My village was one where superstitions ran wild and unchecked. Even as the rest of the world progressed into the 21st century and turned to science for answers, they remained stuck in the past with their primitive beliefs.

I too once had it in my head that the tales of spirits and the warnings of omens were real but that was before my father ferried our family far away and into the city. Naturally, it had taken quite some time and a lot of work to get over my beliefs but I had grown into a rational young man. In no small way, I was proud of how far I'd come and preached against superstition any chance I could. This was one such chance.

"You don't expect anyone to believe any of that nonsense, do you?" I asked Nabo, the expression on my face perfectly conveying how ridiculous I found everything.

This year my father had decided to spend Christmas with my ailing grandmother and we had returned to the village. We had arrived yesterday evening and I'd quickly come to the conclusion that this was going to be my last time here.

You see the people of my village didn't celebrate the end of the year the same way everyone else did. There were no Christmas trees or lights, there was no Santa. Instead, I found terrifying art and patterns, palm leaves for decoration, and uncanny masks worn by children. And worst of all, everyone pretended it was normal.

I'd isolated myself since we arrived a day ago and had spent the entire time locked in my room reading, trying to keep hold of my sanity. Three days, I only had to put up with this for three days and I would leave for civilization and never come back.

I'd intended to spend those three days by my lonesome until Nabo came to visit. My old best friend was one of many people that I'd left behind when we left for the city. It wasn't as though we could have kept in touch. There were no phones in this village back then. Things had improved somewhat in the technology aspect but not at all in the things they believed to be as real as the air we breathed.

Nabo more than most had fallen deeper into the delusion.

"It's real, Tonye" Nabo tried and failed to convince me, "I've seen things. I've felt it. The gods, the spirits of the water, they're all real"

"Ha!" I let out a laugh, "Nabo, you're too funny"

"Only last week, Arun spoke to me" he insisted, "Clear as day"

"How? You heard a voice?" I mocked.

"I was wearing his mask, for practice" he ignored my jesting and explained, "I heard him. I swear it"

Nabo was so far into the belief that he had become the masquerade while I'd been gone. The masquerades were the highlight of our village's end-of-year celebrations. The belief if I remember correctly was that the gods danced with us to end the year. Strong, healthy people were chosen by the gods -- but in reality by the Chief Priest -- to represent them.

Dress like them and wear their masks and it is said that if the god accepted that vessel, they would inhabit the body themselves and dance. Nabo had gone and got himself chosen as Arun's vessel.

It had traumatised me as a kid if I was being honest and I couldn't believe that my friend would accept such responsibility.

"Yeah, what did he say?" I asked while rolling my eyes.

Nabo said the words first in the language of our people and then repeated them in English knowing I wouldn't understand, "Fire and blood".

I was caught aback for a second before catching myself.

"We'll that's ominous" I commented after I'd regained my composure. The fear of those words was only a remnant of my childhood indoctrination.

Ten-year-old me knew to be terrified of the blood god's words. Twenty-year-old me knew better. Nabo was most likely hallucinating and hearing exactly what he wanted to.

"Tonye--" Nabo started again.

"Call me David" I interrupted him. I much preferred my English name.

"David, it's real" Nabo reiterated.

"Prove it then" I replied, "You said he spoke to you while wearing his mask, let me try it on then. If I hear anything, even so much as a whisper, I'll apologize to you immediately and be a believer"

"What? That's stupid" He quickly replied, "No one is allowed to wear the masks except the chosen"

"Right," I smirked.

"No, I'm serious. I don't even have them anyway, it's in the shrine like always"

"Let's go there then" I pressed, "It's not like it's the first time we've snuck in"

The shrine had virtually no security despite being a place of great significance to our people. I reasoned that that was why it was so clumsily guarded. No one else would dare enter uninvited.

"No" Nabo replied firmly.

I smiled. For the first time since arriving here, I wanted to do something other than sit in this boring room. I wanted to go to that shrine and prove once and for all that all of it was bullshit.

"I'm going," I said with a satisfied smile.

"Stop" Nabo protested.

"I'm going," I said as I stood from the bed, "with or without you"

I quickly made my way toward the door and smiled when I heard Nabo follow. I'd found quite a bit of fun in this awful village.

I quickly pushed my way through the house and eventually came down to the living room to announce to my parents that I was stepping out for a bit with Nabo. I didn't stay long enough for a response but I imagined they must have been happy at the change and might have even hoped this was the first of many.

Unlike my old friend and I, my parents were fence sitters on this matter. They didn't quite believe but weren't nearly as vocal about it as I was. It was up to me to fight against the insanity if they wouldn't.

=^..^=

I stepped out into the night air and took in a deep breath. I'd say this for the village, the air was much cleaner here.

"We must go back" Nabo urged me. There was little chance of that, I hadn't felt this excited in a while.

Nabo hurried to block my path as I walked toward the shrine with his arms outstretched, "I can't let you pass"

"Are you afraid I'll prove that it's all bullshit?" I had remembered just how much I used to love fucking with Nabo. He was always so serious. Too serious. But also timid just like he'd been when we were children.

His body had grown considerably in the time we'd been apart. He'd grown manly and strong and now dwarfed my small frame, which must have been why they chose him in the first place. Despite all that, I could tell he was the same shy, little boy that had followed me around everywhere.

"You may not believe in any of this, but I do," Nabo said to me, "The shrine is sacred, I cannot let you step foot in it"

I took a deep breath, "Fine" I replied. He seemed serious about this and I didn't want to be disrespectful no matter what I thought about it. Or so I wanted him to think.

"Thank you," he said happily, breathing a sigh of relief.

'I didn't want to be disrespectful' is what I would have said if I thought their superstition was harmless. I was proof of what childhood indoctrination could do. Nabo too even though he wouldn't admit it. I had no respect for superstition and didn't care for being respectful.

When he seemed to relax his guard, I ran past him and employed my memory to lead me to the shrine as fast as my feet could carry me. I laughed as I ran and he chased after me, I hadn't had this much fun in some time.

"Stop!" Nabo yelled from far behind me. He might have been big and strong but that only meant he was much slower than I was. "David, listen to me, stop this" he called out.

I ignored him and ran through the paths I'd played in as a child. I still remember this place like the back of my hand.

It helped that not much had changed when it came to urban development. Most of the houses had been redone with cement but I was surprised at just how many clay houses remained.

Even the people we passed seemed stuck in time with their clothes but that may have just been due to the season's festivities.

Eventually, Nabo gave up calling out for me and just focused on keeping up with me. We wouldn't stop running until we reached the shrine.

And there, there was not a soul in sight.

I hunched over exhausted from all the running. Nabo was in a similar condition, maybe worse. I began laughing when I had caught my breath enough and he tried to keep from doing the same.

"You had your fun, let's go back," he said in between scattered breaths.

"After coming all this way?" I gave him a knowing smile before pushing my way into the tiny hut that didn't even have a door.

Somehow it seemed a lot bigger on the inside and a lot more luxurious. Fancy sculptures and brilliant tapestries lined the room. On the far wall hung the masks. Bingo.

As I took a step forward, I caught something out of the corner of my eyes and exclaimed, "Fuck!"

I turned quickly to see an old man sitting on the floor in the corner with his legs crossed. How had I not noticed him before when I scanned the room?

Nabo poked his head through the doorway and whispered, "You shouldn't be here, let's go"

My gaze remained on the old man but he remained unmoving and paying me no mind. It didn't even seem like he had noticed me despite my earlier exclamation. Only the soft breathing confirmed to me that he wasn't a statue, but he might as well have been one.

"David" Nabo whispered again.

The masks were right there. I'd just pop over there, toss one of them on my head, and prove I'm right. Easy.

I took one step forward.

"David!" Nabo whispered louder and with greater urgency.

"I'll be right back" I whispered to him before taking another step forward.

When I had taken enough to Nabo's dismay, he walked through the door and hurried to meet me.

"Is that bowl filled with bones?" I whispered, pointing at a bowl in another corner.

"Finger bones. Now let's go"

"That's fucked up" I commented before taking another step toward the mask. I recognized Arun's mask immediately. An ugly thing resembling a disfigured face with sharp teeth and as many piercings as they could fit on it. The gods were taught to us at a young age. Even now, I knew more about them than I wished to.

I stepped forward towards his mask. Arun, the blood god. A warmonger whose offering was death.

I stepped closer to the mask.

"Okay Arun, speak to me"

'Come'

At first, I wasn't sure I'd heard it at all. It was only the faintest of whispers, soft and delicate. But the more time passed, the more I was sure I'd heard the words.

"What?" I turned to Nabo.

He looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"I thought--" I turned back to the old man and he remained unmoving paying us no mind.

"What are you doing?" Nabo asked me, confused as much as I was.

"Didn't you say--"

'Come here' I heard the voice again and took a step backwards.

"Good, can we go?" Nabo touched my shoulder.

"You didn't say anything?" I asked him with wide eyes.

"Say what?"

I stood there stunned for a moment, unsure of what was happening.

"Let's get out of here" I turned to leave.

'Stop' I heard and I couldn't move. I swear I couldn't move.

"Stop messing around" Nabo urged me, "Let's leave before the chief priest wakes up"

My friend's voice seemed to fade into the distance until I could hear nothing but the voice calling me and I knew where it wanted me to go—the mask.

Not Arun's mask, but Ikuba's.

Ikuba, the fire goddess. Compared to the others, her mask most resembled a human anatomically. The most notable features were that half the mask was scorched black and it had long beads for hair that went all the way to the floor.

Ikuba's mask wanted me closer and I couldn't stop myself from walking. I could hear Nabo's voice that urged me back growing more and more distant. I watched helplessly as I approached Ikuba, took her, and put her on my head.

Black. Nothing remained but the dark.

"Hello?" I called out and the only response was the echo of my own voice.

"Nabo!" I shouted.

"He can't hear you" A soft voice spoke from behind me in a manner that sounded more like song.

"Who are you?" I called out turning around to find no one but the dark.

"I am she who always was" The voice came from behind me once again. The fear I was feeling grew more intense.

"I'm sorry, please let me go"

"Let you go?" The voice laughed maniacally, "You are holding on to me"

I looked down and found my hand gripping another, a lost limb that only came up to the elbow. I let go and screamed. She laughed louder.

"Please" I begged. The laughter grew even louder and seemed to be coming from insider my head. "What do you want?" I screamed.

The laugher stopped offering me a brief respite, and a soft whisper followed in my ear, "Only to dance and to fuck"

My eyes opened and I found myself dancing, Ikuba's mask still on my head. The old man was standing in front of me, only watching.

The fear grew even more intense when I realized I couldn't stop dancing in this sexual, feminine manner. My body moved in ways I didn't think it could.

The worry on Nabo's face who stood behind the priest mirrored my own. I couldn't stop.

I couldn't stop. Not until the priest reached over and raised the mask off my head. I fell to the ground exhausted and out of breath.

I struggled to catch my breath for the second time tonight and only after I did, did I start coughing violently.

I looked up at the old man and struggled to read the blank expression on his face. I looked down at his hand and stared in horror as I noticed the face on the mask was smiling.

I hurried to my feet and pushed my way out of the shrine.

"David" Nabo called after me but I didn't stop. I ran and didn't stop running till I was in my bed with the door locked behind me.

=^..^=

I was awoken by pounding on my door. I'd initially planned to ignore it and try to get back to sleep but whoever it was only pounded louder.

"What!" I yelled.

I hadn't been able to get any sleep last night. I was dizzy, groggy, and in a horrible mood.

"Open the damn door" I heard my father yell which woke me up a bit. He wasn't at all the type to raise his voice at me especially so early in the morning.

Something was wrong. Suddenly the details of last night's events came rushing back and a fresh wave of fear shot through my body.

'Ikuba' the word forced its way into my mind as I jumped out of bed.

"Open--" my father began again but ceased when I began fiddling with the locks. I'd decided to tell my parents what happened last night. The fear didn't allow me to keep things to myself any longer.

"Dad, I--" I tried to say as I opened the door but he cut me off.

"Downstairs now!" he said through his teeth. I dared not disobey.

Downstairs my mother waited with a very disappointed look on her.

"What is wrong with you?" she asked me. She too was pissed at me.

"What's going on?" I tried to ask but no one was hearing it.

"Outside. Now." my father said simply. I obeyed and together we all stepped out of the house and into the morning light. There I found an audience waiting for me.

There were three strong-looking men and an elderly woman I didn't recognize but two others that I did, Nabo and the old man.

Nabo was dressed in a strange attire, looking like he was headed to war. His hands and legs had been painted white and he wore a ring of beads on his wrist and ankles.

The old man's expression remained the same as it was last night. I could guess what this was about.

"I'm very sorry for--" I started but the old man raised his hand to silence me. And so I remained quiet only occasionally turning to look at my parents.

"Ikuba's vessel put the mask on this morning in preparation for today's celebrations" One of the men I didn't recognize spoke, "It burned her face"

I turned to look at Nabo who only looked away.

The old man let out pained grunts, drawing our attention to him. "It seems Ikuba has chosen another"

=^..^=

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Hello, just a short story to try to jumpstart my writing which has been pretty much dead. Hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

I had pleaded for my parents to do something, anything, as the men gripped my arm firmly and led me away.

"Mum!" I had turned back to scream at her as she cried into my father's arms.

Why weren't they doing anything? Why were they letting these strange men lead me away and for what?

"Nabo, what's going on?" I had turned to my old friend who had been avoiding my gaze.

I had tried to force myself out of their grip with no success. Now, as we approached the shrine and my pleads fell on deaf ears, that same feeling of helplessness began to resurface.

With each step I was forced to take, I drew closer to the building without a door. This time, it wasn't empty. There were others, three more dressed as peculiarly as Nabo.

I realized today was the start of the celebrations. Those before me were meant to be vessels for other gods. At a glance, I immediately recognized the blue-faced god. A girl that looked around my age had had her face painted blue and presumably, her hair cut off to represent Yimo, the Dreamweaver. She wore a silk dress that I'd seen Yimo depicted in as a child.

In her hand, she held a mask that had its eyes closed which caused me to wonder how she would see through it.

A boy wearing nothing but a loincloth had his entire body covered in charcoal and carried Amoji's mask. Amoji known as the lord of shadow was said to give visions of secrets in the dim light and the dark. The boy was deathly thin and looked almost skeletal very similar to how Amoji had been portrayed. His mask was made of black wood.

The last boy embodied N'daka, the hunter. He was said to have been a human who achieved godhood. Even as a child, I had thought his was the most ridiculous story of the bunch. His mask was shaped like a buffalo and adorned with bird feathers.

The three of them ceased their conversation and turned to look at the chief priest, Nabo and I as we walked in. I realized that these people meant for me to join them. I looked past them and saw Ikuba's mask hanging on the wall waiting for me.

I instinctively took a step back.

This time, it was Nabo that stopped me from retreating. How had I gotten myself into this? What could I say to get myself out of it?

"Please" I offered the chief priest. No response. I had to fight. I had just started preparing to force my way out when another girl walked in. Her face was marred by deep, angry burns that stretched from her forehead down to her chin, as though a great fire had licked her entire face.

An ointment had been applied to soothe her skin but the damage was clear, blisters and peeling flesh covered a majority of her face.

She walked up to me angrily, breathing heavily like a mad woman.

The chief priest said something in the language I never learned causing her to grunt in frustration but say nothing. Her eyes burned with anger and rage, causing me to tremble slightly. It had been a day of constant confrontation and aggression and I just wanted it to end.

Two women walked in behind her and led her away, the whole time, her eyes remained glued to mine. Threatening. I was already exhausted and the day had only just begun.

No sooner had she left did the sound of drums permeate the air. The ominous sound seemed to be originating from quite a distance away but I couldn't shake the feeling that it had something to do with me. I looked around the room and found my confirmation. The three other vessels seemed to be preparing themselves.

I turned to Nabo and found him breathing deeply with his eyes closed. The priest said something else and the three vessels steeled themselves and put the masks on their head. It was like a switch flipped with the way they began laughing immediately. The plain masks in their hands now seemed so much more expressive on their heads.

One by one they approached me and began studying me closely. They tilted their heads and moved in unnatural patterns, their proximity paired with the ominous drums kept me from breathing.

The chief priest said something else and they all turned to him. Yimo was the first to speak. Her voice was a high-pitched shriek that hurt my ears. Amoji stepped up and even though I got the sense that he was speaking, no sound was heard.

The priest said something else and all three exited the hut. Those outside took one look at them and ran. The celebrations had begun. Celebration was one word but more accurately, it was a hunt.

The dancing came much later in the day. The first half was much more brutal. Equipped with long canes, they would run around the village whipping everyone that they caught. It was supposed to be fun for both us and them. The only ones spared were the drummers.

Of course, anyone who didn't wish to participate could stay home that day but few people did. Our people considered it an honor to play with the gods and believed that participating would bring them a year of goodwill. I had always thought the whole thing ridiculous but here I was, about to be one of them.

I heard the priest say something and after which Nabo obediently walked past me, retrieved Arun's mask, placed it on his head, then roared.

I couldn't believe that sound was coming from my timid friend.

Arun turned his attention to me and closed the gap between us. He scared me the most of all of them and had the air of a brutal warlord who hadn't been there a moment ago.

Before I could react, Arun reached out, grabbed my neck, and began choking me.

"Arun!" I heard the chief priest call out then immediately follow with something I didn't understand. Arun's grip loosened allowing me to breathe. With no more words between them, he left the shrine. The heavy, quickly retreating footsteps told me that Arun was running to join the fun. I pitied those he caught.

The chief priest said something else and those two women from earlier returned, boxes and clothes in hand. I was led to sit on the floor before I could even resist. At that point, I had resigned to my fate and simply allowed them to get to work painting my face. I couldn't tell much of what they were doing but they'd drawn different patterns around my eyes, nose, and chin and had even painted my lips.

At some point, my clothes had come off and the patterns continued down my body, to my fingertips and covering my legs. Still, the drums raged on in the background. I could hear screams and laughter in the distance.

When the painting was done, the clothes were revealed. A wrap that was meant to cover nonexistent breasts and a skirt woven from burnt palm fronds.

The women handed them to me and seemed to expect me to put them on.

"No" was all I managed before I heard Ikuba's voice in my ear.

'Hurry' she'd said. I looked around and confirmed my suspicion that no one else had heard anything.

"Please" I whispered.

Suddenly the paintings on my skin and face began burning causing me to squirm and wince in pain.

"Okay, okay, okay" I repeated, and just like that it stopped. Without warning tears rolled down my cheeks. The helplessness was getting too much to deal with.

'No tears' I heard Ikuba's voice sound playfully all around me, 'You will ruin my face'

Not even my tears were my own to do with as I wished. With no other hope, I did what was required of me. I wore the clothes. I must have looked so ridiculous with the cloth wrapped tightly around my chest and the skirt.

All that was left was her mask. The stuff of my nightmares. I had started to hyperventilate as the chief priest approached me. I wanted to run but I didn't know what Ikuba would do. So I just closed my eyes and just waited for the worst.

Darkness. And then laughter from my lips in a voice I didn't recognize.

There were thoughts of fire and destruction floating in my head. I wanted to burn. I wanted to burn everything.

I could look through the mask and I could see the chief priest watching me but my movements were not my own.

I was excited for the hunt. Or was that even me? Which thoughts were my own? I couldn't figure out where I ended and she began.

"Ikuba" I heard the chief priest call out to me, "Bearer of heat, mother of fire--"

I could understand him.

Of course, I could understand him, the words were my own. I had spoken those words since the beginning of the world.

"We welcome you, o great one"

I hissed and steam left my lips.

"With your light, ignite our sight. Leave your mark on your children"

Oh, I was so excited for the hunt. I walked towards and passed him and into the mortal world.

Outside I found a cane intended for me just like last year. I retrieved and inspected it, a flimsy thing. I would have preferred to burn my victims but this would have to do. I couldn't exactly punish those devoted to me, could I?

Not yet anyway.

I gripped the cane hard and started running. I hummed to myself happily as I wondered who my first victim would be. This was going to be so much fun.

=^..^=

A day of fun is what was promised to us every year in exchange for our favor. They had yet again delivered. I looked down at the cane, worn and broken away on the backs of so many. It brought a smile to my lips.

I reminisced over the way their skin bled and tore at each hit. Arun must be having so much fun.

I wondered where he was. It had been hours and I'd only run into N'daka. We fought and even in this inferior skin, the weakling still didn't stand a chance.

While I was lost in thought, the rhythm of the drums slowed and eventually stopped. I smiled because I knew what was coming next. I screamed so loudly the flying beasts fluttered away in fear. It was time.

The drums started again in a different pattern and I followed them happily to their source.

I followed the drums to the village square and found him. Just the mere sight of him threatened to send me into a frenzy. My body shook from the excitement as I watched him test his mortal's strength against ten men.

He pulled one end of the rope and the mortals pulled another. They didn't stand a chance. And of course, they didn't. He roared as the men fell and I joined him with a scream of my own.

Arun turned his attention to me and began walking. I couldn't help but smile. I too walked over and we met in the middle, pressed our faces together, and held each other. The insects all around us were witnessing the truth of the world, that fire and blood belong together. Where I go, he was sure to follow.

I held him tightly and scorched the skin where my fingers met his back. I wanted to fuck him right there and then but there would be time for that. Now it was time to dance and so we did. We danced until night came. We danced alongside the mortals that we had hunted. We danced until our bodies neared death and only at that point did I allow the priests to lead my mortal away.

There was no need to be greedy. Arun and I would have more time together.

=^..^=

"David! David!"

Where was I? It was dark, or were my eyes just closed? I forced them open and even that was a chore. I felt weak and exhausted.

I saw my mother, and then some priests, and my memories returned to me.

"Leave me alone" I muttered before closing my eyes once more. There was a lot of pain there. Physical pain sure but that was the lesser of two evils. I felt well and truly betrayed.

"You need to wake up" I heard my old friend's voice.

"What do you want, Nabo?" My voice sounded different, probably just sore from all the screaming.

"It's important" Nabo replied after which I let out a deep sigh. It was obvious they had no plans of letting me be.

"What" I voiced angrily as I arose. I felt different. So much felt different. For one, I was still wearing the wrap around my chest but now it was filled with my own flesh.

I screamed. My throat didn't feel sore, that was just the voice that left my lips. It was foreign but also familiar.

"What the fuck!" I yelled at no one in particular. "My body. What happened to my body?"

"A miracle. Rejoice" one of the priests said to my parents in that language.

"This isn't a fucking miracle, it's a nightmare" It had taken me some time to realize that I now understood their language perfectly, "What are you waiting for? Fix me"

"I don't think they can" Nabo answered in their place, "The gods do what they do. We only serve"

"Shut it" I turned angrily to him, "What have you assholes done to me?" I brought my hand to my chest and recoiled. Just then, a thought popped into my head. I had to check on the little guy. I scanned my surroundings, it was a room I didn't recognize. A bit dated on the furnishings but I thought there had to be a bathroom.

I pushed myself off the bed and managed only one step before falling into an overwhelming weakness. Nabo moved quickly and caught me. The hardness of his body felt immediately familiar. I remembered how it felt when he held me in his arms and we danced for hours.

I pushed myself off him and onto the floor.

"Everybody out" The sound of my voice annoyed me.

"David--" My mother started.

"Out!" I screamed. "Get out"

For once, they didn't argue and eventually left me to my own company. My mind raced with a thousand different thoughts, none explained how this was possible.

"None of this was supposed to exist," I said to myself as I struggled to get back to my feet.

"This isn't right," I said to myself as my hips swayed as I walked towards the bathroom.

I pushed the door open and stepped through. I was terrified to see what I had become. I managed to navigate my way to the mirror above the sink but I was too afraid to look.

In the lit bathroom, I got a better impression of my body. The breasts for lack of a better word weren't big by normal standards but on me, they felt gargantuan.

My waist, my hips, my legs, my body no longer belonged to me. All of it was accentuated by the palm skirt that I still wore.

I hurried it off my body and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the tiny bulge in my underwear albeit much smaller than I remember. Still, it gave me hope that I was still me.

Ikuba hadn't stolen everything yet.

I gathered the courage to look up at the mirror and my heart sank when I realized she had stolen my face.

The girl in the mirror had almost cat-like eyes, one of the few features that Ikuba was almost always depicted with. The priestess' paint ran from just underneath her sleek, narrow eyes converging at the middle of her nose and stopping just above her fiery red lips before continuing down her chin, neck, and body.

Her hair had grown far beyond my short buzz and had even begun forming knots in the early stages of dreadlocks.

Ikuba was remaking me in her image. How was this even possible? How--

A knock on the door saved me from the incoming despair. I wanted to yell for whoever it was to go away but couldn't even muster enough energy for that so I remained quiet.

"It's me" Nabo's voice came through, "Can I come in?"

I took another look at myself in the mirror. I knew I needed to find a way to reverse whatever was happening. Maybe Mr. Fanatic out there had some answers.

"Please can we talk?" His voice came through once again.

I clumsily pulled myself out of the bathroom and along the walls to the door.

"I know that--"

I pulled the door open and came face to face with him. My heart skipped a beat as I saw him. Did he look bigger? Or was I just that much smaller?

"What do you want?" I asked letting my irritation show.

I noticed his gaze fall to my chest and recover expertly. Then I watched his gaze fall even farther downwards and then I remembered I had ditched the skirt in the bathroom. Being seen in my underwear wouldn't have normally been an issue but with my new figure, everything felt different.

I closed the door in a great big hurry.

"Ahem, I brought you something to wear," he said from behind the door.

I opened a crack only big enough for Nabo to squeeze the clothes through.

"I'm not wearing this," I said almost immediately. A single dress and a pair of slippers. They hadn't even offered me any variety.

"I'm sorry, that's what I was given"

"Well get me something else" I complained, "Give me one of your clothes"

"I'm wearing all I have" he explained, "we wear what we are given"

"I don't understand, isn't this your house?"

"No," he replied simply.

There was silence between us as I considered the implication. Where the fuck were we?

"Stay there. You have explaining to do" I called to him before turning my attention to the dress.

'It's just clothes' I told myself. No different from any other garment. The pressing matter was that I needed information.

I was dangerously lost in the dark. I needed to know what was happening to me and if anyone could give me some insight, it was the boy on the other side of the door.

=^..^=

"Don't you dare laugh" I called out to him. "Or I swear--"

"I won't" he replied quickly, "I promise"

I took a deep breath and pulled the door open revealing myself. The dress was longer than I had initially thought and came up to my calf. It was free-flowing, modest, and admittedly comfortable.

"See? I'm not laughing" he said with a charming smile.

"Get in here" I pouted.

The first thing he did was pick the wrap off the floor and place it gently on a nearby table.

"Where are we?" I asked as I walked to sit on the bed. Standing was hard.

"The palace" Nabo answered as he took a seat beside me, "We will stay here throughout the festivities"

"Can I leave?"

"Absolutely not" he shook his head, "I don't think you understand our significance. We are responsible for the village's prosperity for the next year. If for some reason we are not able to finish the celebrations, we risk incurring the wrath of the gods"

"I don't care about all that" I dismissed him.

"How can you still say that? Do you still not believe even now?"

"Look at me, how could I not believe? You were right all along"

"Then why aren't you taking this seriously?"

I paused and gathered myself before speaking again. "I hate them", I told him.

There was a brief silence between us before I continued.

"They suck. Ikuba is real and she sucks"

"Don't say that" Nabo reached out and forcefully grabbed my shoulder. It hurt. It fucking hurt so why was he the one wincing.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"Nothing, it's just a wound"

"Let me see"

"It's nothing" he brushed me off.

"Where's the wound?" I pressed sternly, "Show me"

Nabo let out an exasperated sigh before revealing that the wound was on his back. It took some effort but eventually, I made my way behind him and raised his shirt to reveal two palm imprints burned into his flesh. It fit my hands perfectly.

It proved my point perfectly.

"Don't you see? Ikuba is a psycho that wants to watch the world burn" I walked around to face him again, "What if that was your face?"

"Whatever she's like, I promise Arun is much worse" Nabo confessed.

"Then how can you defend them?"

He had no words to offer.

"That doesn't matter" I shook my head, "I need my body back. Please tell me there's a way."

"I can't do that" he answered.

"What do you mean you can't?" I asked in a panic "Am I stuck like this?"

"I don't know," he told me.

This time I was the one with no words.

"I don't know" he repeated in a defeated voice.

=^..^=

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Thanks for reading this short story so far. Would love to hear what you think

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.