62

"It is still unclear what cues the Gods use to choose one suitor over another." His voice cracks. "But they know our thoughts, our feelings, our true being. I think they choose to pair us based on compatibility."
His fingers are messing with the pendant on my neck. I'm pretty sure he can feel my heart leaping at him. At his hands.
"Imani, I've known for three years ya are my life mate. I stayed away." His voice grows quiet. “It was my choice to be here and I'd like to think ya have me here by choice as well?”
I hesitate again. There's an excruciating pause as his fingers freeze.
A lump forms in my throat. "Always by choice.”

D'ziko and I have established a routine that works perfectly for the both of us. During the day while I fulfil my new responsibilities as the Goddess, keep the peace between my two best friends, D'ziko disappears. He spends time in the ‘evil forest'. The ‘evil forest' is believed to have magical powers. When there's a hearing, the accused is taken to the forest, if they're guilty they don't return.
No one is exactly sure what happens there. Like Las Vegas, what happens in Evil Forest stays in Evil Forest.
Two months and I still don’t have a clue of what the Essence Thief plans to do with Noddon.
"Steel." kaseke's voice sounds far as though it's coming from a faraway tunnel. It even echoes. "Steel!" his fist comes down once over the table.
"Huh. What?" I ask, getting up to pour myself a glass of warm goat milk.
Papa frowns at me and shares a look with Mama.
I return to my seat and watch Queen Mother talk with one of her husbands. How does she do it huh? How is she able to keep up with all these men? At her age? Is there like a time table to help her stay organised. ya'd think managing one husband is hard enough, but fifteen? Better her than me.
"Aren't ya going to eat?" Mama asks.
The four of us stare at each other. Today they’re all sitting across from me, with Kaseke sandwiched between our parents. I sip my milk slowly, buying time to think about how in Noddon I’m gonna get out of this mess I’ve created. Wouldn't it be better if I just told my parents the truth?
"No. I... um. I'm not hungry. Can I be excused?" I say.
Silence. Kaseke finds my glass of milk and refills it. I nod once in thanks.
"But ya were -- and I quote -- so damn famished." Mama looks at me suspiciously. "In the course of what, three minutes, what's changed?"
I shrug.
She looks pointedly at my face. "ya keep eyeing the hallway."
"I do...?"
“Ja,” she says. "If I didn't know any better I'd think ya were looking to make sure ya keep something away from the hallway. Away from the kitchen. Away from yer brother and I. From the rest of Noddon."
"That's ridiculous, Mama,” I say immediately on the defensive.
Papa quirks his eyebrow and I grit my teeth. "Is it?" he asks.
"Imani, do ya have a boy in there?" Mama asks, deadpan.
Wait! Are they ganging up on me? Mama taking Papa's side? Against me?
I hesitate.
"Haha," Kaseke says, aware none of them believe me. "That's funny Mama. Imani? A boyfriend? Aibo."
I nod. Yeah Mama. Exactly what Kaseke said.
I'm not sure they're ready for the truth. I'm not sure I've even accepted the truth. If D'ziko didn't really kill Leza then we've been living a lie for decades.
Noddons won't take my (or D'ziko's) word on it. They need hard evidence.
"Mama, do ya know who saw D'z--" I stop myself before I can incriminate myself. People don't call him by his first name. "Do ya know who saw He Who Shouldn't Be Seen kill the Sky-God?"
She shakes her head, thoughtful. "I'm not sure.” She stops and starts fidgeting with her hair. "If my memory serves me right then it was either Mawu or The Sister."
My head reels. Someone killed the Sky-God. That person must've known Leza had a child, one that could, once older, seek revenge for their mother.

The best way to make sure said kid doesn't do that? Well, I can think of a few. The first being that Leza's killer lied about D'ziko so that he'd be murdered way before he can grow old enough to understand what had happened. That he'd been set up.
"Imy...baby, are ya alright?"
I smile at her, trying to soothe her worry. “Ja, Mom. Why?"
"Well, first because ya called me Mom. ya never call me Mom. Second, and most troubling, ya're staring into space and mumbling. I only caught a few words: Leza, Killer, D'ziko, Setup."
"Oh." I say, annoyed at myself.
The last thing I need on top of everything else is for my family to become suspicious. Well… to be fair, it's already too late. Papa looks at me strange. It's a combination of shock and anger.
"Oh?" She snaps. "That's all ya're going to say?"
I don't know why but this conversation is making me very irritable.
"Mama please." I can't check the defensive tone in my voice. "I'm tired. Can we talk about this in the morning?"
"Imy...I don't think--"
"In the morning, Mama."
Mama opens her mouth, and I stiffen, waiting for a lecture, then closes it again.
I take my plate of food and warm goat milk and race down the hallway. I almost spill my milk with how fast I'm going.
D'ziko is waiting on my bed. His face is covered with a mask. He has both arms crossed behind his back, legs crossed over each other. Perfectly at ease.
"I think Mama's suspicious." I meet his gaze.
He doesn't move.
"I have some food here." I lock the door. "I hope ya like Meatballs and spaghetti."
No answer.
I place the food on the blanket on the floor, where we've been having our meals for the past month and a half, and walk towards the edge of the bed. He is lying so still that I have to double check to make sure that he's still alive.
He is.
"D'ziko...?"
He stirs, mumbling in irritation and turns the other way.
"I can't believe ya're sleeping right now." I throw my hands up in exasperation. "Wake up."
He doesn't even stir this time. I get closer to him, to his face. My hand trembles as I lift it to his face.
My heart kicks against my ribcage. Thump. Thump. Thump. I want out. Let me out. Now.
In three
Two,
One...
I'll be seeing his face. Impulsive. Dumb. I tense up. My hands trembling as I peel the mask.
His hand snatches mine so roughly that I almost vomit my heart. The ringing behind my ears intensifies and I throw a hand over my heart.
I gasp. "Leza! D'ziko, ya scared me."
D’ziko adjusts his mask.
He looks at me in disbelief. "What are ya doing?" he asks me. "Never do that again."
“Um…” I say, playing for time. "I'm sorry. I'm just curious."
His eyes soften. "I know and I'm sorry. Come here."
And I can’t help my smile as I fall into bed with him.