"How did she get Nya's number?" Akatua asks as we stand in her kitchen, all looking at each other in confusion. It's about 6 o'clock now, and even after I've bathed and eaten over at hers, I still haven't come up with a solid answer to this question. None of us have. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkViCWnTbB
"Do we know how she ever gets anything done?" Kwamé asks in exasperation. "Probably seduced it out of someone. That's how she is." I hear the disgust in Kwamé's voice, and figure that it is probably more personal than he wants too admit. This woman probably seduced him once, not that I'd ever voice that suspicion. I clear my voice and speak up. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9GFhgjz99
"It doesn't matter how she got it," I say to them. "What matters is that she got it. So what are we going to do about her now?"724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MeqSix1lN
No f*ckin clue, hun," Kwamé says in exasperation. He then looks to Akatua with hope." We could kill her," he suggests, which only causes Akatua to laugh. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSJAAlN8ab
"How do you propose to go about doing that, Kwamé? Do you have any idea how powerful she is?" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIyigmqM2S
I don't know why, but I think I have a pretty strong of who she is, despite the fact that they haven't told me. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY5aI8PX4Z
"It's the River Mumma, isn't it?" I ask. "Lu'lu." I don't even know how I remember her name. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJRIMbGAMY
"Yes," Kwamé answers me. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm0stF3hpu
I think of questions to ask, after realising that I don't really know much about her. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMUKjfhpk0
"Where does she live?" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi0OaV8wj4
"Under Flat Bridge." Akatua is the one to answer this time. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8kmFN2WLC
Of course. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IRi3qj6Nt
Flat bridge, a bridge built in Jamaica by slaves in the eighteenth century, is known for its many stories about paranormal activities. It is, to my knowledge, one of the most frequently used bridges in Jamaica. Some believe that the *duppies of the slaves that died building the bridge reside there, causing the multiple accidents on the bridge when it overflows. Some believe that River Mummas live in a bottomless hole beneath the bridge, and are the reason why the attempts to add railings to the bridge have always been futile. Then, there is the rumor of the golden table which appears on the hottest days, luring the greedy to their death. Rumor has it that some slaves died trying to retrieve the table for their master. With all these stories, it is no surprise that she lives there. Of course, I took all of this as mythology, never taking it seriously. Funny how something you pass so often could have of your worst nightmare right underneath. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjKa6vPBcC
"So what do we do? Sail down the *Rio Cobre with a magical fishing net?" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqarlR0mcX
Kwamé actually laughs when I say this, starts cackling like an idiot. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4iwRK0MIS
"A fishing net, Nya?" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm34s4jsPSg
"I did say magical fishing net," I point out.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENVIYhbD9n
"No," Akatua responds. "She'll come to us eventually. It's not safe to go for her while she's in the water. It's where she's strongest." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkZMyaUBzu
"Well, we know that she's been on land recently. She called Nya." Kwamé scrunches up his eyebrows and bites his lip as he thinks about what to do with the situation, and I stare at him like a fool. He really has pretty lips. And eyes. He stops long enough to make eye contact with me, and smirks. He covers his mouth as he tries to hide it, but I see it. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIqkUPXOhC
"Love birds," Akatua calls, causing us both to scowl, "we have to be prepared for her." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6A59cuA3I0
"And how do we do that now?" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMARPyCeLC
"Know how to resist temptation," Kwamé answers with resentment. "Mentally prepare yourself, because there isn't much else that we can do." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rDwDzIo2m
"But that's simple," I say, only to realise that I'm probably very wrong when they both look at me as if I'm nuts. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN91RKKZvYT
"She's a seductress, love. She can entice anyone into doing what she wants, even animals." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqqJHaImez
"So she'll probably just send an army of mental slaves after us?" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcpClTudK7
"If she's too lazy to come on her own, which I doubt." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIjw4yGE8P
I stand there and look between the two of them, trying to figure out what exactly they want me to do. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsehiYSWyHU
"How—" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtqzVBG4NC
"She's not the only one on the island, Nya," Kwamé says before I can ask the question. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP7GxJK74o
"So we find another one, and ask for her help. One that we know," Akatua finishes. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsieihWMcke
"She isn't very popular among the other water nymphs, you see."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcL22PCLwk
"We could see Afryea," Kwamé suggests. "Or Zuhrah." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5odt6zWUD
"Zuhrah would be more receptive to her. She's more friendly." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTSnzq1Gsd
"When would we go to her?" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthtkZAskRu
"Tomorrow. In the night. That when she's usually awake." I look at Akatua in surprise. I thought it would be more complex than that, like jumping through dimensions or something. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQAdFwoNF7
"And Kwamé comes. As a human," she clarifies, making Kwamé frown. "We need her to be receptive to you, too."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASKFce3utC
"But she knows me," he whines. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOX0fBJAzm
"And she likes you better human, so you'll go as a human. I don't know why you're trying to delay the inevitable with Nya."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLQlnek7B5
"Stop. Talking." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaeXtUoFgD
The low warning growl from Kwamé's voice is actually frightening. I've never seen or herd him so angry before. When I look, I almost jump in fright. His eyes... they're glowing red. To see this on a bull's face was frightening at first, but I could get used to it. But to see it on a human's face is something different entirely... especially when those glowing red eyes burst into flames. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VVPVxXYqJ
"Kwamé, please stop," I ask him in a shaky voice. Instead of doing what I ask him to do, he simply turns to look at me. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pDPqhkPAx
"You scared, Nya?" he asks, his attention now focused on me. Even though I'm aware that he won't do anything to me, I'd be lying if I say it isn't frightening. "Finally seeing me for what I really am?" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXmLZYXEwl
"Shut up," I command rather loudly, growing tired of his "self-hatred" bullshit. My fear is turning into anger and from what I can see, he's pretty angry too. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf01uxBuoR
"What did you just say, Nya?" he asks in a low, sweet voice. A gentle voice. A voice which is the complete opposite to the flames in his eyes, the opposite of what I know he is feeling. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM5QnR3KZw
"Shut. Up."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQfAXdHZx8
"Okay love birds, I'm going to try to get everything together. We're going tonight if possible. Don't kill each other, please."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdEgTPLpOU
Akatua walks out of the kitchen, leaving us glaring at each other. Kwamé just glares at me, as the fires in his eyes die down but the red glow never leaving. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNL4wDWfU7
"You stupid girl, you don't even see that I'm trying to help you."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrrsolmH2Q
"Dont call me stupid, you ass," I grumble. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnzlvr5L0p
"I'm not an ass," he growls at me. It only upsets me more. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztMdKFCYZc
"Close enough," I retort, making a cheap reference to the fact that he's a demon bull. I'll admit, it's a low blow. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmUEeXQBQq
"That's low," he says, "but at least you're beginning to get the idea."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA9F473iWO
"No," I reply stubbornly.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AqnpXYhiv
"No?" he asks as he steps forward, until he's right in front of me. "No?" he asks as he puts his hands on my shoulders.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZcNSdaBm8
"No."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgPMSNohHs
That's when he takes me by surprise. One second this hands are on my shoulders, the next, they're around my neck. It's almost as if there's no movement to connect the two actions, it's so quick. There is no roughness to his hands, though; he isn't constricting me. He simply rubs my neck, the thumbs brushing over my throat. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewNQj3VEkd
"It would take nothing to kill you, even in this state," he says, gently squeezing my neck, almost like a warm scarf, but better.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dHRYyb0h9
Better? What is wrong with me?724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPnt2ReCdB
"Nothing to snap your pretty little neck like a twig."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqNI0trnaM
"I know," I reply. I can tell he's strong, stronger than the average person. I've seen him move my furniture with an unnatural ease, when he was sweeping my house, back when he took care of me when I was sick. "But you won't."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI1vzEkgb3
"Really?" he asks, tightening his grip. When I don't reply, he takes it as an invitation to tighten his hold. "You sure?" he asks, squeezing now, but not nearly as tightly as I know he can. Still, I can feel my vision going blurry, when I hear him say—724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvo26WruOG
"You're enjoying this," whispered into my ear. In my field of vision, I can see that his eyes are no longer red, but back to their characteristic grey.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBhP0yejfY
"Um," I hear from the entrance, just as Kwamé releases me.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJhtcIHtWs
"If you're going to f*ck, please don't do it in my kitchen," Akatua says, wrinkling her nose in mock disgust. "Now come along," she says, walking off, leaving Kwamé and I in the kitchen alone once more.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoVhSQMNGv
"I'm tired of warning you," Kwamé says as soon as she leaves.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhs8EZETzY5
I bite my lip, trying to figure out what to tell him.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpK8Ykwq6n
"Have you ever thought that your perception of yourself might be inaccurate?" I ask him. He looks curiously at me, as if I've said something he's never thought about. "How long have you been friends with Akatua?"724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbu4Y7CQcc
"Since shortly after I died."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaMPu5R1da
"Centuries, then. Don't you think she would have dropped you is she saw you the way you see yourself? And why is it that we both see you as better than that?"724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrXu2qflQt
He simply looks at me, his mouth opening and closing like a gaping fish, before we hear Akatua blaring the horn outside.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr9aF52srl
"Come on," I tell him. "We can continue this in the car."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkuOmiaVHI
***724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1OupjOeSt
"I actually thought that you two were doing something in the kitchen," Akatua states, looking in the rear view mirror at me. After about 25 minutes of awkward silence, she decides to speak. Kwamé makes no comment as he sits in the passenger seat beside her, staring out the window. He probably chose the front seat to avoid the matter at hand, but the truth is that it will come up again, no mater what he does.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyA7FkuOIO
"Kwamé, why were you choking my daughter?" Akatua asks is a rather mischievous voice. She's not worried, she just wants to cause trouble.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl0pNYRdhv
"I don't know," he replies.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngvVBEh3DE
"You don't know why you had your hands around someone else's neck?"724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wKYthNCh0
"No." His reply is short and snappy, warning her to stop.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53W3hIRpcN
"Look, whenever you two decide to go at it, just use a condom. I can't deal with my daughter having calves right now."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcdTAKQhWg
"What?" I ask, sounding more frightened than I should.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdo5ET7xexZ
"The very fact that you're so worried means you were probably planning something, Nya." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH6vbfRZ3m
"No, I—"724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPWLB49Fom
"It doesn't matter what she's planning, Akatua," he says. "Nothing is going to happen." His voice rings with finality, and if I'm not mistaken, I can see the red lights glowing from his eyes reflecting from the window, and lighting up the front of the car. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdDIy8au9v
"Okay," Akatua responds in resignation, dropping the topic.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCYtWfvODS
The lights disappear, and I lay my head back against the seat, closing my eyes.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MR6oa2rx9
"Don't fall asleep, Nya," I hear Kwamé's voice command. " We're almost there." Kwamé takes me by surprise as it is the first time he has spoken to me directly since the beginning of the ride, and frankly, I wasn't expecting it. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0l7PuefeL
I look outside, and for the first time since I've gotten into the car, I register where we are.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYVzFAv7p9
It's enough to make me almost shit myself. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlCmzvJrjC
"Um, if she lives under Flat Bridge, why are we visiting someone on the Rio Cobre?" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiyCEtaHpf
"Because," Kwamé begins, looking behind him and making eye contact with me for the first time since we entered the car, "she doesn't like Lu'lu. And she's just as powerful, if not more powerful than Lu'lu."724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruqrKeBHR8
"It's a shame we found her after I made the deal," Akatua says, shaking her head. Kwamé goes back to looking out the window. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluik6PsJzy
I look down through the window, down at the river that is flowing at least 20 feet lower than the road. The river only comes up to meet flat bridge, before flowing lower than the road once more. Since we're not going to flat bridge... 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YXd4jZzQe
"Um, how exactly do you plan on reaching the river?" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojiznYW9Go
"Climb," Kwamé says, as if it should be obvious. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VXzH4Z0bk
"You expect me to—" 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedi9kgxlQ9
"Kwamé will carry you," Akatua says, causing Kwamé's eyes to glow once more. "Behave yourself," she chides, at which point he closes his eyes and exhales deeply.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPUL0A4vdO
"You're really stressing me out, you know that?" he remarks, which only causes her to snort. I can imagine her rolling her eyes at this moment. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD7pMaRohR
"Calm down, Kwamé," she commands in a light voice, as if she isn't the least bit worried about a supernatural entity losing his shit beside her. "We're three minutes away, and I don't want your glare to scare her away." Of course, I know she's joking. The idea of his glare scaring away a powerful, immortal river spirit is almost laughable. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4kvV3ef3K
"Akatua, leave me alone." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPJZjug0kv
"Fine, be a grumpy ass," she says, shaking her head. I can't concentrate on their childish banter because I'm busy prepping myself for this encounter. I'm scared. But I also trust them. Strange, I know. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCxSoBie6Y
"Hey," Kwamé says from the front seat. "Everything's going to be alright." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHdSb9Mv77
This relaxes me, just a tad, but enough to stop me hyperventilating, something I didn't realise I was doing.724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeyuZ9jHCP
"You sure she'll want to help me?" I ask him. 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsnDEpPOgq
"One hundred percent positive. As a matter of fact," he pauses, turning to look at me," I'm sure she'll love you." 724Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCnlr7OiWg
After that, I sit in the back seat, gradually calming down, my breathing and heart beat slowing. So much so, that when Akatua announces "We're here," I'm not completely calm, but I feel ready for whatever is waiting on me in the the river below.
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