"W-what are you saying, you can not have me?" I looked at Joshek, now would be the perfect time to speak but he said nothing just looked at me. I was pleading with him in my head hoping he would read it!
Errand boy pulled me closer to him, his arm trying to shield from whatever could happen, i knew he would not be able to protect me from any of the creatures in the room not to talk of Yohah but it felt good to be thought of.
He was looking around for an escape route even though we both knew there was no way we could leave if Yohah did not want us to.
Joshek was yet to say anything, Maybe he was trying to understand why Yohah would want me, seconds went by and probably a minute then two and then he spoke "NO" Thank you KING of kings, Thank you GOD. Yes Joshek finally!
Joshek's refusal seemed to alarm the room and all the creatures in it but Yohah smirked "Why" he asked.
"There is no reason" Joshek replied, errand boy and us just kept on looking at one then the other.
"Mhm Mhm, you have never held anything from me oh sorry, i mean anyone. You are always willing to give who ever for your benefit but what? you draw the line at a mere servant girl, tsk tsk" he raised an eyebrow questioning, dissatisfied with Joshek's refusal .
"The woman she serves is a friend, i cannot let you have what is not mine" Yohah snorted at this, ticked by what was said, he stood up and sat on a seat of looked like a sewing machine. did this creature have a hobby like this? absolutely unexpected, he was like an interesting villain.
He winked at me with a small smile on his face. Could he read minds too?
"Friend be honest with me, you know i never judge and i am your only friend so do not talk about others" he kissed his teeth. Was he jealous?. "Answer my question Joshek".
" I just did, she is not mine to give, i have principles". That seemed to annoy Yohah, the color of his eyes were twitching faster, intriguing, scary.
"Stop bullshitting me, principles? please. you are acting brand new or have you forgotten LYDIA" The creatures hissed, recognizing the name.
I did not realize when Joshek stood up, his hands shaking and with a trembling voice he said " Do not speak her name" Yohah had struck a nerve, it was clear. But he did not seem to care, he was playing with a string of thread, rolling it around a finger.
If anything he found it hilarious to see his 'friend' that way. He looked up, his hands now flat on the sewing table "You hypocrite, now you care about her, where was all this affection when you brought her here, deceived, thinking you as some sort of savior to her. She was an eloha{a naive person}. She abandoned everything for you, fell in love she-" Joshek flipped the table, despite the loud thud and the sound of the breaking of cups, i could hear the creatures, they hissed, whispered louder.
I and Errand boy stood up, walking behind the chairs, farther away from away from a possible altercation but closer to the invisible that be.
We wished we could run but even if we somehow through a miracle were able to able to walk out that door, what is to say that the animals in the garden would not eat us and if managed to escape them where would we go. We can not get back to Copen without Joshek.
Yohah stood up to his intimidatingly tall height, he was at least a foot taller than Joshek if not more, they walked closer to each other slowly, in synchronization until they stopped just a few inches from each other . Would they fight?, i hoped not but if they did would Joshek be able to hold his own.
"It has been a long time, I came here for her, give her to me" He said with an obvious strain. " A long time? It has been a hundred years!" Yohah was obviously frustrated at the fact that Joshek was trying to downplay the situation.
"I am back for her" Joshek argued, there was no more anger in his voice, it was more yearning but Yohah shook his head "And what is to say she wants to go with you" Yohah questioned and Joshek stuttered to get out his words, in the end he said "She was in love with me". He looked down disappointed at his own words, it clear to even him that that was a hundred years ago, enough time to hate someone who had abandoned you.
"And you betrayed her" Yohah scoffed "Give me the girl or leave!" Yohah turned away walking back the sewing machine and i had only just realized the fabric that was on it, it looked like his skin, beautiful, i looked at what he wore, it was similar, i guess Yohah was a fashionista. I had only just noticed.
"I gave you what you wanted" Joshek said in a cry stopping Yohah in his steps but he did not turn around.
"It was for your own benefit or have you forgotten" He retorted, speaking through his teeth.
Unexpectedly, bursting with emotion, Joshek shouted "You monster, who know what you have done to her, you probably assaulted her in way i cann-" but before he could say more Yohah turned around swiftly, stepping dangerously close to Joshek who took a step or two backwards. Aware that he had crossed a line and Yohah too unable to control his rage, grabbed him by the throat and threw him at the wall.
The veins in his neck looked they would pop, his color changing faster, if i did not know that there were creatures in the house i would think that i was crazy for thinking someone held my arm in fear.
Errand boy looked distraught as Yohah knelt in front of Joshek who struggled to get up "You think you are better than me velhum el i mun [who do yo think you are], you are no better than i am, you only do what benefits your search for eternal sustenance, you trick people at the lowest points of their life and bring them to me as an exchange so you can live a better life and somehow you believe that i am the monster in our story... Pathetic to think we were partners once, friends.. but even i am more human than you are knowing when there is a line i should not cross" He paused.
"Joshek looked him in the eye, sitting straight up "I hate it Yohah, my weakness, my humanity" and you could tell he did by the look on his face, the disgust but what the words he spoke, he said them like a child wanting to be understood, But Yohah's expression was something different, i could not tell if it was a look of disappointment or pity but right then i could tell the difference between the two. One held on to the humanity he probably had never had and held it close while the other despised it, saw it as a weakness.
Yohah got up "Is that why you brought her here?" He pointed at me "You knew there was something in her that i would want, did you bring her for an exchange?" Joshek said nothing, he just sat there.
It seemed Yohah knew the answer to the question he asked "Leave" he said and walked away and not to the sewing machine this time but to a door i had not noticed was there , his hand paused on the handle and he turned to me "Watch your back Aziah " and walked into whatever room it was.
Errand boy helped Joshek up as i stood in a trance, the words echoing " We leave now" . They were out before me and as i took a step out, i heard a song, the creatures
"Watch your back Aziah, you are in danger.
He will take all you have, you won't remember
Who you are until the end"
I heard this song until caught up to Errand boy who was waiting for me, a little distance away, there was worry in his face and i worried for him as well even though i was probably the one in real danger, even though he said Errand boy was like a son to him, even though Errand boy was a bawe[fool], even though i hated him, even though... .
"Come on Aziah, let us go" He called to me. I wondered what his real name was for the first time.