Page 10 of Restoring the Ngozii

“Fair enough.” My eyes lift to the canopy of leaves, moving around as I sense something near. Atsatsa follows my gaze as he waits for something, my hand slowly drifting to my largest knife, stuck in the strap across my chest at my back.

A faint buzzing is heard before long, quickly growing louder as it approaches, and I crouch, ready to attack. If I see it this time, I’m bringing it down, whatever means necessary. My gaze follows the sound, where I believe it to be but can’t see, until it fades, heading away from the village. We stay still until the sound is completely gone before lifting from our slight crouches and releasing our knives.

“Have you ever seen the object of that sound, Cruzig?” Atsatsa’s gaze is piercing, and I can feel it boring into me as I stare up at the leaf-covered sky where the object went.

“Once.” I pause, letting my gaze drop to his. “It was something mechanical, a device, but I don’t know what it does other than fly. I intended to shoot it down next time I saw it, but it wasn’t close enough this time.”

“I believe it’s time to bring this to Jeff. We’ve all heard it, you’ve seen it, something is going on, and he needs to know before things get worse.”

I nod in response, knowing he’s right. “I’ve been meaning to tell him, but the time never seems to be right. The longer I wait, the more my stomach twists with guilt.”

My gaze drops to the ground, unable to see the pity or concern in his eyes. I don’t want it, nor do I need it. Jeff should have been told a long time ago when it started. Being closest to him, I should have been the one to tell him, and I’ve probably had more chances than I’m willing to admit.

As the forest comes back to life after the buzzing passes, Kari’s wall-muffled screams of pleasure filter out to us, and Atsatsa chuckles. Me? I sigh as I’m eaten up inside by my own emotions and desires.

Scoffing, I turn to glare at the house. “Must be nice to have a mate to enjoy such pleasures with.”

“Ha!” Atsatsa spits on the ground, his gaze hard as he stares out towards the village. “You might be lucky enough for something like that someday, Cruzig, but it isn’t in the cards for me. I’m broken, scarred, and unworthy of such a thing. Happily ever after doesn’t come to the monster of the story.”

“You’re not a monster, Atsatsa.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I may not be the monster ofmystory, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be the monster of someone else’s.” His gaze stays level, focused ahead, as he refuses to look at me. The anger and self-loathing are clearly burning in his swirling eyes.

Atsatsa’s story isn’t mine to tell, and I’ll take his secrets with me to the grave, but I know that he’s simply projecting when he shouldn’t be. He doesn’t see himself or his past the way others do, and that’s what’s holding him back.

Chapter 6

Tavionna

Thetimehascome,there’s no more waiting. My palms sweat, my arms tremble, and my stomach rolls as I watch my warriors prepare for battle. As far as I know, our people have never been to battle, never left this planet, aside from Mother Dearest, that is. Despite that, we’ve always been prepared. Our warriors train regularly, practice battling each other and discuss battle plans for fake missions to keep themselves sharp.

All the preparation in the world isn’t enough to stop the emotions rolling through me, the sickness rising in my gut. Nothing about this is easy, not like I thought it would be. I thought that the idea of saving my people would be enough to make me feel good about this, to give me some sort of solace, but it isn’t. My people may survive and thrive on this new world, but I have to take lives, hurt others to get what I want, and that has never been my way.

No matter how many kids taunted me growing up, no matter how many times I was pushed into the rivers or had rocks and crystals thrown at me, food dropped in my lap, tripped and pushed, I never fought back. I never hurt anyone in retaliation for what I suffered through. That fact makes this that much harder because I know that what I’m going to do is hurt others to stop my people from suffering an illness I can’t cure. I’m going against my very nature, but it’s the only option I have left.

Mates step forward and kiss and hug, children cling to their fathers’ legs. My eyes well with tears at the sight, hurting for them as I have to tear them apart. Swallowing that down, I clear my throat, letting it echo throughout the chamber. Everyone quiets, all eyes lifting to me on the balcony overlooking our main cave chamber.

“The time has come to make the hard decisions. I know this is out of the ordinary for us, but how many more of our people must die before proper action is taken? Without a cure in sight, the next option is to leave and find a more habitable home in the hopes that it will save your family members. I don’t like this any more than you, but I assure you, I’ve tried everything else. This is a last resort, the only option left to assure our survival. Are you willing to follow your priestess into battle to save your loved ones?”

My eyes scan the crowd as the warriors holler out a yes, an arm in the air in solute. Many bow to me, and I quickly return that with one of my own, tears in my eyes at the pride I feel to know that they trust me. “This will all be over, and we’ll be back to laughing with our sick loved ones soon. I promise you.” I put my hands to my heart, bowing deeply to my people as they return the gesture.

I quickly turn away, unable to contain my emotions much longer, and I don’t want them to see me crumble. I drop onto a rock seat, letting my tears fall down my face in silence. Seuke approaches and drops down beside me, setting a plate of food on the rock table before me. He wipes at my tears and pulls me into his arms, soothing me.

“I know it’s hard, but if you’re sure this is right, that the goddess has blessed this, then we’re doing what we must. You’re just trying to save your people, Tavi.”

I sit up, wiping my face as I nod at him. “I know, it’s just hard. I thought I would feel more secure in this, more prepared, angrier, but I don’t. Where did that vengeance go? I was so ready to rip apart Criido when I saw him, but now I just… all I can think about are the innocent people who will lose their homes, their loved ones, just like we are. How is this helping when we’re perpetuating a cycle?”

“Is there not another option, my love? Have your guides given you nothing else?” He stares at me with wide, understanding eyes, and I can’t even bring myself to shake my head. I simply let my gaze fall from his, a solemn silence enveloping us as we sit together.

If there had been other options, if my guides had spoken to me, he would have been the first to know. I keep nothing from him. My guides haven’t spoken to me in days, not since Xenshay arrived. Since then, they’ve gone silent, as if he really was the answer to all of my problems, but despite all he’s told me about Criido and the village, I feel no closer to a solution. Did he not give me the proper information?

Light permeates the caves, forcing me to close my eyes against the blinding brightness. Screams ring throughout the caves as warriors shout, “Halt!” I look at Seuke in shock and confusion as a female voice screams, “Priestess Tavionna! We’re here to speak with Priestess Tavionna.”

I jump up and rush to the edge of the balcony, Seuke right on my heels as he steps up to my left, and I’m shocked to find Kari standing in my caves in the flesh. She looks more lively in person, less see-through, and much bolder. Her shoulders are back, her head high. A true leader who functions without fear. Her eyes lift, searching the room before landing on me above, a smile curving one side of her small pink lips. Her light skin and light hair make her look so odd compared to us, and she’s so small, shorter than most of my people. It makes me wonder if her confidence is false or reinforced by her stature, her need to prove herself among others.

“Priestess, it’s time we had a proper chat, don’t you think?” Her voice carries through the caves, echoing down the halls as people back up, the warriors not moving an inch as they hold out their knives and swords to keep her and her entourage at bay.

Assuming the big purple male with her is her mate, it seems I finally get the privilege of meeting my half-brother, Vahru. His gaze is fierce, focused on the warriors with weapons as he angles himself in front of Kari. There’s a younger male with them who’s also angling himself in front of Kari, his own knives drawn as he watches the warriors.

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