by Kai Leakes
Lenox rounded the team out, even naming the growing house. Khamun had been friends with him since high school and college. Nox was the only Immortal he knew who could handle him in basketball, football, and even track. He always was the extra kick to his conscience, and he would later find out that Nox could detect the change in him too.
In college, Lenox and Marco were the lady killers, hunting panties every chance they could, and doing it in a way that was so smooth, they earned the nickname Don Juans of the campus. Many also didn’t know that Lenox could kill anyone or demons with his bare hands and swift fighting skills. He was skilled in every hand-to-hand or weapon-on-weapon combat you could ever know.
It later made sense why Nox was so skilled when he went into his immortal evolution and Khamun learned that his best friend was the very first Templar, who happened to be a Moor. They also speculated that he possibly had a past life as a Scottish king during King Arthur’s reign and was also a five-star lieutenant in World War I.
Khamun’s team was out of the ordinary, and naming his house House of T’em, also known as Templar, made pure sense. His House single-handedly brought back the Templars, and this shocked Society because it was believed that the Templars were the first to become insurgents in Society.
Kali’s gifts in searching out knowledge and his own mother’s oracle skills helped them prove this was a lie. Since then, Society had been watching them, and every crew member had to tone down who they were within Nephilim Society, or deal with being ridiculed or even shunned. It never amazed Khamun how immature people with money, or with society rights could be, when competition entered the room.
Once his House was globally established, he later learned through Kali that other hidden branches or Houses of Dusk, as it was called underground, were formed around the world to accommodate those who lived in the middle, who were shunned by other Houses of the Light lines, or couldn’t find their place within the bourgeois Society, like his own team. These people, like himself, whom he later called the Purgatory Line, helped add to the limited resources of the House and helped save the most humans, Guides, and Vessels throughout the history of Nephilim society. His House had survived and still was going strong.
Inwardly smiling, he knew when he hit thirty that his father’s mandate wouldn’t hold water and that he now held his own reins.
At this instant, all of that was about to change. With just one step into his old house, Khamun Cross, or according to his Society name, Region Prince Khamun Imen V’ance, would now bring a new element to all the Purgatory Houses around the world and ultimately expose what he didn’t even know he was.
Sanna sat lotus-style in her purple drawstring pajama pants and white tank shirt. She was reclining on her plush, cozy, cloud-like bed, staring in disbelief at her clutched cell phone in her hand. “Excuse me. Say what?” She couldn’t believe the shit that was being said to her from the other end. Not again!
“Sanna, sweetheart, listen to the man. I think this is for the best, baby girl.”
Sanna couldn’t help but look up at her mother, who was frowning herself, making her sepia eyes pop with concern.
“This man just told us that our homes burned down, that my business is now moved to Chicago, permanently, due to demolition that went awry, and you both expect me to sit here okay with this? Where are we gonna live, Momma? I don’t know anything about Chicago. It’s cold as hell up here. I do know that!”
Tears rimmed Sanna’s eyes as she clutched her cell with heightened stress, anger,
“Ms. Steele, as I said, my company has made arrangements for you and your family. You have nothing to worry about at all.”
Sanna just shook her head. “Mr. MacLeod, I mean Lenox, I understand what you are saying, but that was my father’s home. We grew up there. The commercial building was my future home for my business. And that was my apartment. This is not acceptable!”
A rustling of papers over the cell phone had Sanna casting a wild look around her hotel room at her mother, who just put a finger up to her lips and tapped a finger to her ear, motioning for her to listen.
“But—”
Tamar shook her head then held a hand up, and she gave a stern look. “Listen, Sanna. I talked to him already, and we have this in order, so listen, baby girl.”
Lenox cleared his throat over the cell phone. He was in business mode, true concern in his voice. “Ms. Steele . . . Sanna, your mother had my people look over your father’s will, and it states that he has property here in Chicago. Property that I have sent contractors to evaluate and bring up to par. The neighborhood you are in is very well known and safe, so you and your family will be fine. Your father also has a second property downtown which you do, since your brother was planning to move into it.” Sanna raised an eyebrow then glanced at her mother, who just nodded.
“I told you, baby, your father made sure we were okay. He has land down South and two places on the East Coast that your cousins are watching over. It’s okay. He was a stickler about owning property and renting it out. I also own some property on the West Coast that your aunts are looking over. We will be fine, baby, just fine. Do not dismiss His blessings.”
Running a flustered hand through her braided-out ’fro, all she could do was sit in disbelief. “I know I should be grateful, really, but why all of a sudden are we coming into all this property, huh? Where was it before? This is too crazy, Ma, and you know it.”
“If I may, Mrs. Steele”—Lenox’s voice demanded everyone’s attention as he spoke—“from the records I have, your mother has been making profit from each rental property, and as requested by your late father, she placed it in funds for you and your siblings’ education, as well as depositing funds for his grandchildren, your children. Monies have been divvied out to charities, and your grandparents in Louisiana, who have now relocated to Savanna, Georgia. Your father was named benefactor over both sets of land in those regions before he passed.”
Sanna blinked as her mother motioned for her to continue listening.
“Your mother is very good with money management, very good. So it seems, when the home market busted due to this recession, all monies collected stayed fluid within your accounts. Your mother also was given funds from your father, solely for her survival as well. No, your father wasn’t rolling in money, but he was very smart at buying property, property it seems that has been handed down through your family.”
Kyo leaned down to whisper to Sanna as she plopped on the bed and listened. “Why is he all in the family business like this? Isn’t he just the contracting lawyer for Sanna?” Kyo was chewing on a bagel and dressed in turquoise pajama shorts with a matching tank top while she handed Sanna some grapes.
Sanna bellowed, “Thank you! I was two seconds away from asking that.” She reached out to high-five her godsister.
Tamar pursed her lips as she crossed her arms, staring at both women. “If you two do not stop that mess right now! Now listen. His business card says otherwise, and I asked him to help me with some of your father’s records after I was going through them. Now listen and stop being rude. This information is not just about you, baby girl.”
“Okay, so now what? We are here in Chicago to stay?”
“Yes, your mother has already pushed this forward, and it was only logical to have you set up in a new building. Interesting enough, the building where my law firm is at has a huge opening for a restaurant such as yours, and I can guarantee no issues will arise, if you are interested.”
Sanna frowned, quickly biting her lower lip as she glanced at Kyo.
Kyo shrugged as she stretched. “I don’t know. This is insane. And I’d have to move up here too, so hell . . . something new! Let’s do it.” Bouncing up and down on the bed, she flashed a brilliant smile, her asymmetrical cut hair with honey brown highlights flying with her. “Stop being scared, girl. No money is coming out of our pockets, so let’s do it. This feels so right, although crazy, but right!”
Sanna signed. “Okay, Mr. MacLeod. You
heard my business partner. Let’s do this.”
“Great. I’ll get everything in motion, and it is great doing business with both of you ladies. Oh and, Mrs. Steele, I look forward to our next appointment as well.”
“Me too, Mr. MacLeod. Now get some rest. You work too hard, young man.” Tamar chuckled as Lenox’s warming laughed filled the room via the speakerphone.
“Yes, ma’am, of course. You beautiful women keep me busy, and it is very much appreciated. Adieu.”
Sanna placed a manicured nail over the receiver button and hung up with a quick push as she groaned and shook her unruly, crinkled hair. “Mommy, are you serious? Should we do this? We’ve gone through so much right now. First Dare and Take, and now our homes are gone. My business is gone! Ma!” She eyed her mother cautiously.
Tamar smoothed a hand down her cream-colored pencil shirt, her silver hooped belt accenting her lush hips. She ran a hand over her wavy, curled, ear-length bob raven hair. Her momma was smooth, and wisdom poured from her.
“My love, you hold so much wisdom in you. It is time you truly listen to your spirit, baby girl. You’ve done so well being led by it, but now it’s time you listen. Close your eyes and listen.”
“But—”
Rolling her eyes, Tamar lightly pinched her daughter with a smile and held her hand, lifting it to press against her heart. “Sanna, close your eyes and listen.”
Sanna complied with an inward sigh, fear suddenly filling her. She didn’t know why, but she just knew something was going to happen. And it frightened her to no end. As she sat breathing slowly, she felt Kyo lay a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she let her body relax.
Kyo seemed to always know when Sanna felt unnerved, and all of this that happened to them both didn’t change a thing about their friendship. Sanna appreciated that so much.
Fingers digging then flexing against her thighs, her body seemed to hum as she relaxed and listened. Fluid energy flowed around her, and she saw her happiness here and peace. She saw it clearly as she could breathe.
“Yes, I guess it would be good to stay here. Let’s break it to Dare. I know he’s going to trip over it.”
Shaking her head as she listened to her two life supports laugh, Sanna headed into the hotel suite living room smiling. She saw her baby sis fussing over her twin. It seemed that Amara was the elder twin whenever Darren was sick.
Takeshi stared at her baby sis with a quiet hidden hunger and a lighthearted glance as he joked with the pair.
Sanna inwardly beamed while grabbing an apple. One day soon, she was going to play matchmaker and get Take and Amara together ASAP.
“So, um, we are moving to Chicago.”
“Like hell,” Darren muttered over his cup of coffee, humor lighting his eyes. He flashed a lopsided smile and wiggled an eyebrow.
“Shut up, Dare. You know what crap has happened. Well, Ma said . . .”
“We know, sis. Your ass was hella loud. Kind of happy about it, though. Congrats, big sis. A new city, baybay!” Amara grinned as Miya slovenly shuffled out of her room, scratching her messy hair and wiping hand down her face.
“Yeah.” Miya yawned and stretched. “New place to visit. Hiiii, Dare.” She softly smiled. The sleep in her quickly vanished as she accented the hi, getting a wink out of Darren. Hands combing through her messy hair, she smoothed it down, “And bye, Mrs. Steele. Please be safe.”
Tamara was halfway out the door as she waved. “Bye, babies. I’ll be back. Darren and Takeshi, don’t you move from this room. You both need to rest!”
Both men chimed, “Yes, ma’am,” as the door shut, and both quickly stood grabbing for their support.
“Where’s my sis at?” Take stood and moved around the room, searching for the remote control as he limped on his crutches.
“Talking with your parents about all of this and, um, Take, sit down right now, man. Geez!”
Sanna rushed to Take’s side and quickly helped shuffle him to the couch. Helping him was something else, especially when he had the nerve to put his hand on her rear as he fell down on the couch.
“Boy! Here!” she said, throwing the remote.
Take laughed hard, clutching his ribs as he leaned to the side gasping for air. “What? I wanted to compare you and Amara. Dang!”
Narrowing her eyes, Sanna tilted her head to the side and flicked him off with a laugh. “Yeah, whatever, man. You are just being nasty.”
“Very! You want to touch my tig-o-bitties, then think of a better way to get at me, Mr. Nasty,” Amara teased. She smiled while she bit into a piece of pineapple, and juice ran down her chin.
Take watched that juice slide from her mouth and dip down her neck as his body visibly tensed.
Noticing Take’s eyes darken, Sanna ducked as Dare threw an orange at him. He smoothly caught it and turned around and flipped through the TV.
“Watch ya hands, bro. And put it on the game.”
Sanna smiled while she hugged her sister. She helped her sister unbraid her thick semi-wet braids, turning to hug Miya at the same time. She would get used to this. She would make it through all this crazy. Her brothers were alive and healing extremely fast. Her mother was doing whatever she does, and Kyo was okay. This change was going to be good. It had to be. Her soul said it was so and said it very loud.
Like her mother had said, she needed to listen to herself. Since being here and coming out of the hospital, she felt different, she felt vibrant, something she hadn’t felt since she was a child. Life seemed to go on mute when her father died. She remembered feeling safe when her daddy was around. A feeling she sometimes felt at night. It was as if something was trying to snatch her, and all she had to do was call her father and that fear would disappear.
Sanna felt happiness, joy, and calm, but life was just stunted. The little bit of magic in the world seemed to fade for her and roamed in her dreams after her father had passed. Now, as she stood unbraiding her sister’s hair, taking the time to finger-comb each soft, curly strand and looking at the beautiful view that was Chicago, it felt different.
She inhaled and rolled her shoulders. Everything seemed to be vivid and alive with positive change now. She was praying it would stay this way.
Kyo quietly shut the door to her shared hotel room as she stood. She almost slumped against it, studying the group in the room. This was her family, her contentment, now her responsibility. She couldn’t believe what was just told to her. Her father, her mother, they had to be out of their mind. She didn’t even register telling Miya and her brother Take to go talk with her parents as she stood in bewilderment.
She didn’t even register grabbing a bottle of water and standing near her best friend, her sister. Chicago seemed huge, beautiful, rugged, and understanding, yet equally dangerous. With a look at her almost shaking hands, she studied her silver-painted nails, flexing and looking at each sturdy tip sparkle like diamonds. Her father had said it was her duty to watch her best friend.
Yeah, that’s nothing new for her, she thought, glancing at Sanna.
Kyo could feel that San was off balance, a little unsure about all of this, and hell, she couldn’t blame her. She felt as if they were in the same boat. The dreams, the many times she felt that they shouldn’t go to a certain area, or even go kick it some nights. All of it slowly came together to make sense.
Her father had told her that she, her brother, and cousin were something special. Something more. Something anointed. Dragons. It was her birthright to be a Protector over her best friend, whom she called sister, and fight for the innocents of the world. She was told that Sanna and Darren didn’t know about them, or that her “god-family” was placed around her at birth as a means to protect them. She was also told that because of her birthright, she would be viewed as a shadow, or an outcast, respected but always suspected.
But that was neither here or there. Her main focus was to help Sanna as she went through her awakening, and it was Kyo’s duty to awaken with her.
Duty to awaken? Awa
ken how? She didn’t understand, and her father didn’t tell her. He’d just said that she would know in time and that, that time was close. Her father let her know that they had homes for her and that they would move up to Chicago within the coming months, but right now, it was important that she stay with her godsister. As if she would go anywhere else. Her sis needed her, and she needed Sanna, whatever she was. Whatever it meant. She was going to see it through and work it out and make sure no harm came to sister. It was just the way of their world and all she knew, so it made sense.
Before Kyo’s mother left, she had told Kyo to trust her instincts and she would know who is safe to be around Sanna and herself. So now she stood not believing what was told, even though she saw it with her own two eyes.
Her father had rolled his shoulders, closed his eyes, and the room seemed to heat up as he spoke. The very air around him seemed to shimmer as he closed his eyes and took out what Kyo had no idea after all these years were contacts. He opened his eyes, and she gasped. They were grey with flecks of beautiful jade green like her own mismatched jade set. The only difference was the fire metallic ring around the irises and the fact that his eyes were solid grey with jade.
His skin seemed to cast occasional specks of sparks, like smooth stone in the sun, as his hair and nails lengthened. His once model smile was now home to a clean, jagged pair of fangs. When her father gave her a reptilian-like blink and exhaled fire plumes from his nostrils, Kyo screamed bloody murder and passed out.
Sighing, she studied her hands, her arms, her skin. She was told that, as her right as a Gargoyle or Dragon, she had certain abilities that would awaken as Sanna woke up. But the thing was, when would that be? She needed to prepare herself.
Am I going to look freakish? She ran a hand through her asymmetrical cut hair. She already got over the hump of being teased for her different-colored eyes, and now she knew why she had them. She could only assume every extra bump in her DNA, in how she functioned in the everyday world, was because her father was a freaking Dragon and married to a human. No, scratch that—her own mother was something special too. She carried the dormant Dragon gene, showed by the same hard nails Kyo had, and was a Disciple with a touch of Dragon mystic abilities. How that worked out all these years, she didn’t stick around to learn.