Green

AUTHOR

Naga gawked as Dhara drove through the bustling city of Ethaka. He stifled a laugh when she pressed her face against the glass, trying to get a clearer look of the city.

There were glass buildings everywhere and they were taller, way taller than everything around. People walked up and down the sidewalk like they were in a hurry– she noticed.

She pointed and made funny sounds whenever she saw something strange. She jumped excitedly and Dhiji let out a startled whoop and laughed when her head knocked the roof of the car.

"sorry, be careful...lemme roll the window down for you but don't stick your head out...it's dangerous" he explained.

Naga closed her eyes when the breeze brushed against her face and then almost immediately, her face scrunched up in confusion and disgust.

"what is it? are you okay?" Dhiji half panicked

"so many scents...it is..." she covered her nose and tried to get the window up.

"let me help...don't worry, you will get used to it soon" he laughed too when she shook her head with passion.

"No..." she cursed in Wesian.

"you speak Wesi?" Dhara whipped his head to face her, his expression held surprise

"of course...I was..." she caught herself before she said anymore.

"don't worry, he knows. He felt it too when he met you. I told him" Dhiji nodded in affirmation.

"I was created by a Wesi Chief so naturally, Wesi is my first language, you didn't ask so I didn't tell you" he turned his attention back to the road.

"So have you killed before? how many?" she could sense his curiosity welling up again and smiled

"yes I have." her smile faded "I have taken countless lives...evil and innocent alike, I have wiped out the entirety of villages with nothing left to prove they existed, I have pillaged for the rich and greedy and vice versa... I have started wars with miniscule reasons planted in the mind of generals and kings. I made kings and unmade them with just a single prayer from a person" a single tear dropped on her wrist.

"it's not your fault, Naga" Dhara gripped the wheel, wishing he was at the back with her to comfort her.

"I wanted to bring peace and everything good to the humans...instead, I turned into a monster they all feared and hated" she said through gritted teeth. "I tried to stop the only way I knew how... I killed anyone who asked me to kill for them but I just made it worse. I am a stupid excuse for a god" she berated herself.

Suddenly she felt at peace, like she was being embraced, Dhiji was holding her hand and Dhara was driving. she blinked through her tears and her vision cleared.

Spectral of her various forms were embracing her. They had smiles plastered on their faces, they whispered words of comfort to her, calming her inner demons.

"Thank you" she told them and they disappeared. "Thank you too" she faced Dhiji "...and I am sorry about Neema" she whispered.

"I...how did you..." he looked flushed as he stuttered.

"You are holding my hand" she held up their locked hands and he tried to withdraw but she didn't let him. "I am sorry" she whispered again.

"it's not your fault...it's mine" he turned away

"it is not yours either" she removed her hand "you are going to be okay" she ruffled his hair and he giggled in agreement.

"we're here!" Dhara announced as the car slowed to a stop and they all got out.

"you own this whole glass house?" she exclaimed, squinting her eyes.

"it's a skyscraper and no we don't, Dhara lives on one of the apartment floors and I live elsewhere." Dhiji shrugged "he's difficult to live with, good luck, Naga" he threw his brother the keys, got into the car and drove off.

"oh...um... I suddenly feel terrified of this place" she moved closer to him.

"really?" he chuckled "I know, you think it's going to crack and shatter... well have strong winds that blow through here, carrying solid debris with it...it's durable and besides it's not made of glass fully...powerful rock slabs and heavy duty wires and iron too!" he kissed her cheek and gently tugged her along.

"was that supposed to help?" she shrunk back

"I tried...come on, I assure you, it's safe" he held his hand out and she reluctantly took it.

Before she fell into the slumber, she had watched the humans build things and also watched how it collapsed on them. She thought they were very creative but impulsive and she laughed at the thought of her giving some of them inspiration.

NEEMA

Tossing and turning in bed had quickly become a habit for me. Nightmares plagued my sleep and I was afraid to close my eyes in fear of seeing them so close together.

I was beginning to hate her. she appeared in my dreams mocking me...I could see her everywhere too, rubbing her victory in my face.

"Naga..."

I drifted off to another nightmare.

"She cowers in her loss and cries herself to sleep every night."

"so pathetic"

"coward..."

"Losing her best friend and the man she had loved for years just because of her...Just appearing from nowhere and taking everything that belonged to her...Dhara was supposed to be with her! And Dhiji...He had..."

"NO!" I screamed.

I never paid attention to it but now I was forced to. The being in my dreams. I see it now. It wasn't trying to scare me...it was just trying to help.

"You can take him back..." it was cold and malicious.

"I can take Dhara back!" I repeated mindlessly

"Good girl"

I was forced to acknowledge my nightmare, an inspiration to take her down and claim what belonged to me.

I woke up with a start. I wiped the sweat off my brow as I walked into my bathroom. I stared into the mirror and smiled at the being staring back at me.

I wasn't scared of it now. I watched it crawl out of my mirror into the sink, it's green eyes staring up at me as I picked it up. I caressed it's black fur and it purred in approval.

"let's get to work, Inke" I stared at our reflection.

The mirror cracked.