6 Chapter 6

Nafida told Neo to get on her back and hold on. The water they dove into led down a waterfall but Nafida flew up before touching the water flow below. Neo was holding onto her feathers as she overlooked what looked like nature's paradise.

"Welcome to Zani" Nafida said while flapping her strong wings. Zani, a kingdom within the depths of earth where secret beings lived. They were an ancient race whose purpose was to protect the rivers from anything that could bring harm to it. "The goddess will see you now" Nafida added after flying down with Neo so she could get off. Neo took a deep breath, inhaling the cleanest air she'd ever experienced. Greenery and waterfalls surrounded her.

"Welcome" an authoritative yet calm voice said. Neo knew that the woman was the queen immediately after she turned to face her. It wasn't the gold crown with a phoenix symbol on it that gave it away, it was how her presence filled the space. "I'm Thandi, Goddess of Zani" she added while parading towards Neo. Her beaded veil hid her face and Neo couldn't help but feel intimidated. "Do not fear. A queen is never intimidated by the presence of another" Thandi said when she read Neo's energy.

"I'm not a queen," Neo whispered.

"Yet I sense your codes" Thandi said before standing in front of Neo. Her shiny black lips were the only facial feature Neo could see.

"What codes?" Neo asked.

"Your queen codes," Thandi said before scanning Neo from head to toe.

"I don't understand" Neo looked at herself.

"You will when you must" Thandi said "Follow me" she added before turning to walk away. Dragon-flies flew around Neo as she walked. Her soaking wet dress dried immediately after they flew away. Neo wondered how Gladys and Vuyo connected to the magic underwater world she was in. Thandi's black lace skirt gracefully floated as though a wind blew it.

"I thought that you live under water" Neo finally gathered courage to speak.

"I can not breathe in water. The water is to keep Zani safe from cave dwellers above" Thandi said "Some mysteries need to be kept from humans because they tend to destroy-, just look what they do to their own environment"

"We aren't that bad" Neo tried to defend the human race.

"You are not human. I do not allow humans here. Your ancestry is in water so I am not breaking our natural law by having you here" Thandi turned.

"What about uncle Vuyo and Ma Gladys? How come they know about life here?" Neo asked curiously.

"Long ago, an ancestor of theirs came across one of mine when he was on their territory, he was injured but instead of harming him, they used their medicine to heal him though they knew that he was different. He was the god of Zani and that was the beginning of ties between our ancestry and theirs. Their ancestors were good herbal healers and mine advanced them by adding water healing by allowing them to communicate with us when needed. Only our past king and their past tribe leader met but as their descendants, we continue to honor the tie though we do not meet. In each generation, we choose one of them who will be the connection between us and them" Thandi added before she continued to walk.

"Uncle Vuyo" Neo said with a smile. Neo thought it was the most beautiful alliance because it brought healing to many.

"Yes and when he came to us about you, my council and I knew that we had to help" Thandi said "Show yourself, Mpilo" she ordered. Neo fell backwards when a male suddenly appeared next to her. He held his hand out and pulled her back to her feet. "That is Mpilo, one of the greatest warriors in Zani and the reason why you have stayed safe. We give healer Vuyo our sacred water for your use. When you have any trace of it on you, Mpilo can protect you. If you don't use our sacred water, he can't" she added. “Thank you" Neo said to Mpilo. He raised his beaded handle spear. All of them hid their faces with a beaded veil "Thank you too, Queen Thandi" she added. They headed towards a glass castle

"You may leave us, Mpilo" Thandi said when they got closer to the structure.

"Yes, Queen" Mpilo said before disappearing again. Neo always felt she wasn't alone but never in a way that made her fear. She realized it was Mpilo lurking when needed. They entered the glass structure and there were flowers of every kind and colour within. Fountains overflowing with water too. Butterflies flying freely.

"You must wonder why I helped you" Thandi stood in front of Neo.

"I am" Neo answered.

"That creature that tried to kill you is a Jakanga, lethal weapon under the orders of the Goyifa" Thandi said before touching the glass wall next to her. Two ugly creatures appeared as a clear display. Neo recognised both. "I've seen them. The snake with the dragon head was the thing that strangled me and the grey mermaid creature with the spiky tail is the creatures I saw when I saved Thomas" Neo said with a pounding heart "What do they want?" Neo asked.

"A home" Thandi said "Originally they are from a different world."

The display changed to an all blue planet. "They are water creatures. Their world was completely water until it suddenly began to dry out killing many of them" she looked at Neo "So they sought a new home, one with an abundance of water and earth was the closest and most vulnerable to them" Thandi continued to explain.

"How do you know about this?" Neo asked.

"Because they first tried to take over the rivers. It was an ugly battle and humans also suffered because it caused floods around the world" Thandi explained. Neo remembered watching news about floods hitting different parts of the planet. "But we managed to drive them away because at the time, there weren't many of them" Thandi's words drove fear through Neo's body, heart and soul.

"Then why are they allowed to roam within the ocean?" Neo asked.

"At first we weren't aware of their presence" Goddess Thandi said "They are able to hide well so I don't think the ocean leaders are aware of them yet" she added.

"Do they have anything to do with the children drowning?" Neo asked, thinking about Thomas.

"Yes" Thandi said "That's how we became aware of them. They'd lure in children in different villages to drown them" she added "They feed off of their life force" she revealed.

"How did you defeat them?" Neo asked.

"The powerful weapon that the river gods and goddesses all around the world used was the power of unity" Thandi explained "We all didn't want to share our sacred place with beings who came with ill intent" she added. "How does all of this connect to me?" Neo asked.

"Come with me" Thandi said before leading the way. Neo followed because she wanted to know why she was a part of a water war. Thandi opened the double door leading to the back and immediately a turquoise waterfall appeared in front of them. "Stand under the waterfall. Let the water wash over you" Thandi said before giving way for Neo to pass. Neo slowly moved towards the water to do as ordered. Her bare feet gradually parted with the ground as soon as she stood beneath the waterfall. A mirror reflection of her appeared, she was aware that she was looking at herself but the white patterns all over her upper body and the long purple fish tail made her doubt that it was truly her.

"You need to embrace what you are and return to the ocean" Thandi said "Because the answers that you seek are within the depths of the ocean."