Life - Life & Death Book 1

Chapter 11 - Zivena

    Shock and relief flood through me. I think back to that first dream, when Isis told me I needed to recognize who I really am. Now I'm sitting in front of a group of strangers who are telling me who I am.
    I find myself closing my eyes, trying hard to block everything out. I concentrate on my breathing and steadying my hammering heart. The panel of strangers remain quiet as I get myself under control but I still feel them – their excitement, urgency.
    I look into Taregan's gray eyes and feel myself relax. At least he's smiling at me.
    After a few moments, Forseti speaks up. "We understand better than most that this is a major shock but we need to continue. There are a few other gods and goddesses in training here at the Hub and you'll start training with them. You'll also be following the normal training routine.
    "While you're here, there are a few rules you'll need to follow. You mustn't tell anyone who you are – the other novice gods being the exception. You must follow any instructions you receive from trainers or teachers. You must follow–"
    "So how many others are there? Training gods, I mean?" I interrupt him. I've never been one for rules. Forseti glances at me with a look of irritation. Airmid squirms in her chair and Skuld glares at me in disbelief.
    Taregan speaks up in the silence. "There are four students who'll be training alongside you. Two have already been here a few months, and the other two just arrived in the past week. Novice gods also only train here for six months instead of a year."
    At that the tension in the room lifts slightly. Instead, curiosity smothers everyone.
    "Right," I drawl, pretending that only training six month isn't scaring the shit out of me. "So if I'm supposed to be Life–"
    "You are." Skuld interrupts but I ignore her.
    "–Does that mean I don't have a guide?"
    Airmid leans forward, a kind expression on her round face but it strangely doesn't make me feel any less worried. "That's correct, Zivena. Other then Taregan, none of us have an animal guide. Instead we have our previous incarnations to lend us guidance and wisdom. In your case, it's Isis. I'm assuming you've already met."
    I nod but don't say anything else. To say I met Isis in a dream is beyond weird.
    "Right." Forseti says, clapping his hands. "All the students will be heading to the cafeteria for dinner now so I'm sure Ahmik, the Hub guide and counsellor, will be able to show you around."
    He gives me a short smile that doesn't seem very genuine. He probably has more important things to do. It's not like this is the most life-altering thing I've heard, or anything.
Calm down.
    "Oh before I forget, Zivena." I cringe at the way Forseti says my name. As if he owns it. "You are to meet myself and the other novice gods behind the gym after your training tomorrow afternoon."
    I nod and steady myself before standing up. Quickly looking at everyone, I can't think of a single thing to say. So I just leave. A million questions follow behind me. Ahren's supposed to be around here somewhere. I can ask him.
    "Zivena, wait up!" Taregan comes up behind me and slows to match my pace. "I'll be your instructor for weapons and combat training. I've been waiting eighteen years to finally meet you."
    "Why have you been waiting for me?" I ask him. Sadness and grief stick to him and I feel my heart thud hard with the sudden emotions. Emotions that only remind me of my own grief.
    Taregan gives me a small smile, "Perhaps a story for another time. Enjoy your first night here, Zivena. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning."

✲✲✲✲✲

    I'm not sure what I'm expecting from Ahren when I find him, but I suddenly feel self-conscious. It's uncomfortable.
    "Zi?" I look over and see my brother sitting next to a burly looking guy who I'm guessing is named Ahmik.
    Ahren walks over to me and I feel the whirl of his emotions: curiosity, and calculation being the main ones.
    I mumble. "So I guess you knew?"
    He nods slowly, still watching me.
    "Could you stop with the staring already?" I tell him flatly. "It's starting to piss me off."
    "Oh," he looks away. "Sorry. It's not common knowledge who the next Life was going to be but I had a fair idea it was you. I'm just trying to get used to it, I guess."
    "Well, you're not the only one."
    "I know. Sorry," he repeats. "I guess I should've known though. There were clues all over the place."
    Wait, what? "Like what?"
    "You're a vegetarian. You're obsessed with nature. The brownies let you see them and you painted that picture of Isis. It makes a lot of sense," he nods.
    Shock flits across my face, "You know who the woman in the painting is?"
    "Obviously. It scared the shit out of me," Ahren gives me a small smile.
    There are still too many questions, too many variables. Isis has a lot of explaining to do. Before I can ask anything else, Ahmik walks over and holds out his hand.
    "It's lovely to meet you Zivena," he says in a thick German accent.
    I shake his hand, "Ahh thanks, it's nice to meet you too."
    "Hey, we'll show you around," Ahren puts his arm around my shoulders and guides me through a door. Ahmik takes us down another hallway. At the end of it, I see stairs leading down towards a lot of noise.
    We're three doors away from the stairs when Ahmik stops and opens the bright red door. My bags have been neatly placed on a bed and a brand new purple duvet cover is sitting on top, still in the plastic bag. I walk into the room and see another red door. I can hear my new roommate having a shower.
    Ahmik is talking to Ahren about his latest hunt in too much detail to be interesting, so I take the time to explore.
    What's going to happen now? I'd always known I was going to be a Guardian; that I was going to fight against demons. But that's all changed. I'm jumping into a world I know nothing about. With powers I have no idea how to use.
It's just better not to think about it.
    Once all my stuff is hanging up and packed away, I set up my bed and I'm about to leave when my roommate steps out from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. She's a little taller than me and has long, black hair that hangs just past her waist.
    I hold out my hand, "Hi, I'm Zivena."
    She looks at my outstretched hand and ignores it.
    "I was under the impression that I wasn't going to have a roommate." Her pure black eyes look me up and down, her nose wrinkling. "Ahmik," she calls. "Why is there some trashy nobody in my room?"
    A heavy sigh comes from outside. "Mika," Ahmik says and walks into our room, "we've spoken about this. There are no spare beds left and Zivena's parents have paid to send her here. Just like yours. So hurry up and get changed, dinner will be ready soon."     He walks back out and continues to speak with Ahren.
    Mika crosses her arms. "Do you mind? I'd like to get changed in private."
    "Then use the bathroom," I say in the same dead tone as her.
    I pretend to unpack more of my things, I smooth out my bed and get my pajamas ready until I hear the bathroom door slam. I grin to myself and leave.