Go to hell! Wait until tonight! I thought viciously.
I totally had forgotten that he could hear my thoughts. His hand came up and I cringed fearing that I had pushed him too far and that he was going to strike me but, instead, he snatched the blanket that I clutched to my body, ripping it off. I stood in shock – my hands crossing over my chest.
“You will not get far without clothing. Until you learn to comply, you will remain as bare as the day you were born.”
My head snapped over in Kasey’s direction for help, but her head was down.
“Chitsa-Yona cannot help you. I am chief and your husband. She cannot and will not interfere.”
Holding my head high and fighting back tears, I stormed back into the cabin slamming the door shut. It wasn’t until then that I let the tears flow.
Chapter 7
Captive
Hours had gone by since the incident on the porch and it was becoming extremely clear that Gawonii meant every word of his threat. He had left right after only coming in to say that he will be back before it was dark. So, I sat on the leather sofa bare-ass naked; ass sticking to the leather and feeling sorry for myself.
There was a knock on the door.
Looking down at my predicament, I ignored it. The knock came again – this time I heard a click and Inola, Gawonii’s sister walked in. She took one look at me and I could see the corner of her mouth turn up.
Glad you find this funny, I thought.
Inola walked all the way into the room closing the door behind her. Sitting a plate on the small table next to the sofa, she handed me a blanket.
“Gawonii wanted to make sure you ate something.” Her soft voice broke the silence in the room.
“Your brother can propel himself off a cliff and plummet to his death.” I replied drawing my knees closer into my chest.
Inola didn’t appear to care for my joke. Laughing internally, I shrugged it off. I’m the one who had every right to be in a foul mood. I’m the one naked!
“You should not talk about your husband in such a manner. You do not understand now but you will. He is only doing what is best for you. You must trust him.”
“Trust him? I barely know him. Your brother compensated all of my clothes and sent me to sit in this stuffy ass cottage like I’m a child! And you say trust him?”
“Gawonii is not cruel. If you were acting like a child, then he corrected you like he would a child. You are his wife. It is not unfamiliar for a uyehi to chastise his adalii when needed.”
“What? I don’t know what that means. Uyehi?”
Inola exhaled loudly clearly annoyed at my ignorance of their language.
“Uyehi is ‘husband,’ and adalii is ‘wife.’ You must work hard to learn our language and customs, Lailah. It will please your uyehi and make your new life here less…uncomfortable.”
“Why did he want to marry me anyway? He doesn’t know me. I didn’t think he liked me in the slightest.”
Inola pushed the plate at me until I placed it on my lap. I started to slowly eat. “He didn’t marry you because he liked you, he married you because that is what is expected of him to do…for his people. He is making a sacrifice.”
My face scrunched up as if I tasted something bad. I placed the plate on the floor in front of me no longer hungry. What she said kind of stung.
“I’m the sacrificial lamb.” I murmured. “I guess love is out of the question.” I couldn’t help the sarcastic remark. Inola laughed.
“No. He does not love you. If he were to marry for love, he would have married Chitsa.”
Kasey!
“What?”
“His heart is with Chitsa…but they cannot be together as man and wife. They were content with the time they had together until you had returned so imagine the devastation Chitsa felt when you became ill making their time short.” She picked up the plate I barely touched. “You are sitting here drowning in your sorrows feeling betrayed and sorry for yourself for being forced into a marriage…” She scoffed. “…a marriage Chitsa would have loved to be the bride. You want to know sadness and betrayal. Sadness is Chitsa being forced to be the guardian to a woman the man she loves was marrying.” There was no mistaking the resentment in her voice. “She had to prepare you and watch you accept the proposal, then watch you wed. Now that shows true strength and she is deserving of the name she bares, Beautiful Bear.” Inola snatched the blanket away from my body. I guess everyone is going to stick to Gawonii’s ‘no clothes’ rule.
Without another word, Inola left, leaving me to mull over the living hell I was plunging deeper into. I had to find a way out of there. They expect me to adhere to their rules when a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t even know any of these people!
I jumped up, stomping over to look out the window. Kasey could have him. I couldn’t think of a worst punishment in life as being in a loveless marriage. How could she do this to me? If I get another chance, I will make sure that my hands actually connect with her face next time. Ugh!!
I froze seeing something at the corner of my eye. I slowly turned to jump out of surprise when I looked around me to see the water from a nearby bowl hovering in the air. Turning around, I gasped. Other objects floated in the air then came crashing down. I quickly sat down and stared at the mess I caused.
Shit! I had to watch my temper now. No way is my husband going to tolerate the destruction of his home.
And of course, as if right on cue…guess who bursts through the door taking a good look at the damage then over at me.
I shrugged. “Sorry.”
“What happened?” He asked closing the door. “What upset you?”
“Are you kidding me?” I almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. “You can read minds, you tell me.”
I hope you can hear how much I hate you! I don’t care how good-looking you are!
If he heard me, he didn’t let on.
“No…this is something else…and judging by the condition of my home, inside… and out, it warrants me to be concerned. What was it my sister said to you?”
“Stay out of my head.”
“It does not work like that.” He said standing over me, his hair long enough that I could touch it from where I sat.
“Well, I don’t want it to work at all. And why can’t I read your thoughts?”
Gawonii smiled his eyes moving over my exposed body parts. “Because you resist it too much.”
I tried to cover myself even more with my little arms without much success.
“I would at least like to even the playing field. If I could have known what you were thinking earlier, I would have been able to know that you were in love with Kasey and this marriage or whatever it is, is just some damn tribal obligation that I got caught up in.
Nothing – just silence. Then…he turned his back to me.
I gritted my teeth at his lack of consideration to my ignorance to all of this. It was when he was walking away that he decided to speak.
“My sister speaks too much.”
“At least she was honest with me. You and Kasey, on the other hand…you two can be together. You have my blessing…I release you of this obligation. Just let me go – with clothes that is.”
“No.”
Just like that! No pause to think it over!
Biting my lip, I stood up not caring about my present ‘situation’ any longer. “You know, a marriage is a give and take. So, if I am to be forced to be a captive in this farce of a marriage, then surely you will approve my next request. Stay the hell away from me and we will get along just fine.” I said going into the bedroom, closing the door.
…and my request was heeded. The next couple of days were very quiet. Gawonii left me alone like I asked. In fact, he wouldn’t even step foot into the bedroom when he came home after being gone all day. He resigned to slept on the leather sofa.
Each day before he left, he would have breakfast and lunch already prepared for me on the table, even though he would come home to see it u
ntouched. And as kind of a gesture it was, he still would not provide any clothing for me. He only provided me with a warm fur to cover me at night on the soft bed. I guess he figured that I would be out of my mind to walk about looking like any of the forest creatures.
There were times I would sit in the bedroom after he would come home and try to read his thoughts but each time I would only end up with a headache.
When he left this particular morning, I came out of the room to stretch my legs and see what he left for me today that I wasn’t going to eat, when I heard a knock on the door.
Hmmm, must be Inola coming back to share some more informative news with me, I thought sarcastically. The knock came again but the door didn’t open.
“Lailah?” I heard called softly through the door. “Please let me in.”
Kasey! She had some nerve coming here.
“Gawonii’s not here.” I yelled through the door. There was a slight hesitation.
“I’m not here to see Gawonii. I came to talk to you.”
“Go away!” I sat on the sticky sofa, my eyes rolling up in my head. I swear I will never look at leather the same ever again.
“Lailah please? I have something for you.”
“Go away!” I repeated.
“Open up please?”
Dammit!
“Didn’t you give me enough already? I’m done with your surprises!”
“Damn it Lee-Lee! I’m trying to apologize!”
I sat up leaving half of my skin on that damn sofa and threw open the door. “Apologize? How can you possibly apologize for this?” My hand framed my naked body then crossed my arms over my chest, waiting.
She held out her arms. Looking down, I noticed that in her arms were clothes neatly folded.
“A peace offering.” She replied sheepishly. I just stared at the bundle trying to contain myself from grabbing them and jumping up and down with joy.
“I thought you couldn’t help me?”
Kasey pushed her way into the cabin sitting the clothes on the sofa.
“Gawonii can be unreasonable. He will be upset at me for a while, but he’ll get over it. I didn’t agree with his method when all we really want was for you to feel safe. We argued over it pretty intensely but...” She stopped speaking getting a good look at my face.
I turned away. “Thank you. You can go.”
“I was doing my job.” I heard her say behind me. “I really was your friend, Lailah. That wasn’t a lie.”
“And Gawonii?” I countered. “You dressed me for my wedding and now I am married to a man that will never love me.” I walked over to her and started pushing her to the door. “Yeah…some friend.”
Kasey’s mouth moved to say something then she looked away. Her eyes blinking back tears as she opened the door. “Lailah…you don’t understand. This is bigger than me...you…and even him. He will learn to love you…and you, him. Look, I can’t say sorry enough.” She headed down the porch steps. “The clothes are probably a bit tight. I tried to retrieve your clothes that you had packed but Gawonii had gotten to them first.” She concluded on the last step. “If you want to go out and take a walk, I am always close by.” Then she was gone.
Damn! I forgot to punch her!
Closing the door, I went back to where Kasey had sat the clothes down. Looking at them, I picked up a couple of pieces.
Yup…all Kasey.
I held up a halter that would only cover my breasts…nothing else. The bottoms were no better. Both were made of soft leather, but they were a little tighter on me than they were probably on Kasey. I had to wiggle my bottom to get the skin-tight pants on but thanks to the extra days of my refusal to eat, I got them on. Picking up the sandals she brought me, I hurriedly put them on. I can’t think of a time that I ever been this happy about wearing clothes in my life.
Walking outside, I breathed in fresh air bounding down the steps determined to enjoy the little bit of freedom I had.
I was still outside when Gawonii appeared through the trees. An annoying flutter started in my belly.
God! He was magnificent and… my husband, I thought incredulously. It was hard to wrap myself around that even after days having passed since the wedding. He spotted me and I quickly shut my thoughts off from him. When he got right up on me, he observed my clothes, disapproval all over his face.
“Chitsa-Yona…” He growled walking away. “If you try to leave Ama, I will come for you and I will banish Chitsa for disobeying me.”
“You wouldn’t banish your lover.” I retorted. He stopped walking away to face me.
“She watched me marry you. What could be worse than that?” Gawonii countered angrily.
He might as well as struck me. His words were a painful blow reminding me that I needed to find a way out of this fast.
Hopping up off the ground, I stomped off in the opposite direction to get as far away from him as I possibly could get. Hell, I still had enough daylight to make it back to the cabin Kasey and I had originally rented, get in my car, and leave this nightmare behind. But I had no doubt Gawonii would do exactly what he threatened. I walked down a nearby path until I reached a quiet spot by a brook.
Sitting on the embankment, letting the water rush over my feet, I struggled to keep the tears from coming. Greyish-white rocks littered the shore. Picking one up, I watched it skip once along the water then sink to the bottom. I never was very good at that. Reaching beside me to try again, I picked up another rock and like the first it sunk to the bottom of the brook. Letting out a huge sigh, I looked over into the water at a reflection of myself.
Looking back was a different woman.
My skin had browned in the sun and gave off a reddish hue to it once beige complexion. My hair was longer on the sides and started to curl along my neck.
At least it was growing, I thought.
The glowing from the necklace caught my attention then. This has been the first it had done anything since the night of the wedding. I was sort of glad about that…that meant no more singed flesh.
Lowering myself to look closer at it in the water, the water began to ripple to my amazement. Smiling, I slowly moved my hand over top of the surface. I nearly jumped back when the water parted in the direction, I moved my hand.
Wondering what else I could do, I put my hand into the water and when I tried to remove it a trail of water followed the path my hand made in the air before trickling back down to its rightful place in the brook.
I sat back on my heels thinking about this new ability I had. I still wasn’t sure of all that I could do and maybe this was a good time as any to find out. Wanting to have some fun, I slip out of my sandals and waded into the brook. The water was soothing rushing around my legs and feet, and it helped make it easier to focus on my thoughts.
I pictured the water rising up over me.
Nothing.
I blew through my lips looking around me then tried again.
Nothing.
Well… that was an epic. Maybe I was not as special as they think I was. Frustrated, I was getting ready to give up when I threw up my hands and water rose up on each side of me creating an arch over my head.
Oh my god!
My head hung back looking straight up at what I created.
OK! So apparently my abilities tend to work off my emotions. Nooooo problem!
I thought about Gawonii and Kasey and a blast of water shot upward and began to swirl and dance around me. I experimented to see if I could control it and it zoomed and dove in and out of the water.
Pausing with a smile on my face, I thought about what I did out of fear the night of the wedding. Suddenly, floating water formed a solid crystal right before my eyes then shatter into millions of tiny ice crystals falling around my head. I laughed enjoying myself.
My necklace glowed brighter but his time the pain was minimum. Falling back onto the plush embankment, my hand encountered the turf. I felt the grass thickened around my body and tiny flower buds open up. I sat up intrigued.
“Get out!” I said loudly.
There was a giggle behind me. Jumping up, I spun around looking for the source of the laughter.
“Who’s there?” I called out and listened, but nothing answered back. A soft breeze whirled around me having me look around one more time.
I must be hearing things, I thought and started to sit back down when I heard a sigh and a whisper.
“Don’t stop. That was so pretty.” I grabbed my sandals and started to run. “No! Don’t go. Please do more.” It said again. It’s voice ethereal. The trees rustled around me and the flowers bent over on their sides from the breeze that blew through.
“Where are you?” I asked scanning the area.
“Right here.” It laughed. I turned around in a full 360 degrees turn but I couldn’t see anything.
“Stop trying to see with your human eyes.” It said then it sounded disappointed. “You’ve been lost too long my sister.”
I tried but I just couldn’t see who the owner of the voice was.
It sighed again. “Lost for too long. You fight your true self keeping one foot in the human realm and one in the spirit. You will see me when you are ready. Gawonii comes for you.”
“Tell me more about who I am.” But the voice didn’t answer my question. Instead a deeper voice bellowed behind me.
“It is getting dark. Unless you are ready for another battle, it is time to go back.” I jumped. I never even heard Gawonii come up behind me.
Looking around, I slipped my feet back into the sandals and marched passed him trying my hardest to keep him out of my head. He didn’t utter a word the whole way back to the cabin while he trailed a few feet behind.
Inside, I went to the bedroom and closed the door without any of the food or water he had prepared for me that evening. I almost gave in because the food did smell amazingly good but as long as I was a prisoner here, he could choke on his own food. I can be just as stubborn.
THE AGENI SERIES: AMA ANGENI Page 8
