Glorious Sunset

by Ava Bleu

  “You will tell me now how badly I messed things up?” Taka winced with his words, knowing pain was coming his way.

  “Her murder was due to evil men. Your choice, not made maliciously. But yes, your decision has ramifications. You see, had you gone on and rebuilt your life the woman you loved first may not have felt so tethered to your restless soul. Violet has no memory of you but her soul senses you. You are not at peace and so she is not at peace. She will always be unavailable to another man as long as she is waiting for you. Maybe she could tolerate temporary relationships with the Garys and Jeromes of the world because they are disposable and she is waiting. Maybe she could even have loved someone else, but in comparison to what she had, would always be wanting. Centuries of looking and not finding have caused a lot of damage. She can’t even recognize that you are the one she has been waiting for. She has forgotten what love looks like. Her heart’s protection is keeping from her the very one she so wants to open her heart to. And perhaps rightly so.”

  “Rightly so?” Taka sank to the sofa as the enormity of the situation sank into his consciousness. “Nonsense, I am the cure for what ails her if she would only listen.”

  “Okay, then, continue on your way. Pressure her. Harass her and nag her until she bends to your iron will. That is your way, Taka. A winning strategy?”

  “You enjoy reminding me of my weaknesses. Fine. I have learned, as well.”

  “And what have you learned?”

  “Are you enjoying this immensely, making me recite my findings like a schoolchild?”

  “Yes, very much. Thank you for asking.”

  Taka’s brow furrowed as emotions invaded his consciousness. He looked at the kind-faced man who waited expectantly, and finally admitted, “I do want to get to know this woman. I did not think I would find anything in common with her but I like her. She is stubborn and determined. Stubborn and determined to do things the wrong way, but I can’t fault her dedication toward her goal. And I can’t force her to see things my way, but I have to try to reach her somehow.”

  “But she’s flawed. And, as she said, you will be gone in a day. What could you possibly do for her?”

  “So anxious to see me burn for my insolence, Ani?”

  “Never, Taka. But only a day ago you begged to be rid of her. What was it you called her, ‘a mere shadow of Zahara’?”

  “My tongue is sometimes premature in its findings.”

  “If that is your way of asking His forgiveness for maligning one of His children, you will have to do better than that, but it’s a start. As for saving her, she has only one Savior and her prayer should never be to you. Her prayer should only ever and always be to our Lord and Savior, for only through Him can she hear our Father’s voice. She is His child to guide, Taka, not yours. Do not look at this situation as one you can rule, Taka. See it for what it is: an opportunity to love the spirit once known as Zahara, again. As for your riches, I’ve given you something to help you along. It is in your coat pocket. Take it and use it wisely.”

  “But . . .” Taka said, only to realize Ani had left. He cursed under his breath. When he didn’t want him around he could not get rid of him. Now when he needed to talk, his friend had disappeared.

  Chapter 16

  Taka knew that somehow he had to make Violet see the light but he had no idea how. Subtlety was never his strong point. A king didn’t have time to be subtle—an immortal king on a mission, even less. But apparently regular men had all sorts of time to pussyfoot around. He would have to pussyfoot like a regular man if he had any hope at all.

  They were at a charming place called Franklin Park. The newspaper had told him it was the month of May and the green grass and lush trees almost made him feel at home. Taka breathed the fresh, clean air and felt his resolve return to him as though nature was rewarding his effort. That was, until they sat down on a blanket Violet had pulled from the car trunk and his concentration scattered at the sight of her copper brown legs in the insanely short pants stretched out before her. He’d tried to ignore the healthy, moist skin since she’d first emerged from the bedroom but here she was, flaunting the legs again; her calves a song in smoothness, her thighs silky with just the right amount of curve, hinting at the round behind that sat on top. It was almost cruel the way she taunted him.

  “Boy, you were serious about liking my body, huh?”

  He looked up quickly to find her knowing smirk. Darned if her mischievous grin wasn’t as attractive as her legs.

  “I do not notice,” he bluffed, pulling off his own coat as he was suddenly hotter despite the breeze. He folded it by his side with stiff hands before responding, resisting the need to raise his voice again. “What matter is it to notice? It will be gone soon enough. You will be rid of the burden of your insufficient body before you can say ‘snap, snap.’” There. Managed to get it out without allowing her to see how upset it made him. He was well on his way.

  “Gee, King, I’d almost think it was your body I was changing the way you’re making such a big deal. I don’t hate it. I just want it thinner. Sue me. Forgive me for wanting to be able to eat freely for a change.”

  It was his body! Violet pulled her knees up to wrap her arms around them, reeling in his gaze to the expanse of skin and the lovely face on top. Do not lose focus, he scolded himself.

  “You are depriving yourself of food now?” he asked; a delayed reaction to a point she’d just made. The slap on his arm that followed told him he’d said something wrong. He rushed to try to fix whatever offense he’d caused. “There was not a single woman in my village smaller than you. Or rather, looking at your frame it seems similar to a village woman I used to know who was about your size.”

  “Really? You mean I would have been the skinniest in your whole village?”

  Backfire. The woman was incredibly adept at turning his words against him to further her own goal. She wasn’t the smallest woman in his village, but he certainly wouldn’t admit to the lie now; she would only use that against him as well.

  “I do not know why women cannot be more like men. So long as we are strong and able to battle we do not fuss over the amount of food we eat.”

  “Don’t get me started on why women can’t, and shouldn’t, be more like men, King.” A lock of hair fell over her cheek and he zoomed in on it. It was as black as night and countered the cinnamon skin of her cheek so lovingly, he was disappointed that she beat him in moving it off her face to tuck behind her ear. Instead he cleared his voice and looked around them at the trees and the people passing by.

  “So you say there are places like this throughout the city? Parks? Just for people to come enjoy nature?”

  “Mhmm. I don’t get out here much but I do like it.”

  “Situated thus I almost forget we are near to the city.”

  “We’re in the middle of the city, King; surrounded by it.”

  “Hmm.” He nodded. “And what animals do you have in this city? Lions? Wildebeests?”

  Violet snorted, her pretty nose wrinkling with mirth. “Only wildebeests I’ve seen around here are of the two-legged variety.” At his questioning look, she clarified, “No, no wildebeests. We have squirrels and rabbits. I’ve heard some people in the rural areas have deer. I’ve heard rumor of coyote. Some people keep snakes as pets.”

  Surely she was joking. “Those are not animals. Those are rodents, harmless critters and cursed serpents of the underworld. You have no tigers? No panthers? No crazed chimpanzees?”

  “I hear in some forest areas they have bears,” she said hopefully.

  This explained a lot. He’d been in cities all over the world but had little time to ask about animal life. Back in Jaha, animals lived in concert with the growth of the community. They were always aware of them and prepared to be visited at any time. No wonder things were so easy these days. No wonder the men were so soft. They had nothing to worry about other than tripping over a crack in the pavement.

  “Ah well, it is not your fault you have no serio
us game. It is for the best. Most likely the Almighty has adapted your environment for the safety of the women and children as I doubt your men could survive a hunt, anyway. Throw a lion or a panther in this city and the entire population would be wiped out in a week.”

  “Whoa,” Violet laughed. “Number one, you have a serious attitude problem when it comes to men. Today’s men are not punks. At least not all of them.”

  “A valiant effort to defend your worthless men.”

  “Number two, we women are more than able to take care of ourselves. We don’t need no friggin’ male protection.”

  Taka could not help the amusement at her proclamation. Perhaps this particular woman could take out a lion or two. He could easily see her staring down a lion, proclaiming, “You don’t friggin’ scare me!” Violet went on, a look of unabashed boasting on her face. In his day they called it talking each other up. Whatever it was called, the fierce expression on her face proved her to be a master of the bluff.

  “Heck, I’ve taken karate. I’ve got a gun and I know how to use it, buster. Violet Jackson knows how to take care of herself. I’m a force to be reckoned with. And as for this lack of animal thing? The fact is, we managed to clear out all but the most harmless. Those bison and antelope: troublemakers. We took care of them, all right. They won’t be messing with us anytime soon.”

  Of course, since he came from a stone she would assume he knew nothing about American history, but he’d once emerged with his stone in the hands of a Sioux chief years before the West was won.

  “So the murder of the bison had nothing to do with the attempted murder of the people native to this land?”

  She looked at him a long moment, eyes narrowing. He could see her brain ticking trying to decide whether to keep this particular bluff going. She was certainly determined. Ambitious, even when wrong. Valiant to the end. The countenance of a queen; any man would be fortunate to have Violet Jackson backing them up.

  “Okay, okay.” She rolled her eyes. “I give. The bison thing, a horrible thing. But the antelope? We took care of them, for sure.”

  “The antelope still exist in the Southwest; at least antelope as they are known to you.”

  “Are you serious? How do you know that?”

  He shrugged. “I get around. This is my first time in this particular region but I have been in the United States. I understand there are lions and tigers, elephants and panthers in the West. I have seen a photo of a man battling a lion with a chair. Brave man, indeed.”

  Violet snickered. “I hate to break this to you, King, but you’ve just described a circus. They weren’t battling those animals; they were training them for entertainment. I hate circuses. There’s something freaky about an elephant in a ruffle skirt.” She took a deep breath of clean, fresh air to erase the image from her mind. “My goodness, it’s a beautiful day. I really should get out more.”

  But Taka was still trying to make sense of the animals-for-entertainment comment. Surely she wasn’t serious? Violet had a wicked sense of humor. Yes, simply further tomfoolery.

  The sun looked pretty upon her softened face. It was relaxed in a way he hadn’t seen since arriving. A smile curled her lips.

  “What has happened that makes you smile so?”

  “Ah, King, it was a wonderful morning and I’m in a good mood.”

  “A good enough mood that you can call me by my given name?”

  Of course she wouldn’t, just because he’d asked her to. He should have told her he liked to be called King and surely she would take to calling him by his name. Or, perhaps she would simply go back to calling him a genie.

  “Well, okay. If it’s important to you. What was it, again?”

  At his look she broke into more pretty laughter. She was getting quite a bellyful at his expense but he was willing to tolerate it if it allowed him to hear the sound.

  “Okay, okay. Taka. Taka. Taaaakaaaa.” She rolled it around on her tongue. “Not so bad once you get used to it.”

  He nodded in assent and appreciation. “Thank you,” he said.

  “No problem. So, what do you want to do today?”

  “I do not know. We can talk?”

  “Now, you know we can barely do that without getting into an argument. I’m surprised one of us hasn’t pinned the other to the ground already. I mean, it’s been awhile since you’ve called me an idiot and I told you to take a flying leap. That’s a record.”

  “I have never called you an idiot!”

  “You referred to my actions as ‘idiocy.’”

  “It is hardly the same thing. What do you expect me to call it when all you do is—”

  She picked up her arm and looked at her wrist timepiece. “Time! Now we know we can last twenty minutes but that is the absolute limit. But it doesn’t matter because today I am in a good mood. Remember what you told me before about knowing glory and misery? I’m usually somewhere in between, but I’ll be darned if I’m not feeling a little glory right about now.”

  “Yes? Tell me what news you have so I may be happy with you, then.”

  “I had an excellent meeting this morning.”

  “Ah, this is some success with your career that makes you glow.”

  “Something good is coming. I can feel it.” She gave him a sly look. “Besides you, that is.”

  Taka chuckled softly. “Ah, you must love your business if a good day at work makes you forget what a pain I am to you.”

  “So we should do something. I was thinking, if you want to see a play or something I could try to get us tickets tonight. Or maybe a hockey game? I’ve never been but I hear they’re fun.”

  “I think I’d like to stay home tonight, if you don’t mind. Perhaps you can stay home too? If you do not have plans, that is.”

  “But you don’t get out much, wouldn’t you like to see a movie or go to a club?”

  “Violet, you do not have to take me out to entertain me. I enjoy spending time with you. I enjoy just being with you, even if I do a bad job of showing it.”

  He didn’t know for sure but he could swear she blushed. It was a fleeting look of surprise and pleasure that made her pretty face even prettier.

  They watched a couple walk by with a baby in a stroller. Taka could not take his eyes off the three of them.

  “Did you have children?” Violet asked.

  “No. My wife and I were not blessed. And you, do you want them?”

  “Sure. Maybe. Someday.”

  “You do not sound convinced.”

  “No, I want them, but first I have to get married.”

  “To Jerome?”

  “Of course,” she drawled giving him a sideways warning look which he rightly interpreted.

  “And then you’ll give him lots of little mealy-mouthed babies and live happily ever after?” The way she rolled her eyes told him he’d probably said something wrong. “Forgive me. I did not mean to sound so . . .”

  “Yes, you did.”

  “Yes, I did, but I did not mean to make light of you or your offspring. I intended only to make light of the dung beetle you would mate with. It is my nature to express my opinion, whether or not I am asked. I do not know how to, what is the expression? Beat around the bush?”

  “Be tactful, you mean?”

  “Um, how do I say, lie for the sake of peace?”

  “Mind your own business, you mean?”

  “I cannot, what is that term, blow smoke up one’s rear side?”

  “I have no idea where you pick this stuff up; you live in a rock for cripes’ sake! Let’s just agree that you sure don’t know how to keep your mouth shut and leave it at that.”

  “All right. I admit it freely, but I tell you something I know, Violet, immortal to mortal: it is human nature to assume a day will follow the one that exists but we are not guaranteed that day. People die but regret never does. You are an intelligent, lively woman. Any man would be blessed to have you. Do not bind yourself to a man who does not love you or bind your children to a father who
does not covet that position. And if ever you are in doubt of where you stand in a relationship I suggest one simple question: if you knew you did not have tomorrow, would you want him by your side today?”

  Her serious eyes on him were satisfying because they told him that she heard him.

  “Taka, I used to dream about the man I would want to live my life with; you know, back when I was young and dumb and didn’t realize that men had fragile egos, wandering body parts, and were determined to make my life a living nightmare? Oh yes, I made a list.” She looked off into the distance with a smile on her face. “He would have to be man enough to be with me, if you know what I mean. Determined, a little bullheaded. No pushover.”

  “Strong of character.”

  “Exactly. He wouldn’t be a wuss but he wouldn’t knock old ladies over in the street.”

  “Kindhearted but no weakling?”

  “Yes. He couldn’t just want to sit at home all the time watching TV, he’d want to try things.”

  “Adventurous?”

  “That’s a good way to put it. And he most certainly would love food and appreciate the finer things.”

  “Zest for life? Good cook? Lover of the arts?” She looked at him in surprise and he went on eagerly. “You know my mother taught me to cook. I didn’t have to most of the time because my wife did it but I know how to make a good meal, enjoy a good glass of wine, literature, theater.”

  Her look of confusion shut down his rambling. He cleared his throat and did his own bluffing. “I know what you mean about the list. When I became a man at twelve—”

  “You became a man at twelve?” she interrupted, eyes wide.

  “No, no, not in the way of today. We had an initiation ceremony and I became a man. That very day I began looking at the girls in my village to find a possible mate, but my future mate was already there. Oh, she was only a girl, she had not yet had her initiation into womanhood; but I knew her well. She had alternately been my childhood friend and nemesis for all my days. I adored her. By the time we were teens and she blossomed into full womanly ripeness I was besotted with her. I could not look at her without wanting to taste her exquisite skin, pined for the scent of her, fell asleep dreaming about the sound of her voice, the curl of her hair, the pleasure I longed to give her on the riverbank under a full, low moon with the smell of jasmine scenting our coupling and the sweet warm air to sing the tale of our love.” He cleared his voice as his memory made it husky with forgotten desire, sneaking a look at Violet to find her eyes intent upon him.