The Bitter Taste Read online

  No one dared come up to her, though she could already see the priests guarding against her. Her hut burned in the night. She smiled, glad that they had severed her ties to them.

  Tepil stood at the edge of the grave site, and Yau stepped out of the circle. She felt the magic crack and break around her, and the zombies shuddered, the magic seeping out of them.

  Yau moved as quickly as her tired body could.

  “Tepil,” she murmured, and the corpse turned to face her. She flinched away from the face- rotting, bulging flesh turning her stomach at last.

  Someone brushed past her, and she felt Amoxtl fading in her mind as he returned to his grave.

  “I need a shovel,” Yau murmured, swaying on her feet.

  Warm hands gripped her from behind.

  “No, see- there is already a grave for your brother,” the god whispered in her ear.

  Yau forced her head to move, and she could see it, next to the altar- a deep hole waiting to hold her brother.

  She smiled, and looked at him, willing him to understand her final order.

  Tepil moved, squelching, and Yau winced as strips of skin left a slimy trail where he stepped.

  “Who dug it?” she asked.

  “What are Godly powers for if not making my queen’s wishes come true?”

  Yau smiled and watched her brother sink into the hole.

  “Go to sleep now,” she murmured, her eyes growing heavy as her body gave into exhaustion. “I'll see you in the afterlife, my brother.”

  She blinked and the hole was filled. Nan whimpered on the grass.

  “I have one last gift for you,” the god said. Yau turned.

  Tepil smiled at her. No bloating, no half eaten face or eyes. He was perfect and solid.

  “Thank you,” he said; his voice just as she had heard it the morning he went fishing.

  “Rest in peace, my brother,” Yau said, smiling. “I will see you in the afterlife one day.

  He smiled and nodded. The god lifted a hand and darkness shrouded Tepil. He was gone before Yau could process it.

  “You are ready to move on from this place?” the god asked.

  Yau crouched in front of Nan. The older woman wept, but she clung to Yau when she reached out.

  “Thank you- for everything,” Yau said. Her voice was thick with unshed tears. “You were the only true friend I had. I’m sorry I could not be the daughter you needed.”

  She stood and backed away from the older woman. Tears streamed down Nan’s face.

  “I’m ready,” Yau said.

  She felt him step close behind her, and the nothingness that enveloped her was like an old friend.

  Yau accepted it; let it flow over her body. She didn’t know where she was going or what would happen to her once she got there, but she felt safe. Nothing bad would happen whilst she carried a god’s child within her, and after that... well, she would deal with the future when it came.

  About the author

  Leanne is a graphic designer and complementary therapist by trade. Writing is her escape. She lives in the middle of nowhere, England with her long suffering other half and three cats. Sometimes she emerges from her ever growing aloe vera forest and grumbles at the outside world before retreating back into the shadows.

  Occasionally she blogs over on her website, but more often than not she’s hunched over her desk drawing and muttering to herself.

  Other Titles by Leanne Fitzpatrick

  The Bitter Taste

  Runaway Dead: A Cherry Garcia Investigation

  In the Hands of a Saint: A Cherry Garcia Short Story

  Dare to connect socially

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  Blog: http://www.leannefitzpatrick.co.uk