Chapter 15: Muroyi

A week has gone by since we went on our escapade. Carol has been moody the entire time, switching from sweet to slightly bothered, nothing over the top though. She's trying to talk to me but she can't get the words out everytime she tries. Max and I have been goofing off more than usual too.

I kept getting distracted looking outside instead of paying attention in class. Max and I decided to walk home for the day.

"So, Claris broke up with me," She says from nowhere.

"I'm sorry what?" I say in shock.

She keeps quiet for a moment, walking slowly and clasping tightly on her backpack straps. We walk through the park Brandon and his boys previously attacked me in.

"She ended our relationship."

"Why? I thought you were doing good."

She speaks louder, "I thought that too. She said she wasn't comfortable with you. She didn't like you, she especially didn't like that I always spoil you. I do all that because you're my family. If I can spoil and care for my family then I will. She also said she doesn't like the way I dress like a boy and should be more feminine.

I look at her as she tears up. I would do the same too. Waters fall down her cheeks and she sobs softly.

I take her into a warm embrace. Her memories begin to seep into mine and mine into hers. The days when she was alone during kindergarten and I'd go over and play with her. The days when I cooked for her and made her breakfast. The days she came to see me when I was sick and she'd bring me soup, medicine and play Video-games with me. The time we watched cartoons together. The time we both wore dresses to be each other's dates since we both didn't have one. The time I made her portrait that took me a week. The time she wrote me a poem. Both of them hung on our walls. She's my family.

I hold her tight and she cries louder. Max has always been sensitive about how people think she's not feminine just because she's a tomboy especially if it's from someone close to her. I know her. This has been bothering her for some time. I push her out a little without breaking the embrace.

I wipe her tears and stare into her eyes. "You're not the problem, she is."

Hey you, reader. Yeah I'm talking to you reading this. We are just friends, stop shipping or thinking we're romantic. She's my best friend/sister. I'd never cheat on Carol. Plus, Max is attracted to mostly females. You may continue now.

Max puts her arms around my neck and whispers 'I love you'. I whisper it back. She kisses my cheek and says thank you and she's back. Smiling, cocky and totally vulgar sometimes, yeah that's her.

"I must say. I don't like Claris. Not at all," I say coyly.

"I know," she giggles. "Enough about her. There's something I need to tell you. I know your secret."

"What are you on about now?" I ask her jokingly.

"I know about Abhartach and Cernunnos. I've known since the first day both of you joined with them. I just pretended not to because I thought you'd tell me but you would never because you want to protect me."

What the actual fu...

"How?" is the only thing I can say.

"I'm a witch," She retorts.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm a witch. My parents have been teaching me the ancient African arts ever since I was a toddler. They are basically extinct but my family has passed them down parent to child for generations. I can do some pretty cool stuff if I do say so myself, including see and interact with spirits."

"How come I wasn't able to sense her? She's different," Abhartach scours.

"You couldn't sense me because I am something your kind has never seen. I'm a descendant of Nehanda, my blood has also been blessed by Anansi and Nyami Nyami."

Abhartach fell silent. She had heard him in my mind and answered his question telepathically too. Not even Carol could do that. Abhartach did not know these beings but I did. I had heard stories from Kelly. Nehanda was a fierce and well known witchcraft practitioner, she could talk to the spirits of centuries dead ancestors and summon "goritoto (Gorytohtoh)" which were ginormous phantoms.

From what I could tell, Max was dangerous, especially since this was her own power. She'd have easily fucked me if I didn't have Excalibur.

"Wow, that's amazing. But why are you telling me this?" I ask.

"Because I want to help. Not for the world but for you, my family. Fuck the world if those you care about aren't in it."