Origins of an African Elemental

by Alicia McCalla

Her guests gasped.

  “Was that a tremor?” Someone asked.

  “In Detroit, couldn’t be.” Another voice spoke from in the room.

  Corbin hadn’t moved.

  His words grabbed Shania as the sweaty grip on her trapped hand tightened. “I know you love me. I know you want me. I know you need me.”

  The complex stopped shaking. Shania looked down on Corbin.

  “Please, get up.” She pulled him. “I can’t do this now.”

  Corbin stood close to her face. “You are mine and I will have you. I don’t care if you still love Deacon.”

  Thor pressed his body closer to Shania and she stroked his coat.

  Shania compressed her lips. She knew that she may never have Deacon again but she knew that she couldn’t marry Corbin. It wasn’t right.

  She looked him in the eye and straightened her spine.

  “I don’t love you. I’m sorry but I can’t marry you.”

  Corbin’s smile turned grim.

  He pulled her close. The alcohol on his breath could’ve incinerated the room. The guests at her grandmother’s funeral made shocked sounds.

  Corbin used his height and weight to intimidate. “You won’t make my child be a bastard like Deacon’s. You will marry me. Now say yes.”

  Shania felt Thor’s hackles rise as he growled ferociously. Shania froze. Her heart panicked. How did Corbin know about Lydia’s father? She’d only written her thoughts in her private diary.

  The Akofena war swords clinked, again.

  Her grandmother’s voice whispered... “The swords mean courage, valor, and heroism.”

  Shania slightly shoved Corbin back to give herself breathing room. “No. I don’t love you and I’m not having your child.”

  Corbin stumbled and looked confused. He rubbed his hands along the sides of his legs. “Girl, stop playin’ wit me.” He pointed in her face. “I know you pregnant.”

  His eyes pleaded with her.

  Shania’s shoulders shrunk. She looked around. Everyone stared. She didn’t know what to do. Tears welled behind her eyes. The death of her grandmother and aborted child had taken its toll.

  “I’m not pregnant, anymore. I-I saw a doctor the other day.” Shania allowed the tears to roll. She could see Maddy heading towards her to offer support.

  Before she knew it, Corbin sucker-punched her with a force that made her teeth scream. Thor lunged and tried to clamp down on Corbin’s leg but missed.

  “You whore! You’d rather give your body to the white man instead of me. I guess being half-white isn’t good enough for you!”

  Help couldn’t arrive fast enough as Corbin closed his fist and cold cocked her again. Shania’s body crumbled to the floor as she witnessed the tip of Corbin’s pointed Stacy Adam’s dress shoe raring back to kick her in the abdomen.

  Maddy screamed and the male guests tried to hold Corbin back.

  Shania closed her eyes and braced for the impact.

  CHAPTER 3

  The Hidden Truth

  Shania heard a ferocious growl and Thor leapt for the kill. She saw Thor tear into Corbin. She winced as canine teeth punctured muscle and bone. The man screamed, backing away. He held his bloody arm as the men in the room forced him towards the door. Thor almost went back for more but Maddy calmed him down.

  “Shania, this isn’t over!” Corbin yelled. “I’ll find a way to take Deacon’s child, the way you took away my child.”

  Shania scraped the food on the plate into the garbage disposal. She took a deep breath and allowed the pain of Corbin’s punches to subside. Her lip was busted and her entire body felt sore.

  Shania tried to push the victim inside down. So much was wrong with her life. She wanted a change. She wanted happiness. She wanted love. Maddy came into the kitchen and sat down.

  “Shay, I know it’s been hard but now that Nana’s gone, I think you should stay with me in Atlanta.”

  Shania’s back stiffened. She didn’t want to cry. She was afraid that if she moved to Atlanta, she might run into Deacon.

  “I-I don’t think I can. There’s so much for me to do in Detroit.”

  Maddy moved in a little closer. “I love you like a sister. I’d be worried if you stayed here. Corbin will kill you or my little goddaughter. I’d feel much safer, if...”

  Shania allowed the tears to flow down her face. Her world caved in.

  “I’m such a miserable failure. I can’t do anything right.”

  Maddy helped her to a chair. “It’s okay, Shay.”

  Shania allowed the grief to overwhelm her. How was she going to make it without her grandmother? She loved Detroit. She loved her urban farm apartment complex.

  She loved teaching the students in her Master Gardening class as a Professor at Michigan Urban University but something was missing from her life--Deacon. She missed him but to move to Georgia after all these years just didn’t make sense.

  “I’ve got to stop crying. Lydia might wake up. I don’t want to scare her.” Shania’s crying simmered.

  “It’s okay. I closed her door. I’m glad you didn’t allow her to attend the funeral and dinner. She’s a tough little one but it was a hard day.” Maddy rubbed Shania’s back.

  “Shay. Is it true? Is Lydia Deacon’s child?” Maddy’s asiatic eyes pierced her soul.

  Shania buried her face in Kleenex. She couldn’t believe that all of her secrets were exposed.

  She blew her nose. “Yep, it’s true.” Shania allowed the words to hang in the air on a hook.

  “I see.” Maddy leaned back in the chair.

  Memories flooded back.

  There was something buried inside. She knew somehow that her grandmother had something to do with this but things were hazy. She pushed the chair, stood up, and found a glass to get some water.

  Maddy looked thoughtful. “Now I understand why you never wanted to visit me in Atlanta. But Shay, you’ve got to tell the man that he has a child. This-This isn’t right.” Maddy’s hands slapped the table.

  Shania took a gulp of water. She knew it wasn’t right but something inside her memories told her that it would be dangerous for them all to be together. There was a warning--something of power and magic.

  Shania clinked the glass on the counter.

  “I-I know but I can’t bring myself to tell him.” Shania rubbed the palm of her hand.

  “You still love him, don’t you?” Maddy looked sympathetic.

  Shania couldn’t say anything. She did love him.

  “I stood the man up at the altar and told him that I had an abortion. I don’t even understand why. I was young, stupid.” Shania’s insides churned as she tried to remember how she allowed the love of her life to walk away.

  “Well.” Maddy said. “It’s settled. You’ll pack up and stay with me until we can sort this out. I’ve got to catch my plane tonight but I can cancel it and help you move.”

  Shania stared straight and thought hard. She always enjoyed Maddy’s company. Maddy was funny, smart, and had quick wit.

  Shania smiled as she remembered the first time they met. Maddy told her that she wasn’t mixed but her “blackness” was enhanced with some extra Vietnamese flavor. Maddy was the best cook. She owned an Asian and Black infusion restaurant in Atlanta.

  Shania folded her arms. She respected her friend but something inside made her hold back. “No. I can’t. Please don’t cancel your plane. You’ve been away from your restaurant too long. Besides, there’s too much to do here. Lydia and I will be fine. Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out. “

  Maddy walked over to Shania. “You don’t have to stay here. You both can stay with me anytime.”

  Shania gave Maddy a huge hug. It was great to have such a wonderful friend.

  Shania drifted to sleep. The dream world seemed surreal.

  A young black girl, around Lydia’s age, laid gagged and bound on a makeshift altar. The girl’s eyes burned. She could smell the evil stench. A white priest came into the room. He sung a grisly son
g.

  CHAPTER 4

  The Paranormal Serial Killer

  The girl screamed but only muffled sounds could be heard.

  “You ’vill be purfect for the master and mistress.” The priest sewed a hibiscus flower into the girl’s duct taped sealed mouth.

  She cried a muffled scream.

  “Magic be good.” The priest kept singing and sewing. Then, he used the iron knife to trail down the girl’s body, between her legs.

  The child struggled and tried to turn her fear ridden body. He found her open spot then he sliced and dug her private parts until he’d removed her clitoris.

  “I got it! I got it!” He danced around and then dropped the knife as he watched the girl choke to death on her own vomit.

  “Her soul be ripe. She be ready for the Master and Mistress!” The old priest yelled and his mouth opened into a swirling portal that sucked in the girl’s fleeing soul.

  Shania violently awakened in a cold sweat. Was that dream real? On shaky legs she got out of bed. She felt a cool breeze. Hadn’t she locked the windows and doors?

  She softly whistled for Thor but didn’t hear him stir. Her hands shook as she turned the door knob. Cautiously, she moved into the hallway. Her heart pounded in her ears.

  Stealthily moving towards Lydia’s room she saw a white light surrounding her door. She thought it was odd but she opened Lydia’s creaky door anyway. Lydia slept soundly. Shania breathed a sigh of relief. She heard a crashing sound from the kitchen. What was that?

  Inside the living room, she saw the wooden box and African chair stool tipped over. The Adinkra symbols called to her.

  She heard the words “Aya! [I am not afraid of you]!”

  A thud came from the kitchen. Shania picked up the shovel that she used for gardening. She took a deep breath and pushed through the kitchen door. She scanned the dark room but it was empty.

  She flicked on the light and screamed.

  Thor was sprawled across her kitchen table in an unnatural manner. His neck hung like a broken twig. She wailed and walked over to her dog.

  “No.” She cried. Tears drenched her face and night gown.

  When she looked closer to the table, she saw a vase with drooping red poppy flowers and a note.

  It said:

  No one stands between me and you. Next time, I’ll abort Deacon’s daughter the way you aborted my child.

  –Corbin.

  Shania’s insides clinched as she dropped the shovel.

  Shania fell to her knees. Her life was dark and sad. She’d lost another connection to Deacon. Her baby girl came into the kitchen.

  “Mama, it’s okay.” Lydia looked like the perfect mixture between her and Deacon. “Nana, told me that I was special. I know how I can help.”

  Shania smiled at her daughter. “Thank you baby girl, it makes me feel good to know that you care.”

  Shania continued to mourn until she felt magical warmth around the kitchen. A bright glow filled the room and then a deafening sound occurred as Lydia touched Thor.

  Shania watched Lydia close her eyes as bones creaked, crunched and knitted back together.

  Thor’s muscles jerked, cracked, and moved in an electrified dance. His head snapped back into place and then his eyes jumped, fluttering. Shania sat stunned as she watched Thor return to himself.

  He licked Lydia’s face and they played with one another as if it were normal for Lydia to perform a resurrection.

  “Oh, my God!” Shania screamed as Thor leapt off the table and licked her face.

  “How’d you do this?” Shania’s mouth could barely form words.

  Lydia smiled and sat down next to her. “Mama, are you happy? I brought Thor back. Nana said we need him as our guardian on this journey.”

  Shania looked at her in disbelief. “Nana? What child? What are you talking about? How’d you do this?”

  “Nana said we’re magical people. We are descendants from the Great Mother, Mawu. She wanted me to remind you.” Shania studied Lydia’s face.

  Her memories sloshed around like jugs of water in the back of an old jeep. Something was stopping her from remembering.

  Shania grabbed Lydia and Thor in a big hug. “C’mon let’s go to bed.”

  Shania fell into a deep sleep.

  The priest waited for her.

  “I see you. I know she here. The little priestess be awakened. I come for her soul! The Master and Mistress has been waiting for long time.”

  She tried to wake but a tingling feeling overtook her and it seemed as if she were stuck between two worlds.

  “You can’t have my child!” Shania screamed.

  The priest rolled his eyes back and laughed. “We be on our way!”

  The scene changed and a beautiful brown-skinned woman dressed in a royal purple head dress came into view. She was gorgeous shimmering in the moonlight.

  Shania squinted, was it a younger version of her Nanabaa?

  CHAPTER 5

  Flee

  “Nana? Is that you?” Shania’s voice echoed.

  “Not exactly, but you trust your Nanabaa so I’ve chosen this form to help you believe. I am Mawu, great Mother and Goddess.” Shania watched Mawu smile.

  “Like in the folktales that my Nanabaa told me?” Shania said in a state of disbelief.

  Mawu put her finger on Shania’s lips. “Shush, you have many questions but we have little time. I can’t hold you in this realm for long.”

  “You and my special priestess are in danger. You must flee this place and find where your true love dwells. He is the Guardian and can wield the Akofena war swords.”

  Mawu turned her head and gazed in the hazy dim-lit distance. She cocked her head in an unnatural manner while she listened to something that Shania couldn’t hear. Mawu turned back and focused laser attention on Shania.

  “You mean find Deacon? I can’t. I know something bad will happen.” Shania slumped in her dream.

  Mawu’s eyes swirled with power. “Your memory loss was to protect but now the time has come for you both to remember.”

  Mawu touched Shania’s forehead and pushed her back into her body.

  She heard a whisper. “When the time comes, remember, but for now, flee!”

  Shania sat up in Lydia’s bed. Disorientated, she looked around the room for the wood box that she’d moved into Lydia’s room. She realized that a magic spell made it glow and hum. How did she know that?

  Memories sloshed inside her mind but they were unclear. Shania turned and saw that both her child and dog were safe. Her heart slowed down but her mind got into action. Shania knew what she had to do. She looked at the clock.

  “I’ve got to find Deacon in Atlanta. She told me to flee.” Shania scrunched her forehead but who was she? Shania had a hard time remembering but she knew that she had to leave Detroit.

  A part of her still felt dread but another part was happy that she would be reunited with the love of her life. She prayed that something good would come out of all of this.

  Shania dug out her phone. She bit her lip and studied the wood box again. Her memory showed her a special key. She knew that she had to find it, if they were all going to be safe. She dialed her phone with resolve.

  She’d give her money to whoever could pack her up and move them today.

  Corbin snuck into Shania’s apartment through a secret passage in the kitchen. It was one of the perks of being the building manager. These old refurbished buildings had plenty of entries. His heart was happy that he could keep tabs on his trophy. He’d figure he’d give Shania a couple of days to rethink what she’d done.

  He rubbed his sore arm from the dog bite. The anger boiled inside his stomach. He’d tried to do what he could to make her his. He tried to make her forget Deacon. He’d even sabotaged the condom and waited for her to be fertile to get her pregnant. Corbin couldn’t believe that she’d killed his baby. His black child!

  He’d make her suffer. Corbin lifted his fire red dashiki and removed the flask from his
inside pocket. The flask jiggled. He just needed a little swig to get the edge off. He opened the flask of Jack Daniels and gulped. JD never let him down the way women had, including his white trash mother.

  He remembered the beatings that he received at the hands of his militant black father.

  The words echoed in his mind, “Boy, I’ll beat the white side out of you.” Corbin tried everything he could to be tougher and darker. It didn’t work. His hair was always too straight and his skin too light.

  Corbin stumbled into Shania’s living room but the place was empty. He panicked. Where had she gone? She’d left him. She’d abandoned him like his mother. His Black American princess left him like a whore in the night.

  “No.” Corbin screamed. “I must have you!”

  His shoulders slumped when he thought about how Shania filled the emptiness that was his heart. He let out drunken tears.

  He’d never be black enough for his father.

  “Yes, Master and Mistress.” Corbin heard someone in Lydia’s bedroom. He staggered around as an inebriated mess. He stopped and noticed that Shania’s front door had exploded into splintered pieces. He choked from the residual white dust.

  “Shit! I’m not paying for that.” Corbin sobered up and marched into the little girl’s room. He’d find away to make somebody pay in money and blood.

  He’d beat them into submission. Corbin stomped through the apartment.

  “What are you doing here?” He looked into the eyes of a white priest.

  “Ah, you purrfect.” The priest said in broken English. “You ’vill serve the Master and Mistress. Bow slave.”

  “Man, I ain’t servin’ no white man! You must be crazy!” Corbin lobbed a drunken swing with his injured arm but the priest was too fast.

  Before he realized it, the priest had him pinned on the floor. He blew white dust in his face.

  Corbin gagged and coughed.