Chapter Thirty-Five

Nervous doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings as Kynani invites us inside. “Good evening, Yasir, Zahra. Please come in. I am pleased you could make time for tonight’s occasion.”

The heat we’re generating might as well be calculated for nova-level radiance. I’ve been looking forward to this for so long, I’m a little worried that I’ve built things up too much. I squeeze Zahra’s hand, tempering my emotions, realizing that I could bring Gamba to the surface before I’m ready to show him to the group.

That might be what Kynani and Nana have in mind, though.

I breathe a sigh of relief that everyone else who needs to be here has already arrived. That means more to me than anything, and it also means we won’t have to wait around to do whatever it is that they need to do to bring everything out of me.

And that’s the scary part: what the hell is inside of me?

Kynani escorts us into the dining area. Unk and Lennox sit at the table, along with Nana, who can’t stop smiling when she sees us walk in.

“Just have a seat, enjoy, since we didn’t have to cook today, and let’s let Ms. Kynani and Mama Johari explain why we’re all here,” Unk says.

Since he puts it that way. “So why are we here, Ms. Kynani? Nana was a bit cryptic over the phone.”

Kynani smiles as she sits at one head of the table, sharing a glance with Nana at the other head of the table. “The reason why we asked you and the women in your lives to be here has everything to do with what has happened to you over the past few days. It is time to bring things full circle, in a manner of speaking.”

I rub the back of my neck, unsure how to elaborate what Kynani led with. “I assume you mean the other presence, right?”

Zahra snaps her head in my direction, along with Unk and Lennox. “Um, what other presence are you talking about?”

Nana interrupts Zahra before she can really crank up the interrogation. “We will explain things as best as we can and as quickly as we can, my child. Right now, we need to focus on Ya-Ya. Before the end of the night, a lot of things will change.”

I squeeze her hand again, turning to kiss her lips. I whisper, “It’ll be okay, promise,” before I turn my attention to Kynani. “I trust her completely with whatever happens tonight. Now, what do you know about the other presence?”

Kynani nods, focusing her attention on me. “The other guy, as you are calling him for now, has already made up his mind about the persons in this room before I have had the chance to commune with him.”

I raise an eyebrow, clueless over how she knows so much so soon. “How are you able to know that he’s okay?”

“You have not had to retreat into yourself to calm him down. He always tries to make an appearance whenever there is a threat surrounding you.” Kynani smiles as she peers over at Zahra and Lennox. “I believe he knows there are no threats here, especially when he has grown quite fond of Zahra. Not as fond as he is of you, of course, but fond enough to declare himself her protector. He has sensed something within her that he recognizes. What that is, I do not know at this moment.”

Zahra takes a sip of the mimosa in front of her, then clears her throat. “Um, can I, and Ms. Lennox, get a clue of what you’re talking about right now? What ‘other’ presence? Yasir, do you have Kindaran bodyguards following you in the shadows or something?”

Considering I had a convo with Gamba already—and he’s being real obvious with his silence, now that I think about it—they all deserve some sort of answer.

“I think it’s best if we have this conversation in the great room. I think we will need to be comfortable for this part of the process. I can’t really tell you… I kinda have to show you.”

…

“I need you to relax, Yasir. Breathe…focus on my voice as we travel inside your mind.”

I focus on the instructions Kynani gives me, but it becomes more difficult by the moment. It might have had something to do with the quick convo and Q&A we had before we started this part of the process. It didn’t get worse as the layers were taken off the proverbial onion, but by the time we’d finished, the looks on Zahra’s and Lennox’s faces were a mix of shock and disbelief.

“You can’t be serious,” Lennox says as she sits with Unk. The confusion all over her face makes me chuckle, but that’s more of a nervous laughter. “Are you telling us that there’s some sort of monster inside of his nephew? And we’re supposed to just accept it like monsters actually exist?”

Kynani is undeterred by the incredulous looks on their faces. “To take a quote from Mr. Spock: ‘If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.’ Is it so hard to believe that there might be supernatural beings that walk among us on this planet?”

“Yes, yes, it is.” Unk glances over at me, shaking his head in the process. “All this time, the information that Mama Johari tried to explain to me, the advice from the Kindaran Council on how to keep Yasir hidden from the world. All of this was real?”

I turn to face Zahra, desperate to get a gauge of how she feels about what she’s hearing. I look into her eyes, searching for anything that’ll keep me from regretting the decision to trust her with such a closely guarded secret. “Z, talk to me, please?”

Zahra caresses my face, tracing my eyes with her fingertips, biting her lip as she continues to move over my skin. “So this other guy… He’s been in there this whole time?”

I shake my head, closing my eyes to lean into her touch. By Nyati, she feels so damn good. “Kinda yes, but not really. I wasn’t fully aware of him until after the boat accident. Why do you ask?”

“Your eyes… Every time they changed colors to match your emotions. I couldn’t figure out what it meant.” Zahra keeps staring, almost like she’s waiting for them to turn another shade while we talk. “I was so hypnotized by them that I didn’t think they could have meant something more…mystical.”

I narrow my eyes and think back to the incident with Squad. Then again, when we first kissed in the studio after I showed her the portrait of her likeness. “So now that you’re about to find out what I am—what I truly am—do you still want to be with me?”

Zahra grabs my hands and holds them in hers. “I guess I always knew what you were. I just didn’t think it would be this beautiful. You might not know this about me, either, but I’m a Marvel girl, so I can’t resist thinking that the boy that I’ve fallen for could be… Yeah, the whole ‘Bruce Banner/Hulk’ idea sort of intrigues me.”

“Wait, you’re into comics, too?” I wait as Zahra opens her phone and shows me the Marvel Comics app on her phone. “Okay, I’m officially in love, love with you right now. But wait a second…does that mean—?”

“Yes, baby, it means that whoever or whatever is inside of you doesn’t scare me.” Zahra kisses my cheek as she continues to trace my face with her fingers. “I don’t know how else to explain it. The connection between us scares me more than anything else. It’s like you were made for me.”

Kynani clears her throat to interrupt our private side convo. “There may be something I can do to help clarify things in that manner, but right now, we need to focus on Yasir and his acclimation process.”

I tremble as I shake off the chill racing down my spine. “We can talk about things after this is done. I want to get to know my nyxwraith, figure out where he came from and how we ended up together.”

I sit in the middle of the living room floor opposite Kynani, crossing my legs to shrink the space I’ve taken. I close my eyes before the process begins, sending a silent prayer to the Divine Mother for strength through the process. I know I’m not supposed to be afraid, but this whole process has me completely freaked out. Guide me through this as best you can, Divine One, and help me understand the importance of all of this.

Kynani begins chanting in her Kindaran dialect, lighting candles that surround us. In the next breath, she closes her eyes, encouraging me to do the same. From there, her octave changes, the tone sounding like that of a soothing parental figure, coaxing whatever hesitant spirit lay in the depths.

“I can feel your presence within your owner. I encourage you to come forth. You are in a safe space here,” Kynani declares, keeping the sing-song cadence in her tone to summon Gamba to the surface. “Yasir’s uncle is here, and two new friends are here to speak with you. You can come out and say hello to them. They are a part of him. They are not threats to him.”

I feel Gamba come through the darkness, taking his time to break through my conscious mind. Our eyes meet as Gamba gauges my approval over whether it indeed is a safe space to reveal himself. I nod, opening the “door” for Gamba to walk through. “I don’t think they’re ready to see the full transformation, but I think seeing you through some subtle changes will be enough to convince them.”

Gamba grins, baring his fangs. “Kynani and I are old friends. If she says it is safe, then it is safe. You can relax until it is time to complete the acclimation process.”

“Will I be able to see what’s going on? Every time you fully take over, I’m stuck in the dark. I don’t want that to happen while dealing with this process.”

Gamba answers by giving a subtle and proverbial tip of the hat. “After the process is complete, you will be able to sense everything. It will not harm too much if you keep an eye on the people around you. It might help once you come back.”

Gamba rises to the surface, taking over my physical body. He recognizes Kynani first, acknowledging her with a wry smile. “Good evening, Kynani. It has been a long time since we have last seen each other.” He manipulates my voice so that everyone he introduces himself to would understand who’s speaking to them.

Kynani returns Gamba’s smile, a bit confused over why he regarded her with such familiarity. She doesn’t overlook that he chooses to be agreeable for the process. “I apologize, you have me at a disadvantage. May I ask your name, nyxwraith? I recognize the cadence in your speech, but you still sound like Yasir, except for the deeper octave in his voice.”

“Forgive me, my friend, I forget that it is difficult to manipulate his voice until the process is complete,” he replies to her. “Allow me to refresh your memory of me before I give you my name… The last words I said to you at Solara were, ‘The boy is the key to saving the Scrolls.’ Do you recognize me now?”

“Gamba, by Nyati’s grace, I had hoped…” Nana gasps as a tear falls. “If you’re with my grandson, then that means…”

“Yes, the fates were not kind to me on that side of the veil.” Gamba offers up a comforting gaze and smile. “But the Divine Mother saw fit for me to be of service in the most honorable way possible now.”

I listen in on the conversation between them while keeping a sharp eye on the reactions from Unk, Lennox, and Zahra as things unfold in front of them. Unk looks like he’s gonna have a million questions as everything is happening, and he’s rubbing his hands over and over again, which is a dead giveaway that he’s uncomfortable with what’s happening, but he’s helpless to intervene.

Lennox, on the other hand, gives the impression that she’s taking mental notes, which has me wondering why she isn’t completely flipping out. There’s no way she’s seen something like this before. I’ve never been through anything like this before, and I know I’m not calm. At. All.

I zero in on Zahra’s surprised and inquisitive facial expressions and the wonder washing over her. I smile as I guess what could be going through her mind in the moment and can’t wait to get her alone to find out what she’s thinking.

My nana’s reaction to Gamba raises more questions over who he was and why she regarded him with such…love?

Kynani smiles wide, recognizing him in an instant. “Gamba, I am elated that you are here. Your new owner is a strong one to be able to have you. How have you been able to survive for so long without communicating with him?”

Gamba lets a low growl escape from his lips, allowing the fangs to stick out from his lips. “It has not been easy, but he has had a lot of growing up to do, too. I had time to commune with our ancestors to assist me on how best to guide him. I am impressed with how he has handled everything he has endured all this time, despite what was hidden from him. I feel a shift in the winds.”

“As do I, my friend, now that I see that you are here. For that shift to come full circle, it is time for you and Yasir to complete the acclimation process,” Kynani stresses. She looks at Zahra, Unk, and Lennox and grins. “For the rest of you, this process will be foreign to you, but I promise I am not hurting him. I understand if there are concerns, but this will help him more than you know.”

Unk grabs Lennox’s hand to keep her close. “Yasir hasn’t been in touch with his true roots and bloodline. If this helps him figure things out, then I’m staying with him to see it through.”

“What does that mean?” I ask from the shadows. “No one really told me what this all means.”

“Allow Kynani to come inside so we can explain it to you, kiddo. I promise, what comes after will be life-altering for the both of us.”

Okay. I decide to trust the process despite the growing fear rising through me. “Then let’s get to it.”

Gamba turns to Kynani, giving the thumbs-up signal. “We are ready.”

Kynani takes my hands in hers, coaxing me back to the surface. “Very well. Allow me access to your mind, Yasir. It is time to sync your essences to help you work better together.”

Silence consumes all three of us. I wait for the next few minutes, wondering what’s supposed to happen next. The shroud fades away, slow and easy, until I see Kynani and a man sitting in chairs in front of me, with an empty chair positioned to create a triangle between them. Gamba is nowhere to be found, which strikes me as odd.

I wanna say that the man in front of me is Gamba, but I can’t be sure, either. “So I’m gonna need some quick questions answered before I even think about sitting down.”

“To answer your immediate question, kiddo, this is what I looked like when I was human.” Gamba stands. “I have not been able to assume my true human form in quite some time.”

“Okay, pause, so when you presented yourself in your human form before, that wasn’t the true you?” His facial features have changed a little, but everything else is the same. His cheekbones are more defined and chiseled, and his eyes are more oval-shaped than before. “I mean, your features aren’t that different from when I first met you, but I can tell the difference.”

Gamba smirks like I’m supposed to be in on whatever inside joke he has with himself. “I want to ensure that you understand that I am not trying to deceive you in any way, Yasir. You know me—well, your younger self knows me well.”

I lean in closer, recognizing familiar features in Gamba’s face. I can’t quite place them, but I swear they resembled those of Dad. But my father’s dead. “Who are you to me, Gamba? Are you a part of my bloodline?”

Gamba grins. “In a manner of speaking, yes and no, Ya-Ya.”

“I don’t like riddles all that much, even though I’m good at solving them when the occasion calls for it.”

Gamba moves closer. “I am a close friend of your father, and I am also your godfather. He and I were best friends. He has spoken of you often and has kept watch over you this entire time.”

I take a couple of steps back, reaching behind me for the back of the chair so I can sit down. I’m stuck between wanting to believe what Gamba is saying is true and writing it all off as one bad joke. “You knew my father? How is any of this even possible? I don’t remember you… I don’t remember anything from that time.”

“I promise, we will sit down and have this conversation after we’re done with the acclimation, kiddo,” Gamba says. “I believe it will all come to you once Kynani is able to lift the suppression spells. I would never lie to you. I never did, even when you were smaller.”

Kynani places her hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “There is much for you two to discuss, Yasir. As your priestess, it is my duty and honor to help along the way. Now that you have the one important answer, are you ready to continue?”

I remain fixated on Gamba, taking in every contour of his face, the same golden-amber color in his eyes, the way his lip curls on the left side when he smiles. I’ve been so detached from Kindara. And now, to find out that my protector—my nyxwraith—was my godfather?

I snap out of my musing long enough to acknowledge Kynani with a nod. “I’m ready. I’ve been waiting for this my whole life…at least, that’s what it feels like, deep down.”

Kynani claps her hands three times before rubbing them together to create a spark. When she separates them, we are consumed in an amethyst-hued flame that glows brilliantly against the darkness that surrounds us. She takes each of our hands, watching as the flames snake down our arms to where we connect, forming a triangle between us.

Seconds later, the flame consumes us all, but it doesn’t burn us.

Kynani keeps her eyes closed to concentrate. “Gamba, do you pledge your life to your owner, to protect him from all enemies, foreign or friendly?”

“I pledge my life to my owner, my godson, and to protect him from all enemies, foreign or friendly,” Gamba repeats.

Kynani continues. “Yasir, do you pledge to protect your nyxwraith from anyone who would try to do him harm, to ensure that you do not place yourself in any unnecessary peril, and when called upon, you both will do what is best for Kindara?”

“I pledge to protect my nyxwraith, my godfather, from anyone who would try to do him harm, to ensure I do not place myself in any unnecessary peril, and when called upon, to do what is best for Kindara,” I repeat, just as Gamba had done.

Kynani focuses her energy among the three of us as the color of the flames changes to a brilliant crimson before dissipating. She opens her eyes and releases her grasp. “Yasir, Gamba, the acclimation has now taken hold, and the merge is complete. You should be able to move freely within Yasir’s consciousness, but there are still limits as his nyxwraith. You cannot take over unless he is in severe distress, and he still can override if he sees fit. Any suggestions you make can be heeded or not.”

I feel like I’m connected to something magical inside my own body. The rush of energy flowing through me—I swear I want to run for miles as fast as I can. And if we’re connected, then that means I can view things the way Gamba does any time I want. It’s like a whole different world has opened up for me, and I’m still scratching the surface of what we can do.

Gamba nods while I’m still scanning my subconscious like I’ve never been here before. “I understand. I know the limits of my power. My owner has the final say, regardless.”

I give up a nervous grin. “How am I supposed to dictate to my godfather? I was always taught to defer to my elders.”

Gamba claps his hand on my shoulder. “I am a guide and bound by Kindaran law to protect you, kiddo. It will be an adjustment, but we will be fine. It will give me a chance to learn this mature version of you.”

“It is time to return, I imagine there are three people who are wondering what we have been up to this entire time,” Kynani advises. “It has been my honor to facilitate this transition, and I look forward to guiding you further.”

Kynani and I open our eyes, taking a moment to regain our bearings. I chuckle at the captive audience in front of us and their collective confusion. I turn to Zahra, who has the widest grin on her face, giving me a curious look that I keep a mental note to ask about later.

Unk stares at me, his gaze darting between me and Kynani as he holds Lennox closer. “I…I have no idea what to make of what I just saw. One minute, you both were covered in this…fire, but nothing was burning around you. The next minute, the fire is gone, and you two just wake up like nothing happened. Did it work or was that just a magic display?”

I share a knowing wink with Kynani, realizing the next half hour will be entertaining, to say the least.