"for the beauty of the rose, we also water the thorns."
Descendant of Loa lineage, Karliah Shango stems from masters of Haitian and the old Oyo Empire Vodou. After the nuclear wipe out, she finds herself thrown into leadership with little comprehe...
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Unnerving wailing and crying bounced from the walls of the throne room. They left the lips of the mother of Faith Nkossi, one of the many soldiers who'd attempted to contain the attack the day prior. Asim had broken the news to several other families, now mourning the losses of their young sons and daughters, many of whom were new recruits.
Karliah watched, a doleful expression written across her features as the father wrapped an arm around his weeping wife, attempting to bring comfort to her grief.
"I am truly sorry for this, Mr. and Mrs. Nkossi." Asim spoke weakly.
The old woman shook her head, tears streaming down her freckled cheeks, "No. None of you are!" She shouted, ignoring her husband's protests as she pulled herself out of his grip.
"A ceremony will be held in remembrance of those we lost, Mrs. Nkossi, you aren't going through this alone." Idella attempted to console the woman, but to no avail.
She only snarled in response, "Yon seremoni? That won't bring my baby back. This is on all of you! And this reckless, sa ki mal child you dare call a queen!"
"Mwen renmen anpil," Mr. Nkossi stepped forward, placing a hand on the shoulder of his wife, "Stop,"
She only shrugged him off, her tear stained eyes staring directly into those of Karliah. She stepped forward, making her way up the stairs and towards the throne. "You. You out of all people cannot dare pity me."
Karliah looked up at the grieving woman who now stood at her feet, "You've casted this evil among us, her blood is on your hands!" She all but screamed, her wrinkled hand grabbing ahold of the girl's throat.
Along with two guards, Ali stood, pulling the woman from his daughter. "That is enough!"
The guards dragged the hysterical woman down the stairs and out of the room, her curses still audible from down the hall.
A sigh passed Karliah's lips as she rubbed her eyes wearily.
Markus' voice filled the tense air, "Well. You didn't kill her. So kudos."
Karliah didn't spare him a glance, as he was obviously still hung up over the conversation they had the day before. "I'm gonna take a break." She muttered as she stood, making her way out of the throne room.
She turned down the opposite hall that the guards had taken Mrs. Nkossi down, walking aimlessly. The only sound to be heard was the echo of her boots scuffing along the marble floors.
It was growing difficult for her to think of anything past Michael, almost as if he'd taken up all of the space in her head ever since the night they laid together. She continued to meddle on his question - whether she 'hated' him or not. It was odd, to have the Antichrist himself consumed with the fear of losing her. Regardless, Markus' words still stirred something within her, a wake of paranoia that seemingly convinced her otherwise.
