Chapter Thirty-Six - Home #2
“Thank you. Please send everything over, and I’ll get them reviewed as soon as possible.” I opened an email to draft a notice to my attorney that I would have some potential contracts for her to review soon.
“Will do. And Shontae—congratulations!”
The call ended, and I leaned back in my chair and let it all sink in.
This was really happening. My dreams were coming true.
I closed my eyes and imagined my life a year from that moment: standing on the front porch of my house, watching Sire fly in the distance.
Only one thing could make that image better, but before my mind could turn from manifesting to wallowing, Meka knocked on the door.
“Boss lady! You have some special guests out here!” she called out in a sign-song nature.
“Come on in.” As soon as I called out, the door flew open, and Meka burst in, her eyes wide with amazement.
“Who is it?”
“It’s us, boss lady!” Rayna poked her head around the corner. “You got any time for visitors?”
“Absolutely.” I stood to greet her as she entered the office, followed by Jericha, Whitney, and another woman I didn’t recognize.
She was fly! Tall, thin, muscular, wearing a cute green tracksuit and sporting a short pixie cut that matched my own, only hers was laid flat in beautiful swoops that framed her face, reminding me of the old finger waves my mom used to get.
“Shontae, this is my friend Jackie. She’s the one we told you about while we were in Kinasha,” Whitney introduced her.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Shontae, she’s the Jackie!” Meka squealed. “The one who posted about the gym.”
I mouthed the word oh as she turned to Jackie.
“Can I just say, I’m such a fan of yours? I’ve been following you since you were just starting out. I learned so much about womanhood from you. It means so much to girls like me, who didn’t have a mom around to teach us.” She held her hand out to shake Jackie’s hand.
“Thank you. That means a lot.” Jackie pulled her into a big hug. “You’re exactly the person I do this for.”
Meka looked like she would burst after Jackie let her go. She flashed me a shocked smile and then ran out of the office.
“Wow, I’ve never seen her like that.” I chuckled. “You must be really good at what you do. I’m sorry I’m not that familiar with your work, but I truly appreciate you shouting us out.”
“Of course, funny enough, I did it before I knew you were friends with my homegirl.” She tossed her arm around Whitney’s shoulder.
“I would have made a much bigger deal about it had I known. But I saw your piece on television and had to share it. A lot of women are looking for someone like you to help them get in shape without making them feel like they gotta go get chopped up. I try to promote healthy lifestyles as a whole, so I knew your stuff would align with my message.”
“If there is any way I can repay you, please, let me know,” I offered, and both Jericha and Rayna’s faces twisted, as if I’d walked right into a trap. I frowned. “Um…why are you all here?”
“Actually, if you really want to thank me, you can help us out.” Jackie pressed her fingers together to form a tent in front of her face.
“Help you out?” I leaned on the edge of my desk. “With what?”
“Yeah, we can discuss all that over sushi. I hear there’s a bomb new spot not too far from here. I don’t know about you, but discussing strategies against crazy pixies is always better with sushi!”
“Pixies?” I gawked. “I was thinking I would send you a merch basket.”
“Too late.” Jericha laughed. “You’re a part of the crew now. All I can say is, you need to make sure you stretch. But you’re a fitness girl, so you’re good with that.”
Likosa
It surprised me that my first thought when I made it back to the Bane was to visit my friend.
I’d made a list of things to settle before going to Earth so I wouldn’t be bringing any other drama into Shontae’s life.
I’d done enough of that, but the moment after I stepped into my cave and refilled the pool with water from my home world, my heart wanted camaraderie.
“Well, look who’s back!” Windsor greeted me, wrapping all her arms around me. “I thought I would never see you again!”
A floral scent mixed with the earthier smell of the soil she worked in flooded my senses. Even the dirt smelled different in the Bane.
“Turns out, I couldn’t stay away after all.” I smiled when she let me go. “It feels good to be back.”
“You have to tell me everything. Come in. Let me get cleaned up, and I’ll make us some tea.”
A few hours later, after Windsor made the best tea to pair with the baked sweets she’d already had, we sat with full bellies and faces that hurt from smiling and laughing.
I told her everything, all the secrets I felt I had to keep to myself, all the things I hid from the world.
I told her about how I got to the Bane and how I built my plan to go home, and how that plan backfired when I fell for Shontae.
“So you’re going to Earth now?” She pursed her lips. “And here I thought you were back for good.”
“No, not for good, but I will be around. I can’t leave the Bane entirely. This is truly my home. So, I’ll be living between three worlds. I can’t ask Shontae to leave her world behind for me.”
“And your daughter, she sounds amazing. Just like you somehow.” She sipped her tea. “I wish I could see her. I bet she has your eyes.”
“She does!” I held up the phone and showed her the pictures I’d taken to show Shontae.
“Windsor, she’s a wonderful soul, and I’m so proud of her.
I wish I could have been there, but it didn’t work out that way, and I’m learning not to dwell too much on things that could have been.
We are here now, and we’ll make the best of things.
But she was so right; being back in Kinasha made me miserable.
Nothing was the same as I remembered, and everyone I knew and loved had moved on with their lives.
Sure, they were happy to have me home, but they still had their own things to contend with.
It left me feeling like I was in the way. ”
“Well, you’re never in the way here.” She smiled. “I’m so happy you’re back. I’ve been miserable without you. That shadow fool just kept popping around asking about you.”
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
“How much do you want to bet that’s him?” I laughed.
“If the gods have any favor over me, it won’t be.” She stood and marched to the door. Moments later, she returned. “That’s it. It's official. The gods have cursed me.”
“Oh, come on, Windsor. You know you love it when I swing by.” Cufio danced into the room behind her. “It’s the highlight of your day!”
“Cufio.” I stood. “Why are you here?”
“Well, a little birdie told me my good pal Likosa was spotted in the Bane again. So, of course, I had to come and welcome you home.” He stretched his arms out, posing for a hug he would never get.
“Let me guess: Klougus?” I sighed. He had been top priority on my list, but I felt it could wait one more day.
“He thought you dipped out on your deal. Was ready to send people to find you.” He chuckled. “But the old fool had no idea what world you were from, so I’m not sure how much good that would have done anyone.”
“He wants to see me now?” I asked.
“If you would do me the kindness.” He bowed. “Your graciousness.”
“Fine, let's get this over with.” I took a sip of my tea. “Stand up, you fool.”
“Windsor, you’re welcome to ride my shadows as well if you want to join,” Cufio said as he opened a shadow port beside him.
“I would rather suck a swamp goblin's big toe.” Windsor crossed her arms. “Get out.”
“Ouch!” Cufio clutched his chest. “Your words are like daggers through my heart.”
“Keep it up, and I’ll put a real one through it.”
“Alright, you two, as much as I’ve missed your banter, I want to get this over with.” I pointed at the portal. “Lead the way, fool.”
I followed Cufio through his shadows and came out on the front steps of the bone castle.
At least, that’s what I loved to call it.
Klougus’s compound was massive, made from bone composites he’d dug up.
They’d even shaped the front of it to look like a skull.
We walked into the mouth of it and, with little interference, headed straight into Klougus’s office.
“Likosa, my friend!” the deep voice of the giant boomed, his tail slapping the floor like a happy puppy. It was a wonder he was ever viewed as a menacing threat. “You’ve made your grand return. It’s not fair of you to keep me waiting.”
“I had things to do, Klougus.” I sighed as I took a seat. Cufio didn’t join me; instead, he walked out of the room, leaving us alone. “But I am back to honor our deal. So, tell me what you want.”
“It’s simple, I promise.” Klougus clapped as he stood. His massive body blocked half of the window behind him.
“Okay.” I nodded.
“I want you to mentor Olian,” he announced with some hesitation.
“Your daughter?” I scoffed. “Why does she need a mentor?”
“Likosa, I grow tired of running the business, and it’s time for her to take over, but I fear she is too, well, reckless.
She’s still driven by emotion. You saw how things went with Metice.
” He rolled his eyes. “A mess and a beautiful working relationship ruined. That is not good for what I do here, and I get it. I definitely babied her, but if she wants the role, it’s time for her to grow up.
So, the plan is to slowly transition power to her.
I’m assigning Cufio as her partner, and he will remain as such for a while. ”
“Why did you wait until now to make this happen, Klougus?” I asked. “She’s been this way for years.”