I'd woken up at the crack of dawn to the sound of the cocks crowing. This had been the second night in a row that I hadn't been able to get any real sleep.
 
I'd managed to sleep for a few hours after Nabo bid me good night but dreamed only of fire. Her destructive nature had infected every facet of my imagination and I feared what she would do to me.
 
'Look what she had already done' I thought to myself as I stared at our reflection in the mirror.
 
Had my hair grown since last night, I wondered. My 'breasts'? I frowned at the perfectly accurate characterization of what my chest had become. Was I going crazy or did they seem bigger this morning than they had been the last time I touched them?
 
I rubbed my fingers across the face paint, then rubbed harder. Nothing. No indication whatsoever that the patterns weren't part of my skin. Even the red on my lips felt as natural as my dark skin.
 
In this, I wasn't alone at least. Nabo suffered the same fate with the white paint on his skin. They would remain with us until the festivities were over, at which point they would return to dust.
 
Real magic. I still found it hard to believe it existed.
 
"Knock knock" I heard someone call out instead of knocking.
 
"What is it?" I called out as well.
 
"Breakfast" the voice returned.
 
"I'm not hungry" I replied and paused at the sudden realisation. I wasn't hungry. How was that possible? I hadn't eaten all day yesterday and I'd spent the whole day running and dancing.
 
"You must eat" The voice countered.
 
I did want to eat despite the strange absence of hunger so I informed the unknown voice of my acknowledgement. The only problem now was how I was to leave this room looking like this.

=^..^=
 
The halls were beautiful, in an ancient kind of way. There were surreal paintings that lined the walls that seemed to depict the previous rulers of our kingdom.
 
The circumstances that had led me here were less than ideal but having a room in the palace was still pretty cool no matter how I looked at it.
 
Just think of how much history these grounds had witnessed. I only wished I didn't have to walk the same grounds wearing a flowy dress.
 
"This way" a servant beckoned me to follow. It was a bit archaic to have someone in servitude like that but archaic was par for the course here.
 
She graciously led me the rest of the way to a hall where I encountered the other vessels having breakfast, a lot less possessed than the last time we met.
 
"You-- don't have to do that" I called out awkwardly to Nabo after I saw him rise to his feet at my entrance.
 
I walked quickly to take an empty seat at the table when I noticed everyone staring at me.
 
"Hi, I'm David" I waved shyly after glancing around the room. Boy did we look like a bunch of clowns. I imagined we'd be the stuff of a little kid's nightmares even without the masks.
 
"I'm Izi" the blue-faced girl was the first to speak. I would later learn that her name was actually 'Ezeoma' but like me, she thought her native name was a bit strange for people not from here even more so since she lived somewhere in Europe and had returned home just for this.
 
"Hi," I replied simply.
 
"Uzochi" the really thin boy offered with a small wave.
 
"Hi"
 
I looked expectantly at the last boy but got nothing. When I thought about it, I realized he was more than a bit worse for wear. When I thought more about it, I realized I had done that to him-- or Ikuba had.
 
I remembered our fight. It had been brutal, for him.
 
"That's Ikenna" Nabo stepped in.
 
"Is he mad at me?" I whispered.
 
"Hard to speak" he managed with a pained expression. Thankfully, Ikenna was aware that I couldn't be held accountable for Ikuba's actions any more than he could be held accountable for N'daka's.
 
It happened more often than you'd think, the gods fighting. They treated our bodies like playthings and left us to deal with the consequences.
 
All of that was normal, what wasn't normal however was whatever was happening to me. It was only natural that the questions would follow as soon as they were comfortable enough to ask them.
 
"Are you really a boy?" Izi asked.
 
I nodded, not sure what else I could say.
 
"You don't look like a boy" Uzochi chimed in.
 
"Very astute observation" I muttered to myself.
 
"What is it like?" he added.
 
"What?" I asked.
 
"Being a girl" Ikenna said then winced.
 
'Was asking that really that important?' I thought to myself.
 
"I'm not a girl," I told them.
 
The conversation paused for a moment while the servants arrived with another tray of food and placed it in front of me. Upon closer inspection, it was really just an assortment of seafood which made sense, being a fishing village and all.
 
"You look like a girl" Uzochi thought it was really important I know that.
 
"Yes, you've made that clear" I rolled my eyes and said with a hint of irritation present in my voice.
 
"Act like a girl too" he added but not in English.
 
"What's that supposed to mean?" Izi looked up from her soup.
 
"What is your problem?" I asked him.
 
"Hey, are you coming out with us?" Nabo stepped in, eager to change the subject.
 
"You should" Izi agreed after side-eyeing Udochi.
 
"Come out where?" I asked. It was my understanding that we had the 30th to rest and heal before the end-of-year party on the 31st. The way I saw it, I had a day to figure out a way out of putting on that mask again.
 
"It's Ajo Obi today" Nabo replied matter-of-factly, "The games?"
 
"Uh--" I wondered whether I should have known what he was talking about. "What's that?"
 
"Test of strength? Endurance?" Izi's expression as she spoke told me I should have known what she was talking about but none of it ringed any bells.
 
Apparently, during Ajo Obi, the strongmen and women of the village compete for the favor of the gods. There was fighting and wrestling as you'd expect but as it turned out, the most sought-after prize at the games was Nkuru, the ball.

"It's epic" Udochi explained, "They have to carry this huge ball the entire length of the square" He gestured with his arms and mouth to show the size of the ball.
 
"Yeah well, I'm not going," I said simply.
 
"We're all going" Nabo looked at me concerned, "You shouldn't stay here all by yourself. It'll be fun, I promise"
 
In truth, I wasn't as opposed to the idea as I appeared. I wasn't looking forward to sitting in that room all day, especially without my phone or anything. But even considering that, how could I go out into the world as this person?
 
"It's just--" I searched for the words, "I can't go out like this."
 
"I don't think it's as big of a deal as you think" Nabo quickly understood my reservations, "Nobody cares really. Everyone's just going to be out having fun"
 
"But it's a big deal though" I argued, "I haven't even wrapped my head around everything that's happening to me. Oh, by the way, I can magically understand a language I never learned. That's crazy, right?"
 
"Oh me too!" Izi's face perked up, "I think it's awesome"
 
"Maybe for you. I don't even recognize myself anymore!" I tried to get Nabo to see why it was in fact a big deal, "What if I never change back?"
 
"Would that be so bad?" Izi asked, "You're pretty"
 
I glared at Nabo when his expression implied that she wasn't wrong.
 
"Yes!" I exclaimed in response, "Yes it would be. I have a life. I have university, I have friends. I can't just show up looking like this"
 
"Is that-- the only reason?" Nabo asked.
 
"What do you mean?" I realized I hadn't even touched my food. I couldn't remember the last time I had anything to eat, why wasn't I famished?
 
"Nevermind" he seemed to let it go.
 
"Well I don't care either way but there's a good chance you return to normal after the new year." Udochi offered helpfully.
 
Ikenna nodded in agreement between awkward bites.
 
I turned to Nabo for confirmation with renewed hope.
 
"It makes sense" he agreed, "the markings wash away at the new year. Why should this be different?"
 
Yes, it did make sense. I could hardly be stuck like this forever right?
 
"Right," I voiced to the others.
 
"Right, so enjoy your time as a girl. And maybe, you might learn something" Izi said finally.

=^..^=
 
My newfound hope led me to be more adventurous and I eventually found myself walking out of the palace gates with the rest of the group.
 
The new dress that had been brought up to my room after breakfast was a bit much but I'd decided to stop complaining and just go with the flow so there I was, wearing something I never would have dreamed of.
 
It was an admittedly beautiful off-shoulder dress with flowing sleeves that went just passed my elbows. The waistline was very fitting and hugged mine snugly after which point the skirt flared out dramatically.
 
It was the kind of dress you'd see on a girl and immediately fall in love with her, except I was the girl.
 
Still, it was fine because no one would recognize me as this girl right? Wrong, my parents were waiting to speak to me right outside the palace gates.
 
I was both embarrassed and upset, a strange pair of feelings.
 
"David" my father had called to me. I'd stopped dead in my tracks.
 
"We'll give you some time" Nabo touched my shoulder lightly.
 
"Come on, it's started already" I heard Udochi complain as he was pulled out of earshot.
 
"Mum, dad," I said softly. I was still mad at them but more than that, I was hyper-aware of how I looked at that moment.
 
"How are you doing, kiddo?" my dad had asked but without allowing me a chance to answer, my mom walked over and pulled me into a hug.
 
I held her because I needed my parents now more than ever with everything going on.
 
It was a nice surprise when my father's arms enveloped the two of us. My father hadn't hugged me for as long as I could remember.
 
"We're very proud of you" he'd said and it had taken me some time to process the words. I had been expecting an apology, not pride.
 
"What?" I stepped away, "Why would you be proud of me?"
 
"Well," my father smiled warmly, "you have renewed our faith. We have strayed, as a family but you led us back"
 
"I didn't do anything. This--" I gestured at myself, "This was done to me"
 
"You were chosen" my father looked so pleased, "This is the will of the gods"
 
"Dad!" My gaze shifted from him to my mother who wasn't saying anything to counter his position.
 
"It's okay" My mother stepped towards me, "Everything happens just as she wills it. You are a miracle. Living proof of her beauty"
 
I was so stunned, I hadn't even been able to move when she took my hand in hers.
 
"Here," my mother said as she began working at her necklace clasp, "I want you to wear this"
 
She reached over and clasped the necklace around my neck. I brought my fingers up to my neck and touched it gently, still stunned at how many parents were acting.
 
The pendant was a golden depiction of fire, something I hadn't seen my mother wear in several years. It must have looked right at home on my slender neck.
 
"You are Ikuba's chosen. Rejoice." my mother said to me finally.

=^..^=
 
I returned to Nabo and the others with my mind in a daze. My parents had waved me on with the most satisfied looks on their faces and I couldn't help but wonder whether there was something wrong with them.
 
There hadn't seemed to be any part of them that so much as questioned what Ikuba had done to me. There was only renewed devotion present.

"That's pretty" Izi commented as I rejoined the group and we set out.
 
"What?" I asked, after which she pointed to my new necklace, "Oh, I guess"
 
Nabo and the others engaged in conversation as we walked through the village, heading in the direction of the square. In the meantime, I pondered my parents' behavior.
 
Was it psychosis? No surely not. Ikuba and the rest of them were very much real. Was their very existence alone enough to warrant such unchallenged love and obedience?
 
We passed many villagers heading to and from the square. Many gave us a wide berth, children ran off in both fear and glee.
 
'What was it like to devote yourself to one more powerful than yourself?' I wondered. Did it feel safe to let go?
 
Even Nabo who knew of Arun's true nature still seemed so eager to serve. Why?
 
"Are you okay?" he asked me after I had been lost in thought for some time.
 
"Mmh" I nodded slightly.

=^..^=
 
The square was bubbling with so much excitement that it was hard for it not to be contagious. There were children playing, women singing, and groups of people dancing together, and most of all, the games were in full swing.
 
Two strong men went at it, trying to push each other out of a circle. Two women fought each other with spears to the amusement of a crowd. I gasped in shock when the pointy end of a spear had narrowly missed one's eye.
 
It was barbaric how she had laughed in the face of permanent bodily injury.
 
Long, slender men ran the length of the square in hopes of being crowned the fastest. One of whom would have run right into me when I wasn't looking had it not been for Nabo's intervention.
 
With quick reflexes and strength I didn't know he possessed, he had pulled me out of the way and into his arms.
 
Longer than I would have liked, we lingered in that position and stared deeply into each other's eyes. I felt a tightness in my chest as I felt his arm around my waist.
 
He looked down at me with worry and relief in his eyes. The feeling of safety that I wondered whether the gods provided in exchange for service, there it was, free of charge.
 
"That was close" I heard Udochi call out.
 
I cleared my throat quickly and stepped away, "Yeah. Thanks" I said to Nabo. Our eyes met once more before I turned away.
 
I noticed Izi give me a strange look before she changed the subject, "So what do you guys want to watch?"
 
"Wrestling" Ikenna managed in our language.
 
"I'm going to join the singing" Izi revealed.
 
"I'll go find my family" Udochi informed us.
 
"What are you guys going to do?" Izi turned to us.
 
"Go ahead. We'll find you when Nkuru begins" Nabo spoke for the both of us. I had no cause to disagree.
 
"Okay, we'll meet by the statue" Izi decided. No one had any objections and so they set out, leaving me alone with Nabo.
 
Why did that make me nervous?
 
"So umm--" I began when everyone had departed.
 
"Come with me?" he'd asked, or had it been a statement?
 
Still, I followed his lead as we made our way through the crowds of people while fighting the shoves of those trying to the front of the pack. The whole village must have been gathered in this tiny square. Eventually, we had to make the sensible decision to hold hands to get through the chaos together.

Well, Nabo had made the decision by wrapping my hand in his. I'd only let him.

=^..^=
 
"Oh my God, is that what I think it is?" I exclaimed as it came into view. How long had it been? A decade?
 
Nabo had brought me to our old primary school. I'd spent so much of my formative years here. We'd spent it together. Goofing off most of the time.
 
I walked through the open gates and a wave of nostalgia flowed through me. I'd forgotten so much of my childhood because I'd been so eager to put this whole village out of my mind.
 
But we'd had fun here.
 
"The swing is still there!" I squealed, let go of his hand, and hurried towards the playground.
 
"Slow down" he called out as he jogged to catch up.
 
"I can't believe it's still here after all this time" I called back to him as I ran and sat in one of the seats.
 
"You know it's not the same one, right?" he informed me after closing the distance between us.
 
"Don't ruin this for me" I pouted.
 
He laughed a hearty laugh, "Fine. Should I push you?"
 
"Sure," I said before holding on tightly to the chain.
 
The hair that I hadn't had yesterday blew back and forth in the wind as Nabo pushed faster and faster.
 
I squealed in delight. I hadn't been on a swing since I left this place. It was the little things that told me I'd had a good childhood here. I was happy.
 
It wasn't until the swing slowed to a halt that I realized I'd been giggling without a care in the world. When I noticed him watching me, I blushed.

"What?" I asked him.

"Nothing" he shook his head.

There was something about the way he had been looking at me but I chose not to press any further.
 
"Would you like me to push?" I offered to return the favor.
 
"Can you?"
 
"Shut up," I said playfully as I stood to take a place behind him. Turns out it had been a perfectly valid question.
 
I'd found myself straining to even get him in motion and every time the swing returned, I feared he would barrel me to the floor.
 
"Have a seat" he laughed at my failure.
 
I chuckled to hide the shame. I would have spent more time considering how much weaker I'd gotten but something else had caught my attention. Through his shirt, I could see the bandages that covered the burn I'd inflicted on him. "How's your back?" I asked.
 
"Uh, it's fine" he replied.
 
"Can I?" I asked while still standing behind him.
 
He shrugged his response.
 
Slowly I raised his shirt up and it broke my heart. He must have been in such pain but he would never show it.
 
"I'm fine, really" he insisted.

"You're not fine. You don't have to be a tough guy all the time, you can--"
 
"Hey!" A voice called in anger from somewhere behind us. I'd turned quickly enough to find the source. An old man holding-- was that a gun?
 
It had taken me much longer to react than Nabo. All I'd heard was him screaming my name followed by the sound of gunfire.

"Nabo" I screamed in horror as he fell to the floor. I hurried to meet him and held his head in my arms. How had he even made it from the swing to throw himself in front of me before I'd had the presence of mind to move?

Time seemed to freeze as a deep red color began to permeate through his shirt originating from his abdomen. I screamed.

"No, no, no!" my panicked voice cut through the air. Why had he done that?

I turned to the old man who had begun raising his rifle once more and pointed at me. I remained kneeling in the sand clutching onto my friend.

"Run" Nabo groaned. I couldn't move. I couldn't just leave him there.

My gaze was locked on the gunman as he took aim. I studied him closely. The gray hair, the bulging nose, the downturned eyes. I wanted to remember him.

At that moment, I swore I would kill him. No matter what.

He took a step forward and fired. I flinched following the loud bang but the man was the one that yelled in pain. The gun had backfired, sending pieces of the bolt he'd intended for me back into his eye. When the smoke cleared from the rifle, I saw the true extent of the damage. Not enough.

The man cursed but remained undeterred as he began his advance towards me.

I couldn't move. I couldn't leave Nabo there alone.

"Wake up" I begged him. We had to go.

'Ikuba, help me. Please' I clasped the pendant on the necklace and prayed to her. 'Help me save him'

Silence. For once, I hoped to hear the sound of her sweet, melodic voice but there was nothing. There was no voice, but there was the sound of footsteps. Too many to count. The villagers had arrived, drawn by the sound of gunshots.

The old man took one look at the crowd arriving through the gates of the primary school and another at me holding Nabo in the dirt.

He cursed once more before turning and disappearing behind the school. A few young men gave chase and I screamed for someone to help me.

=^..^=

I was mostly in a daze as they carried him through the paths of our little village. Several women tried to lead me away but failed. I would keep him in my sights no matter what.

I stared in horror when I realized they were taking him to the shrine.

"Why aren't we going to the hospital?" I called out to anyone who would listen but no one did. The crowd only sang as they marched. "No, we need to get him to the hospital"

They wouldn't listen. Diligently, they marched the whole way to the shrine and so I followed and prayed that he would be okay.

The men that carried him ushered him into the shrine and I pushed my way in after them.

"Save him," I said to the chief priest in our language.

He quietly made his way to the wall of masks and retrieved one of them, "Only Arun can save him now" the priest replied.

Nabo was placed on the floor. I could tell his breathing had slowed drastically. He didn't have much longer. I rushed down to the ground to meet him and held his hand.

He'd given himself for me. I didn't care how, I just wanted him to live.

I couldn't breathe as Arun's mask was slowly placed on his head. My heart skipped a bit as I watched my friend's body jerk violently in pain. The mask was quickly removed from his head.

"What-- what's going on?" I asked, my fear and panic clear on my face. I begged for an explanation.

"Arun rejects the weak," the chief priest said simply.

That was all he had said. No further explanations, no subsequent courses of action. Nothing.

"Save him" I screamed at him. "Fucking save him" I begged.

He shook his head and did nothing else. How entirely useless.

I rushed to my feet and towards the wall of masks. Before anyone could object, I placed Ikuba's mask on my head.

Darkness.

"Ikuba" I called out into the darkness. My voice echoed countless times.

"Bow" came a whisper from the void.

I obeyed. Of course I did, I had come to throw myself at her mercy.

I felt her burning fingers on the back of my neck. I felt the heat from her face as she brought it close to mine.

"Speak" Her breath was hot enough to boil my skin if I had any physical form.

"Please, save my friend"

She only laughed before I felt the heat retreat. From the void, I heard the words, "No"

"I'll do anything" I screamed as I felt her go farther and farther away. I would do anything to save him, just as he'd done for me.

"Anything?" the heat returned with her words.

"Y-yes" I stuttered before steeling myself once more, "I'll do anything"

She materialized in front of me and for the first time, I saw her in all of her terrifying, gruesome glory.

"Give yourself to me," she said with a crooked smile.

"How?" I asked.

"Take my hand" she outstretched her charred fingers to me. Somehow I knew there was no going back from this. Her excited smile was all the confirmation I needed.

With each passing moment, my hand got closer to hers, the more eager she seemed to get. I stopped short but only for a moment before making contact.

=^..^=

I woke up in bed in my room in the palace. My head tilted from side to side and I licked my lips. Something was wrong, I hadn't intended to do any of that.

I sat up in bed, quickly discovering how different my body now was. My breasts were at least twice the size they were the last time I was awake. My hips curved almost unrealistically away from my waist. I could feel my hair on my back, my locks came all the way down to my lower back.

I squeezed my left nipple and moaned. It felt amazing, sensitive. My actions were not my own.

I noticed a massive figure in the corner of the room watching me. I smiled in the face of the hunger in his eyes. With my long fingers, I beckoned him over and he obliged.

Nabo walked into the light, looking more powerful than ever.

He closed the distance between us and kissed me passionately on the lips. I felt my body heat up from the excitement. He took a handful of my breasts in his large hands and pressed gently.

"Yes," I breathed.

I pulled him on top of me and held on tightly. With my sharp fingers, I ripped his shirt off him before finding my way out of my dress. Our bodies came in contact and I felt myself heat up again. I had to be careful not to set the room ablaze.

One after the other, we stripped ourselves of all our clothes and revealed our bodies to each other.

I noticed the hole where the bullet had found its way into his belly. Big enough to stick my fingers into. I realized my friend was no longer in there, there was only Arun.

There was only Arun.

I wanted to cry but my eyes were no longer mine to do with as I wished. Instead, my eyes were locked on his massive member that had started to invade my body in a way that shouldn't have been possible.

Any words I tried to speak in defiance remained only in my head. My body eagerly welcomed him. I even pushed forward into him as he did. I moaned with so much pleasure that I burned the bedding beneath me as I felt him deep inside me.

My actions were not my own. It felt similar to the last time Ikuba had taken control but this time, I could tell where I ended and where she began. I could tell that I was fading away with each passing moment, with each passing thrust.

'Nabo' I tried to call out to him but could only watch his wrathful expression in silence as he fucked me.

"I'm sorry" I managed to force the words passed Ikuba's lips before my mind faded to nothing.

=^..^=

The next morning, Ikuba would make her way to the cages where the gunman was being held. No guard dared stop her as she inspected each cell. It was as though they sensed her residence in that body despite the absence of her mask or her markings.

She might have been a bit disappointed at the whole thing. She had so been looking forward to scorching the first maggot that got in her way.

"Mother of fire!" the gunman called out to her with his head bowed into the dirt. He truly was the most devoted among all. "I did as you bid"

"I know" she spoke softly as she melted the locks on the cage and stepped through, "Very well done" she smiled.

"You are pleased?" the old man asked, happy to have been of some use to his goddess.

"Very pleased" she smiled heartily, "And you will be rewarded"

"Goddess please," he raised his head slightly with an earnest look about him, "I did not do it for a reward. Your presence here is reward enough"

"Do you refuse?"

The color seemed to drain from his face, "No. I gladly accept"

"Take my hand," she said simply.

The man's face brightened expectantly. Would he too be granted godhood just like N'daka? Nothing would make him happier.

He reached toward her outstretched hand. In his mind, this was the best day of his life.

He touched her fingertips and burst into flames as her laughter filled the air.

=^..^=

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Thanks for reading. I'd love to hear what you thought about this short story. Feedback is greatly appreciated.