I was a terrible person. I wondered what else I did to these people.
“Follow me,” he ordered quietly. Curious as to where he was taking me, I stood up and began following him away from the house. We weren’t walking long before he stopped at a tiny little hut-like structure. He opened the door and found a light switch.
It was a cute one-room home with a kitchen and what looked like a soft pallet in a corner for slumber.
“We’ll settle down here for the night,” I heard him say. “Kamama’s condition has not improved. I have to go back and help the others.”
Alarms went off in my head.
“You’re leaving me here by myself? Do you think that’s wise? I mean, you said so yourself that these people hate me.”
“You won’t be harmed as long as you stay in here. There is food on the shelves. I promise I’ll be back soon.” He had his hand on the doorknob, but I couldn’t help the next thing that came out my mouth.
“I don’t blame you for rejecting me. I would have done the same. How could I have done that to his wife? That was horrible and unforgiveable. I do not deserve his forgiveness.”
He became very still, his head leaning against the wooden door.
“You had no idea what you were doing,” he murmured.
“How can you say that? I did it!” Tears streamed down my face. “No wonder you don’t care for me.”
Gawonii pushed away from the door. Seeing my tears, he walked into the kitchen, grabbed some tissues, and thrust them into my hand.
“Wipe your tears,” he scolded. “Do not cry. What’s done is done. Your tears will not change that fact. You’ve been given a second chance. Use it to correct the wrong done.”
I took the tissues and dried my face. He looked on, remaining silent until he was satisfied that I had pulled myself together. He took the soiled tissues out of my hand and threw them away.
“You’re wrong, Ama.”
I looked over at him, confused. “Wrong?”
“Yes. Ghigau is equally as wrong as you are and anyone else that told you that I never cared. My rejection of you was not because I didn’t care. I rejected you because I did not agree with the path you were taking in ruling over this land. We never started as enemies, Ama. We were friends at a very young age, and we were close. We were expected to wed and have children, and we accepted it happily. We rarely ever were seen without the other, and if we were apart, we were like devils until we were together again.”
He took slow steps back into the little room where I stood, listening.
“We had a mind connection early on. No other Angeni possessed that gift but you and I, confirming that we were meant to be, earning envy from the others. There weren’t any others like you and I, and we took advantage of it … many times making bad decisions. Sometimes you were the driving force of some of those bad decisions.” He gave a little smile. I relaxed, sitting on the edge of the pallet. “You are just as difficult now as you were then and very, very gifted. The older we got, the more I was the one getting us out of trouble you would get us into. There wasn’t much they could punish us with that we couldn’t get out of until they would split you and me up for days, one time managing to keep us away from each other for nearly two weeks. That calmed us down for a while, but then the cycle started all over again.”
Gawonii went over to a closet and took out a few blankets and two pillows. He placed them on the bed.
“You worry about mastering your gifts … Do not. You will master them soon enough. You mastered all your gifts very quickly, even before your brothers and sisters. You will not have a problem now. You’re not looking at how much you’ve accomplished since you arrived and were told who you were. What you have figured out on your own is impressive and frightening at the same time. It only reminds me of those days that you learned how to control your gifts, as well as when you learned how to counter the other Angeni’s gifts, making you proud, forming some jealousies.
“Things went downhill with you and me when you wanted more of everything. You couldn’t get enough of the power, and you wanted to be more knowledgeable, so you went out looking for more. And then finally you found it … or it found you, rather. Something old and ancient. It fed off the life force of small living animals. I never knew where it came from, although I later searched with no success. But gazing upon it in its weakened form, it was beautiful like shimmering pale gold that would lay over you like a sheer blanket. You experimented with it against my pleading, and in time it became attached to you, following you around like a pet. It enhanced your abilities beyond something any of us could imagine. You tried to pull me in because of our connection, claiming that we would be the most powerful Angenis ever. But what I felt coming from it was different. I saw its obsession with you.
“It made you do things that at one time would have been considered mischief, but it would make you take an extra step further to the point of pure cruelty. So, we slowly began to grow apart. You took overruling this realm and the spirit realm. When you confronted me about why I had not taken my place beside you, I told you that I would not rule while you continued to worship that Usonvi, the evil. You became angry and very bitter. The entity no longer shimmered specks of gold but instead created what you saw the other day by the brook. You could not see it for what it was.
“It seduced you, clouding your brain and interfering with our connection. It turned dark, and you became just as dark, giving it open access to feed off of your power and your bitterness, soon becoming cruel and unstable. This made room for Iswali to come in and fill the void I left you with. What should have been mine and mine alone you gave to him, so now he shares a bond with you as well. That is why you are drawn to him.”
“Is that why you chose another mate?”
“No, I chose another mate because I was alone for years. Chitsa did not come into my life until about eighty years ago. I waited for you, but when I found Chitsa, you were not due to return for another two hundred years. I came to care for her as I cared for you. She reminded me of you in so many ways. When the elders ordered her to be your guardian, I could not interfere. We knew they did it because what we had was forbidden, yet we continued our relationship, knowing we had time. But our lives were altered instantly when you became ill; our time was running short. The sad part is that our feelings for each other could not change as quickly as your deteriorating health. I do love her, and I admit wrongdoing, but I cannot apologize for my feelings for her.”
I wrapped my arms around my midsection at the truth. I then stood up and paced. “You use my early arrival as an excuse like if I had come when I was supposed to, it would have changed the way you feel for her.”
“Chitsa would not have survived as long.”
I stared at him, shocked. “Isn’t she—”
“No,” he cut me off. “She is not like you and me. Her life expectancy is longer than a human’s, but she is mortal. She suffers the most from this.”
He came over to me, placing his hand on my arm to stall my pacing. “Your friend misses you. The rift is affecting both of you. I’m not only saying this because I care about her. I say it because I care about you too. She is what is familiar to you here, and she is insubordinate to me for you. You two must talk.” He pulled on a curl, then lowered his lips to mine. “I must get back.” He headed to the door. “I will return shortly. Until then, remain here. I will bless the door for your protection.”
Without another word, he was gone.
I plopped back down on the pallet, mulling over all that he just shared. Maybe I should take it easier on Kasey now, knowing what she’s going through. All of this is completely unfair to her and to—
A scream could be heard outside, turning my insides cold. I curled up on the pallet, praying that whatever it was would stay outside.
Gawonii? I called to him.
You’re fine. That was Kamama. She is getting worse, and it seemed to do so as soon as we arrived. I will check on you soon. Rest.
I laid my head down on the pillow, and then I heard the scream again.
How could anyone rest with that racket?
The screams progressively became louder in a consecutive succession. There had to be a way that I could help. Getting off the soft, feather down pallet, I ran outside before I lost the nerve. I might have been risking discipline for my actions, but I needed to see if I could help them in some way.
Outside, I tried to recall the path Gawonii took to get to the hut. Feeling my way through the dark and trees, I heard another scream.
This one stopped me in my spot. That did not sound like Kamama. In fact, that did not sound natural at all. Taking off running through the trees, I ran into town, spotting Mohe’s home. I was almost there before I heard another scream coming from the trees behind me. I burst into the home, taking Mohe off guard. He drew a weapon on me, but Kasey was fast enough to take hold of his arm.
Ignoring the weapon, I came closer to him. “We must stop the screaming now,” I demanded grimacing as Kamama’s screams resonated off the walls.
Gawonii walked in the room, confused by all the commotion. His expression darkened when he saw me. “Ama, I told you to remain in the room.”
“How dare you barge into my home? I don’t care who you are and who you are bonded with. I despise your very presence being here.” Mohe advanced on me, menacingly.
I ran over to Gawonii. “You must stop the screaming, now!” I emphasized with much more urgency.
Another scream ripped through the night, and it wasn’t Kamama’s.
“What was that?” Mohe asked, furrowing his brows. “That wasn’t my daughter.”
“That is what I’ve been trying to tell you. You must find a way to stop her screams right now or there are going to be a lot of dead people.”
“But that can’t be.” Kasey went over to the window. “That shrill scream sounds like the call of a—”
Gawonii pulled Kasey from in front of the window and shut off the lights.
“Rorrets.”
Chapter 8
We Are the Same…
Another scream resounded in the house, coming from the girl’s room.
Mohe went for the window. “How did they find the village?”
Gawonii peered out the window into the night, looking for any signs of the creatures. “Kamama’s current state is getting worse and must be weakening her. She is unable to provide protection for the village any longer.”
“But to be found so quickly?”
Kamama’s scream filled the house, and this time, artwork rattled on the shelves.
“We must stop her now!” I yelled. “They’re responding to her screams!”
Utsi ran out the room, prayerfully, to calm the girl down.
The rest of us in the main room listened intently for more of the girl’s vocal unrest. When none came, we all relaxed, but it wasn’t over. There still was the situation outside.
“How long can Utsi keep her quiet?” I asked. Gawonii stood at the window, still staring out. “Not long. She is past anything we can help her with.”
“Let me try.”
Mohe jumped at me, sending me smashing up against the wall as I tried to get away from him. Spittle sprayed in my face as he seethed like a wild animal in front of me. “You will never get near my daughter. I’ll kill her myself before I let you take another thing away from me.”
I swallowed the bile that rose up in my throat and threatened to spew onto the floor. Squeezing my eyes shut to stop the tears pooling at the corners of my eyes, I fought the urge to wipe my face.
Mohe’s position against me was knocked off balance when he was slammed to the ground, Gawonii standing over him with his hand firmly around Mohe’s neck.
“Stop it!” Kasey yelled. “We have bigger problems we need to deal with now. Your people are about to be eaten alive, Mohe.”
Gawonii cautiously removed his hand from around Mohe’s neck and offered the same hand to help his old friend up. Taking the gesture, Mohe stood to his feet, nodding at Kasey.
“Let her try Mohe. Ama killed your wife,” Gawonii swiftly looked at me. “Lailah did not.”
The occupants in the room stared at each other, feet cemented to the floor as they waited for an answer. Mohe’s excessive glare scared me, and I came to my own conclusion that he would kill his own daughter just to keep me away from her.
A scream once more shook the little house. Utsi’s attempts were failing, and something needed to be done fast or else Mohe’s treat would ironically come true if a rorret got a hold of her.
At the thought of rorrets, I heard the echo of wings overhead. Flashbacks of a very fresh encounter with rorrets came to mind, and my body quivered at the thought of going up against those things again. I wasn’t the only one that heard them, either. Mohe’s head turned upward towards the ceiling. He slowly glanced back at me, then nodded.
I exhaled, letting out the breath I was holding onto. Mohe walked away, and I followed him down a hallway leading into a dark room scarcely lit by a lamp sitting on a table beside a large bed. A young girl stared wide-eyed at the ceiling in terror, looking at demons none of us could see. Utsi held her hand, sweat pouring down his boyish features as he concentrated on relieving the girl of whatever was causing her nightmares. Feeling our presence, Utsi slightly lifted his head to glance from me to Mohe. He reached out for me, placing his small hand in mine and pulling me over beside the bed.
I shook my head, now unsure if this was the right thing. I had no clue what I should do. What if I screwed up? This chief would do everything in his power to have me killed. Utsi tugged on my hand, bringing my gaze down to look at him.
Another scream tore through the room, Kamama’s eyes wild and body flailing on the bed. Her long brown hair covered her face like a thick web from the tumultuous movements. Scratches painted the once smooth wood of the headboard, which I assumed were from Kamama clawing the wood in her anguish.
Wings up above came to a cessation, and the night became very quiet except for the Kamama’s struggle with the unknown. Body tingling at the eerie silence surrounding the village, I listened. If only I knew what was going on out there. It was too bad I couldn’t project through walls.
I spotted Utsi’s hand that held Kamama’s beginning to release its hold on her.
No, I thought. Utsi’s comfort was one of the only things keeping the girl calm. I jumped on to the bed.
“Don’t!” I cried, propelling myself at them to keep their hands conjoined, but I was too late. Kamama’s scream went through the walls like a seismic roar as soon as he let go. Upon leaping for them, my hand grabbed hers, and it felt like my skull was being ripped into shreds.
My free hand clutched my head at the stabbing pain. Gawonii yelled, collapsing, and our connection was broken at the force of the sheer power that entered my body.
The rorrets sirens filled the air, their terrifying shrills shattering the windows.
My system fought against the cry, maintaining all its functions but for how long, I had no clue. Utsi’s little body was the first to drop to the floor, immobile. Kasey’s was the next to fall.
Hands locked, I dropped down on the bed beside the thrashing girl. Kamama’s head came down onto the pillow hard, then turned to face me. I saw her dilated pupils focus on my face, her body relaxing and seemingly to settle down peacefully. Her lips moved, working hard to get words out until her focus shifted to something behind me, and I could see her become terror stricken. A blood curdling scream threw me off the bed.
A crash resounded overhead, and the ceiling began to crumble, falling down like snow on top of us. The only solution I could think of doing for the girl was to have her think that she was seeing something else other than what she was seeing now. Jumping back onto the bed, I hopped over the girl and pressed both hands on each side of her head.
That was a big mistake. The minute I probed into her mind, disturbing images of destruction and death filled my head.
“No!” she scream
ed, her hands clutching mine. White, searing energy coursed through my center like a hot poker. I plummeted into her nightmare, which was similar to the ones I experienced before I knew anything about this place and who I was. Blood flowed all around me, running like a river through the streets of the surrounding sister tribe villages. People were sprawled on the ground, lifeless, and those that weren’t were struck down by an unknown force.
I spun around, shielding my eyes from the punishing wind while taking in the dream in disgust. Why was Kamama witnessing my nightmares?
When I made my way through the streets, a tall figure came into view.
It was hard to make out who or what it was, for a heavy dark cloud swirled around it as it glided along the surface of the ground, untouched and unaffected by the death and all of the destruction.
I moved in closer to get a better look, my heart beating rapidly against my chest. A disturbing sense of familiarity plagued me, and I had this strong need to get closer. I instantly became still when I saw a woman suspended in the grey, wispy matter, expressionless. I recognized the entity blanketing her was the same being that Gawonii had fought off a number of times. My curiosity pushed me closer to her, needing to get a better look to see who I once was that had been both adored and hated in so many of these people today.
And in a single thought, I was there, a few inches away from her. The sudden surprise hurled me backwards, and I slipped on the carnage that painted the street.
Her arm shot out and caught me before I touched the ground, standing me upright. She blinked, her sight becoming clear to focus on my face. There was no resemblance between her and me. Her skin could have been compared to the color of the clay that nourished the land here, her eyes as black as night. Her sacred markings glowed, rapidly shifting into different shapes and patterns on her skin. Pitch black hair cascaded below her waist, whipping around her lean body from the harsh wind.
The Ageni Series: Queen Page 10
