Thunder and Lightning

Chapter 15: Deserve

Weeks passed, and the group settled into a familiar routine. They spent a majority of their time at Nzinga's place. The warm closeness fed their spirits. Each morning she would run with Dru - never quite catching him but improving in speed and strength. She switched to the evening classes of yoga and began borrowing books from Dave on her magic.  Between classes she preferred the library setting as it was a quiet escape from her busy home. Before she came home most days, her homework was already complete.

A week before Thanksgiving she walked in from class and saw Kitt and Calinda chatting and scribbling notes. "What are you two up to" Nzinga asked suspiciously.

"We're planning a menu for Thanksgiving!" Calinda responded.
"Uh-huh, I didn't know pixie's celebrated that"

"We don't , but Kitt is cooking..... soooo"

Nzinga chuckled.

Kitt's voice softened " I was thinking  that we should do this at the warehouse. That way we could all sit together with the food and invite Dave over."

"Dave?" The invite felt random to Nzinga.

"Yeah," Calinda's voice got even softer "I think Amina has a crush on him" The three ladies laughed hard at the thought.

"Fine, I'll ask Dru when he gets back"

Kitt paused , "Do you have a key?"  Kitt always could sense an underlying insecurity. She knew this question meant something to Nzinga.

"No" Nzinga snapped. "That is his home, and this is my home."

Kitt and Calinda quickly changed topics. Their voices became background noise to Nzinga's thoughts.

Dru came in close to 10 in the evening  and walked straight to the bathroom. His face looked worn and she saw several small cuts on his body. His body was bruised, and his clothes were ripped. Several nights a week he came in with Amina like this, but tonight seemed rougher - his mood more abrupt.

"What do you guys do when you're together? Where do you go?"

He didn't respond, instead he brushed his teeth and took a shower returning to the room in only a towel covering his lower half . He looked at her , jaw clenching and with a controlled voice said "we need to increase your training."

"Uhhh... that's all you got to say?" She opened her Eye, his aura was a brilliant Gold, and even more he had several white circular rings above his head. "What is that?"

"Later ." He pulled on shorts and got in bed with Nzinga  , his back facing her.

"No. This is enough. Everything is later or a secret. You have secret nods, phone calls at midnight, scratches on your body and I have no idea where you go at night!"

"Oh yeah!" He snapped "you make it a point to distinguish your life from mine. You arrive on campus and run from me, not answering a single phone call or text. The only time I hear about you, your classes or your life is whatever Sarala reports to me, which is very little. She consistently reminds me that I asked her to respect your privacy. I can't have you, but I lay in the bed and inhale your scent and it's mixed with every person, every man you've touched and it drives me insane. And your magic..." his aura turned red, green then black " your strands tease at my edges while you sleep. Aside from my pure desire to take you, you won't  even tell me why there is another being trying to harm you! How can I protect you or prepare you for what's to come?! You remind me every day, with every touch that I can only have part of you! So you're right." He sits up and pulls the cover back, " this is enough!" he shouted as he stood and walked out with a slam of the door.

There was so much there. She wanted to argue, she wanted to fight. Nzinga argued with herself about the right text message or whatever thing she would say when he came back. She could think of nothing.