₦airaland Forum

Ann2012:
Thanks for the update

2

For the umpteenth time, Vince went into her room to check on her. Thelma slept like a baby, purring ever so occasionally. It was just the way he remembered her, the way she’d roll up like a ball, and sleep her heart out, without any care for the world.
Just sitting there, watching her sleep, he could almost forgive her already for her unwillingness to have sought him out, even without her apologizing. Soon, those eyelids would open, revealing cloud-blue eyes, and then, he wouldn’t be able to do what was right.
Vince stood up. He needed to treat her with a tight lease. She had tried to kill him, after all. He needed to know, to be sure she didn’t still carry those raving tendencies to drive a knife through his heart, or any other tactic she might employ to kill him.
The days following up from that sad event had taken the toil on him. Even now, Vince dug his hands into his scalp, his thoughts running amok at the different ways his life could have ended had Mabel not shown up at the very instant she did.
Thinking about Mabel, the hair on his head began to rise.
Gosh! Why couldn’t he let the issue rest?
Sure, she had failed his trust yet again. A second time! She could have revealed something, a warning, anything. Yet, she didn’t. She’d preferred to act only when it was clear he was going to be hurt. How could he live with that? How could anyone?
For days, sleep evaded him like dogs evaded cold bathwater. His only source of joy was when he thought about Thelma, the prospect of having a family member to engage in conversation. With a real family, that is.
What would they do together when Thelma came through?
For sure, there'd be the finger-pointing, the throwing of tantrums, and the likes.
Whose fault would it be? It had to be hers.
There was no way he could have known she was still alive. He had watched as the palace burned down. Thelma had been too weak from the poisoned drink she’d gulped down, like his parents. That was one thing he was dying to know.
How the hell had she managed to survive?
If they'd planned the arson to kill their parents and get her away, how'd they gotten her out in time?
He had only narrowly escaped because he had gone out to cool off after the angry words Thelma had hurled at him in a bit to sound funny at the dinner table. That had been his saving grace - the only reason he had been able to come out of the situation.
What was Thelma’s story?
Although he didn't want to push his luck, Vince harbored some hope that their mother could yet be alive, somehow. Oh, what he would do to have that come true. His joy would know no boundaries.
Thelma let out a soft snore.
Vince froze. His reverie was gone in an instant as his focus zeroed in on Thelma. She didn’t stir again. Just like that, she was back in her sleep.
Vince almost lost it. It was the first movement he'd noticed since he began checking up on her. He was getting frustrated in her inability to wake up to face reality - the reality she needed to see. And explain.
Vince turned towards the door. He made a mental promise to come back and check on her in two hours. He needed some fresh air. And some food.
His appetite had been dwindling as the days went past. Mabel had warily complained the last time they managed to talk, that he was losing too much weight and needed to eat more purposefully. He’d waved her off as silly.
He knew the truth, though. He couldn’t eat much, apart from the occasional munches he could manage from apples. Apples were his favorite fruit.
He turned the handle of the door, attempting to let himself out. The door wouldn’t open. He twisted and pulled. Still, it didn’t give way.
“What the heck is this?” he asked. He added some extra effort, pulling with both hands, but still, the door wouldn't open.
He stepped back at last; deciding now was the time to use some magic.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
For the second time since he entered the room, Vince froze at a spot.
“Turn around, slowly.”
He hesitated.
“Don’t even for a second think I will think twice before jinxing you should you try anything silly.”
Vince had no thought of doing anything. The sheer suddenness of her awakening and pulling the stunt with the door was what surprised him. How could she be that fast?
He turned around slowly to meet her gaze.
She was out of bed. The stance she took was precisely the way he remembered. She had her left legs pointing towards him, and the other slightly bent outwards.
“What did you do to me?” she asked, her gaze fixed on him, like a lion counting seconds before it tore its prey apart. Her voice sounded husk, not like he'd known it to be. However, it could be something she'd learned to do, to assert her dominance and not look weak, the way she looked now.
Or, it could be that the years and hardship, possibly, had changed her? Right now, Thelma could pass as his mother, whereas she was supposed to be two years his senior. Those times he spent in the OutWorld had added to the disparity in their ages.
“I didn’t do anything. I’ve been waiting to-”
“You should think twice before lying to me. I could put an end to your miserable life here and now.”
“Miserable life? Really? Is that what you think of me?”
She displayed her palms to him. “Why should I think any different?”
Vince looked her in the eyes. Those eyes he’d looked into so many times down the years. It was a trick, one that had worked many times before. It would bring out the sympathetic, loving, and caring side of his sister. However, as he looked, there was no trace of emotion in those eyes.
“I’m your brother, Thelma.”
She didn’t flinch. “Who the hell is Thelma?”
Vince’s hand went to his head instantly. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Hells, did they jinx your brain too?”
She lowered her hands and let it rest on her waist, akimbo. He caught sight of her frizzy hair, untrimmed but just as black as he’d known it.
A draft passed the window.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Who are you?”
Vince walked towards her, not minding that she could be pulling a stunt to catch him off-guard. He had hardly held onto her fingertips than a spell came flying towards them. It hit the top of her head. Thelma fell, her back landing hard on the soft, padded bed. She passed out immediately.
Vince spun towards the door. It was Mabel.
“What was that about?” Vince asked his breathing heavy with anger.
Mabel, a smug expression dancing on her face, looked passed him and rested on Thelma. “Let’s say I was saving your life. Again.”
Vince’s fingers fisted, they dug into his palms. “Are you nuts? We were about to connect just now. I’ve been waiting for this to happen all this while. You just ruined everything. You-”
“No. I saved your miserable life. She was going to use the devil’s grasp, a technique you would know if you paid any attention in light’s defense classes.”
“You’re full of bullshit!”
Mabel turned to go. Thelma didn’t arouse again. “Be grateful that this bullshit worked for you.”
Vince felt like reaching out to her and dragging her hair. How he managed to hold back was a mystery. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t ready to get at the wrong side of the only person with whom he shared common fate at the moment.
Mabel reached the door. “By the way, it was I who jumbled her memories. You owe me two now.”
He’d had it. Vince threw a spell towards her, but she was already out of the room.

7
Tasmine was relieved when she discovered it was Joel.
“You scared me Joel.”
“I tend to have that effect.”
“Be serious, jor.”
He slid into the seat next to her as she drove out of the company's driveway and into the road.
“So tell me, how did it go?”
“What do you think?” She sneered at him.
Joel knew she was good. So, Tasmine didn’t like that he’d asked that question. There was only one way it could go.
What he didn't know was that she was going for this job with a different purpose entirely. Who would leave a very good job in the US to become a marketing manager in Nigeria? Well, not her.
“I trust my sister. You are the best at what you do. Dad always said that.”
The moment he said that, he knew he had made a mistake. A short spell of silence took over. Tasmine reminisced the moments when, as a young girl, she had come running to her dad with her report card in hand, a proof that she had once again topped her class and with good margin. This happened virtually every term as she could remember. She had gotten lots of gifts and mini- celebrations to prove that she indeed was well appreciated.
And now, to imagine that some idiots took that caring man, her role model out of her life. Forever. She was going to make them pay. “All of them!”
She didn't know she had said it aloud and wished Joel wouldn't ask but as if on cue, he spoke up.
“All of what?"
“Hmm... I meant all of them were pleased at my performance. If I knew better, I'd say the job is mine already.”
Joel’s face lit up immediately.
“That's great news. Let's so celebrate then.”
Tasmine placed one hand to her lip, feigning contemplation. Joel looked attentively, a smile brimming on his face.
“Well, that's something... But I thought you came because you had news for me, a message perhaps.”
“Well, it’s nothing much. Yes, except that Curtis wants you around, everyone as a matter of fact. He said he wants to make an important announcement.”
Tasmine nodded to show she'd gotten the message but she didn't know what to expect. She remembered now that her father’s will hadn't been read yet. She wondered now what would be in it for her.
Usually in this part of the world, it was believed that the males should take the lion's share of the inheritance. As a matter of fact, the first son would take about fifty percent of the inheritance leaving the rest for the remaining successors. Anyways, this was a will and things could be different.
Tasmine’s mind played a scenario where Curtis had an altercation with her father because he had revealed that he wasn't taking the largest share of the inheritance.
Could he have been part of the assassination attempt for this reason?

She shook her head as she weaved past a Lexus jeep that had slowed down and would have collided with her were she not the skilled driver that she was.
“What's on your mind?” Joel asked suddenly.
The question unsettled her. She had almost forgotten there was someone beside her. With one hand on the steering, she brushed her hair backwards.
“I don't know Joel. There's so much on my mind. I had plans for us, our family, everything has changed.”
“Oh... I'm sorry it has to be this way but one less person doesn't mean you can't go on with your plans. You still have a family. You've got us. I believe daddy will be happy wherever he is if you'd continue with your plans.”
“I guess so.”
She took a right turn into a narrow lane. They were close now and in few minutes, she would discover what Curtis had planned.
A growing surprise was the ease at which she could label her brother evil. It's not like he'd been a rebel. That Curtis didn't talk much didn’t mean he was mean or always up to no good.
Tasmine knew she had to stop making assumptions so it doesn't hamper her relationship with her family. And if any of them were somehow involved, they wouldn't see anything coming.
Element of surprise.
And talking about surprise, as she drove in, the first face she saw was that of Cherry, her best friend from the States.

Ann2012:
I've been so busy, thanks dear

hidhrhis:
U are a new writer on nl yet u have many views
I read story based on the number of view and that was how i opted for ur story
U claim u wont drop the part 2 except u get twenty comment yet u got it
Go and check the way the likes of soulouho19 larrysun silver1996 are doing their things.u have to earn it if u want ppl to be paying for ur story like mad. Today if this writers i mentioned want to sell their story i will be among the frontrunner to buy it and ive bought some author story on okadabooks cos theyve being doing this on nl for years and people know they deserve it so bro. I will say it again if u like dont post again we will count it as one of the unserious authours who abandon stories and we will move on. We have enough legend on literature section. Im not saying u shld not make money from ur story but give to the ppl first

hidhrhis:
It seems u are nt ready
Eat ur book
Go and check the likes of prominent authors on nl how they are making it

Ann2012:
Following, I ain't gonna miss this interesting story

Devilpen:
In Lui Kang's voice
"Finally"