The sun calmly took its time before opening its fever stricken eyes. The sky waited patiently for it to take away its heavy gray black color. The moon remained stubborn, fighting for more time and space in the sky before the lazy sun resumed duty. It always allowed the moon shine for a while after darkness as they had agreed, but the greedy moon always threatened to breach the contract, always taking more time to exist beyond night. The moon secretly wished it had more time to enjoy the sight of the world. The beauty and glories of the sight had forged a passion for earth in the moon’s iron heart, but it only saw that beauty at dawn. Nights were mostly filled with man’s greed and horror, and sometimes the moon begged the sinister clouds to take away its sight during the height of man’s evil.
Trees groaned and crickets woke in prayers. The chill from the previous night transformed into nothing as it journeyed through the bridge between night and day. There was dew and mist, cock crows, and the mild howls of dogs. It was morning.
My mind fell into the previous night as I walked towards the integration of mud houses bearing thatched roofs for hats. Crude memories crawled into my vexed head, mixing with questions I never thought I would ask. I hissed in rage. Bunmi had blocked my gate after he escaped with the swine Father April, making me unable to create a magic path back to the church premises were I first used it. He had carefully planned a successful exit in the very little time of my attack. He was still very skilled, and I wondered how I was able to contain the anger that hit me after the disappointment. Magnus knew he would be blamed so he had kept mute throughout my tantrum, and eventually conjured a portal to transport me here, the one place I suspected Bunmi would come; my step mother’s house.
The sound of pestle hitting mortar, women chattering and baby smell mixed with morning village soup grew into the day as I drew closer to the old compound. I walked quickly towards one of the huts, this one older than the rest, almost falling to the ground, its rotten hat almost slipping off its brown head. It had only one small window and door barred by remnants of a broken wooden door.
In quick strides I reached it. Before I pushed the old door aside I rubbed and turned the silver ring on my thumb for protection, then I stepped in. The room was dimly lit by a sad candlelight, head hung low in pain of its near death.
“Wake up Mint” I hissed after I entered the dying room. It was still the way we left it many years ago during our childhood days. I shoved the memories out of my head before Bunmi’s face as a child slipped in.
“Wake up Mint” I hissed again, tapping the old woman’s leg in a rush. She slowly turned her tired weight around on the bed of clay and mat for bed sheet. She yawned but didn’t open her eyes.
“Wake up!” I hissed louder and shook her. She opened her old eyes and focused them carefully on me. She reached for the tin cup serving as candle stand beside her and raised it. Her eyes dulled when she recognized my face from the fading light. She frowned, and used her free hand to rub her temple.
“It is too early” her old voice came.
“Why does Bunmi have my father’s Sango wand?” I asked in a cold tone immediately she sat up her massive albino body up and tied her Ankara wrapper carefully around herself. She looked at me contemplatively.
“What happened?”
“Nothing”
“Why are you here?”
“Why does Bunmi have my father’s Sango wand?”
“How did you know?”
I fell silent. I did not want to reveal what had transpired between I and Bunmi the previous night. The less she knew about my operations, the better for her.
“Your pointless bickering with Bunmi will kill you one day. If you want to know why he has it, why don’t you go and ask him, instead of disturbing me.”
“We both know why I am here asking you instead of him”
“How did you know he has the Sango wand?”
I paused.
My mind worked quickly, spinning webs of an interesting lie even Mint wouldn't survive.
“Information came to our society that Bunmi and a certain Christian leader were planning to leak astral beings into our material world for unknown reasons. The same information told us Bunmi was in possession of a Sango wand, the exact one as my father’s……..”, “….do you really think I won't know what happened yesterday? You brought in suppressors to help you kill that pastor, and my son. You tried to kill your brother, again. My body of light is as perfect as heaven, never forget that" she cut in quietly. I had to be careful with Mint. She studied me, opened her mouth to say something but stopped, yawned again, and lay back on the mat. She pulled her wrapper up to her neck and closed her eyes.
"Even without the Sango wand Bunmi is better than you. Get out."
I fumed. My whole body quaked and my fists clenched at my sides in fury. I wished I could kill the old wench now without consequences. I tried to say something but couldn't. I was boiling in red hot rage.
I eyed the falling mud skin off the cracked walls. Cockroaches skittered about. They came with a foul smell.
"You're still as dirty as God made you" I said in one last attempt at defiance.
"And I can still turn you to a goat" she snarled and shot herself up, groping around for something. I quickly retreated, promising to report her misdeed to the society. I couldn't wield magic properly during day and was no match for Mint, whom every secret shadow of night and day knew for her formidable powers. She made my ring, and I knew she might have a way to counter my protection, which I had not perfected. I left the compound hastily. Mothers were preparing their children for primary school. Some greeted me as I rushed off. I did not reply. Only one thing disturbed me.
Bunmi.
Mint wondered what power had done to Clarence. She wondered why the young male breed always grew intoxicated on every little piece of power they bite. After gaining small power, they develop an illusion of perfection. Every decision they made was right. Every one antagonizing them was evil and wrong.
Initiating Clarence into suppressing in his early teens was the society's biggest mistake, and had done so much damage to the boy's sense of self. Power should be given to people who knew how cruel the world was and not to a silver spoon child, she had told the society, but all they did was tell her her place was to serve, not to speak, and the matter died instantly. Now Clarence had become a confused youth seeking vengeance for what he misunderstood. Even now, he was still foolish. He still saw the world from the eyes of a spoilt, power mad child.
Mint couldn't sleep.
There was heat.
She pushed her wrapper down and reached for her walking stick. She pulled herself off the mat, and leaned on it. She didn't bother lighting a new candle. Morning was breaking into the hut through the rotten thatched roof.
There was heat.
Sweat hung on her wrinkled forehead. She took in deep breaths and fanned herself with her free hand.
The heat.
Something was in the room with her. Something eerie, cold, powerful, and wrong. She turned around and scanned the room with her old eyes until they fell on the only corner of the room morning's light had not penetrated. She studied the empty space.
"That was how your father always stalked me" she said and her wrinkled face stretched into a smile.
"Good morning mother" Bunmi said almost quietly. "I did not intend to scare you"
"Scare me?" She laughed. "You should come out of that darkness to see how calm my face is"
"Let me remain here. Clarence probably is still hanging around"
"I don't think so Bunmi."
"Things did not go well mother."
Mint raised her brows.
"How bad is it?"
Bunmi paused.
"Father April died. I know your body of light left immediately after the suppressors arrived so you didn't see the outcome of the battle"
"Did you get the items?"
"Yes"
"Then all is well"
Silence
"He said something before he died. He said 'Help Sola'. I don't understand."
Mint shifted. She frowned
"Things are about to get messy. Hang around his family and you'll find out. I have suspicions, but they are just that."
Bunmi nodded, but Mint couldn't see it.
"I dropped the items in your calabash before Clarence reached here this morning. I'll be leaving now mother."
Mint nodded.
There was a hiss of breeze, and all fell silent.
Written by Jehiel 'III' Omoruyi
real cool guys
ReplyDelete