"Wake up!" I open my eyes and Nasrin is hovering inches from my face. She smiles triumphantly as I wake up and saunters away to stoke the fire. I rub my eyes.
"You didn't have to yell in my face," I complain. My voice comes out as a harsh rasp. Nasrin grins.
"Yes, I did! You're such a heavy sleeper!" Translation: "No, I didn't have to scream in your face, but I wanted to." I rise and stretch with a yawn.
"Got any water?" I ask. I'm so dehydrated that it hurts to talk. Nasrin tosses me a water bottle.
"Save me some," she mutters as I gulp greedily. I finish and wring my hands together anxiously.
"This isn't all the water we have, is it?"
Nasrin pokes the fire with a stick. "Don't worry about it."
"Don't worry about it? We're in the middle of the desert! I don't know if you noticed, Nasrin, but we are a long way away from any source of water."
Nasrin laughs. "Seriously, Kiana, don't worry about it. Trust me." I mind my tongue. I have no supplies, and my shoulder hurts so bad I can barely lift the water bottle to my lips to take another sip. I need her help, delusional stranger or not.
I imagine eating a hearty breakfast and taking a warm shower as Nasrin and I work together to clean up camp. Well, more like I ask Nasrin if there's anything I can do to help and she snaps at me, telling me she can handle it.
Eventually, the fire is out, and her bag of seemingly endless resources is packed. We set out sluggishly in the direction of my luggage. The scorching sun doesn't seem to care that we just woke up. It's sapped all my energy already. I had run farther than I thought yesterday when running away from the manticore; at least two miles.
Two long miles of screaming and chucking dirt balls over my shoulders at a mythical beast. The thought is so ridiculous that I almost start laughing.
After what seems like an eternity, we reach my bag. My looted bag. My large backpack is completely empty, torn into several pieces, and strewn across the ground, covered in dust. I plop down into the dirt, swearing like a sailor. I massage my temples before throwing an aggravated hand into the air. "What's even the point of ripping the bag apart?" I screech.
Nasrin watches on, looking thoroughly annoyed. I feel my eyes begin to tear up. This whole situation sucks. My shoulder hurts, all my stuff is gone, I'm famished and tired, and my only company is a vain Persian pixie. Nasrin rolls her eyes.
"Kiana, you cannot cry right now." A tear spills out, and I don't even bother to wipe it away. "Seriously, stop it." But I can't. The waterworks have already started. Tear after tear falls, soothing the parched earth. Nasrin marches over and grabs my arm.
She pulls me up harshly, and I snatch my arm out of her tight clutch. "Leave me alone, Nasrin! I'm allowed to be upset right now! Wouldn't you be in my situation?" The peri scowls, and then I'm hit in the face with her giant chicken wings. I fall back with a yelp, sending up a cloud of dust.
I spit out a mouthful of feathers and look up at Nasrin, completely bewildered. "Nasrin, what are those?" A giant pair of golden wings rests on her shoulders. They shimmer in the sun, so radiant that I practically need a pair of sunglasses just to look at them. I wipe away my tears.
I point to her and flick my hand up and down the length of her body. "You don't have any other hidden talents in any of your... bits, do you?"
Nasrin scowls and offers me a hand up. "All peri have wings."
"That doesn't answer my question." I cock an eyebrow expectantly. Nasrin ignores me.
She circles around me and laces her arms around my waist. "Hey, chicken little!" I exclaim, smacking her arm. "I don't think we're supposed to be this close until after the third date."
Nasrin releases me and takes a step back. She wears a hurt expression. She fans herself with her manicured hand in an attempt to calm down. "I really wish you wouldn't make jokes like that. I'm just trying to get us out of here, and I really don't appreciate you making fun of me." She sniffs. "That kinda stuff hurts more than you know."
I raise an eyebrow. "So, you don't want to be called mother hen?" I ask. Nasrin shakes her head. I cough awkwardly at her lack of a response, and a feather that I neglected to pull out of my mouth from earlier flies out. It flutters to the ground and Nasrin and I watch it silently as it floats to the ground. I scratch the back of my head and let out a strangled laugh.
I glance up. Nasrin's cheeks have turned fire truck red. She walks behind me again, avoiding eye contact. When she picks me up for the second time, she squeezes me so tight that I start to see stars. Nasrin doesn't like chicken jokes. Noted.
...
Once I get over the major discomfort of being so close to Nasrin, the flight isn't so bad. We soar above the ground high enough that the view is incredible, but not so high that the cold turns my blood to ice. I wasn't nervous when we started, and I'm not nervous now. Heights have never bothered me that much, and Nasrin has only dropped me once since we started flying, but I think that was on purpose, so I really have no reason to be afraid.
I had just started to enjoy myself when we arrive at our destination. A majestic mountain fades into view through the clouds. The surface is speckled with stone structures, but not a soul is in sight.
We hover about five feet above the ground and Nasrin drops me unceremoniously into a cobblestone courtyard. I bounce up brush myself off. "So, where are we?"
Nasrin rolls her eyes. "I told you already. We're visiting Anahita."
I bite back my own snappy retort. "Okay, Nasrin, but I don't know who Anahita is," I explain patiently.
Nasrin picks at her nails as if I'm boring her. "She's the goddess of water."
"Okay?"
"Oh, and she's also the goddess of fertility, healing, and wisdom." I nod my head and rub my palms together.
"Alright, the goddess of wisdom. That makes sense. We're here to get advice." Nasrin raises a hand and shakes her finger.
"No."
I sigh. I can't help but give a cold reply. "Okay, Nasrin, you are literally being the least useful chicken pixie ever right now." Nasrin stomps a threatening foot towards me and gives me the stink eye. I try to send one back, but hers is meaner, so I back down.
Nasrin turns on her heel and walks briskly away. We move towards what looks like an unimpressive pile of stones, a fair distance away from each other. I've been in close proximity with Nasrin enough in the last 24 hours to last me a lifetime.
When we get closer, I realize that the unattractive mess of corroded rock is some sort of building. It looks like a miniature stone version of a mosque that time has not been kind to. "Where's the castle?" I ask.
"What do you mean?" Nasrin inquires, tilting her head.
"Shouldn't a goddess live in a grand castle, or something?" Nasrin stops in her tracks.
"Kiana! This is an ancient shrine to Anahita," she hisses. Her voice has decreased considerably in volume, and I feel my shoulders slump in embarrassment. "She's a super chill goddess, but you can't say anything like that to her face. She'll probably smite you, or something."
I shut up. I really don't have anything to say after being told that what comes out of my mouth could get me smitten. I trudge forward until we reach another pile of rocks- I mean, another section of the temple.
It looks to be in better condition than any of the other buildings around here. Shiny plastic beads hang over the entrance, and there's a well-worn welcome mat in front of the door. The room emits an inviting, warm light. I breathe in heavily. The aroma wafting out of the stone structure is an intoxicating mixture of lavender, vanilla, and some other smells that I can't quite pinpoint.
We stop at the entrance. Nasrin has her hands tucked politely behind her back and I follow suit. Something inside rustles. Footsteps approach, and I hold my breath.
The beads crash together loudly, and the goddess, Anahita, steps out. At least, I'm assuming it's Anahita. She really isn't what I was expecting, but I also wasn't expecting her to be living in an eroded pile of rocks. She gives off some serious hippy vibes. Her long black hair is pushed back with a headscarf that matches the pattern of the robe-like gown draped over her long and graceful body. She has an elegant air about her almost as if she's a dancer, and she walks softly with her shoulders pushed back.
I look down at my short arms and legs. Is every Persian legend long and graceful like Nasrin and Anahita?
I brace myself. What do I say to a goddess? What will she say to me? Am I going to get a prophecy or some sort of profound advice? Chastised for my sins and blasted to dust?
"Hello," Anahita greets. I shake my head and glance at Nasrin. She smiles smugly, no doubt mocking me. How does she even know what I'm thinking about? Anahita envelopes Nasrin briefly before turning towards me and embracing me warmly. It's the perfect hug; not too tight, but not distant or awkward. I instantly feel more at ease.
Anahita disappears into her house, or hut, or shrine, or whatever it's called. Nasrin and I follow her in. The interior is cozy, like a log cabin in a home design magazine. Vibrant decorative rugs are strewn across the room along with half-burnt candles that flicker softly. A small table rests in the corner, laden with books and trinkets. Anahita gestures to one of the rugs and I sit.
Somehow, she's produced a plateful of food and some water from the time we were outside and now without me noticing. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. She is a magical hippy goddess after all, and I did just fly through the sky in the arms of a damned supermodel. She offers me the plate and I accept it. It's been awhile since I've had food that wasn't a granola bar, and I'm not ashamed to say that I stuffed my face messily, despite being in the presence of a goddess for the first time. She sits like a Buddhist monk and nods serenely as I pig out as if it isn't rude and, well, disgusting. However, Nasrin declines the plate and crinkles her nose in my direction. Snob.
Anahita turns her attention to Nasrin. "I'm glad you found her," she says. I pause, a spoonful of rice halfway to my mouth. It never occurred to me how strange it is that Nasrin just found me half-dead in the middle of the desert. I guess it makes sense now that I know a goddess sent her. I shovel the rice into my mouth.
"I've been keeping an eye on you for a long time, Kiana Ahmadi." I cock an inquisitive eyebrow.
"So fortunate you were in Saudi Arabia right when we needed you. You are the solution to our problems. You are the hero we've been needing." I shake my head and wipe some crumbs away from the corner of my mouth.
"Look, I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not a hero," I mumble. Anahita smiles even though I feel miserable. How could I possibly be of use to her?
"I think you could be," she says gently. "You can do some incredible things, can you not?"
I shrug. "I can move dirt around and crush soda cans. I hardly think that's special enough of a talent to aid you in whatever you have in mind. I can start a garden with those skills, not fight bad guys, or whatever it is that you want me to do," I state candidly.
Anahita looks confused. "You're not giving yourself enough credit."
"What do you mean?"
Anahita picks up a glass of water, and before I can react, she tosses the contents all over me. I sputter in shock and look up from my drenched clothing to the surprised goddess in front of me.
"Oh," is all she can manage. No, "sorry," or, "whoops." She looks to Nasrin, who shifts uncomfortably.
"See, Anahita, this is actually what we came here to talk to you about," Nasrin says. Anahita takes my hand. I'm still thoroughly confused, but I don't pull away. She did just throw water in my face, but I don't think that I'm in a position to anger a powerful immortal being. She massages my palm gently and sways back and forth with her eyes closed.
"I see," she mutters. She forces her eyes open and makes a face to Nasrin. The look she conveys is painfully obvious; well, I'm unimpressed. "There is no absence of power in you, just an absence of belief." Anger fumes in my chest. I feel like a little kid again, not let in on a secret by the adults in the room. I snatch my palm away. Nasrin's eyes widen just as Anahita's flicker with annoyance, the first negative emotion she's given off since I arrived.
"You," Anahita points to me, "need training." She flicks her finger to the door. "Get out." I'm about to protest, but Nasrin pulls me up and out of the shrine. I stumble along, trying to match the pace of Nasrin's long legs.
"Nasrin! We can't go yet, I'm not ready! I still have questions."
She shakes her head. "You just don't get it, do you?"
"No, I don't. Why'd she kick us out like that?"
Nasrin doesn't look at me. "The gods are prone to mood swings. They have a lot going on, all around the clock."
I huff. "Can't we just go back? I need to find out how I got my powers. She was just about to tell me, I know it! Plus, we don't even know what it was she needed help with!" Nasrin stops in her tracks and turns to face me.
"Look, Kiana. I don't know what I have to do to get this through your thick head, but you need to trust me. I can tell you all this stuff later, but right now, we have to get out of here. You don't have to like me, but do you trust me?" I bite my lip, hesitant. Nasrin is right. I don't really like her. She's snarky and rude, but she hasn't done me wrong yet. I nod.
"Thank the gods!" she cries out. "You've finally shut up!" I'm about to revoke my agreement, but a smile tugs at the corner of Nasrin's mouth, and everything is okay.
...
Author's note
This was one of my favorite chapters to write. It makes me giggle every time I read it. This might just be me, but sometimes as a writer you go back to read your work and find new lines that you don't remember writing. Some of the lines like that in this chapter remind me of how much I love these characters!
Anyway, if you want to support me and the book, please share the story!
Thanks for reading.
