Ajei's Destiny

by Rori Bleu

  Lexi had not even had the chance to properly meet the man she would soon wed. Protocol and necessity did not allow for it.

  “I was five years old the last time I saw him!” Lexi’s voice echoed throughout the manor. “In this day and age...I can’t believe the both of you...How can you expect this of me?”

  Carlos sat by the fire, inconsolable. Beyond the typical separation of a father giving his daughter away in marriage, to have to do so under these conditions…he could not bear it. Love meant everything to him. It was the reason he had married Nicolette; it was the reason they remained together all this time.

  “I hate you both!” The words even made Ajei jump as she listened at the door.

  With tears rolling down Nicolette’s normally stoic face, she pleaded with her daughter, “Lexi, please understand. Right now, there is no helping it. It’s for the best—”

  “For whom, Mother? You? Is this just a way to get your power back?”

  A slap silenced the room.

  The door swung open as Lexi flew from the room. Clutching her cheek, she nearly knocked Ajei over running past her.

  Ajei chased her up the stairs. Catching the door before it slammed shut, she asked, “Can I come in?”

  Lexi did not respond. She was too busy throwing clothing into a satchel. Snapping it shut, Lexi finally noticed Ajei standing by the door.

  “Pack your stuff!” Lexi commanded, “We’re getting out of here!”

  But Ajei did not move. Silently, she held her arms open to Lexi.

  Seeing the love and understanding in Ajei’s eyes, Lexi broke down and collapsed into her. “Why, Ajei...why are Mother and Father being so unreasonable?”

  Stroking Lexi’s hair, Ajei whispered, “We both know this is the last thing they would ever wish for you. I promise, we’ll get through this together.”

  As the day grew closer, Lexi came to fully comprehend the toll her parents would pay for refusing this marriage. It would mean more than simply the loss of face for them. Under the law of the Monarchy, the Hidalgo lands would be confiscated in the name of reparation, and Lexi’s parents would lose their heads.

  Understanding how Lexi felt, though, Carlos and Nicolette agreed to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their daughter. They only wanted happiness for their child, but Lexi could not live with her parents’ blood on her hands. All the same, it still broke her heart she would have to leave her home, her parents…and her sister.

  The night before the family was to leave for the wedding, the girls took one last trip together to the camp. Each had something they wanted to say, and the empty camp was as good as any place to talk.

  Having had time to consider what was happening to Lexi, Ajei's heart could not hide its true feelings. “I still say it isn’t fair!” Ajei stormed. “Even my people are more civilized than this.”

  “Look, we’ve been through this before, Ajei,” Lexi sighed. “It’s for the best.”

  “I know all about family honor and responsibility...but it's all still a bunch of crap!” Ajei's heart was breaking. She was about to lose another person from her life, and once more she was helpless to stop it.

  Ajei turned from Lexi and started to walk away. She did not want Lexi to see her cry. It wasn’t Lexi’s fault, and it was not fair to pin the guilt on her. Before she could take another step, Ajei felt Lexi’s hand on her shoulder.

  “P-please, don’t be mad, Ajei. Please don’t walk away. I need you beside me tomorrow more than ever. You promised we’d get through this together!”

  In all the time she had known Lexi, Ajei had never heard such a desperate plea from her. It tore at Ajei’s heart.

  Turning in Lexi’s grasp, Ajei pressed her forehead against hers. Sniffing back her own tears, Ajei forced a smile. “You know I’d never desert you.” Though she could not help but add, “But you were right—this tradition is barbaric.”

  Softly, Lexi replied without lifting her eyes, “Yeah, but then we always knew this day would eventually come, didn’t we? I just thought it would be you who would be leaving first.”

  Ajei just held her. They had talked about it for years. The day Ajei would finally be prepared to return to her people and take her rightful place.

  It had been the reason Lexi had dragged her into the pits and kicked her ass. She wanted Ajei to have an advantage in the fight that would ultimately decide somebody’s life and death. For Lexi, it had never been just enough for Ajei to be able to transform into some large creature. If her opponent could do so too, what difference did it make? So she forced Ajei to train.

  “You’ll stay after the wedding, won’t you?” Lexi asked.

  When she got no response from Ajei, Lexi reassured, “You know how much father loves having you around. And even Mother likes you more than me.”

  “I love them both, too,” Ajei finally said, with a sad smile. “But, without you there…” she couldn’t bring herself to finish the thought.

  Still holding Ajei close to her, Lexi brought her lips close to Ajei’s throat. Understanding it was wrong for what she was about to offer, she could not help wanting to give her sister every advantage possible, “If you ask, I could make you virtually impervious to anything that bastard could do to you.”

  Pulling back slightly, Ajei shook her head. “As tempting as it is, Lexi, we both know that’s not the answer. I could never go back to my people that way.”

  “No, but you could stay here forever!” Lexi tried one last, futile time to convince her.

  Ajei only smiled and kissed Lexi on the forehead.

  “Let’s not talk about this anymore,” Ajei whispered. “Tonight, let’s just drink the wine from Mother and Father’s cellar, and get you drunk enough to say I Do.”

  Chapter 12

  Life Goes On

  The day of the wedding found Ajei and Lexi in one of the chapel’s side rooms preparing for the big day. Lexi’s wedding dress sparkled with jewel insets. The gown’s train flowed endlessly behind her.

  Standing behind Lexi, Ajei held her veil, waiting to pin it in place. “You’re gorgeous, Lexi. He’s lucky to be able to have you as a bride.”

  Lexi could see Ajei’s reflection in the mirror. The soft golden bridesmaid dress she wore highlighted her natural skin tone. “You don’t look too shabby yourself.”

  Ajei placed Lexi’s veil on and stepped back as the organ signaled the ceremony was about to commence. “Looks like we just made it,” Ajei said, taking a last minute to make sure everything on the bride was straight. “Shall we?”

  “Wait a sec,” Lexi told her, rushing to her pile of discarded packages. Tossing a couple aside, she was relieved to find what she was looking for. Turning to her maid of honor, she presented her with a gift. “I read somewhere it’s customary to give you something, so here. It’s a bridesmaid’s gift.”

  “You didn’t have—”

  “Shut up and open it!”

  Ripping the paper from it, Ajei found herself the owner of a satchel. She stood speechless looking at it. Her gaze slowly rose to greet Lexi’s. Neither said a word, its meaning passed between them. They both understood exactly what Ajei would eventually use the satchel for.

  Carlos knocked on the door, calling out, “It’s time.”

  The wedding had been beautifully orchestrated and flawlessly conducted. Ajei silently stood by Lexi’s side throughout the ceremony. From Carlos’ tearful march down the aisle, destined to give his daughter away like a proud father should, to the final kiss ultimately sealed the fate of two families, Ajei painted her best supportive face. It was what Lexi wanted her to do. But with a kiss on Ajei’s cheek, Lexi was gone.

  Once what was left of the family returned home, things were not the same for Ajei. It wasn’t as if things had changed with Nicolette and Carlos. They still treated Ajei as they had in the past. Without Lexi around, the house felt colder and empty.

  Loss and loneliness gripped Ajei, causing her to withdraw from them. She unconsciously isolated herself more and more with e
ach passing day. No matter how much her surrogate parents tried to draw her back into the fold, Ajei sunk deeper into despair.

  About a week after the wedding, Ajei heard a knock on her bedroom door. Opening it a crack, she saw Nicolette standing in the hall carrying a tray of sandwiches.

  Nicolette pushed her way through the door before Ajei could turn down the offer. “You haven’t been eating with us the past couple of days and I haven’t seen you with the pack, so I won’t take no for an answer.” Setting the tray on the nightstand, she sat on the edge of Ajei’s bed and patted the spot next to her for Ajei to join her.

  Hesitant at first, Ajei quietly did as she was asked.

  Holding Ajei close, Nicolette said, “We miss her too, Ajei. I can only guess how much this is hurting you, but never doubt, we are here for you. You are just as much our daughter, and you will always have a home here.”

  Choked up, all Ajei could manage was, “I love you both.”

  Kissing Ajei on the head, Nicolette rose and crossed to the door. Pausing, she wished she could take her adopted daughter’s heartache away. Softly, she told Ajei, “I’m sure we can arrange something to visit Lexi one day.” With that, she slipped through the door and down the hall. Tears blurring her vision.

  As the lights dimmed in the manor, Ajei decided it was time to leave. It wasn’t fair to Nicolette or Carlos to have to contend with her selfish pain on top of the loss they were already suffering for Lexi. Which is what Ajei wrote in the note she placed on Nicolette’s desk as she left the house. She was ashamed for taking the coward’s way out, but she would not be able to contend with the farewell scene with her protectors.

  As much as Carlos might try, he was terrible at concealing his emotions. He would no doubt start to cry and beg her to stay. That was what Ajei always loved and would miss about him.

  Nicolette, on the other hand, would no doubt use her damned persuasive logic to convince Ajei not to leave. Much to Ajei’s surprise, she had been an incredible mother after all.

  Ajei was ill-prepared for an extended stay anywhere. She had thrown some clothes, along with food she had raided from the pantry, into the satchel Lexi had given her at the wedding.

  Quietly, she’d slipped from the house and out to the manor grounds. The pack had immediately met her there. Placing a single finger to her lips, she silently begged them not to sound the alarm. The Alpha stepped forward to nuzzle her hand. A melancholy smile and a stroke along his pelt told them she would miss this family too.

  Stepping back, Ajei looked towards the moons Lexi had loved so much. Softly she whispered to the night, “Camp.”

  Letting herself be enveloped by the swirling light descending about her, she was lifted upwards. This was the right decision. The time had come for her to move on with her own life.

  Chapter 13

  The Last Sanctuary

  And Ajei was able to move on. It did not take her long to acclimate herself and learn to survive within the remnants of the camp. Even though the forces-that-be had no longer found a need for the place, she appointed herself its caretaker. Maybe it was her guilt gnawing away at her conscience about the fire she had started which may have led to the camp's destruction. Or maybe it was her own self-preservation. Either way, maintaining the camp just felt right.

  With her help, nature slowly rebounded and reclaimed the surrounding lands. New growth had replaced the scorched ground. Trees pushed aside the dried out husks of their predecessors. Once again, the forest became lush and green. Wildlife had also found a way to return. Small creatures soon attracted larger predators and reestablished the food chain.

  Ajei found that a welcomed discovery. After having survived for so long on herbs and berries, to be able to feast on meat once more was a gift from the gods. But, she made sure to only take what she needed, never more.

  Even within the shell of the dead camp, Ajei worked to repair it. She had considered tearing down the burned-out cabins but quickly gave up that folly. It had proved too strenuous for one person so she left them as a memorial for those who had perished in fire.

  The forest and camp were not the only things time changed. Whenever Ajei bathed or collected water from the pond, she could not help but see the woman staring back at her. The life she chose chiseled her lean, muscular figure. While she did her best to manage her hair, it still billowed wildly about in the breeze, which made her smile.

  Her amber eyes, though, told another story. Staring back at her weary and sad, they already showed signs of a life lived well beyond Ajei’s age. The sight of them always made her look away.

  To fill her time Ajei continued to practice and further hone the fighting skills she had learned in the pits with Lexi. For two hours each day, Ajei would shadow spar against her invisible opponent, ducking and weaving the barrage of punches being thrown her way. Nimbly, her moves switched from defensive to offensive, pressing forward on the attack. As time went on, she even learned how to integrate the fighting with her ability to shift. Lexi had taught her well.

  While she had come to enjoy living alone, it did not mean Ajei did not have visitors. The other girls periodically returned, sharing their stories of strife in their realms, and of their efforts to restore order.

  For her part, Ajei would play a gracious host and quietly sit by the fires and listen. When she was asked if she had any plans on returning to either her home or Lexi’s, she would only smile and tell them, “No, for the time being I’m needed here. Besides,” she would go on to explain, “if I left, you would all show up and instantly die of frostbite and starvation.”

  And that was her life…until the day fate told her it was time to clean the ramshackle cabin she had managed to piece together. Through the dust cloud Ajei stirred up, she stumbled across Lexi’s satchel.

  For years, it had sat forsaken in a corner. She remembered the night she had angrily thrown it there. Its mere presence had been a constant reminder of her lost sister. It was better out of sight, out of mind.

  Sitting on her thatch mat, she opened up the long emptied case. Her sensitive nose twitched at the musty smell. Slowly, her fingers slipped deep inside to make sure she had not left anything in it.

  In the far recesses of the case, the tip of her index finger ran across a clasp that popped open at her touch. Why had she not noticed this before? Had she simply mistaken it for a broken rivet holding the bottom of the satchel together?

  Lifting up the bottom flap, Ajei peered inside. Unable to see much in the murky depth, she moved closer to the cabin’s small fire pit. Tilting the bag upside down, a small pendant and a yellowed parchment tumbled from it. Ajei quickly snatched each before the fire could consume them.

  Examining both sides of the slender metal object, Ajei noticed etches on its surface. If indeed they were supposed to represent letters, it was unlike any language she had learned in Lexi’s realm. Judging by how old the pendant was, Ajei wondered if it predated any language she had studied so far.

  Carefully setting it aside, Ajei slowly opened the parchment. Within the folds was Lexi’s distinctive, stylized handwriting. Ajei could tell it had been quickly written, but the thought behind it had been anything but hurried.

  Ajei,

  I’m sorry I am not by your side for what you are destined to do. Carry this pendant with you at all times. It possesses some of the oldest and most powerful magic of our family. Legend holds breaking it before your life ends will release you from any pain. I pray to your gods you never have to use it.

  Good Luck and win your tribe back.

  With all my love!

  Lexi

  Picking the medallion up once more, she studied it closer. Ajei had no idea what Lexi could have possibly meant. She guessed she would just figure it out if and when the time ever arrived.

  Getting to her feet, Ajei rummaged through her belongings, locating a leather lace. Threading it through the pendant’s clasp, she fastened it around her neck. Running her fingers over her new necklace, she smoothed it out. While she
still had no idea what protection it could provide her, it gave her a feeling Lexi was still watching out for her.

  Seeing the sun lowering in the western sky, Ajei could not help but sigh, “Ugh, the others will be arriving soon.” There were still things she needed to get down before then.

  “Ajei!”

  Startled, Ajei spun around. The sound of her name being called out from nowhere frightened her. Immediately, she went into a defensive stance.

  “Dammit, Ajei!” It was a male voice yelling at her. “...don’t know if I’m even doing this right!”

  Flickering in and out of the fire pit, Ajei caught a glimpse of a familiar face…Atsa! It was obvious he was having trouble controlling the necessary magic enough to fully materialize.