The three friends sit on the bed, waiting eagerly. “Okay, so when I be praying, usually, it feel like I'm just doing it to connect with my ancestors and the shrine just to let ‘em know they appreciated. But lately, it feel like they been answering me,” she confesses excitedly.
“Um, what? Like ghosts?” Rurik asks.
“No, not that," she waves it off. “So, you remember before I was just able to talk without talking, or make my eyes a different color? You know, small stuff like that?” Addy asks.
“Yeah, that was fun. You can heal cuts too, right?” Naira questions back.
“Yeah but compared to what I can do now? That shit was child's play. Usually, when I be knocking on the door, I be having to exert so much energy my Mana-blocker just shuts me off. But, what if I wasn’t the only one exerting the energy?”
The three frown in confusion and expectancy. Addy sighs and runs her hand over her face before she speaks again. “See, look at it like this if you using one battery to power a remote. It won’t last too long, and it prolly won't work too good, but you get two batteries in there, now you watching reality TV, cooking channels, rednecks wrestling! You know allat good shit!” She cries out excitedly.
“Addy, I’m lost. You might wanna wrap this up, I’ve gotta go home soon,” Rurik says, checking his watch.
“Wait, wait, wait, just listen to me. I think I got somebody on the other side to be my other battery.” Addy says with a wide grin.
“Battery to what?” Fleur asks with a concerned expression.
“To this.” Addy steps back to her shrine and grabs a lighter. “Just watch this,” she adds as she lights a candle and places the lighter down before returning her attention back toward the group, with the candle in hand.
“You not about to summon a demon or anything like that, are you?” Naira says while looking at the candle in Addy’s hand, squinting her eyes in fear.
“Nah, demons ain't fucking with this,” she says in an attempt to calm her friends down as she focuses intently on the flame. It begins to rise higher and higher until its long orange stream begins to almost touch the ceiling. Addy’s silver Mana-blocking bracelet begins to chime as the flame lowers.
“That was kinda cool, nice work. How are you gonna get that mark off your ceiling, though?” Rurik asks while pointing at the ceiling. Addy ignores him and begins chanting her spell. Her iris shifts to a glowing violet, and as she takes a deep breath, the flame explodes, causing the group to shout and leap further back onto the bed until they notice the large flame is now being guided through the room.
Addy lifts her eyebrows for a split second and grins. She guides the flame into the cup of water Rurik had placed on her window sill, causing the water to steam and bubble as it overflows.
“Woah, that's crazy!” Naira shouts excitedly with her hands on her head. Addy motions with her hips almost as if dancing and the entire cup of water freezes before shattering, causing the group to jump once more.
“How y'all like that?” Addy asks with a smirk as the group laughs and claps.
“Dude, that was crazy! How the hell did you do that?” Naira wonders while standing up to examine the candle Addy has just placed on her shrine.
“I told you. My Mana-blocker is managing my Mana output, but it don't dictate how much input I can receive. Something is like giving me additional mana or something,” she explains, and her friends wear confusion on their faces. “Look, I ain't work out all the kinks yet, but just then in a couple of seconds, I was able to use pyrokinesis, hydrokinesis, and cryokinesis. Naira, I think if I keep moving like this, Imma be able to go work for the coven! Fuck being a doctor. I'm talking curing blindness, paralysis, cancer, making a real change,” Addy celebrates while cradling Naira’s face.
“I’m happy for you Addy! I really am, but I hope you aren't thinking about taking it off. You could get in some serious trouble,” Rurik alerts his friend while standing up and straightening his shirt.
“What, this? Nah, Imma leave it on. I'm just so geeked I can finally perform real magic. I feel like I’m finally about to get the hell up out this damn town. Once I’m with the coven, shit gonna change, I just gotta stay focused.” Addy says with a determined expression.
“You've got this. Just apply for another interview and show them that you’ve got what it takes this time!” Naira yells reassuringly, hugging her friend and giving little jumps.
“Probably don't apply just yet. Yeah, this stuff is cool and all, but you have to think that they've seen it all before. You only get a chance every four years right? I say wait until you're confident you can go in there and blow them away,” Rurik says.
“Wow, super supportive,” Naira snaps.
“Actually, yes. I want her to be sure she can get in and not get disappointed or unmotivated by being rejected if she applies too early,” he argues.
“Yeah, you right. Imma keep practicing for sure,” Addy replies, staring at her shrine.
“Addy, don’t look so sad, you’ll be fine. This was amazing!” Fleur says before hugging Addy. A knock on the door catches the group’s attention.
“Who staying for dinner? We need to know how many plates we putting out-” Reggie asks and is interrupted by the sight of his daughter's room. “Goddamn! The hell was y’all doing in here, why you breaking cups Addy?” he yells as he peaks through the door in confusion.
“We was studying, I gotta lil’ carried away,” Addy explains, nervously containing laughter.
“Yeah, you gonna carry your ass away to the store tomorrow to get me a new cup right?. You and Shaka better stop breakin’ up the house like we rich or something,” he sighs. “So who staying for dinner?” Reggie asks, returning his attention to the group.
“Not me, I’ve got to get going, wish I could though. Does anyone think they can give me a ride? I don't feel like walking to the train station this late,” Rurik complains as he grabs his heavy backpack from the corner of Addy’s room. He turns to look at Fluer who smiles slightly. “I guess I could. My mom’s already made dinner. I’ll see you all later. Thank you for having us!” Fleur says, hugging Naira and Addebowale before stepping out with Rurik, who exits the room briskly.
“Naira…” Addy says reluctantly.
“Whatcha guys cookin’? I’m starving!” Naira says while playfully slapping her stomach before walking toward the kitchen with Reggie.
“When is you not hungry,” Reggie says jokingly, patting Naira’s back.
“That girl really is clueless,” Addy says with a grin, shaking her head before stepping out.
Wiping away the sweat that drips from her forehead, Naira timorously submits her final answer and closes her laptop with an exhausted sigh, unsure if she’s done enough to pass. She wastes no time, takes all her things, and takes the train home.
Just as she opens the door to her apartment, she sees Emory sitting on the couch waiting for her, setting everything they would need to paint their nails out onto their living room table. “Hey, I thought you could use a distraction,” Emory says, with a caring smile. Naira sighs in relief, dropping her backpack onto the floor she makes her way to the living room collapsing onto the couch she shouts into a pillow which makes Emory laugh, she is able to empathize with Naira as she's found herself in her shoes many times before. Naira turns to sit on the couch properly and kicks her shoes off onto the floor. Their living room is an obvious indication of just how starkly their personalities contrast. Various stuffed animals that Naira couldn't bring herself to leave at home sit on the couch, which sits atop the large, fluffy and yellow rug. In every corner of their small apartment sits a large plant, its vines spilling over onto the floor, almost reaching the seemingly expensive brown leather couch Emory had inherited from her grandfather. An amalgamation of earthy and eclectic styles that both of them have already gotten used to.
“So, how do you think you did?” Emory asks.
“There were some questions that threw me for a loop, but I think I did alright,” a focused Naira answers as she looks to her side, unsure to ask Emory what she’s thinking.
“Good to hear,” Emory replies as she paints her thumb.
Naira clears her throat. “Hey, Em, can I ask you something?”
“Mmm? Sure,” Emory says back, without looking up.
“How close is the Were-folk community? Would you know Credence at all? Like, have you ever met him before?” Naira asks.
Emory takes a while to think before answering. “The community is kind of close, there are occasional gatherings every year, but no, I’ve never seen Credence at one of those. I’m sure I’ve seen his friend you told me about, but other than seeing him around town a couple of times, no. We've never, like, held a conversation.” She pauses as she looks up to speak again. “What’s his last name again?”
“Walker, why'd you ask?” Naira answers.
Emory drops the nail polish on the couch, cursing herself she picks it up almost instantly, she checks to see if any polish escaped the bottle before looking at Naira with a bewildered expression. “You said he was Were-Hound? Like you actually saw a big humanoid dog?”
“No,” Naira replies, shaking her head innocently, “I mean, I just saw a little fur and his voice was all growly, like a dog, if that makes any sense,” she finishes with a soft laugh, unsure of where Emory was taking the conversation.
“Naira…” Emory says, rubbing her lips together before continuing. “I've never heard of a Walker Were-tribe, let alone a Walker Were-Hound tribe. I don't think this guys with the Gitli or Sunka tribes either”
Naira chuckles in relief. “Oh! Ok, I see. He was probably a Vampire before he became Were-folk, that makes sense,” she finishes and continues painting her nails.
Emory can’t help but stare in disbelief while Naira hums along to the Lo-Fi music playing on the large living room speakers. Visibly concerned, Emory puts the nail polishes aside and readjusts herself. “Naira, my name is Emory Huaman, Huaman being Quechuan for hawk or falcon, hence, the reason I’m a Were-falcon. What I’m saying is you can only become a Were-falcon or hawk by lineage, or by ritual, do you follow?”
Sensing her confusion, Emory continues. “It can be confusing, I know. Let me explain. Just try to listen to me,” she says, pushing her braids back with the palm of her hand. “lineage means genetically… reproduction… It’s sex Naira,” she adds and Naira nods with a blank smile, still not fully understanding where Emory is going with this. “Our rituals require you to eat a large portion of flesh from a recently deceased member of the corresponding tribe. But not everyone can endure something like that, it can only be the strongest member of the tribe. It’s usually done when a dying family member wants to pass their ability to a stronger member of the tribe,” Emory explains while staring daggers at Naira.
"Are you trying to say Credence killed someone to become Were-folk? I dunno Em that sounds like a stretch,” she says doubtfully.
Emory sighs helplessly. “Your boyfriend either murdered a member of the Gitli, Sunka, or some other Were-hound tribe and ate them or miraculously, there’s a secret subtribe of Were-Hounds that trace back generations that are also half-vampire.” Naira feels her heart sink. “Which one sounds more realistic?” Emory asks. At this Naira looks to be rethinking every moment spent with Credence up until this point.
“Naira, if the Were-folk community or Vampire council finds out about this, Credence will almost certainly die,” Emory bluntly says. Naira holds her head, trying to catch her breath. She looks at her friend with no thought in mind, and they sit in silence. Until her phone rings.
“It’s Credence,” she mechanically says to Emory as she picks up the phone and answers the call. Emory nods and leaves the room, closing the door softly behind her.
“Hey, babe. What’s up?” asks a trembling Naira, trying to sound as composed as possible.
“Nothing much. Just here with Rollo and we wan-” he stops talking after hearing Naira sniffle. “What's going on? You ok?”
“Yep! I'm fine. I passed my classes, I’m so amped!” she exclaims the lie, praying that Credence buys it.
“Bro, I told you she was smart! She’s a goddamn genius! When are we gonna celebrate kid? Can't wait to finally meet your friends.” He says, and she hears a voice she assumes to be Rollo cheering loudly for her.
“Just leave it to me. I'll find a nice spot where we can bring everyone. I gotta go though. I'm doing my nails,” she replies, pushing out a forced laugh.
As they say their goodbyes, she tries to collect her thoughts. Unable to believe what Emory had just explained, she rubs her shaking hands together. She knew Credence seemed like someone who’d hurt someone who had bad intentions, he seemed like someone who’d save a person from trouble. “Killing someone just to be a hybrid? That isn't him” she thinks out loud. And even though she tried to convince herself that it wasn’t like him, she couldn’t help but have her doubts. Yet, she didn’t know how to broach the subject with him either.
As she escapes this train of thought, she knocks on Emory’s door. “Hey, Em, I know you're probably mad, but I swear I didn't know. Are you still coming to my graduation party? I bet you guys can talk it out there.”
She hears footsteps, and seconds later, the door swings wide open, before her stands Emory, fully exposed, having just been getting ready for bed. “I’m not angry,” she breathes out, and her shoulders fall. “I’m just a little shook. I’ll ask him about it and try to get the full story. In the meantime, I suggest you keep this between us,” she says inquisitively. “ I hope I’m the only one you told.”
Naira let out an uncomfortable laugh while scratching her head. “Um… I did tell Addy and a couple of friends.”
Emory grabs her by the shoulders and stares into her eyes. “Naira, this is a matter of life or death. I need you to understand he could die. I want you to tell Addy the same. We all need to be on the same page.” Naira’s eyes begin to water and Emory hugs her before going to bed.
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