CHAPTER 13: TRUCE

PRESENT

"Well, your mother might not be in this mortal realm, but she is not exactly dead either." She says whilst getting up and approaching with her palms clenched.

"What do you mean?" I say as I jump to my feet. I saw my mother get killed before my very eyes, what sort of sick joke is this?

"Exactly what I said" then she blows a handful of a mysterious brown powder in my face. I instantly drop to the floor and pass out. What is it with people and throwing random powders in my face?

I wake up, and I am back at the river bank with my weapons right beside me. I decided to look around just in case this is another memory I am just reliving, but to my relief, it does not seem like it is. I stamp my feet and do a random set of movements, very different from what I did the last time I remember being at this particular riverbank, and I am able to perform them without any restriction.

I sit and try to gather my thoughts, trying to make sense of everything that woman has told me.

Zizire's father and his team are responsible for my mother's disappearance and my full powers being unlocked. My only regret is that I did not get to kill his father, but who is that man that saved him? He was part of the team, but I cannot remember what he looks like even when I revisited the memory, his face was obscured.

If my mother is not dead, then where is she? Is she in the underworld? I mean, it only makes sense seeing as when she was stabbed and fell to the ground, the same ground opened up to swallow her.

Not to mention the fact that Zizire has been destined to kill me and the only way to get rid of him once and for all is by breaking his pot, which is currently located in my mother's hometown. The very same place that the people there have done everything in their power to ensure I stop breathing and existing in this realm.

How do I enter a town that wants me dead, blending in and navigating my way through these other towns was easy only because they do not really believe in my existence and I do not go near the main town; I just stick to the markets and the surrounding forests. But, this town in particular town would definitely kill me on sight should I venture into the town.

So, in conclusion; I have a mother whom I thought was dead but is possibly being held hostage in the underworld and I do not know how to save her or, if my theory is correct, an undead assassin after me. One who is basically being controlled by the gods like a puppet and a pending most likely suicide mission. I do not understand how I was not better off not knowing all these things.

I strap my weapons back in place and dust myself off. As grains of sand fall off my attire and back down to the ground, I am struck with an idea, but this is not something I can possibly pull off alone even if I desperately wish I can.

I pick up a grain of sand and move to a shady place; I whisper Membe's name three times and toss the grain of sand to the floor. A cloud of black mist forms and when it clears, Membe is standing before me.

"You did not stomp on it this time, should I be worried or proud?" he asks with a grin on his face.

"Both" I reply deadpanned with my arms crossed. By some cosmic miracle, Membe who is the most oblivious of all human beings notices the change from my usual disposition.

"What happened to you Azura," he asks in a low hard voice. I have never seen this part of him before. This somewhat protective and none goofy side is new to me, and I am not exactly against it, but I am not its biggest fan either.

"Nothing happened" his eyes bore into mine as I lie through my teeth

"Oh, really?" he says as he crosses his arms as well and raises one eyebrow.

"Okay, fine, I had a near-death experience an-…"

"What?! You? Near death? What exactly happened" he says, interrupting me mid-sentence. I roll my eyes at his overdramatic outburst. Even though I know it is coming from a good place, I still find it a bit extra and unnecessary, I might be half-human with some supernatural abilities, but it still does not mean that I am above death or close shaves with death.

"I was about to tell you, but you interrupted, so I have decided not to tell you again." Another lie, I have no intentions of telling anyone anything I have found out so far or how I found these things out.

"Please tell me. I promise not to interrupt you again, and I will even have a bath more regularly from now on" he begs with his palms clasped in supplication.

"First of all, your personal hygiene should not be a bargaining tool and secondly my decision is final," I say as he starts pouting at my words "But if it is any consolation, I have decided to go back to my mother's home town." His eyes almost popped out due to how large they instantly became in response to the shock my words produced. He dramatically cleaned each ear before opening his mouth to speak

"Did I hear you correctly? You want to go back to your mother's hometown?" he asked, still trapped in disbelief.

"Did I stutter? Or is your hearing as bad as your fashion sense? I honestly thought you would be excited as to the fact that I am finally taking your advice for once since we met" I say with my hand on my waist.

"I am, but this is a lot to take and there are a lot of missing pieces in this puzzle"

"Like what?" I asked, trying to feign ignorance and lack of interest.

"Well, for starters; you are taking my advice. Secondly, you tell me you had a near-death experience and now suddenly you want to go to your mother's home town; the same place you vowed never to return to. I am sorry if I am not as excited as you hoped, or I hoped I would be at this decision, but I just feel like there is a lot more going on, more than you are letting on." Of all the times Membe could have chosen to grow a brain and get insightful, it just had to be this moment when I really need his carefree, no questions asked attitude.

"The truth is that even though it physically hurts me to admit this, but the near-death experience made me realize that you are right." I grit out and once again his eyes popped out. "They will never stop coming after me, no matter how many humans or demons I kill. My best bet is to go to my mother's village and put an end to it. I do not know how to do that or where to start from, or even how I would enter and move around undetected."

"Are you? Are you asking me what I think you are asking?" he spluttered out in disbelief. Heck, even I am also in disbelief as well at the turn of events, but this is the only way.

"Yes, Membe, I am asking you for your help," I say exasperated. No one ever said that asking for help would be this excruciating but then again it is Membe, of course he would want to draw this out for as long as possible.

"I think we need to leave the forest and get shelter in the nearest town" he replies with a straight face.

"How is that going to help me?"

"Well, I just assumed that seeing as you are asking me for help then I should most likely expect the animals to come back because as far as I am concerned, this is most definitely a fever dream."

"Really Membe? Really?"

"Hey, you would react the same way if you were me"

"Hopefully I would never have to experience what being you feels like" I reply with a shudder.

"Well, you never can tell; you might even end up liking it," he says with a smirk, and that causes a shiver of disgust to run down my spine.

"Are you going to help me out or keep being and saying creepy things?"

"Try saying please first, and we can go from there."

"Please" I mumble out in a low voice. The word burns my throat and tastes like acid on my tongue.

"Sorry, I did not quite catch that; could repeat yourself and maybe a little louder this time," he says as he cups his ear.

"Please" I grit out

"Please what?" he says with that stupid smug smirk firmly etched on his equally stupid face. I take a deep breath and try to rein in my temper.

"Please Membe" I grit out once more, "Can you help me with my mission before I lose my temper and accidentally stab you in your chest then pluck out your eyeballs from your lifeless corpse"

"You know that usually when normal people ask for things or services, they do not usually attach a threat to it, especially when they are in great need of said services"

"We have already established that I am not normal" I reply with a smile, "Now can we do this before my dagger slips out of my hand and into your eye." I take a step forward as he takes one backward "By accident." I add, with a half-smile. He swallows before he responds.

"If I help you then we will do this my way, which means no more threats or questions asked."

"I won't lie, I cannot promise you either, but at the very least I will try to control my temper and give you a head start"

"Good enough. I will take what I can get. Now, we need to stock on a few supplies." he says and then proceeds to rub his hands together, "Let's get our hands a bit dirty."