Morning came quick and Melissa and Jennifer started preparing for Mariana's first shift. Everyone in the mansion was busy except Mariana, who was still sleeping.
"Is she going to be ok?" Jennifer asked Melissa as she carried a basket filled with meat.
"I believe so,it has been done before and knowing how strong she is,it will be magical for her." Melissa answered.
****
"Your majesty it's time to go."
"I have changed my mind Haile,I don't think it's wise to go at this time. I can feel her anxiety, probably from all the changes she has gone through in the last few days. If I go there now, it will only raise questions and she won't be well rested." Branden said to Haile.
"As you say my king.. Can you really feel her every emotion?" Haile asked.
"It's amazing isn't it,right now she feels relaxed,like as if she sleeping. During the night I felt her panick all of a sudden like something scared her. I can't wait for as to be close,so I can finally get to see her face."
"She truly is beautiful your majesty." Haile said,but the look he got from Branden,made him wish he hadn't said anything.
"Watch what you say Haile,you might just find yourself without a tongue!" Branden said glaring at Haile. Haile did not get scared because he knew Branden wasn't really going to do it. Though they had that King - subject relationship,they were more than friends,more like brothers. They grew up together,went to the same schools and were even trained by the same person.
"Let's leave at six in the evening,that will be enough time. Branden said and Haile bowed to him
****
Mariana woke up feeling much better than she was yesterday. After her bath last night, she took a light meal of chicken noodle soup,which was delicious,and went to bed. She was so exhausted that she fell asleep immediately she snuggled in the cozy duvet.
She got down from the bed and found a pair of flip flops on the side,there was also a robe. She had an inkling that it could have been either Irene or Ivet who did that. She went down the stairs and as she landed on the last one,Ivet was already at her side. "How did you know I was here,and how did you get here that first?" Mariana asked.
"I am at your service and I should know what you need before you ask your majesty." Ivet said.
Mariana caught that last part and turned to Ivet accusingly,"I heard that,why do you keep calling me that. Since when is an ordinary person given royalty title?"
"You are not an ordinary person,you just have been living an ordinary life. If you had been raised amongst your tribes men ,nobody would dare call you by your name." Ivet said.
Mariana knew this had to do with the whole hierarchy thing but she didn't know how to ask ,the first question she had in mind was,"so what are you Ivet?"
"We will come back to that later you need to eat something." Ivet and Mariana heard the voice coming from the end of the hallway and they both turned to face that direction. It was Melissa.
Mariana followed her grandmother to the kitchen and found it was only the two of them. "Where's my mom, isn't she having breakfast with us?"
"It's already noon Mariana,your mom already had her breakfast. You can meet her in the garden when you are done eating." Melissa said.
"Noon?! You mean I slept in? Why did nobody wake me?" Mariana asked
"You needed to rest as much as possible,you body is going through a lot and you don't need to exact yourself." Melissa explained.
Mariana ate her breakfast quietly and when she was done she left the house using the back door. To say the scene in front of her was breathtaking was an understatement.
The grass looked like a green carpet and as she stepped out she just itched to remove her flip flops and walk barefoot, there was a beautiful gazebo about a hundred meters to the right from where she stood. On the left there was a garden of various types of flowers. The trees above formed canopies all around and they swayed from the wind like they were dancing ,bidding her good afternoon.
Mariana approached her mother in the garden. "Good afternoon mom.."
"Hey sweetheart,how are you feeling today? Are you ok,do you need anything?" As usual her mom was more concerned about her than anything.
" Am ok mom,I slept well enough. You should have woken me up,I still have so many questions. Mariana said.
"I know baby..I know but don't worry,your grandmother has promised all the answers you need tomorrow.
Mariana didn't have a choice but to conceded. Her mom took her further back to where she would be having her first shift tonight. There was a circle like bush of wild Lillies and in the center stood a gigantic tree.
Mariana scanned it from the roots to the branches at the top. She had never seen this kind of tree, ever.
"It's called The Strangler fig. This is where natives would gather to worship and give offerings to God. When the priests assembled to pray,they mostly did it under this tree. For example this one here could be over a hundred years old. It is a taboo to cut any of it's branches let alone the tree it's self."
"The shape shifter clan stood at the base of it during the first shifts. For some reason the power of the tree and the moon amplified their strength." The elder Charles had approached them and answered Mariana's unspoken question.
Evening came fast and Mariana couldn't help but feel nervous. She knew this was something she had to go through but she didn't know what to expect at the end of it.
Irene and Ivet helped her get ready. She put on comfy clothes, sweat pants and a T shit and covered her self in an African fabric cloak. Irene combed her hair back and told her she won't be needing to braid it tonight.
Some minutes past eight Mariana was already feeling the effects of the full moon,good thing she was ready. Irene and Ivet led her to the sacred tree. There ,she found her mom, grandmother,elder Charles and afew other men that she didn't know. Irene whispered to her that they were all elders.
As soon as she stepped into the ring at the base of the tree her eye color change,from the grey they normally have to a golden yellow. Mariana turned back to look at her two companions but found she was alone. They had both stayed back as they are not allowed within the sacred circle.
Mariana heard an elder speak in a voice loud enough for everyone to here.
"We are gathered here to witness the rising of our new queen. As the prophesy states ,in this night of the full moon ,a girl bound by fate will take a new form. May the spirit of the great lioness awaken in her ,so that she can lead us back to glory."
Mariana felt her limbs go weak,like all the strength had been drained from her. She felt as her bones were shifting from their place. Her whole body became hot and you could see beads of sweet forming on her skin. She got scared and started crying calling for her mother. "Mom.... please...I..I..I can't do this...what is happening..." Mariana could be heard wailing but nobody could help her. This was her journey to endure.
Thirty minutes later Mariana could still feel her bones cracking. She felt as if she was dieing and no one was helping her. Just as she was about to give up she felt a hand on her cheek,warm and tender. It felt so good ,Mariana almost forgot her current predicament.
"Mariana look at me!" The person said and Mariana lifted her head up to meet the gaze of the most beautiful golden eyes she had ever seen.
"Let go,you are fighting it,you need to let it take over you. It will only take longer if you keep fighting." Mariana didn't know why but she trusted his words . She closed her eyes and let the pain take over. She felt her body get lighter and just like that the pain was gone.