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16
The Man Who Knows Everything

Felix Babalola is a chubby, dark-skinned man in his late fifties. He's a medical doctor of high repute, with years of experience in the specialty of Oncology. He's a devout Christian, a highly principled man with strong family values. Despite his commitment to his principles and convictions, he puts blood ties above his most cherished beliefs. This has allowed him to maintain his unwavering love for his only child, Alex Babalola, who has done nothing other than disappoint him repeatedly over the years. He's the current Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). His son Alex has come to pay him a visit on a Saturday morning in his large mansion in Ajah. The two men are seated on sofas in his spacious sitting room, having the father and son moment Alex's stubbornness has denied them for several months.

"You are a sight for sore eyes, Alex." An almost teary Felix removes his glasses and cleans his eyes with an handkerchief before the tears can drop. "You never answer our calls, nor return any of them. Your mother has been dying to see you. To touch your face, to feel your forehead, even if just for once. You never permitted her even such chance. You never tried to reach out to us."

"I needed space dad. I needed to be less of a trouble, less of a nuisance, for you guys. You were always guiding me to the path you most desire, while all I ever did was reject every single offer. Such environment has never been healthy for any of us dad. Not for me, you, nor mum who had to experience the torture of witnessing our fiery exchanges. I had to give some space. And it worked, didn't it?" Alex smiles at his dad. "This is you welcoming me with tears in your eyes. And no, I have not come back to ask for your forgiveness. I was never a prodigal son, dad, and you know it."

The teary Felix stands up from his seat and rushes towards Alex, who also stands up to catch his father in his embrace. "Alex, I missed you. I really did. Your mother missed you a lot. We've been looking forward to seeing you again." Felix tightens his hold on his son, as the tears trickle down his wrinkled cheeks.

Alex pats his father on the back, smiling. "It's okay dad. Everything's gonna be fine. Things are not like before. It's the beginning of new things. Look, I'm taller than you now. Is that evidence enough?"

His father can't help but laugh. "You've grown in sense too, son."

Alex chuckles. "Hey, do you remember? The last time you embraced me like this? It was on the day of my graduation from Kings College. I take this as you acknowledging me as having graduated from the world of kids and children."

"You have son, you really have. I'm so happy to see your face again." He releases Alex from his embrace, and both men sink back into the sofa.

"Where's mum?"

"She went to a friend's place. She should be back soon. She would be so glad to see you."

"Yes. I guess." Alex's smile disappears, and he wears a serious expression on his face. "Dad, I came here for something really important. It is a serious issue. An existential threat, not only to our family, but the Yoruba tribe itself. We are at war dad."

Felix stares at Alex, stone-faced. "Your attempt at speaking in parables can't work with me, son. I know exactly what you're talking about. They've started...."

"They attacked me dad...!" Alex raises his voice. "Jay knows. They know. That I'm royalty. That we are nobility. They know everything."

"I know everything too, son."

"Dad, I want to know. What is all this about? What started it? What is the root cause of it? How can it be stopped?"

"I have been researching on these people and their sinister agenda since my youthful years. I was keeping a close eye on my friend, Popoola, Jayeola's father, and following every of his moves. I know everything about them, more than thay can ever imagine. I know that your friend, Jayeola is an ultimate weapon. I know that he was sent to study Psychology in the United Kingdom as part of a project. I know about the Inners, the puppet masters, the elders of the Bini. And I know about the Eye of the Owl."

"Dad, I want to know. I want to understand everything. When I get an accurate picture of it all, then I'll know what to do about these people. And I'll know what I must do about Jay."

"Before I can explain the situation as it is at present, I'll have to go back to the past, to the time where it all began."

"I'm listening dad."

"We have to return to the Lagos before the arrival of the colonialists."

New Update.


zinnyzee

Optimist1998

Martinez19

Abiiiike

Sampz

Solly1

MhisTahrah

Hey guys, I've posted two chapters out of the three I promised to post today. I'll post the last one in the night. Got some engagement right now. Bear with me, please.

15
Susan II: The Inners

Abass Folorunsho's objective was to destroy Jay. He had approached her at a time when she had so much hatred for him. Jay never gave in to her advances. He had started dating Tomilola, and was planning to marry her. She was so hurt and bitter. Of course, Jay still called her his sister, and had no idea how hurt she was. Back when they were younger, he had refused to believe that his father had raped her. He thought she was mistaken. He thought she was insane. He said all she needed that night was to go to the clinic. The important thing was treating her BV. His father raping her, however, wasn't something he was ready to believe. Because of that, she held a grudge against him. Whether or not he believes her now, there's no doubt that he has seen his old man for exactly what he is, given his hatred for him. Abass took advantage of her hatred for Jay to strike. What exactly did he want? She really couldn't figure it out. But he did give her a red liquid substance to put into Jay's drink. He told her about his royal blood and his green cells. If he drank the red liquid, his green cells would react to it, and he would be rendered a mere husk of a human being. She didn't think twice. She was more than happy to destroy Jay. She was consumed with revenge. She regrets it now. She gained absolutely nothing from it. Abass simply used her. It was him who also introduced her to Wale, who coerced her to join his Krypteia and turned her into his sex object. Her sex life with him was nothing but hell. But the blissful moment with Jay has erased all that now. As a member of The Krypteia, she was still seeking Jay's destruction, and was already aware, courtesy of Abass, that he was a greencell. When she found out Alex was a green cell too, she was prepared to destroy him as well. He never liked her, and never tired of advising Jay against having any romance with her. She hated him too. At the end of it all, she had lived the life of a miserable reject. Jay is not a target of The Krypteia, and she can't exactly destroy him. And it's not like doing that would bring her any benefit. The few moments she enjoyed with him has made her forget all her past, toxic emotions. He was what she wanted. She probably has him now.

But if Jay is still alive, that means Abass is probably still after him. He has recovered from the condition Abass made her inflict on him, and he seems to be on the way to getting back everything he lost because of her... because of Abass. If Abass should get him this time, she'll probably be losing him forever. Is Abass a green cell as well? Who exactly is he? What exactly is he after? She needs to know, so that she can know what to do. Jay is still in danger. And it's probably a much serious one than before. She's going to meet Jay and ask him a few things.

She gets out of bed, naked. Still as slender as before. Her breasts are firm and capped with erect nipples. Her pubic hair is dyed pink, cut into the shape of love. When Jay went down on her and played with it using his tongue, it felt like the symbol of love around her vagina had become a potent love potion. She looks forward to feeling like that again. She picks up her towel and wraps it around herself, as she heads for the bathroom to have a shower.

After having her bath, she dresses up and picks up her phone to make a call. She's in light green blouse and blue jean, this time wearing a gold nose ring. Her hair is packed to the side, a few short strands falling down her face. She beeps Jay, and asks to meet up, and he tells her he will be with her in few minutes time. It didn't take long until he showed up.

"That was fast", she says to Jay, sitting in a cushion adjacent to the one where he's seated.

"I was already around here. Was coming from Alex's."

"How is he?"

"Are you kidding? I thought you guys are after him?"

"You see, Jay, I was never interested in this entire thing. I was part of it for entirely personal and emotional reasons. I think I've found myself."

"Suzie. Can I ever trust you?" He chuckles.

"You'll answer that yourself at the right time. I called you here to talk about Abass."

"What about him?"

"What exactly does he want with you? What is going on between you guys?"

"Abass is my cousin."

"What?"

Jay had visited members of the "Inners" the day before. It was more like honoring an invitation that him paying a surprise visit.

The Inners is made up of Bini elders who are central to an agenda to take over Lagos from the Yorubas. To this end, they target Yoruba Green Cells, take them out and store their blood in a device known as the Red Tube to be used for advancing their agenda. Jay was the ultimate Bini noble who had more green cells in his blood than any other member of the royal house in the history of the tribe. The elders of the tribe decided to place him at the forefront of their agenda. Their leader is a man who's always putting on a black hat, and it was he who enticed Jay and brought him into the reified circles of the elite.

Jay explains to Susan what Abass has been up to, as the elders had revealed to him. Jay and Abass are cousins, and even though he was unaware of it before now, Abass had known it all along. He was displeased with Jay being chosen over him by the elders of the tribe, and has been trying all he could not only to make sure he fails, but to kill him as well.

As revealed by The Serpent, the member of the Inners in charge of The Owl's Eye, not long after Jay came back from England, he became the Master Hypnotist of the Red Room. He was not only trying to lead the elite into divinity, he was trying to attain divinity. He had performed all the necessary rituals, until the elders demanded for the ultimate price. It was a gamble he was willing to take, because he was confident he would succeed; he was to give away all his estates, wealth and position to the members of the Inners. If he got in touch with the divine, he wouldn't need them anymore. If he didn't, he would become miserable and destitute. Jay did as he was told, but unfortunately for him, Abass influenced Susan to poison him with Red Fluid a day before the ceremony, guaranteeing his failure, making him fall ill, and rendering him miserable. After recovering from the effect of the poison meant to destroy him, all thanks to his unusual number of green cells, he reached out to the Inners, but Abass intercepted his messages, and started controlling his communication with them. He made appointments with Jay on different occassions, disguising as the elders, but he never showed up. Each time, he had someone take Jay's pictures. When he invited him to the Amusement Park, he had someone take his pictures too, the same thing at Mama Kunle Foods. Abass was planning to use the pictures to frame up Jay as an accomplice who had been meeting up with him, and inviting him to specified locations, if his own personal plans eventually unravel. But no one could escape The Owl's Eye.

"What is Abass plotting?" Susan questions.

"The Inners refused to divulge."

"If they knew this all long, why didn't they inform you, or try to reach out to you?"

"I have no idea."

"That's strange."

"Indeed. Abass knew that you guys were coming for Alex that night. The envelop he gave me was meant for Alex, but he invited me instead, so that you would kill me instead of Alex, since I am a green cell as well. Hardly did he know, that The Krypteia was working for the Inners, and do not kill Bini green cells. I had my suspicions after that invitation to the restaurant. I was right in being wary of him."

14
Green Cell

As Alex opens the door and lets in Jay he feels a curious and inexplicable uneasiness. Jay's question echoes in his mind and stings his ears from the inside. Jay observes his friend and can sense the palpitations in his heart. He has been quite the different man lately. He spoke like a broken man on the phone the other day, now he's shivering like an infant left in the wild without its precious mother anywhere in sight. Where is the fiery Alex? That indefatigable young man he's always known, that rarely ever shows emotions like this? Whatever the case may be, he'll have to answer his questions and satisfy his curiosity. Wale, the leader of the Krypteia is Jay's cousin, his father being an elder sibling to Jay's, and by that very fact, a 'green cell' himself. Jay never imagined Alex had a royal heritage. And to make things worse, he's from the Ooni's family? He hopes not. Everything changes at a stroke between himself and Alex if Wale's claim is true. That would be one of the greatest tragedies of the century. But would that really be as sad as he's making it out to be? Since Tomilola happened, he has never understood the terms of the friendship, or what it means to either of them. Neither man has been willing to communicate his true intentions. Rather than talk about matters that would ease the tension between them, they chose to communicate through cryptic silence. Even now, the tension is in the air, but maybe it's of a different nature this time around.

"They attacked us. They were after me." Alex mumbles weakly, trying to avoid eye contact with Jay.

"Who?" He wants him to spill it all out. To give him enough information that will answer his question without him having to ask it again.

"Are you mocking me now, Jay? You know who. Don't try to make fun of me." He frowns, staring at the floor. "You've met them, haven't you? They've told you, haven't they?" He clenches his fist.

"Alex....." He wants to calm him down a bit before throwing the question at him a second time... "your archtop guitar.... It's broken."

"No, it's not. Only the archtop is missing."

"A bullet knocked it off, I see."

"What is your relationship with those men? If you bumped into them, why are you here unscathed? Why did they tell you their objectives?" He gives Jay an unfriendly, contemptuous glare.

Jay stands up from the bed where he was sitting next to Alex, folds his arms, and rests his back on the wall, facing him. "You see, Alex, we never choose to be born. We never get to choose how, where, or when we are born, either. That I came into Olowoporoku's family, and you into Babalola's family, was fate, not choice. That our parents were friends was also fate, and that we, their children, grew up to become friends, was fate as well. Remember that we both have identities shaped by our respective heritage. If that is going to destroy the friendship we've built over the years, then it's fate, not the fault of anyone of us."

"What are you talking about?"

"You've always lived assuming me to be Yoruba, while I have always assumed you to be a Yoruba man of ordinary history and heritage. Maybe you finding out that I'm actually Bini wouldn't have made much of a difference. But if you're truly of the Yoruba royalty, it makes all the difference in the world."

Alex swallows hard, and takes a deep breathe, wiping sweat off his forehead. "Dad has always warned me to keep my royal heritage a secret. He said there were people seeking our destruction. That there was an ongoing conspiracy against our tribe that had lasted for decades. Has that got anything to do with what you were talking about?"

Jay closes his eyes, arms still folded, with a finger raised up. "Those guys who were after you are known as The Krypteia. Their mission is to hunt down all 'green cells' tainted by Yoruba blood. It would appear you knew all along that I was Bini, since you don't seem to be surprised by my revelation."

"Yes. My dad told me."

"So he knew? Then he must have known about dad too, which means he knew dad belonged to the tribe seeking his destruction. Your dad is a 'green cell' too."

"What? It's your tribe seeking my family's destruction?" Alex questions, horrified and wide-eyed

"In a sense, Alex. We do not seek your destruction per se, but the green cells in your midst. It is fate."

Alex grits his teeth. "How did they get to know about my identity, despite the fact that it was a most-guarded secret?"

"No one can escape the Eye of the Owl, friend. Especially not a green cell."

Wearing a frown, and staring down Jay with disdain, a curious Alex seeks to clear his confusion. "What are green cells?"

"For years now, members of the Bini and Yoruba royal families have always had more than just red blood cells in their blood. We have green cells too. But they are of no biological consequence. They have purely psychological, or, if you may, spiritual, effects. The possession red blood cells alongside the green cells was what earned us the name Brown Bloods. Of course, ordinary people had no idea why other nobles called us that. They just went along with it, as they normally did."

"I see. You talk about fate, yet you have free will. What are you planning? What is your goal? What is more important to you? Your tribe's hideous objective, or your friendship? Of course, I know you don't believe in such "nonsense", but why use fate as an excuse? What is "fate"? What makes this inevitable?"

Jay moves away from the wall, unfolding his arms, and moves closer to Alex. He observes the look in the young man's face. Sincerity? Loyalty? Honesty? Really? He wants to ask him why he makes that face, knowing full well that Jay is a fellow-traveller of the elite class he desperately seeks to overthrow. But that would make this "fate" he talks about sound like a revenge mission. Did he really care for Alex? Maybe he actually thought he didn't, but that day when he called to tell him he was shot, his body just moved on its own. How can he believe he doesn't care about him at all? Somewhere, deep down in his heart, he genuinely considers him his friend. They've been together right from childhood. Two privileged toffs from elite backgrounds, doing the same thing, playing the same game, chasing the same girl. It has always been Alex. It's quite unfortunate that his first friend turned out to be royalty. Quite unfortunate.

"Alex, you are a green cell. I am a green cell, as well. And yes, there's a conspiracy. And what this conspiracy entails is my green cell turning your green cell into red fluid for the red tube. This is fate."

He closes his eyes, turns around and makes for the door. "Fate, Alex. Fate. What will you do? What should you do? What do you think I would do? Think about it."

Alex looks on with an expressionless face, as Jay makes his exit, closing the door behind him. "Fate", he mutters.

***************************

From a darkness punctuated with throbbing stabs of light, Susan draws back her senses from the abyss of unconsciousness. As she opens her eyes, she feels an excruciating pain in her waist. She becomes conscious of her surroundings and realises she's in her room, on her bed. How come? What happened to her? And what's up with her waist, by the way? Her clothes are scattered on the ground. Lying under her blanket, weak, she touches herself in her privates and feels some wetness. She remembers now. She made a confession to Jay. She told him why she did what she did. She revealed the name of the man responsible for everything. And they came to her place that very day. Two days later, he paid her a visit, and she seduced him and had sex with him. His phallus had exactly the curve she had always imagined it to have whenever he fücked her in her dreams. He wasn't the first man to handle her boobs. But he had a way of making her feel alive, something Wale never accomplished. He was an unappealing beast, Jay was the beast with the glow of Christ. Even his fingers in her hair was orgasm-inducing enough. He touched her without touching her, massaged her hips with his hot breath. It was the perfect body entwinement for her. The marriage of sweaty flesh and a thirsty soul. His meat has erased her past. And his semen has reshaped her destiny. She sees more pleasure lying ahead.

"It's never been so good." She mumbles feebly.fate

New Update.


zinnyzee

Optimist1998

Martinez19

Abiiiike

Sampz

MhisTahrah

Couldn't post an update today. I'm very sorry guys. Just resumed for a new semester, and got engrossed with a few things I was obligated to participate in as a member of a certain body.

I'll make up for today's fück up by posting three chapters tomorrow.

Pardon me for disappointing this time.

New Update.


zinnyzee

Optimist1998

Martinez19

Abiiiike

Sampz

MhisTahrah

13
The New Wind II

She has been talking about it for weeks. A benevolent mother in-law, one that she can see as a mother, that she can always come running to, that she can spend time with, quality time, beautiful time, that can help heal her wounds, and bring back the sweet memories of her mum. Femi did not really understand it, but he promised to take her to his mum. If she wanted to meet her mother-in-law so badly, no matter the reason, it is a good thing for him, one worth rejoicing about. Most of the ladies he dated in the past were never this enthusiastic about building a loving relationship with their mother-in-law to-be. Many of them even showed tendencies suggestive of contempt for their prospective mother-in-law. They gave him nothing but bad vibes. They were never wife material. Tomilola's seeming obsession with meeting his mum doesn't seem normal to him. At times, he almost considers her insane. But he's not really bothered about that, and he doesn't really care what could be behind it. The only reason he has been stalling was because he didn't want his mum rushing him into marriage. But Tomilola has pestered him enough, and he believes it's about time he granted her wish. Well, he has already granted it. And he can see how happy she is.

Did she say she said "Yes"? What did she expect her to say? Of, course, his mother would approve of her. Tomilola is obviously rich, while his mother is a desperate poor woman, thanks to his father's bitter emotional and ideological outbursts throughout his last days, which have ensured she no longer cared about high values and "noble" principles.

"I can't see your excitement, Fem." Tomi complains to Femi about his reaction to her good news. She's a women with very light skin, a face with almost perfect symmetry, wearing no make-up at all. She's corporately dressed. White shirt with black blazers on top, completed with a black skirt. Femi thinks she's dressed like a Bank Manager.

"I'm not excited, I'm delighted. It was you who didn't know what my mum would think of you. Now that you've found out, I can see you're so happy. I'm observing your glow."

"Awww...." She blushes as Femi smiles at the beam his words form on her face.

"What I don't understand though is why mom had to have me excuse you guys, without giving me an answer first, when I was the one who was supposed to be introducing her to my fiancee, and vice versa", Femi jokingly queries, wearing a faint smile as he feigns displeasure.

She moves close enough to have him in her embrace, eyes closed, with a bright face. "What business has the son with mother to daughter talk?"

"Indeed. And the mother shouldn't be too concerned....." He lifts her off the ground and carries her in his arms. ".....when the son kidnaps the daughter in the name of love." She lets out an excited scream. Then he whispers silently in her ear. "You're not escaping, baby."

"With your warm breath touching my neck, and your embrace giving me comfort, I have forgotten how to jump off your hands. " She bursts into laughter, as he carries her back inside, her head resting on his broad chest. It reminds her of someone, and the smile on her face disappears.

Femi smiles as he thinks about Jay. He had lied to him that his mother was sick, so he could introduce her to his fiancee, who happened to be Jay's ex-girlfriend. He had also hidden his relationship from him to avoid trouble. If he should ever find out that Tomilola is his wife-to-be, it won't only cause a feud between the both of them, Alex will be joining the fray as well. Others would call her names for her record of dating three friends at different points in time, but what does it matter to him? After all, he could care less what her interest is. His father taught him to use people to get what he wants. As an adult, he does it as a matter of being a realist who has found out the secret principle of life, not because he's following his father's teachings. Everyone is always using the other person, even though they cover it up with different kinds of euphemisms, "Love" and "Friendship" being the most dubious and dishonest of all. Tomilola is heads over heels in love with him because of some self-interested reason he's currently oblivious about. He also values his friendship with Jay for no other reason than his own gain. Jay had promised to make him wealthy if he succeeds at his mission, and while he has been counting on his words, Tomilola is another opportunity that he mustn't let pass. The first time he met Jay and Alex, their prestigious background was his very reason for befriending them. While he got crumbs from Jay every now and then, he gained nothing from Alex whose parents were stern believers in "strong values" and "principled spending".

Finally, all that is coming to an end. The new wind will be blowing from two sides, Jay's south and Tomilola's north, and he will be rising above the stars. He remembers watching the popular Japanese anime series b]Naruto[/b] in his teenage years. Kabuto Yakushi, one of the show's major villains, legitimately argued that if you were born with no gift of your own, with no talent to make you shine, you either steal that of others, or claim the fruits of their efforts to be relevant. That's the only way to become somebody. He thinks the same applies to wealth. He was born poor, but he can make others' wealth his own if he's smart enough. Is he smart enough? That's the test he needs to pass, the only test he has to face.

*****************************

Alex groans in pain as he tries to get off his bed in his one-room apartment in Ikoyi. There's a white bandage on his right arm, blood-stained around the elbow region. He looks at his damaged "Jazz box", and manages a smile. Those bastards, there was no way he would let them destroy his most cherished property. This here is just a damage that can be easily repaired. All he has to do now is get a new archtop to replace the missing one. Two days have already passed, and here he is, still struggling to recover. The bullet smashed the bones in his elbow, the doctor had said. He wanted to admit him for a few weeks, but Alex refused. He knew they would come for him. Yet those stupid band members of his brought him to his house, where he's equally not safe. But he can't blame them. Seeing their friends gunned down was traumatic enough. He wonders how they're faring now.

They had just finished performing that night and were on their way home when they were attacked by four people dressed in black. They hijacked a Taxi and sped off with no destination in mind, escaping the predators being their only goal. The cab broke down somewhere in Ajegunle, when they were still being pursued, and as they got down to continue fleeing on foot, two members of his band were gunned down, while he received a bullet to his right arm. Seeing Susan was his greatest shock. And he had to call Jay to come and see the absurdity. That was a reckless move. He wondered what must have happened to him.

He hears a knock on the door, and he becomes alarmed. Have they finally come for him?

"Alex, don't panic. It's me, Jay." A voice says from outside.

He's convinced that's Jay's voice, but just to be safe... "Are you alone?"

"Trust me, there's no one here with me."

"What's the matter? Why have you come?"

"Alex, what is your relationship with the Royal House of Ile-Ife?"

zinnyzee:
I've read chapter 7 too.
It's very self explanatory.
How many chapters do you intend to write? Because i think you're slowing it down a bit.

I don't even know. You know when I started, I told you guys that I'll be making it up as I go along. I had no plot. No outlined storyline. But it's beginning to take shape now, the more chapter I write. I can already picture the end, and now have the exact storyline I want to work with.

I don't think the chapters will be too many. Nevertheless, I will increase the length a bit in the next update.

zinnyzee:
I just read this chapter for the 6th time... And something tells me this is actually the beginning of the book.


But then, do you think you could cut out a little on explanations?
They seem to be taking too much of the writing space and they make me drift off from the original reading.
I appreciate them tho, alot actually. They're needed, but then let it be minimal.

Another nice writing i must say.
Thumbs up!

Thanks a lot, dear. I'll do something about the explanations. Maybe, I'll start adding a glossary at the end of each chapter?

Chapter 7 is out.

Cc. Optimist1998
Solly1
MhisTahrah
Abiiiike
Martinez19

7
The Krypteia and the Red Tube

He knew it. Approaching him at the amusement park yesterday, like an unpleasant wind blowing at is face right out of the blue, he knew she must have had some connection with his purpose for being there. Who is she exactly? Is she Abass' girlfriend? Did she come with him to the park? But they didn't act like the they knew each other. Perhaps, there's nothing personal going on between them. Maybe they're just partners, fellow errand people for members of "The Inners".

"I'm guessing you're not surprised?" She gives him an oblique glance that unnerves him a bit.

Seductress. Jay briefly observes the man sitting next to her on the same table. Clad in obviously expensive agbada with quite the unusual designs, with a befitting cap complementing his blue native attire. A politician? He can almost swear he has seen him somewhere, but his back is turned, so he can barely see his face. Did she come with him? Her sugar daddy? He finds it weird how comfortable and quite the man is, despite his own presence, which he seems to be very much aware of. Certainly one of the big weights of the elite class. They pay attention to nobodies. His comportment says it all. That also means he wasn't part of the night's Red Room ritual.

"What is the point of that question? What were you doing at Dreamworld Africana? You came for the particular purpose of taunting me, didn't you?" Jay notices the frown forming on his face. He has it diluted by raising his eye-brows.

"I came for you."

"What do you mean? Me? You knew I would be there? Were you working with Abass?"

"I heard your story, and I wanted to meet you."

"But you did nothing meaningful, and didn't talk to me about anything. Well, you did talk about my missing buttons, and my faded shirt." He can no longer conceal his anger. He glares contemptuously at her. "What was the point of that encounter?"

"I knew you would be coming here, and also knew we would meet tonight, so I wanted to create a memory of me in your head, one shrouded in mystery, so that when we meet here, you would have a lot of questions, and would have a reason to interact. I would attract you."

"I see. And indeed, I'm curious about you." The smile comes from nowhere. "You're quite interesting."

She offers him a glass of Champagne, while she refills her already empty glass. He takes a sip of the drink, and notices a difference in the taste, as compared to taking it in the Red Room.

He puts his glass on the table. And stares intensely at her, this time admiring her beauty. She looks a lot like Bianca Ojukwu, the wife of the Former President of the defunct Republic of Biafra.

"So, you are..."

"I'm Onyinye from Anambra State," she interjects with a seductive smile. "I work with the Nigeria Police Force. Rank ASP."

Jay feels so delighted meeting her. What a lady. She has the beauty. The shape. Assumptively, the smarts. The curves. And quite the job. And she knows about him. About his exploits. About House of Janet. She's more interesting than he expected. He's fascinated by her.

"Meeting you is such an honour, Onyinye."

"I am more delighted." The smile again. Jay is beginning to love it. But maybe she isn't trying to seduce him. It's probably her style.

He moves a bit closer and whispers to her. "Who is this man?", looking in the direction of the man in agbada.

"He's the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Olusola Alaba. I am his escort....."

"Wow...."

".....as well as his girlfriend." She grabs Jay's hand and draws him closer, wearing a smirk. "And you're really not bad, Jay."

****************************

In a dark room, four black figures are sittted. There's barely any sliver of light making its way into the room.

"The new contract is quite a colorful one," says the first man.

"Another blood to seal in the red tube. But this time, it is no ordinary blood," the second man interjects.

"This is just the perfect opportunity for satisfying a craving." A female voice. "I've always wanted to do him in. I can't remember the number of times I've strangled him in my dreams."

"Everything is working just fine. I have drafted the final plans. We'll be moving in an hour's time," promises a voice which seems to be the leader's. "What's the state of the Red Tube?"

"600 ML occupied. 400 ML until we're ready to launch", the second man reports.

"The Krypteia." The leader continues. "When we started the project, I never knew we would be getting more than money from it. The Krypteia has been a more effective way of powering the Red Tube. We couldn't have laid our hands on so many ‘special bloods’. There are very few ‘green cells’ around. And only those guys could identify them."

"Being the ones to get the contract is a great fortune indeed." The first man expresses his excitement.

The Krypteia is a deadly Spartan tradition described by the Greek-Roman biographer and essayist, Plutarch. It means "hidden, secret things", and might also be regarded as the Spartan secret service. It was a practice whereby the magistrates dispatched the ablest of young Spartan warriors to way-lay and ambush the dominant, aggressive, rebellious, troublesome ones among the slave population, so as to prevent sedition and revolt. At other times, they stalked the villages to root-out such elements. There are different methods that were tried out and implemented. It was all in an attempt to keep the servile population under control, and rule out the possibility of a rebellion.

The four figures move out of their seats, and as the door of the room opens in front of them, light rays hit their respective faces.

"The Red Tube is waiting for Alex," declares the lady among them, amidst grin. Fixed eyelashes. Black lip paint. Thin eyebrows.