THE AGENI SERIES: AMA ANGENI

by Yyanna Leigh Michaels

  Everyone but the old lady and I laughed.

  Kasey walked over. “Lighten up girl or you will insult them.”

  Scowling, I allowed the woman to undress me. In my underwear, she led me over to a room that held a large tub filled with hot, steamy water. A lovely scent drifted up to my nose and I immediately felt at ease. The woman tugged on my bra.

  “Dinuwesdi.” She kept pointing at my undergarments. “Dinuwesdi.” She began to pantomime removing of clothes. “Hawini dinuwo.”

  When I didn’t move fast enough, she slapped me on my ass! “OW! Kasey!”

  Kasey peaked in the room along with Inola. The woman started talking to them, but I still couldn’t understand what the hell she wanted.

  Inola spoke. “She wants you to undress out of the rest of your…clothes.” She giggled. “And get into the water so she can bathe you.”

  “Are you kiddin’ me?” I turned to the woman as if she could understand me. “I can bathe myself. Thank you though.”

  The woman said something that even I knew wasn’t nice and by the look on Inola’s face I learned soon that my assumption was correct. Giving in, I unhooked my bra and slipped out of my underwear. Kasey grabbed the rest of my clothing and left. Sitting in the hot water, my body relaxed letting the aroma soothe me and the woman’s tender massage work out all the knots and stress from the past few days.

  When I stepped out of the tub and she helped dry me off, I had to admit that I felt better. So very glad I gave in. I allowed the woman to rub sweet smelling oil on my skin not caring about my nakedness any longer. Then she wrapped a towel around me leading me into the room where they had left earlier.

  Inola came over to me and removed the towel then like an artist, she began to paint my body with a homemade paint.

  “What is she doing?” I whispered over to Kasey. Kasey shushed me and walked out the room.

  With a light touch, Inola painted strange tribal markings on my arms, along my neckline being very careful around the necklace. She worked her way up to my face. Kasey came back in and stood quietly in the back watching as if she was inspecting the girl’s work.

  Inola finished and Hiawassee returned gently clamping jewelry on my ankles my arms and ears. She motioned to Kasey to help her. Kasey walked over and the woman pointed to the dress.

  Kasey and Inola then picked up the dress and carried it over to me.

  The women took the helm of the dress over my head and the soft, white, leather hide slid over my skin like silk. It was surprisingly comfortable and cool. The bodice was pulled tightly around my chest as the leather straps were tightened behind me. The fringes decorated on the end of the dress swayed with tug of the straps made by the ladies. Once secured, Hiawassee pushed me down in a chair and started fussing with my short curly hair and with the help of Kasey wove feathers and flowers in it.

  After what seemed like hours of being poked, scrubbed, preened, and stuffed, I was finally released. The others dressed while I waited. Kasey was the first to appear with her hair flowing behind her also with feathers woven into her hair in a short leather dress. She smiled in my direction looking me up and down. The others appeared and had changed as well. Kasey took my hand, and I was gently pushed out of the small house without so much as a glimpse of myself. I wanted to see how I looked but I must have met the approval of the natives because the stares and smiles I was receiving when I started walking down the path, gave me the confirmation I needed. I walked slightly ahead of Kasey, Utsi, and the other two women. Each time I tried to fall in line, Hiawassee would push me forward with a nod. It was getting dark and the native residents of the community were gathering around, some dancing and singing but mostly joining in their journey to the center square. Little girls giggled in front of me throwing pretty, white flowers in the air and they fell around me like floral rain. I turned to Kasey and she smiled before lowering her head.

  The singing rose in volume the closer we approached the center. The women singing in the native tongue, Tsalagi, also gathered joining in the walk. The colors were splendid around me. All of them were dressed for the festival in an array of colors from red, yellow and blues. Some were bare-footed, others wore sandals like me.

  The sun sunk lower in the sky casting an orange glow on the center of the square as they approached. I adjusted my eyesight through the bright glow to see that someone stood directly center; their body appearing to be lit up in flames from the sun’s rays. Finally standing on the outside of the square, I recognized Gawonii in a colorful headdress and in leather pants and tunic staring in our direction. He looked just as fine as the first day I saw him dancing in that very spot. Maybe he was going to dance again for us.

  The two women sat down on the grass prompting me to join them and I became excited. I was not able to see him perform like I had wanted to that day. This was going to be an exciting treat. I grabbed Kasey by her arm and rested my head on her shoulder. She always knew what I needed.

  Within minutes, the area surrounding Gawonii was packed with people waiting for everything to begin.

  The singing increased as more people joined in with the accompaniment of drums being added.

  It wasn’t until the sun went down that ground torches were lit, and the singing stopped. My eyes couldn’t break away from the commanding power of the man that stood demanding our full attention. Not once did a muscle quiver in his stance and I couldn’t help but admire the discipline he exhibited.

  A group of men sat in a semi-circle in front of the onlookers and the drumming cadence changed. That is when Gawonii started his hypnotic dance. Each step, each movement held me captive as he seemed to glow like the sun. His adornment of eagle’s wings seemed to catch fire in the last rays from the setting sun.

  The tempo of the drums set an eerie tone to Gawonii’s reverence to the birth of the new moon. The rapid beat seeped into the inner depth of my soul causing a desire to join him. At the thought, my chest where the large jewel rested became warm. Its warmth took a slow path up along my neck, to my chin, forcing a blush to stain my cheeks and travel up to the very roots of my hair. My body began to tingle like there were fingers touching along my skin, tracing the painted designs Inola created on my arms, chest, and back. The feather-like touches sparked something inside of me and my senses became in tuned to every movement Gawonii danced through.

  His seductive dance was coming to a close signaled by a change in the drumming when he stopped, abruptly, kneeling on one knee before me, his head tilted towards the ground.

  All movement around the square stood still.

  Gawonii’s eyes were frighteningly haunting, peering at me through thick black paint that only camouflaged his eyes. We stared in silence; my heart beating, threatening to burst through my chest. He lifted his hand up and held it out which I assumed was a gesture for me to take hold of it.

  Why does he keep harassing me? I thought jokingly when the corners of his lips lifted as if he heard my secret thoughts. I jumped when a voice began singing next to me. I turned to see Hiawassee, eyes closed, rocking forward and back, singing.

  On the other side of me Inola joined in until the chorus filled the night’s air. Kasey was the last to join in; miraculously knowing what to sing.

  As long as I knew Kasey, I never knew she could understand Tsalagi and all evening she had prepared me for this festival but failed to share the lyrics to this little anthem.

  I turned back to face Gawonii whose eyes glowered at me, his smile fading. He stood up to his full height, standing over me like a god. He stepped forward thrusting his hand at me again. I stared at it, uneasily, not quite sure what he wanted. A gentle nudge on my back had me look away from him. I saw Kasey nodding, pointing to Gawonii’s hand.

  The reassurance in her eyes put me at ease so I turned back to his waiting hand.

  Taking a deep breath, I placed my smaller hand in his which his hand closed over. He effortlessly pulled me to my feet and turned to walk back to center square.

  I held f
ast suddenly afraid.

  Looking over his shoulder, the ‘god’ stared at me questionably. He gave me a tug, his expression letting me know that he expected me to do as he wanted. Scuffling behind him, my sandals kicked up dirt and the low swaying fringes helped to push the dust aside while I followed. A cheerful murmur went like wildfire through the crowd and the drums started again.

  Now in the center, the moon beamed down on Gawonii’s handsome features. He dropped my hand, falling to his knees with his hands outstretched to the stars, and began singing as well.

  I turned my body to face the circle of people who mimic Gawonii’s actions, falling to their knees. Thinking that maybe I should do the same, I got ready to get down next to Gawonii when the necklace around my neck started to glow.

  A chant broke the monotonous chain of repeated chorus and my blood chilled instantly. An all too familiar image passed through my thoughts that harbored memories of that same mantra.

  Willing my feet to turn around, I saw Gawonii lips moving to a different song than the chanters. His eyes stared through me, scaring me. I took a few steps backward making my way back to Kasey.

  “Kasey?” I called out to my friend, but she remained sitting in a trance.

  What I saw next had me do a double take. Once more my mind had to be playing tricks on me, for the paint covering her body started to creep along her exposed flesh making a permanent imprint that seemed to glow under the moon light.

  I twisted around to look for a way out of this horror show only to come face to face with the old woman that assaulted me the first day I had arrived! I retreated the other way only to step into Gawonii.

  “Gawonii? What is going on?” I whispered, praying he would just say that it was a harmless ritual he had dragged me into, but he didn’t answer me. I cried out when the necklace scorched my skin and I fumbled to try to remove it. Gawonii’s eyes fell to the necklace then he closed his eyes.

  “Your struggle to let this happen is the cause of your pain.” He said. I never had to chance to ask what he meant because the old woman gripped me from behind and forced me to my knees. Her fingers dug into the corners of my face and she began speaking.

  “Unelanvhi udadolisdi. Blessing of God, Ama Angeni”

  The necklace burst open and a brilliant light merging with the moon’s beam of light lit up the entire square.

  It was beautiful… but it was also agony.

  I went to scream in pain when the four figures in white flashed through my head. It was then that my body began to be torn apart. Shutting my eyes, I tried to block it all out but when I opened them, the woman was gone and so were Gawonii and the spectators. In front of me stood a figure made entirely of a liquid base. Picking myself up off the ground, I moved in to get a closer look at the figure. When I reached my hand out towards it, it mocked my movements. Tilting my head, it mirrored me. Reaching for it again, I curiously wanted to touch it, nonetheless, I halted because the last time I was curious over something that looked like this thing, I was submerged in water… but when I stopped, it kept moving towards me, taking hold of my fingers. The body began to materialize taking form, appearing naked with markings all over the body. When the facial features formed, I gasped…it was me!

  I tried to pull away, but she dispersed into drops of sparkling water then collided into me; the droplets absorbing into my body. At first it felt like I was drowning but that quickly subsided leaving me with only the dull ache from the necklace around my neck. I lowered myself down onto the ground trying to catch my breath when I felt another entity. Looking up, a large black cloud loomed over me. Biting my lower lip, I saw something moving within the turbulent cloud. I leaned in closer to get a better look, my face mere inches away and less than a beat that it took for me to inhale, a long tendril shot out of the cloud, wrapping itself around my neck, squeezing. Emerging through the haze with a roar was the creature that chased me in that dream the other night.

  My eyes opened as a scream passed my lips causing the earth to tremble around me. The old woman fell, releasing her hold on me.

  The circle now in total chaos at the tremors, split apart. Seeing the moment as my chance to run, I jumped up and sprinted out of the circle into the night.

  Once I left the protection of the circle, the world around me came to life.

  I ran as fast as my legs in the lengthy dress would allow, trying to reach anywhere – anyplace but here.

  Heading in the direction of the cabin, I stayed on the path, occasionally, looking back to make sure I was not being followed.

  As I ran, the trees moved, the wind whispered things to me…things that I understood pushing me to move faster. If I could just get to the rental, I could get away from here. However, the humming sound of insects grew louder with a warning that was reinforced by the sudden howling of the wind. That is when I stopped.

  I had to go back!

  That same sensation I had in the pool and in the meadow gripped my insides. I turned in a circle, listening into the night, but the humming of the insects and the whispering ceased. All I could hear was the uneven rhythm of my breathing. I started to walk back to the square, my dress scraping along the dirt path weighing me down.

  I bent over, lifting the hem of the dress up off the ground, clutching it in my hand when I sensed the forest cower in fear. Something was in there and I could feel it moving towards me at a speed, I feared that I wouldn’t be able to outrun.

  The necklace burst into light again scorching my skin. Crying out, I clutched the necklace trying to remove it as it continued to burn into my flesh but I did not have time to fight with the jewelry for whatever it was, it was getting closer.

  Running off the dirt path, I took refuge within the comfort of the trees soon finding a dying tree with a low hanging branch. I placed my hand on the branch to move in between and settle into for safety. The moment I touched the branch, leaves started to bloom and once in my hiding space, the shrubbery around me thickened, protecting me from the danger.

  Come on Lailah, pull it together. You are just having another bad dream. You will wake up and this will be over, I told myself trying to bring my trembling under control. My breath caught in my throat when a crash echoed not too far away from my hiding spot. Blinking the tears away, I listened saying a silent prayer.

  A stench permeated the air causing my hand to cover my nose when something crashed through the forest not too far away from me.

  I stifled a cry. I held my breath. I did not dare move because, dear god…it was here.

  Closing my eyes, I, regretfully, changed my mind too late. I wished I were back in the circle with Gawonii and the others. At least there, I wasn’t alone.

  Suddenly, a high-pitched wale resounded through the night air. My hands covered my ears to block out the sound but the moment I moved the branches crumbled, parting open. A tail whipped out striking the bark of the tree next to me, rupturing it from the force.

  Screaming, I crawled through the disintegrating limbs to get out of my hiding space that I had trapped myself in. Coming into the clearing, I tried to run but my feet left the ground, and I was pinned to a tree, the bark splintering and cutting through the dress to puncture my skin from the force.

  The long greyish-brown limb that circled my waist tightened, splitting apart into two more identical legs that slithered around each wrist pulling my arms open. My feet no longer touched the soft clay as I was suspended above the ground. I hung there my heart fighting its way through my chest unable to see what was holding me… then I noticed it.

  The dark entity crept between the trees in a thick cloud. When it came just below my feet, it grew to hover over me like that vision I had in the circle…swirling like an angry cyclone then the matter started to take shape.

  I opened my mouth to cry out for help, but a long-spiked tail wrapped around my neck, choking any chance I had.

  God, I wish I had taken my chances back at the circle again.

  I coughed struggling against my restraints when t
he necklace began to glow.

  A growl sounded through the dark cloud which now formed a body and feet. It must have stood over seven feet, its head now manifesting to reveal sharp teeth that grinned at me. Its eyes were large, saucer-like disks resembling the creature in my nightmare. It sniffed the air around me then snarled, its long white hair flowing behind it.

  Why wasn’t it doing anything? I thought. Not that I was all that eager to die so quickly, but it didn’t make any sense.

  Then I saw it in the distance moving towards us. I struggled against the restraints, scared. That was the thing I felt on the path, and at the pool. This animal containing me was nothing but its hound dog!

  I have never been so afraid before in my life. I frantically searched for anything that could help free me. It was enough that this thing holding me was terrifying; I did NOT want to meet the thing that controlled it.

  I struggled some more which seemed to only piss the creature off. It slammed me against the dead tree, and it roared at me.

  My feet striking the tree gave me a glimpse of a working idea. Pressing the soles of my shoes against the tree for leverage, I waited. The beast leaned into me baring its teeth giving me the target I needed. Taking the opportunity before I lost my nerve, I pushed off the tree as hard as I could; kicking it in the mouth with enough force to cause its teeth to clamp down on its own tongue. It shrieked, the sound reverberating through the trees.

  I was instantly dropped, my body bouncing on the forest floor.

  Not taking any wasted chances, I wobbled to my feet and started to run. I heard another wail behind me and one of the creature’s long tendrils struck the ground in front of me. Changing directions, I was met with another attack, knocking me off of my feet. The creature came into view…black pupils now blood red from rage.

  Its long white hair whipped out from around its body and pierced my hand, digging through the flesh into the ground. My own anguish cry split every tree in the surrounding area. I glared at the creature, tears blinding me.