Chp 38

The crowds sit back down. A cloud of fear and uncertainty hovers over us. It covers us, forcing us down. It's like we're drowning. In the sea, lifeguards come to yer rescue, here we fight. United we shall prosper.
"I've requested the services of a few people." I hesitate. Will this plan even work? "People that will save Noddon: Multiplier, Illusion, Blocker, Transmitter, please come stand by my side."
King Father snatches my arm. He looks me in the face and his hatred and disbelief pour over me. I've never felt so small. He makes me feel like I've done something wrong. Like I've actually failed all these people. The way they look at me now breaks my heart. They believe in me. In their Goddess. They think I'll lead them to victory. I will lead them to victory.
"Those are all silencers," King Father says. There is a long pause. "Ya can't put my life at the hands of these...these....these Sabonis."
It's the greatest insult ya can ever say to a Noddon and King Father knows it. He even smirks when I grimace.
"So ya're saying yer gift is any better?" I gesture to the sword dangling from his hip. "Tell me Mawu, will yer ability to pleasure women save our people? Will yer sister's ability to seduce men keep and make us any safer? Will yer son, Mazwi's ability to manipulate feelings kill off the Essence Thief?
He shrieks back into his seat behind me. "The silencers are no better." Of course he wants to have the last word.
"Ya wait and see, but first," I retrieve the device in my pocket. It's shaped like an square. "I want to make sure each and every one of us is present today. There are similar devices under yer seats. Please take one, press anyone of yer fingers on the screen just like this." I press my thumb on the screen. The screens above us now display the exact number of Noddon's children and the counted option underneath displays one. "It'll record ya're here. Like a register."
As people press the screen, the numbers fill in until it shows that everyone who's claimed their gift is here.
"Now seal the exits and the open top."
No one can escape. We're all trapped inside.
King Father raises an eyebrow at me. "What's this?"
I beckon to Blocker. He walks toward me, chewing on his lower lip.
My stomach wrenches. I close my eyes and keep them closed until ten counts later. Phew. "For those of ya who don't know Blocker can block negative feelings, thoughts and energy. Now since the Essence Thief will be letting out negative vibes the second he walks up to ya, Blocker's plug, the one he'll now make will help keep yer gifts safe."
Some people nod.
"The Tech will create electric ships, these will have some of the silencers gift embedded in them. If the thief tries to steal yer gift, the ship will get to work at once. Because of the illusionist, the thief will see their greatest desire concerning ya coming true: an illusion. The Reverser will allow whatever "spell" the thief puts ya in to break within a second. So no more hypnosis or any funny business like that. And the most exciting: Multiplier. When ya're under attack ya'll multiply or the house ya're in will. Which will make the thief's work that much harder. He'll have to find ya through a hundred clones that will be fighting him." I can't help the bubble of excitement pressing against my chest, growing bigger, threatening to explode. "The transmitter will transport these shield to yer body and no one will be able to feel them or see them. There are no side effects. Perfectly safe."
A dead silence hangs over the soccer stadium. The cameras overhead switch to the stunned crowds. It is so awkward that I need to say something, anything to break the silence.
"I know the thief is among us now and I have a message for him." My throat feels dry. I swallow. "Ya're stronger, ya're powerful, ya're the fastest, ya're the scariest but there's no way in hell ya'll ever outsmart me. Noddon will fight. Noddon will win. Ya've challenged me, and if it's war ya want, then war ya shall get."
By the time I'm done with my speech, rage has consumed me. The silence lengthens. There's no escaping it.
The screens switch back to me. Back to the crowds again. Back to me before finally darting between the thousands of faces all wearing the same mask. Pride. Fear. Uncertainty.
Tears sting my eyes but I can't let them fall. They can't see me cry. I can't show them how much I really care about Noddon. About it's children. I can't let the Thief know that I would give up my life for these strangers who are so much a part of me they might as well be family.
The screen is locked on a man with albinism. His white beard and even blonder hair stands out from his pale face. His transparent skin shows the warm red blood underneath. He holds on to his daughter’s hand as tightly as she hangs on his arm. His daughter can't be that much older than I am.
They can't even feel the cameras on them. The father smiles down on his daughter and he nods. He's saying: We're good. Don't worry. Daddy's here. Everything will be fine.
If she's so worried, she has a gift they think the Essence Thief might want. She might be the next target.
I beckon to a guard, whisper my instructions to him. Get me the girl and her father. Those two shown on the screens. The guard nods and darts across the grounds into the flight of stairs.
The camera's float across the stadium giving each face a second on the big screen. A woman hails in my direction and that seems to finally break the trance. The crowds mimic her. Giving me praise I don't want. Praise I accept all the same. Praise that makes my stomach coil. Praise I don't deserve.
I am just like the Essence Thief. I stole from these people. I'm feeding them a lie. I am not their Goddess.
The girl reaches my side and I whisper in her ear. "What's yer gift?"
"I'm a Manipulator,"
Oh? So she's just like Mazwi? Why was she so scared though? My frown deepens. What a strange girl. And even stranger father.
Her father eyeing my frown and understanding my train of thought says, "She can manipulate dreams."
Okay. So? I want to shrug my shoulders but I don't want to hurt the girl. She's scared enough as is.
"What Paps is saying is that I can create nightmares. My life mate has the fear sword and so if I ask him to tell me someone's greatest fear. I turn that into a nightmare."
I've just found mates that will replace Queen Mother and King Father.
I clear my throat. "So where's yer lifemate?"
She points in the same direction she came from. I cross my arms and follow her hand. It's no use. There are just too many people.
"Does he have a name?" My voice is casual.
She nods and a silly smile splits her lips and she says, "Smanga." She extends her hands in a handshake. "I'm Zendaya."
"It's an honor to meet ya." I shake her hand. Her cheeks are rippled with scars. It's hard not to stare. "ya too Papa Zendaya."
"Thank ya, child."
My father has never ever been this affectionate towards me. He should've called me Goddess but he sees past the title. He sees the vulnerable girl trying not to let her nation parish. He's a dad.
A shudder goes through me. I pull myself up straighter. "I want ya to issue a challenge for the Queen Mother and King Father positions."
"What?" she asks, leg muscles tightening, looking ready to run "No."
"Ya're the most powerful couple I've heard of since the dawn of time, ya and yer life mate, don't ya agree?"