Chapter 1
My people once knew me as their savior. They would perform rituals made for me, in my honor. But slowly, they lost faith. They stopped speaking of my name as a god; instead spoke of me as a fable. The last offering arrived twenty centuries ago. It was a single goat, half starved, more feeble than a withering rose. A group of teenagers who didn’t even know half the chant had left it. I gave the poor thing mercy and let it live. Taking my mortal form, I decided to go for one last walk through the village. That was a mistake, though. As I walked by, I overheard a mortal mention my name to a child. Curious, I decided to listen to what they were saying. “Na angechukua umbo la nyoka mkubwa sana mweusi mwenye tumbo jekundu, mkubwa kuliko wote ambao kwamba umewahi kuona.” he leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “Nyakati nyingine Nyoka angechukua umbo la miili ya binadamu kama vile mnyama anayetambaa anavyotoa ngozi yake.” “And he would take the form of a great black snake with a red belly, the largest you have ever seen.” he told the young girl,“At other times Nyoka would take the form of human bodies just as a reptile sheds its skin.” My lip quirked up a bit as I listened, my gaze shifting to the little girl. “Je, yeye ni kweli?” she had asked, her eyes blown wide. “Is he real?” The man chuckled and shook his head. “Hapana, mpenzi, ni hadithi tu.” His words echoed through my head, still do today. “No, honey, it’s just a story.” Just a story. I’m a fable to them now, a story. I turned my gaze down, watching my feet move as I lumbered away. I walked to a cave with a storm churning in the pit of my stomach. There, I formed a portal that led to the divine realm. I looked over my shoulder for a long moment, my brows furrowing. “Disappointing.” I spat before turning back around and entering the portal.
Sometimes I observe the other gods who still have duties as they go about their day. Though, that’s only if Father isn’t pounding my skull with his oh-so-great and mighty knowledge. He’s just some old codger deity who fell off eons ago. But because the waning gibbous is this week, I have to attend his irksome lessons. I assumed my snake form, my flesh turning to scales. I slithered through the hall which seemed to take forever. Slipping under the door to his chamber, I returned to my divine form. I took in the sight of the smoke of incense curling like serpents.
I saw his looming shadow before I heard his booming voice. “Nyoka, you’re late.” I kept my eyes down, my fists clenching as annoyance churned in my stomach. “Sorry, father. I was too busy watching the paint on the murals dry.” I quipped, drawing a deep chuckle from the old coot. “No need to sound so sullen, boy. You’re acting like someone spat in your offering bowl.” he replied, moving to sit in his chair. “I’m not that boring, am I?”
I scoffed, crossing my arms and looking over at the door. “Oh, believe me father, you’re that boring. I’d rather be cleaning out the pig sty. Now, let’s hurry up and get this over with.” I sighed, sitting in a chair across from my father and leaning back. My father crossed his arms and I could feel his stare. “Actually,” he began, “I was thinking we’d do something else for your lesson.” I straightened up in my chair. Wait. Something else? “Like what?” I asked. For the first time all morning, I looked him in the eye. I watched the corner of his lips pull back in a grin. “I knew you’d be eager.” he teased, leaning back in his chair. My brows furrowed, “Come on, father, out with it.” I urged.
“You are to go down to the mortal realm and live among them until a mortal realizes that you’re not one of them.” he stood, walking over to me. “You will attend mortal classes and take your human form. As for your living situation, you will live in the housing provided by the school. Are you willing to do this?” I nodded in response to his question. The mortal realm? “Yes, father, I am. When am I leaving?” I queried. He thought for a moment before responding. “Sundown. Now, go pack your belongings.”
Turning away, I shifted into my snake form and slithered off. I gathered my belongings and when sundown came, formed a traveling portal. I stepped through, closing the portal behind me. As I opened my eyes, the sight surprised me. There were many large towering buildings that shone with bright neon lights that stabbed my eyes. The piercing sounds of honking and people flooded my ears but it was the stench that caught my attention. Sewers, garbage, roadkill, and car exhaust. The stench was as putrid and disgusting as that of a durian fruit. Maybe the inside would be tasty just like the fruit, too. I wrinkled my nose, my brows furrowing. “Disgusting.” I murmured, beginning to walk through the crowd as I made my way to the mortal dormitories.
