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Days had passed since his encounter with Odudu and his gang, thankfully the gods had spared his life and with the help of his mother’s herbs, he had recovered fully.

‘I see you now have appetite’ she walked into his chambers and dismissed the slave girls that served him food.

‘I am not strong mother, thanks to you and the gods’ he lifted the gourd and drank from it.

‘Yes, I know they have a purpose for you, one you must fulfill no matter the opposition’ Ekambamma replied. She stared dreamily at her son, not feeling guilty or harboring any regrets whatsoever from what she had done to Nkoso at the forest, she deserved every bit of her, how could she play god over her life?

‘It is time to find Odudu and his clique of usurpers, they must be brought to book’ he rose to his feet more determined than ever.

‘Tell me your plans, we must stick together this time, you have many enemies son, many that seek to destroy your soul’ Ekambamma replied and rose to her feet.

‘How do you know these mother’? he asked.

‘I have my means, my spies are everywhere and from what they told me, there is a prophecy released against you, this prophecy is not in your favour. That is why we must work hard to avert it’ she lied.

‘A prophecy? We have to kill Odudu first’ Ekong replied.

‘There is a secret guild committed to your downfall, I don’t know much about them but you must be very careful Ekong, you’re all I have’ a tear slipped down her cheeks.

‘I will be fine mother, by the gods I will’ Ekong replied as his thoughts swayed, he had seen the priestess in his dream, Nkoso, that was her name and she kept calling him a stranger. The dream troubled him very much.

‘Mother’? he called, he felt he needed to see her, maybe she could help in averting the prophecy.

‘Yes son?’ she wiped her face and gazed at him.

‘I want to see the priestess Nkoso, arrange a meeting’ Ekong replied

‘Nkoso? Why do you want to see her? She is evil and she is dead’ the woman stuttered, why had Ekong developed sudden interest in her.

‘Dead? I don’t understand mother, but I saw her few days back, what happened to her’? Ekong asked.

‘I…i…’ she stammered.

‘You may enter’ Ekong yelled to the person that knocked on his door.

‘The chiefs are all here, my lord’ the palace guard bowed his head and left.

‘We’ll talk about this mother, see you later’ she swirled round and left her, something wasn’t right, his mother looked frightened, like she had a terrible secret to protect.

‘This isn’t happening’ Ekambamma pressed her hands on her beating chest.
***
The members of the guild, all warriors and men in leadership positions and the priest of the guild was present.

‘You’re all welcomed to this meeting, before we start, I’d like the eye of the gods to say a prayer in our favour’ Chief Ekop bowed his head and all the guild members did same.

‘May the gods receive our praises, Abasi enyong(god of the heavens), Abasi isong (god of the earth), Abasi ekong(god of war), Andikara(ruler of all), Ndem akai(goddess of the forest), Ndem mmong( water goddess) and all the deities we hold dear, may they protect and guide us all, lest our feet crash on the evil stone’ the priest prayed and poured some palm wine from his guard to the earth.

‘Jak Ade Ntere, may it be so’ the people replied.

‘Thank you once again, as we all know, Odudu here had a one on one encounter with that scum of the earth, that tyrant that parades himself as King’ Ekop gestured with his hands.

‘We must therefore be ready, we have to prepare for Ekong shall strike back and real hard, that is why we must do this today’ Ekop snapped his fingers and the priest produced a human skull from his raffia bag and dropped it in the middle of the Afe, the meeting room.

‘My lord, I have something else to share, I think it is very important’Odudu rose to his feet and dropped the dagger he and his men had found that night.

‘Abasi! What is the meaning of this? Why must you interrupt the leader of the guild, have you no manners boy’? Chief Asawo sneered angrily at him.

‘I have not dishonored you or anyone in this hall in any way, all I seek is vengeance and freedom for all Annang lands, why do you taunt me’? Odudu’s eyes darkened, for some reason he didn’t like Chief Asawo, the man didn’t like him either and they both steered clear of each other.

‘Enough! We have to focus’ the Priest rose to his feet.

‘What is this about’? Chief Ekop, leader of the guild asked Odudu.

‘We found this dagger in the forest of the gods, the priestess is dead, someone from the palace murdered her’ Odudu pointed to the emblem of a leaopard on the object.

‘How does this help us with our cause’? Asawo scowled.

‘Abasi kan Ilomo!, may the gods forbid it, alas! I had seen the priestess Nkoso in my dream, I thought it strange for we never spoke in the physical’ the Priest exclaimed and the house was divided by murmurs.

‘Then this means something, whoever killed her had something to hide, something they held dear, a secret’ Ekop suggested.

‘A secret? What if she was just killed? Let’s get back to the main point of this meeting and forget this dagger issue’ Asawo cut in impatiently.
‘As you wish’ Odudu returned to his seat, he had no time to argue with Asawo, they had more important matters to attend to.

‘Thank you, great warrior’ Ekop acknowledged his wise action.

‘We are all here to swear the oath of allegiance to ourselves and to the gods, mbiam is an oath sworn to loyalty and once broken would lead to eminent death, so all members of the guild must swear to keep everything we do secret’ the Priest lifted the skull to the sky.

‘What nonsense! Why must we swear our allegiance? Do you know how potent the mbiam gods could be? They kill mercilessly and show no forgiveness, do you realize how dangerous this is? We have already sacrificed enough for this guild, if you are not convinced that we are ready to remove Ekong from the throne, then you are the disloyal one’ Chief Asawo rose to his feet and stormed out of the Afe.


‘Asawo! Come back here, this is for our own good’! Chief Ekop persuaded but he’d walked far.

‘I think he is right my lord, I could swear to any other gods but not the mbiam gods, they are heartless, we have worked this far together and there has been no case of betrayal, I think we all share a common purpose’ Odudu said, for once he saw eye to eye with the chief.

‘He is right Chief Ekop, I am willing to lay my life for this cause, I don’t need to swear to those wicked gods to prove that’ one of the warriors shouted and others joined him.

‘What do you think’? Ekop whispered to the priest.

‘Well, I only wanted this to ensure there wouldn’t be a crack in our plans, but the people have rejected it, I reject it too’ the priest replied and returned the skull to his raffia bag.

‘So what do we do next Odudu? Have you come up with a plan yet’? Ekop asked.

‘Yes! The sooner we remove Odudu, the better for us, we are outnumbered, so the first thing we do is to take out some of his warriors’ Odudu rose to his feet.

‘And how do we achieve this’? Ekop asked.

‘Poison’ Odudu replied and the people were astonished, how was he to execute his plans?

‘Tell us more’ they jeered.

‘I plan to send some spies into the palace, they would disguise as workers and slip this poison into the food given to the warriors, one by one, the poison shall feed on their flesh till they are no more and once they are weak, we strike and take Ekong out’ Odudu explained.

‘Brilliant Idea but what if the King goes into hiding? How do we find him? we all know he has palaces hidden in other lands’ someone asked.

‘A mouse does not hide forever, even if he does, its stench would always expose him’ Odudu replied and they burst out laughing.

‘Nice plan, so you should work on that, I’ll speak to Asawo later to convince some of the cabinet chiefs to pass a vote of no confidence on Ekong, it would help our plan work faster’ Ekop nodded vehemently.

‘One more thing Odudu’ the voice of the priest silenced them all.

‘Yes? Eye of the gods’ Odudu bowed before him.

‘Though the prophecy is in your favor, you will still sorrow’ he replied and vanished.

‘I will sorrow’? the words of the priest echoed in his brain.

***




She sighed contently as she watched him sleep, whoever did this to her son had to pay, Ekong was so precious to her and she could do anything to save him from trouble, one of the reasons she needed to see Nkoso, the priestess.

‘I guess the gods need their price now’ Ekambamma whispered, her heart ached, sweat broke on her forehead as she stepped outside of her son’s room, what if they needed Ekong himself?

‘No’ she muttered as she sneaked out of the palace, no one could see her, no one should follow her, this was her greatest secret and the burden of keeping it increased since her husband died, he also shared in it.

The priestess Nkoso, was half human and half spirit, she was the eyes of the forest gods and their mouthpiece too, she had been the one to save her family. The woman paused as she reached Akai Ibom, the great forest where the gods danced at night and slept in the morning, no one could enter uninvited.

The sounds of the night scared her, but the shine of the moon strengthened her and gave her courage for what was to come.

‘I see, you have to come to see me, Mother Queen’ Nkoso appeared before her and she gasped.

‘Don’t worry, you shall not be harmed, follow me’ the priestess guided her deeper into the forest.

‘Why did you come to the palace? It was not a good idea, if you needed anything from me, you should have sent a message across’ Ekambamma hissed angrily.

‘Watch your tongue woman, you have become too proud for the gods, that’s why they choose to humble you now’ Nkoso spat angrily at her.

‘What do the gods want from me? I have offered them many sacrifices, I worship them in my prayers, I give to the poor…’ she trailed off as Nkoso raised her hands.

‘Stop praising yourself, your son is a tyrant, just like his father, the people are crying, they need a change’ Nkoso said.

‘Tyrant? How dare you call him a tyrant? All he has ever done is what’s best for the people, just like his father, the late king, if the gods want him removed, then they have surely gone mad’ she rose to her feet annoyed.

‘Watch your tongue again, this is hallow ground, your pride and arrogant have grown as wild as the bush vines, you have spoken the will of the gods, they want Ekong removed as king, that is the sacrifice you must pay, you must listen to the gods’ Nkoso straightened up.

‘How dare they? I shall not listen to the gods’ Ekambamma replied defiantly.

‘Then I shall tell the whole world the truth, I shall expose you and Ekong shall be buried alive for the abomination he truly is!’ Nkoso yelled angrily.

‘Do not threaten me, you may be the favorite of the gods but they gave me power over you, I am still your queen’ Ekambamma felt weak at Nkoso’s words. How could she say something like that? How could she expose what she’d safely hidden all these years?

‘I swear, by all the gods of the Annang lands, I shall tell them what happened in this forest that fateful night’ Nkoso pounded her fist on her chest.

‘I see, go on and tell them, but you do not have proof and no one would believe you, why were the other gods silent? Why didn’t the chief priest speak? Is it a mere woman like you that the gods could fear?’ Ekambamma scoffed but she shivered within as she realized leaving Nkoso alive after all those years was a mistake, one that would ruin everything.

‘Even if you escape me, how about the famous prophecy about the downfall of your son? Or haven’t you heard about the guild? A group of warriors and political leaders set to usurp him? there is a prophecy, one of doom and dishonor, a new king shall be crown, one that is worthy’ it was Nkoso’s time to mock her.

‘Well, till then, I shall return to the palace’ Ekambamma smiled wickedly.

‘I shall tell the world that your womb produced an abomination, one is sitting on the throne and one is lost, though their destinies are entwined, I shall tell them you gave birth to twins!’ Nkoso yelled angrily, how could the woman be so ungrateful?

‘Fine, go ahead and tell them but you shall die’ Ekambamma pulled out her dagger underneath her garment and plugged it deeply into Nkoso’s abdomen.

She screamed loudly and blood soaked her fingers as she fell to the ground eyes wide opened.

‘Good riddance,now let’see how your stupid prophecy shall come to pass’ the queen spat and stormed out of the forest.
***
‘Why do you look so scared even when I’m with you’? Odudu could see she was frightened by the sounds of the night.

‘I’m not scared, it’s just so dark and I don’t even know where we are’ Afianmma replied.
‘Not to worry, we’ll be home soon’ Ekong rubbed her hand gently, there was something about her that gave him peace and he couldn’t resist it. It wasn’t the glow of her fair skin or the softness of her hands but the glow in her beautifully shaped eyes.

She knew he was staring at her but she couldn’t meet his eyes, he had saved her twice that day and she owed him for it. She felt safer with him than she ever did with her slave mistress, and she knew he was the answer to her prayers.

‘My lord…’ one of the warriors ran towards them with an object.

‘What is it Okon? Why look so startled?’ Odudu wondered.

‘We cannot cross this forest, it is cursed’ the boy replied.

‘Cursed? The gods live here, it’s where the priestess Nkoso stays, I know here, I’ve been here before but only those invited in by her can cross’ Afianmma explained.

‘Are you sure about this’? Odudu asked, that meant their journey could be delayed. They had left Aswana and had stepped into the village where Ekong’s palace was,their home was two villages after Ekong’s.

‘Those rules may not apply anymore’ Okon replied and handed Odudu the dagger he found stuck to the corpse in the forest.

‘What is this’? Odudu hesitated, it was a dagger soaked in blood, what if it was a dangerous charm to lure them into a trap?

‘I found it on a dead woman, I think she was the priestess from the way she dressed’ he replied nervously.

‘Who could’ve killed her? What if Ekong knows we are here and has sent his warriors after us’? Odudu rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

‘Then we are all doomed’ Afianmma sighed, she had heard stories about the king’s army and how numerous they were.

‘No, we are safe, I checked everywhere’ Okon replied.

‘Then who must have killed the priestess and why’? Odudu inhaled deeply, why had the gods brought this mystery for them to solve?

‘Whoever did this is from Ekong’s palace, a member of the royal household, when my father was alive, he served as a butler and I lived in the palace for a while’ Okon said.

‘How sure are you Okon? Do you know what you’re saying’? Odudu asked to be sure.
‘Yes, only royals hold this kind of dagger, with the symbol of an ekpe, a leopard’ he pointed at the emblem.

‘Then we must hurry, the guild must have a meeting, something is going on’ Odudu could feel it strongly.

EvaJael:
Angelsss...this is really beautiful. I'm feeling the ibibio names wella,wehdone ma

thanks honey

Raychellasam:
Angelsss has started started another story and she didn't even call us...Leggooo!!!

Sorry o
plz mention ur friends

MhizDherbee:
Wow! following...

thanks hon

Alennsar:
ok lemme go n carry my golden chair amabia kitakita

wehcome

Divepen1:
param Param Parammmmmm

Tension rising.

yea

*
Ekambamma shivered as her son was rushed into the palace, he was injured and most of his guards weren’t with him.

‘No, Abasi! Let no harm befall my only son’ her lips quavered as she watched him come from afar. She feared as she recalled the words of the prophecy: ‘When the end shall near,all you’ll have is despair’.

‘No, I would not lose my son, I wouldn’t, I’ve paid all my dues’ she cried as he was brought into the palace.

‘What happened to my son’? she cried.

‘We were attacked at Aswana, ambushed and the lot of us massacred’ one of the guards spoke.

‘Attacked? Who would dare attack my son’? Ekambamma knelt before him, she sighed with relief as she lay her head on his chest, he was still breathing and his heartbeat was alive.

‘Odudu, the bastard warrior’ Ekong coughed out blood.

‘Odudu? Who is this man? He made your father’s rule terrible, he sort to tear this whole land apart’ Ekambamma asked.
Many had seen her husband as a tyrant, but she never shared their opinion, he was a powerful man and did what he had to do. She even had more respect for him for his willingness to save her life and their secret.
Now the same vileness in the nature of a man called Odudu had crept towards her son and was ready to eat him up.
‘Ekong? What shall we do? Now he has attacked you, it is an insult to the throne, if this isn’t checked, the people would see you as a weakling’ she beckoned to her slaves to fetch her some water so she could clean him up.

‘I underestimated him mother, I almost had him, I was this close, but the gods stole my victory away from me’ Ekong retorted weakly.

‘Then the gods are mad’ the queen spat.

‘Careful how you speak to the gods, they have been nothing but merciful to you Ekambamma, they shielded you from their wrath all these years, even after you’d committed a sacrilege’ a strange woman sauntered into the palace.

‘Nkoso!’ the queen gasped and fell on her feet, what was the priestess of the forest gods doing there? Her heart raced, had she come to expose her?

‘You forgot the gods who gave you life and shielded you from shame, you forgot the covenant you made at my shrine, I waited all these years for you to come see me, but you forgot’ the priestess said.

‘Who is this strange woman? And what is she doing in my palace’? Ekong gazed at the woman, she was as slender as the Abangama, the bamboo, and equally tall as that, she covered her loins with a rag made of feathers and painted her breasts with charcoal. She wore a crown made from leopard skin and adorned her face with ndom, clay. She looked scary.

‘I see, the stranger now sits upon the throne’ she laughed hysterically and vanished.

‘Nkoso! Wait’ the queen called after her, but she had vanished. Why had the priestess of the demon gods paid her a visit?

‘Mother, who is that woman and did she call me stranger’? Ekong was baffled.

‘Pay no mind to her, she is out of her mind, now drink this, it would help you sleep and drive malicious spirits away from you’ she offered him a gourd filled with mmayang, kernel oil to soothe him.

‘By the gods, Odudu and his followers shall pay for this’ Ekong grunted and fell asleep.
***

‘Who are all these men and why did they show up at the right time’? Afiamma eyed the bush which had become bloody.

‘No time for questions pretty one, I have to leave Aswana at once’ Odudu caressed her face.
The guild had sent some warriors to save his life and for that he owed them his allegiance, he would fight side by side till Ekong was displaced.

The warriors of the guild had fought to the death, most warriors from the palace were injured, Ekong himself wasn’t spared the agony of their blade, but they had to plan ahead, Ekong was going to see revenge and they needed to get prepared for that.

‘Leave? To where’? Afiamma asked. It had gotten dark, crickets had resumed their song and frogs croaked in unison that darkness had come.

‘Home, you should do same, I’ll send some of the men to help you find your way, do take care of yourself’ he gazed at her briefly and was about leaving when her soft hands pulled him back.

‘Please don’t leave me here, I don’t want to return to my mistress, she’s a mean old widow and has plans to send me into concubinary, please show me mercy’ she begged.

‘I don’t want you to suffer, I am a warrior, I can’t have someone as fragile as you around me, you have to understand that’ Odudu felt her pain but he couldn’t take her with him, it was too dangerous.

‘It’s okay master, you can take her along, she would stay with Emem’ one of the guild warriors suggested.

‘Emem?’ Odudu rubbed his chin, Emem was his lover.
****

y.
***
‘And is that how cowardly a king should be? Why lay ambush for me’? Odudu winced in pain as the arrow had pierced his ankle deeply.

‘Well, I am just making sure you don’t try anything funny in my land’ Ekong replied and moved closer to the warrior and the beautiful woman that stood beside him.

‘Please show him mercy, my Lord’ Afiamma fell on her knees, she had heard stories of these two men but she had never come face to face with them. So the handsome stranger was a warrior? And the ruthless man before her was Ekong? Who was a tyrant?

‘Do not beg for me’ Odudu spat angrily at her. Word must have gotten to Ekong about the guild’s plan to usurp him, this only meant one thing, he was going to be tried and buried alive, according to the Mbet, the laws of the land, whoever tried usurping a leader was to be buried alive.

‘How sweet, this pretty maiden begging for your life, pray tell me? Is she your lover’? the king encircled Afiamma. She was such a beauty, exquisitely unique, a jewel that surpassed other jewels in beauty.

‘I shall end you like you ended my family’ Odudu cried out angrily.

‘Wow, heroic, now you threaten my life before my subjects’ Ekong gestured with his hands.

‘Stay quiet Odudu, please, you must not die’ Afiamma rushed to his side.
He was surprised to hear a hint of concern in her voice, they’ just met, the sadness in her beautiful eyes calmed him and he bit his lower lip. She was right, he wasn’t thinking straight, he needed to play smart to stay alive, much work had to be done.

‘I heard from a little bird that the great warrior, Odudu, had embarked on a journey to Aswana village, this bothered me, because I was also coming this way to see to some slave business’ Ekong clenched his fist angrily, he’d heard stories about Odudu, he was a rebel and so were those that followed him, he’d made the last days of his father’s reign terrible, but he wouldn’t allow that. Two rich slave merchants had a fight, one that could lead to a crack in the slave business, that was why he’d been invited to Aswana to settle the dispute.

‘I have no plans of killing you now, release me Ekong’ Odudu replied.

‘Please….’ Afiamma begged.

‘I see, you have a sharp tongue, an unrepentant spirit, I know just how to treat you and your slave’ Ekong had seen the marking on her body, she was an Ifon, and therefore had no will, she seemed special to Odudu he noticed the way she crouched over him.

‘You dare not come any closer to us’ Odudu knew he was at the mercy of Ekong but he couldn’t show weakness, he had to find a way to escape with the slave, else Ekong would take her with him and turn her into his concubine, thoughts of Ekong ramming her intoxicated him with something he realized as anger and jealousy.

‘Guards? Take the girl and chop off his head, I don’t want no traitors in my land’ Ekong snapped his fingers and the guards rushed forward with their spears to snatch the slavegirl.

‘Abasi! Please have mercy on us, don’t do anything to hurt him’ Tears blurred her vision as the men tore her apart from Odudu.

‘You’ll pay for this’ fear gripped Odudu, he was helpless, if only he had strength, he would’ve slaughtered Ekong and his men.

‘So easy to say for a man who is about to die’ Ekong smiled wickedly and gave his guards the final command.

‘No!!!!’ Afiamma’s terrified screams filled the air.
‘Kill him! gwod nye!’ Ekong yelled and the guard released his machete ready to behead the mighty warrior when an arrow, pierced his neck and he fell to the ground.

‘The guild!’ Odudu whispered as men came out from all parts of the bush to his rescue.
***
‘How did you know Odudu was under attack’? Obong Asawo questioned the leader of the group.

‘I don’t know, I just felt it in me, I pray our warriors get to Aswana on time to rescue him from whatever danger he may be in’ Obong Ekop replied.
After the death of the tyrant king, Okuku Ibridem, many people rejoiced, hoping and believing his son, Ekong would’ve learnt from the mistakes of his father’s unpopular regime.
Ibridem was cruel and very diabolical, no man could stand against him, even the Priests couldn’t dare him else he’ d have their head, his death was mysterious because he’d made himself invincible.
Having two tyrant kings from the same bloodline had necessitated the formation of the guild, they needed to remove Ekong as king, but that could only be achieved with a group that held so much power.
The guild was a mixture of warriors and men who were highly placed in the society, Obong Ekop, was a cabinet chief, Obong Asawo was a regent chief in his village, so they used the knowledge from politics to create their strategy.

With the help of Odudu the greatest warrior that ever lived, they had trained as many young men as possible, once the time came, the guild wouldn’t lack men to fight the Palace warriors who’d sworn their loyalty to Ekong.

‘I don’t like the way you released all our warriors just for one man’ Obong Asawo voiced out his discomfort.

‘That one man is the strength of this guild, Odudu is very important to our cause’ Ekop replied not understanding Chief Asawo’s objections.

‘Tell me, why do you have so much faith in that young man? It’s not as if he’ll have importance once Ekong is defeated’ Asawo smirked.

‘You make me laugh Asawo, don’t be naïve, you damn well know why I favour Odudu’ Ekop replied.

‘And why is that’? Asawo raised his brows.

‘Well, I spoke to the chief priest and his prophecy backed up my plans’ Ekop smiled.

‘What prophecy and what plans’? Asawo raised his brows, hoping whatever the ambitious Ekop had planned wouldn’t clash with his own personal interest.

‘Once Ekong is defeated, Odudu shall be crowned king’ Ekop replied.
***

Eniqurl:
I love this! Nice work Angelsss pls mention me in ur next story

thanks dear

splendidiva:
tanks pls mention me n ur next story

thanks, I will

Alennsar:
this is wonderful

Thank you dear

timota:
oh thanks ,a great story by a great princess from a great state.But ur story is scary,the story made me to consider not sleeping in a house again. I will be sleeping outside to avoid sleeping in a house of secrets

Hahahahaha, don't be scared o

ofuregbe:
wow.. this is luvly. u're such a gifted writer... God bless you dear.

Thanks so much!

uniquealdehyde:
[b][/b]this is one of the greatest write up I have ever gone through in recent time....kudos

I am flattered, thank you so much dear

IemFava:
Wow....Thank you

Thank you too dear

Jane1234f:
This got me thinking, do you know your house? Is it a house of secrets? Or monsters? Are there just roses in your garden? Or something dark waiting to escape? Show me your house….
I love these lines...... Nice story

Thanks so much

Daintelectual:
wow! I love the suspense. thanks I intend to give u a gift for this

thank you. Wow, patiently waiting.

aprilwise:
wonderful, such a wonderful story.

Thank you!

Fijumokesayo:
Thanks so very much Op, God bless you....


I observe the epilogue was rushed, no offence pls.

thanks for the observation, would work on that in other stories.
Thanks

splendidiva:
tanks dear.

welcome dear

yeeshanana:
Well-done Op

thanks honey

*
THE DINNER…..

The night had come, the night he would get his pay for keeping their dirty and dark secret, he was a fulfilled man, Kachi Romeo, one of the wealthiest bloggers in the country, after Linda Ikeji, he was next and there was no stopping him.

‘How do I look’? Romeo smiled mischievously. He was confident the business with the Itas would work out just fine, with Oliver and the boys to protect him, nothing could go wrong.

‘You look okay, but we’re running out of time, it’s almost 9’ Oliver reminded him.

‘Let them wait, they need me more than I need them’ Romeo replied and he was right, the Pastor was a man of repute and he would do anything to keep that identity and that of his family.

‘My boys have taken strategic position round the Itas house, so you have nothing to worry about’ Oliver said.

‘I trust you Oliver, when I am with you, I feel safe, one day, I would reward you for your kind services’ he patted him on the shoulder and walked away.

‘Good riddance to bad rubbish’ Oliver offered him a sly smile, he couldn’t wait to strangle him later that night.

He had other plans too, once Romeo was out, others would follow, no one could ever blackmail him again.
***

I had tried to escape during the night but I dissuaded myself against such action, it could get me killed, besides, I didn’t know Helen’s plans with the rifle, what if it was meant for me? What if she was spying me?

‘Dinner is served, darling, come and eat’ I heard her call to the husband from the kitchen.

I had prepared food for everyone, Romeo was included but he wasn’t yet here.

‘What makes you think I’ll eat your food?’ the pastor scoffed.

‘She wants to poison us, sorry mum, I just gave dad something to eat’ Rose chipped in.

‘I bet you did’ Helen grinned, she couldn’t wait to put a bullet into her.

‘I’ll need you two to be nice, Mark is coming home, so let’s not ruin the family dinner with all these’ she gestured with her hand. She had to lie for them to comply, she still had not gotten any information on Mark.


‘Fine, but we’re only having this dinner cause of Mark’ Rose replied and led her father to the dining table.

‘Thank you’ Helen replied and joined me in the kitchen.

‘Ajunwa? Be a dear and check the doorbell, it seems our guest is here, one more thing, I need that obscene video of my husband fucking his daughter’ she said.


‘In my room’ I replied and left for the door. Helen was up to something, there was this macabre gleam in her eyes and I prayed no one would be buried in that garden that night.

‘Romeo? What are you doing here’? Rose was surprised to see him as I opened the door.

‘I came to pay your family a visit’ Romeo smiled and took a seat.

‘Hello there Romeo, lock the door Ajunwa’ Helen smiled mischievously as she surfaced from my room with the video camera and a rifle.


‘Yes Madam’ I swallowed hard, it would take a miracle for me to stay alive.

‘What is this? Are you crazy’? Romeo was terrified.


‘Mum? What are you doing? You think you can kill us all and bury us in the garden’? Rose went wild with curses.

‘Shut up you little bitch, I am not your mother, I couldn’t have birthed you, you’re sick, your father too’ Helen dropped the Camera on the table and pointed the gun at Romeo.

‘Play it, and I want pin drop silence, come this way Ajunwa’ she ordered me and left for the door.


‘Helen you don’t have to do this…’ the pastor wondered what had come over his wife.

She didn’t say a word, Romeo obeyed and played the video.

‘Mum…I can explain’ Rose was shocked, I could see it on her face.

‘Helen, please, it was the devil’ the pastor fell on his knees.

‘the devil? Funny’ she laughed.

‘So you were fucking your own daughter, how nice is that? You connived with her to destroy me, you told Romeo I was the one who’d killed Grace and I should be shamed, after everything I did for you Rose, why?’ Helen’s voice cracked.

‘Mum, I’m so sorry, please forgive me’ she cried.


‘When did it start’? Helen wiped her face.

‘I am sorry Helen, this is all my fault, I forced myself on her’ The pastor crawled near her.

‘No dad, let’s tell her the truth, that we love each other, no one would fathom this but it is real. Mum, I know you wouldn’t kill me, I’m your daughter, all I ask is for forgiveness’ Rose begged.


‘My daughter? Sorry Rose,I would put a bullet through you, and I wouldn’t feel a thing’ Helen replied and pulled the trigger, without hesitation, Rose lay dead.


‘Jesus!’ we all screamed, this woman was crazy.

‘Shut up you all, now let the dinner begin’ Helen wiped her face and pulled a chair.

‘So you set me up”? Romeo laughed.

‘Call it whatever you want, but you’re dying tonight and I am burying you underneath my roses’ Helen smiled.

I watched as the pastor wept aside his daughter.


‘Helen, I would never forgive you for this, you killed our only daughter’ he cried.

‘Oh shut up and stop acting the saint, and by the way, you killed her, I wore gloves remember? So it’s your fingerprints the police would see when they come’ Helen laughed.

‘What are you talking about’? Pastor Ita wondered.

‘Well, let’s say, you touched the gun while you were asleep, I kind of pressed your palms to it, so start weeping for yourself, because I would ensure you end up behind bars for the murder of our daughter’ Helen exhaled and faced Romeo whose face was a cloud of fear, shock and disgust.


‘So Romeo, how much shall I pay you? You are the cause of everything, why didn’t you keep your nosy self out of my family business? You threatened me with those lame messages, now it’s time to end you, any last words’? he asked.

‘If you kill me, you’ll die too’ he sounded confident.

‘Why is that’? Helen raised a brow.

‘Oliver and his boys have surrounded the building,they would kill you if I don’t come out alive’ he said.

‘How stupid, now Ajunwa, tell him about our little plan’ she pointed the gun at me.

‘Grace? What is going on here? and why does she call you that’ Romeo asked.


‘I’m sorry Romeo, I am not Grace, just a look alike and Oliver is working with us’ I explained.

‘Oh my God, Helen, please don’t kill me, I promise to stay off your family, please’ he begged, so Oliver had betrayed him?

‘No, too late, next time you come into this world, just choose a better occupation, don’t be a snitch or a blogger, you could be like me, a rose gardener’ Helen smiled and pulled the trigger.

‘No’ her husband screamed. I couldn’t, it was so easy for this woman to shoot people, I knew I could die any minute, so I started reciting prayers.

‘Shut your mouth you dirty bastard, else you’ll join them’ anger flashed her eyes.

‘Just kill me, I accept, take this pain away,, you monster’ the man cried.

‘No, death is too easy for you’ Helen smirked, he deserved to live without his precious daughter.

‘Please don’t kill me’ it was my turn to beg her.

‘No, I’m not killing you, your job is to bury these bodies in the garden, now get to work, let me deal with Oliver’ she gave her orders carefully and I obliged, I had no option, clearly, Helen Ita was a psycho.


Coincidentally, Oliver stepped into the house as I moved over Romeo’s body.

‘Oliver’ she drawled his name, but he ignored her, he scanned the bodies on the ground in disgust and before one could say Jack Robinson he pulled out a gun at Helen.

‘Oliver’? I fixed my eyes on him, what was he doing?


‘I’m sorry I have to do this Helen, but it’s the only way to have my freedom, If I let you live, you may blackmail me in future, so goodbye’ He was about to pull the trigger when we heard gunshots outside.

‘You’re surrounded by the Police, everyone step out with your hands on your head’ the police radio echoed and we all froze.

It seemed like the world had stopped. Oliver pointed the gun at Helen and Helen Pointed hers at him, while the Pastor widened his mouth in shock.

‘Did you snitch on me’? Helen asked weakly, she hadn’t expected the police.

‘Let’s go outside’ Oliver lowered his gun and placed his hands on his head and we all followed suit.

‘There she is, please don’t hurt her, she is innocent’ Mark pointed at me.


‘Mark? What is going on here? what are the police doing here’? Helen was stunned to see him with them.

‘All of you must remain silent, anything you say or do may be used against you in the court of law’ a police man barked and I watched in sheer horror as they were handcuffed, one by one.

‘Mark what did you do’? Helen asked.

‘Something that was necessary, you, dad and Rose killed Grace and buried her in the garden, you killed Nelson too, even when I raped all those girls, you did nothing to correct me, I left to think about my life and I realized I have a mental disorder, and I had to see my therapist who encouraged me to report you all to the police, luckily I found dad here too, a pastor who is a murderer. I am not sorry Mum, I don’t regret this, as I would be joining you guys too for assaulting women’ Mark sneered at them. He had decided to report himself at the police station, maybe that could absolve the guilt he felt for hurting Ajunwa.

‘Where’s Rose’? Mark asked me.

‘Two dead bodies’ a police man shouted from the house.

‘Who killed her’? he asked.

‘Your mother, Helen’ I replied.

……………………..

EPILOGUE
I was stunned that Mark could offer himself to be arrested just to show he was remorseful about what he’d done. I had forgiven him and told him his actions were unnecessary but he was hell bent on being punished so I left him.

There had never been such a scandal in Nigeria such as the Ita family scandal, not even Miss Anambra’s cucumber saga could beat it, theirs was on a higher level. How could a Pastor sleep with his own daughter?

‘How could my Uncle sleep with his own daughter’? Joy dropped the newspaper in disgust.

‘If you ask me, na who I go ask’? I replied.
.
‘I’m just glad you came out of all these alive, Grace wasn’t that lucky, Nelson too’ Joy sighed.

She was as shocked as many Nigerians to discover the dark side of a man they all looked up to, his wife was an icon to many but they both were sentenced to life imprisonment.

‘It was really a house of secrets’ I was glad I had made it home. Grace had died, Nelson followed, then Rose and Romeo, I was just lucky.


‘No, it is a house of monsters’ Joy said and we burst out laughing.

This got me thinking, do you know your house? Is it a house of secrets? Or monsters? Are there just roses in your garden? Or something dark waiting to escape? Show me your house….

EPILOGUE…………………..
A year later……………..

‘I heard Zainab issued Abdul a divorce…’ Amaka informed the other girls…

‘you heard wrong Amy….and you shouldn’t even be talking about this, it would make Lola feel more terrible…’ Edima jumped to Lola’s rescue…

‘I’m fine with it…the last time I saw Zee, she told me we had no problems but we could never be friends which I totally understand after what I did to her…’ Lola replied…

‘wow…sorry about that ’Amy added….

‘why are we even talking about this? We’re supposed to be planning my wedding with Omale…let’s not spoil this…’ Edima became emotional…

‘I wish Zainab were here, I really miss her…as much as I pretend to be happy…am not, she played a vital role in our lives…’ Lola wiped the tear that escaped from her eyes…

‘she was a mother, a friend, a confidante, all wrapped in one…’ Edima added sadly…

‘whoa you guys should slow down…before you make me cry…I enjoyed her cooking in particular…I wish this never happened but she has blocked us all out…’ Amy sighed…

‘come in, the door is open….’Edima yelled to whoever was knocking…

‘Zee’? Lola was the first to recognize her…she had changed totally…she looked bigger and healthier and happy…

‘hello ladies…’Zainab smiled and walked towards her friend and embraced them….

‘come….’ She beckoned to Lola who was too afraid to go near her…

‘come…’ she repeated herself…

‘I am so sorry Zainab…’ she sobbed…

‘it’s okay, I forgive you…we all make mistakes…though trusting you and loving you would be difficult…but I am willing to try…’ she embraced Lola who cried like a baby on her shoulders…

‘how is Abdul and the kids’? Amaka asked…

‘they are fine…they’re at home playing with the baby…Farida’s baby she added…’she had grown…there was no need staying angry with Lola…

‘oh, did he marry her or something’? Edima lifted a brow…

‘no, we adopted the baby…’ Zainab smiled at her friend …she had forgiven her husband and was willing to care for his other child…love came with sacrifice…one couldn’t exist without the other…and she loved Abdul with all her heart…

‘so I heard you were getting married and I couldn’t miss it for anything…

‘I love you Zee…you’re the best friend in the whole world…’Edima almost cried…

‘I miss you all…’ Zainab beckoned on all of them and they formed a cluster of love and friendship.
THE END.

Campala:
[Am not surprised. I even expected worse things. quote author=Angelsss post=56435590]
lol
cry cry baby

Good. Now focus on the story.

Campala:
Go on girl. Run your mouth as usual. (

lol
cry cry baby

*****
She struggled to gain freedom from her attacker, she fought, she struggled but he was more powerful.
He dropped her on the floor and untied his loin cloth, he pulled her waist beads apart and readied himself to plunge into her sacredness.

‘Please do not hurt me, I haven’t done anything to wrong you’ she sobbed.
‘Do not speak slave else I silence you forever’ the stranger replied. His eyes were full of fire and his breath was ragged with lust, he didn’t seem like he was from Aswana, though slaves weren’t allowed to mix with freeborns, they still got to know other members of the community.

‘Abasi! Help me’ she cried, why were the gods silent? Why were they deaf to her cries?
Being a slave was enough torture, but more was to come should she lose her maiden head to an uknown man or getting pregnant out of wedlock, even as slaves, they weren’t expected to defile the land.
Only slaves meant as concubines for wealthy house owners where free from that law, but she was not owned by a man but a woman, who would have her head should she discover her maiden head was gone.

‘Get off of her if you still want to live’ they both turned to face the owner of the deep baritone.
‘And who are you to threaten me? You scum of the earth’? the man who attacked her rose to face the intruder.

This was her chance, Afianma quickly settled her beads in order and rose to her feet, she needed to run but one look at the thick forest told her she would get lost or worse she could get bitten by an Ekpe, a leaopard.

‘You better pick up your clothes and return to your wife or I shall make her a widow this very day’ the man fingered his machete.
Who was this man? That the gods had sent to save her from the savage wild man, Afiamma wondered.
He was tall, with a broad chest, where hairs grew like weeds, whose hardness couldn’t be compared to the Ukana, the oil bean tree, his eyes were vicious and penetrating, just like that of a serpent, his nose was straight and his lips were soft and plum.
She swallowed hard as she observed him, he was a very handsome man, she placed her hands on her chest to calm her beating heart. Who was this man?

‘I would be a fool to fight with you, now come let me send you to an early grave’ the savage man pulled out a machete from a sack bag that lay next to his clothes and advanced towards the handsome stranger.

‘Stand back now, I warn you’ the handsome man warned but he refused to listen.

‘Over my living body, Abasi Akan! May the gods forbid I turn to cowardice’ he yelled and advanced towards the man.
Odudu sized up the man, it didn’t take him much effort to release his own machete and the wilding lay dead on the floor as the machete came in contact with his skull.

‘Abasi!!!’ Afiamma realized the man was dead.

‘You shouldn’t have killed him, maybe hit him or something, now I have blood on my hands’ tears brimmed her almond eyes but the man looked unperturbed.

‘Blood on your hands? What if he had succeeded in shaming you? What if he had taken your maiden head’? Odudu wiped his machete against the leaves to rid it of the blood stain.

‘What shall we do now? Who are you? You’re equally a stranger’ she noticed the mark on his left chin, he wasn’t from these parts.

‘I am not a stranger, but a warrior’ he turned his back on her and walked deeper into the bush without looking back.
She didn’t know why it hurt, why didn’t he look back? Though she was a slave, men gawked at her, they were touched by her beauty, but this man acted like she didn’t affect him. She inhaled deeply and decided to follow him closely, who was this warrior?
***
He’d lost his parents to the massacre that happened many years back in his hometown, they both burned alive helplessly before him, he was only a child and could do nothing to help them.
The tyrant king, Okuku Udo Ibridem had released his warriors to burn down his village because their Chief refused to engage in slave trading. The tyrant kind died many years after that but his son, Ekong had taken over the Annang lands and he was more vicious than his father.

He’d heard that Aswana village was the seat of slave trading, that was why he’d come, more so, his spies had informed him about the impending visit of their young King to Aswana in some moon days time, he had his plans, he didn’t just work alone, Ekong, had to be removed as King.

He felt it, he sensed another presence, someone was following him, who would dare spy on him? Odudu was a well known warrior if not the best in all Annang lands. Children trembled on hearing his name, women shivered, and kings feared him.

She knew she was being foolish, what did she hope to achieve by spying on him? he just interested her and she felt like knowing more about him. Afianma paused and hid behind the thick vegetation as the warrior stopped, he must have sensed her presence.

‘Show yourself’ Odudu released his machete from the scabbard. Someone was following him, and he had to find that person before he continued with his journey, he needed to see the guild, they had a lot of planning to do.

She trembled as his scent infiltrated her nostrils, he neared her and could harm her, it had been so easy for him to slaughter the other man, how much more a defenseless girl like her?

‘Please don’t kill me’! she hopped from the bushes.

‘You? What are you doing here’? his eyes raked her beautiful body.

‘I…I got lost’ she lied and trembled inwardly as his eyes found hers.

‘Or you were following me’? Odudu returned his machete and laughed. This time he took a closer look at the slave girl, she was very beautiful.

‘No’ Afianma shifted uncomfortably as he scanned his eyes over her features then settled on her breasts.

‘I guess you couldn’t resist my charms’ Odudu winked and stepped closer.

‘By the gods, you flatter yourself’ blood tweaked her cheeks.
‘Well, women swoon over me, what makes you think you’re different?’ he eyed her wickedly and drew her next to him.

As he was about to kiss her, a thick black smoke filled the atmosphere, an arrow pierced his ankle and he fell to the ground.
‘I see, the great warrior making love to a woman in my land,What brings you here’? Ekong laughed mischievously.

Divepen1:
Angellsss don vex oo

lols
y I no go vex?
I complete all my stories. Those two this person mentioned was paused for a reason, I was going through something difficult.
The annoying part is coming to tell me you wouldn't follow my stories. Abeg o, I am not like other writers, I am me and I don't want any wahala. If you no wan read, then silently move on, don't act like some cry cry baby

Campala:
You ve not finished Dayo's Angel and Ikada. Well I wouldn't want to follow this one and then stop half way.

then don't follow. Thanks.

AMANA-IBA (ENTWINED DESTINY) BY ROSE AKPABIO
ASWANA VILLAGE
She was a slave, an ‘ifon’ in the society, her place was lowly and her fate was ascertain, uknown, just like the rushing river water where she dipped her legs.

‘Abasi di yanga mii’ she hummed a tune she had learnt from her mother who had died when she was very young, before she turned a slave.
It was ‘Atim’ market day and slaves were not to be seen in the village market or any other place where the free born were present, that in itself was an abomination and such a slave was to be sacrificed to the goddess who was being revered on that day.

Afiamma inhaled deeply and let the tears flow freely on her supple cheeks, she was fairest among maidens, her skin blazed like a thousand diamonds and her eyes were twin almonds. Her breasts stood proudly like wine gourds, both were supported by her wide hips, she was truly beautiful, yet still, a slave.

She cried as she recalled the torments she had encountered from her years of slavery, and more to come if nothing was done, but what could she do? She had no one to save her, her old slave master had sold her to a very mean widow, Ufot, she had no choice but to persevere and pray to the gods of the sky, abasi enyong, the earth gods, abasi isong and the gods of the river, ndem mmong, to save her from slavery.

Just as she was about to leave the riverside, she felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned to face the intruder but he quickly covered her mouth with his firm hands and carried her into the nearby bush.

......