WARNING: Some elements in this chapter may be upsetting or offensive to some readers
Chapter Forty-Five
Asiyah's Story
Back at the Disciples Hideout, Asiyah was sitting on some blankets holding her arms in fear as Samson stood near her.
"It's okay kid." He said holding out his hand to her, "We're friendly, we're good people, we're here to help, I promise!"
"Please!" Asiyah begged "Don't touch me! I don't want to hurt you! Like I hurt the dove!"
"It's okay!" Samson soothed "I won't touch you, but I want you to know we're friends here, everything will be okay!"
Asiyah looked at the panther and seeing the gentle look in his eyes, she started to relax a little.
"Is there anything I can get you?" Samson asked.
"No…" Asiyah said softly "I'm okay, really, I just…I just need to process what's happened."
"I understand." Samson said with a soft smile "Believe me, this is a whole new thing, took me a while to get used to this new body and all."
A muffling sound soon brought his attention and the panther turned around to see the two men who had been attacked Asiyah in the sewers struggling against the ropes that tied them to a pillar in the hideout.
As soon as Samson and Asiyah arrived that the hideout, the panther didn't hesitate to tie up the hostages and gag them, he knew once Diablo, Rex, Chastity and Regan arrived, that the punishment on them would begin and he was looking forward to it.
Samson walked over and he slapped both men hard in the face.
"Keep it down!" he growled "I won't have you distressing out new guest any more than she is!"
Asiyah looked over to the men and her eyes narrowed.
"Cousins." She snarled, then looked at Samson "What did you do?"
"We saw what they did to you." Samson explained "And saw how they almost killed you, until you were given the magical water that turned you into what you are now."
Asiyah looked at her hands again then up at Samson.
"That water you gave me? Did this?" she asked.
"It's a long story." Samson said, "But like I said Diablo will explain everything."
As he said that, he heard the flapping of wings and he turned to see Diablo carrying Rex as he flew it, followed closely by Chastity and Regan.
"You're back!" Samson said relieved "Thank goodness! I thought something had happened."
"Despite some burns from that blasted dragon." Diablo snarled "I'm fine, and so is Regan, she sure showed she's a vicious one!"
"The Dragon's blood is like sweet candy!" Regan growled, licking her lips and salivating as she thought of Tyroth's blood.
"Which reminds me." Chasity frowned as she looked at Regan "We need to discuss your reckless behaviour!"
Regan closed her mouth and looked at Chasity guiltily.
"That is true." Rex agreed "But first, we best make sure our new friend here is comfortable." He looked at Asiyah who pulled her knees closer to her.
Diablo nodded in agreement and walked over to which Asiyah moved back a little.
"I will not touch you." Diablo assured the mutant eel, "I saw what happened and I understand you're scared, but trust me when I say we are here to help, after we saved your life, from those disgusting creatures!" he pointed with his wing to the two hostages tied up.
"What did you do to save me?" Asiyah asked as tears appeared in her eyes "When you turned me into this….this…creature?" she held up her hands again.
"I do not choose the mutation." Diablo informed "The water is what chooses the form, and it turned you into an electric eel, that is the price that is paid, the water will keep you alive each if you are an inch from death, but it sacrifices your humanity, and you become a mutant."
"Who exactly are you? Asiyah asked "How did all of you become to be what you are?"
Diablo gestured to the other Disciples to sit down, and Rex picked up a bag with food in it to which he started handing out snacks which included biscuits, and he also pulled out some bottles of liquer.
"I will tell you about us, but first I would like to hear your story." Diablo requested as he sat opposite Asiyah, he took a swig from a bottle of Jack Daniels then handed Asiyah the bottle.
"No thank you." She declined "I don't drink."
"Fair enough." Diablo said handing the bottle to Samson.
Rex then handed Asiyah a bottle of water which she took gratefuly and she took a long drink from it.
"Thank you." She said.
"You're welcome." Rex said.
"Now," Diablo said "Tell us who you are, and why those scumbags were trying to kill you."
The eel looked down as she thought hard.
"Don't be afraid." Rex reassured the Eel, "You can trust us."
Asiyah looked down then up at the mutants before her.
"Okay…" she said softly then took a deep breath and everyone sat quietly to listen to her.
"As you know my name is Asiyah Abdallah, I lived with my widowed father in the city, my mother died two years ago giving birth to a son, not long after, the baby died of complications, and my father….well, it broke his heart, as well as mine.
Before mother's death, we lived pretty much a normal life, I was studying hard at school and I wanted to go to Harvard Law, my dream was to be a barrister, my parents were supportive, and I thought all was going to be amazing, but it all changed after mum died."
"What happened?" Chasity asked, feeling saddened, knowing all too well what it was like to lose a parent.
"In the two years that followed," Asiyah continued "My father changed, I suppose the grief affected him very badly, and he started saying that I shouldn't put so much effort into my studies and no-one would take a Muslim woman Barrister seriously, but I was determined to prove him wrong, I worked hard and got all A's in my exams, and I was soon accepted into Harvard Law, I couldn't wait to leave and start my legal journey, but father decided a different plan for me."
"What?" asked Rex frowning hard.
"It was a Saturday afternoon, and my father arranged for us to visit my cousins house a few blocks down from where we lived where we had dinner, and the bombshell was dropped." Asiyah took a deep breath as she remembered.
"I was told that there was a man who had agreed to marry me, and that I was to join him the following week for our wedding."
"Forced Marriage!?" Samson choked almost spitting out his drink in shock.
"Oh my god!" Chasity gasped.
Diablo's eyes blazed and Rex growled in anger whilst Regan looked confused as well as saddened.
"Forced Marriage yes." Asiyah sighed "I was terrified, and I didn't want to go through with it, after we got home, I cried and begged and pleaded with father to stop the marriage, but he told me this was my path and that I had no choice in the matter, he said I would never succeed in my schooling and that my best option was to get married. I still remained adamant that I wouldn't go through with it, and it was then father shouted at me, and told me if I didn't go through with the marriage, that I was dead to him."
Tears filled Chasity's eyes as she listened, she wanted to hug the Eel as she could see that she was so distressed, but she knew after what happened to her in the sewer than the Eel would let her anywhere near her.
Asiyah took a deep breath.
"It broke my heart, and despite my father's cruel words, I knew I had to run away, so the past couple of days, I got in touch with some friends in Massachuetts who offered to let me stay with them until college started, where I could get a job and find a place of my own. I then packed my belongings and gathered what money I had and ran away, but little did I know I was being followed….the next thing I knew…a car pulled up with three of my cousins in it, they dragged me into the car, and to the sewers…the last thing I remember is them beating me up and strangling me…then you arrived….."
She paused and looked at herself.
"Well, you know the rest." She finished.
The Disciples stared at Asiyah, and Diablo gave a few evil glares at the two hostages behind them.
"Asiyah." Diablo said, "Words cannot express how much anger I feel for what happened to you, and how your father treated you like this."
Asiyah sniffled and wiped her eyes.
"That man set out to ruin your life," Diablo continued "And when he couldn't force you to do what he desired, organised your assassination, but seeing you here now, he failed, and even though your old life is gone, you now have a new chance at life, just like the rest of us."
"What do you mean?" Asiyah asked.
"We were all human too," Diablo said, "Yet through tragic circumstances, we drank this magical water and became this." He held up the bottle containing Mutopia's water from the well "I was the first to be mutated, I was forced to drink the water as I was close to death by murder, yet the mutants I lived with lived by rules that were restricting, and their morals were not what I agreed with, I wished for independence, and to use my form to punish those who have done wrong to others, like those bastards who tried to kill you!"
"We protect the humans by punishing the sinners." Samson said, "We make those who have done wrong pay for their sins, since the law doesn't do enough to bring justice! Rex and I were mutated at the same time, Diablo saved us from Red-necks who wounded us in a hate crime attack, we had to drink the water to survive."
Rex nodded in agreement.
"I drank the water by choice." Chasity added "I was accused of a crime I did not commit, and I took the water to escape, and get vengeance on the real perpetrator!"
Diablo then stepped over to Asiyah.
"We have chosen our path," he said, "We are the Disciples, we are vigilantes of justice, we are judge, jury and executioner to sinners and wrong doers, and we offer you the chance to join us."
Asiyah looked at Diablo and the other Disciples then down at her form.
She was still in shock over her transformation, yet she owed her life to them, since she had been on the brink of death.
She was devastated that her life had been ruined, and she would never achieved the life she wanted as a human, yet after hearing what Diablo had said about having another life, and with people she could trust, she began to consider his offer.
"Join us," Diablo wheedled "And you will not only punish those who wronged you, but help others from suffering your fate, and others achieving their dreams, without people standing in their way!"
"And we will help you harness your abilities." Rex offered "Our new forms have given us benefits and abilities we didn't have as humans, Samson and I have a stronger sense of smell, as well as speed, Chasity, Diablo and Regan have the ability to fly, and you have electricity in your hands, once you learn your powers, you can use them to do so much!"
Asiyah looked up at Rex then at her hands.
As well as devastated, she was furious at those who she considered her family, those who claimed to love her had betrayed her in the most horrific way, and she wanted to show them how badly they had let her down.
Taking a breath, she looked up.
"I was betrayed so badly." She said "I choose a path for me, yet it was seen as dishonour, yet I did not dishonour, those who let me down did, they were supposed to love and protect me, yet they lied! They tried to kill me, yet they failed! Allah brought me to you, and you saved my life." She smirked at Diablo and stood up.
"I accept! With Allah as my witness, I shall join you, as a Disciple! I will punish those who have wronged me, and others!"
Diablo smirked back.
"Well to our family, Asiyah." He said bowing to her and the other Disciples bowed too.
"Call me…Lamia…" Asiyah stated "Lamia the Eel!"
So tragic what happened to Asiyah, now named Lamia.
She has accepted Diablo's proposal to become a Disciple, and she is to learn her new abilities as a mutant electric Eel, and no prizes for guessing what or rather who she will practice on!
Stay tuned for more coming soon!