by Natavia
“FUCK!” I groaned in pain. I heard someone running down the hall and it was Quanir.
“Bruh, what the fuck!” he yelled out.
“Stop trippin’, I can get the door fixed,” I replied.
“You were supposed to be here two days ago. Luckily, I was able to handle the meeting with Russel and Gwan,” he replied.
“Damn! How did it go?” I asked.
“The contract is legit but I wasn’t going to sign anything without you present, so I left it on your desk. I can’t wait until you get the strip club inside the hotel. You a smooth dude,” he said.
“Did you tell them why I couldn’t make it?” I asked.
“Yeah, I told them you had a family emergency. They are cool humans, though. Matter of fact, I’m checking out Gwan’s Island club in a few days and you should slide through with me,” he said. He followed me into the kitchen and I grabbed three pitchers of water out the fridge.
“Calm down, cuz,” Quanir said when I choked.
“That jungle killed me twice, cuz,” I said.
“Everything is straight with Sy’noba?” he asked and I left the kitchen and went upstairs. Quanir followed me to my bedroom.
“I thought you were gonna come back happy or something. Did you hit?” he asked. I snarled.
“I’m assuming you did. I mean I hope you did after all you just went through,” he said.
“I didn’t go down there to hit it but we did get a little intimate. We got into it before I left. Honestly, I’m proud of everything Y’kiki Forest has to offer Sy’noba but I’m not feeling it. She’s in a jungle with a bunch of horny cats, and check this out, she is wearing close to nothing! Bruh, that shit makes me mad. I know it’s their way of life and it’s hot, so they only cover their private parts, but damn. So, there’s this one cat sniffing up her ass and she tells me I’m overreacting. I was ready to kill him. On my way home, I kept thinking about her and him. I don’t know what to do, cuz. I can’t focus on shit else right now,” I replied then suddenly I smelled another animal. I snatched my shorts off the chair and hurriedly put them on.
“Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you. There’s someone staying in the guest room,” he said. I left out of my bedroom and followed the scent to the other end of the hall. A cute female was sitting up in bed staring at the wall when I opened the door.
“What is she to you, Quanir? You know I don’t like anyone in the house like that,” I said.
“That’s Toyi. Lynx found her in the woods dying. She’s from Sy’noba’s old pride,” he answered.
“Where is Lynx?” I asked.
“She hasn’t been here in a few days. Toyi’s arm and leg is broken and I was wondering if you could heal her,” he said.
“Who attacked you?” I asked when I sat on the bed.
“Two of my pride sisters. We were going out to hunt and they waited until we were off-territory to do it. They didn’t want Koja picking up my scent too close to home. Lynx was spying on our pride, so she followed us. She and Quanir saved my life. I will leave as soon as you heal me if you can. My cubs need me,” she said.
“Lions are some fucked up cats,” Quanir said and I agreed. Toyi grunted at us and rolled her eyes.
“Grab me a towel out the bathroom,” I said. Quanir went into the bathroom to do as I asked. I rolled it up into a ball and held it against Toyi’s lips.
“Bite down on this because it’s gonna hurt,” I said and she nervously opened her mouth. She clamped down on the towel and closed her eyes.
“Don’t hurt her,” Quanir said.
“Do you want to do it, then? I can go back to my room and take a shower. Just turn around and face the wall or something. I forgot your stomach is sensitive,” I replied.
“I’m cool, I got this,” he said.
Tears fell from Toyi’s eyes when I snapped her leg and arm into place. Quanir pulled the towel out of her mouth and gave her a remedy to heal the pain.
“Thank you,” Toyi whispered.
She got out of bed and walked around the room in excitement.
“I feel better than ever!” she yelled. Toyi ran to Quanir and rubbed her face against his. He gave me a thumbs-up as she purred against his ear.
“Thank you, too, Eze, and sorry I had to meet you under these circumstances. How is Sy’noba doing?” she asked.
“Great,” I replied.
“Can I see her?” she asked.
“Uhhh, I don’t know about that,” I replied.
“I understand,” she said.
“You can stay here for as long as you like,” Quanir told Toyi.
“Wait, what! Yo, you trippin,” I said, walking out the room and he followed me.
“Come on, Eze. She’ll be homeless with cubs. You know she can’t go back there, and just think about it. She wanted to get away from them anyway, so it’s best if they think she’s dead. It’s all about sticking together,” he said.
“What happened to Team Mufasa? Remember the cliff? Where is the Quanir that doesn’t trust lions?” I asked.
“I had a change of heart. You see her big brown cat eyes. Plus, I’m team Simba now and he lived so I’m good,” he replied.
“The pride will follow the scent of the cubs here, then what? We have too much at stake right now. Bad enough I’m slacking when it comes to the company from chasing after Sy’noba, now this?” I asked.
“You saved Lynx, remember?” he replied.
“And look how that turned out. Now she wants me to be her mate. Another female in the mix will be too much and you know it,” I said.
“I’ll deal with her. You don’t have to. How about she stays here until she gets on her feet or you can hire her as another secretary. If you had two, you probably wouldn’t have to go into the office every day. Toyi is very smart and she knows computers,” he said.
“If I see one lion in my yard, I swear I’m bustin’ your ass, too. Male lions are my least favorite, so if I see her cubs’ father snooping around here, you’re gonna wish you were in their pride, too,” I replied.
“Appreciate it,” he said and slapped hands with me.
“And when you ask her out, be smooth with it,” I replied.
“Who said I wanted to?” he asked.
“We grew up like brothers. I know you,” I replied.
“You got the wrong idea. I was worried about her,” he said.
“Yeah, aight,” I chuckled.
“So, did you and Sy’noba mate? Little cubs in the oven or what?” he asked.
“Naw, she’s not fully in heat yet, but with our different lives, I don’t know anymore. I can’t even breathe where she lives. I ain’t gonna lie, I feel unwelcomed at this point. Hopefully, it’ll work out,” I replied.
“Pray on it, cuz,” he said before he went back inside Toyi’s room.
I closed the door to my bedroom and took my shorts off. The feeling of being away from Sy’noba again tugged at my heart. The door to her world was in my house but it was so far away. The water from the shower rinsed off the dirt and dry mud off my body and I watched it go down the drain. It seemed as if I was washing away the existence of her. The short time I spent inside of her was the best thing life ever offered me. It wasn’t just about the sex, I felt our spirits reuniting. Before we made love, she told me we were together in the past life and at first it sounded silly but I believed her when she invited me inside of her. Immediately, I knew what I had to do to make her explode. After I got out the shower, I laid across the bed and drifted off into a deep sleep…
“Rajan, wake up! You must leave before they find us here,” she said.
“Let them find us. We belong together anyway. Escape with me and come to the outside world. I found another portal that’s not too far from here. You can still serve your goddess and be happy with me,” he replied.
“I have to stay here and protect them. If I live, they might die. I don’t want to lose my family again. This tribe is my family,” she said.
“What about me?” he asked.
“Our spirits will meet again in the afterlife. We will be together the way you want us to be but this just isn’t our time. My purpose was to protect, not fall in love,” she said. He stood up and grabbed his cape and spear. He looked at her with tear-filled eyes and she burst into tears.
“Even in the afterlife, they won’t let us be. Your kind is not accepting of our differences,” Rajan said.
“You attacked and killed one of our kind,” she cried.
“He challenged me! What was I supposed to do, Y’kiki? Let him kill me? I fear no one, not even someone from your tribe. We were here first, this is our land, and we shall be respected. We made an oath, sabers open the portals for all species as long as you keep them at peace. Your lion violated the oath when he challenged me!” Rajan roared. She drew her spear from her hair and pointed it at him.
“This will hurt me more than it’ll ever hurt you. I made an oath to protect them even if it goes against you,” she said.
“Why did you let me deflower you? We just got finished making love and now you want to change your mind?” he asked.
“I only made love to you so when we meet again, you’ll know where you belong. This hurts so much, Rajan, but they are mourning their king’s death because of your temper. I will stand by the oath I took as a warrior,” she said. Tears fell down Rajan’s face and she dropped her spear and ran to him. She kissed him and he pulled away from her.
“We might have the same fate in the afterlife, and if we do, your soul shall mourn for eternity,” Rajan replied before he left out of a secret passage in her temple…
When I woke up, Quanir and Toyi were standing over me.
“You straight? You were roaring in your sleep,” he said. Toyi handed me a glass of water and I thanked her.
“I had a little dream, that’s all. I’m fine, though,” I said.
“Good, ‘cause it’s time to get up and ready for work,” Quanir replied. The sun was shining in my bedroom when I turned around to face the window. Toyi left as Quanir stared at me.
“Yo, you sure everything is straight?” he asked.
“I had a dream about Rajan and Y’kiki,” I replied.
“But you are Rajan,” he said.
“My rebirth has his spirit but I’m still me. I wonder how our ancestors knew I was going to possess his spirit when I was born. My father said I was given two names when I was born. It’s almost like they knew who I was gonna be,” I replied, rubbing my head.
“But he also said not everyone survives the rebirth. I think it’s just wishful thinking but somehow yours became true,” he said.
“Naw, it’s something else. Sy’noba has the birthmark of Y’kiki because she was chosen before she was born. Birthmarks are a sign of the afterlife, a mark from your god to show you’ve been here before. So, it’s not a coincidence I survived that rebirth. I had Rajan’s spirit beforehand,” I said.
“Soooo, how were you reborn again?” he asked with confusion.
“I was reborn but I came back as myself the way I wanted to be. That was the rebirth, showing my true colors and strengthening me to become king,” I replied.
“Where is your birthmark?” he asked.
“Left foot, it’s covered now because of these crazy tattoos,” I replied.
“So, now what?” he asked.
“I was with Y’kiki in the past life. We were sneaking around,” I replied.
“You fucked my wife?” he asked.
“Shut up, fool,” I chuckled.
“Bro, you know how much I was into the Y’kiki story. She’s like the Beyoncé of the cat world,” he replied and I chuckled.
“She had sex with Rajan so their souls could find each other again. She put her stamp on him,” I replied.
“So now we have to figure out who Rajan was to you. We know he’s a saber but was he your grandfather, cousin, uncle, or brother? Well, not your brother but he’s definitely a relative,” he said.
“I don’t know but I have to break the cycle, otherwise it’s going to keep happening to us in the afterlife,” I replied.
“How you gonna do that?” he replied.
“Mate with Sy’noba and take her as my wife so our spirits can be at peace. We have to find a way to bury the quarrel between the sabers and lions,” I said.
“You’re one lucky son-of-a-bitch,” Quanir said.
“QUANIR! Breakfast is ready!” Toyi hollered and he nodded his head.
“You see that? It sounded so good,” he said.
“Unfortunately, she’s only doing what she’s used to. Don’t feel too special, cuz,” I replied.
“You are just hating ‘cause your girl is in a jungle with some freaky thundercats,” he said before he left my bedroom.
“I’m gonna remember that when her husband comes and knocks you out!” I called out.
“Yeah, aight, I’m gonna put these paws on him!” Quanir laughed.
“Damn, I don’t feel like going to work,” I said aloud as I headed to the bathroom.
************
An hour later, I walked into the office building. Quanir stayed at the estate with Toyi because I didn’t know her well enough to leave her there alone.
“Good morning, my brother,” Johnathan greeted me at the door. I slapped hands with him.
“What’s good with you? I feel like I’ve been away from work for months,” I replied.
“How is Alexander holding up? I heard he was sick,” he replied.
“The old man is feeling better. I’ll see you later,” I said before heading towards the elevator. Right when the doors were ready to close, Lakita stepped onto the elevator.
“Good morning, is everything okay? I haven’t seen you in days,” she said.
“Yeah, just a little family emergency,” I replied.
“I hope it all worked out. I heard Saber is remodeling the hotels downtown and adding a nightclub. Is that true?” she asked.
“Yeah, it’s a great start,” I said.
“Tonight is poetry night at this little club I go to when I get off from work. It’s very laid back if you’re into the neo soul environment. I was wondering if you wanted to join me,” she said.
“I’m seeing someone and I’m not trying to complicate things if you know what I mean,” I replied.
This bastard led me on! I knew it was too good to be true, she thought.
“Ohhh, okay I didn’t know,” she said.
Bitch-ass negro! she thought and I chuckled.
“We just recently rekindled our relationship. I hope we can continue being mutual if there aren’t any hard feelings,” I said.
“No hard feelings, you have a great day,” she said.
I should’ve spat in his food! That damn chump made me spend money on good bras. Maybe I need to start dating older men. These young wet-behind-the-ears punks don’t know shit about a good woman, Lakita thought as she exited the elevator.
“Good morning, Eze. How are you feeling today?” Janet greeted me when I stepped into the office.
“Feeling better and yourself?” I asked.
He’s an embarrassment to this company. What man of his profession doesn’t wear suits? Alexander would never come to work like this, Janet thought.
Alexander could’ve gotten away with wearing jeans as long as you were sucking his dick, I thought.
“I’m doing great. How is your father doing? I’ve tried calling him but didn’t get an answer,” she replied.
“He’s just relaxing but I’ll tell him you asked about him. Do I have any messages?” I asked.
“Nope, Quanir took care of everything while you were gone,” she replied.
“Appreciate it,” I said.
When I walked into the office, I smelled the faint scent of weed. Quanir was never going to change. I chuckled to myself imagining the look on my father’s face if he saw the smoke holes in his father’s leather chair. The contract for the nightclubs were on my desk for me to sign. As soon as I grabbed a pen, there was a disturb
ance coming from outside my office. I hurriedly got up when I heard Janet yelling.