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Jeenah baby, God's grace ok.

*****
“Oga welcome o” the gateman greeted as he opened the gate.

“Thanks sheriff, how are you?”

“Am fine madam, how office today”

Vera didn’t bother answering. She was obviously very tired. She opened the door and walked into the sitting room. She took off her three inches heels and walked up the stairs with the heels in her hands.
“Welcome love” Nella greeted.heels


Vera waved her hands to him. She ascended the stairs into the guestroom and changed into a black short knicker and a red tank top. She had moved a few of her clothes and other stuffs to the guestroom after what happened few days back.

She capped the nail polish cover on the table tightly and went into the kitchen to fry some prawn crackers. They were her absolute faves. She took a can of chilled malt from the fridge to the sitting room. She downed the content in one gulp.

It was 9:30pm and it was time to watch the popular Jenifa’s diary. Some ladies at her wing had gisted her about it and had even conversed in Jenifa’s bad English which had made her and some other staffs laugh their throats out.

She plopped down on one of the seats and tuned the station to silverbird to watch it. She enjoyed each scene as she munched on her crackers and laughed away. It was fun and comic. Deep booming laughter escaped her lips when she heard the way Falz spoke his own English-more like a dunce.

She hadn’t expected to see her best artist-Falz the bad guy but was surprised to see him feature in the movie. She made a mental note to write down the time and station showing it. She returned back to the kitchen and made herself a steaming mug of coffee. The brightness in her eyes was replaced with gray pallor of sadness when her gaze fell on her husband as he descended down the stairs.


“Baby, why dint you eat the rice and stew I prepared for you?” Nella asked as he came into the sitting room and noticed a mug of coffee cupped between her fingers.
“Thanks, am okay”

“Common, don’t give me that. You went to the office before I woke up and you just came back thirty minutes ago. You cant be okay with prawn crackers”


“I said am okay, thanks” she put on her slippers and was about walking out when Nella pulled her back.

“Am sorry dear, I didn’t mean to hurt you”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Am sorry for the other night. Ever since that happened, you’ve been giving me attitude. And you know it’s not good for our six months old marriage.”

“Oh, so you knew? Yet you mouth-washed me like that?”

“Am sorry, I…”
“Please and please, am very tired, I need to go get some sleep now.” She said in a pained tone and tilted her chin high.


“Please baby, forgive me” he said, kneeling down and holding her perfectly painted fingers. He loved the colour she changed them to-purple. He shifted his gaze from her nails to her eyes and looked at them pleadingly. His eyes were like that of a cat which was begging to be given a jar of fresh milk.

Vera swallowed in and took deep breaths to calm herself. She closed her eyes and felt a fresh wave of tears pooling under her eyes.

“Okay, I have heard you” she breathed
“Thanks baby, such will never repeat itself again” he said and pulled her into a warm bear hug.

*****

Elyme shut the door of the room and pinched herself. She let out a quiet squeal as she shut her eyes and hoped everything was a dream.
But it wasn’t.


No matter how many times she pinched herself, she wouldn’t wake up from any sort of dream. With a loud groan, she fell back unto the comfortable pillows and smacked her hands on her face, covering it as she tried to assemble her thoughts. Her eyes stared at the black covering on the bed which made her feel imprisoned in a way.

Of course Hades had told her she wouldn’t be able to go anywhere without an escort and he was in the right position to approve her movements around the underworld.

There was no way in hell that she was with the God of the dead, it just didn’t make sense. Out of all the people she could’ve been with, they brought her to the god of death. It was so ironic and painful. She wondered if she was ever going to set eyes on her family and Jimi.

The door opened and a light skinned girl walked into the room and bowed her head in respect at Elyme.
“Hello Milady, Happy birthday” Adriane spoke gently, smiling softly and waited for her greeting to be returned.

“Hello, am Elyme, not what you just called me. And thanks” Elyme replied. Her face was straight and long.

“I am Adriane, your personal helper. Do you wish for anything?” Adriane spoke quietly, she barely heard her.

Elyme sighed deeply and beckoned on her to move closer.

“What am I doing here? why am I here? why does your master, Hades want me here? You know somethings are too difficult to wrap your mind around. Greek gods, underworld, magic. It's like my life has been rotated by three hundred and sixty degrees now. I am lost!”

Adriane smiled softly again.
“Am sorry, those questions aren’t meant to be answered by me” she replied.

“But ever since his ex-wife left him, his life has been bitter” Adriane added.


“His wife? Disney said her name is telephone” Elyme said, scratching her hair tenderly.
“Persephone” Adriane corrected.
“Can you tell me about her?” Elyme asked
“Am sorry Milady. It’s forbidden to speak of the former queen of the underworld” she shook her head
“Why?”

“I can’t. My loyalty to Master Hades is beyond what you believe. I cannot break his rules and …” she kept quiet and stared as her master walked in. Elyme groaned, curiosity eating at her insides like a starved animal. But she was already in the underworld and she couldn’t exactly die due to the saying that “Curiosity kills the cat”

“What are you doing here?” she spat as Hade’s presence dawned on her.


“It’s my castle, my kingdom, my palace and I can be wherever I want” he snapped back and hissed.
She scowled at him and watched as Adriane trembled.” What kind of god intimidates his servants by his presence?” She wondered.


“Haven’t you ever heard of privacy or are you too mighty for that too? You didn’t even knock. Look, I don’t care if this is your castle or not but you need to knock on people’s doors before barging in like a psycho pervert” she spat.


Anger stormed his blue alluring eyes as he clenched his jaw and growled, “do not speak to the god of the underworld that way”

“And I came to tell you it’s almost time for the party so get ready”


He narrowed his eyes at her, running his fingers through his smooth black hair. He shot her a long deadly stare.


“I.am.not.going” She spelt it out one word after the other to him.

“Yes you are!” his voice boomed and she swore the walls shook in complaint of his anger. His eyes were glazed with fury as he stared at her.
“You have to go, you are the guest of honour and the gods are throwing the party for you!”
“Get her ready Adriane, I’ll be back soon” he said and vanished.

“He cannot tell me what to do! I am not a prisoner” Elyme cried as she fell on the bed and allowed tears flow freely from her eyes.


Adriane fell sorry for her. It was no doubt Hades was being hard on her. The girl wasn’t used to the underworld afterall. Besides she was going to be meeting Hade’s family members and the other gods.
“Elyme dear, you have to obey his commands.” Adriane said softly as she patted her back.
“I don’t even have what to wear!” Elyme gushed out loud.

Adriane sighed.
“Your tailor will be here soon” she announced.
“My tailor? And when is the dress going to be ready when that asshole said he would soon be back.”
Adriane chuckled and puckered her lips. The door opened and a gorgous woman with curly black hair and a warm smile walked in.


“Elyme, right? Happy birthday, am happy the gods are hosting a party for your arrival and your birthday” Athena gushed while Elyme slowly nodded as the woman walked further in the room.
“I’m Athena. My uncle called me down her because he said you needed a dress for tonight’s party” A grin overtook her lips as she stood in the middle of the room.

“she’s the best seamstress in the underworld.”Adriane said and smiled. Athena nudged on her elbow and spoke something in their native language. Elyme just rolled her eyes and looked away.


“Alright” Athena knelt down, grabbing a silver needle from the floor before piercing it through the gorgeous silk fabrics that hung from Elyme’s body.
“Turn around really quick; I need to see the back” Athena ordered.


Elyme did as she was told, careful not to step on Athena’s masterpiece and began to look around the room aimlessly. The beautiful goddess of wisdom was very reserved; she hadn’t spoken much about herself after the brief introduction. The silence was making Elyme’s skin itch.


Athena asked what colours she would like her dress to be, but she didn’t ask her about the design, leaving Elyme curious and grouchy. She wanted to ask why Hades was so mean to her but she quickly thought against it.


Adriane hadn’t spoken much to her ever since she asked about Persephone. Her sentences were curt and short.
“Well, it’s all done but you can’t look until after Adriane is done with your hair”

“What if I don’t like it?” Elyme asked but the response didn’t really bother her. She wasn’t interested in going for the party afterall.


“Adriane, will you please go and fetch some hair products Aphrodite left in the foyer?” Athena asked as she put some finishing touches to Elyme’s dress.
Adriane nodded, bowing her head and slipped out of the room quietly.


When Adriane was out of hearing distance, Elyme cleared her throat and looked at Athena.
“Athena, why is Hades so grumpy and mean?” Elyme asked while Athena grinned goofily.

Athena sat down and turned to face Elyme.

“It has to do with my uncle’s ex-wife. Persephone is a bitch and it is forbidden to speak about it, but since you’ll be living here now, I might as well tell you” Athena said while Elyme frowned. She assured herself inwardly there was no way she would continue living there. With Hades? Hell no!


“About a decade ago, my uncle found Persephone cheating on him with some mortal men. Mind you, my uncle is very faithful and had done everything to make Persephone happy so when he found her betraying him, he was heartbroken”

Elyme widened her eyes in surprise, completely taken aback at the information.


“Disney said he later cheated on her with a nymph?”
Athena laughed, shaking her head.
“Those are silly mortal tales; my uncle is very faithful, its just so unfair she broke his heart and shattered it even after making her the queen of the underworld and making sure she had the very best of fresh flowers and precious gemstones made and fetched by the nymphs” she said as her face fell.

“she’s a bitch” she added.

The door opened once more and Hades walked in. Adriane followed suit and handed over the hair products to Athena. She sprayed it on her hair and she smelt nice. She looked beautiful too.

“Uncle, what if Elyme was naked?” Athena asked and giggled in.

Hades shrugged and replied “it’s not as if I haven’t seen a woman’s anatomy before”

“Yeah but I want a bit of privacy” Elyme said
Hades stared at her, his blue eyes turning darker with anger and in a clipped tone of voice, replied.

“It’s not like you have anything I’d like to see”
Before Elyme could open her mouth to put him in his place, Athena sighed and motioned to her to calm down. Hades simply shrugged, seeming disinterested.

“That’s not the point uncle. The point is, knock anytime you want to come into her room, is that okay?”
“Fine. You are good to go now right?”

Hmmm
this one is strong o

Nne menh u too much

Cool update jeenah keep it up

*****
Sandra laughed groggily as Oluwole tickled her down her chin. Her lips moved in great synchronization on his as they engaged in a deep kiss. He had been doing some exercises recommended by his physiotherapist and his legs were getting better as each day passed. He could also drive some short miles courtesy of the therapies he was involved in. He waved at Sandra and slowly drove off, careful not to exceed the appropriate speed for his condition.
He checked his wristwatch and it was 8:30pm. He stopped by Foodco cafeteria and begged a young lady outside probably looking for a cab or an okada rider to buy him some meat pies and juice. The lady curtsied and went inside. She returned few minutes later with a pack of meatpies, serviette and Chi exotic juice. Wole thanked her and slipped one thousand naira note in her hand. The lady grinned widely and thanked him.
Wole played “connect” by Phyno as he enjoyed his ride home, gently munching on his pies. He reached his estate in no time and blared his horn to alert his gateman he was around already. The later hailed him and helped him get down from the car. He also supported his master as he walked inside the house. Wole instructed him to help him pack the pies and juice in the car to the kitchen and the latter did as he enjoyed “connect” which was now playing away loudly in his master’s car. He twisted his hand in the popular “Shoki” dance and even added “Shakiti Bobo” to it.
He however hurried with what he was asked to do when Oluwole barked from indoor and quickly instructed him to turn the music player off. Oluwole rolled his eyes and sighed as he watched his gateman return to his duty post. He had been a lenient master enough. He made a mental note to be stricter on his gateman as he was getting spoilt day by day.
Wole launched his Imo application and placed a video call through to the love of his life. He giggled when Sandra’s face popped in. she had changed from the blue shirt and black denim jeans she was wearing to a pink night gown.
“Hello lover boy!” Sandra said as she smiled, showing her dentition. She had been told by her dentist she had thirty four teeth instead of the thirty two she was supposed to have as an omnivore.
“Hi there. How are you?” Wole returned her greeting.
“Well, am good. You care for noodles?” she asked as she adjusted her phone for her boyfriend to see what she was eating. She rolled the noodles in her fork and ate it.
“c’mon, you are making me salivate here”
“You should be. Have you had anything to eat?” Sandra asked.
“Yeah. I stopped by at Foodco and bought some meat pies.”
“That’s good”
“Yeah. I have to rest now darling. I am tired, no thanks to you. After beating me twice”
“Wole! You are a liar. I beat you four times. You are a novice at playing chess so respect your master” she raised her eyebrows and smiled.
“Who am I not to?” he replied as he doffed his head as if there were a hat there. Sandra laughed and sent him kisses which he returned. He promised to check on her the next day as they had planned to go to her school library together to search for some items needed for her projects. He wished her sweet dreams and disconnected the call at his own end.
****

“Sir, could you please drop me at that junction? It’s raining heavily” Tessy gushed as she opened and closed her mouth like a fish.
Nella shrugged in reply and opened the door of the car for her to hop in. he had planned to take his wife for dinner in one of the best eateries in town so he wanted to get home early since he attended to the necessary files and signed some contracts on time. He had put a beautiful red floor length gown, a silver clutch and silver heels on the bed for his wife to wear for the dinner before she woke up. He had taken time shopping for those beautiful items the day before.
Tessy hopped in and thanked her boss. A long while passed between them as she just kept adjusting and readjusting her blazer to show her cleavage.
“So you said I should drop you here right?” Nella asked, maintaining his gaze on the muddy road.
“errm. It’s still raining sir, I would really appreciate it if you can drop me at my apartment down there sir” she spoke softly, her heart doing flips inside her chest. She was scared for she didn’t want her boss to say ‘no’.
Nella sighed and checked the time. It was quarter to six o’clock and the dinner was by six o’clock. He just prayed for his wife to be delayed in the bank so she wouldn’t get home before him. Since her bank closed by four o’clock, he guessed she would be busy with clients’ complaints and all since she had been moved from the wing she worked to the customer care some weeks back so she got home earlier recently.
“Right there sir” Tessy said as she pointed at the three bedroom flat at the end of the road. Nella halted and unlocked the door, waiting for her to alight.
“Thank you sir”
“don’t mention miss Tessy” he tried as much as he could to return her formality since the day she started working in his company such that it would be difficult to believe they ever had an affair in the past.
“Sir, I think you should come in since the rain is still heavy and I sense you live in the island which is far from the this mainland”
“Thanks but I have a date to keep with my wife” he narrowed his eyes and a muscle twitched on his cheek.
“Please sir; I would love you to come in to have a cup of hot tea at least”
“Thanks but “
“Please sir….” She said as she stared straight into his eyes.
Nella sighed in sheer bliss and took an umbrella from the backseat. He got down, locked his car and put the frame over his head. Tessy shot him a deadpanned look. He got the message and used the umbrella over her too. Tessy smiled and moved closer to him to feel his warmth. She got her key from her purse as soon as they arrived at her flat. She opened the door and stepped in. Nella followed suit. Tessy turned the heater and dropped her bag on the chair. She made her boss comfortable and went into the kitchen. Nella looked around and nodded. He was impressed. Her house was not too bad for a spinster though. It was tastefully furnished and the arrangement was spinsterly arranged. Nella reached for his pocket to pick his phone in order to call his wife he would soon be home but was surprised it wasn’t there. He had forgotten it in the car.
Tessy returned from the kitchen few minutes later with a tea cup and a tea plate underneath. A sweetener was on her right hand. She smiled and placed it on the stool. She locked the door and walked to a room, swaying her hips in the process. An image of the night they made love at his bachelor’s eve night out flashed through his mind and he licked his bottom lip.
“Ouch!” Nella exclaimed as his tongue touched the hot tea. He had not noticed the tea was hot due to what his eyes were busy tracing. He chastised himself and pulled himself together. He wasn’t meant to be lusting after her anyway. He was a married man already.
He bent his head and blew away the hot vapour oozing out of the liquor. As he lifted his eyes, they fell on a stack naked worker. Nella threw back his head as he gasped.
“Ohmygee!”
Back in the car, Nella’s phone rang for the nineteenth time.
*****

In a big cave in the underworld.
The Fates’ cavern.
Eighteen years ago.
The three fates sat in front of their loom, discussing what they should do about a certain god. They looked at the vast loom before them and studied the various patterns and the multi coloured threads in it, they also glanced around the spacious room around them where the weaves of those who had already died served as a part of the Grand tapestry of life which decorated the walls.
Clotho had a spool of glittering black thread in her hand. It was a thread of the highest quality for it represented a god’s destiny. It could not be cut by the ordinary scissors of death for scissors which cut the thread of a normal mortal’s weave ending that mortal’s existence couldn’t be used to cut it.
Clotho’s sister, Athropos, looked up and glanced at the weave of the gods. The weave of the gods lives and destinies were separated from the mortals. Instead of it being placed on the ceiling where it glowed and illuminated the loom the Fates worked on. The threads of the gods’ lives dangled from the ceiling and trailed down the floor.
They looked at the thread Clotho held on her hand and wondered what they should do with it.
Another sister, Lachesis, looked at the black thread and then looked up at the tapestry of the gods on the ceiling. She looked for a thread which would match and complement the black spool in Clotho’s fingers.
Sadly there was none.
The three women sighed at that.
They thought hard for a few moments.
Suddenly, an idea crossed all three minds at the same time. Their attentions snapped back to the loom before them and they threaded the glittering black thread into the hooks. They smiled as a particular pattern of destiny came into their minds.
They thought it was perfect. When none of the other threads matched the black thread, they decided to make one for it. It would match and suit him in every way. The match shall be deemed perfect.
“We shall make him someone who will sit on the throne beside him, someone who’ll complete him. Someone whose power will complement his. Someone who’ll make him feel things he hasn’t felt before” Clotho said as she spun the thread of life on the pattern of the weave before her.
“Yes, we shall make him experience emotions he has never experienced before. He shall be a lonely god no more and shall have someone to rule by his side” Lachesis agreed as her nimble fingers skillfully weaved another artful pattern.
“She shall be born a mortal and when she comes of age, she shall go to his realm and be his queen forever and ever” Athropos who helped thread the weave said.
“What age Athropos?” Clotho asked. “Twenty one” Lachesis replied.
“No, eighteen is okay. We wouldn’t want him to be lonely for the next twenty years”
“Perfect then.” Clotho and Lachesis chorused.
They worked for some time more and when they had finished; they all viewed their work with critical eyes and smiled. The black thread and a gold one was intertwined beautifully such that it was perfect. The two thread glowed brightly and it was a beautiful sight to behold. The black thread complemented the gold’s brightness while the gold thread added beauty to the black’s stark appearance.
“Two hearts were already joined together. One will always feel the other; this is how destiny works.”
“It is done” the three of them whispered together.
*****
The doors opened and Hades walked in with Elyme by his side. The latter sighed as she got more nervous and prayed she didn’t topple over or make a fool of herself. Loud cheers and applause echoed around the hall as they took their seats. Half the hall was decorated in black while the other was decorated in gold.
Hundreds of gods and goddesses danced around the hall ,Livening up the place. Loud rhythmic music echoed throughout, vibrating against Elyme’s body. Sweet aromas filled the air, almost making her lightheaded.
Hades forgot to tell her the sweet scent of ambrosia, the food of the gods was strong and almost suffocating to mortals. But her mortal shell had crumbled anyway; the scent shouldn’t be suffocating to her.
Elyme sighed as she saw Dionysus, the god of wine standing on a table, drinking a beverage from a red bottle and happily dancing. He was wearing dark jeans and a loose Hawaiian shirt. He was extremely handsome and edible.
Ares, the god of war, was dressed in his full armour, the bulging muscles of his arms looked intimidatingly attractive. His eyes were dark and a long scar ran down the side of his face. One couldn’t say he was ugly or handsome. He was in between.
Aphrodite was wearing a gorgeous red gown, revealing most of her body as she strutted down the aisle of watching gods. Saliva literally poured down the side of their mouths as she smiled sultrily at them, obviously leaving a long lasting effect on the poor gods.
Her gorgeous golden hair was styled into a crown, adorning her head with a diamond tiara sitting atop her hair. Her thick lips were fully glossed with a dark red, making her look so beautiful. Elyme almost felt a pang of jealousy. After all, the goddess was the deity of beauty and love.
Poseidon, the god of the sea was wearing a long blue tunic which almost looked exactly the colour of the sea. Hermes sighted Elyme and smiled warmly at her as he approached her.
“You!” Elyme cried.
“Lower your voice; the gods are obviously having fun. Have yours too. Besides I only did what I was asked to do by bringing you to the underworld” he nudged his scaly skin on her and went to meet Ares. Elyme cursed under her breathe.
“Happy birthday. Today, July 18th is your day so enjoy it for it remains two hours for it to end in your world” A goddess said to her and walked away. Elyme stared on. She noticed some gods were beautiful while some were ugly.
Zeus came to her and introduced himself as Hades’ brother, the god of the sky. His body crackled with electricity as he smiled at her. He presented her a gift which was a paper with wings. She could write on it and the message would surely deliver and it would be very fast. Elyme smiled as she thanked him. It sure would be like a medium she would use to communicate with Jimi,The one she so much loved.
Poseidon came around too and introduced himself as Hades’ brother. He greeted her and gave her a pillow in which she could fall asleep instantly anytime she wanted to sleep and also to dream of someone or something.
Hephaestus gave her a teleport device in which she could wherever she wanted to go and she would surely be there. Just that she wouldn’t be able to use more than thirty minutes in the mortal world. But at least, there was a chance to see Jimi and her earthly parents. She thanked the other gods and goddesses as they showered her with gifts. Eros and Aphrodite gave her something very similar- a love locket. Elyme wondered where Hades got his own sulky attitude from since his family members were all nice.
Elyme inwardly leaped with joy as she saw all the gifts given to her. She initially felt as if she was in the wrong place but after receiving gifts, she felt loved and special. Her feet ached and her head buzzed. She was already very tired. She asked Hades if she could step out to have some fresh air and he obliged. She noticed Hades was with his family members-Zeus, Poseidon, Athena and Aphrodite. She had not even noticed when he left his seat. She guessed he did when they were showering her with gifts. She overhead them discussing about the absence of Thanatos- Hade’s twin brother. She walked past some gods too and they were discussing about Thanatos and the Olympic games which was starting the next day to welcome her fully into the underworld. Olympic Games happened once in a year so they scheduled the date to be the day after her birthday so as to welcome her into their midst. She pouted as she walked outside the hall. She couldn’t believe the birthday party was just the tip of the iceberg as they were also planning other grand events for her.
Suddenly, she saw a swirling black mist which solidified into three old women carrying a loom. They shot to her feet and bowed to her.
“Happy birthday” they said in unison.
“Thank you” Elyme replied and smiled warmly at them.
“For your birthday, ask us anything and we would give you an answer”
“Err.. Can I know why am here, why the gods treat me special and when I would be leaving?”
The three women sighed and shrugged in reply.
“You are not leaving as you’re destined to be here till eternity. You are destined for Hades and destined to be the queen of the underworld.”
****

Keep it up jeenah

the story is so interesting more grace to u dear

Jeenah eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,your system don quench again? Update na

Nice story
Wonderful read.

******
July 19
Hade’s palace
The underworld.


“That black armor looks good on you, I
wish I wore black too” Eros grumbled as he
stared at Hades. Eros’s own was red, of
course he was the god of love.

“Thanatos requested me to wear this to
symbolize that I am from his team. The
underworld team” Hades said with a shrug
while Eros just rolled his eyes.
“That twin brother of yours though” he
chuckled.

“By the way, I don’t think he was present
at the party, I thought it was to welcome
your queen and he’s your twin brother so I
see no reason why he was absent” Eros
said, adjusting the breast plate he wore for
it chafed at the skin on his neck.
“I would get to see him at the Olympic
Games.” Hades huffed as he tightened the
leather straps on his shoulder and also
adjusted the straps that crisscrossed on
his legs and held the shin guard in place.
His armor had to be fitted to him
perfectly else it would just hinder his
movements and he wouldn’t have that. Not
when he planned to win many games.

“You’ve got to impress her you know, make
sure you win almost all the games” Eros
advised. He had the best knowledge about
love and he knew how it worked.
“Save me that, Eros. I’ve had enough of
all those. Either she gets impressed or
not, she’s mine. The Fates left her with
no choice. She.is.mine!” He stressed
carefully.

“arghhh. Hades!” “Anyway, let’s start going
to Zeus’s palace. its almost time we left”
Eros said as he stood up from one of the
black chairs in Hades’ throne room. The
room was spacious and well decorated in
black. A mortal had come to Hades’ palace
to give it a befitting look. And after she
was done, Hades wiped off her memory of
the underworld and returned her back to
Ghana-where she worked and lived with her
family.

Hades waved his hand and they both
vanished. They arrived at Zeus’ palace right
in time. The gods and goddesses were all
assembled before the throne room of mount
Olympus and Hera was giving her speech.
Hades took his seat and Eros followed
suit. The Olympics were held every year
instead of the traditional every four years
like how ancient Greeks did theirs. Hera
informed them that the Olympics were for
the male gods. The female gods were the
judges and the officials and they were
the one who determined what games will
be played. It would be the turn of the
female gods to compete the following
year and it would then be left to the
male gods to officiate and choose the
games to be played.

Hera finished her speech about fairness,
goodwill, camaraderie and more things about
games. A line was formed. gods and
goddesses queued and Hades just watched
them. He was lost.

“what’s the line for?” Hades asked Eros.
Eros pointed to the basin in front where
Hera dipped a golden goblet and handed
over to Zeus who was the first one in
line. After Zeus was Thanatos.


“That basin contains some sort of potion.
It removes our powers for the duration of
the games to allow us to compete fairly
in the games. We lose all our powers, our
auras and our special skills. Only our
healing ability remains. Our ichor doesn’t
change and of course our immortality
remains. If we don’t remove our powers,
then the Olympics will be for nothing.
Imagine if we all had our powers, then
there’d be no point. Poseidon would always
win the swimming contest because he is the
god of the sea. Hercules would win
weights. Apollo would win archery and all
that. Besides”

“Hades and Eros!” Hera called out. It was
their turn to drink the portion. Hera smiled
at them and beckoned on them to move
forward.

“What were you guys were deeply talking
about” Hera asked as she carefully dipped
the goblet into the basin. She slowly
handed it over to Hades. Hades looked at
what the golden liquid contained. It had
some golden liquid inside and it was very
fragrant.


“I added some ambrosia to mask the taste
since its natural taste is bitter” she said
with a smile as Hades downed the contents
and handed the goblet back to her.
Instantly, he felt warmth in his stomach.
The warmth travelled upwards until it
reached his head and also downwards until
it reached the tips of his fingers and
toes. After a few seconds, the warmth
eased away followed by a blurring in his
vision.


He blinked away to clear his vision and
the fog seemed to settle inside his head.
He sighed as he realized his powers were
gone so also the aura of death that
defined him. He felt light because his
strength was depleted and he could think
and sense like the mortals did.

“Hey brother!” Thanatos greeted.

“Thanatos, what’s that you are wearing?”
Hades asked as he blinked his eyes.
“What is it with what am wearing?”
“I told we were supposed to wear black”
“Of course its black am wearing brother”
“Its grey!”Hades snapped and waved his hand
with the mind of changing his brother’s
armour colour to black.


“You’ve lost your power dear brother. it
seems the drink is having effects on you
already. See you later; we are a team now
right?” Thanatos patted his brother’s back
and continued playing around and jesting
with the other gods. He was the exact
opposite of his brother. He was the
loquacious type. Unlike his brother, Hades
who was taciturn.

“I can’t believe mortals feel this simple
and plain. What it feels to be mortal.
gods!” Eros commented. Hades smiled and
winked at his best friend. They waited for
the other gods and the heroes present to
drink their portion.


“The first event is at the eastern side of
Olympus. Get there now!” Hera spoke loud
enough for the gods to hear as soon as
she was done with what she was doing.
Hades quickly chit-chatted with his family
members present and returned back to Eros.
“So. What’s next? Let’s go” Hades said
“Sure, we will. But before we do, I have to
give you some tips to make Elyme drool
over you.” Eros giggled and winked while
Hades only looked away.

“Are those tips you gave me not enough
already?”
“Listen friend. She’s in love with some
mortal boy”

“What?” Hades screamed, attracting the
attention of the other gods that were yet
to go.

“How did you know that?”
“I am the god of love. It’s not too easy
to know when someone is in love. The
look In her eyes yesterday says it all.
She was really missing him. Besides I was
the one that attracted the guy to her.”
“How dare you?”

“Calm down, I never knew of that the
fates’ already destined you guys together”
Hades scowled and sighed. “How do you
attract a soul to another?”

Eros grinned, crossing his hands over his
chest.

“Well, I just take my silver bow and my
arrow. I prophesy what I want for them,
then I bend the string of my bow and let
it fly invisibly to either the soul of the
man or the woman” Eros explained
“So you make mortals fall in love? Is
that what you do?”


“gods!,no! Love isn’t something that can
be forced. It’s something that develops.
When I see the potentials of the two
mortals and I see they are attracted to
each other even if their mortal shells
haven’t experienced the attraction, I would
then provide the perfect means. Arrange
the perfect atmosphere and provide
confidence for the man most times. I help
the couples get alone and then leave
them. Their destinies would then be
determined by the Fates. If they would
last long and marry or if they would just
have to date for a short time”
“Hmm.. that makes a perfect sense. We’ve
got to go now Eros. All the gods are
gone”
“Sure. We can alwaays vanish to get there
within few seconds”

“gods! Hades! You’ve lost your powers and
abilities. We’ll have to walk there. I just
hope you don’t forget this and lose the
game”

“Are you interested in the tips or not?”
“Of course yes”

"When you are about to begin the game,
You’ll show your wings and flap them to
create that “whoosh”sound of air your
wings do make. This is to get attention
especially Elyme’s. Then you flex your abs
and washboards. Make it look like an
innocent stretching exercise”
“Eros, you know I can’t show my wings just
like that. I use that when I want to
work!”

“You really have to do it Hades. You and
your brother are the only winged gods.
And yours is white, his is black. Your pure
and white colored would get you attention
and she would be left with no other
choice but to fall in love” Eros grinned
from ear to ear. He was happy he was able
to think and give that tip to his friend.
Hades smiled and walked to the eastern
side of Olympus with Eros.


“The first event is happening at the lake
here, the goddesses have scattered many
pearls on the lake. The task is for you
to find it. Whoever finds the most pearls
at the end of thirty minutes, wins!”
“But there’s more. There are creatures
under the lake that will prevent you from
your goal. There are also some sirens and
dryads who will seduce you into forgetting
the competition. Whoever finds the most
pearls at the end of thirty minutes wins.
You have five more minutes to get ready!”
Hera announced.


Hades looked around and found Eros sitting
near the shore with some other gods.
“Now!” he said, almost in whispers.
Hades sighed. He didn’t want to make a
fool of himself before Elyme and the
other gods. Could he really do it? He
sighed again and searched for Elyme. She
was conveniently sited with Aphrodite.
They were happily laughing away and
giggling. Probably they were jesting about
the contestants. Hades froze as Elyme’s
eyes fell on him.


“Now is the time” he breathed.
Hades exhaled the breath and slowly
tugged his chest plate out. He even arched
his back a little so that his chest and
abdominal muscles would be more
pronounced. He pulled the armor of his
head and the tossed it carelessly to the
side. The noise seemed to lessen and
almost all eyes were on him.


He bent his head side to side to let go
of the crick in his neck and then raised
his arms upwards and stretched out. He
made sure to flex his muscles and his abs.
Then he lowered his arms and then
stretched them to the sides. He even bent
his body and twisted it to make it seem
as though he was really stretching. He
then released his beautiful white wings and
he felt the whoosh of air Eros was
talking about. Gasps were heard and they
were very loud. Some were even pointing at
his wings. He looked at Eros and the
latter gave him thumbs up. He then looked
at Elyme. Their eyes met and she quickly
diverted it to Hera. Who was already
announcing it was time for the first game
to begin. Hades smiled as he noticed the
blush that stained her cheeks. He knew
she was impressed. Then, he was satisfied
he had not wasted his efforts. He flapped
his wings after stretching them to their
limits. Then he tugged them in slowly
since his power to make them vanish
hurriedly was gone. He didn’t know if the
way he slowly tugged them in was
romantic and mouth drooling too. He just
noticed smiles was curved the corner of
the goddesses’ lips. He guessed he did it
right.

“Nice one brother!” Thanatos commented as
he tapped his brother’s back. Hades rolled
his eyes and then smiled. The smile
disappeared when he saw Persephone-his ex
wife! gods!

“What is that harlot doing here?”Hades
cursed under his breath. Persephone was
chatting away with some gods. That was
what she was good at. Flirting!


Hades hissed and went to the shore where
the contestants were already lined up.
“Begin!” Hera shouted and all of them
started wading towards the deeper portion
of the lake. Hades took a huge lungful
of air and then quickly dove in to find
pearls. It was really hard to look for
them because the lake was really very
deep and most parts were dark.

Hades found five pearls near the shallow
end and tucked it inside his pouch. The
other gods swam further away so he was
free to look for more pearls in that area.
“Hello, lover boy” a sensuous voice
whispered. A siren floated towards him and
he saw that she mimicked Elyme’s face.
Hades’ eyes widened and he quickly
swallowed the lump in his throat.


“No..No.. It’s just an illusion” he said.
“Having difficulty breathing in dear? Kiss
me.. And I’ll give you enough air and find
you more pearls” she husked as she pouted
her lips up for a kiss. Hades’ closed his
eyes and pushed her lips away with his
palm. He remembered Hera’s warning about
the creatures in the lake that could
distract them and he quickly swam forward.
He looked back and he saw the siren
disappear into a small fish. He breathed in
and went in search of more pearls. He
looked around for pearls and he found
two. He was about going to another area
of the lake in search of more when the
horn signaling the end of the game
sounded.

He instantly felt disappointed and
he hoped he would be the one to find the
most number of pearls. He swam upwards
and gulped in air. He came out of the
lake with his pouch across his shoulder. He
gave Hera who was coming along with
Athena and Persephone. He shot his ex a
deadly stare and gave his pouch to Athena
for counting. Persephone looked at Elyme
then back to him and smiled devilishly.
Hades knew she had even plans but he was
determined to protect Elyme. That was
why he never allowed her out of his
palace and everywhere she went to, he
made sure she had a servant escorting her.
‘Perse’, as he formerly called her when
she was still with him could be dangerous
and he would not take any chances.


Hades walked and lay down on the black
grass. His muscles seriously arched him. He
just hope the counting would take more
than enough time so he could quickly take
a nap.
He was jolted awake when he heard Hera’s
voice again.

“The winner of the event is Hermes. He was
able to gather fifteen pearls!” Hera
announced.

Hades groaned. He was said he lost the
first game. That wasn’t a good start at
all. Athena walked towards him and handed
the pouch to him.


“Keep it uncle, it’s yours” the dark skinned
goddess said. Hades sighed and collected it
from her. He was going to give Elyme. At
least, if he couldn’t impress her by
winning the game, he could create a
beautiful rose flower. His demeanor
softened and he relaxed as he watched his
queen to be walk to the hall for lunch.
She had Adriane beside her and they were
chattering away.

Yes! He was gonna make his queen a
beautiful rose with glittering petals. He
went to enjoy the breeze and fresh air
near the lake and he quickly had a nap.
This time, it was long enough to ease off
his muscles and bones.


“Hello gods and goddesses. I hope we’ve
had a wonderful lunch. Welcome to the
second part of the Olympic Games. The
second event is called “Save the Damsel in
Distress, the goddesses along with some
beautiful nymphs are scattered throughout
Olympus. They are placed in golden cages
that you can see from a distance. But you
cannot see who’s in the golden cage. It is
up to you to rescue them but it is not
that easy as there are trials along the
way and guardians placed before the
golden cages.

The one who saves the most
damsels wins! Not only that, the damsel
you save is obligated to give you a
reward. Goodluck” Hera winked and dropped
the microphone to go meet her husband,
Zeus. Hades could see the other gods
smiling. The reward they wanted could
easily be guessed from the way they
thought aloud and grinned sheepishly.
Hades nodded his head in determination.

“I know the damsel I shall save, forget
the others. I wanna save only one and
maybe after I save her, I can ask for a
kiss as a reward” He smiled as he
whispered.

“Hades!” Aphrodite called out behind him.
Had she heard what he whispered? Hades
felt embarrassed. He suppressed the feeling
with a smile. Aphrodite winked and walked
away.

He couldn’t tell if she had heard him.
What was the wink for anyway? He
wondered.


“Three, two, one, Go!” Hera exclaimed, her
shout was followed by another loud horn.
Hades immediately took off into a run just
like the other gods. He was determined to
save just one damsel. After a couple of
minutes of running. He saw a flash of
gold in the distance. He immediately willed
his body to go faster to the direction. He
stopped in his tracks when a centaur
appeared before the cage.

“Hold it!” he exclaimed.

Hades drew out his sword with sharp edges
and held it in front of him. If the
challenge was to fight the centaur, Then
so be it!.


“Easy, King of the underworld!. I am not
here to fight you. I am here to watch you
complete the task in this station before
you are able to rescue the goddess” he
declared with his hands raised, palm up, in
a gesture of total surrender.
Hades re-sheathed his sword and saw his
twin brother about to open a cage with
the corner of his eyes. He seriously hoped
the damsel that would emerge would not
be Elyme.


“Very well then, spill it” he said, he kept
the corner of his eyes on Thanatos who
was struggling to open the cage. He
smiled when it was a nymph that emerged.
He watched his brother grin as the nymph
obliged to the request he asked her.


The centaur waved his hand before Hades’
eyes to bring back his attention. He waved
it again when he was sure Hades’ mind was
with him and a table appeared. Hades
watched as a pile of food and a pitcher
of water appeared in the table.


“Your task if you want to rescue the
maiden here is to eat all these twenty
five hotdogs within five minutes” the
centaur said. With his words, Hades’ eyes
bulged and his jaw dropped. He felt his
stomach roil. He gulped down his fear and
nodded to the centaur.


“gods! Twenty five hotdogs?” he breathed.
The centaur clicked a time in his hand.
With his signal, Hades immediately grabbed
a hotdog and then began munching on it.
He put two pieces in his mouth at once
and he munched on it hurriedly. He never
took his eyes off the timer. He stopped
munching and started cramming more and
more pieces into his mouth till he almost
choked. He drank some water and continued
eating again.

The time buzzed and he lifted his head. He
was surprised to see that not a single
hotdog remained!

“Congratulations, Hades!” the centaur
retrieved a key from his pocket and
handed it over to him. Hades took it and
climbed up the tree where the cage was.
He slipped the key into the lock and it
opened.


Hades’ face fell for it was not Elyme but
a nymph. Her eyes widened with surprise
when she saw him. She waited for him to
make his demand. She wanted him to
request for a night in his bed or a kiss.
Who would want to lose the opportunity
of kissing Hades? It was an opportunity
that only came once in a blue moon.
Hades shuffled his feet and told her he
had no request and he was actually
keeping his request for one person. Her
face fell but she never forgot to thank
him for rescuing her.

“You are welcome but can you tell me
where Elyme is?”He asked the nymph.
She pouted and replied.

“She’s somewhere west of Zeus’ palace,
she’s the one in the golden cage behind
the oak tree” she pointed towards the
direction. Hades thanked her and quickly
hastened before another god rescued her.


He met different cages on the way and he
was able to rescue four nymphs. He finally
got there but found it difficulty locating
an oak tree. He eventually found it after
a ultimate search and sincerely muttered
some words. He was about climbing the tree
when a sphinx appeared. She was a female
creature with the body of an antelope,
breasts and head of a woman and a long
tail.


“Halt!” she ordered.
“If you want to pass, you shall answer my
riddle” she said. Hades nodded.
“Two girls were born to the same mother,
on the same day, at the same time, in the
same month and year and yet they are not
twins. How can this be?”


Hades thought for a few seconds that he
thought he was going to fail the riddle.
The hotdogs he had earlier eaten
threatened to gush out of his stomach. He
groaned and then smiled when the answer
hit him right in the face.
“arhh. I get it”
“The two girls are two of a set of
triplets”

“Very well then” she said and vanished.
There was a golden key on the spot she
disappeared. He picked it and climbed the
tree. He met Hephaestus there dealing with
a puzzle. Hades was also given the puzzle
and he quickly finished with it just a few
seconds before Hephaestus. He was able to
be the first to open the golden cage. He
breathed in and hoped it wouldn’t be a
nymph this time around but Elyme.

Lo and behold. Elyme came out of the
cage and squealed with delight.

“Thanks for saving me” she said as she
smiled sweetly at Hephaestus who just
shook his head sadly. He had also wanted
to save her.
“I dint. He did” Hephaestus pointed at Hades
and walked away.


Elyme stood transfixed as she glared at
Hades. Hades glared at her back too.
“So what’s the request, huh?” She asked
somberly with her hands akimbo as she
pouted her lips and raised her chin up
high.

******

******
Sandra waved at Katherine, her course mate
and project partner as the latter walked
out of her room. Katherine had come two
hours ago in order for them to Complete
Mr.Bada’s project. They were in their final
semester already which meant just a few
months away for their convocation. Sandra
fell on her bed and licked the remaining
cones of ice cream Katherine had bought
for her when she was coming. She picked
her phone and found out she had missed
calls from her boyfriend, Wole. She had
put her phone on silence zone before she
started working on her projects so she
didn’t know she had calls. It was 10:12pm
already so she couldn’t go out to buy
airtime to call him back. She only had
some megabytes left from the data plan
she had subscribed the previous day.

“Hey love” she added a smiley with two
love shape in its eyes and sent it to
Wole. She dropped her phone and packed
the books on her bed. Her phone buzzed,
she took it in her hands and Wole’s
message popped up. She smiled. He was
faster replying on whatsapp than any
social media. She checked his profile
picture and smiled when she saw it was a
selfie picture they had both taken two
days back under a guava tree. It was so
beautiful. They both smiled and they
looked happy.


She was about replying when she heard
gunshots and screams of students. She
heard the sound of doors opening and
louder screams. She swallowed her fears
and quickly typed some words to Wole but
her messages were not delivered as there
was no network at all. Wasn’t it some
few seconds ago a message was received on
her phone? She sent him an SMS of what
was happening in her hostel but it came
back to her undelivered too.

Suddenly, she heard a loud and heavy bang
on the door. She froze.

*****

Meanings of the words I used are below. For easier comprehension.

*****
Hera is Zeus’ wife and she is always the MC
of the Olympic games.

Olympus means the home of gods.

Sphinx- a creature with the head of a
person and the body of an animal.

Centaur-a beast having a horse’s body with
a man’s head.

Nymphs- A minor female deity(Immortal
too). They work for Hades in Elysium while
some just exist in forests, water, caves
etc

Elysium is the place good souls(shades) spend their eternity.

Hephaestus- the god of fire and Smithwork.

Ichor means the golden blood of the gods.

Wow, loved ur update pls kip it coming.

Weldone dear

Chineke jeenah2,kedu ihe owu? What's holding u na,biko update na

*****
“No jokes, am serious here” Sandra said, arranging her lecture notes inside her green handbag.
“So you mean thieves invaded your hostel?” Katherine gape opened her mouth. She was as shocked as anything else. It was as if someone broke the news that the world had ended to her.
“Katty, am telling you o. They took away my fifteen thousand Sha. The money I intended using till the end of next week. I even tried Wole’s number to inform him so he could quickly alert the police but the network bleeped up.”
“E no go beta for Naija network o. hope you weren’t hurt in anyway?”
“Not really, just some bruises in my arm. They wanted me to lead them to where the money was so they had to use force”
“Ehya. Sorry sweetheart. Let leave that aside, guess what?”
“You know am a bad guesser, just say whatever it is you want to say”
“You know my boyfriend serving in Abuja ordered some stuffs for me now, so they were delivered this morning”
“awwn.. Am happy for you my dear. So how many shoes and bags should I be expecting?”
“As many as you can think of.”
“The guy that delivered it has been calling me since morning o, he collected my number and said he likes my stature that it resembles that of a model”
“Oh! Really?”
“Yes o. he has called like twelve times already, but to be honest, this konga guy is handsome o”
“Katherine!” Sandra called out and pinched her to snap her out of her reverie.
“Are we still having ECO 421 tutorials tonight?” Sandra asked
“I doubt”
“So, we can gist away then”
“sure” “Wole is taking me to meet his parents tomorrow”
“Are you serious?”
“Sure, I am. We intend to get married after my service year”
“Good but don’t you plan working?” “Wole has got everything settled and you know he kind of has money too, he’s comfortable”
“I wish you good luck, make sure you get to know his family well and have fun”
“Thanks dear, am famished o. let’s go to Buka to eat that woman’s white rice and dodo”
The duo walked out of the lecture hall and quickly took ‘keke’ to Buka. They ordered for food and they were served in no time. They were lucky students were many there though. They devoured their food and paid their bills after eating. One thing they liked Buka for was the ‘pay after meal’ method. They stood in front of Buka with their faces evident of tiredness and waited for a cab that would take them to their hostels.
*****
Sandra dabbed her body with a blue towel and checked the time. It was 8:30am.
“Jeez!” she sighed, that Saturday was an important one in her life as she would be meeting her boyfriend’s parents. She had agreed with Wole that they would both be travelling to Osogbo in Osun state where his parents stayed for an informal introduction and they would leave by 9:00am. She creamed her body and carefully wore a nice knee length orange and cream polka dotted flair dress, a pair of black pumps and a small clutch to fiddle with if they made her nervous. And because Oluwole had said he was tired of seeing her hair packed, she’d let down her weave-on, letting it fall proudly in brown shiny waves. She sprayed her perfume and checked herself in the mirror. She wanted to look simple so she just powdered her face and used a nude lipstick. She heard a horn three times in front of her hostel. She checked through the window and she saw Wole’s car. She also saw a man in red T-shirt at the driver’s seat. Probably Wole was getting a driver since his legs weren’t so strong to drive long distances. She picked her wristwatch from her bed and locked her door. She waved to some of her hostel mates washing outside and doing other chores.
“Hello beautiful.” Wole cooed once she entered the backseat. She smiled warmly at him and tickled him. She greeted the driver and the latter put the engine to life and got to the road leading to the express.
“Okay, so the first thing is to make sure you greet properly when you get there. I know you’re not Yoruba but I’m sure you’re familiar with the way Yoruba girls greet right?”
Sandra smiled and nodded.
“Good. So once you’ve greeted them, just follow my lead. Where I sit, if I opt for holding your hand and all. Just nod, smile and laugh occasionally. You’ve likely meet my younger sisters, Tife and Tundun. You know I told you Tife works in a bridal shop while Tundun is in final year just like yourself. My mom is a retired teacher so expect a lot of drilling questions from her”
Sandra nodded and smiled.
“Okay bobo” She tickled him again and he smiled, showing his gap tooth even though it was wide and almost the size of another tooth, fitted him.
The ride to Osun state from Lagos was both smooth and rough. They were stopped occasionally by police men. Their papers were complete so there was only little delay and that was when they met a tall dark skinned man with heavy tribal marks. He was undoubtedly a Yoruba man. Sandra just shrugged when he was trying to prove stubborn and stone hearted. The Yorubas could be sometimes mean but mostly friendly. She just hoped they would accept her and treat her exactly the way she had always dreamt her in laws would treat her. They stopped in some places to buy roasted maize corns, cheese and gala with some bottles of chilled softdrinks.
The driver continued the journey and in about fourty five minutes they were already in the estate Wole’s parents lived there were similar looking houses, mowed lawns and transparent gates in the estate which Sandra admired. They were however grateful they hadn’t encounter heavy traffic on their way from Lagos to Osun. Wole gave some directions and the driver who one could sense was pretty much familiar with Osun state and its environs got the descriptions. Sandra sighed as they drove into a beautiful and well structured house. The house was a bungalow and it was painted in milk cream and lemon. There were fresh flowers around the house which added beauty to it. She had expected something bigger and more complex than that though but she wasn’t disappointed. It was house for the average- class.
“If we have dinner, you have to offer to help clear the dishes when we are done to show respect and all that shit old Yoruba people are always concerned with okay?” Wole said as he pecked her to ease off her nervousness. They got out of the car and walked to the entrance of the house. Sandra made a sign of the cross as they entered the living room. It was tastefully furnished, not too luxurious but just okay.
“Sandra, you are doing this and there’s no turning back” She whispered under her breathe and clutched her purse.
“Mom! Dad! Am home!” Wole announced as he led Sandra to a soft cream couch with small pillows to sit.
“Calm down okay?” Wole said, giving her a warm hug and a kiss on her lips to calm her down. They broke away from the embrace when they heard the sound of feet moving closer to where they were.
“Ahahah. Oluwole mi. Akanji mi.. Oko mi” A woman in her mid fifties called out and embraced her son. She removed her glasses and embraced him tightly, sounding some local Yoruba praises. Wole prostrated to greet his mom. There were some strands of white and grey hair on her head. She was slender but looked healthy and fleshy.
”Oluwole, bawo ni?. How is work and your friends?” The woman asked and settled down on the couch. Sandra sighed and went on her kneels to greet her.
“Good afternoon ma” She greeted coyly and smiled widely.
“Afternoon my dear. How are you?”
“Am fine ma”
“Oluwole, is she the one?”
“Mommy mommy… ehn, she’s the one”
“ahaha.. Omo mi, Iyawo mi. Come here my dear daughter” she opened her arms and sandra hugged her. Wole gave her a thumb up when he was sure his mother wasn’t looking.
“Daddy nko? Awon Tundun nko?”
“Your daddy just stepped out now but he will soon be back. And you know tife works in Abeokuta so shes not at home but Tundun is around”
“Tundun!. Come o, egbon e ti de o. Your brother is here” The woman called out and smiled at Sandra. The latter smiled at her back too. The woman was a slim woman whose age only showed in her bony hands and slightly crinkling eyes. She sported an amazing afro that brought out her face and fiited her dark skin features.
A young lady scurried to the living room and hugged her brother tightly. It was obvious she missed him. Wole whirled her around and hugged her again.
“Tundun! You haven’t changed o, lepa lomo” Wole commented and flashed his smiles to her. Tundun hugged him again.
“You better be careful. You know his legs are just getting better” Mrs Martins said.
Tundun laughed and went to the kitchen. She returned some few minutes later with a tray and a bottle of cold water. She went inside again and returned back with three glass cups. Sandra scrutinized her well. She was slim and bony just like her mother but with big eyeballs. She guessed she should be in her early twenties.
“Brother mi. I have missed you o” Tundun said as she settled down on the couch beside her mother.
“I have missed you too dear. But I thought U.I has resumed for second semester. What are you still doing at home? You think you are a baby abi?
Tundun laughed and winked at her brother. Wole offered Sandra a glass of water which she drank slowly.
“Emm. Mummy, Tundun. Meet my girlfriend again, Sandra”
“You are welcome my wife. Can you introduce yourself better?” Mrs Martins said as she talked to Sandra with an inquisitive grin.
“I am Sandra Amarachukwu. A 400L student of Lagos state university. Am the second born of a family of five from Delta state and I am twenty three years old ma” Sandra said and smiled. She had expected Wole’s mother and sister to smile but they just stared at her. Had she said anything wrong?
She squirmed uncomfortably under the scrutinizing gaze of Mrs Martins and Tundun. She had greeted the Martins well in the proper Yoruba way, receiving surprised and impressed looks from both his mother and his sister. The sister at first was welcoming but she didn’t understand the high nose she was giving her now. The mother also gave her a look she didn’t quite like at all. But she had just introduced herself in few lines so what could be wrong.
Wole smirked as he was just as confused as her.
“Mom, say something now. She has introduced herself”
“Son, let me see you in the kitchen please.” The woman said as she adjusted her glasses and excused herself. She walked away and Wole followed suit. Sandra gazed at Wole but he only smiled at her and gave her a face that everything was alright. Sandra breathed in and looked at Tundun who only shot her a long expressionless stare.
“Look, I hope you aren’t planning to marry that girl?”
“What if I am?”
“You can’t marry her Oluwole. You can’t!”
******

Welldone jeenah

Nice story you've got here., it's just so different from the norm. Ride on., more ink to your pen.

*****
Elyme groaned, feeling her muscles stretching to accommodate to her new position and grimaced once she heard her bones cracking. She pulled back and sighed as she wiggled her toes in front of her.after a week, she managed to familiarize herself with the life she was living. Hades was cold to her as usual but Adriane was friendly to her. The latter had told her stories of how she had been reincarnated three different times and also about the last life she lived when she was reincarnated. Hades had wiped off her memory of the first two lives she had lived so she could only remember the last one.
“Adriane?” Elyme called out.
“Yes,Elyme” Adriane replied, carefully placing the fresh flowers the nymphs had picked down on the table and looked at Elyme. She had grown to like her so much and had stopped calling her ‘milady’ due to the closeness between them which Hades watched suspiciously.
“Move closer please.” Elyme said and smiled while Adriane stepped forward to her till she was just few inches away from her.
“Would you like to follow me to the mortal world?” She asked. Adriane froze. Elyme’s request grated on her nerves for she hadn’t expected her to demand for such. She looked at the door and sighed.
“The mortal world? No, I don’t think Hades would like that”
“Hades this. Hades that. Why wouldn’t he like it? Besides are you going to tell him? I just want you to accompany me”
“what for? And you don’t even possess what it takes for an immortal being to go to the mortal world. Only the shades who were killed when it wasn’t their time yet and had to revenge or to watch over some things in the mortal world have it” Adriane spazzed out.
“Really?, But a gift was given to me on my birthday and I could teleport with the device to go to the underworld. Just that I can’t use more than thirty minutes there.”
“You have the teleport device?”
“Yes, I do”
“Do you know how it works?”
“I haven’t tried it yet and keep your voice down”
“Am sorry about that. Let me explain it to you. You would take the device in your left hand and think of where you are going. The structures, the colour, the serene and all that is in that place. Then you will your mind there then it would work and you’ll disappear”
“Really?”
“Sure. Persephone had it when she was still in the kingdom and she used it to go visit her mortal concubines”
“That bitch” Elyme sneered.
“I just hope Jimi is in his room cause that’s the only place I can teleport to”
“ I won’t be able to follow you”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t have the device. Besides I don’t know how his room looks like so it would be difficult for me to imagine it”
“Let me describe”
“I can’t get it. I have never lived in the mortal world neither have I felt the aura”
Elyme’s face fell. A long while passed between them. Her face suddenly lit up when an idea surged through her mind.
“What if I sketch? That should work. Adriane please, just try and will your soul into anything I draw so your heart could imagine it. Please”
Adriane smiled.
“Okay then, you can draw it”
Elyme picked a piece of paper and a pencil from her desk. She sat down on the bed and started drawing. She twirled the pencil through her fingers with impressive dexterity. Even though she had gone to a science class, she was good in drawing.
“This is it”
“waow. This looks luxurious. This Jimi of us must be the son of a rich man”
“Of course, I told you his father is a minister.”
“A what?”
“A minister. I don’t think you know what that means since you’ve spent the whole of your years in the underworld” Elyme said almost in a whisper.
“Good. You that knows what a minister is, you could go there yourself” Adriane stood and flung the paper away.
“Am sorry Adriane. I didn’t mean to upset you”
“Adriane.. Common, be a good friend, accompany me”
“Very well then, I just hope It works”
Elyme tickled her chin and quickly scurried to where she had kept the teleport device. She brought it out and smiled.
“Now, let’s do this”
*****
Hades rang the doorbell for what felt like a hundred times already but no one answered the door. Maybe Eros was asleep, who knew? Hades desperately wanted to see him for a piece of advice. He needed to win Elyme to himself fast since it appeared the latter hated him. He gathered his shadows and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was inside Eros’ apartment. It was large and decorated in shades of red. he had a very long red lounge surrounded by very comfortable looking red armchairs. The lamps were heart shaped and everything looked cozy. Hades gazed at it in fascination for a few moments.
“Eros, where the heck are you?” He called out but no one answered him. Maybe he was really asleep but he could feel his aura somewhere very close. He traced it and ended up in his bedroom. His blonde hair was visible under the dark, heavy covers of his bed. His bed was massive and very large. Whoever needed a bed that big?
“Eros!” Hades hissed and kicked him so hard. Eros turned around and groaned.
“Eros! wake up. gods!” Hades shouted on top of his voice. Eros instantly sat upright and glared at him in confusion. To his left were some bottles of alcoholic wines. Hades sighed. He had obviously drank himself to stupor. He smirked and got out of the bed to wash his face. He returned back to the room and led Hades to his kitchen. Hades sat down in one of the counter stools while Eros busied himself making something that smelled so nice.
“coffee?” Eros offered.
“What’s coffee?” Hades asked, staring at the dark liquid in his cup. It was no doubt Eros was the more refined while Hades was just an outdated god. It wasn’t his fault anyway. He had stopped himself from going to the mortal world after Persephone had done what she knew how to do best.
“Only one of the most ingenious human inventions ever. Some mortals need this daily so that they could function” He answered and offered Hades a cup.
Hades took it and inhaled the sweet and intoxicating aroma. He took a tentative sip and the flavor burst in his tongue.
“This is nice” he commented and drank another cup. He drank more and more till he became restless and agitated. He stood up and began pacing around the room.
“You shouldn’t have drank that much. That is the side effect” Eros remarked.
“Shouldn’t you have warned me?”
Eros shrugged.
“So why are you here this early? Don’t you have duties to attend to. Hades, you have to work harder especially now that the Fates are angry because you’ve neglected your kingly duties and Thanatos is the one making up for you”
“Eros, I have lost concentration!”
“I understand Friend, calm down”
“How has it been?”
“Nothing much, she just keeps occupying my mind these days”
“I understand. Have you been talking to her?”
“No”
“gods! Why?”
“I don’t know”
“A week has gone and you haven’t made a step? Hades!”
“See, you need to drop this cold attitude of yours else you wont win her to yourself. I’ll talk with Aphrodite and we’ll find something to do about it”
*****
“Jimi! I have missed you! How have you been?” Elyme asked as she squealed with glee. “Elyme, you just left me like that. What happened? I tried your number on that very day, it rang but at a point it got switched off” Jimi lamented while Elyme just kept a straight face as she remembered it was Hermes that waved his hand and the phone had immediately stopped ringing. “Your parents have looked everywhere for you. I informed my dad about your disappearance and he took some measures. He made sure it was announced on the media but still, we didn’t find you”
“Am sorry Jimi. There are lot and lot of explanations but why have you grown lean? Look at your face, its gloomy and weary”
“Adriane, please sit” Elyme turned to the standing Adriane and she sat. she was busy feeding her eyes with the luxuriance of the room. Her eyes kept bulging out as she stared on and on, looking mesmerized and astonished.
Elyme pulled Jimi into a hug. She slowly rubbed his bushy head and neck. She could feel his warmth. She had so much missed him.
“Where is Violet?”
“She’s gone”
“And can you believe Dad is getting married to her mother soon?”
“Are you for real?”
“Yeah. But I won’t allow that happen. How could he just take that step after just ten years mom passed on? We’ve been beefing ever since I discovered. The funniest thing is that Sewedo is okay with it and doesn’t see any big deal in it as long as dad loves her. Love my foot! And Vio is even indifferent. It’s expected anyway. She’s still young”
“Jimi. Please take it easy with your dad”
“Heavens! I can’t believe you’ve been gone for so long and you managed to appear again only for me to start boring you with that.”
“It shows you are pissed and you’ve been brooding about it.”
“Am not here to stay permanently. Please tell my parents they would never see me again. Tell them I love them and greet the twins, Sewedo and little Vio for me. I would explain everything to you this night through a magic paper given to me by a god. I have to go now for my time here is limited. I love you Jimi” Elyme said and disappeared leaving behind a grey coloured mist. Adriane followed suit, without any mist though.
“A god. Hades?” Jimi kept repeating that till his head threatened to spill open. He looked forward to getting explanations from her. He touched the side of the bed where she had sat and started imagining her beautiful physique there again. A fat tear rolled down his cheek. He missed his Elyme. Yes, he did!
*****

Dinabella:
Nice story you've got here., it's just so different from the norm. Ride on., more ink to your pen.

thank you ma. I hope you stay with us till the end of this story..

Aww, dis update is so emotional. Keep it up, jeenah.

****
“Please Vera, come back home” Nella
cringed, as he sank into the chair and
held his phone close to his ear.

“Nella. How could you have done that?
Impregnate a girl just after eight months
of marriage. What happened to our vows,
your promises?” Vera spoke tearfully from
the other end. Her voice hit her husband
sharply at heart, making him go numb and
speechless. She had moved out of his
house into a hotel after she got to know
a lady claimed she was pregnant for her
husband. It was so bad a disaster and it
has costed him his job after the news
flew open into the papers that he
impregnated his worker, Tessy. Now, it was
about to cost him his marriage.

“You’ve lost your job, the lady’s relatives
from the village are pestering you to
come do the necessary traditional rites. Go
and do it, leave me alone! Vera hung up
the call and fell on the soft bed.
Nella wasn’t meant to lose his job because
he was the owner of the telecoms
company after his dad, Chief Lawson, a
multimillionaire who had flown abroad had
successfully handed over the oil and gas
company and also the telecoms company
to his son. Nella had signed an agreement
with another multinational company which
was known for recording large profits in
six figures he was investing into and the
terms and conditions was that they could
take decisions concerning Nella’s company
since they had shares in it and also
opened other branches outside Lagos and
also one in Johannesburg. He was sacked
when the news had circulated and had
spread like wildfire which was spoiling
business and also ruining the reputation of
the investors and also the company.
However, he was still a beneficiary of some
firms, shares and some special offers. Even
if he wasn’t, the amount in his bank
account was enough to serve him a
lifetime.

“Room service” A masculine voice called out
from outside.

“Not now!” she snapped and allowed her
tears to dripple down. She slammed her
palm against her forehead and drifted into
mental chatter. She groaned and turned
over, her eyes fluttering open to take in
her surroundings. The room’s multi-coloured
light danced on her skin. Vera picked the
‘Daily trust’ newspaper again and read the
headline
‘Nigeria’s top multibillionaire’s son, Nella
Lawson involved in a s-x scandal with a 24
year old, turn to page 2 for detailed
analysis’.


How can men be so wicked, heartless, cruel
and devilish? She asked herself over and
over again. She had done everything to
please him but what did her so called
husband do in return? He ran into the arms
of another woman and now he would soon
be fathering a baby. She twisted into what
could pass for a yoga pose and decided to
call her bank manager to inform him that
she would be absent from work due to
some family trauma. She bet her colleagues
must have read about what happened from
the newspaper. She wasn’t ready to make
herself a laughing stock so it would be
wise to stay off from work. She just
hoped the bank would give her enough
break for her to sort out herself. It
wasn’t as If her absence would be really
felt anyway. Eversince some youth corps
got posted to her branch some weeks ago
for their services, they had relived not
only her but her colleagues of stress and
tremendous work. Some were even becoming
lazy and useless.

Vera sighed and dropped her phone. Mr.
Collins had agreed to give her two weeks
break for her to sort out whatever was
going on in her life. He had pretended he
didn’t hear of what happened to her
marriage and had maintained a formal
conversation with her.


She had a shower and ordered for her
dinner to be served. She wore her pajamas
and walked to the window. She was in a 5
star hotel of about ten floors and she
was on the sixth floor, so she had a
beautiful view of the area. One tall office
building with ‘RayGlay industries’ written
on it was a few meters away from the
hotel. To her right side was another
building of just three floors. She
scrutinized the building well. The ground
floor had ‘cake&coffee’ written on it and
it was painted in cream and chocolate. The
middle floor was a lingerie and accessories
store while the upper floor just looked
like a home. It made her remember how her
home was. She wiped off the tears that
rolled down her cheeks and the beads of
sweat on her forehead. She instantly felt
a renewed and stronger pang of hatred for
her husband. Her phone rang but she just
left it where it was. it rang again and she
contemplated on whether picking the call
or not. It was her mother and she knew
how emotional mothers could be in cases
like this. She wasn’t ready to receive
marital advise neither was she ready to
receive chastisement.


She switched off her phone and reminded
the hotel’s management again for her
food. she was informed it was ready so she
asked them to bring it up to her room.
her dinner, Boiled yam and omelette was
brought to her room some minutes later.
She opened the fridge and poured herself
some juice. She enjoyed her meal and
chided herself when she was getting
emotional about her marital issues.
‘Stop it Vera! You ain’t gonna allow
yourself cry because of a man that
doesn’t worth it’ Tara, her friend had
called and said those lines she strongly
held on to. Tara was right, she wouldn’t
cry because of him.


Suddenly, she strewed up her food as
something crossed her mind. She recalled
her visit to the hospital some weeks
before her marriage and she remembered
what the doctor had told her concerning
her husband’s status. He had azoospermia
and from her research, she was able to
gather her husband wouldn’t be able to
impregnate a woman. Her fork clattered on
her plate as she instantly grew cold. She
blinked her eyes and raised her eyebrows so
high that they vanished into her
asymmetrical fringe. Something didn’t seem
right and at the same time, something was
adding up. She fingered the curled tendrils
of her weave-on and she thought of what
to do.


Definitely there was something fishy about
Tessy’s pregnancy. She turned on her
laptop and launched the ‘FaceTrackNg’ her
friend who was a private investigator had
told her about on whatsapp. She picked
her phone and checked her whatsapp
messages to read on how her friend had
gisted her about on the use of the
application. When her friend was gisting her
about it she had thought it was
unnecessary and irrelevant but now she
needed it desperately. She checked through
and eventually found the chat which was
dated three months ago. She read it and
digested the info on how to use it. She
opened the facial recognition software
built by one young techie in Nigeria. She
hit her head so hard as she tried
remembering the surname of the lady that
claimed she was pregnant for her husband.
“Yes! Tessy Ekpo!” she screamed with glee.
Her husband had mentioned that name
subconsciously and she had tapped it. She
typed the name and typed some details of
her Nella had described during one of
those talks about his workers. She
submitted it and shut her eyes as she
seriously hoped it would yield a productive
result. The laptop beeped and she opened
her eyes, staring at the screen to
assemble the result.


The facial recognition program had finished
running and it had found someone with the
name “Tessy Ekpo”-A female, twenty-four
years old and worked in her husband’s
company! Vera read her background history
and her personal details. Her address
wasn’t detailed enough as it had just
displayed ‘Lagos’

First things first, she must get to her
residential address by all means the next
day. She sighed in blessed relief and just
hoped she got to see her in person. She
really wanted to save her marriage. She
still loved her husband.
******

******


Elyme smiled and scribbled “Goodbye, talk
with you at night” on a note and it
disappeared. She was enjoying the medium
she was using to communicate with Jimi.
She had been given the magic notepad as a
gift on her birthday and she could use it
to send any message to anyone her soul
wished and it would be delivered. She had
been sending letters and she had been
receiving letters from Jimi in the past few
days. It was really surprising and almost
impossible but it had been fun for herself
and Jimi that she had little or no time
to gist with Adriane. Adriane wasn’t
offended or envious at all, she had also
fallen in love in a life she lived and even
though she couldn’t remember much about
it, she knew it was a happy tingling
feeling.

Elyme stepped into the shower and
scrubbed away the dirt that caked on her
skin. She brushed her teeth and tied her
hair up in a high ponytail. Her fringes fell
to the side, untucking themselves from her
ear by how long and curly they were. She
sighed and rummaged through the small
drawers for something decent to wear. She
finally settled for a hot pink red blouse
and a knee-length flowy black skirt. She
looked at herself in the mirror and smiled.
She stepped into her sandals and decided
to go help Adriane with her chores after
having her meal.

Although the castle was extravagant and
enormous, she found her way to the
dinning quite easily but what she saw
wasn’t anything she expected. Her eyes
widened as she ran to Hades who was
coughing and holding his throat as his
fingernails dug unto the dinning floor.
“Hades, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
He looked up at her, his eyes flashing
different shades of blue and he groaned
out loud, ”Get away!”

She frowned and ignored what he had just
said.
“Hades, what’s wrong?” she asked again.
He growled the sound coming deep from
within his chest and sounding feral.
“Get away now!”

“Hades, what happened? What did you eat?”
“Aphrodite” he coughed out, deepening his
voice to sound so husky that shivers began
to run down her back.

“She poisoned me” He added, holding onto
his chest as the pain came again, more
excruciating.

“Aphrodite poisoned you? Why? Are you
going to die?”

Hades shook his head, staring up at her
with hungry eyes and growled
“You have to leave now Elyme. Tell
Adriane and the rest of the female
servants to leave the castle. You can
summon the male guards to stay with me”
Elyme narrowed her eyes and looked as if
she didn’t understand a thing.

“Go now! It’ll go away eventually but
every woman near me will become desirable”

“What?”

“That’s the spell Aphrodite casted into
the food I ate. Right now, she’s the one
controlling my emotions and making me
sexually hungry. She made the sexual beast
I’ve been holding back ever since Persephone
left me come out” He groaned and stared
at her with dark predatory eyes.


“What could break the spell and make you
the pain go?”She found herself asking.
“Right now, you are like an aphrodisiac.
Your smell is a thousand times more
enhanced than it usually is and its driving
me insane. You need to get out of her
now, I can’t hold myself much longer"

“Am not going anywhere, I want to help
you so the earlier you tell me what will
break the spell, the better for you”
Elyme said, crossing her hands over her
chest and standing rigidly. She didn’t know
why she said so, she didn’t know why she
wanted to help someone that had been so
mean to her, she just wanted to. She
watched as his face turned deathly white.
Adrenaline rushed through his veins as he
managed to hold himself a bit more.

Fine! Standing before him was his destined.
His fated. But he didn’t want to take
advantage of her. It would be the most
irresponsible thing to do as the king of
the underworld and it would further ignite
the Fates’ anger. Hades stared at her and
she stared back at him too.

The forces of
attraction in the room grew stronger and
it seemed the time stood still as they
both stared at each other, Elyme standing
with her hands akimbo which gave no clue
to her thoughts, emotions or feelings.

Nice job, jeenah.

I'm back, really miss this story
Jeenah you are the best... ride on girl

estybae:
Nice job, jeenah.

Thanks my Queen... Hope you're enjoying the story

Rukkydelta:
I'm back, really miss this story

Jeenah you are the best... ride on girl

Thank you.. I looked everywhere on nairaland 4 u though.. u were gone 4 too long bae.. thank God u are back