believe him? The things happening around me only provided proof to the outlandish fairytale that I was born ‘special.’ And as much as I didn’t want to be this Angeni, it was either accept my fate or die. I averted my eyes from his, which bore into me as he heard my fears, and I resented him for it.
This was a small group this evening. I guessed that the townsfolk didn’t want to take any more chances if I decided to go berserk again. Who could blame them? I wouldn’t come either.
The dress I wore, made by one of the seamstresses in the small community, was even more beautiful than the first one. This time, it wasn’t made of soft leather, but instead a sheer material that flowed around me. At times, the dress was swept up by the wind, teasingly highlighting intimate parts of my body which I had no doubt was the impish Angeni Ahyoka devilishly enticing Gawonii.
Lit lamps flickered in the gentle breeze, providing more intimacy for the ceremony. Gawonii moved forward, taking my hand in his, his eyes never leaving mine. I wanted to know what he was thinking, but ever since that night I connected to him while he made love to Kasey, I’d been too afraid to venture back inside his head. I was too afraid of what else I might find there.
This evening, Kasey was nowhere to be found. No surprise there. Gawonii had kept his distance from her since that night. At least, I think he had. I often wondered when he left the cabin to check on his people if he’d stolen a few moments with her. But I had to stop thinking about such things because my thoughts would go back to the strong emotions and lust I felt when Gawonii was with her.
Tsiyi, Waya, and even Onacona were present, guarding me to keep me from running again … or holding whatever could be out there in the forest back. Whichever reason, I was grateful tonight for the protection.
I let myself get a good look at Onacona. Our run-in with each other a little over a week ago had caused a change in him. He no longer looked me in the eye, nor did he speak or come within a few feet of me. That wasn’t how I wanted my lesson for him to end. I only wanted his respect, not his fear. Hiawassee was also attending and now back to full health. Her presence was comforting too. She brushed my apology off when I went to see her a few days ago like what I did to her was merely a small feat. Even now, she didn’t show any signs of fear. Although we had a language barrier, I felt that she was helping in the best way she knew how.
I could feel Gawonii probing my mind. Looking at him again, I proceeded to shut him out. He continued to try and invade my space, and it was getting harder and harder to resist his attempts. Struggling to keep him at bay sometimes would have me end up with a splitting headache, and Ahyoka would only add to that headache with her constant chatter and harassment, telling me to stop fighting Gawonii’s attempts to bond with me. Sheesh! I was still trying to find out what the hell her weakness was because her mouth in motion was mine.
Ghigau started the chanting, bringing me back to my current issue. Her chanting took precedence, filling my head and pushing past the walls I had up. That was all the opening Gawonii needed.
Don’t fight me, I heard him say. The necklace came to life, glowing once again and burning my skin, taking me off guard. Why was it causing this pain again? Grimacing, I tried to pull my hand out of his, but he held tight.
Stop fighting, he said again. It burns because you’re resisting. Listen to my voice. Focus on that.
My body felt like it was on fire, and I tried to pull away again. I wanted it to end, but Ghigau came up behind me, still muttering words I couldn’t understand. Gawonii grabbed my other hand, pressing deeper into my mind. Closing my eyes and unable to fight any longer, I allowed him in. There was no other choice to be made.
I’m here, he said. Resigning to the obvious, I opened my eyes and swallowed a scream. I stared at the scene in front of me, horrified.
The dark, almost black sight of blood encompassed me. I glanced down at my hands, and blood poured from them, trickling to merge with the sea of blood at my feet.
No! Not again!
I turned to run but slipped in the sopping mess. Screaming, I found myself falling, incapable to gaining my balance. A hand grabbed me and pulled me up.
I wrapped my arms around the body I was pressed into, clinging on for dear life.
“Is this what you see?” I heard Gawonii’s curious but dismayed tone. I nodded, too afraid to speak, afraid that he might disappear and that I would be left alone in this place again. I buried my head into his chest finding comfort there and comfort in the fact that he was able to see the visions that haunted me for the past few months.
“Open your eyes, Ama,” he said, his hand gently rubbing my back.
Reluctantly, I opened them, having to blink a few times.
The blood was gone. Now we stood on the top of a cliff overlooking a valley filled with yellow-orange flowers cascading along the mountain range. The flowers covered a body of water below the mountain that could be barely seen as low, laying clouds camouflaged its sole existence in the morning light.
The nightmare was gone, and so was the feeling of being on fire.
“Is this real?” I asked, stepping forward to look over the cliff, still holding onto him.
“In my mind, it is. For you to see this so quickl
y amazes me. You have always amazed me with how quickly you excelled in knowledge over your power. Even now, your mind has taken a mental picture of what is before you and is changing it like a painter. Look.”
He pointed below to where the clouds began to burn away, revealing wild horses materializing right before my eyes. The colors of the flowers in the trees began to turn different shades of reds, purples, and blues, swirling in the breeze. Leaning forward to get a closer look, I spotted a little animal running in circles stop and bark up at me.
Drama!
I missed her so much.
“Everything you’ve accomplished so far while you’ve been here has purely been from instinct. Who you are, Ama, is more than just a dying girl... you are considered a god to our people.” He nodded towards my arm. “You’re almost complete now.”
I looked down to see strange markings inking my skin starting from the necklace. The wind picked up on top of the cliff, and storm clouds appeared in the distance.
Peering at the scenery around me, I thought about what he’d just told me, and I needed to ask. “And you … What am I to you?”
His hand touched my chin, gently forcing me to look up at him.
“You’re my mate, my queen, my wife …” The sky continued to darken around us. Neither one of us noticed gray flowers fluttering to the ground to lie at lifeless trees. The beautiful lake below was now desolate and dry with subtle signs of decaying carcasses of once majestic wild horses and a little dog. “And what I am to you, Ama, is—”
A dark figure appeared beside us, resembling someone very familiar. “Traitor!” it screamed, leaping for Gawonii and breaking our connection, even in the human realm.
I jerked back, my eyes flying open to stare in Gawonii’s startled ones.
“What was that?” I said to him.
Ahyoka emerged, jumping up and down like a jack rabbit. “She’s complete!” she cried, making me look at what had her all excited. The beautiful symbols that appeared in the dream stared back at me. I could only see the flesh that was exposed, but I was sure that what I couldn’t see was covered as well with the strange markings.
The Ageni Series: Queen Page 2
