"So if you've been here all along, why send Kwamé?" I ask her. It's the first thing out of my mouth, and it's not something that I actively think about before saying. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCDOSCkwxY
"Well I thought that you'd be more receptive to him."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N3zDd3g61
"You thought that I'd be more receptive to a bull," I murmur. I've heard a lot of stupid things, especially since I've become involved with these people, but this one is too stupid to be true. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK0jrihEkX
Her expression changes to one of surprise, and slight anger.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXF8Qm0TKeT
"He went there as a bull?"673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3B1T02PSk
"What else was he to come there as?" I ask confused. Slowly, the cogs in my head begin to turn, as I consider the possibilities. As I said, too stupid to be true. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlrLlj5Md0
I watch as pieces of some unknown puzzle come together in her head.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDkSocXhaE
"Nothing. Forget it," she says to me. "So how is school?" she asks, changing the subject. I know that she's trying to distract me from something, but I humour her anyway. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCYyzv58Lr
"Okay, I guess. Who exactly are you, may I ask?" I need clarification. She looks way too young. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hV1Ry6Rxi
"Your mother. My name is Akatua." 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBvFO2gX1X
Akatua... I've heard that name before... But where? 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRzkCAS1gB
"You look like you're in your twenties," I tell her, not bothering to hide the accusation in my voice. There's no way that this woman is my mother.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMSMGSslUa
"Thank you."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1tIJ4r20B
"I meant for you to explain that to me," I growl at her. This is so painfully obvious that I didn't think that I'd have to say it out loud. She can't be that slow, can she? Or maybe she's just trying to be pleasant? 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKIOOrBQrD
Screw pleasant.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYPpJEzbkv
"I'm an obeah woman, remember?" she states. "Magic." I can tell that she's hiding something from me, omitting an important piece of information. I've heard of Obeah people doing many things, but I've never heard of "eternal youth" or whatever she wants to call it. That is some "American Horror Story: Coven" voodoo crap, and I don't trust her.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0EgV34eX3
"I'm leaving," I tell her abruptly. Lately, I've been so indecisive, wavering between the two possible options in any given situation -- it's borderline pathetic. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYsYxgbDN9
"Nya, wait," she begs as I get up.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajTHta5dXT
"What?" I ask, sounding tired. And I am; I'm tired of the bull crap. I'm tired of the lies of omission, I'm tired of... this. Just everything. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqLw2IfnYR
"I need to explain-"673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ6Q9Gyh78
"I came here to talk to my mother, and due to your appearance, I don't believe that you're her." Or maybe she is. Whatever it is... I've changed my mind. I'm so indecisive, it's pathetic. I don't trust her. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2Ej1KMCG2
Or maybe... I just don't want to. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB94mYTT4Xn
Make up your goddamn mind, Nya. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRzau4RosQ
"I am, and I need to explain to you why I left you at that orphanage," she begs. That gets my attention, reminds me of why I agreed to come here. Let's say she isn't my mother... she probably knows some stuff that if want to know. "Nya? Are you listening?"673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg1HlydXQT
"Yeah," I whisper. Dammit, even my voice sounds indecisive. I really need to go home and do some reflecting. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbATPJvhwDY
She takes a deep breath before beginning. I can already see it in her eyes that she's planning on phrasing it a certain way, she wants to try to make it more appealing to me. Still, I give her a chance to speak. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIDiLIWgl2
"I made a deal with someone. She gave me something I truly wanted, and told me that in exchange, she'd one day come back to me, take something from me. I never expected to bear a child, and I never expected her to remember that day after all these years. But I guess, given her nature, it was to be expected." She clears her throat as she prepares to commence her story. I can tell that she's nervous, knowing that I am practically inhaling the fumes of her bullshit, and aware that I am doing so."I never one imagined that she'd try to take my own child away from me. You were special, though. A gift from the gods, Nyamékyε."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19WK58gHi4
I don't know how to feel about hearing her say my full name. The way it rolls off her tongue sounding so natural, it's disconcerting. Then again, according to her, she's the one who gave it to me. I shake my head to clear my thoughts.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInRZASzrk0
"Who is this woman?" I ask her to get back to the issue at hand. That was so ridiculously and painfully vague, I wonder to myself if this is a joke. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7owCdZPK3
"An evil, sly, old bitch," she snarls at me. "No one would have expected me to give you away, so that's what I did. I told everyone that you died from pneumonia. Even had a funeral. Now that you're grown, she won't try to take advantage of you." I sit there and wait, wait for something sounding even the slightest bit honest to come out of her mouth, because all I've gotten since I've come here is her saying my full first name as if it were her favourite word. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg21Y5EfC3o
"So that's your story?" I ask, unimpressed. "Because from what Kwamé told me, you're all-powerful, or something." That, and the glaring possibility that what she just told me is the worst excuse of bullshit that I've ever heard. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYF4CWpVDt
"You don't understand. She has just as much power as I do, maybe even more." Blah f*cking blah. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuIQGuqDuQ
"This still... I still don't feel any better." What a joke and a perfect waste of time the past 3 minutes have been. I can't believe I agreed to this, something that only served to raise my blood pressure. "I'm going home. Goodnight."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrBzdtZe0O
"Wait! Nya! Nya!" Her perfect voice graters my nerves, only encouraging me to get as far away from her as I possibly can. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaarc8oOy4b
I ignore her pleas for me to stay and march with determination out of her house. I go to confront the next supernatural liar of the day. They both tell lies of omission, but they're still lies. I see Kwamé waiting on me in the road, which only gets me angrier. Almost as if he can sense the rage simmering from within, he takes a few cautious steps back, his hooves hitting on the pavement, before steading himself. He chooses to speak first, probably wanting to control the direction of the conversation. Kwamé might not know why I'm angry, he just knows that he doesn't want to be the focus point of it. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzXe9PLr5u
"You've only been in there for-"673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTIWGz687b
"Can you take human form?" I demand, not giving him the chance he so desperately wants. The question has been brewing in the back of my mind ever since the beginning of the conversation with Akatua. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxjPXIJFD0
"What?"673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngZrecENLO
I have to bite my tongue before speaking again to keep myself from saying something hurtful. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOVXBhdXAp
"She said that she thought that I'd be more receptive to you. Then, she seemed rather surprised to hear that you came to my house as a bull. The only form that I'm comfortable with having a full blown conversation with is the form of a human being. So I ask you again: can you take human form?"673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFb7uAneIT
"No," he answers, looking down at his hooves. He might as well have "I'm a liar" branded into his forehead all in capital letters and bold 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEMUHpvXVE
"You're a horrible liar."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtF7W4ipNP
"Listen. I didn't want you to be my friend," he tells me. "I'm a horrible person."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQgr72QHYb
"So instead, you screw with my head, have me think that I'm possibly going mad, and possibly screw up my mother's plans of seeing me again? Not that I care about her, but she did say that I was supposed to be more "receptive" to you," I state again.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAHiYAktyd
"You were going to have to accept it one day-"673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUvwFZkKvw
"But di' firs' rassclaat day?" I demand. Speaking in creole is something I only do when I'm angry and right now... right now, I'm simmering with rage. I can hear the pulse behind my ears as if there was someone drumming the beat right next to me, and if I were in a cartoon, steam would be coming out of my ears. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAUB9o5Btj
"I'm sorry. I can't let you see me as a person." If only this jackass knew just how pissed I am. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqaOdFYBBP
"I already kinda do, though. That's why I'm angry," I tell him, well, snarl would be more accurate. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZPLw5vUoi
"Well I don't feel comfortable showing you that. I don't feel comfortable making you comfortable." 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjp5kZQ3rR
"Whatever," I growl, rolling my eyes at him and taking deep breaths. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t9CX4P7Ol
"So, what did she tell you?" he asks, not so subtly changing the subject. I inhale and exhale deeply a few times before turning to talk to him. I decide to let it slide. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7YUlE7p3V
"She was very vague. Said that she made a bad deal with a woman, but didn't tell me who she was." It's as if she thought she was talking to a small child. Who the hell do these people think they are? Think I am? 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9CEQNuNEn
"That's because she doesn't want Taking on too much at once. She's trying to get you to adjust first." 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5Aza3BPAq
"Adjust to what?"673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmlZvP24aL
"To our world. To your world. It's inside of you Nya, whether you want to accept it or not. And it will come out."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcs3yg1i4I
Letting out a lengthy sigh, I stop walking and turn to face him.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TU4Evd26Q
"I can't escape this, can I?" 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmc1ISC0wo
"Nope."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3Li9XjpMg
"Well, you interest me, Kwamé," I admit. If nothing else is true, I know this one fact. The idea of him is intriguing and maddening at once. And then there's the tricky bit about him being able to shapeshift, apparently. Something that I find myself to be very curious about. "I'll stick around to see what you look like as a human."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1fNpgFytH
"Won't happen."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ABaivdlih
"And, I want to hear your story."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97SSaVz31I
"I'll tell you tomorrow," he promises in a grave voice. "Maybe then, you'll give up on me."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZwztnyqo9
"Maybe. Maybe not."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVgYp8FTVM
"Goodnight, Nya," he murmurs.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmCxGF0aqk
"'Night."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqUg66PgdV
With confused, jumbled thoughts in my head, I shuffle into my apartment and lock the door.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTywBtX7RM
***673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWh75wc0Y2
At about one a.m., the heat that encompasses my body wakes me up. At first, I don't realise what is happening to me. However, as I become more and more awake, I feel the snot running out of my nostrils, and my head throbbing.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17YjvHvn0P
I'm sick.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXY4iBvar3
This is so strange. I've never been sick in my life before. Ever. Groaning, I get out of my bed to take a cold shower, but fall to my knees once I get out of the bed. That's when the nausea hits. Quickly, I jump to my feet and run to the bathroom just in time to empty the contents of my stomach into the toilet. I puke so hard, some of the nastiness gets on the bathroom floor, and I begin to bring up what I suspect to be bile. It is truly amazing what the human body is capable of, swallowing and digesting all of that food, only to bring it all back up halfway through the process. Remarkable. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaltkIRkOkW
Of course, these thoughts are conjured with a serious sarcasm, as the throbbing in my head increases with each passing second. Once I'm done, I lay my face against the cool seat of the toilet. It's so disgusting, but the cold feels so good against my hot face, easing the headache just a bit. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2Ny1nPRVt
Using all the energy that I have left, I reach up and flush the toilet before falling onto the floor, my mouth still covered in and tasting like vomit and bile. I never expected vomit to taste so... sour. I've heard people describe vomit as tasting gross and acidic, and biIe as bitter. If anything, I would have expected vomit to taste bitter, too. Taking deep breaths, I feel Silver snuggle into my side, comforting me. It's strange how even when I'm sick, she somehow manages to find me, and be exactly what I need - a companion. Stroking the back of her neck, I don't bother to pick myself up again, but fall asleep on the bathroom floor. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx5Ig2BLRR
I don't know how long I stay like that, before I am rudely awakened from my slumber. The first thing that I register is that gross shit is steadily leaking from my nose onto the ground. Then, I hear the sound that woke me up starting again.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHT3nzDBDf
Someone is knocking loudly on my door. They're going at it so hard, I wouldn't be surprised if the door were to split in two to reveal the person like Moses and the Red Sea. I truly hope that whoever it is is ready for a thorough cursing out, because they're adding on to what is possibly the worst headache of my life.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mBKPktwF8
The only headache of my life, I remind myself. Never had one before, and don't plan on doing it again. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Uy6y7gPRA
"I'M COMING!" I shout - my voice sounding like it could smoothen sandpaper - which only causes my head to throb incessantly. Headaches suck. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5uFSfnUnE
"Coming!" Silver parrots from beside me, bobbling her head, and then looks at me. She stayed with me through the night. Even in my sickness, she makes me smile. Pulling myself to my feet, hauling myself up off of the now hot bathroom floor. I stumble to the front door and open it, only to be met by a pair of grey eyes set in a concerned, latte coloured face.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OzQbyi4vV
"Who the hell are you?" I ask the gentleman. Admittedly, I'm a tad aggressive, but only because he's unintentionally increased my pain and suffering. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkWcwCtmYM
Unintentionally, Nya. Remember that word when you speak to him. 673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm1BCzPRUV
"Oh," he says nervously. "I forgot that you wouldn't recognise me in this form. Sorry."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDptBN3hWps
The man has a voice that I've come to know too well for such a short period of time. A voice that now, I'd know anywhere.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFC9xFXpzpd
"Kwamé," I whisper, my voice giving away my shock.673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoMcKr5oUt
"Yes," he answers. "Now could you please let me in? I know you're sick, and I want to help."673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaOgXvQcBy
***673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZATkUHG7I
A/N673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4pvw0kpgU
I've never heard of a Rolling Calf taking human form. I made it up. It's kinda like "sparkling vampires" in Twilight.
ns 15.158.61.40da2
