Legacy Of The Gods Chapter 8

Legacy Of The Gods: Blood Ties

Chapter 8

Excitement like almost no other time spread throughout De La Salle High School. Tonight was to be one of the biggest basketball games of the year, and if the school wins, they would be in the running for the finals and championship, making them one of the top schools for athletics. They would be known for not only for turning out some of the top academic students in the state of Louisiana, but athletics too. Everyone was doing their best to keep up their spirits and bring moral to the players for the big game that night. Calls of “Hey, good luck!” and “Give ‘em hell!” from students rang throughout the halls as the players and cheerleaders passed by, waving their hands.

But all the excitement and shouting were almost unnoticed by Billie as she sighed and opened her locker. The past couple of days had been tense if nothing else. First, to find out she was descended from African royalty, now to find out that without her help as well as Hazelynn’s and Dante's, the Yoruba gods who were long thought to be just myths and legends would not be able to protect New Orleans, practically the world, from a maddened god of death. It was sometimes more than she would bear. But then she would think about Aja’s calm and wise eyes, her soothing voice in letting her know that she would never leave her alone, and the tension would just lift. She wished the goddess would appear to her more often and just talk to her, but she knew it couldn’t be so.

She was also comforted in knowing she was not alone in this fight. Dante would be there to help in any way he can, which Billie was happy for, as well as Hazelynn. The dark-skinned girl chuckled at the thought of the popular Hazelynn. To her surprise, she was even beginning to tolerate her. She knew that despite her haughty attitude and high-class front, the light-skinned girl really did care. It was evident in when the goddess Oshun bonded with her. Still, Billie hoped that the three of them would be enough. Aja did tell her there were more of the descendants out there, waiting to be discovered and awakened. But Billie certainly didn’t have a clue in knowing how to find them. She hoped it would be soon, because there would be no telling when Baron Samedi would attack again.

At that worrying thought, Billie gathered her books and shut her locker door, sighing again. Couldn’t the gods have given them something like a royalty locater or something? How was she and the other two supposed to find others like them, when SHE herself didn’t know who she was? Billie closed her eyes and prayed that the gods will give an answer to that soon.

She turned to walk to her last class of the day as the bell rang, and nearly smacked right into a figure as it walked quickly towards her. Billie gasped and stopped just in time, but still managed to drop her books from the momentum of her stopping so suddenly. She quickly crouched down to pick them up, and when she looked up, she saw a girl about her height and with skin just as dark as her own look down on her with concern, her brown eyes wide.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she said, running a hand through her high, long ponytail. “I’m still getting used to this big building. I didn’t see you there." She looked around nervously.

“No, it’s okay, really. I wasn’t paying attention. I have, errr..…something on my mind.” Billie said, straightening up and finally getting a good look at the girl. Although she would be considered really pretty, with her high cheekbones, large brown eyes and full lips, the girl’s face was lined with worry and…could it be?...sadness. Her professionally straightened hair was delicately styled in a high ponytail with the tail reaching to almost the middle of her back. Billie immediately felt like she wanted to comfort her, watching the girl’s eyes dart nervously around her.

Billie raised her eyebrows in recognition just then. “Hey, aren’t you in my Social Studies class? You transferred here just a couple of days ago, right? I’m Billie.” She reached out a hand to shake.

“Oh, yeah,” the girl smiled, shaking Billie’s hand gently. “I’m Maybelle, and so far it’s been quite an adjustment being here.” She looked down on the floor and Billie could swear she was fighting back tears.

“Hey, don’t worry. I’m sure I can help you find your next class. Where’s your schedule?” When Maybelle reached into the side pocket of her book bag and handed it to her, Billie looked over it and smiled. “Oh, this is on the way to my class. Come on, I’ll show you.”

The slightly shorter girl smiled in gratitude. “Thanks. I didn’t want to be late to another class." she said softly.

The girls quietly walked through the thinning crowd of the school until Billie turned to her. “So, you’re from Jamaica?”

When Maybelle looked at her in surprise, Billie smiled. “My mom and dad have plenty of friends from Jamaica, they even went there on vacation a little after they got married. My dad loves Jamaica and says he’s sure he has roots from there. My parents and I visited there quite a bit when I was younger, so I’m not unfamiliar. Our cultures aren’t THAT different, you know.” She winked at Maybelle. “Plus, your accent is really cool.”

Maybelle chuckled slightly at that before her face turned serious. “Thanks, but I don’t think a lot of the kids here think so.” Her lips quivered just a bit.

Billie was quiet, imagining and understanding how hard it must be to adjust to a new place. She smiled at the Caribbean girl. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure they’ll warm up soon. If they don’t, well, at least you have one new friend.”

Maybelle smiled gratefully at her. Billie smiled back, but then her face turned serious when suddenly, a strange connection and feeling for this girl came over her. It was if they were meant to meet and be friends, to form a bond. But just as quickly the feeling disappeared, leaving her feeling confused. Could she be like us? Billie asked herself. Then, feeling silly, she shook her dark head and continued on her way to classes with the new girl. She didn’t want to think about such things now. She had made a new friend, that’s what was important.

But still, Billie couldn’t get rid of that fleeting feeling that there could be more to this girl than she thought, than what anyone would think.

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To the few believers left on Earth, the Ile-Ife was home to many of the most powerful and influential gods and spiritual beings of goodness that helped advance human civilizations. It is a place of peace, of joy, and where knowledge is spread wide and far. Most humans would never even begin to comprehend the advances it possessed.

But what many do not know is that the Ile-Ife is also a place for the most darkest and evil creatures and beings. In another part of the beautiful dimension was a place where evil was set aside, banished where they would not dare to cross over from. Many would simply call this Hell, but it was more than that. It was a place of absolute chaos, despair, and desolation. In this part of the Ile-Ife, the most vile and evil-hearted of the gods and even humans were sentenced. Similar to the Christian concept of Hell, smoke and fires exploded up into the darkened skies, and mountains with lava rolling down their sides covered most of landscape. Animal sounds as well as cries filled the area.

But all of that was barely noticeable to Baron Samedi as he walked past a flowing river of lava. His cape billowed behind him and he gripped his long cane tightly, almost as if he wanted to break it in half. Anger flashed in his glowing eyes and his lips were set in a sneer. How dare those human brats and the gods continue to make a fool of him! He was supposed to have gotten his revenge by now, to make all the gods who trapped him pay for their insolence. But the more he tried to fulfill his plans, the more the descendants of those despicable Yoruba royalty show up and ruin everything. But it would all end soon anyway. With the seal weakened enough for him to finally break through, he could now enter  the Ile-Ife and Earth with ease and even undetected, as he could feel his power growing more and more.

Just hurling the undead at them wouldn’t do anymore. He needed powerful help. Help that would ensure that these brats would not survive his next attack. And he knew just the spiritual creatures to help him do it. Just then, his thoughts were interrupted by movement and a flash of shadow behind him. The baron turned, holding up his cane high. There was another movement just as a blast of lava shot up in the air from a faraway mountain. Samedi turned again, and this time, he was met with a fierce creature. It only slightly resembled a human, with arms, legs, and body, but that was where the similarities ended. In the sparse light, the creature coming towards him had some fur on its body, but rigid, almost reptile-like skin also appeared on certain places, especially the chest. The face resembled a wolf, but it looked as if it was smashed in and had a stubbed snout and permanent snarl. Elf-like ears protruded from the sides of its head, and drooled slathered down its grizzled chin. Instead of hands, it had paws complete with claws, and instead of human legs, it had the back legs of a wolf, also ending in gigantic paws.

The Loa god stood in a defensive pose with his cane high as the creature stepped closer, ready to attack. The lights of the eyes on the miniature skull on the top of his cane flashed brightly just as the creature was ready to pounce on him. Right after, a mesmerized look came over the creature, causing it to lower its arms and stare blankly at the baron.

“You will do my bidding!” Baron Samedi said darkly, his deep voice echoing throughout the area despite the noisy explosions.

For a long while, the creature stood still, but then fighting the hypnotic power, the animal-like spirit’s body twitched. After giving a fierce growl, it blinked its eyes and lunged forward, swiping its gigantic paw at the tall god.

Samedi cursed loudly and jumped high in the air away from the beast. He backward-somersaulted expertly in the air, his cap flapping behind him. He landed on one knee, but there was no time to catch a breath as the enraged spiritual being rushed forward, this time swiping both its paws.

Baron Samedi bared his teeth in an angry growl, willing his cane to grow even larger. In a flash, the black cane grew to nearly twice its size as he stood and took a fighting stance. When the creature was nearly upon him, Samedi swiped the staff against its wolf-like legs, sweeping them from under it. The monster fell to the ground with a loud thud, almost shaking the ground Samedi was standing on.

But in a flash, the being was up again, running towards Samedi. With a grunt, the God of Resurrection jumped high once more, but then kicked out his leg before doing an expertly crafted back flip in the air, kicking the creature right in the head.

It flew back a good few inches before landing hard on the ground as Samedi landed in a crouch, still gripping his staff. The spirit lay on the ground, moaning and its body twitching. Not wasting any time, Samedi rushed forward, and when he reached it, he stopped and stretched forth his staff. He willed it back into his cane and it immediately shrank down to its normal size. Once more the eyes on the tiny skull flashed. The beast’s eyes opened slowly, and as it stared at the cane, the dazed, hypnotic look came back over it.

“You will do my bidding!” Samedi said deeply once more, his own eyes glowing brightly.

The monster tried to fight it again, but it was too late. Its eyes took on a completely blank look and it slowly got up as the baron backed away. He grinned in triumph, showing his teeth, but it didn’t last long as suddenly, more figures began to walk out from the dusty darkness towards him. More of the creatures snarled and hissed at the baron as they slowly came forth, drool sliding down their chins.

Baron Samedi growled in annoyance and raised his cane once more. It grew, and yelling loudly, he swung it forth and around him like a baseball bat. The beast-like spirits were all flown back by a powerful force, like a shock wave. They all fell to the ground hard, growling and howling in pain and frustration.

The baron twirled his now larger staff in front of him, narrowing his eyes. “Time to work,” he said to himself, his deep voice determined and eyes glowing.

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De La Salle High School Gym:

Billie watched with baited breathe as the last seconds of the basketball game ticked by. She sat on the benches with everyone else as they also watched with tension and nervousness. It had been a very active and competitive game, with first her school leading, then the rival school, then soon becoming a tie. Everyone was biting their nails to see who would be the victor.

Billie’s eyes were particularly on Dante as he caught the ball that was passed to him. Sweat poured down his face and he wiped it off with the back of his hand before he started to dribble. He narrowed his eyes and dashed forward. He twirled and dodged as he was surrounded by the other team’s players, but he was getting closer and closer to the basketball hoop on the other side.

Come on Dante, you can do it! Billie thought as she watched with her breath held.

A player practically jumped in front of Dante just as he tried to get by, so the dark-skinned boy turned and passed the ball onto another player on his team. The player shot by Dante when he caught the ball and the dark-skinned boy followed along. They were just about to reach the hoop when the other player shot the ball right back at Dante, slightly confusing the other team. With a grin, Dante positioned himself in front of the high hoop, dribbled, then jumped up high to make the shot.

An almost audible gasp can be heard in the gym as everyone watched. The ball spun around the rim of the hoop, and just as the buzzer blasted, it fell in. Immediately everyone jumped to their feet and yelled and cheered with triumph. Billie yelled and cheered with everyone else, truly happy for the boy.

The school band started playing a victory song, and right after the cheerleaders sashayed onto the floor, shaking their pom-poms. So thrilled was she, that Billie couldn’t even get annoyed at Hazelynn when she led the cheerleaders in a dazzling dance routine moments later, a wide grin on her face showing that she was loving the attention.

After chuckling at that, Billie turned her head and saw Maybelle sitting not too far away, a small but tired smile on her face. Billie hadn’t even known the girl had come to see the game, as they had went their separate ways after she had helped the Jamaican girl find her class. Perhaps she was interested in sports as well. Then again, this game was all everyone was talking about during the school day, so maybe she was curious.

Billie waved her hands high in the air. “Maybelle!” she yelled, hoping to get the girl’s attention.

When the girl turned and waved back at her, Billie made her way over to her through the thinning crowd. “You came to see the game? I didn’t know, we could have sat together!"

The Caribbean girl blushed slightly. “My mom said I should come back and see the game. She said it would help me adjust more and make friends. I know I missed the first few minutes, but it was fun. I’m glad I came.” She smiled shyly at Billie.

“That’s great,” Billie said, smiling back. “Hey, you should meet my friends, especially Dante. He’s the player that gave the winning shot!”

She grabbed Maybelle’s hand and they both hurried towards the gym floor, where the crowd was congratulating the team. But the new star of the basketball team was nowhere to be found. Huh? Where could he have went? Billie wondered to herself.

She was just starting to worry a little when she turned and saw Maybelle staring at Hazelynn, finishing another dance routine with the other girls. The taller girl's lithe and graceful body moved easy to the popular music. “Wow, she’s really good.” Maybelle said in admiration.

Billie rolled her eyes. “That’s just my friend Hazelynn, and if she heard you say that, we’d never hear the end of it!” Both girls giggled before Billie looked around again. “Come on, I’m sure Dante is around here somewhere.”

They wormed their way through the large crowd until they reached the double doors that led outside into the cool, early evening air. The sun had set just a little while ago, but the sky was still slightly lit and the stars just starting to come out. A few people were already outside, singing victory songs, slapping the players on their backs, and making plans on how to celebrate.

But as Billie looked around, there was still no sign of Dante. She sighed with annoyance and once more took Maybelle’s hand. “Come on, I’m sure he’s back there.”

They went around the school building out towards the back, Billie's worry growing. Suddenly, an uneasy feeling settled over Billie. Even before the feeling deepened, she knew what it meant. Almost immediately the ground she and Maybelle were standing on began to tremble. The other girl looked at Billie with wide, confused eyes. “What’s going on?” she said, stepping closer to Billie.

Just then, Dante came running up to them, waving his arms. “Look out!” he yelled, hoping it wasn’t too late.

Billie blinked in surprise as Dante reached her and Maybelle, his eyes wide and panting. Before she could even ask if he was okay or anything else, the people all around them began to scream and yell as the trembling became stronger, causing many to stumble and fall.

“I..I felt something was wrong just as the game ended,” Dante said stepping protectively in front of Billie. “I thought I should check  really quick and come back, but….” He stopped and looked quizzically at Maybelle. Was he feeling something from her?

The trembling grew stronger now, interrupting his thoughts, and suddenly, a crack appeared in the ground in front of them and started growing wider and wider. A red glow slowly started emanating from within it.

“Billie!” The dark-skinned girl turned to see Hazelynn rushing towards them, her eyes wide with concern.  “I heard everyone screaming, and I felt something!”

“It’s Samedi, I know it!” Billie said, narrowing her eyes in anger.

“Who?” Maybelle looked at all of them with confusion. Just what was going on? How did just going to see a high school basketball game turn into this?

But her question was not to be answered when the crack suddenly grew even bigger and a spark of white light flashed from it, making everyone turn away their heads.

When Billie turned to look back, she gasped in horror. Coming out from the large crack and many others were creatures that she never thought existed in all her life. They reached their fur-covered arms out of the cracks, then emerged in victory, growling and howling in the evening air. Scales as well as fur covered their bodies, with their faces looking like they were smashed in and a stubby snout. Large paws flexed where their hands were supposed to be, and their legs resembled the back legs of dogs and wolves.

Maybelle gave a frightened gasp as she grabbed Billie’s arm, her body shaking.

Then, to make matters worse, Baron Samedi jumped down from the sky and landed heavily before the four teens, grinning widely.  He straightened up and towered over them.

“Hello again.” he said menacingly, swirling his cane before him as his eyes glowed in triumph. "Did you miss me?"

The group looked up at him with wide, frightened eyes, not knowing how this night was going to end.

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To Be Continued.