Shouts of war and victory rose from the streets. I turned to the window, still dazed and more confused than ever. Ark lay down beside me, emptied.
"What was that?" I asked, afraid of his reaction.
"You don't understand? It was you," he answered enigmatically.
"What does it mean?" I asked, this time irritated by his vagueness. He turned to me:
"This is my power: I can take the power that emanates from a woman's orgasm. And when I come, I can store it and distribute it to my people. I am the sole heir of the ancient power of the Ozaa; as long as they keep me in power, I can make them stronger. It seemed that this power had died out - instead here I am." I looked at him with eyes and mouth wide open. Little by little all the dots connected in my head. I sat up and accused him:
"This is black magic. You can't use it." He shrugged, as he relaxed on the bed:
"It's not black magic, it's an ancient legacy. I didn't have to learn anything." I felt exploited, as if I had betrayed my people and all the other countries, bringing them closer to the destruction by the Ozaa. But one thing was immediately clear to me:
"You used a spell on me, right? You bewitched me." He turned to me surprised:
"You noticed? Strange because it only took a little push to convince you." My cheeks turned red with embarrassment and anger:
"You're just a dirty deceiver." He chuckled:
"Don't be so offended - A few minutes ago you were begging me to fuck you." I looked at him outraged, anger rising in my veins - But maybe he was right. His power increased every time he made a woman come. But did it always have to be a different woman? Was there a limit to all this? I had to find a way to defeat him but the more I thought about it the more impossible it seemed. What could be easier than asking a man to have as much sex as possible? As I reasoned, I noticed that he was watching me carefully. He seemed bored yet I saw a movement on the covers above his genital area. If he thought about round two he was very wrong. This time I would not give in, I would not let him win. He suddenly got up from the bed and covered himself with a robe and - as if he were reading my mind - he explained:
"However, I have several weaknesses: the power I gain from the women I sleep with is temporary and is highly dependent on the willingness of the Ozaa to receive it. As soon as they no longer desire revenge, they will no longer need it and will stop wanting it. At that point I will withdraw without protest. I am not a politician, I am a warrior. My power has only reemerged in times of need for my people and will vanish along with the needΒ».
"The need is long over. You have eliminated poverty and expanded enough. It is time to stop," I warned him.
"That is not up to me. I will stop when my people decide. Besides, we are only giving you back what you deserve," he commented, disinterested. I stood up too, combative:
"No one deserves this much violence nor to be imprisoned and killed!".