"How did she get Nya's number?" Akatua asks as we stand in her kitchen, all looking at each other in confusion. It's about 6 o'clock now, and even after I've bathed and eaten over at hers, I still haven't come up with a solid answer to this question. None of us have. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHySIPDiTs
"Do we know how she ever gets anything done?" Kwamé asks in exasperation. "Probably seduced it out of someone. That's how she is." I hear the disgust in Kwamé's voice, and figure that it is probably more personal than he wants too admit. This woman probably seduced him once, not that I'd ever voice that suspicion. I clear my voice and speak up. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6wHb0PRfE
"It doesn't matter how she got it," I say to them. "What matters is that she got it. So what are we going to do about her now?"589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSfxs0SDIe
No f*ckin clue, hun," Kwamé says in exasperation. He then looks to Akatua with hope." We could kill her," he suggests, which only causes Akatua to laugh. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDQALPAhBq
"How do you propose to go about doing that, Kwamé? Do you have any idea how powerful she is?" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUXfuhxUul
I don't know why, but I think I have a pretty strong of who she is, despite the fact that they haven't told me. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZuqLQ9iIS
"It's the River Mumma, isn't it?" I ask. "Lu'lu." I don't even know how I remember her name. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJojoN9RP0
"Yes," Kwamé answers me. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eUEHjMNFE
I think of questions to ask, after realising that I don't really know much about her. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERB9a4Caa0
"Where does she live?" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLhTh3R5bw
"Under Flat Bridge." Akatua is the one to answer this time. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AbsK9tc2I
Of course. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU1P4WmdRZ
Flat bridge, a bridge built in Jamaica by slaves in the eighteenth century, is known for its many stories about paranormal activities. It is, to my knowledge, one of the most frequently used bridges in Jamaica. Some believe that the *duppies of the slaves that died building the bridge reside there, causing the multiple accidents on the bridge when it overflows. Some believe that River Mummas live in a bottomless hole beneath the bridge, and are the reason why the attempts to add railings to the bridge have always been futile. Then, there is the rumor of the golden table which appears on the hottest days, luring the greedy to their death. Rumor has it that some slaves died trying to retrieve the table for their master. With all these stories, it is no surprise that she lives there. Of course, I took all of this as mythology, never taking it seriously. Funny how something you pass so often could have of your worst nightmare right underneath. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySRexfOx43
"So what do we do? Sail down the *Rio Cobre with a magical fishing net?" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA3CxBQqgp
Kwamé actually laughs when I say this, starts cackling like an idiot. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdznLmgjDh
"A fishing net, Nya?" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1Ya02nnPl
"I did say magical fishing net," I point out.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEBDcPgS6K
"No," Akatua responds. "She'll come to us eventually. It's not safe to go for her while she's in the water. It's where she's strongest." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfccDmow0F
"Well, we know that she's been on land recently. She called Nya." Kwamé scrunches up his eyebrows and bites his lip as he thinks about what to do with the situation, and I stare at him like a fool. He really has pretty lips. And eyes. He stops long enough to make eye contact with me, and smirks. He covers his mouth as he tries to hide it, but I see it. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpXJ0Kjnug
"Love birds," Akatua calls, causing us both to scowl, "we have to be prepared for her." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhbpjDhACV
"And how do we do that now?" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhCVxdosMh
"Know how to resist temptation," Kwamé answers with resentment. "Mentally prepare yourself, because there isn't much else that we can do." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N0Dvtt9EG
"But that's simple," I say, only to realise that I'm probably very wrong when they both look at me as if I'm nuts. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3ndnQn9nP
"She's a seductress, love. She can entice anyone into doing what she wants, even animals." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr52q40Nen
"So she'll probably just send an army of mental slaves after us?" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6y6MyxTLG
"If she's too lazy to come on her own, which I doubt." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC5KSxySbu
I stand there and look between the two of them, trying to figure out what exactly they want me to do. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtSGa2fPw0
"How—" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JuBx5mRQY
"She's not the only one on the island, Nya," Kwamé says before I can ask the question. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXuB7476tk
"So we find another one, and ask for her help. One that we know," Akatua finishes. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN0Fyum34k
"She isn't very popular among the other water nymphs, you see."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLOVjiZKH0
"We could see Afryea," Kwamé suggests. "Or Zuhrah." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ofMjMOawX
"Zuhrah would be more receptive to her. She's more friendly." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMylNeaKmH
"When would we go to her?" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkV5CPCcw9Z
"Tomorrow. In the night. That when she's usually awake." I look at Akatua in surprise. I thought it would be more complex than that, like jumping through dimensions or something. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNriGTfOhjC
"And Kwamé comes. As a human," she clarifies, making Kwamé frown. "We need her to be receptive to you, too."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaNdgSYOO8
"But she knows me," he whines. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtBVu0eJBt
"And she likes you better human, so you'll go as a human. I don't know why you're trying to delay the inevitable with Nya."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAQMPfoabD
"Stop. Talking." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpH51s1nD3
The low warning growl from Kwamé's voice is actually frightening. I've never seen or herd him so angry before. When I look, I almost jump in fright. His eyes... they're glowing red. To see this on a bull's face was frightening at first, but I could get used to it. But to see it on a human's face is something different entirely... especially when those glowing red eyes burst into flames. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVXaWncKMp
"Kwamé, please stop," I ask him in a shaky voice. Instead of doing what I ask him to do, he simply turns to look at me. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPzbdAQ5wU
"You scared, Nya?" he asks, his attention now focused on me. Even though I'm aware that he won't do anything to me, I'd be lying if I say it isn't frightening. "Finally seeing me for what I really am?" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHJm8UvoiT
"Shut up," I command rather loudly, growing tired of his "self-hatred" bullshit. My fear is turning into anger and from what I can see, he's pretty angry too. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ6ldtUgex
"What did you just say, Nya?" he asks in a low, sweet voice. A gentle voice. A voice which is the complete opposite to the flames in his eyes, the opposite of what I know he is feeling. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDLMKxh4U8
"Shut. Up."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMHPqR5ZU7
"Okay love birds, I'm going to try to get everything together. We're going tonight if possible. Don't kill each other, please."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSSo5rEFIH
Akatua walks out of the kitchen, leaving us glaring at each other. Kwamé just glares at me, as the fires in his eyes die down but the red glow never leaving. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLEcZpeXj2
"You stupid girl, you don't even see that I'm trying to help you."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O8pcWVaC9
"Dont call me stupid, you ass," I grumble. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvnOd4Buw3
"I'm not an ass," he growls at me. It only upsets me more. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMbW46BUZO
"Close enough," I retort, making a cheap reference to the fact that he's a demon bull. I'll admit, it's a low blow. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoJVCvXJ6I
"That's low," he says, "but at least you're beginning to get the idea."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mKH7mt8q4
"No," I reply stubbornly.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVybCh5SBe2
"No?" he asks as he steps forward, until he's right in front of me. "No?" he asks as he puts his hands on my shoulders.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6hMufwYH6
"No."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8IQgSDfYf
That's when he takes me by surprise. One second this hands are on my shoulders, the next, they're around my neck. It's almost as if there's no movement to connect the two actions, it's so quick. There is no roughness to his hands, though; he isn't constricting me. He simply rubs my neck, the thumbs brushing over my throat. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAuKUjMz9T
"It would take nothing to kill you, even in this state," he says, gently squeezing my neck, almost like a warm scarf, but better.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOa0n9v8yN
Better? What is wrong with me?589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEnXGpRvog
"Nothing to snap your pretty little neck like a twig."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM5Qrt6nfK
"I know," I reply. I can tell he's strong, stronger than the average person. I've seen him move my furniture with an unnatural ease, when he was sweeping my house, back when he took care of me when I was sick. "But you won't."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHX0TvQW9R
"Really?" he asks, tightening his grip. When I don't reply, he takes it as an invitation to tighten his hold. "You sure?" he asks, squeezing now, but not nearly as tightly as I know he can. Still, I can feel my vision going blurry, when I hear him say—589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaQIHg0ufD
"You're enjoying this," whispered into my ear. In my field of vision, I can see that his eyes are no longer red, but back to their characteristic grey.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iIkU035hA
"Um," I hear from the entrance, just as Kwamé releases me.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDQJnEZDDZ
"If you're going to f*ck, please don't do it in my kitchen," Akatua says, wrinkling her nose in mock disgust. "Now come along," she says, walking off, leaving Kwamé and I in the kitchen alone once more.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHn3Kdyurm
"I'm tired of warning you," Kwamé says as soon as she leaves.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTzcPTHAc1
I bite my lip, trying to figure out what to tell him.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMalYQqlY6
"Have you ever thought that your perception of yourself might be inaccurate?" I ask him. He looks curiously at me, as if I've said something he's never thought about. "How long have you been friends with Akatua?"589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0HxGOglQM
"Since shortly after I died."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxio0nIGEl
"Centuries, then. Don't you think she would have dropped you is she saw you the way you see yourself? And why is it that we both see you as better than that?"589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxniHLPnsR5
He simply looks at me, his mouth opening and closing like a gaping fish, before we hear Akatua blaring the horn outside.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLurtlFPO7
"Come on," I tell him. "We can continue this in the car."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVejmGuYb04
***589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYJa54D2Rn
"I actually thought that you two were doing something in the kitchen," Akatua states, looking in the rear view mirror at me. After about 25 minutes of awkward silence, she decides to speak. Kwamé makes no comment as he sits in the passenger seat beside her, staring out the window. He probably chose the front seat to avoid the matter at hand, but the truth is that it will come up again, no mater what he does.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhoSk9Esti
"Kwamé, why were you choking my daughter?" Akatua asks is a rather mischievous voice. She's not worried, she just wants to cause trouble.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmWIgZRwKh
"I don't know," he replies.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKcBTuHD4q
"You don't know why you had your hands around someone else's neck?"589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpdIXNcZ3u
"No." His reply is short and snappy, warning her to stop.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNYFn064E3
"Look, whenever you two decide to go at it, just use a condom. I can't deal with my daughter having calves right now."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Eq43wdBOr
"What?" I ask, sounding more frightened than I should.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmow28yTeIc
"The very fact that you're so worried means you were probably planning something, Nya." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZSpVCsHR9
"No, I—"589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc56UM4qFH
"It doesn't matter what she's planning, Akatua," he says. "Nothing is going to happen." His voice rings with finality, and if I'm not mistaken, I can see the red lights glowing from his eyes reflecting from the window, and lighting up the front of the car. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJcmHONs3P
"Okay," Akatua responds in resignation, dropping the topic.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeZqUD9UB3
The lights disappear, and I lay my head back against the seat, closing my eyes.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LE9ML00RA
"Don't fall asleep, Nya," I hear Kwamé's voice command. " We're almost there." Kwamé takes me by surprise as it is the first time he has spoken to me directly since the beginning of the ride, and frankly, I wasn't expecting it. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bTlwUhzUp
I look outside, and for the first time since I've gotten into the car, I register where we are.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5aFxL1zry
It's enough to make me almost shit myself. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39swuPvLfF
"Um, if she lives under Flat Bridge, why are we visiting someone on the Rio Cobre?" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkb8LlcICi
"Because," Kwamé begins, looking behind him and making eye contact with me for the first time since we entered the car, "she doesn't like Lu'lu. And she's just as powerful, if not more powerful than Lu'lu."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4iJJvQyB9
"It's a shame we found her after I made the deal," Akatua says, shaking her head. Kwamé goes back to looking out the window. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFfzUhzfq2
I look down through the window, down at the river that is flowing at least 20 feet lower than the road. The river only comes up to meet flat bridge, before flowing lower than the road once more. Since we're not going to flat bridge... 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgKXIzyhwS
"Um, how exactly do you plan on reaching the river?" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7q5qeqGV3
"Climb," Kwamé says, as if it should be obvious. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuy8F5XAte
"You expect me to—" 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJUZwgqZE5
"Kwamé will carry you," Akatua says, causing Kwamé's eyes to glow once more. "Behave yourself," she chides, at which point he closes his eyes and exhales deeply.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hXbmnKEST
"You're really stressing me out, you know that?" he remarks, which only causes her to snort. I can imagine her rolling her eyes at this moment. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGCNTFUPTh
"Calm down, Kwamé," she commands in a light voice, as if she isn't the least bit worried about a supernatural entity losing his shit beside her. "We're three minutes away, and I don't want your glare to scare her away." Of course, I know she's joking. The idea of his glare scaring away a powerful, immortal river spirit is almost laughable. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVbLS7tDrS
"Akatua, leave me alone." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7d0zPTJIc
"Fine, be a grumpy ass," she says, shaking her head. I can't concentrate on their childish banter because I'm busy prepping myself for this encounter. I'm scared. But I also trust them. Strange, I know. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxRqBQldy8
"Hey," Kwamé says from the front seat. "Everything's going to be alright." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12Mdn4ArEI
This relaxes me, just a tad, but enough to stop me hyperventilating, something I didn't realise I was doing.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaL7f80MNj1
"You sure she'll want to help me?" I ask him. 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6QMABGubL
"One hundred percent positive. As a matter of fact," he pauses, turning to look at me," I'm sure she'll love you." 589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ566WdcaTEj
After that, I sit in the back seat, gradually calming down, my breathing and heart beat slowing. So much so, that when Akatua announces "We're here," I'm not completely calm, but I feel ready for whatever is waiting on me in the the river below.
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