Thalia!” Yelled a voice from behind her. Thalia started and turned around to see Akosua sat on the back of a hay cart, Thalia ran up to the cart, and Akosua stuck out a hand and pulled her up. “Running late today?”

  “Its busier today than I thought.” Thalia breathed. “I tried to get ahead of it, but no luck.”

  Akosua chuckled, “No matter how early you get up today, there was no way you were going to beat this. The King is throwing a feast tonight, so the whole city is running around after his instruction.”

  Thalia frowned. “Oh.” She slumped back against the hay bales, “So, no point in running?”

  Akousa shook her head. “No point in running, we’ll get to the palace when we get there.”

  Most days, Thalia marveled at the bustle and activity of her city, grinned at the riches pouring in, and goods going out. Felt relief and security in the fact that their King was taking care of them, and he always would. But today, she needed to get to the palace as soon as possible, mother’s fabrics needed to be on the table in front of the princess and advisors, and she had to—

  The slow ambling ride to the palace was broken up by the clatter of the hooves of the camel on the ground, kicking up tufts of dirt, and the loud little spluttering huffs it makes as it drags them and the cart along.

  The sun, high in the sky, shines down on the tall sandstone buildings of the town, the high small holes in the smooth walls that make up the windows, the sandstone spikes on the sides and the roofs. The smell of crops being harvested just outside the city was drifting along the river, into the heart, and Thalia raised her head slightly, sniffing in deeply. Her stomach rumbled, and she recalled the small chunk of bread that was her breakfast. She should pick up something more filling once they are in the palace, she vowed. Usually, it didn’t take long to get them there, but with all the congestion, it took them another hour or two before they finally approached the gates. Thalia didn’t feel like she was living in one of the richest kingdoms in the continent. She just felt hot, and stressed. She clutched her satchel tightly to her chest, the bag containing fabrics she needed to get to the palace.

  They were approaching it now, towering sandstone turrets coming into view , with large domes top them, a vast intricate palace built into the mud and dirt of the ground and rising up to the drizzling tops of the sky. They hopped off the cart just as it pulled around to the entrance for goods and traders. Thalia’s sandalled feet hit the ground, and she winced as the impact reverberated through her knees. Akousa gave her a sympathetic smile, and Thalia began brushing the dirt from her shawl, in an attempt to look less disheveled.

  When at the palace, she always wanted to look her best. She pulled down the shawl headdress from her mouth and nose, and pulled out a cold slab of salt from her satchel, rubbing it over her neck, and cheeks. She had to cool down.

  Once they stepped inside, she would be doing a whole lot more running around. They slipped in via the servants quarters, and Thalia shed her shawl, and self consciously began fiddling with her tunic top over her skirts.

  Akoousa cast an amused glance her way, but once they got to the main corridors, she gave her a swift kiss on the cheek, and then she was off, many many duties to do before the day was over. They were both handmaidens to the Queen, but being younger, they mostly worked on the princess. Thalia’s mother’s weaving business meant that Thalia helped with imports of his designs to the palace, and helped advise the women of the court of the latest fashions. It also meant she was a constant liaison between her mother and the palace, always running back and forth between the palace and her shop. The King, Queen and princess imported many fabrics from all over the world, but liked her mother’s designs to the best, the traditional patterns and cuts reminiscent of the tribes they all stemmed from originally.

  To her mother and father, it was a honour to serve the King, but to Thalia, it was an honor to serve the princess, who had commented on Thalia’s eye for the best fabrics and enlisted her immediately as one of her handmaidens at fifteen.

  Thalia had been immensely grateful ever since.

  Askousa’s words about the King’s feast rang true, the palace was a flurry of activity. Thalia wasn’t sure what to do, now the plans for the day had changed, did they even need the fabrics Thalia had brought? Did she need to run back to her mother with a bigger order? She was torn between finding the handmaiden superior or going directly to the Queen or princess herself. But the two royals must be way too busy to handle these matters themselves—

  Just then, Thalia spotted her, and it was like the first time she had ever seen princess Kamaria all over again.

  Her heart sped up, kicking and making a fuss in her chest.

  Ten years older and even more beautiful than the first time she saw her , the princess strode across Thalia’s line of sight, with several advisors trailing around her as she threw her arms and guestured here and there, probably telling them what she needed done for tonight’s celebrations. She crossed the open air courtyard, in which the four main passageways ran around, when she spotted Thalia. Thalia waved and hurried over to the princess, scrambling to pull the materials out of her bag for the princess to see. With one curt flick of her hand, the princess waved away the advisors and then it was just the two of them.

  Thalia gulped. “Princess,” She started. “Here are the bazin dress that you wanted. I’m not sure if we still need them if the plans have changed for tonight—.”

  Kamaria waved again and Thalia was quiet. Kamaria leaned in, taking corner of the patterned fabric from her, and Thalia got a heady wiff of rose water and the many many exotic perfumes she wore. “These will be fine.” She said quietly.

  The princess towered over her, her long frame swathed in light turquoise pagne with a beautifully embroidered tunic, and a light beige shawl thrown over her shoulders. Her hair was pulled back into intricate braids, beads and jewels hanging from her hair, dark kohl lining her eyes.

  Thalia had never seen a sight more beautiful in all of Niefula.

  Kamaria turned to her, as if looking her properly for the first time today. “I trust your journey here went well?”

  “Yes, princess.” Thalia took a low bow. When she rose back up, Kamaria leaned in again, so close their foreheads were almost touching. “You are the only handmaiden who makes sure that the fabrics aren’t pressed to close to me. The others care about the style and how I look,” Her eyes softened, boring into Thalia’s. “You are the only one who cares that I am comfortable.”

  Thalia lowered her head reverently.

  “Come with me to help me with a fitting in my chambers?”

  “Of course.”

  It wasn’t usual for the princess to be fitted by one of the handmaidens.

  Thalia followed three steps behind her, her head bows, her hands clasped across her bags. Kamaria led her down hallways and across corridors, until they finally came to her chambers.

  Kamaria drew the door closed, and fixed Thalia with a look that carried across a thousand commands. Thalia dropped her bag to the floor. Kamaria grasped the front of her tunic, pressing a kiss to her mouth.

  Thalia’s arms wrapped around the princess’s waist, drawing her even closer, enveloping her in an embrace.

  “We only have a few minutes for kisses.” Kamaria said. “Then you need to dress me.”

  Thalia nodded. They didn’t need words, and she didn’t know if the princess did this with many of the servants or just her, Kamaria had promised it was just her, but she had no way of knowing. And no right to be upset if it was untrue. Kamaria held all the power, she was the princess, anything Kamaria could destroy her family name, but more urgently, right now it could just destroy Thalia.

  And Thalia couldn’t help but fall into her kiss. Just like she did every time.

  She didn’t know what celestial or otherworldly forces made the princess notice her, but she was so glad for it. She was so pulled under, the strong grasp of the princess, her soft skin under her fingertips, the gentle swish of her elegant day dress brushing against Thalia’s dust and dirt ridden shawl and robes.

  In this moment, the princess owned her, every word and every look Thalia uttered was hers. They kissed like it was the last kiss either of them would ever have, like their oxygen depended on each others lips.

  And then as suddenly as it started, Kamaria pulled away. “Now, you must dress me, we are expected as the feast table.”

  Thalia startled back, dropping her arms, frantically reaching around on the floor of for her bag.

  She dressed the princess in the bazin, the silk trailing through her fingers as she fitted it to Kamaria, each light touch torture as she knew they had to leave the room any minute now, and she had to walk three steps behind her once more.

  Thalia didn’t know that is was the last night that they would have on land. That the invaders were ready and lurking in the shadows primed to attack the king’s feast in the evening. Nobody had known a thing.

  ***

  His palace was burning. King Mewelde knew the time had come. He only prioritised three things, his plans, his pride and honesty. Before long, his beloved city would be in ruins. He couldn’t let history blame it on him. Say it was his pride, his arrogance and indulgence of the trading of salt and gold had made them rich. He couldn’t bear it if they said his pride was the downfall of his beloved city. But as he sat alone in his throne room, clasping his mighty sword. He knew it was almost over.

  They had overrun his city, stole in, in the dark evening while they had been feasting and celebrating their riches. They had breached his great palace, and now the invaders were inside, killing and setting things on fire. They were going to take what was his.

  But they didn’t know.

  What Mewelde had found most valuable wasn’t his mountains of jewels and gold.

  But his people.

  And he just might have found a way to save them.

  He was on his knees.

  Oh gods save us. A thought.

  “Oh gods save us.” A prayer.

  “Oh gods save us!” A screaming plea.

  His head was thrown back and the power hit him, he knew the gods had taken mercy on him, and would protect everything that he had built. He was rewriting everything – the history of Mali would never be the same.

  ***

  Kincaid had found him, at last. A large helmet partially hid pale features, dark eyes and a heavy black beard. He strolled into the throne room with two others and stopped in front of Mewelde. “Submit to us!” He crowed. “For we have taken your city. We have stolen your gold and salt. You have nothing, your army is in shambles, your people cry out. Let us end this. Submit to us!”

  King Mewelde raised his head from its bowed position and looked him in the eyes, his teeth flashing white. “Not quite yet.”

  And he lifted his hands, and a bright light sprung out in three directions and hit all three men. It hit Kincaid the great first, striking him right in the chest.

  His helmet rolled off to the ground as his head began to flatten, becoming shrunken and blue. Scales began running along his neck and his teeth were sharpening. “What is happening,” He gasped, eyes bulging.

  His general, Cala, arms began to split apart and became long tentacles. He began screaming, weighed down by four new arms, and his balance skewed, he tipped forward and began to writhe around on the ground.

  The third man, the solider who can accompanied them, his mouth became long tentacles, and King Mewelde laughed and laughed. The throne room began to fill with water. The city was going down with them.

  ***

  To the people, the sun disappeared from the sky, and everything became a deep murky blue, and no one could run anymore. It was, just empty ocean floor instead of an endless desert. They turned their bewildered heads back to the city they were fleeing. And there Mewelde stood, hands upraised, light streaming out of his palms. The light reflected in the irises of his people, and suddenly they didn’t remember how or why they had gotten here and why they were running. Just that they had reached their sanctuary under the sea, and they were protected and hidden forevermore.

  .To the invader’s eyes, they crumpled to sand and ash, teems and teems of people streaming out of the city. From the top of their heads to their sweat drenched sandals slapping against the ground, they became sand, shifting and then lifting into the breeze.

  The city was gone.

  Port Bastian

  4 months ago

  They ran across the sand, massive tufts flying up and around feet, as they stumbled and giggled, leaning into each other. Sidney and Eva collapsed on the sand, clutching their beers and laughing. It took them a few minutes to calm down, locking eyes as their laughter quietened. Eva reached out and squeezed Sidney’s hand. “I’m so happy.”

  Sidney grinned. “Enjoying your birthday party?”

  She nodded, with a laugh. “Yes!”

  The rest of the party and the bonfire continued behind them, reggae tunes muted from the nearer splash of the waves. Eva gave Sidney another bright smile. “I’m happy I get some time with just you and me though.”

  Sidney smiled, but rolled their eyes a little. “Don’t you wanna be dancing with your boyfriend?”

  Eva giggled. “He’s great but you’re my world. We’ve spent so many birthdays just us. Some things don’t always have to change.”

  Sidney had never had any siblings, but it felt like Eva was one, like she was intertwined to their very being. It felt like the world was grounded and real with Eva beside them, like they’d found their place.

  Sidney stared up at the sky, a dark blanket of twinkling lights, and turned to Eva, knowing there’s no one else they’d rather spend this moment with. “We aren’t ever going to change, you and me.”

  Eva and Sidney sat on the corridor of their high school during rainy days, backs against the wall, heads together, watching videos on Sidney’s phone. Eva and Sidney, Sidney styling Eva’s ridiculously long hair, singing at her mirror with hair brushes in their hands. Eva and Sidney swimming up and down the shore for hours, giggling about their crushes and pushing each other into the water. Eva squeezed Sidney’s hand. “I know that,” She whispered. “It’s just like 19 you know? So much change.”

  Sidney nodded, “We can do it though, together,”

  Eva smiled. “I don’t think there’s anybody who knows me better than you do.”

  “There’s no one I get upset about not seeing for two days than you.” Sidney replied.

  Eva giggled. “We see each other every day!”

  “And its not enough!” Sidney laughed, and pulled her in for a hug. “Ohhh I love you so much happy birthday.”

  “You are so drunk!” Eva laughed.

  “So are you.” Sidney laughed.

  “I love you too,” Eva said.

  “If I had a sister, I’m sure it would have been you.”

  “The universe messed up, not making us family.”

  “We found each other anyway.”

  “Yeah, meant to be.” Eva smiled. “And Fisher’s like, our little dude bro.”

  “Grow your own surfer dude.” Sidney laughed.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “Also,” Eva said, and Sidney propped their chin on their hand, drunk and fully invested.

  “Yes?”

  “Speaking of, you guys have been attached to the hip since my party started! I had to literally pry you away from him, I know you had a small little crush on him when we were like fourteen but that was like five whole years ago. Its gone now, right?”

  Sidney nodded. “Gone like the tide pulled it in, never to be seen again.”

  Eva nodded. “I knew it. I see the way your eyes follow Duke when we’re at college, its probably just him then, he had a little crush on you when we all began friends, but you know what he’s like, he’s with like a new person every bonfire.”

  Sidney nodded, but they weren’t looking at Eva. “Yeah, I know what he’s like.” They said quietly.

  Eva took a long swig. “Plus I know you better than anyone. I’d like, know immediately if you were crushing again, it's always so obvious its so cute. And you’re all about Duke now.”

  “Yeah,” Sidney said, “I am,”

  And they both turned back to look at the bonfire, the sky darkening more, setting the bright red and oranges flames in sharp contrast, both of them looking in different ways. Eva was watching Cara sway to the music, whilst Sidney was a little mesmerised watching Fisher’s awkward little shuffle. “And you love your boyfriend.” Sidney said.

  “I do,” Eva gulped back more beer.

  They were both lying.

  Now

  Eva gaped. “Sidney? Is it okay if I have a quick word with you??”

  Sidney glanced at Fisher then Thalia, puzzled. “Yeah sure?” They let Eva grab their arm and drag them into the kitchen.

  “Sidney…are you serious?” Eva nearly screeched. “Summoning a goddess?? You know that is like dangerous right?”

  “I don’t know that we have another option. how else will we find the monsters? We need to communicate with a deity that can track them. I’ve been doing some reading, and the ocean is her domain.” Sidney held out the thick tome, “I got it from this old dusty book my grandma gave me, on West African myths and legends.”

  “I know we want to help but like, what if goes wrong? Or you summon the wrong goddess?”

  “Yeah,yeah…maybe Thalia should do the summoning, I just thought since I found the spell…”

  Eva gave them a look. Then leaned forward and grabbed their hands. “It’s just you are the only family I have, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “I don’t know what I’d do without you either.” Sidney said. “I’ll try and be as careful as I can, I promise.”

  Eva pulled them into a hug, holding them tightly. “Okay,” She whispered into their shoulder.

  Sidney pulled back and looked her in the eyes. “No more freaking out?”

  Eva nodded. “No more freaking out.”

  ***

  Thalia and Fisher looked up as Eva and Sidney came back into the room. “Are we all good?” Fisher asked.

  Eva nodded, a little embarrassed, she sat down on the sofa.

  Thalia looked around. “Summoning Mami Wata?”

  Sidney clapped their hands together, “Yes, let’s do this. we need a bowl of water, the mirror from my room, and a few things from the kitchen.”

  Sidney pointed at Eva, “Kitchen duty with me and Thalia?”

  Eva nodded. She really wasn’t sure about this. Sidney nodded at Fisher. “Go up to my room and grab my mirror? Please?”

  Fisher gave them a little grin and a salute. “On it,”

  “So this is…” Eva asked.

  “Voodoo.” Sidney clarified.

  Thalia’s head shot up from where she was looking at the floor, setting the bowls of cornmeal and flour on the ground.

  They set their tablet on the wooden floorboards of the living room, sharp lines and images lit up on the screen. “We need to draw these vèvè cosmograms,”

  Sidney dipped their hands in the cornmeal and flour bowls and got to work drawing the symbols on the floorboards, their creativeness sparking to life.

  “Big snake,” Eva watched them while they worked, hesitant to help. Thalia was well into it, drawing the lines and tiny stars through Sidney’s, creating crosses. They worked in tandem with each other, creating the lines and patterns depicted on the Ipad. “Its the vèvè cosmogram for water spirits.”

  Fisher came down through the door with a large mirror, and paused, just watching them.

  “Wow.”

  Sidney wiped their forehead with their arm, a large smear of flour following it. “We’re almost done.”

  Fisher chuckled, leaning the mirror against the sofa, and wiped at Sidney’s forehead with his sleeve. Sidney went stiff but let it happen anyway.

  Thalia took a pinch of flour and flicked it at Eva. Eva startled but then smiled. “It will be okay.” Thalia said in her sweet low voice. “I swore to protect you all from monsters, but goddesses too, if the spell goes wrong, I will personally stop it myself.”

  Eva’s shoulders rolled back a little, and she relaxed, “Okay,”

  Fisher wiping at Sidney’s forehead had turned into a full on mini play fight, and Eva rolled her eyes at them. “Come on, we need to get this show on the road.” She grinned.

  Sidney’s shoulders straightened, a small smile creeping up their face seeing that Eva had started to relax a little bit. Sidney bent down again to finish the vèvè, and Fisher leaned the mirror against the wall it front of them so it was facing Sidney.

  “Okay,” Sidney said, looking across at their friends. “We are going to begin. By the way, Mami Wata is going to possess me.”

  Before Fisher or Eva could even say anything, Sidney leaned forward and struck the mirror with their finger three times,

  “Mami Wata, Mami Wata, Mami Wata!”

  Thalia’s eyes widened. “You’re going to become her medium.”

  Fisher stepped forward, “Sidney wait!”

  There was a flash of light, and suddenly a gorgeously tall black woman in deep green dress, snakes wrapped around her, appeared in the mirror. Sidney met her eyes, nodding, and she rose out of the mirror, and Thalia gasped, recognising her saviour.

  She stepped in front of Sidney, arm held out in front of them protectively.

  Even though Sidney was the one who summoned Mami Wata, Thalia was the one who needed to speak with her.

  It wouldn’t stop what was about to happen though. Mami Wata stepped out of the mirror, and merged with Sidney, Sidney turned to look at all of them, eyes white and flashing. “Who dares to summon me?” Sidney wasn’t Sidney anymore, they stood tall and regal, otherworldly energy radiating off them in waves.

  Eva stumbled back, clutching onto Fisher. They were both speechless.

  Thalia stepped forward. “Mami Wata, Sidney summoned you but it is I who needs to speak with you.”

  “Then speak,” Mami Wata said, with Sidney’s voice. She then squinted at Thalia.

  “You…are one of my saved. What are you doing on land?”

  “Princess Kamaria, she broke your protective spells, the monsters are loose on the world.”

  Sidney-Mami shook her head. “The serpent. If his creatures are on land, I cannot stop them,”

  “I can,” Thalia said. “I have some kind of extra—-ability, that means I can fight them, kill them even, we just know he has many and we have no idea how to find them, I need your help,”

  Mami Wata nodded. “You also need more power, his creatures will be stronger the more that come. You need the pearls.”

  “Pearls?”

  “They formed the day I sent your city into the sea for protection, they are imbued with my protective power, three in the sea, three on land. Find them, power up your spear. you also need the weapons of your people. They are here, on this island. Find them.”

  Sidney was starting to sway a bit, their body couldn’t hold the goddess for much longer, wouldn’t. Fisher dashed forward, taking their shoulders.

  “They are combined with my power, h the powers of your lost civilisation, find them , you will achieve ultimate power.”

  “Where can we find the monsters?” Thalia asked urgently.

  Sidney folded up their hand, and then unfolded it, a small wooden penchant necklace. “It will glow when they are close, search the coves, bays and seas, summon me if you become desperate.Place it on a map and see how it will lead the way.”

  Eva suddenly got a surge of confidence, wavering forward a little. “Is that all you can tell us?”

  “That is all I can tell you, for now.” A flash of light flew out of Sidney and they slumped against Fisher and Eva started screaming.

  Thalia dragged her foot through the vèvè, destroying it, and ran to Sidney’s side. Eva had started crying. Fisher was rocking Sidney back and forth in his arms.

  Thalia pressed her hand to her chest.

  She knew what she needed to do.

  ***

  After all that excitement, everyone just wanted to go to sleep. Fisher and Eva insisted on staying over. “We have to go to your grandparents in the morning,” Fisher insisted. “Since your grandma gave you that book that had the summoning ritual in it.”

  Sidney nodded. They had taken Sidney up to their room and tucked them in.

  On their covers, something was buzzing. Sidney patted their hand around the covers, and groaned once they found their phone. “My Dad’s calling.”

  Fisher and Eva began to step out of the room, Eva gently tugging Thalia with them. “We’ll help Thalia get into the tank for the night.”

  Sidney nodded at them and they left the room, answering the phone with “Hello Dad.”

  “One of us will come down in the morning to open the shed door,” Fisher said. “But if we sleep in just come in and wake us up and one of us will make you breakfast.”

  Eva placed a hand on the glass of the tank. “If you start to feel uncomfortable, come back into the house, we’ve left the back door unlocked, and we’ll make you a bed on the sofa.”

  Thalia shook her head. “This will do. I am used to going to sleep submerged in water, this is normal.” She smiled. “Thank you for your kindness.”

  “Thanks for protecting us.” Fisher said, “You could have just as easily swam back to your own people and protected them instead.”

  Eva had her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m sorry I’ve been so skeptical, its just I’m so protective of Sidney, I’m used to being able to protect them and right now I’m powerless.”

  “Its alright,” Thalia said. “I admire how fiercely you want to protect your friends.”

  Eva gave her a small smile, as Fisher tugged on her arm. “We need to check on Sidney.”

  Sidney was squashed in a hug between their two best friends. Eva had rested her chin on the top of their head and Fisher had their arms around both of them. “I love you guys.”

  “We love you too,” Eva echoed.

  “We’ll be here all night,” Fisher said as he got comfortable in his blankets on the right side of the floor.

  “Goodnight.” Eva said softly from the left, patting the bed.

  “Goodnight.” Sidney said, staring up at the ceiling as she got to up switch the lights off, still staring at a specific spot once the room had descended into darkness, their mind whirring with goddesses and monsters.

  ***

  Grandma Selma crushed Sidney into a hug, and Sidney felt like they were home for the first time in the last few days. Since Thalia had come out of the sea, Sidney had been so focused on everything that her visit had brought to their doorstep, they forgot to call their grandparents. Ever since Sidney’s mum had left, Sidney spent more time at their grandparents than their own house. Their Dad was always working, so Sidney was always with their friends or their grandparents.

  As Selma pulled back from the hug, her eyes lit up upon seeing Fisher and Eva. They also visited often with Sidney so much so that Selma saw them like her own grandchildren too. She pulled them each into a hug, and Grandpa Maurice gave them a slow smile, quietly welcoming them into the house.

  Thalia stood frozen in the doorway, regarding their wrinkles and graying dark hair. She had never seen anyone older than when they were when their city was raided. No one aged in Neifula. No one died. Selma finished hugging Eva and regarded Thalia with narrowing eyes. “Sidney, love, who is this?” Their grandma said in her heavy Jamaican accent. “And is this why we haven’t heard from you in a few days, you got a new friend?” Her eyes twinkled teasingly.

  Thalia had heard Sidney speak this way, but it wasn’t a musical as their grandma’s voice, sweet and lulling.

  “I am Thalia.” Sidney’s grandma’s eyes narrowed even more. “Sidney where is she from? Her accent sounds west African, Malian… but old, very old…”

  “This is Thalia.” Sidney said, as they all walk into the living room. “She’s not from here, and she needs our help.”

  They all sat down on the sofa, and his grandma disappeared into the kitchen, and reappeared moments later with a cup on water.

  Sidney’s eyes widened, and they didn’t have time to do anything as their grandma threw a full cup of water at Thalia’s legs. Thalia gasped, and they flickered fluorescent blue, small scales glinting like shells on the beach in the sun, before it reverted back to mocha brown human legs. “Water spirit,” Maurice mumbled.

  “Indeed.” Selma grumbled. She crossed her arms and glared at her grandchild. “What ya doing bringing a water spirit here into my house?”

  Sidney gaped. “How did you know?”

  Fisher almost choked on his laughter. “Wow nothing gets past your Nan huh.”

  Eva giggled, and Thalia felt so exposed she wanted to sink into the sofa and disappear.

  “Granny,” Sidney said. “We need your help. You taught me everything I know about west African mythology, you gave me the books with the ritual and it helped me summon Mami Wata.”

  “She appeared in the living room,” Eva added unhelpfully with a chirp.

  “Something terrible is happening and we need your help.”

  Grandma Selma tutted. “Alright. Come on and tell me everything while we eat, I made jerk chicken, potatoes, rice and beans and ackee and salt fish.”

  “Boiling some vegetables too.” Grandpa Maurice added.

  ***

  The Jamaican food was really good. Thalia had missed this about being a human, but she supposed most of the memories of what she used to eat at home and in the palace when she was alive and on land was missing from her memories, just like everything else.

  Sidney described everything from the beginning from the attack on Duke’s house, to summoning Mami Wata, to realising they needed the ancient weapons of —

  “The Malinke people.” Grandma Selma nodded, as if it made perfect sense to her. “Yes, in the National museum there is some of the weapons in the archives.” She nodded to Thalia.

  “Using the weapons of your people to channel Mami Wata’s power will defeat the monsters, and having all the weapons will help lead you to where the monsters will next appear.”

  She looked at Sidney. “I can drive you there after we’ve eaten, keep your eyes peeled child. "

  She nodded to the rest of the group. “It’s also a long drive, so everyone go to the toilet before we go.”

  Sidney chuckled. Grandma was more of a mother to them than their actual mother was.

  Thalia cleared her throat. “How do you know that the orishas are real?”

  Grandma shrugged. “I believed in the orishas no matter what. I would still believe if I hadn’t seen you with my own eyes. That’s how faith works.”

  ***

  “Your grandma is a legend.” Fisher grinned.

  They had arrived as the museum was closing, and Sidney’s grandma had implored (being a member of the historical board with her own key card, to let her grandchild and their friends wander around after hours for a “school project.” The security guard would lock up after them.

  “Once we’ve got the weapons we’ll use the magic to locate the next monster.” Sidney said. “Piece of cake!” They all stood in the foyer of the museum reception, “Straight to ancient West African exhibit then?” Sidney asked.

  Fisher held out an arm. “Lead the way.” Eva and Fisher hadn’t been to the museum as many times as Sidney had, who almost knew this museum like the back of their hand.

  Thalia stood stock still in front of one of the displays, while the rest of them wandered around the ancient West Africa exhibit. The bold letters suspended in cable above the display said LIFE IN MALI in bold letters. Thalia felt disconnected from her body. There it was, her old life in fragments and pieces, put up on display like ornaments. Like decorations. She had been alive thousands and thousands of years ago, and the world she had known was now a small display, a few random items, some flowery words. All the people that she had loved, that she had own, their very existence, boiled down to a couple of digestible paragraphs. Her heart lurched up her throat, and she felt like she was going to throw it up right there on the white shiny floor. She shouldn’t be here. She shouldn’t be existing right now.

  The others were calling her name now but they felt a million miles away.

  Thalia turned and ran.

  Sidney startled, as Thalia’s retreating figure disappeared into the distance. “We don’t have a lot of time to bring her back and find the ancient weapons.” Sidney started panicking. “She could be anywhere.”

  Eva walked over and put her hands on their shoulders, calming them. “You and Fisher go. to the archives at the back of the museum, I’ll find her and calm her down.” She walked towards the LIFE IN MALI display, tracing her hands on the plaque about entitled ‘the lost city of Niefula.’ “If I were her that would freak me out too.”

  ***

  “I’m surprised there isn’t more security.” Sidney said, pulling out a massive drawer labeled ‘extra’.

  As Sidney pulled out the contents, Fisher’s nose wrinkled. “There wouldn’t need to be, who would steal those?”

  The weapons were tiny, and rusted beyond recognition. Sidney only knew it was the right drawer because it said West African Exhibit on the sign over their heads and Mali on the set of drawers. Sidney shrugged, trying not to show their disappointment. “Maybe it does more once it’s linked to Mami Wata’s power?”

  ****

  Eva heard gentle shuddering sobs before she saw her. Thalia had found the tropical flower indoor greenhouse section of the museum, beautiful gorgeous orchids and passion flowers framing her. her wide adorable chestnut brown eyes widened at the sight of Eva. Thalia rubbed her eyes dry with the back on her hands, sniffling, and Eva’s breath was cut short as the waning sunlight from the sunset bounced into the room, illuminating her dark black curls, and intricate braids, beautiful brown skin. “I can’t breathe,” Thalia gasped.

  “Moreover, I shouldn’t be breathing.”

  “You know that’s not true.” Eva murmured.

  As she sat down slowly beside her, the other girl flinched but didn’t move away.

  “I shouldn’t be alive.”

  “But you are. You’ve been given a second chance, don’t waste it by wishing you were dead.”

  She held a hand out and Thalia took it. “We need you.”

  “How do I keep going long enough to fight these monsters?”

  “Just know that you are not alone, and that we are with you,” Eva said. “Draw strength from us.”

  She pulled Thalia into a hug and Thalia froze. Her panicky rushing mind calmed, and the whole world came to a stop. Just because Eva was holding her. And it felt like for one moment, everything would be okay. That she could really do this.

  Thalia pulled away. “We don’t have much time do we?”

  “If you need another moment, its okay. The others can come find us.” Eva put her arms around her and Thalia didn’t move away, she just moved a tiny bit closer and it felt right.

  ***

  Eva’s family had a big collection of boats in every shipyard all around the island.

  “My Dad won’t notice one is missing.” Eva said.

  One of the island’s boatyards was a five minute walk from the museum, Eva and Sidney were setting up the tugboat, and Fisher was giving Thalia the weapons they had found in the exhibit. Because of how well known Eva’s family was, the guy in the boatyard reception desk gave her the keys as soon as she walked up.

  Eva turned on the radio and tracking aid as Sidney climbed into the wheelhouse and took hold of the wheel. “You ready for this?” Eva asked.

  Sidney nodded.

  As Eva and Sidney set up the tugboat, Fisher and Thalia stood on the wooden walkway. Fisher gently handed her the rusted weapons. It was a saber and a rusted dagger. In her hands they felt sad and small, a relic of a forgotten age. She had to find a way to bring them back to their former glory. A cold breeze picked up off of the water ruffling Fisher’s sandy curls. “You have a connection to them, and to the water.”

  Thalia nodded. “I think if I just—.”

  And she stepped off of the walkway.

  Fisher gasped as flashes of light erupted from the water, and Thalia emerged, her rose gold armour equipped and a gold circlet resting around her black curly hair.

  She held her trademark spear, and the old weapons from the exhibit looked completely different. The handles of the saber and the dagger were now polished bronze, the blade once dull and rusted gleamed like new.

  In the tugboat, Eva stumbled back at the sight of her, face flushed. Fisher clapped his hands together with glee. “Now, that is a warrior.”

  Sidney smiled knowingly from behind the wheel, having already seen Thalia in this form and delighting in their friend’s reactions. They then gestured for Fisher to hop in. “Let’s go.”

  Thalia swam next to the tugboat in mer-form, and had given the dagger to Eva, who placed it on top of the tracking aid. The black screen now pulsed with two dots, themselves and the next monster.

  A name appeared in Thalia’s head at the same time. Inkanyamba. Mami Wata was guiding them. They followed the flashing signal dot for hours, for miles and miles. During that time, the skies had ripped open, rain pouring down endlessly.

  Eva could only see Thalia every couple of miles, gesturing, asking which direction she should swim next. They went on for so long that Eva didn’t realise they were at crab cove until lighting flashed illuminating their surroundings. They had also closed the distance between themselves and the second dot.

  Thalia hadn’t swam in driving rain before, it hit the ocean in painful strikes, hitting her face, flattening her hair every time she surfaced. This time, Eva and Fisher waved their arms back and forth. She needed to stop swimming. The monster was here.

  Her heart thumped hard in her chest. She owed so much to them. Thalia had promised to protect them. Mami Wata had given her power now, she wasn’t a helpless servant girl anymore.

  But with that power came the building pressure so heavy she felt like she might sink to the bottom of the sea because of it. She heard the creature before she saw it. A massive crash of the water thumping up and around its massive body. It was dark navy, with a long serpentine body and an eel-like face. The Inkanyamba.

  Thalia charged at the Inkanyamba, swirling the weapons of her people between her fingers.

  Eva, Sidney and Fisher only saw her within the flashes of lightning. It was so dark now, Eva’s heart clenched every time Thalia disappeared. Sidney was still driving the tugboat, trying to get them away from the massive waves of water that followed the beast. Thalia only managed a few hits, but was knocked back every time the creature dove back into the water. It was useless.

  It was too colossal, and too fast for her.

  Her head whipped around at the sound of her friend’s screams. In these tumultuous waters, they were losing control of the tugboat. But at least they were in the wheelhouse. The Inkanyamba shrieked, lunging forwards, but Thalia couldn’t careen backwards fast enough. Cold scales slammed into her, the pain scorching through every inch of her body at the contact. It sent her flying through the air, knocking her into the water.

  Eva ran to the bow of the ship, her bright yellow hair flying around her devastated face, her orange life jacket like a beacon to the creature. It lunged towards the boat.

  Thalia’s head broke through the surface, and she saw the creature heading for the tugboat. She let out a guttural scream, and threw back the spear. It hit the creature and it cried out, diving back into the ocean.

  The sensation made Eva lose her balance and she toppled off the boat. Thalia swam for her. The other girl was plummeting through the water fast. Thalia barely caught her as she was going down.

  She swam for the cove as fast as she could, her powerful tail pumping behind her. In the distance, the creature had retreated, wounded, but not dead. But that wasn’t important right now. She drew Eva up on the sand, where Eva coughed up lungfuls of water and looked up at her with red eyes. Thalia didn’t think, she pressed her hands on her other girls arm and chest, a red deep gash on her left arm. If I can harm monsters, Mami Wata please let me heal humans, Thalia thought.

  The world went still for Eva, who held onto Thalia’s shoulders, were her armour had shifted to a white silk blouse that popped against her dark brown skin. The tail hadn’t changed, still deep blue and flapping. Dreams could be real. A gentle aura pulsed from Thalia and Eva found herself utterly mesmerised by her, by Thalia’s deep brown eyes the only thing she could concentrate on.

  Thalia’s small gorgeous face scrunched up in concentration as she healed her?

  That must be it, thought Eva, its the magic, the soothing-ness, why I feel so calm, she’s healing me. Her face was flushing, her heart rate accelerating, and she didn’t know if it was her near death experience. or the warm feeling she got in her chest when she realised that Thalia chose to save her rather than finish her mission. Sidney and fisher were both excellent swimmers, either one of them could of if they’d reacted quickly enough.

  Thalia was a hero. Eva thought. That’s just what heroes do, I’m just in awe.