Chapter Thirty-Two – Everyone brings friends to the fight.
~Likosa~
I expected Niukshi’s rage. It would have been foolish not to, and that’s what I should have been focused on.
But my head and heart went to Shontae. I didn’t look back at her, but I knew the news of our daughter would have shaken her.
It should have come from me, but I couldn’t bring myself to mention it, the true reason I wanted so badly to get back home again.
The first blast of fire was a threat. The next would be with the intention to kill. It crashed onto the ground next to us, shaking it with the force. I quickly snuffed out the flames.
“Move!” I instructed the girls to take cover and heard them run.
“Oh, are your friends not capable?” Niukshi laughed. “Wonderful, Likosa. Thank you for making this easier for me.”
“I’ve lost so much time because of your lies. Do not think I will go away without a fight this time.” I warned her, Niukshi. “I am not the same woman you fooled and forced out before.”
“Good. This time will be a lot more satisfying.” She narrowed her eyes as a sadistic grin lifted her lips.
“Likosa, welcome home!” Aielo, long-time friend of Niukshi, appeared to my left. Her locs had grown to nearly brush the ground and highlighted the width of her muscular form.
“Oh yes, so sad you can’t stay longer!” To the right, Glimuret appeared.
Another conspirator. She was instrumental in helping Niukshi kick me out of my home.
She stuck the silver pick into her large afro, which she had shaped into a heart, giving her a loving appearance far from the truth of her personality.
“I see you’ve kept the same friends.” I looked at Niukshi, who rolled fire around her fingertips.
“Oh yes, and I’ve acquired a few more in your absence.” She smiled, and two women I’d never met before appeared behind her. “I suggest you leave now.”
“She’s not going anywhere.” The strength of Shontae’s voice shocked me as she appeared to my right.
“Well, look at that.” Jericha strolled up to my left side. “Everyone brings friends to the fight.”
“You know, I’ve been really wanting to try out those new moves you taught me,” Rayna said as she joined the line.
“Fire for fire sounds good,” Whitney said as she rolled her own flames around her fingertips.
“Oh, I really hope you can back up your words.” Niukshi laughed. “Likosa, did you bring these women here to die?”
“No one will die here,” I declared.
“Oh, we’ll see about that,” Glimuret said as she moved forward. She always looked like she was dancing no matter what she did. Her eyes were locked on Jericha.
She recognized the threat and immediately repositioned herself.
Rayna did the same as Aielo mirrored her friend’s approach and zeroed in on Rayna.
I wanted to reach for Shontae, but I knew it would be a bad idea.
If Niukshi could tell Shontae mattered to me, any more than the others, she would go after her just to upset me, and I couldn’t let that happen.
Instead, I stepped away from Shontae, accepting she would be able to take care of herself and hoping to keep my ex’s attention on me.
It was one of the unknowns who made the first move. She was a smaller woman, with dark skin like my own, and at a quick glance, I would have thought her family. Her smile showcased teeth filed to points as she ran directly at Whitney.
Her hands dropped to her sides, and sharp nails elongated to the lengths of daggers as she approached.
“Oh, hell nah!” Whitney yelled and blasted the woman with a fire ball. She took the hit but quickly recovered, taking aim for Whitney again. At the same time, her counterpart target Shontae.
“Here we go.” Shontae said, and I heard just a little excitement in her tone.
I couldn’t see what she did, since hers was an invisible ability, but the woman who ran for her, her green dyed hair pulled up int a tight bun atop her head, seized and fell to the ground. Her struggle was short-lived before she fell into a deep sleep.
“Okay, Shontae!” Rayna cheered and missed when Aielo whipped her locs out. A sharp smack knocked Rayna to the ground. She stood, sneering at the woman, a welt already forming across her neck where the lock made contact. “Oh, you raggedy bitch!”
Rayna acted instantly. Another sharp slap from Aielo met a blast so powerful, it snatched the hair from the root.
“Aaaahhh!” she screamed as she picked up the detached loc from the ground and placed shaking fingers against a bleeding scalp.
“Try me again.” Rayna held her hands up. “I dare you!”
Jericha didn’t give Glimuret a chance to attack first. The battle was on, she knew it. She dropped to her knees and dug her hands into the ground, eyes glowing green as she did.
“My turn.” Jericha smiled as roots shot up from the ground, capturing Glimuret’s limbs.
As Shontae moved to help Whitney with the first attacker, I focused on Niukshi, who wore a mask of displeasure.
“I will not leave here without the truth being known,” I told her as I moved forward. The fire wrapped around her hands, building with each step I took.
“Then you will die here,” she sneered and lifted her hands. The flames stretched from her fingers, shooting down the path to meet me.
I responded with my water, snuffing out her power, and was taken back to when we were younger.
Then, our sparring was for fun, the way flame met water.
It was what sparked our attraction, both powerful, but we could be vulnerable with each other.
I calmed her fiery spirit, and she inspired more enthusiasm in me.
This was not the same. Niukshi, mother of my child, former guardian of my heart, wanted to kill me. To keep her secret safe, she would end my life and the lives of my friends.
With that understanding, I drew water from the air, creating beads that floated around me.
And with each strike of fire, I defended, cutting through them before they could do any damage.
I meant what I said—I was not the same woman who left.
I was stronger than ever before, and it was time she learned that.
When she charged me, skating on the flames beneath her feet and leaving scorched tracks behind her, I turned the ground into a pool of water, instantly killing her flame.
She dropped onto her back and rolled over, hands poised for attack.
But I remembered the truth. A soaked Niukshi was a defenseless one.
Above her, a cloud formed, and a storm of rain fell, soaking her head to toe.
She cried out in rage as she looked around and realized they were losing the fight.
I made a mistake when following her gaze. I had no reaction when she looked at the others, but when she found Shontae, I flinched. The slight tightening of my jaw and deep inhale was enough for her to realize.
She stood soaked in water and smiled at me.
“Likosa, I’m so glad you’ve worked on yourself while you were away.” She flexed her fingers and steam rose from her flesh. “Did you know one of flame can also internalize their heat?”
It continued. The last droplets vanished from her skin, her warmth spreading enough to dry the ground beneath her.
“Now,” she licked her lips, “the real fun begins.”
Niukshi threw her hand out, directing a flame at Shontae.
I ran, tossing a watery shield up to block her. Shontae turned just in time to see the flame meet water and explode. The impact knocked her back against Whitney, and the two fell together.
As we all rushed to their side, Niukshi’s friends moved to hers: Aielo, who was now without two of her locs, and Glimuret, who’d freed herself of Jericha’s roots thanks to Niukshi’s flame. The other two were still down for the count, wrapped in Shontae’s force.
“Are you okay?” I asked Shontae.
“Yes,” she confirmed.
“Alright, let’s end this.” Whitney stood, flames forming at the ends of her braids.
“Woah!” Rayna pointed at the flames.
“It’s something new I’ve been trying,” Whitney said. “You like?”
“I love!” Rayna pointed at Aielo. “You think she’ll try to steal your flow? She looks like a copycat ass bitch!”
“Hopefully, she’s taking plenty of notes,” Jericha said as she flexed, and shadowy vines lifted from her skin. What were once tattoos became weapons to be used.
“We’ve got them outnumbered now,” Rayna said.
And then, the doors of the house opened, and dozens of women filed out, ready to stand by Niukshi’s side.
“Weren’t you just telling me about not jinxing things?” Whitney sucked her teeth.
“Damn, my bad.” Rayna frowned.
“Shontae?” I grabbed her hand.
“I’m not the one to worry about here.” Shontae pulled away from me. “Let’s get this over with.”
She turned away from us, and I could see her focus. A moment later, half of the newcomers started sobbing, and those sobs turned into deep wails. Each one collapsed, grabbing hold of themselves as grief that wasn’t their own overtook them.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d inspired that in her, but it wasn’t the time to question it.