Page 15 of Citiali: Teach
I nod. Where the fuck did paint come from? I’ve always shown anger through my eyes, this is new. I should have asked last night but got caught up with the history from Justice.
Justice doesn’t touch, but I feel his energy hovering over a spot on my back. “It’s radiating energy and looks darker. Go back to how it started. I felt the energy from the side of Cort.”
I guess it would show what new this is and look at MB replaying the scene he showed. My hand hits the table but my eyes stay on MB. My back feels like it’s alive. “They were sacrificed. No survivors were expected.” I stop when he winces.
“Focus, Citiali. We’re here.” Justice and Putam pull me away from the bombed buildings and fallen soldiers with hands on my arm and shoulder. “The man who ordered it died.”
MB nods without remorse. “Let it go.”
I throw him chin.
“Jelly legged isn’t covering this one.” Raid has me breaking what feels like a solid link to MB’s eyes, when my head turns, he steps back to Cort’s side. “Jesus, the eyes were enough. What’s the paint mean?” A step to the right has him in a shield position for Cort.
I shake my head. “I’ve been raised to defend Badass from birth. My path has changed but only in location, Brother.”
Cort moves him and walks toward me. “Justice.” It sounds like a question.
“Do you feel the energy, Boss?” Justice asks.
Cort nods. “Why isn’t the paint gone? It didn’t last this long the first time.”
I can guess. “I saw more. My markings feel alive.”
“The color is darker. What’s the greenish color? The purple patches are darker than the others but there’s a green color I’ve never seen on you.” Putam asks. He’s seen my back while swimming with the Little Brothers in a lake and at the Club pool. No one ever said green before.
“Shield with endurance, healing and harmony. The red is with strength, yellow insight and light - the color of knowledge, purple is power, mystery and magical.” It comes out automatically.
“The blue and yellow on your face?” Justice asks throwing me the picture.
My head whips around. “Paleo and Navajo. My markings are of the seven points of Sequoyah but the paint is Paleo-Navajo.”
“How many kinds of Indian are in you?” Cort asks from in front of me. I’m surprised he’s not looking at my back.
Justice answers. “All, he was touched by all, Boss. Aiyana said it, but until now, I didn’t get that all means ancestors from all tribes.”
I step back when Aiyana appears, but I know she’s not here. “Citiali and Atohi are of all tribes as was their grandfather Waholi. I must pass along the ancestors warning before you decide to perform experiments and exhaustive analysis on his body before being satisfied that his abilities will serve us well. Citiali is needed and should not be held here.” She isn’t asking and doesn’t explain.
Cort laughs but doesn’t answer.
My head drops and I look at my feet. “Thank you, Princess Warrior.”
“That’s jelly-kneed normal.” Raid has me looking up. Aiyana is gone.
Cort is watching Justice, so I do. “He’s needed, Boss. I feel it but she knows it. He can shield himself and team even if they’re not close. With Zeke, we may not need that but the shield he’s meant to provide isn’t worth leaving behind with Aiyana’s warning.”
I shake my head and Cort’s eyes change to hard and steely in a nanosecond. “I’m meant to shield. I wouldn’t be given the ability without a way to carry it out. This is new but only in the way I use it. Power, endurance, insight and magic are a way of life for Protectors and have been for me since I was born. I will do that to protect and defend Badass with every ounce of blood I have in me, Boss.”
“Calm those golden flashes down, Brother I wasn’t sidelining you,” he says calm and reasonably.
I relax before he shoots me. I’d shield but that would piss him off more. My back feels like it’s ready to move without me. “Roger, Boss.”
Putam chuckles. “The ancestors have you shielded. Relax, Citiali.”
What the hell does that mean?
“Jesus, so a laser won’t even touch him? I need a drink. Indians used to be fun.” Raid pulls Cort out the door, since Cort goes without looking back, he must be done here.
I turn toward Justice. “I’m shielded by the ancestors?”
