"You've got the Devil in you, just like your father," Amelia Dos Santos said to her only daughter Raquel Zinsou, on the day the young Afro-Brazilian woman left home for good. Sighing, Raquel gave her mother one last look, and saw her for the embittered, wicked woman that she's always been. After two decades of hearing nothing but negativity about her estranged father Rahman Zinsou and her African heritage, Raquel had enough. Staying under her mother's roof was foolish, since no growth can occur in a toxic environment. It was time to go.
Raquel has worked for a year and saved her money for the big trip. The young woman had everything ready. This was the move of a lifetime. A chance for Raquel to escape her mother Amelia Dos Santos influence and experience life on her own. The time has come for Raquel to leave the beautiful land of Brazil behind. When destiny beckons, no man or woman may resist its call. Raquel is ready to make some changes when it comes to her life and her future, so the call to adventure appealed to her immensely...
Without a word, Raquel grabbed her bags and left with her little dog Harriet. No way Raquel was leaving the white-coated Jack Russell Terrier with her mother. Amelia Dos Santos likes animals even less than she likes people. The matriarch of House Dos Santos is known to be cruel to her workers. Raquel took one last look at the Dos Santos Plantation, where she was born and raised. Once upon a time, it was one of the largest plantations in the Amazons Region of Brazil. So much history there. The place belonged to Amelia Dos Santos, and even though Raquel was born there, she never felt welcome. Time to go indeed...
"We are going to be just fine," Raquel said to Harriet, and the little dog woofed and followed her to the car. Raquel got in, and drove through the streets of Manaus, Brazil. Raquel headed to the airport, and thus began the long trek that would take her from Brazil to Europe and finally to West Africa. On the various plane rides that they took, Raquel insisted on buying a seat for her dog Harriet rather than let her be among the cargo. Bad things happen to pets who fly like luggage on planes. After a long sojourn in the air, Raquel finally arrived in Africa.
The moment Raquel landed in the Republic of Benin, she felt right at home. This was the homeland of her long-lost father Rahman Zinsou. In the realms of Africa, both men and women trace their lineage and cultural allegiance through their fathers roots. Raquel definitely stood out among the dark-skinned people of Benin, though. A lot of the locals stared at the six-foot-tall, athletic and curvy, brown-skinned young woman with the short hair and uneasy smile, but then again, they always stare at strangers. Raquel spoke enough of the language to get by, which was a blessing in disguise.
Upon arriving in the town of Parakou, Capital of the Borgou region of Benin, Raquel asked for directions to the Zinsou Compound, located at the edge of the wilderness, and a kindly Beninese gentleman named Ismail showed her the way. Raquel and her dog Harriet arrived at the Zinsou Compound, birthplace of her father Rahman Zinsou. Sure enough, the old man was there, making some repairs on his old Jeep. Raquel sniffed the air, and allowed herself a smile. The young woman hadn't seen her father in ages, but his scent was still the same.
Rahman Zinsou, a tall, dark-skinned and silver-haired Beninese man, smiled as he saw his long-lost daughter Raquel and her little dog Harriet. At last, Raquel has come home. Rahman had been expecting Raquel for some time. A lot of things in this world are complicated, especially between men and women, but a father's love for his daughter isn't one of them. Rahman has prayed for Raquel's return for ages, and at long last, the Gods of the African Motherland have heeded the old Beninese man's prayers...
"Welcome home, daughter," Rahman Zinsou said, and he gave Raquel a heartfelt hug. The old man then bent down to pat the little dog Harriet on the head, and then led his daughter and her pet inside. The Zinsou Compound was vast, comprising a big farm, a warehouse, stables, and more, all occupying an eighty-acre estate. Farming has been a Zinsou family tradition since time immemorial. Rahman introduced his daughter Raquel to his lady, Madeleine, an older Beninese woman, who basically took care of him.
"Welcome home, Raquel, your father has talked about you and Brazil for years," said Madeleine, and Raquel grinned and hugged the old woman. They gathered in the dining room, and a sumptuous meal of roast goat, white rice, beans, avocados, spicy soup and orange juice followed. After serving dinner, Madeleine sat down, as did Rahman and Raquel. The three of them began to eat, periodically tossing chunks of meat to the little dog Harriet, who gulped them down. Raquel looked at her father Rahman and his companion Madeleine, and felt at home. All was well for the first time in ages.
"You have a lovely home, madam, I'm glad to be here," Raquel said, with a respectful nod, and Madeleine smiled and brushed her hand against hers. In every household, the lady of the house runs the house. Raquel might be Rahman's long-lost daughter, but Madeleine is his lady and this is her house. Raquel didn't want to start things off on the wrong foot. Madeleine seemed nice enough and Rahman seemed happy with her, so Raquel figured she'd repay her in kind. Pay kindness with kindness, and wickedness with wickedness, that was Raquel's motto.
"Tell me about Manaus, it is as busy as I remember?" Rahman asked, and he looked at his daughter Raquel, who took a sip of orange juice before answering. For Raquel, the City of Manaus was a worldly city, with tons of Afro-Brazilians, Native Americans and Euro-Brazilians calling it home. Hell, a lot of Chinese people and Lebanese people have recently moved to the City of Manaus, along with folks from places like Angola, Vietnam, and others. Brazil is the most racially diverse nation on Earth. The place is beautiful, but it has its fair share of problems...
"Manaus is big, and busy, and full of adventure, even more so than you remember, Papa," Raquel replied, and Rahman smiled before exchanging a look with Madeleine. More than twenty years ago, after graduating from the University of Toronto in the province of Ontario, Canada, Rahman opted to visit the City of Manaus, Brazil, rather than returning to his homeland of Benin. While in the City of Manaus, Rahman met Amelia Dos Santos, a beautiful and wealthy Euro-Brazilian woman, and he fell in love with her. The result of that brief and tumultuous yet passionate union was Raquel, the daughter of two very different worlds...
"Raquel, I wanted to be there for you, but my kind are not welcome in Brazil," Rahman said gently, and Raquel shot him a look, but nodded. Madeleine looked at Rahman and Raquel with sympathy. Father and daughter had a complicated relationship, to be sure. Madeleine knew life couldn't have been easy for Raquel as a half-breed in a world that didn't understand her. It's a good thing that Raquel has come home. Brazil is a beautiful and diverse land, but Africa's blood flowed in Raquel's veins and her true heritage could not be denied...
"I understand, Papa, and I don't blame you," Raquel said, and her eyes flashed bright yellow when she uttered these words. Rahman smiled at his daughter Raquel before exchanging a nod with Madeleine. Rahman's eyes turned bright yellow, while spots appeared all over his body. The same startling transformation came over Madeleine. Where once sat two women and one man, three giant leopards, bigger than the natural ones found in the African wilderness, sat and dined. Harriet the dog looked at the leopard-women and the leopard-man curiously, but did not shrink in fear.
