Harmony of Lady Shadow Moon by DhNAi Divine (little red riding hood ebook TXT) 📕

“Gran-Nai got us a hotel room, we all go stay there tonight. You know while Aaron, Tim and Gran-Nai get the house ready for yo party. We takin' Tim's car and they'll come to the telly when they done.”

Snoring from all four beds in the decked-out motel room crowded the air with noise. Aanujah smiles, shaking her head, knowing she really couldn't sleep even if she tried to. Aanu was sitting at a small desk, lounging in a comfy chair with her legs unfolded on the desk, staring absentmindedly out the window. She was a bundle of nerves and excitement all rolled up in one. It would be her B-Day in exactly an hour. The young woman was excited to finally be twenty-one, but nervous about the decision she would have to make on the evening of her birthday.

She couldn't believe this was her life. She was waiting for somebody to jump out the shadows and tell her it's just one big long joke. Down in her soul she knew that wasn't going to happen. This was real. As real as the purple haze lined in gold was outside the motel window.

Aanujah watched as the haze spiraled out, growing. Aanu's head went to and fro, she stood from her seat, slipped on her shoes with no socks and went out the door. A woman with long legs, polished oak brown tone, her thick coiled hair swept up in a graceful bun stepped from the spiral haze. She was Vylaht. The lanky woman smiled upon Aanujah, pulled her closer, and laid a delicate kiss on her forehead.

Then, just like that she disappeared. Her purple haze lined in gold poured around Aanu. She could no longer see the room she left from, or the cars parked in the lot, or the clear sky above. Blinding pain built in her forehead and forced her to scream like never before. Her scream; a high pitch frequency, the pain turned her legs to jelly and she collapsed to the concrete.

The haze softened the ground for her, but didn't take the pain away. Seconds moved so slow it felt like hours before the pain turned down a few notches. Her exhales were heavy, inhales shallow, she couldn't stand to her feet, didn't want to. She was afraid the pain would return. The haze simmered down, flowing to the bottom of her feet, revealing all that was there before.

Vylaht appeared once again, with a grin, one of tenderness. Her smile alone took away any residual pain left in Aanu's body. Vylaht opened her long arms and Aanujah barreled into them, breaking down in tears.

“Oh my dear dear mother. You knew all along, didn't you? You knew what would happen. Ever since you gave me the ritual, long ago.”

Vylaht pulled her away from her body, so she could see her face. “Have you made a choice?”

Aanujah wrapped her arms around herself and looked away. Aanujah didn't just know in theory, she became herself, with the help of an elder goddess. “I don't know. He hurt me bad Vy. Didn't even apologize.”

Vylaht nods, then lifts her chin. “Know this, you, the Men of the great Council and the Women and of course Anubis were placed here for a reason. To learn, to grow. You've lived many lifetimes, harsh ones and so has he. Do not doubt that he's learned. Even if you got no faith in your relationship with him, do not lose faith in his ability to assist you in protecting and healing our nation. Which has always been bigger than both of you. But...since it was not you who fell the nation, you right now hold the best cards. Do the right thing for us all Aanujah, you always have. Look at me.”

Aanujah looked at this ancient woman. “This last incarnation infused you with the proper DNA, it is time to return. Return the fallen ones back to their high seat.”

The morning of Aanujah's birthday the boys left out early, so the ladies could have the room to themselves. They had the blinds shut as they ran around in bras and panties, trying to get ready. It took them till well in the afternoon before every gal was put together. It took about three hours to do Aanu's hair alone, which Saki did. S'hkmanyu single braided Aanu's lengthy hair, then hooked those braids up in a stylish up-do.

Aniyla had ran out to pick up Aanu's and Saki's matching earrings and necklaces. Aniyla announced herself as she came back in the motel room. Saki ran out the bathroom, closing the door behind, Aanu waiting for her grand entrance to granny.

“Here,” Aniyla passed the bag of jewelry to Saki. “She ready?”

“Almost Nai-Nai,” Saki replied with a smile. “Gotta put the finishing touches on her and I'll bring her out.”

“Okay,” Aniyla grinned, easing her way to the bed, not wanting to get her pretty dress wrinkled.

Saki ran into the bathroom, passing Aanu's jewelry to her, then came to join Aniyla.

“Ladies and Ladies,” Saki playfully announced, “I now give you the baddest chick in the land; Aanujah Marie Azaigh! Watch out now, I hear she leave fiyah in her path 'cause she just so hot! Come on out girl.”

Aanujah strolled from the bathroom. A sexy dark cherry red one piece that looked like liquid was wrapped around her body and matching stiletto heels graced her feet. Aanu's face and body was dusted with golden glitter making her sparkle. Her aura shined intensely with purple and a blast of silver making her black coffee skin glow. Her small round eyes held a tinge of red eyeshadow, and the purple was slowly taking over her brown eyes. She had a glorious headpiece that had a red veil that covered her face, she had it pulled back for her Gran-Nai.

“Hot mama!” Aniyla appraised her look.

The ladies were finally ready and didn't hesitate any longer to roll out. It didn't take too long before Aniyla pulled up in front of the house. There were cars parked blocks down from the house, but the bulk of cars were as close as they could be to the house. Pretty much all of Nkosia came out to celebrate, packed in the house, behind it and around it. Aanu's parents AJ and Alanah, Aaron and Timothy were standing outside right in front of the pack.

Both Saki and Aanu were jumping up and down in the car, screaming because they were so excited for the big party. Aniyla simply shook her head and laughed at her crazy girls. The boys opened the doors for the ladies, Aniyla and Saki got out first and for Aanu, another grand entrance. Aniyla with the help of Tim and his folks pulled together the musicians of the town. One band was in front of the house, another inside the house, and the last in the back of the house.

Slow, funky, but ethereal sounds played as soon as Aanu's feet touched the concrete. She stood with the help of Timothy and Aaron. She couldn't hide away her smile and didn't want to as she walked down the violet carpet for her birthday. She moved as fast as her heels would let her to her parents who she missed more than ever before.

“Happy birthday sweetie,” AJ said, lifting her veil and kissing the cheek of his baby girl.

Alanah grinned through tears. “My baby is all grown up. I hope you have a good time tonight, honey.”

And she did. From six to late eleven she partied hard. Flirting with both Timothy and Unakie, screaming songs at the top of her lungs, being silly with her best friend, and opening presents. When eleven came the party was over and folks were heading home for a good night's rest. Aanujah knew it was time to meet Anubis in the forest, because Tim had mysteriously disappeared.

Unakie still stuck around, no doubt he wanted to keep an eye on Aanujah. Once Aanujah's family found out the truth of who the birthday girl was going to meet her family believed Unakie was trying to stop her from a sure death, but that wasn't it. He remembered better than others how Anubis felt about Aanujah. Hurting her again was something Anubis would not do. Unakie wanted to be her choice and he felt this would be his only chance.

But just as Tim slipped from the party unnoticed, so did Aanujah. Her family was so chilled and tired out from the party that they flopped to the floor, a nearby chair, or couch completely unaware. Still high off the fumes of fun and food. Aanu slipped off her heels and left for the forest barefoot, walking far until she found him. She stood a few feet from him staring at his magnificence in the full light of the moon.

The moon grew bigger, pregnant and ready to burst new life.

“You've come,” he said, slowly turning to face her. “We gotta hurry, the portal will close forever at midnight.”

“I know who I am Anubis,” she said, lifting her chin, “you can't boss me around. I haven't told you my decision. I wanna get this off my chest 'fore we move any further.”

He nods, slowly losing patience. “By all means, speak.”

“You tried to keep me in ignorance for so long Anubis. Every incarnation on Earth you manipulated my path to make sure I only knew enough to save you. Why?”

He looked away. “Because I feared if you knew all you wouldn't accept me.”

“You gambled on so much, why never me?”

Anubis looked at his long-lost lover, staring her in her eyes that continued to grow purple. “Because HE always wanted you. Even when we ruled, married in peace and love. He never tried for respect of our union. More so he knew you wouldn't accept him in such an underhanded way.”

“Who Yunaki?” She said, knowing very well who he was speaking of.

He replied through his teeth with sarcasm. “Yes, Yunaki. You know 'im. You had a lovely evenin' wit' him a few nights ago.”

Aanu smirked. “Yeah, Unakie. I felt ya anger and disappointment all night, it was hella strong, 'cause you was dormant. You believed he had me.”

He stepped closer to her. “This what we come to?”

She pointed at him. “You tell me Anubis.” She let her breath out in anger. “This is yo game, not mine.”

“You dare to forsake me! Huh woman?”

Aanujah whispers, latching onto his attention, “Watch yourself now. What happened to you man? You were like a big fuckin' teddy bear, but at the same time you were not to be fucked wit'. How you become like this? You couldn't talk to me way back then, when I asked you to get ya head on straight, but you will now,” she demanded, got so near him he could feel her breath on his chest. “Our everything depends on it. And I'm prepared to sacrifice it just as you did, for us. Our nation was built on our shoulders and if we don't got that shit together then it will fall again.”

Anubis swallowed. “I don't know! I don't know,” he whispered. “I fell in the pit, I didn't think it was a way out. Every incarnation it got worse, this one beats 'em all.” He went quiet for a moment, staring at Aanu. Then he started back up, “I don't care, you happy, I don't care your choice. I want you more than my next breath, but if I can't have you I just want this to end.”

“You tell me Anubis, why should I choose you? You are the reason my Pa-Pa is dead. His soul corrupted. It'll take lifetimes to cleanse it and allow it back in through the gates to our world. And you know it!” She paced away from him. “You've senselessly killed, feasted, became a beast.”

“You've done no less,” he said, never looking away from her.

She didn't break eye contact when she said, “Excuse me?”

“I told you we are alike. What about Amanda?”

Aanujah squinted her eyes and