Bloodline: Godseed (Pt. IV)

No one believed him at first. It was too unlikely. Irisi was not even vaguely furry… and Sebi was considered a bit of a dope. But… sometimes stories stick and fester over time. It took two weeks before the first rumblings started.

* * *

“Djal?”

The voice startled Djal as he stood contemplating his irrigation system.

“Manu, greetings,” he replied, “How are your crops?”

Manu replied vaguely, a strange look in his eye.

Djal figured he’d head off the niceties and get to the point. “What is it, my friend?”

“Your daughter.”

“Irisi?”

“She’s your only one.”

Djal frowned. Manu was rarely this chilly.

“Yes, she is. What do you want with her?”

“She been interfering with things she shouldn’t?”

Djal thought of the rumors moving about town. About Sebi and the lions. And the jackal creature.

“No more than any girl her age, Manu. Are you talking about Sebi and the lion attack?”

“Yes, I am. That boy claims your daughter turned into an animal beast. Like maybe… a devil.”

Djal shook his head. “What you’re describing could be any teenager, my friend. She’s never been involved with anything weirder than berry makeup or pillow fighting. Don’t tell me the weird stories are getting in your head, too.”

Manu grunted. “They’re not so weird. My wife told me in her village a bandit once got caught pinching some gold from a house. When a man and his brother cornered the thief, he turned into a beast and ripped their heads clean off.”

Djal pointed up. “Sometimes the gods come down and walk with us. Perhaps they had a hand in it.”

“In thievery and murder?”

“Perhaps the men had stolen the gold themselves.”

Manu shook his head. “They were just normal townfolk, Djal. That wasn’t no god. That was a monster. Like maybe the thing that killed the lions. Like maybe a girl could be, secretly. Like a – ”

“That’s enough, Manu. I won’t let you drag my daughter into your devil talk. I enjoy being friend with you – but leave off on my family.”

Manu spit on the ground and studied the drying spot he left. Quietly, he nodded, then looked back at Djal.
“I’m not the only one, Djal. People are a bit worried. There have been other stories of killing and beast-men and such. Just watch your back. Your daughter may be fine… but don’t count on everyone being easy to convince.”

Djal clapped his hand on Manu’s shoulder. “I won’t. You’re a good man. Head it off. You know me… you know my daughter. We have no enemies and don’t intend to start now. I’ll offer extra sacrifices and pray that any evil stays away.”

Manu turned to leave, then stopped and looked back. “Better pray hard.”

Djal watched him leave, then looked back at his suddenly less-interesting irrigation trenches.

He and Irisi needed to talk.