The Brotherhood: Awakening Book II - 22. Chapter 22

The Brotherhood: Awakening

Chapter XXII

By X

  

 

What does one say to a God?

It didn’t help that he sat with his eyes fixed on me, burrowing deeper and deeper into me like a knife cutting into flesh despite the warmth of his smile. I wasn’t buying it. It was a façade. It had to be. I felt it in my gut. Maybe that was unfair of me. Perhaps he deserved the benefit of the doubt. Still, I couldn’t silence the tiny voice in my head screaming – Red Alert!

Nothing good could come from this “chance” meeting.

Granted, it wasn’t my first time meeting Naveyk. I was sassy and maybe a bit rude the first time we met in the library, but honestly, I didn't know what I knew now. If I had, I wouldn't have been so bold. It's crazy to think I actually told him he had "daddy issues" to work through.

“Please, join me, Jacob,” Naveyk offered, his gloved hand gesturing to the spot next to him. His every syllable carried the haunting melodies of the ages. Those four words, simple yet captivating, had the power to ensnare me in his spell if he uttered just a few more. Was this real? Was he that magnificent? Or was I simply in my own head because I now knew who, or better yet, what he was?

I stood there, frozen like a popsicle, so Naveyk invited me to join him again, patting the bench beside him this time.

The trance I was in, whether placed by my hand or his, finally dissipated, and I snapped out of it. I slithered into the spot next to him. My body arched away from him like he was radioactive.

“You needn’t fear me, Jacob,” he assured me, crossing one leg over the other as he turned to face me. Resting his arm on the back of the bench, he clasped his hands together. “Besides, where is that brash young man I met in the library?”

I remained silent.

He looked exactly like he did that day in the library, down to the same colored tie and onyx clasp. I hadn’t noticed the tie clip back then, but now it stood out like a bullseye on his chest. My eyes fixated on it.

“Or do you prefer Akuzio?” Naveyk asked.

“J-Jacob is fine,” I stammered.

“Very well.”

Suddenly, he reached over and slapped my thigh.

I jumped.

“And look at you….” he said mid flinch, allowing his statement to linger while I settled again. “A Skai of all things. Good for you.” He shook his head as if the idea truly blew his mind. “I tell you, our world gets more interesting by the day.”

“You mean….you didn’t know?” My question sounded more like an accusation than an inquiry, which wasn’t my intention.

“No.”

His answer felt so dismissive it forced my head up suddenly. I looked him in the eyes for the first time. Those were not the same eyes that looked at me from across the table in the library. They were stunning – quite literally out of this world. The pupils were surrounded by two discs of glittering silver that reminded me very much of Q, but the pupils – the pupils themselves were the very cosmos from the heavens. Looking into them was like catching a glimpse of the universe.

All pretenses were dropped. This time, he didn't hold back; he revealed his true self to me without hesitation.

Naveyk, God of the Nave.

“Let me be frank, Jacob,” he said politely. “I can be frank with you, yes?”

“Um, sure,” I replied hesitantly.

“Very good,” he smiled. “Honestly, I didn’t care enough about you to warrant a deeper exploration of who you were.” He shrugged and gave me this weirdly condescending smile masked by a look of genuine empathy. “To be blunt, I found you rather uninteresting, and I say that with no offense intended.”

“Okay….” I said meekly, but I could feel the embers inside me getting hot. “I was so uninteresting to you that you came to see me at the library to poke around.”

“I was curious, of course. Qua’quelle is my son after all. He’s had many lovers. As expected, most were Nave.” Naveyk paused, then added, “for obvious reasons.”

And like a child pretending to know more than he did, I nodded.

Naveyk smiled. He got me to play along.

I felt dumb.

Then he continued, “When he awoke among humans, his tastes expanded, and over the years, he has left a long trail of human toys in his wake.”

“How long exactly?” I interrupted without thinking, my voice cracking and going up an octave or two.

Naveyk continued as if I had said nothing at all. “Naturally, I was curious to know what it was about these humans that satiated his sexual appetite. I made it a point to meet some of them, to understand his desires.”

“What did you learn?” I asked.

“It was quite simple, really,” he shrugged. “They were throwaways. As I said, just toys to be used and discarded when he got bored. No attachments. No complications. Just an object he could enjoy at his leisure. I assumed you were such an object since you didn’t appear to be anything special. Just another name in a long list of discarded toys. Again, I say that with no offense intended.”

“Riiight….You’re basically calling me Q’s Fleshlight, but as long as you mean no offense, it’s all good, I guess.”

I wasn’t sure if gods understood sarcasm, but if Naveyk did, he didn’t let on. He continued without any reaction to my remark.

“I should have suspected things were different when Qua’quelle challenged Kyrios' decision to dismiss your entire pledge class. At first, I believed he stood on principle and the rule of law. Now I see, he did it….for you.” Sitting back slightly, Naveyk threw his head back and laughed. “Poor Kyrios, I sent him blindly into the lion's den, and he almost got bit. Of course, Qua’quelle won that round. It was his house, after all.”

“Hold on!” I exclaimed forcefully. “That was your doing?”

“Oh yes,” he nodded smugly. “I could see Qua’quelle found a new toy, and I didn’t want him distracted. There are things….”

“Can you stop calling me a fucking toy?” I interrupted angrily.

Risk my life by rudely interrupting a God – check that off my bucket list.

“Apologies, Jacob. I meant no….”

“Yeah, yeah, you meant no offense. Got it. But forgive me if I doubt your sincerity. Is there a reason you’re here, or did you come all this way to insult me?” Yeah, the embers had skipped past glowing red and went straight to a full-blown volcanic eruption. “Maybe you get off on that sort of thing. Insulting others might be your version of Viagra, I don’t know, and I’m not one to kink shame, but I have better things to do tonight.”

What the serious fuck did I just do?

I’d bet any amount of money the people three buildings down could hear me swallow nervously.

Naveyk smirked. “You’re a fiery one, unlike the ones that came before. They were more…submissive. You, in contrast, are a spitfire – a challenge. I can see why my son would be enamored with you.”

If he thought reminding me that I was one of many would drive a wedge between me and Q or dampen my feelings for him, Naveyk was sadly mistaken. It made no difference to me if there were ten guys or ten thousand. Most, if not all, were dead and buried. I was here. Still standing. If anything, I was more curious about Q’s sexual escapades. I’m sure he had many hot stories to tell, and I made a mental note to drill him about them – in more ways than one.

“But that’s neither here nor there, I’m afraid,” Naveyk said, leaning toward me. “I know what you’re about to do.”

"How on earth could you know that?" I didn't expect an answer; rather, my salty words were venting my frustration with this entire conversation. "I didn't even have a clue about my own actions until just a few minutes ago."

“Do you believe me to be a simple middle-aged man sitting across from you?” Unlike me, he was definitely expecting an answer.

“Well, no,” I replied, feeling myself sink inward.

"I am the Creator. I am the Destroyer. I am What Is, What Was, What will Be for all time." His voice suddenly had a slight echo as he spoke, and for a brief moment, the whole of his eyes were a reflection of the universe. “Of course, I know your plan. I’m here to tell you – Don’t.”

“Excuse me?”

“Go into that shop,” he said, extending a gloved finger to point at The Great Mother’s door, “unlock the memories of our forefathers and go be with your people. Forget about my son. He must fulfill his destiny, and as a Skai, you have no place in his future.”

“Hold on a second,” I said, placing my hand on my chest as I looked around the plaza in confusion.

Naveyk followed my gaze curiously. “What are you doing?”

“Shh, hang on a sec,” I insisted, raising a finger in his face. I proceeded to check behind the bench, under it, and then dramatically leaned to the side of the bench, attempting to peer past Naveyk to see what lay behind him.

“I demand an answer.” His calm demeanor did little to hide his annoyance.

“I’m sorry, I was just checking to see if we were still in the twenty-first century and not back in the 1800s because, believe it or not, you sound like a racist, classist plantation owner who’s mad that his son fell in love with the help and not the southern belle you chose to maintain the wealth and prestige of the family name. Being that you’re the Creator and the One Who Will Always Be or whatever, I thought you sent us back to a time of ass-backward ideas.” Leaning in, I slapped him on the knee. “Oh, and I say that with no due respect.”

Gloves. Were. Off.

Naveyk gave a slow nod, a mischievous grin spreading across his lips as he briefly glanced down at the bench. It struck me he wasn’t looking down in shame or defeat. Not at all. He genuinely enjoyed my retort. Like father like son, perhaps? I’m sure very few pushed back at him in such a reckless and dangerous way. Not to mention stupid.

“Clever Skai,” he conceded thoughtfully.

“I don’t know what your deal is with Q. That’s for you two to figure out. I get why you don’t like me. Skai with a Nave, I get all that, but at the end of the day, Q is a grown-ass man.” I pointed to the sky. “So grown, in fact, he’s older than some of the stars in the sky, for crying out loud.”

“Your point?”

“That he doesn’t need daddy dearest meddling in his love life. I love him, and he loves me. Right now, that’s all that matters. If he told me to go, I’ll go. But that’s his choice to make, his life, not yours. Father or not. God or not.”

“Love is irrelevant,” Naveyk said coldly.

Who hurt you? I thought.

“His life is not his own. It has a purpose. I will see him fulfill that purpose and not have you as an anchor weighing him down. He’s stubborn enough as it is. As long you remain, he will fight even harder against his destiny.”

“What purpose? What destiny? What are you talking about?”

“That, I’m afraid, is not your concern.”

“Whatever,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Can’t you see Q is doing exactly what he wants to be doing? What he loves doing. Taking care of and looking after his brothers – your sons. What more do you want from him?”

“Retrieve your memories and move on with your life, Jacob. It’s the best outcome for both of you. You might even come to thank me for it.”

“Now you’re giving me unsolicited fatherly advice. Awesome.”

“Someone has to set you straight,” Naveyk said smugly. “Tonight, for one night only, that appears to be me.”

“The problem is I never asked for your input on my life.”

“This is true,” he conceded with a smirk. “but I don’t wait to be asked. I do what I will; who will stop me?”

His smile twisted into a devilish grin, and what appeared to be a supernova went off in his right pupil.

Swallowing hard, I pushed back against my seat, but there was nowhere else to go.

“Tell me, Jacob, do you believe it gets easier from here?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re already finding it difficult walking the thin tightrope between your Skai life and that of Qua’quelle’s lover.”

"How do you know if I'm..." I stopped before I could make a fool of myself. After all, he's a God; of course, he knows. "I'm managing just fine."

“Are you?” Naveyk pushed. “The quiver in your voice suggests otherwise, I’m afraid. From where I sit, a light breeze would be enough to knock you off this balancing act. And then where will you be? An enemy to your people or at the tip of my son’s blade?” He leaned forward a bit with the same devilish grin. “The latter a far worse fate than you can imagine.”

He stared at me for what felt like an eternity, then leaned back and turned away, hands on his knees. "Just go, Jacob."

“I won’t,” I declared defiantly, albeit in a much more reserved tone.

“You are just as stubborn as he is,” he sighed heavily.

I knew that sigh. I heard it often when my father caught me doing something dumb.

“Under different circumstances, I would say you two deserve each other.”

“Um….thanks?”

After silently contemplating for a minute, he affirmed, “You won’t walk away?”

“No.”

“Because you love him?” Naveyk asked with a nod.

“Yes.”

“And he loves you?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose I can work with that,” he mused.

His statement took me by surprise and freaked me out even more. “Is that some kind of threat?”

“Not at all,” Naveyk laughed softly.

His reassurance wasn’t the least bit comforting.

“More like an opportunity,” he continued as he stood abruptly.

I flinched like he was taking a swing and made a fool out of myself. On the bright side, I don’t think he saw me because he was looking straight ahead. But then again, God and all that.

“Perhaps you are my solution,” Naveyk said with a hint of glee in his voice. “Perhaps my son does love you enough to….” He did the whole dramatic pause thing as he looked down at me. “Tell you his name. If that’s the case, all will be as it should be.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked as I slowly, cautiously stood up to face him. “I already know his name.”

“Do you?” His left brow arched quizzically, and I saw Q in him for a moment.

I didn’t realize how tall Naveyk was compared to most of us. He was easily 6’6, maybe taller, with broad shoulders and a firm neck. Maybe it was the extra six or seven inches, the fact that I was in the presence of a literal god, or a combination of both, but even at six feet, he towered over me. I was also confident the physique hiding under all those layers of clothing was not your typical “dad bod.”

“Of course I do!” I insisted. “You’ve been saying it all night. It’s Qua’quelle. I only call him Q because Qua’quelle is a serious mouthful. You couldn’t go with something simpler like Brad? Or Billy? Or maybe Brian? Okay, I don’t know why I’m stuck on the Bs, but the point is, I know his name.”

Naveyk said nothing, but his face had changed. It was devoid of all emotion, and I realized this was probably his true state of being.

“Emaneé?” I stammered.

Naveyk looked me straight in the eyes. I blinked. He didn’t.

“Ask him his name.” As he spoke, I tracked a shooting star flying from his left pupil into his right, simultaneously giving me a sense of awe and terror. “Now, I’m afraid our time together is done. Thank you for the...enlightening conversation.” With a slight nod, he turned and walked away.

“Wait! I don’t understand. What name?”

“Good night, Mr. DeRosa.”

All I could do was stand there and watch Naveyk walk away. His footsteps were clear and deliberate, echoing off the pavement and brick buildings until he rounded the corner, and the sound ceased. The minute he was out of sight, I turned and sprinted to the shop like I was preparing for an Olympic marathon. I didn’t realize it then, but I was running way faster than any regular human could. Thankfully, it was dark outside, and the square was empty, so I don’t think anyone noticed my superhuman speed. If they did, I’d be in for a lecture from Raz or someone equally intimidating.

I ran into the shop and slammed the door behind me, pressing my back against it like I was trying to keep a horde of zombies at bay.

“What’s this?” The Great Mother asked as she stepped into the waiting room. “Jacob, are you okay?”

“Oh, thank god!” The mere sight of her made me feel at ease. Without thinking, I sprinted to her for a massive hug, almost toppling her. Imagine explaining that one to my brothers. “Someone normal.” Then I remembered who I was talking to. “Okay, somewhat normal.”

“Are you okay, dear?” she asked again, returning my embrace and gently rubbing my back.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” I replied, backing out of her arms. “I’m okay. I’m alive anyway. Wait, I am alive, right?” I started patting myself down while looking myself over. “Right? This isn’t some weird purgatory where I’m stuck asking questions you only answer in riddles. Please tell me that’s not the case. That’s not a reality I can handle.”

“You’re alive, Jacob,” she answered, folding her hands before her.

“Okay, good.” I returned to the door to lower the blinds and peered through them. “I swear I thought I was going to get hit with a massive lightning bolt or something.” The streets were empty except for a few nobodies. I sighed in relief.

“Looks like the old goat really did a number on you,” she observed.

“You can say that again.” I turned from my clever peephole to look at The Great Mother. “How did you know about that?” Again, I remembered who I was talking to and slapped my forehead. “Duh. Of course, you know. You know everything.”

“Well, thank you for the compliment, dear, but I also have a giant window that reveals the world outside.” She pointed at the massive bay window in front of me. “I could see you two talking.”

“Oh...I guess that works, too.”

“Come, have a seat. Let me get you some tea and cookies.”

“No, thanks. I’m not hungry,” I assured her.

“You’re El’odian. Of course, you’re not hungry. When is an El’odian ever hungry?” She suddenly stopped, causing me to bump into her. Shaking her head, she pondered, “Except for Sunny. That boy is going to eat me out of house and home.”

When she entered the reading room, she pointed at a chair and ordered me to sit. Not wanting to piss off another supreme being, I complied. Before long, The Great Mother disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I couldn’t believe I was sitting across from a literal GOD just five minutes ago. I keep using the word “literal” because he’s literally a God! This wasn’t a character from my favorite storybook or a drunken hallucination. This was real. He was real. And I sat there talking to him like it was just another Sunday.

As a human, I was never a believer. Obviously, I don’t mean in the El’odian Gods because I didn’t even know they were a thing – even in a fictional capacity. I’m talking about your everyday garden variety gods. From the Christian God to the gods of ancient times, it was all nonsense to me. That’s not to say I didn’t find the subject matter fascinating. I enjoyed diving into the lore and mythology of ancient religions. And, if you’re anything like me, you’d love to throw one back with good old Zeus and be like, “Hey, what’s with the cutting your father’s stomach open thing? Did you ever consider counseling?”

Naveyk was actually talking to me, live and in color. What do you do with that? How do you make sense of talking to, as he put it – The Creator. The Destroyer. What Is, What Was, What Will Be for all time. How do you write that into your diary at night and not freak out? If I had a diary, that is.

Q would tell me I shouldn’t worry about his father because he is diminished after giving up much of his power to his sons. But what does that even mean, honestly? What does being diminished mean to a God? He can only sever the planet in half instead of pulverizing it into dust? That’s not comforting.

“Eat up,” The Great Mother ordered, snapping me out of my inner diatribe. She placed a plate of fresh cookies in front of me and a small bowl with five boiled eggs in the center of the table.

“Remind me, what’s with the eggs again?”

“They’re not for you,” she smiled.

“I’m keenly aware of that,” I said, pointing at the bowl. “But someone or something eats them!”

“This is true,” she said and walked away. “Now, what was all that about outside.”

“Oh, you know us college kids. We love reminiscing with ancient deities about life, sports, weather, and what it all means in the grand scheme of things.”

“Jacob….” The Great Mother came back with a steaming cup of tea. The aroma alone made me eager for a sip. I couldn’t believe I almost turned it down. She sat down after stirring the tea a few times and tapping the small spoon against the cup's brim. “Now, do you want to tell me what’s going on, or do you want to be smart aleck?”

“Sorry….” I sipped the tea with my cookie, and my eyes instantly rolled back into my head. The combination of the two was heavenly. “Seriously, what’s in this? Crack?”

She gave me “the look,” and I couldn’t help but wonder if she compared notes with Ms. Cynthia on the best way to scare us dumb boys.

“What do you want me to say?” I shrugged and trained my gaze on the bowl of four eggs.

Wait, four?!

“A God came to talk to me. I think that warrants a little freakout.”

“And what is it you’re freaking out about, exactly?” she asked.

The tenderness of her motherly voice made me smile.

“He wants me to stay away from Q. Something about destiny and purpose and how I’m not a part of it.”

“Ah, that old song and dance,” she said softly. Her half-smile was filled with sadness, as if my words triggered a long-forgotten memory.

“So, you know what he’s talking about?”

She cocked her head to the side and gave me a look that said, “Stop playing dumb.”

“What?”

“As do you, Jacob.”

“Yeah….I know,” I confessed.

“All fathers want greatness for their sons,” she said. “I’m sure your parents had certain expectations of you growing up. Certain dreams and outcomes they wished for their son. Naveyk is no different.”

“My father wanted me to be a professional baseball player someday. My mom wanted me to be a chess grandmaster and a botanist.”

The Great Mother furrowed her brows.

“Don’t ask. She’s weird,” I said with a dismissive wave. “All I wanted to do was play video games. Neither wanted me to become a god, so kinda different.”

“Yet no less valid,” she asserted. “It was always Naveyk’s goal for Qua’quelle to take up his father’s mantle. It was the plan from the moment Qua’quelle was born.”

“How’s that fair to Q?”

“I never said it was fair.”

“And who puts that kind of pressure on a kid? Can you imagine Q on career day with all the other little Nave? One kid wants to be a soldier. Another wants to be a firefighter...or their equivalent to one. Q has to get up there and tell them he plans to be their God. Who does that?!”

The Great Mother snickered, momentarily looking off into the distance, probably picturing Q on “career day” announcing his accession to godhood. Her jovial demeanor shifted almost instantly when her gaze landed on me again. “How did you respond to his,” she cocked her head slightly, “suggestion.”

“Is that what we’re calling it? A suggestion?” I laughed. “I told him no. I wasn’t going anywhere. Not unless Q decides to kick me to the curve.”

“Why is it on him?”

“Because…I love him. I have no intention of ever leaving him.”

“You feel Qua’quelle might not feel the same?”

“No, I’m not saying that. Neither of us knows what the future holds, right?” Looking at her closely, I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “Well, you probably do, but you’ll never spill the tea.”

“You are correct,” she agreed. “I’m well practiced in the art of brewing tea. I would never spill it.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“I know,” she smiled warmly and leaned into me a bit. “This is a college town, Jacob. The kids keep me up-to-date on the current terminology.”

“Ugh! I can never tell if you’re being serious or not.”

“Frustrating, isn’t it?”

“Very!”

“It’s the little things which make such a long life worth living. But you were saying?”

“Lingo.”

“Excuse me?”

“I think you mean they keep you up on the current lingo, not terminology. Someone failed to keep you up-to-date on that one.”

“I’ll make a note.” She smiled thoughtfully, picked up her cup, and took a small sip.

“All I’m saying is who knows how Q will feel about me in the future. I can be a serious pain in the as….butt. Who knows? Maybe he’ll get tired of me in a century or two. But we're together here and now, and I’m not walking away. God or no god.”

“Good for you!” She gently tapped my hand a few times before sitting back in her chair with a smile. “It takes courage to stand up for one’s conviction. Especially against someone who could turn you into a pile of ash with a flick of a wrist.”

“Yeah, I know, but….wait, are you serious?!”

She laughed at me again as she shoved a cookie in my mouth. “Eat a cookie, dear.”

The terrifying part was that The Great Mother never elaborated on her comment. Was she messing with me again or being deadly serious?

“There’s something else on your mind,” she said. “Something that troubles you.”

Well, now there are two things!

“Naveyk said something to me,” I said, biting down on the cookie hanging from my mouth. “Oh my god, it's so good.” Shaking my head, I sat up straight and pulled myself together from the intoxicating flavor exploding in my mouth. “He told me to ask Q his name.” My eyes were locked on The Great Mother for any hint of what this meant. “Ridiculous, right? I mean, I already know his name...right?”

It was like staring into the gaze of a stoic philosopher. But I caught a break. Despite her poker face being impenetrable, it happened.

“Oh god, that’s not his real name!” I said in a panic as I stood and paced about the room. “I’m dating a serial killer!”

“Jacob….”

“Don’t try and deny it now,” I said, pointing accusingly at her. “You did the thing with your eyes. It was subtle, but I saw it.” Unlike The Great Mother, I explained when she looked utterly puzzled. “Your eyes twitched slightly when I said I knew his name, which means I don’t.” Move over, Sherlock. Detective DeRosa is on the case. “It’s the same thing Q does when someone pulls on a thread he doesn’t want to unwind. It’s the same tell all you mysterious types have if you know what to look for.” Needless to say, I was incredibly proud of myself. “I caught you red-handed, so there’s no use in denying it.”

“Jacob, sit down,” she ordered.

And like a good little schoolboy, I sat back down with the quickness.

Taking my hand into hers, she looked at me, quite frankly, like I was an idiot. Maybe the look was deserved. Maybe it wasn’t. Who’s to say?

“Qua’quelle is his name,” The Great Mother assured me, squeezing my hand as she continued. “It’s simply not his only name.”

Placing my other hand over hers, I leaned in closer and asked, “What in the world does that even mean? El’odians don’t strike me as last name kind of people.”

Slipping her hand away from mine, she sat back and was about to speak when I boldly interrupted.

“Oh no, you don’t!” I said. “Don’t pull the ‘this isn’t my story to tell’ card on me now. I have a right to know who I’m dating and if I will find dead bodies buried in the backyard.”

“I planned to explain before you interrupted.”

“Oh...um...well, don’t let me stop you.”

“Drink your tea before it gets cold,” she said, pointing at the cup. “Qua’quelle was the name given to him by his mother Lisuri, for he was the Eternal Light in Darkness in her eyes. To Lisuri, Qua’quelle was a precious miracle from the heavens. To Naveyk, he was the heir to his godly throne, the caretaker of his creations – his beloved sons….his beloved Eiyr.”

“Why would Naveyk need an heir?” I questioned after gulping down the last of my tasty tea. “He’s a God. Isn’t he just always, you know, there? It’s not like a mortal king passing on his throne to his son on his deathbed. That I get. But a God? Aren’t they forever?”

“They are….for the most part,” The Great Mother replied with a shrug. “The time of the three El’odian Gods was ending.”

“Oh man, were they dying?” I asked suddenly. “Wait, that can’t be it. Naveyk is still here. Unless it’s like a prolonged death that….”

“They were bored, Jacob.”

“Come again?”

“Boredom is the venom of any immortal being. That they stuck around for as long as they did was a minor miracle in and of itself. The universe is endless – the number of universes is infinite, and after spending millions of years looking over Eiyr, it called to them. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Both the Nave and Skai had built up their civilizations. The introduction of the Ai’lea brought stability to the Eiyr, and with the ability to procreate, their creation would endure.

“It was time for the trio to go. But they couldn’t leave Eiyr unattended. It was too dangerous, for they had left their mark on many worlds...many dimensions.”

“That sounds like a nice way of saying they had a lot of enemies,” I interjected smugly.

“Too many, I’m afraid,” she conceded. “They decided they would each hand pick an El’odian to receive their Godly Blessing. I was the first to be chosen by the Goddess Aal’ee, and when the time came, I would be blessed with her divinity.”

“You were going to be a god?”

She simply smiled.

“Hold on, aren’t we all, in a way, some variation of a god? Demi-Gods, if you will? Naveyk and Skailer blessed their children with a portion of their power, turning them all into the El’odians we are today. From what I understand, when you were born...created, I don’t know the right terminology here, but you came out of the gate with Aal’ee’s blessing.”

“Yes, I came into being with the Goddess’ blessing, but that’s a far cry from receiving a God’s Divinity, Jacob.”

“Oh, I get it. We’re all kind of the off-brand on the shelf – not quite as good and fancy as the name brand, but close enough.”

“I suppose you can look at it that way,” she laughed heartily.

“I don’t get it,” I said. “If the point was to find an El’odian they could juice up into godhood, why did Aal’ee have a mental breakdown when she learned about Q and killed his whole family? At the risk of repeating myself, wasn’t that kind of the point?”

“Mental breakdown, you say?” she asked, her brow slowly arching as she stared me down.

I shifted in my seat nervously, swallowing about a gallon of saliva and air. “Sorry.” Regardless of what happened, Aal’ee was The Great Mother’s Creator.

“The plan was to pick an El’odian worthy of such a precious gift, not to create an entirely new being.”

“But the result is the same, no?”

“No,” she shook her head slowly, almost ominously. “You see, Jacob, what can be given can be taken away. One born of divinity cannot be stripped of divinity.”

“They didn’t want an equal,” I surmised.

“Precisely,” she confirmed. “Qua’quelle would stand amongst the gods as one of them. Potentially shifting the power dynamic in Naveyk’s favor.”

That hit me in some sort of way. I suddenly imagined Q sitting on a golden throne in his heavenly palace in the clouds. He'd probably have me prancing around in a skimpy outfit, feeding him sliced apples and demanding I fulfill his every desire.

Okay, I need to stop thinking about this in front of The Great Mother, or it will get awkward quickly.

“Jacob, are you okay?”

“Huh?”

“I asked if you’re okay?”

“Oh, um, yeah,” I replied, crossing my legs and resting my chin on the palm of my hand. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? I can leave you alone for a minute?”

Oh god! Kill me now!

“So, the name thing. How does that play into all this? And, uh, what stopped Q from reaching god status?”

“Lisuri understood Qua’quelle’s importance – the role he would play in shaping the future of Eiyr. Before any of that could come to pass, she insisted he have a normal childhood. Lisuri wanted him to enjoy his life without the pressures of his father’s expectations. The choice should be his when he was ready to take his father’s place. Naveyk agreed.”

“He…did?” I couldn’t sound more surprised.

She nodded.

“Why would he do that?”

“Because he could never refuse Lisuri.”

“He…couldn’t?”

“Naveyk loved her, and she loved him. They loved each other.”

“They…did?” Shaking my head, I sat back and folded my arms. “Are you sure? That’s not how Q tells it. It sounds more like Naveyk used her for his own pleasure, tricked her into thinking he was her husband, got her pregnant, and tossed her aside when their relationship became inconvenient. That’s the version I heard.”

“Qua’quelle loved Ajus deeply, the man he believed was his father. When he learned the truth, he was devasted. As a parent trying to protect your child, you sometimes create a narrative to obscure your own misdeeds to help them push past their pain.”

“She was never tricked into sleeping with Naveyk, was she?”

“When we are angry, we sometimes tell ourselves certain ‘truths’ to justify holding onto that anger.” She never confirmed or denied my accusation. “Heaven knows, Qua’quelle has every reason to be angry.”

“Can you blame him?” I asked. “Naveyk loved his mother so much he did nothing to protect her from Aal’ee.”

“Not nothing, but not enough,” she countered.

“What does that mean?”

“A daughter of Aal’ee becomes pregnant, regardless of the father, and goes unnoticed by her ever-watchful eye? That’s not a thing that ever happened on Eiyr. Naveyk protected her, shielding Lisuri from her sight, even after the birth of Qua’quelle.”

“If that’s the case, what happened?”

“They argued, Naveyk and Qua’quelle,” she replied softly. “Qua’quelle rebuffed Naveyk. For some fathers, that’s a fate worse than death. At that moment, for a mere fraction of an instant, Naveyk waned, and the veil protecting Q’s family faltered. It was long enough for Aal’ee to fix her gaze on Lisuri and learn the truth.”

“Are you saying….” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Are you saying everything that happened to his family was because Q rejected….”

“I’m afraid we’ve veered off topic, my dear boy,” The Great Mother continued. “Let me get you some more tea and cookies before we continue.”

She was gone before I could question her further. Even if she had stayed, I doubt she would’ve indulged me. I didn’t know how to process the bombshell she dropped in my lap. I felt like Dorothy, peering behind the curtain only to make a discovery that was best left buried.

Did he know?

“Now, where was I?” she asked, returning from the kitchen with a plate of warm cookies and a fresh cup of tea.

There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but I didn’t dare. She made it clear it was a subject she wasn’t willing to broach. I was lucky enough to get her to tell me about this name business. The last thing I wanted to do was shut down the conversation by poking my nose where it didn’t belong.

“You were saying Lisuri wanted Q to have a normal childhood.”

“Ah, yes,” she said. “Naveyk agreed. Of course, he did. It made Lisuri happy, and never in his wildest dreams did he believe his own son would deny his divine birthright. As he saw it, it was a win-win scenario for him. Not long after his birth, Naveyk bound Qua’quelle’s divinity in a name – to be spoken when Qua’quelle had experienced all a ‘normal’ life had to offer and was ready to take his place in the heavens.”

“Boy, talk about betting on the wrong horse,” I said. “Can’t Naveyk undo whatever he did?”

“In normal circumstances, he could, but this was different. Lisuri may have loved Naveyk, but she certainly didn’t trust him to keep his word. He was too impatient. Impulsive. So Naveyk not only gave his word but also formed a Divine Pact with Lisuri; for a God, a pact is not easily broken. This is why when a God makes such an agreement, they word it in a way that can be interpreted in many different ways and always to their benefit.”

“I’m guessing he didn’t do that this time.”

“He did not,” she said. “Now, the only way for Naveyk to see his wish fulfilled is for Qua’quelle to speak his divine true name.”

“I don’t see that happening anytime soon,” I said, shaking my head. “Do you know what this name is?”

“I do not.”

The Great Mother isn’t known for being straightforward 99% of the time, so I pressed her harder. “Are you sure about that?” I asked, giving her my suspicious side-eye. “I think I saw your eye twitch again.”

“My eye did not twitch, Jacob, because I do not know his name,” The Great Mother insisted. “It’s a name only known by three and has never been spoken aloud. At least not in a way for ears to hear.”

“Hmm….okay, I’ll give you a pass this time,” I joked – kinda. “But just know I’m not entirely convinced.”

“How ever will I sleep at night?” she fired back in a hilariously dismissive tone perfected over the ages.

Not only did I become an immortal being with unimaginable powers, but I also fell in love with one. And it turns out he’s not just any immortal being. Oh, no, that would be too easy. He can potentially become a deity to his people with a single word. The insanity of my world was not lost on me.

“Do you think Q will ever...you know...do it?”

The Great Mother sighed. “Qua’quelle has been in one perilous situation after another. He’s been at the edge of a blade more times than I care to recall. Death has almost claimed him on more than one occasion. He’s led his brothers in battle and witnessed many of them fall, never invoking that name to save himself or those he loves. I’m afraid there is nothing or...” Her words trailed off for a moment as she locked eyes with mine. “...no one he will invoke his name for.”

I understood perfectly what she was telling me and left it at that.

“So, he can still die despite being what he is?”

“And what is he but an El’odian like the rest? He is certainly unique, but unless he claims his name, he’s as vulnerable as the rest. That’s how he wants it. He’d rather fight and die as one of them, on his feet and proud to be amongst his brothers, than become something he is not – something so far removed.” She paused for a second and stared at me. “Remind you of anyone?”

I smirked shyly, broke eye contact, and noticed the goddamn bowl of eggs was empty. Forget Q’s name; I’d give anything to know what was eating the eggs!

“Speaking of which, why don’t we get started on why you came here tonight,” she suggested.

It was not really a suggestion. It was The Great Mother’s polite way of declaring the subject of Q over.

“Are you ready?” she asked nonchalantly as if I was choosing between paper or plastic.

“No, wait!” I exclaimed, throwing my hands out in front of her as if she was going to tackle me or some shit. I was completely thrown off kilter by her sudden desire to go poking around in my head. “I haven’t even told you what I decided yet!”

“Oh please, Jacob, I knew what you would do when I gave you the options.”

“You did?”

“Of course.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me in the first place?!” I was sort of yelling, but not really because I wasn’t bat shit crazy enough to talk to The Great Mother in such a manner. “You could’ve saved me a whole lot of trouble!”

“It’s not always about the destination, Jacob. Sometimes, it’s the journey that matters.”

“Get that off a fortune cookie, did you?” Okay, I was a little bitter.

“Fortune cookie?” she laughed. “Who do you think Confucius got most of his sayings from?”

“Are you serious? Wait, never mind. I can’t right now.”

“You already know what you want, Jacob,” she declared as she scooted up to the edge of her chair. “The time for debate, doubts, and second-guessing yourself is over. The time is now. Are you ready?”

“Well, I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“No,” she said, grabbing my hands and pulling me closer to her. “Okay, sit still. The slightest movement will turn this into a lobotomy.”

“What?!”

“Goodness, Jacob. You’re too easy.”

“You’re not helping!”

Her mischievous smile was endearing and maddening at the same time.

“Will it hurt?”

“You won’t feel a thing,” her motherly smile was now front and center. “Now, tell me. Are you ready?”

I nodded. Then I had a thought…

Maybe I should confirm we were on the same page.

I barely finished the thought before The Great Mother’s eyes began to glow a vibrant golden hue. A moment later, her right hand was consumed by the same radiant light as she placed her hand on my forehead. Her radiance wrapped around me like a blanket.

I felt safe.

I felt her warmth.

I felt her love.

It wasn’t long before she was slowly pulling her hand away. Ribbons of Askyli flowed from my forehead, encircling her golden hand until finally coalescing in her open palm. The whole process took two minutes if that, and before I knew it, I was staring at a dark sphere the size of a marble floating over her hand.

“Is that?”

“The seal is broken. Your memories have been removed.”

“It’s so…small.”

“Yes, but it contains all the knowledge of your people.”

I stared at it for a long while. The contrast of the dark orb against her luminous aura was honestly quite beautiful. I couldn’t look away. I was transfixed.

Am I doing the right thing?

The small orb flickered suddenly, violently.

“What’s happening to it?”

“These are your memories, Jacob. They cannot exist without you.” The Great Mother’s hand returned to normal as she moved it closer to me. “It’s not too late. I can still put it back if you wish.”

I didn’t say anything. I just watched as the shadow became more unstable, finally breaking apart and curling away from her hand like smoke from an extinguished match. I followed its trail until there was nothing left.

“It’s over,” she said softly.

“I don’t feel any different,” I declared.

“That was the whole point, wasn’t it?”

“I suppose.”

“Well then…” she said as she stood and patted me on the shoulder. She grabbed the empty plates and cups and disappeared into the kitchen.

I didn’t know what to feel. Or if feeling nothing at all was okay, too. How do you mourn something you never had?

I don’t know how long I sat there staring at her empty chair, contemplating how things would change for me going forward. What will my brothers think when they find out? Will Q be relieved?

Am I?

“Okay, off you go,” The Great Mother said, drying her hands with a towel. “You have a busy day tomorrow.”

“I do?” I inquired.

“Yes, your training begins tomorrow after class.”

“It does? Wait, what?”

“Up, up, up!” she ordered, gesturing for me to stand up.

The minute I did, she was practically pushing me out the door.

“What training? And are you seriously kicking me out right now?”

“I told you. The time for doubts and second-guessing is over. It’s time to become the Skai you were meant to be. Don’t worry; I’ve arranged everything.”

“Arranged what?” I demanded. “Who am I training with? What am I training?”

“Why ruin the surprise?”

Before I knew it, I was standing out on the sidewalk, confused as all hell. When I turned around, The Great Mother closed the door in my face and peeked through the blinds.

“Just head towards The Village after classes. They’ll find you.”

“Who?!”

“Good luck, Jacob.”

She shut the blinds and turned off the light.

“Wait!” I yelled. “I wanted to ask you something. It has nothing to do with this training I’m sure I will regret.”

A moment later, the lights came back on, and she was at the door, looking through a gap in the blinds. “Yes?”

She’s so weird!

“Why did you tell me all that stuff about Q? That’s not your style.”

“I have many styles,” she corrected. “You wanted to know who you fell in love with. Now you know. Not a serial killer. Good night, Jacob!”

The lights went off, and she was gone again.

“Hello?” I called out again. “Hello? Are you there?” Scratching the back of my head, I turned and slowly walked to the edge of the sidewalk.

What is happening right now?

There were so many things I could’ve yelled if she was still the bat-shit-crazy Lady White I first encountered, but since that wasn’t the case, all I could do was make my way to the Skai portal.

My time walking to the gate was spent in silent contemplation. Not that I had much choice since I had no one to talk to. I tried to text Q to see if he was around but got no response. I did have an interesting, missed text:

 

Soullen:

Greetings, Jacob.

This is Soullen, Prince of the Nave, Son of Villari Zet, and brother to Qua’quelle.

What is sexting? CJ insists it would be a good icebreaker for Zac and me. Is this true?

And how large does the ice need to be?

I will now wait for your reply.

You have not replied yet. I will give you another minute.

Why are you not replying?

Jacob, do you need to turn on your phone?

I will give you another minute to turn on your phone.

Why are you not turning on your phone?

 

It went on like that for a while.

First, I texted CJ that I was going to kill him. Then I explained proper text etiquette to Soullen, telling him he didn’t need to “announce” himself over text like he’s a character from Game of Thrones. And that if the phone is off, instructing someone to turn it on really doesn’t work.

Both instructions were a mistake on my part for obvious reasons.

Before I knew it, I was near the gate area. As I approached the scattered stones, they flew into place to form a perfect arch. I stopped a few feet away.

“Weird.’ I mumbled, then looked around before taking another step.

The portal suddenly activated with dark energy surging between the stones.

“What the fuck?”

I've witnessed others effortlessly triggering the portals solely through their presence, but this feat was reserved for the most formidable Skai, such as Raz and Eolaeis. The majority, however, had to combine their Askyli with the stone to activate them. I couldn’t even picture the symbols of where I wanted to go without a splitting headache. I had to memorize the surroundings. And now, it’s suddenly activating all willy-nilly?

“Is anyone there?” I called out, scouring my surroundings.

I seemed to be the only one there, but not willing to take any risks, I strolled around the place for a few minutes to make sure. Turns out, I truly was alone.

Back at the gate, I stood before the dark, watery vortex, unsure what to do. Would this portal even take me back to the club? I could end up on Mars.

“Fuck it, I’m flying home,” I decided.

“Akuzio….” I felt the breath against my ear and jumped.

I spun around in a panic, only to be thrust backward by some invisible force. I stumbled and tripped into the portal, my cries for help muffled by the vortex pulling me into the unknown.