“How long have you and Yasir been, shall we say, dating?” Kynani asks.
“Um, we’ve been, like, together for about a couple of weeks, so to speak, Ms. Kynani.”
It’s interesting that she’s asking about how long we’ve been together, together, and I have a funny feeling she’s digging for a specific reason. What that might be, I guess it’ll reveal itself soon enough. All we can do is answer the questions and take things from there.
“There is something special I see between you two.” Kynani observes us as we sit on the sectional. She nods. “While I was able to connect you with your nyxwraith, there is much work to be done to break through the spell that was cast to erase the traumatic experience from your memories.”
Zahra and I sit across from Kynani as Lennox and Unk enjoy some time to themselves on the deck in the backyard. Nana has already retired for the night, so it leaves us and Kynani together to chat. Kynani explained after the acclimation was finished that she needed to sit down and get a gauge on how things have progressed between Zahra and me. The more she stares at us, the more her curiosity shows up in her facial expressions.
“I have a question, if I may ask.” Zahra gazes into my eyes, grinning at me like she’s picked up on some new things. “Now that the acclimation is complete, what happens to Yasir now? Do we just go back to our normal lives—if there is such a thing?”
Kynani giggles at the question, but I’m legit interested in the answer, too. “I understand why you would ask. The truth of the matter is that, in a manner of speaking, nothing will be normal for either of you from now on. It is my hope to help keep things as simple as possible, but there are things that you both will need to understand.”
I interlace my fingers with Zahra’s, taking a deep breath and exhaling slow and easy. “I think I remember this part from what I researched. There are mwali duati—metahumans—who are bound by Kindaran law and religion to protect the secrets hidden deep within Kindara itself. Is that what I have become? What does that mean for me and Z?”
Kynani offers a knowing grin, holding up her hand to slow the stream of questions. “I believe we need to have this conversation sooner rather than later. But I need to speak with your parents first, Zahra, and with Xavion and Lennox as well. This part is not something that should be kept from them.”
“Is it too soon to bring my parents into things? I mean, I’m just now trying to wrap my head around what happened today. It’s all so wonderful and confusing at the same time.” Zahra tightens her grip on my hand, then smiles when I raise it to my lips to kiss. “I don’t know that they will understand what happened, either. It might complicate things.”
“Your father is a Kindaran historian. He understands more than you realize,” Kynani says. “What he might not understand is the application of the history he has been researching this entire time. That will take time for us to help your parents work through their initial confusion.”
“So how soon can we figure that out?” I ask her. “I don’t want to sound selfish, but I just found Zahra, and for the first time in my life, things are starting to make sense. I would like to keep that ball rolling, after suffering for so long.”
“I understand the need to speed ahead, young ones, but I must ask for as much patience as you can provide. All will be revealed in time.” Kynani rises from her seat. “I will need to speak to your parental figures now, Yasir, since they are together at this moment.” She leans down, whispering low enough for us to hear her response. “Between you, me, and the gods, she is what your uncle has needed in his life this entire time. He has sacrificed a lot more than you realize. There is something swirling around Lennox, something that will be good for him, and for you.”
She walks to the back door, leaving me and Zahra to have a moment to ourselves. Zahra turns to kiss my cheek, adjusting her body to face me, tucking her legs under her to get comfortable. “How do you feel about all of this? Do you trust me with what you are? I admit I don’t know how to feel about everything, but I want you to know I’m not going anywhere.”
I take her hands and kiss them over and over. She has no idea how badly I wanted to hear that from her. “I trust you completely. More than you know.” I rise from the couch, offering my hand to help her stand. “I need to get you home. We do still have school in the morning.”
“Lead the way, handsome. It will give us some more time to talk.”
…
“Okay, so, outside of hearing Gamba’s voice through you, I really don’t know what that looks like, either. I mean, I’ve seen your eyes change at times, but you know about that.”
We take the long way to Zahra’s house so we can have some extra time to ourselves to vibe. Our phones are on vibrate, and the way they keep buzzing against the middle console, we’ll have a lot of texts to deal with once I drop her off and head back home.
“Well, I kinda know what that looks like, but it’s hard to explain.” I give up a chuckle. “The first time it happened, I was literally left in the dark. Like, it feels like a dark shroud covering you, keeping you from seeing anything at all. It wasn’t until Ms. Kynani finally merged our essences that I might get a chance to see what exactly has been manifesting itself through my body and mind.”
“Well, it can’t be that weird, right?” she questions. “I mean, is it like a lycanthropic change or something like that? Is there any way that we can get an idea from Gamba?”
“I don’t know how to answer that question, baby. The thing that scares me the most is that you see what we look like in that form in real time, or Unk or Ms. Lennox.” I grip the steering wheel tight this time, while trying to keep a comfortable grip on her hand. “Nyati forbid if it happens in a public space and people would rather kill something they don’t understand or fear than try to ask questions to figure things out.”
“You make it sound like…like…”
“Like, what, being a Black person in America?” I throw out the conclusion that she didn’t want to voice out loud. It has to be said. “Not like it isn’t already a struggle to go out into the world on that front, and now I have to worry about being a metahuman on top of that.”
She massages my palm. The convo has gotten way too dark, that’s for sure. “Then we’ll do what we can to keep that from happening, okay? I meant what I said, I’m here, and I’m not afraid.”
“Well, I don’t know if I should be or not, but I guess I won’t know until I know, right?”
“Okay, let’s try to take this in a different direction, Ya-Ya.” She moves up to my forearm to keep me in the moment with her. “Tell me about Gamba. Is he aware of what happens when you’re dealing with other people?”
“Yes, he’s told me as much, although he says he tries to avoid things and situations that are more…private for me,” I explain. “In other instances, I can shut him out if the need arises.”
“So that means he wasn’t there when we almost…well.” I can see the wheels turning in her head, and I have the same thoughts. That day in my studio almost triggers me, and not in a bad way, either. “I want to believe that moments like that belong to you and me.”
“Yeah, those moments belong to us. There are no witnesses whatsoever.” I feel her squeezing my hand, and I breathe a sigh of relief. “Like I said, I can shut him out if the need arises. It isn’t complicated in that sense. Ms. Kynani made it clear that I can still live my life, but my nyxwraith is there when I’m stressed or in immediate danger.”
“What else have you had the chance to chat with him about? Has he, like, talked to you about other things? Does he give advice at all?”
I grin at her, making her blush. “I found out that he was my godfather when he was alive and that by some form of Vodaran magick, or by Nyati’s will, he was, I don’t know, inserted in my psyche. I still don’t know how it all works or what abilities we have.”
“You keep saying we, Ya-Ya. I get a little confused when you say it like that,” she confesses. “How will I know the difference between you two, besides the cadence and tone of your voice?”
I think on it for a moment, and then I snap my fingers. “Since he’s not here to hear it, how about this: if you want to be sure it’s me, we need to come up with a word or phrase that is unique to only me and you.”
“Okay, so what word or phrase would we both know that will help me tell the difference?”
I mull over her question as I pull into her driveway. “If you ever need to bring me to the surface, no matter what is going on, get our attention and say the words ‘karasu horo.’ It’s a Kindaran phrase that, roughly translated, means ‘return to me, my chosen.’ If you have to repeat it, repeat it. It’s something Gamba wouldn’t know to respond to, and he’ll have to bring me back.”
“I love it, but I’m confused now. How did you learn that phrase?”
“Umm, so I’ve been learning a few words and phrases ever since Nana told us that I’m Kindaran. I’ll see you tomorrow at school.” I reach over to softly kiss her. “I can’t wait for Unk to meet your parents. It should be an entertaining night.”
“Will Ms. Kynani be with you?” she asks. “I have a feeling Daddy won’t want to pass up the chance to meet her. For that matter, I assume Ms. Lennox may be there, too. I like her. She’s really good for your uncle, now that I think about it.”
“Yeah, she’s definitely had a positive influence on him, and that makes me happy.” I smile as I put Storm back in gear. “Now, get in the house so you can get settled in.”
“Bye, cuteness.” She blows a kiss before getting out of the car. “You’re lucky I love you, or I’d have to do something about the bossy tone in your voice.”
“Mhm, no you won’t. You like it too much to make me stop. Now, off to bed, young lady. See you in the morning.”
I pull out of the driveway, feeling the smile on my face and the starlit night overhead through the sunroof. I can’t remember the last time I felt so at ease and calm, and I want to ride this out for as long as I can.
My phone rings, and I quickly glance and notice it’s an unknown number calling. I don’t think anything of it; it’s probably Hassan calling to give me an update or something. “Hello?”
There’s silence on the line, and I’m confused over why the person won’t respond to my greeting. “Hello? Is anyone there?”
“I know who you are, and I know where you are.” The voice on the phone sounds distorted, like someone is purposely trying to disguise themselves. “I’m coming for you, and I’m going to destroy you.”
Before I can respond to the threat, the call disconnects.