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Banguri(s)
by Vera West
Ratings:
227 pages3 hours
Summary
The day after High School graduation, Zora is finally given the details about her identity that she's been longing for. Zora's freedom becomes short lived when past mistakes become present problems and she makes spur decisions that can never be undone.
The conclusion to the Soul(s) trilogy, Banguri(s) begins almost two decades after Venku(s) and unravels secrets of the characters we've grown to love. Life on First-Plane was never black and white, it's always been grey.
Publisher: Vera WestReleased: Dec 3, 2018ISBN: 0463850181Format: book
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Banguri(s) - Vera West
found.
PART ONE: THE MOON AND SUN
the pair of us apart
(the moon and the sun)
breathe the black aether air
and sigh for a
love whose name
we do not
know.
Untitled, N.E. Wilson
01: EVOLUTION
My family was odd. My parents had insisted that I not apply to any universities. Instead, they actually wanted me to take time and experience life. Even odder still, it had always not mattered to me whether I went to college or not—but now that my last day and the graduation ceremony just days away, I was anxious and restless.
I had no future.
There is something awfully unsettling about not having a future. Without a purpose, your life has no value. I should rephrase that: I had a future, I just didn't know where it began, and not knowing made me think there really was nothing to know. My life would continue until the moment when I died and since I'd done nothing and there'd be nothing left to surpass me death. When I was gone, that was it. It was a daunting reality. But my lack of a destiny wasn't the only thing bothering me. I was turning out to be just as abnormal as my parents' child rearing techniques.
I could feel myself evolving. It'd started with a recurring dream that always ended the same way: me, someone else and an almost kiss. Every dream was a little clearer, a little brighter, and I got closer to seeing what happened next. I'd summed the dreams up to hormones; I was an eighteen years old who'd never been kissed, but I couldn't so easily explain what else was happening to me.
I was physically changing too. Every time I touched someone I felt it and the only way I could suppress it was to wear gloves. The gloves gave me back control and I clung to it desperately. I knew deep in my core that without control, everything would spiral and I'd be lost. I couldn't be lost.
My gloved hands were starting to feel sticky and hot. I peeled of the leather off quickly, shoving them into my eerily light backpack. I needed a break from wearing them, even if only for a few minutes. The gloves had been a way to reclaim some normality in my life but they were also my heaviest shackles. At least now that high school was done I could wear my gloves less. I'd be mostly with my parents and they knew not to touch me. Eventually, maybe, we'd figure out a cure or I'd learn to control the force churning beneath my fingertips, but until then the gloves were my salvation.
I closed my locker for the last time and headed down the wide hallway. I'd changed into some loose running shorts in the girl's bathroom after my last class. I took a few deep breaths. I could feel myself breaking free from the fear nestled deep in my stomach. I didn't have to come here anymore. I didn't have to pretend to be normal. I could just be me, Zora. I was free. I started running before I was even out of the building and when my palms hit the double doors and the sun glazed my face--I felt powerful. Whatever this was, I could never give up and let it control me fully. One day I would master it.
Today, though, I'd be satisfied with just running.
I slowed to a brisk walk once I made it to Starlight, the diner apartment complex combo owned by family. I loved this building and the sound of the old chime as I opened the side door always made me smile. My father's best friend, Luke, owned both buildings and it was the only home I'd known. Luke was married to Darla and they'd had two kids. Luke also had a brother and a sister; I'd never met his sister Eliza but I knew Peter well. I liked him even though socially I shouldn't. Peter was way older--in his early forties--but he barely looked over 25. That was another fun perk to being from another dimension, you didn't age like normal.
I didn't like him just because he was attractive. What really drew me to him was his independence. He didn't live in the complex or in one of the other sanctuaries. He lived hidden in plain sight, side by side with humans. He lived among them, perfectly in sync. I hoped one day I'd get to experience life that uninhibited.
My father grinned at as I slid onto a barstool at the breakfast-bar.
You ran home again, eh?
my father asked as he bent behind the bar to retrieve a glass that he then filled at the nearby drink station.
It helps.
He placed the glass filled with water in front of me.
I chugged it quickly. I'd been drinking a lot of water--more than normal--and not eating. I only knew a little about my culture and mostly that I wasn't human. I'd been told from the time I was a small child that our community was small and fragile; rules must be followed and lies mastered.
In the diner, your guard had to be up. All humans were customers, all the workers were all immigrants from our dimension Second Plane, and only our people lived in the apartment complex. We could only let our guard down behind our closed apartment doors. Our safety was contingent on our isolation. You still haven't told your mom and me exactly what happens when you touch someone.
You wouldn't believe me,
I insisted. I didn't believe any of that. It was a poor excuse, but I wasn't ready to explain what was happening.
He didn't even try to press me on the topic.
Are you hungry?
my father asked.
I shook my head no.
All right. Let's go then,
he said, urging me to walk with him, your mother and I want to talk to you about a few things.
My pulse quickened as I followed my father across the diner and through the connecting lobby to the apartment complex. We went up the stairs to our floor in silence. I'd been avoiding really talking to my parents about it, because I knew it'd lead to me trying to explain things I didn't have the answers for. With my father leading me to a sit down, my time was up—I'd have to tell them something.
I'm going to see if Sariah is here yet,
he said when we reached our door, I'll be back in a minute or two.
I nodded and went in.
My mom heard me immediately and hopped off the treadmill.
Thirsty?
she asked as she headed into our kitchen.
Dad already watered me. What's going on? He said you both wanted to talk to me but then he went off to see if Sariah was here.
Your father is just being shy. Let's sit down.
This is starting to get weird. What's going on?
You've been changing,
my mom said, starting off slowly, "and we've kept a lot from you. Honestly, we should have just told you, but secrets give a false sense of security. We thought by not telling you we were keeping you safe, but really we were just unnecessarily hoarding information. We just wanted to do right by you, Zora."
"Just tell me," I insisted anxiously.
We are from Second Plane but we're not Banguri. We're Aura—our needs are more complicated.
How complicated?
I asked eagerly.
The Aura have powers; for example, your father and Sariah are telekinetic. The Banguri aren't born with any powers like that, although they're still stronger than an above average human. We also feed differently.
I thought that was it. I thought as a child you ate some normal food but then as you matured you shifted over to just drinking water. What other options are there?
My mother smiled, looking down she tapped her finger on her knee. It was a mannerism that was so characteristically her. She never rushed when she spoke—she thought out her responses, waiting until she had the right way to articulate what she was trying to say. I was like my father, always saying things too quickly and then later having to backpedal with apologies.
You're the only one who has ever eaten human food, and I can only surmise that that is a symptom of you being an anomaly. If an Aura or Banguri eats food, their libido becomes hyperactive. Beings from Second-Plane feed off of raw energy. Water is a base supplement we can all digest, but each type has a specific kind of energy that they need to sustain themselves. For us we, feed on sexual energy.
My eyes widened as I realized exactly what she meant and also just how huge of a problem that would be for me. I couldn't have sex without physical contact; it just wasn't advisable or, frankly, safe or the other party.
Water won't be enough?
Now that you're reaching full maturity, you will not be able to use water as your only source of energy, which is why we must go back to Second-Plane. We have to make sure you're able to live a full life, Zora. There's also been another anomaly. There's a young man your age with a similar problem—
Why does that sound like an arranged marriage?
I asked defensively.
"Darling, don't be absurd. You're way too young to be married. I just want us to get in front of your powers, so you can control them and live a freer life. Iris wants to examine you both, compare your bodies, brains, even your powers. There is technology on Second Plane that might can help us (including you) understand your abilities better, and comparing the similarities and differences between the two of you will only help. I know you're partial to this plane, but we don't belong here. Living here was only temporarily. Sariah and Keegan made sure we got you here safely and Luke has supported and accepted us as family. We've been so very loved and fortunate, but we'd always known that we'd have to go back. We just had to wait for the right time, and now is it.
I was speechless. I didn't know how I felt about leaving, this plane, even if it was necessary. I wouldn't know anyone on Second Plane. I suppose I didn't really know anyone here either, but there's something terrifying about the unknown.
There's other things we need to talk about too, Zora. Tell me about your powers.
I swallowed hard, feeling the twinge of bubbling anxiety in my gut. I got nervous whenever I thought about it because it made me feel so--out of control. I hadn't wanted to tell them about it, as if ignoring it made it not exist. This was my cat in the box. If I didn't open it, I didn't really know whether or not it was dead or alive. I wanted this box taped shut—permanently.
Zora,
my mom urged solemnly, It's time to tell us everything.
When I touch people…I see things.
What kind of things?
My mother pushed.
The past, memories, I think. I haven't done it on purpose and I stopped as soon as I was aware of what was happening.
No one would ever be able to lie to you.
I don't want to do it on purpose.
You can't hide from who you are. You've always been special, Zora.
Parents always act like being weird is synonymous with special.
Historically,
my mother said, Aura are infertile. We don't procreate like Banguri. When an aura we awaken in Second-Plane we're fully mature adults. There were odd conditions that led to your father and conceiving you. We were so surprised, and the pregnancy progressed at a much faster rate than it would have for a human. My body couldn't handle it so we came to this plane to make sure you were able to be born and to keep you safe—
Keep me safe from what?
I asked insistently.
There was not another known birth from a non-banguri race. Auras typically have abilities, and considering the circumstances that led to you being conceived, we knew you'd be different. Once people knew of your existence, we were afraid that might try to hurt you, kill you, take your power somehow. Honestly, we didn't know what would happen but we wanted to make sure you were safe and hiding on another plane of existence felt like the best route.
My mind spun the new information that was layering and piling up like fresh cotton candy on a stick.
I feel like a freak,
I whispered.
We're all freaks,
my mother assured me.
Her tone was saturated with comradery, but it was impossible for that to be true. A freak, by definition, was an unusually unexpected rarity.
I was toying with the gloves again, slowly pulling them on and off my fingers, when I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. I pulled the gloves fully on and sat up straight on my bed.
Come in,
I said gruffly. As soon as I saw her face, I ambushed her. Here try to convince me to go back to Second-Plane?
Sariah's eyes rested for a moment on my gloved hands before she sat on the foot of my bed.
Yes and no. How are you feeling?
Sariah asked.
I shrugged. It was the most honest answer I could have given. I'd just been bombarded with tons of new information, that not only included the knowledge of basically being an alternative dimensional being but being only person like myself in that entire world. Sure there was the exception of one other person, but they'd said he was just similar, which really could mean the only thing we had in common was that we were two people who had nothing in common with everyone else.
There's nothing wrong with being different and if you believe that coming from anyone, it should be me. I know a little about being abnormal. It's almost impossible not to feel like an outsider when you know there isn't anyone else like you,
Sariah said.
You can't understand what you haven't experienced,
I insisted stubbornly. There are other auras that are telepathic like you. My dad is one of them.
"Yes, Ajani and I have similar powers, but my level of ability surpasses that of any known being on Second-Plane. I'm the self-appointed guardian of our entire plane. I'm essentially a killing machine; my heart just abhors violence. But when everyone is depending on you, your feelings become absolute. I haven't experienced verbatim what you've gone through, Zora, but there are always commonalities and I do understand."
I shrugged.
"Maybe you do understand, but that doesn't mean you can help me. My mom wants me to go to Second-Plane so my powers can be studied but that won't change anything, not really."
Jet told me that when you touch someone you can see their past?
I sighed; I felt a bit childish for being so standoff-ish. This whole situation felt like an impossible feat and I was getting tired of talking about it; of explaining something I didn't even understand myself.
That's the gist of it, yes.
How far back can you go?
Sariah asked.
Her tone was so calm, it surprised me. She didn't seem thrown at all by my ability, which had me in awe. Even when I talked to my parents about it, I could sense it made them uneasy. Sariah wasn't fearful, she was curious. I was very fearful of what I could do. I was terrified of what I might see, how deep I
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