Chapter Forty-One

The sky yawned wide across the gardens, unlimited in its blackness, both comforting and menacing. Once, it had held some solace to Zuberi, able to lose himself in its infinity as he counted and admired the winking stars.

This evening the purple patchwork did little to quell his rising anxiety, it simply reminded him of bruised skin, beaten and blackened for grievous sin.

The emerald grass was soft under his feet, giving the feel of walking on crafted velvet. Tiny blooms peeked out from the blades, attracting strange insects that went on to pollinate the food of the Gods.

Around him, grand trees curved, forming a bower over the gravel path he was ignoring. Between them, exotic plants stood proud, emitting a perfume like no other.

Even in his haven of beauty, he felt the unsettling sensation of someone watching him from nearby by. Turning around he was only slightly relieved to see Mandisa, her canny eyes watching from the hood of her haik.