Page 5 of Citiali: Teach
“You’re the messenger. Do you work for Aiyana, the voice of the ancestors?”
This kid looks like she’s about seven but is touched by the ancestors judging by the energy I feel. “We all work for the great spirit through Badass.”
She rolls her eyes at me making me laugh. I need coffee for this and turn around to make that happen. She follows without an invitation like I knew she would. “You shouldn’t walk into a Brother’s house alone, Cuyler. Where is your Security?”
“Here, Brother. Fuckin’ wait next time, Cuyler.” My new President walks through the open door.
“I will, Pres Ari, but you were already on the walkway. I left the door open.”
I lift a mug up for Pres, getting a nod. He goes right back to Cuyler. “You don’t walk into anyone’s house alone. Where’s Kristoff?”
Cuyler looks down. “Training. I just had questions.” She knows she’s wrong here.
I hand the mug to Pres and sit at the island to watch this play out.
His eyes don’t leave the tiny ball of energy. “Get back to your compound. Citiali is a heavily gifted ability Brother. If he wanted to catch you, he can and I suspect he would. Don’t showup here unless you have your Security with you and never at any Brothers’ house.”
I like my new Pres immediately.That sounds like an order to me, so I’m surprised at the spike in Cuyler’s energy.
She’s pissed and lets it show. “If he wasn’t a Protector, he wouldn’t…”
I stop that and float her out the door then close it. “Go home, Cuyler. When you have Security and I have scheduled time with you, I will answer your questions. Until then, do your homework so I’m not answering stupid shit. Add learning how to talk to a President to that so when Pres says something, you do it, there is no answer needed.” I release her and feel her suspend away.
Ari pulls his phone and sits, after a few seconds, he looks up. “She’s back at Guardian. I’m Ari but you know that. Because we’re a Club within Guardian, she thinks she’s got full rein. Thanks for that, Brother”
I throw chin and take a drink, hoping I got all my hair in the tie. “I rolled out of bed to get the door. I felt her energy but didn’t look for who it was.”
“Ops called when her tracking showed here and my house is next door. Since I’m here, it’s nice to meet you. I’m not full anything but do have New York Pequot in the family. I didn’t know them and have learned from the Mohegan’s. Mase showed and I asked Teller for information about Cherokee so I’m not making your life harder than it needs to be. If you have books or whatever, I’m open to learning.”He reminds me of Hemy.
“I do but Alder was adding to his hologram sheets last night. He’s probably got more than I have. He was with my uncle, Putam and Jacob for elders and references.”
“That explains the chopper. I didn’t hear it lower.” He smiles. “I don’t need details. I’ve worked with Mase in Mass and the Princes when needed.”
I smile at that. “I jumped but don’t make a habit of shit like that. I walk in and out of rooms. I’m from Hemy’s Club. The wilder Princes infected the big Club.”
He puts his cup down and I see his confusion. “I’ve never been to Hemy’s Club. Aaron is the big Club?”
I nod. “Yeah, we worked Aaron’s Ops under Andrew from the big Club but lived and worked Hemy’s from young. They were further apart when we were young, but Hemy said they grew out of the old Club and it’s used for elderly now. They built the big Club south of it and Hemy built his for training closer to Liberty.”
“They’re close?”
“Yeah. Like this setup. I saw Guardian last night. I saw Sentinel and Rescue yesterday but never saw a Club in a Club before that. More accurately, I didn’t know that was what Hemy and Aaron have.”
He nods. “You’re not due until Church. Do you have plans for the day?”
“I had hoped to get to know the Club and you before Church. I thought I could crash lunch, dinner or a night ride.”
He laughs. “You run, Mase said.”
I see it and smile. “Yeah, daily.”
He’s up and walking toward the door. “I need five.”
I’m up and throw one long braid in my hair as I walk to the bathroom. This will be good, Pres is a runner, I feel like I lucked out and I’ve only been here for hours. Life is definitely looking up lately.
***
There’s something to be said for less humidity, but it has me wondering if I need to find a different shampoo. Getting out of the shower, I towel my hair and see the ten days that I’ve beenhere is taking its toll. My hair is dry and unusually tangled. New shampoo or a conditioner is in order.
