"What happened to letting the world right itself after we brought this revolution? We were supposed to retire and watch the world change. We were done shaping it. What is making you act so aggressively? What made u change?" He sat back at this and thought to himself.
"I guess I just wanted to leave an example to the next generation, a legacy." A legacy? We're assassins, our legacies aren't to be known as OUR legacies. Legacy obtained by sin will be torn down. This seemed like a very dangerous idea to me, but I didn't voice my disagreement. Me reshaping the medical landscape for all west Africa sounded enticing to me. Something I've always thought about while in undergrad. Learning from the already built treatments that I couldn't learn in the west. Obtaining medicines and doing research we couldn't do before. Free of the West's poison and capitalistic manipulation. I kept my negativity to myself.
"Anyway, I know we haven't spoken much at all like this since I got back from my honeymoon… kind of like you've been avoiding me." I looked away from him. This was half true, granted we haven't seen each other much but this was on purpose. I don't want to be the third wheel. Ty is married now and that's ok. It's been only me and him for so long that I wanted to get used to life without him. It was going well when we were back in Miami but having to live in this house with the two of them wasn't ideal. I had to force myself to leave multiple times because I felt like I was intruding. I didn't want Ty to think that I didn't like Nala around, so I feinted ignorance.
"Naw, I'm not avoiding you I've just been wanting to look into this rebuild as much as possible" His eyes narrowed he saw right through me.
"CniDaria, you are my sister, the only relative I have left. I will always need you in my life no matter whoever else enters or leaves. Please don't ever leave me alone big sister." I started to blush. Ty doesn't usually talk like this. I was deeply flattered, I wondered if this was how mothers felt when their sons expressed love towards them. I pulled myself together however and told him what he needed to hear.
"I will always be there for you when you need me but I will have to leave you one day. You are a grown man with responsibilities to his wife and as the big sister I have to make sure you do right by her. You have to be the leader you are meant to be and you can't do that with me hovering over you. I want to be an Auntie one day." He gave me the biggest grin when I said that.
"Funny you say that because I need to tell you some-"
"THYLONIUS! BABE COME HERE OUR MOVIE IS ON!" His smile turned awkward and he got up to join his wife in the living room. I sat there for a little bit watching the ocean some more and decided to get up and walk along the beach towards my favorite bar. I couldn't help but miss Nicholas at this time. I haven't heard from him much since we murdered his boss. I didn't think he would be so upset about it. They didn't seem exceptionally close but the way he sounded on the phone when he talked to me afterwards. It was like his father had died. Based on his qualifications and degree he couldn't be more than a secretary that occasionally got him coffee. Granted Nicholas never really spoke about his work but he couldn't possibly had been involved in the investigation of my brother and I right? I pushed the thought from my mind, even if he was it was over. The head of the snake was gone, as was the threat. We stopped noticing the surveillance on our whereabouts. Even when we traveled. I was even able to reclaim all my weapons and Ty's tech without much difficulty or consequence.
I walked up through the sand straight to the bar where it was getting busier and busier. There seemed to be a football match on. I sat down and ordered the usual old fashion. Like usual I got comfortable and watched the locals mingle. Sometimes I was approached for a conversation, both men and women. Half the times I obliged, got sociable, laughed, sang, danced, even took it back to their place. The other times I ignored the advances and enjoyed the solitude. Everyone seemed so happy here despite having so little by world standards. They were normal human beings enjoying life with each other. Maybe I needed real normalcy in this life for a while. Thinking about it now, the people of this city is something I wanted to fall in love with; I wanted to fill at home, and this place is the place I should call home, right? My childhood was here, my innocence died here, but that didn't mean the best years of my life couldn't be here. I started to feel excited about rebuilding this city so more people can live happily.
"Bored and lonely mpenzi wangu[1]?" My heart sank that wasn't the voice of a local or anything human speaking to me in Swahili. Kifo. I turned around to see him in his normal form of bones and a cloak.
"Kifo, it's been ages where have you been? I've missed you so much." I put in as much sarcasm as possible. I haven't seen him since the wedding when he disappeared so abruptly without a proper explanation. I've been annoyed at him ever since. 'Friend' he calls me but what's his true aim.
"If only our words could kill. Such a cold greeting upendo[2]you know you've missed me and my company. You've been dying to have someone to talk to." My full fury showed on my face even death himself recoiled a little bit.
"Why are you here and tell me the truth! I'm done playing games with you bullshit me and I promise I'll show those old, fragile, and dirty bones of yours why I am to be feared. Remember I haven't killed in a very long time and I'm due for a hit!" Eyes flared violet and the lights flicker making everyone at the bar look around in confusion. Once the moment didn't repeat, they went back to the match to cheer on their team. The heat of my anger and frustration put Kifo on alarm, he was the only one that feel my intent; but he quickly calmed himself.
"Relax I'm only here to check on my friend. You know it's almost time."
"Time for what?" He pulled his hood up shapeshifting back to his dread head form and sat next to me. Ordering a glass of rum straight from the bar tender. The bar tender looked confused as to where he came from when he finally noticed him but quickly shook it off and served him up his drink.
"Look CniDaria there's not a lot of people you can trust. That list is thin, down to your brother and me. Be careful who you let in. Scratch that I forgot about your sister-in-law. I thought it would be shaky with her but your brother's gamble will pay off." I had no idea what he was talking about its not like I let anyone close to me as it is now. "People like you and me don't get a chance at true love. Trying to look for it is pointless. Before long once they know who the real you is betrayal or abandonment isn't far behind." Why this talk all the sudden?
"That's a load of crap you just said my brother's gamble paid off what makes you think I couldn't have the same thing?" He took his eyes away from his drink and looked me fully in my eyes. I saw power and wisdom reflected in his eyes. Eyes that has seen thousands of fools that has lost their lives to his will.
"I thought I told you that you were nothing like your brother. So when I say people like us he's excluded he could never reach the heights that you and me can." I started to take his words seriously and focused in.
"So what exactly are you trying to warn me of?"
Before he could answer I felt a soft touch on my side. "toka njeya uso wangu[3]-" My heart rose all the way up into my throat this time. Nicholas was looking down at me smiling.
"You're a hard person to find Cni-" I didn't let him finish; I forgot everything I was just speaking about with Kifo. I was kissing him deeply and holding him tighter than I ever have before. He pulled away to speak but I just put my finger to his mouth and silenced him.
"I don't care, I've missed you so much, just take me away from here." He smiled picked me up and carried me out the bar. I looked back to see if Kifo was still at the bar. He was and returned my look with a sad smile and faded to dust. I didn't care I didn't need death; Nick and Sierra Leone were my future.
[1] Translation Swahili- My love
[2] Translation Swahili- love
[3] Translation Swahili- Get out of my face