The Invisible ion 533l3i

Invisible ion

Invisible ion

By

Chrissaint Trivett

Krissaint Boon Classic Novels

Copyright© 2021 Chrissaint Trivett

Published by Krissaint Boon Publishers

A Division of Krissaint Boon Enterprises-DE27834®

At Smashwords,

Smashwords Edition License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

This book may not be sold or given away to other people.

If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favourite retailer and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form, except by permission in written form to the publisher.

Cover Designer:

Krissaint Boon Digital Production 2021

Connect with the Author

Friend Me on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Goodreads

Pin Me on Pinterest

Sign Up For Our Newsletters

Dedication

With all my heart, I dedicate this book to those interested in reading this voluminous book; you alone, I dedicate this book to you. This book is also dedicated to my higher self and to those beings, searching for the path of their spiritual enlightenment. Furthermore, I dedicate this book to those interested in hearing the true story of a surviving ghost after death, who encountered difficulties during his lifetime in other to fulfil his life purpose here on earth – you alone, I dedicate this book to you.

I cannot do without my mentor. She is always on my side, whenever I needed her assistant. Her name can never blow out of my memory – she is Jeanie Reeve from Scotland. Finally, my dedication goes to my beloved wife, Patience, including Valentina, Hope, Emmanuel, Prosper, and Bright.

You all are enduring with me, in peace and hope for a brighter future. With a few beats in my heart, a distance can never separate us apart; in love, we trust. I – love – you – all.

Review

This is a wonderful historical and romantic novel of all time.

It had got to my knowledge that when a man died without completing a certain task at hand, his memory would keep on walking, rolling and searching, until he journey back to life in other to complete such task. And it would take many years to discover that such person is a ghost.

Everyone should learn from this historical novel, ‘Invisible ion,’ that after life, there is another life.

- Wilson Mark

It is so amazing to read a remarkable novel, Invisible ion.

When I go through the book at night, I was shock to see so many twists, interwoven with each characters; I never see such wonderful story like these before.

If you are being trouble with trauma, or, you want to enlighten your heart with horror, this book is worth reading; and you would discover a lot of mysteries, interwoven with romance and history.

- Theresa Daniel

Table of Contents

Invisible ion 1

Invisible ion 2

Connect with the Author 6

Dedication 7

Review 8

Table of Contents 10

The Main Characters: 16

19

19

Prologue 19

Epigraph 24

26

Chapter 1 26

Rootless Image 26

Chapter 2 40

The Storming Age 40

Chapter 3 49

The Voices of Dreams 49

57

Chapter 4 57

The Mark of Interest 57

Chapter 5 64

A Little Chance of Love 64

Chapter 6 73

The Cottage of Ugly Drama 73

82

Chapter 7 82

Mr. Double Hearts 82

91

The Breath of Death 91

100

Chapter 9 100

The Vision of Dead 100

112

Chapter 10 112

The Melody of the Family 112

119

Chapter11 119

The Evil Circle 119

The Family Secret Box 127

131

131

Chapter 13 131

The Romantic Age 131

142

Chapter 14 142

Breaking the Cape 142

Chapter 15 150

Painted Names 150

Chapter 16 160

The Window of Confusion 160

168

The Scaring Heart 168

Chapter 18 175

The Hero of Love 175

The Festival of the Dead 182

192

The Arrow of Life 192

Chapter 21 199

The Terrible Moment of Adventures 199

209

Chapter 22 Dagger of Sorrow 209

Chapter 23 215

The Hills of the Queen 215

225

Chapter 24 225

The Dethronement of a Noble King 225

234

Chapter 25 234

The Revelation of the gods 234

241

Chapter 26 241

The Strange Voices of the Unknown 241

Chapter 27 246

The Echo of the Death 246

255

Chapter 28 255

The funny Hours of Lamentation 255

Chapter 29 262

The Unforgettable Home 262

269

Chapter 30 269

The Will of Destiny 269

The Cappella of the Royal Queen 273

Acknowledgement 281

Connect with the Author: 284

Postscript 285

The End. 286

The Main Characters:

Jessica Jackson

James Parker

Katrin Oliver

Dr. Lawrence James

Jackson Rowe

Mary Jackson

Diana Lorborough

Dr. Herbert James (the spirit of Dr. Lawrence James)

Susan Willie

Mr. Abbot Marshall (Susan’s boyfriend)

Jude Richmond (Mr. Abbot’s friend)

Helena Lotus

King Pedro the 2nd

Princess Melinda

Gaston Thomas

Solomon Wick

Duckers Wilford

Marigold Richman

Wilford Seaman

Markford Bush

Saturwiller

Wallis Willie

Tonia Willie

Theresa Willie

Gretel Willie

Edwin Workman

Stephenson King

Prologue

Welcome to the marvellous story of our time. It is my ion to tell you a story, unexposed to mankind. This is an interesting story of a little young girl, Jessica Jackson, who raised from Fokah Valley in Delid City as a teenager, whose life was worried by Diana Lorborough, the Queen mother (the invisible woman of the Island).

She was the one who brainstorms the parents to dedicate her as a Priestess to be in charge of rituals during Festival of Flames in Janport Island, but the parents ignore her consent.

Festival of Flames was the only festival in the Kingdom of Arctilumania, including Janport Island. The festival of Flames is cerebrated on every 1st of March to cerebrate, the appearance of the Sun as a symbol of light and perform rituals for the gods in the Island. In every 1st of March, every citizens of the Island would bring different kind of foods and drinks to offer prayer to the gods. And there would also pray for the gods to favour them for the year.

Moreover, there also perform, fireworks and burned different kind of candles in every home and in every looks and corners of the Island to welcome the Sun. But since there was no Priestess, or a Priest that would offer the prayers to the gods, it was impossible for them to cerebrate.

Diana Lorborough was once a mother to Jessica Jackson before she reincarnated back to the physical world. When Jessica gets to the level of maturity, Diana Lorborough, the Queen mother, manipulate, dark imagery in her in her life.

In her physical appearance, there was a clamouring of ugliness, which her beauty, influenced, her inner life without exposing it for people to ired her. With her ugliness, no one likes to get closer to her, nor having any communication with her.

Having seen Jackson Rowe as a well-respected farmer in the society, does not stop Diana Lorborough not to deploy the attitude of ugliness and poverty into their family.

The attitude of Diana Lorborough cannot be differentiated with the character of a witch or a wizard. I wonder why she always had the ionate mind to every citizens of this Island.

In many occasions, people around Jessica, called her an ugly dead witch.

This is because her parents do not recognize Diana Lorborough – allies, ‘Bearer of light.’ As a teenager, Diana Lorborough appeared to her frequently, telling Jessica to follow her, but she refused.

Diana Lorborough, usually visited Jessica at bedtime when she is resting. But the parents did not notice it in time. However, her ugliness was so worrisome to an extent that, Diana Lorborough frustrated her out of school. Her frustration later changed her mind to think of learning a trade.

Getting to know the root of her problem was not the problem, but to look for a solution, which can resolve her problem in the physical life.

Being a young girl, she does not really understand what was going on in her life. The parents were looking innocently for the things that are becoming unpleasant to Jessica’s life, which there knew not the authentic part of Jessica’s rebirth.

One year later, she becomes an apprentice in J. J. Fashion Enterprise, where she learned fashion design after she refused to attend school at the early stage.

Seven months later, she became an enemy with her fellow apprentice.

At the turned around end of our freedom, her frustration becomes a turning point for her marriage. James Parker was the one who owns J. J. Fashion Enterprise.

He was not poor as people regard him, but when Diana Lorborough, discovered that, he is the one who had the interest of turning things around for the betterment of Jessica. Diana Lorborough, invented poverty and frustration in the face of Jessica, including the parents to remain poor in life.

In that same spirit, Diana Lorborough introduced a woman that would destroy Jessica’s matrimonial home within a twinkle of an eye.

How can a woman deliver a newborn baby and having the willing mind to take the innocent baby into deep pit?

What a useless life in the heart of invisible woman!

This was not Jessica’s intention, but her mind was in control of Diana Lorborough, the invisible woman of the Island.

At the end of the marriage – James kicked her out of her matrimonial home without any reasons.

To send her packing was not the end of her frustration, but it marks another milestone of difficulties in her life. When Jessica was about to settle her misunderstanding with James Parker, Katrin Oliver, who was the only woman in the hearts of love; no one rocks in – in James heart, except, only her alone. She fought her and influence James with magical charms as a notorious gang leader in the City.

At the end, Katrin Oliver becomes an enemy with James Parker, and wrapped him with the forces of the death in the present of Jessica; making the little young boy, Lawrence to become an orphan and turned Jessica into the agonies of widowhood.

The life of Jessica and her generation yet unborn couldn’t have tempted with poverty, but because of the parents, who do not recognize Diana Lorborough – the Queen mother of the Island.

Because of denying, Diana Lorborough, the crowned of a Queen was removed from the custody of Jackson’s Family. And Pedro Rowe, who was their cousin, automatically becomes the guardian of King’s crowned, instead of a Queen, sitting on the throne as the guardian of the crowned.

When it comes to a moment of joy, Jessica was frustrated not to enjoy the benefits of J. J. Fashion Enterprise as a CEO.

Unfortunately, the very first day of resumption, the heart lover of her late husband, Katrin Oliver, set the entire building in flames of fire in the midnight hour in other to end up the company – that was a night hour of darkness in Jessica’s life, which she could not forgot, until she committed suicide. Diana Lorborough was the one who introduced Regis Wode as a cook and steward to save Jackson Parker and his wife at the age of seventy.

She engineered his mind to prepared poisonous food to poison the little young boy. When the fire of wickedness backfired on him, he was sent out of Jackson Parker’s home.

However, as the gods pleases, he could not poison Lawrence.

Four months later, Lawrence James was seen, chatting with some group of people in Janport Beach. No one could tell who those people were.

During the midsummer season, Susan Willie travel to Lorborough, the Capital City of Janport Island to meet her Uncle, Uncle Jose Rede.

Lawrence James, who was her late husband, appeared to her during the annual general conference of the Pharmaceutical Association of Arctilumania in Newgater. She was unable to recognize the Dr. Herbert, her late husband. Towards the end of their discussion, he introduced himself to her as Dr. Herbert

James.

Susan Willie's intention was for her to travel to Lorborough to look for a new relationship that would bring her to a normal life, from a home of loneliness to a romantic life. At the point of arrival at Lorborough to see her Uncle, she discovered a new relationship with two gentlemen within two weeks, asking her for marriage. At the end, she decided to fall in love with only one lover (one man, one woman) who claimed to be Dr. Herbert James.

With the appearance of Dr. Herbert James, Susan’s hearts was planted with a dark portion of difficulties in other to frustrate the relationship with Mr. Abbot. This shows that a man who is desperate of achieving a particular aim in life had consciously mindful of putting pictures into play to enable him empower his vision to come to reality as soon as possible. That picture was a picture of having a child and putting things in order in his family.

Dr. Herbert James believes that having a child is a golden gift from God, which no man can give to a fellow human being in life, except by God. Will it be possible for Dr. Herbert James, formally known as Dr. Lawrence James, to achieve that very gold in his second chance?

I believe you would finish the reading of this book in other to get the true story of Dr. Herbert James and the only remaining daughter that left behind after Susan Willie, murdered the two children and Jessica Jackson, her mother-in-law the same day.

May the love of inspirational reading, bring blessing and joy to your life.

Chrissaint Trivet, Parapsychologist is always with you to share more stories, while you stand to connect with me on social media.

I look forward to hear from you and share more stories with you, soon. My – regard – to – you – all.

Epigraph

If men and women, young and the old, could realized their mistakes, at the edge of their fingertips. That committing evils is a sin, and not a trade of gain. They would not think of doing evils in their life.

Let me go home and rest in the bosom of my evils, before my bones, melt as icicles during the winter.

Those who banished me out of Janport Island, the House of Queen, whose crown is upon her shoulder, as the sixth Queen must fall in love to her Uncle in other to escape from death. Or, he and she must face execution from the hands of Diana Lorborough, the invisible woman. And then, I will raise and raise and mock at them, while there walked, sluggishly to their shadowing graves.

Farewell to you all while am going to a home, a home where no man or woman can escape.

Chapter 1

Rootless Image

In this world of ours, there is one thing in life that could not be confused to every man or woman: selfless, philanthropist, selfishness, hatred, dead, corruption, wickedness, justice, dethronement, loves and whatsoever you may think of yourself and others. Every man or woman; neither big nor small; he or she must have a mother; a mother is always a mother.

A young girl can become a mother; a lady can as well become a mother. A mother is always a mother, even though she is worthy or unworthy to be called, a mother. A woman must be regard as a mother, but not all women are mothers. No one ever had two mothers in one life, though people due resemble in nature.

Fortunately, no one, I know in this life that has two mothers.

In May 1932, disobedience was worrisome in Delid City, a city in the Kingdom of Arctilumana, imaginational kingdom, surrounded by Eurasia and North America, including New Hampshire – due to the appearance of Diana Lorborough in a secret castle. This was hidden from the mind of the indigenous people of Janport Island. She claimed to be a Queen mother of Janport Island, and one of the founding mothers of Arctilumana.

When King Nicholas Estermoor discovered that, she was among those, who planned to over throw him, during his coronation after the death of King Estermoor, the first King of Arctilumana. Then, she was captured and magically invoked into a magical bottle. Which the King took it to an Ancient National

Park, located in Western Etilia.

The character of disobedience is always depends on one side of the hearts; which brings Jessica’s life into tactical confusion and frustration.

Jessica Jackson was a young, beautiful girl of about eight years of age, tall and black in complexion. She had a wider tribal mark on her face, which was the only thing that set her on fire, while love was well fed in her hearts.

Jessica leaves together with her parents in Fokah Valley, which is six miles from Delid City, Janport Island. People hate her, and called her wicked ugly girl; though she was intelligent. But her own appearance was a difference thing in the eyes of everyone around her. Because of her ugliness and disobedience to her parents, she becomes a word in the mouths of every home and in every street of Delid City. She became a sticker in the mouths of the street hawkers, looking for what to eat in other to survive.

She loves her neighbours more than her parents. All our attention was focusing on her friends within the neighbourhood without helping her parents at home.

She also loves to pamper outsiders, helping them to do anything they wanted to do. Jackson Rowe was her father, a farmer who leaves in Fokah Valley, which is out scared of Delid City. He depends on farming as an occupation. He was managing a modern three bathroom flat apartment in a remote area, where there was no access road that leads to the town, no electricity; there were living a life of nightmare. No pipe-born water; life was so boring for them to manage.

If he doesn’t gather the farm produce, he could not have hope of eating food with his family as a common stuff to pushed life forward.

Mary was a wife to Jackson Rowe; she was blind, because of unforeseen circumstances during the first five years of Jessica’s birth; though Diana Lorborough claimed she is the one who made her blind. In the whole Fokah Valley, they were no bore hold; everyone in the Valley goes to the nearby river to fetch some water for domestic use.

Jessica as the only child in the family always rude to the parents, especially the mother without helping her in domestic work, or thinking about how to go to the river to fetch some water at home, except by the help of the father.

Mary’s stomach was rumbling – her noise was loud in her bedroom. And she was hungry, because she was blind. She couldn’t see how to prepare food.

She called her daughter, Jessica,

“Jessica, where are you? Jessica could not be found.

She tried the second time: “Jessica, where are you? Please, if you are there, don’t keep silent on me; I am starving.” But Jessica was busy discussing and playing with her friend within the neighbourhood.

Mary started lamenting, “How can Jessica, my only daughter, wicked in this manner? She knows of my condition. I am blind, and I can’t cook any food. What have I done to deserve a wicked girl?”

As she was waiting for someone to come home, Mary sang; she sang of her sorrow. But no sound came from her mouth. Only the movement of her lips and the tears on her face exposed her stress.

Mary waited; two hours later, Jessica returned home feeling hungry.

When Mary heard someone opening the back door, she recognized the foot-mark that steps in.

As Jessica walked into the kitchen, she said, “Jessica, where are you coming from?”

“Mum, I was playing with my friends outside the yard.” Jessica lifted the lid of an empty pan, the rattle echoed in the kitchen.

Mary snapped,

“What do you want from the kitchen?”

“Mum, I am hungry. It is time to eat.” Jessica said, and still searching, but she

found nothing.

“What?” She grumbled, “Have you prepared any food this morning? If you have made something, then you are free to eat any food you like.”

Mary jerked her head in Jessica’s direction. But Jessica said nothing and she look so chilly.

Mary sighed, her shoulder dropped as she speaks: “If you cared for me, Jessica, you won’t have kept me hungry for so long. I know you are hungry; that is why you come to look for food.” Mary turned and touching the wall, and she shuffled to the bedroom. Over her shoulder, she said, “I will not talk to you, until your dad comes back from the farm. Then I will report your conduct to him.”

Jessica was shocked on how her mother talked to her and she asked,

“Mum, what have I done?”

“So, you don’t know what you did? When your dad comes home, you will know what you did to me.”

At about eleven, when the nature hits the clocks, Jackson returned home from the farm with a big grass cutter, where he cut from the trap.

Immediately Mary heard her husband’s voice. She rose from the bed, swinging

are walking stick from left to right; and she went to meet her husband.

She approached the kitchen and she greeted her husband,

“Dear, you are welcome.” Mary smile and walked towards him

Jackson smile and run to embrace her:

“Oh, my dear, I am back for a short break. Soonest, I will go back to complete the weeding.” He withdrew his hands immediately from her shoulder.

“Welcome, my Dear husband,” said Mary, repeatedly.

Jackson Rowe was starving. It was the primary reason for returning home.

He asked,

“Did Jessica keep any food for me?”

“No, my Dear, Jessica refuses to cook any food, talk less of keeping the remaining one for you. I was calling her for a long time, but she refused to answer me at all.

Dear, I am not happy with the way Jessica is treating me. All this days, she is growing wild, day by day and for no reason.

When I asked the only child that I have to cook for me, she refuses!

She knows I could not do her anything; I don’t understand her.

Does it mean am not the one that gave birth to her? I have been calling her for several times, but she refuses to respond to my cries.

I do not know what I did to her. I suggest that you should send her to your uncle for me to have peace of mind.”

Jackson called Jessica, and when he saw her tension, he asked,

“Jessica, what is your problem in this house? Do you want to kill your mother? Why don’t you think of her condition?

Don’t you know one day, you too will become a mother?

Right now, you are growing wild every day. Is it because you did not have any place to go? Do you think I have no money to sponsor you in school?”

Jessica stared at him,

A tear escaped from her eyes; she flicked it away.

Her father continued:

”I do have a little money to sponsor you in high school, but I am afraid to do that. I will not send you there, because eventually, it will be your husband who gets the benefits.

If you were a boy, you would get to the first stage of education.

However, I will reconsider and send you to the workshop.” He turned to Mary,

“My Dear, wife, please, forgive her. Now, tell me what you want to eat, and Jessica and I will prepare a delicious food for you.”

After preparing the food, he took it to his wife:

“Mary, my dear, the food is ready. Get up and eat your food. It is my duty to help you; and soonest, things would be better.”

Mary sat up, “Thank you so much. If not you, I could’ve died of hunger.”

After Mary might have thanked him, Jackson got up from where he was sitting and said, “I am about to go back to the farm to finish my work.

As soon as you finish eating, tell Jessica to collect you some water. Then you can bathe. And I will be back soon.”

“Bye, dear, see you later,” Mary smiled.

Jackson left to return to the field.

As soon as he approached the four corner junction, a mighty thunder struck him down, and he could not move. He heard a voice, calling his name:

“Jackson, where is my only daughter, Jessica?”

Her voice, glacial on him; Jackson voice could not be heard.

After a wild, the old women spring her voice on him,

“Your wife kidnapped my daughter when I travelled to a far, far away country.” The voice roared above the air as a rolling thunder.

The hair on Jackson’s neck itched on him. He searched all over, but he could not see who was speaking.

And he saw only darkness; sometime a flash of lightening lit, light the sky above his head.

He cleared and rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his sight.

A blackest night surrounded him; yet it was early afternoon.

He did not recognize the howling voice. And he whispered:

“Who are you?”

“Tell me, how can my wife thief a baby from you?”

“A man who does not knows anything about the gods of the land.” She bobbled her voice,

“I am Diana Lorborough, the spirit Queen mother of Janport Island.” The voice

replied and thundered.

Jackson crushed on the ground,

“Can you tell me your daughter’s name? The one my wife stole from you?

“Rah, rah, rah . . ., I am talking about Jessica, my only child.

Unfortunately, your wife believed she could just stroll into my Palace and take her away from me without my consent.”

“This is a criminal act.”

“Jay guard man, as a husband who loves his wife; have you asked her how she got the child? Did you notice that ever since, there was no child in your home?

If not, my child, you couldn’t have a child up to this day.

You stupid elements, do you think it would be possible for her to perform such criminal act in my Palace?” Diana Lorborough mumbled.

Jackson struggle on the ground; his legs refused to move. He cleared some dust on his face as he thought, and then he answered:

“How can my wife and I share our daughter with you? Don’t you think you are an invisible woman? You are spirit, a legend of our people. Do you think that is possible?”

Diana Lorborough laughed and whispered at him,

“What are you talking about?

I, Diana Lorborough, I am the rightful owner of Jessica. She was once a daughter to me who dwelled with me in the secret Palace right from the beginning of time.

If you can’t believe me, only the sand of my feet in the past that can notice what I am saying.”

“You can’t tell me what I know.”

“Your wife stole her from me, when I travelled to a far, far away country,” said Diana Lorborough.

He cleared his eyes and tears rushed down on the ground,

“Please, forgive us if we have offended you in any way. Tell us how we can get in touch with you. Then we can return your daughter to you,” he sniffled.

“Good! At last, a friendly question. It needs the right answer.

So, as long as you agree, your wife stole Jessica from me, and you her, and you also claimed her as your child.

However, before Jessica becomes your own child, you must allow her to serve me in my secret Palace.

Jessica would be the one who would conduct all ceremony and rituals in my Palace. If you think you would not allow her to perform all these functioning,

I swear, she would never see the glorious light of the day, nor have any peace of mind in her life. Neither will her unborn child, nor you and your wife.

I swear to the gods, I will crack, calamity upon calamity in your family, unless you allow her to serve me in my royal Palace,” the invisible woman exclaimed.

Jackson stretched out his hands, but he could not touch Diana Lorborough.

Then he lamented,

“I have heard your story from the beginning, but I have no idea where to find you. I know you are the invisible Queen mother of Janport Island, the only intelligent woman, who is capable to speak with the gods to defend us in all areas of life. However, I don’t think my daughter, Jessica can serve you.

Because we were born and brought up from a Christian family, whose faith and hope is built in God. My daughter can’t serve a mother, she cannot see.

It is only God who is invisible being that we can serve. He is the only one who gave us life.

I think I and my daughter can only serve him.

In other words, we cannot serve God and you at the same time. We have to serve only one God and not two.

Please, don’t curse or bring calamity to us; look for another virgin to serve you in your Palace.”

Diana Lorborough, crooned,

“Oh, ooh, ooh, Christian family man, who missed to know his ancestors. . . .

Tell me, if you are from a Christian family, does it mean you can’t dedicate her to serve me? The gods and our ancestors were here before the European missionaries arrived in Janport Island.

If you were wise enough, why don’t you send the missionaries out of the Island, when they arrived here?” She hissed, “Let me tell you, you have to value the gods of the Island first, before you think of the doctrine of European Missionaries.

Our traditions and customs are more valuable to God than the doctrine of the European missionaries.

Don’t you know that Jessica is my daughter?” The voice shaped,

“Well, I can’t force you to dedicate her to me in other to serve me in my Palace. It is what you would see that would provoke you to force her into my royal tradition.” She scolded,

“But let me tell you, Jessica was chosen from the origin of time to assist me to gather my descendents in this very generation. No one else can do such tasked, except in the next generation. Then I will choose another virgin to serve me.

And what Mary, your wife suffered is just the beginning. More disaster is coming towards your family and the next generation; unless you allow her to govern every ceremony in the secret Palace.”

It surprised Jackson for hearing such statement. Diana Lorborough told him, she is responsible for Mary’s blindness. He shocked at what he was hearing, and he demanded,

“Have you done any other evil to my wife, unknown to us?”

“Yes, of course! You conspired with your wife, Mary, not to dedicate Jessica to me.

Don’t you know that Jessica is my daughter?

You have the mind and took Jessica away from me! That was why I made her blind.

How can she adopt the only daughter I had?” She screeched her head,

“I will do the worst, if she didn’t comply with me.

But if she did according to my direction, I will return her sight.”

“Oh my God . . .!” He screamed,

“Why have you done such evil to my wife? Why don’t you pity her?

No wonder why she is blind . . ., just like that?

Please, help us, she can no longer cook, nor do any domestic work in our home.

I am the only one doing everything in the family.

Please, for the sake of God, who created you and other gods in this Kingdom, have pity on her and let her regained her sight.”

Diana Lorborough ignored his plea. Instead, she whispered,

“I know it is impossible for Mary to return my child to me.

The only thing she can do is to allow Jessica to be my Priestess. She is the only one to do all the rituals and ceremonies in the Royal Palace.” She looked at Jackson on the ground and she wailed,

“Mary should do this to me, if she want me to will off sorrow from her face, as a criminal mother who stole my daughter from me, and you, a robber, who adopted her as a daughter.

Two of you should dedicate her to me as the first Priestess in my Palace.

Else, you and your wife will not see the light of the day.

In the night of the full moon, where love dwell, love will miss, out of you and your wife as a train missed out of it pathway.” “I wasn’t away of your Palace, for quite a long time. This is the right time and the best times. Tell me where I can locate your Palace.”

“Is it nearby?”

“Oh, Mr Jackson Rowe, your question lacks merit.

How can you have two eyes but you can’t see? You have two ears, but you can’t hear?” The voice laughed, a great rolling thunder, shocking the ground.

Jackson couldn’t rise his head up,

“Now, you have two legs and you can’t walk? That is the reason; you do not know my Palace. You are not an esthete in nature. It is because you don’t want to recognise me as a spirit Queen mother. That is why you refused to know who I am and where am staying?” The thunder rolled away into a distance.

“Let me introduced you to my Palace, which is as cold as icicle; though part of your body is not

functioning.” The voice of Diana Lorborough continued rolling on the air,

“My Palace is not a hidden place. It is near the beautiful shining rock you always see at night, sparkling like the eyes of the ancient gods. This is what you should look for, but not a house.

It is the rock between Estermoor River and Saintepole River, which is the Rockcoast Valley – that is where the gods are gathered to safe guard the Island. You don’t need to be told where the old city of the ancient gods is hidden.

Be wise as a noble Esthete and don’t be a fool.”

Jackson struggle to get up from the ground, but he could not.

A few minutes later, he felt defeated and he whispered,

“Please, consider us as your family and take me as an Esthete in the royal family. Don’t consider me as a fool. And don’t descend evils on us; we are your children.”

A cold wind clutched his legs. He raised his head up to see the shadow of Diana Lorborough, approaching him. Sweat ran into his eyes, and he tasted salt in his mouth as his stomach cramped.

The shadow of Diana Lorborough laid hands on his shoulder. Jackson shrank away from the cold touch and tried to listen.

“Let this word be a warning to you and your family.” The voices grow led, “Go home now and inform your wife to allow Jessica to serve me in my secret Palace of the gods, divine. If you disobey, your entire generation will continue to live a fruitless life.” Her hands left Jackson’s shoulder as the ghostly form of Diana Lorborough drifted away.

“Go home.”

She continued,

“Go home and tell Mary what you heard from me, because you and your wife are not ready to dedicate Jessica to me. And I will make life difficult for your bloodline; so difficult, and no one will know the solution,”

“I swear!”

Her voice cracked in the air. Jackson raised his head to see a whirlwind, flying across the field.

Behind it, dust devils, dance over the dying plants.

Chapter 2

The Storming Age

Jessica, it is a long, long story to tell. It was not our fault to give you such indelible birth mark on your face. Diana Lorborough the spirit Queen mother of Janport Island was the one visiting you at midnight, while you rested. She could’ve killed you.

Fortunately, she couldn’t take your life.

A philosophical man once said, ‘Gaining knowledge in the early stage will be the foundation of a child’s education.’ The time had come for Jessica to start school after wasting so many years, doing nothing at home, because of endless poverty in the family.

Jackson was always complaining about having one child from the wife. Because Jessica was a girl, Jackson insisted that she could not go to school. He believed when the young girl upgraded to a higher level, her eventually husband would take the glory. Jackson forgot that women are the bread winners in any family, rather than men do.

When she arrive Delid Morden School, she saw her friends from the neighbourhood, attending the same school. It surprised her friends to see her too. The school was in the centre of Delid city, east of Janport Island. The school was crowded because of the popularity and the given by the central government.

However, what Jessica did at home, she did at school, too. She plays with her friends: Happiness, Esther, Bright, and Samson during break time and forgets to spend her time on studies.

No wonder, it was not a surprising thing, Jessica was a nutty girl, because her friends were not brilliant either. As she grew older, the tribal mark on her face, changed, making her looks, ugly and ugly.

Her classmates call her ‘Delid idol’; Jessica slammed her legs on the ground. “No one should make me angry, even though am ugly, is not your business.”

She gave them a severe warning not to call her such name, but they continued, on and on and on.

After eight months, the name had escalated throughout the entire school. Indeed, the neighbouring, too.

Everywhere Jessica went, her nickname rang a bell all over the place. She asked herself one day:

“What have I done wrong to these pupils to make them call me, ‘Delid idol?’ Even the teachers use that name, too.”

Days later, she continued to imagine why such a name stamped on her face.

“Have I committed any crime against these people; so they call me, ‘Delid idol? It is not the name my dad gave to me.”

Whenever her nickname was shouted out at school or in the neighbouring, she cried.

Jessica was so stress when they called her Delid idol. She dreamed up ides after two days. “I can’t believe, even the teachers started to glint at me.” She said as she was hiding behind an empty class room,

”Should I stop, attending this school? I’m sure my parents brought this curse and other things to me.” She found a place and sat down and considered what to do next.

“What should I do about these indelible marks on my face?”

She rubbed her hand over the horrible scar,

“The only thing I can do is to stop coming to school.” She strolled home, repeating the same statement,

“I will not go to that school again.”

On and on – over and over until she arrived home.

As she reached the compound, she spotted her dad and she started crying. While she walked in, Jackson heard what she was saying.

He asked her, “Jessica, tell me, why are you saying that you wouldn’t go to school again?” The lines on Jackson’s brow, wrinkled as he placed a hand under her chin:

“Is there anybody who hurts you?”

Jessica shook her head,

“Dad, I will not go back to the school . . ., everybody hates me in the school.”

Jackson frowned,

“Why do they hate you? Did you do anything to them?”

“No! They call me Delid idol because of the tribal marks on my face.” She sniffed and raised her head,

“Dad, what is the major reason for these horrible scars?”

Jackson sighed, “My Dear, it is an endless story to tell. It was not our fault to give you such indelible marks when you were three years of age.

We were looking for ways to stop the unpleasant relationship with Diana Lorborough; because she always visited you at midnight, while you were sleeping.

She was trying to take your life. She tried but she couldn’t kill you.” Jackson took Jessica’s hand and motioned her to a stool. Jessica stood, staring at her father, waiting.

“When you were tiny, your mum put you in bed before midnight.” He said, “Every morning, she would find you, lying on the floor. It happened on different occasions.

As soon as we gave you the marks, Diana Lorborough stopped coming to you at the darkest hour – that was why we made those scars.

Later on, Diana Lorborough told us she was your mother before being incarnated back to life this second time. If we had not done this, you could have been a dead child, long ago. By now, a mighty tree will have grown in your graveyard – that was how we saved you.” Seeing the shock on Jessica’s face, he quickly added,

“Please, stop looking so gloomy. You are alive, and don’t allow the marks to drag you down! If people call you ugly Delid idol, one day, it will turn to opportunity.” He pulled up a seat; he continued to reveal hidden secrets to her.

“Come. Sit with me and let me tell you a story.” Jackson said,

“One day, your mum walked to the market. Diana Lorborough, the invisible woman, sent someone to warn us, concerning you.

The messenger even told your mum, her nickname, ‘The Bearer of Light.’

But her proper name is Diana Lorborough, the spirit Queen mother.

Our ancestors named the State Capital, Lorborough, after the spirit Queen mother. She is in charge of mysterious Island.

She said, she loves you so much, and nobody can take you away from her.” Jackson looked towards the room, where Mary was sleeping; nodded his head, he turned back to his daughter.

“There was another message the messenger told us. The messenger said, she stole you from her Palace, at the time when the Queen travelled to a far foreign land.

I was surprised to hear that.

She found you wandering and crying, and nobody taking care of you. So, she brought you to our home.

Seven months later, Diana Lorborough appeared to your mum as she returned from shopping. It was at the closed end of the four corner junction.

There was a clap of thunder, and she fell onto the ground. A thick darkness covered her eyes.

Diana Lorborough asked why we gave you such a terrible mark on your face.

She said, even though we changed your outlook, she would still recognize you anywhere. Mary did not see the person talking to her, because it is then she became blind. From then, until today,“ he sighed.

“Dad, is it because of me, mum turned blind?”

“Yes! That was how your mum became blind. ” A tiny tear escaped from Jackson’s eye.

“Why did she do such evil to us?”

“She told us you are the only daughter to her, and you must serve her in the

secret Palace.

Just imagine how magnificent it would be. ” Jackson said, grinning.

Jessica shouted,

“So, she made mum go blind, Dad–!

That means she is a wicked Queen.

How can I perform duties for her, if she is so cruel?”

Jackson held up a hand to calm her:

“No, no, my Dear, we couldn’t understand the problems at the early stage; we could’ve settle things with her to leave you alone.

I talk to your mum, Mary, several times that we should dedicate you to the spirit Queen mother, but she refused.”

Jessica, nodded her head,

“So, Mum disagreed with your opinion?” Jessica asked.

“Yes, she told me I should forget about the spirit Queen. She wanted nothing to do with her.”

“Dad, mum is right.”

“How can I serve her when she is so wicked to us? How can I serve a woman I cannot see? If she is putting pressure on me, she is wasting her own time.” Jessica shook her head. She sat down, biting her lips. Then her eyes lit up, and she said:

“We can turn this around, Dad.”

Jackson raised his eyebrows:

“How---”

“If she wanted me to serve her, let her unblind my mother, and I will fulfil her demands as her Priestess,” said Jessica.

Jackson smiled and he touches Jessica’s hand:

“My daughter, my advice to you is, you go, serve Diana Lorborough. Then she may help us. Maybe, our lives would get better. Just forget about your mum.

I will do everything possible to put you there as a Princess.” Jessica’s eyes, opened wide. She jumped out of her chair and frowned,

“Dad, how can you fool your heart for evil? You can’t pretend to me, you are a priest. Are you not aware that Diana Lorborough is not worthy of praise!

“Mum is right!”

“Mum is the only one, worthy of praise, not you, because you evil.” Her voice quietened, and she moved closer to her dad,

“Dad, tell me, how can I serve a wicked Queen.

However, if she wants me, let her come physically and talk to me as her child.

Or, if she does evil, let her take my life. My soul will rise and plead for me, and I will embark on another journey for the glory of my family.”

Jackson sat down, his eyes wide. He had never heard his daughter speak in such a firm, manner.

“Dad, don’t worry, if I die, I will not go to where she lives; I will find my way to my ancestors. There my spirit image will dwell.”

Next door in the bed room, Mary jumped up from the bed. She swinging her walking stick and she marched across the room. She stopped at the door.

Both Jackson and Jessica looked up.

“Jackson!” Mary demanded,

“So you want to dedicate your only child to Diana Lorborough, the spirit Queen of the land? Is that what you said?

I thought you are a true Christian.”

Jackson glanced at Jessica,

“Yes! That is what I said. It is because; Diana Lorborough has chosen her as a Princess to serve in the secret Palace.

Don’t you realize that Jessica is lucky to serve the spirit Queen?

The Queen mother didn’t choose from other family, but she made the right choose by choosing our daughter.

Why are you not happy about such an opportunity?” Jackson said.

Mary struck her cane on the ground and snapped,

“Well, if you want to follow her, you are free to do so. But my daughter will not serve her, while I am alive!” she walked away.

Jackson stood, calling to Mary, “Mary, my Dear, please, accept my decision as your husband and head of this family. I have shown you the right way to follow, but you said no.” He waited, but Mary did not return,

“Okay, if that is how it is, I have washed my hands of this matter from today onwards. I will leave everything for you to decide on how to settle things with Diana Lorborough. If you do not want to dedicate your daughter to her, it is up to you. But, if you don’t, we would remain in trouble for the rest of our lives.

Chapter 3

The Voices of Dreams

My Dear, you look so sad. What is the problem in this house that I can’t get to my senses? Come on. . . . I wonder why I am struggling in my dreams to get up from the bed. Tell me, what happened that I can’t set my eyes on you, while the whole room is filled with gray, gray smoke with lightening fire.

The moon and the stars are at it pick, and the dawn walked in the hills of our dreams. Again, the nature says farewell to the clocks at two, and Diana Lorborough appeared to Mary in her room as a middle-aged woman; wearing half dress without brassier; flowing her hair downward.

And she called on Mary:

"Mary!" Her tinny voice, stroke the air like thunder, and Mary could not recognized her voice for the first time. Diana Lorborough stood at the edge of the bed and watched over her. Mary did not hear her voice for the first time; even when she called the second time.

Diana Lorborough tapped her shoulder, “Mary, get up.”

Immediately, Mary rose from the bed, and she cleared her throat:

“Who are you? Tell me, your voice is strange to me.” Diana Lorborough replied,

"Mary Jackson, why do you sleep like a death woman?

I am Diana Lorborough, the spirit Queen mother of Janport Island.” Her voice, cracked on the air like thunder, “Listen to the sound of my voice." Mary could not recognized her voice, again and again and she replies, "But this is night time; I can’t really recognize your voice.

Please, rest up your voice well; your voice is cracking on the air.

Please, can you tell me, more about yourself? This is my first time of hearing such a name.”

Diana Lorborough laughed as much as she could . . .,

"I am Diana Lorborough, the ‘Light Bearer’ of Janport Island, the mother of all mothers who dwell in the secret Palace of the ancient gods. I am the one talking to you." Her voice was still cracking over the air. "Why did you come to me by this darkest hour – when things are gone wrong with me?

Can the blind see? . . . It is impossible for me to you. I have nothing to do with the Queen mother," said Mary, shivering. "Listen to my last words before I go.

I am here because of Jessica, my only daughter that you stole from me.

I know this is your second time to hear my voice.

I am the only Diana Lorborough of Janport Island; the spirit Queen mother; the mother of all mothers. I due solemnly declare myself to you this night, when the illumination of the moon, who is in charge of fertility. With the sense of travelling to our friend, Pisces to the great mother Moon at the waxing crescent. I want to let you know that I was once a mother like you in this world of ours. But today, the gods of the Island had chosen me as one of the Queen mother in this generation, even the next generation to come. I am the one living in a secret Palace of our gods.

This place is a hidden castle to non esthete born. Though the world is big, but you can only see the closest end that accumulates your physical view.

But I know quite well that you are blind, but you can’t know the secret things of our gods. A mother can have children as many as she wants. Among all of her children, she can decide whom to choose. That is why someone has been chosen in this family. I will not leave Jessica Jackson, your daughter, alone until she does the will of the gods. She is the first and the only daughter of the god’s right from ancient of days; I have to tell you the truth.

“I have sent messengers to you several times and you refused to listen to them; claiming Jessica to be your daughter, while am there alone. I want to let you know, Jessica can never be yours.” Diana Lorborough whispered, “Until you dedicate her to me and recognize me as the rightful mother before I handed her over to you as the earthly mother.

Did my words, sound clear to you?”

“I am hearing you!”

“Good! I can , you were once a slave to me, right from the beginning; suffering both day and night without rest

When I looked at how the European merchant slave's shoulders tormented you to take you away from my country home, and I said no to them!

It is because my love for you was too much. And I don’t want you to be among the slaves. The slave’s shoulders were servant to the European merchant who arrive Janport Island to gather their slaves, bought by their masters in other to move them to Europe. I know this is your first time of hearing such information from me.

Then I said no to them . . . . Enough is enough. Since then, I took you as a Queen’s madden and you become part of me.

In the respect of humanity, I shared my belonging to you.

Where ever I sat, I make sure you sit beside me. That was why I accepted you to be one of my hairs.

But the greatest pains I discovered from you is that you hate me as if am your worst enemy.

I can that you always ate with me, day and night, in my golden dining room, where no slaves ever stepped in, but I did it to you.” “What do you expect me to do for you then that I never deed?”

“Now, you have rejected me, and take me as your worst enemy. What do you want me to do for you, which I never did? Whenever I went to the Royal conference, the entire council of Kings and the Queens’ they walked me out as if I am a slave to them.

Because of you, I became a slave, while my seat became vacant,”

–“Have you seen what you have done to me?”

She continues. “There can’t allow me to receive my entitlement in the Queen’s Council. The Royal Court of the Queens and Kings can’t do without me. But for

now, no one allowed me to partake in the annual general conference. Since your criminal act took place.

The entire Royal council of Estermoor rejected me, and place, embargo on me because you have adopted my only daughter out of my sight without my consent. Are you aware that Jessica is the only Priestess of the ancient gods who needed to carry on the rituals in the secret Palace?

Whenever I walked down to my inner Palace, there is no one to carry on the activities of the gods, even a single fly can’t be found. What have I done to you, that I deserved such wickedness?

If your daughter would allow the secret home of the gods boom with joy, then my heart would be fuel with joy, too. If you allow my words to be empty to your ears – then my heart would be fainted with trouble and pains at all time. Whenever the festival of the flames approached; there is no one that hit the secret fire to the ancient gods; no sheep nor goat in the secret place, because there is no Priestess in the house of the gods. What then should I do to you when the flaming fire of the ancient gods is not burning? Who would I chose to be the next Queen of Janport Island? I believed there is no one; except Jessica Jackson. Mary was so panic under the pillow; looking for a way on how to escape, but she couldn’t. The voice of Diana Lorborough was rolling inside her stomach, “I sent messages to you for several times, but you ignore the words of the messengers. As you continue to ignore me, I have removed the crown of a Priestess who is the next Queen from your family. The Royal House of the Queen remains the same, but your family cannot step into that throne until you obey my voice and keep my commandment. Then I, Diana Lorborough, the ‘Light Bearer’ and the only ancient mother of Janport Island would restore your sight and returned the ancient staff of office back to Jackson Rowe’s family.

If you refuse to obey my voice, I promised to frustrate the entire family and fuel hardship, and failure in the life of your generation until you declare and dedicate Jessica as the only Priestess who would take over the throne as the next Queen, instead of a King. Because of your negligence, you have made my name forgotten in the entire Island. You have also faded the mind of the neighbouring gods and Deities not to honour me as their first mother.

How then should I be happy with you? That can never happen.” Jackson was behind her, sleeping, but he couldn’t raise his head up while Mary was under the pillow begging, “I can’t that I was once a slave . . . , but I didn’t know you were one of my mistress. What should I do to serve my life out of trouble,” she whispered? “That is why am here.”

“Are you aware that poverty is raining in the entire Island? You are the curse of it. If you agree to dedicate Jessica to be my Priestess and make the entire Island to recognize me as the only ancient mother, there I will pour my blessing; freedom from bondage and poverty and set the entire Janport Island free.

If you recognize me, I will recognize you too. This is the voice of the ‘Light Bearer’, the Queen mother, and the mother of all mothers, who dwell in the circle of light to bring favour to Janport Island. It is better for you to accept Jessica to serve me. Else, you and your entire family, your next generation to come will continue to face difficulties on my hands.

That is my last word to you."

A mighty wind stroke and shake the whole room, and she fly away without trace.

When Mary arose from the bed, she couldn’t understand, if it was a dream. Immediately Jackson gets up beside her, he heard a striking sound of wind.

The whole room was filled with smoke and he couldn’t know exactly what happen. And he struggles to open his eyes. But yet, he couldn’t see, until Diana Lorborough left the room.

In a little while, Jackson's eyes, flick on and he saw his wife, Mary, sitting beside the bed, looking so sad. He was so mindful to ask her,

"You are looking so sad.”

“There is something wrong in this room. Tell me, what is the problem that I can’t get back to my senses again? There is something wrong. I wonder why I am struggling in my dreams, to get up from the bed.

Can you tell me, exactly what happened in this room that I can’t set my eyes on you; while the entire room is filled up with smoke, and some lightening of fire, sparking over my head?”

“Dear, things are getting strange to me."

Mary nodded her head several times. She knew not what to say.

In a very little beat of her heart, she replies, “Dear, this is unbelievable: I didn't understand what is going on in this room.

I can that, someone mentioned her real name to me. I can’t forget what she said.”

“Then what happen?”

“The Queen mother appears to me at night. She spoke to me face to face. And I wonder why she still looked like a young girl," Mary commented. "But what I really heard before I got up from the bed – was the striking sound of thunder.”

“What does she said to you?" "That is the handwork of Diana Lorborough.”

“I think she is trying to tell me who she is." Mary replied, "I can't agree for such dedication of my only child to serve her, unless she made me whole again." "How can you make such statement to me? That means we would continue to face hardship, more and more, in our daily life in the hands of Diana Lorborough. Our ancestors used to say, ‘A fly that doesn't listen to an advice, is always follow the corpse to the grave.’

Do you wanted the Queen mother to kill us? Just tell me your mind, in other for us to correct the wrong from the past," Jackson encouraged. There is no good time, there is no bad time.

Life does not stop at a point; it goes on and on, if you determine to go on.

If not, it would kick you off the ground. Diana Lorborough, who used to visit at bedtime, monitored Jessica’s life. But the parents could not detect the problem in time. It was so difficult for them to solve the problem. On a delightful day, Jessica spoke with her father one on one,

"Dad, the story you were telling me some time ago was true. I can when I was a kid, I normally dreamed of one woman, who used to visit me at night time; telling me that she is my rightful mother before I came into this very family. She always warned me not to disclose this information to any of you, that I should keep it secret. If not, she will turned me to a dwarf and dumb. Dad, when I heard such statement from her, I was so afraid to tell you, neither my mum. I was thinking whether she would come and take me to her secret Palace. Whenever she comes to me at bedtime, she always encouraged me to follow her and I would tell her no. . . . My parents would beat me to hell, and she would reply me, ‘No, there wouldn’t beat me.’

Some time she would bring some food for me to eat and I would tell her no. I

can’t eat such food. And she would reply to me that if I should not follow her, she would take my life to the darkest side of life or set confusion over my life.

Dad, I could not understand her statement. But the funniest thing is that she refused to tell me her name, whenever she comes. And I told her it is good to know her name, but she ignore my words," said Jessica. "Oh, it is an endless story to tell. Diana Lorborough sent messages to us through someone she knew. Whenever your mum went to the market for shopping, the messenger could not let her gets into the market. But he always stops her by the side of the market square: that was when your mum went to the market to gather some foodstuff.

In the entire city, nobody knows her real name, neither her nickname. It was when she appears to us in the dream; that was when we knew our name.

If not, we shouldn’t have known her name.

My Dear, that was how we knew her native names," Jackson replied.

Chapter 4

The Mark of Interest

I’m sure our marriage will come to past soon. Really, a man who needed a wife is expecting to say farewell to loneliness. I am expecting your parents to be in my memory. But the worst pains is that there are absent in my memory. Can there make it possible for me to relieve my pains?

Jackson Rowe was forcing our daughter to become a Priestess to Diana Lorborough, while he was preparing to announce to her in other to accept the offer, but Jessica didn't agree and he spoke to her in a polite manner,

"My Dear, you can't say so. It means you are trying to worst the whole thing. Let us dedicate you to Diana Lorborough, so that our lives would get better," Jackson corrected immediately.

"Dad, not this time; I am getting to know myself very well. . . . I can't serve a woman who is invisible to me. If she appears to me, I will serve her as a Priestess, better than she thought,” Jessica sighed.

Three months later, Jessica's father took her to one of the biggest Fashion Design Company to enable her start the hobby of her choice. After a while, Mary called on Jessica to gave her a motherly advice, concerning her choice of work,

“Jessica, I heard all your conversation with your dad.

Thank you so much for making such decision as a wise girl. That is how you should have behaved, ever since. You are the only child we have; you have to be submissive to us, likewise the outsiders. That is what the Bible says.

By so doing, your master and others would open up their mind and share their knowledge with you.

Keep it up; your dad is always ready to you in every area of your life as long as you continue to behave well as a child.

Always that the hope of this family is in your hands. Alternatively, as you would be submissive to your master, that one day, you too would become a mistress to others and your servants will be submissive to you too," Mary encourages Jessica.

The first three weeks of apprenticeship, James Parker decided to delicate his own time for her. Four months later, Jessica was able to pick up with some techniques in the fashion industry. He encouraged her to put more effort in learning the trade. Immediately other apprentice saw how Jessica, quickly captured the techniques, jealousy began to flow in the workshop.

Katrin, Mercy, Helen and three others were not happy the where their master, James Parker, due concentrate on her alone and left others untrained. Immediately, jealousy started, sky rocking the mind of others; especially, Katrin Oliver. And they gathered to make gaze on Jessica's ugly face during their discussion.

Indirectly, they called her an ugly, crazy witch for a while, but it was not getting to Jessica’s notice by then. Though she grows up in a semi urban area, she knew nothing about witchcraft, neither her parents. She was not the one who put a barrier in her educational foundation at the earlier stage. Haven't known this, her father, Jackson Rowe refuses to set up her educational foundation for her future.

In a nonprofessional sense, he thought that a woman couldn't have the capacity of leading a family to a greater height; though Diana Lorborough, the invisible mother of Janport Island had contributed a lot of failure to Jessica's life, since inception.

Her fast growing knowledge has made her understand the ideas needed in fashion deg industry.

She knew everything that has made the envy and jealousy comes up in the mind of her fellow apprentice within a few weeks of resumption, but she did not know how to escape from it. The indelible mark on her face, had made people to suspect her as a witch, but she was not a witch. They narrated how the parents are wicked by giving her such mark on her face.

Anyway, she went to, she became an ugly mirror to others. They thought it is because of her witchcraft that drove her out of school at the early age.

Jessica was not happy at all, whenever the fellow apprentice started mocking at her. She took it as a side talk, but later on, she was ashamed. She started asking them the reason for such name,

"What have I done to you people for calling me a village witch?

Have I made any mistake for coming here to learn a trade? You all are utterly indiscipline; is as if you people are lacking home training.

When I was at school, did any of you know what was going on? Let me tell all of you, it is too early for any of you to tempt on me in this place. Let no one provoke me, because I will not take it kindly with any of you." She hissed immediately.

A week later, when Jessica was about to closed at work, and the nature hits the clocks at four thirty-five, James Parker informed her to wait behind for a private discussion. Who knows what he wanted to discuss with her.

After James Parker had informed her to wait behind, she imagined what he wanted to discuss with her:

"I don’t even know what he wanted to discuss with me, when he knew it is time

to go home,” She breathe in, deeply,

“Well, let me wait, behind and here from him," she murmured. When the hour approaches, James Parker called her to walk inside his office. Immediately, Jessica moves sluggishly and walked down to his office and sat down in the next chair closed to him. And he began the discussion.

As the discussion started, he told her; he doesn't want others to hear their conversation because of their jealousy. And he begged her not to take it as an insult; and he speaks to her in a friendly manner. Actually, he appreciate her for the courage and effort she has during the first one month as the best apprentice,

“As I want to speak to you, don't take it as an insult.

As a matter of facts, I want to appreciate your effort for being one of the best apprentice so far, who is serious in learning the trade.” He boosted on her,

“I want to tell you that before your dad brought you here; he knew that here is one of the best Fashion Deg Company in town. Whatever you see in this company, you cannot see it elsewhere. Also, I want to inform you that I am interested in you as my wife.

I can no longer be hiding my feelings on you as a beautiful girl.”

Both of them gave a warming smile,

“Forget about what they did to you since your resumption. I want to assure you, I would you throughout your training - no matter any circumstances. I will always be your caregiver," he smiles. Jessica huffed for a while and spoke gently,

"Are you sure of what you are saying?"

James Parker replied immediately.

"I'm sure about our marriage. I am expecting your parents to be in my memory.

But the worse pains is that there are absent in my thinking; while I am worried to take you as my wife.

Can there make it possible for me to relieve my pains? Jessica replied, "Can I hear you say marriage?

. . . Just like that! –”

“What I’m saying is true.” Jessica took her mind back home and ed what happen in the past, “Is it Katrin, Mercy or Helen that sent you to come and make gaze on me.

There were here before me . . ., why you don’t ask any of them for marriage?” she questioned immediately. James gave her a warm smile, while some gray smoke, flow out of his mouth:

“How can someone send me to deceive you for a marriage? No, no, no, I haven’t sent by someone. I love you so much, and I can’t let you go. That is why I need you to be my wife," he whispered. And she said to him, "Are you telling me, you didn't see other ladies to ask for marriage, except myself, who just reported here for some weeks ago?" said Jessica.

"Calm down!

Don't take it as a kind of embarrassment.”

Did not satisfy with his reply,

"Sir, why are you making gaze on me?”

“You mean you want to marry an ugly witch like me?" Jessica spoke, anxiously.

"No, you are not an ugly witch. You are the most beautiful girl that I needed to go out with. There are trying to condemn you before me.

Forget about what they say to you. I don't have a single interest on them, except you," James priests her.

It was a surprising moment to Jessica, when she heard from James that he had much interest on her for a marriage,

“Sir, look at me – very well.” She turned around, several times.

“You mean, a girl like me who is not tall or look nice, can be your wife?

What do you want me to tell my parents when I get home? I don’t come here for marriage; I came here to learn a trade.” "Yes, am so much ready to take you home as a wife. So, what is your response to my request?" he responded, politely. "I heard all what you said, but one thing is that I cannot just give you the reply for now. I have to think first before I give you the ," she answered immediately.

"I will be glad to hear from you soon,” he replied modestly. "It is time to go home, when I get home, I will tell my parents all what you have said. May be, by Monday or Tuesday, I will give you the ," Jessica replied. "Very good; as you go home, think of it very well and give me a reply as soon as possible.”

James walked closer to her:

“As from today, you are my only J. J. for live – no one else, but you.

No one can take you from me,” said James Parker. She kept quiet for a while and smile, "How do you know I have agreed for the marriage?

“I am happy you are smiling on me and there is hope . . .,”he whispered.

“Tell me, what is the meaning of J. J?" And he began to explain the meaning to her,

“J- J- means Jessica James. It means you are my wife,” he replied. She looked at him and smile, "Is okay, I heard you. . . ."

In a very little beat of his heart, he moved closer to her and hanged on her shoulder, and gave her a sounding kiss, "My regards to your parents.

Good night, my love,"

He concluded. Jessica whispered on him,

"Night, sir . . ., we would see tomorrow."

James stood behind the doorpost for a while; and he looked as if he should’ve followed her home. And he begin to imagine,

“Would Jessica marry me? Would it be possible for me to go out with her in daytime, when people are still hanging around?

Jessica also stood behind the roadside, and looked at him as if she wanted to go back and met him in his office.

When James saw how she watched over her, across the road, he hold the door post, while he nodded his head, up and down. He spoke to himself; it was only his lips that indicate the joyful moment in him.

Chapter 5

A Little Chance of Love

Mr. Pretender who does the worst; you just pretending, you love me. But there is no single sign of love in you. If you love me, why don’t you go out with me in the daytime, instead of night? If you love me, why don’t you kiss me in the public, when all eyes are on us? Is my ugly face, deem our love?

Thirty minutes later, Jessica was not comfortable, thinking on what to reply James Parker, when she met him in his office. She ed how they abused her at the workshop. Immediately she arrived home, she sat down on a wooden chair under a mango tree without entering the living room to say hello to her parents. When her mum heard her talking lonely; she called on her, but she refused to answer. She was sitting down, weeping under the mango tree.

When her dad heard the mother complaining about her, he came out from his room to see what was going on. Looking under the mango tree, he cited Jessica, sitting down on a wooden chair; crossing her legs to each other. While her face, jerk downward. And he stood closed to the entrance door and called on her, but she couldn’t respond immediately.

Then he walked straight to the mango tree and asked her, “Jessica, why can’t you come and say hello to your dad and mum? Is there anything wrong with you?

Jessica could not say a word to her dad. “Just tell me your problem and I would solve it for you,” Jackson, pleading on her earnestly. She gushed, while Jackson stretch out his hand and rubbed her head, “My Dear, is okay. Stop crying; tell me what happen. Your cry can never solve the problem. . . . Is okay!” he continued to pet her.

Jessica was still putting her head on the ground. She could not listen to her dad. Then Jackson puts his hands on her shoulder,

“I said stop crying, is okay.”

“Come, let go to the pallor,” he whispered Jessica scolded; she could not lowered her voice, while her lips keep on shaking. “Tell me. What happen to you at work?” “Dad! Today was a funny day, full of abuse. It took time to notice, if I’m the one who created myself.

Does it mean that I am the only ugly girl in this town?” She screeched, “I don’t know why there are abusing me ever since.” She wipes away her tears,

“Dad, when I ed what happen, when I was at school, I always feel sad, as if life, as an end in me. Now, another one has happened. Dad, tell me, what have I done wrong in this live that people are complaining about my ugly face? Maybe you might have hid some secret from me. I have received so many abused without happiness,” she lamented vividly. Jackson responded and said,

“Then what happen to you?”

“Dad, it happens at about 10:24am, when we were busy working in the workshop. Katrin and two others started abusing me, because of the interest my master had on me. Dad, the most painful abuse is for them to call me an ‘ugly dead witch.’

That I was sending out of school, because of my devilish witch character.

They also emphasized that I was banished out of the town because of my witchcraft.

Dad, how did they manage to know everything about me?” she murmured. Jackson was mad at that very moment;

“What does that mean? How can they call you such an evil names? Are they the one who initiated you into witchcraft? “They are all mad. I mean mad.”

“Is that all they called you?”

Jessica spring her voice,

“Yes, dad. . . . But there is good news for us.”

“Wow!”

“What is the good news all about?” Jackson replied.

“Dad, I’m excited to announce my marriage to you.”

“Who is that man that wanted to share his love with you?”

“James Parker is the one, who proposed to marry me.”

“So people are started complying with your ugly face?”

“I’m surprised to see people, having interest on me.”

She continued, “When I was about to closed from work, he told me to inform you that as soon as possible, he would come and pay my bride prize,” Jessica thrilled.

“Is that all?”

“Yes, dad –” It is believed, without a woman, there is no successful man. A year later, James and his family finally decided on how to meet with the parents of J- J- as James do called her. Three weeks later, James met with his father and he narrated the discussion he had with Jessica. And the father congratulated him for his marriage.

The following day, he narrated the whole story to Jessica, what his father told him, concerning their marriage: “J. J., it is a joyful moment for both of us. My dad had agreed for me to marry you. I discoursed with my dad, a day before yesterday after closing from work.

I inform my dad about my marriage. He asked me the person I wanted to marry. And I whispered on him; it is you, the daughter of Jackson Rowe, the great farmer of Fokah community. And he thrilled so much on you, including my brothers.

He told me everything about your father; that your father is a generous man, well respected in the entire Delid City. My dad also told me that your father is less troublesome, likewise your mum, Mary, who blind for some years ago. My father said, there were together in primary school.

Though your grandparent was a farmer and they did not have enough money to train your dad further to the higher institution.

I discovered that they did not have much interest in training their children as well to any higher level. Instead of training your dad to become an , they trained him to become a great farmer in Delid City.

Then I took my mind back home; and I that your father didn’t go further in school; maybe that was why he refused to sponsor you to school, too. I thought that it was when Western education came up in our country and people were not interested in adapting the knowledge of educating their children to a higher level. My dad also told me a story on how they went for an easy writing competition in national level, in which your father took first and they awarded him a scholarship to further his education.

At the end, the head teacher, Mrs. Freda Grey, diverted the scholarship to another pupil in the same school, instead of your father. Maybe, your father might have been retired from civil service by now. He also said that as at then, the government used to give scholarship to students who took first position in any class, starting from the middle grade, up to the university level. Nowadays, there is no more scholarship in our schools.

Even though government awarded any scholarship to any student, people in higher authority would convert the fund to their own use; instead of announcing it to the public for the benefits of every student.”

“ Can you imagine that?” And he dictated more stories, “Oh, I could have forgotten one interesting story my dad told me.

I think, my dad is a storyteller. That is what I can classify him.

He told me that our great grandfather was from your father’s family.

What a great story! To me, our marriage is well recognized by both families.” He smile, “J. J., the most interesting story my father told me, was about Janport Island Royal family. That your father could have been our king before King Pedro took over power. In addition, your father’s uncle couldn’t have steps into the Royal House as a King. But because of corruption and lack of trust, among the House of Lords; they hand over the kingship to your uncle, which is the present king. Furthermore, I learnt that all the elders that involved in the kingship tousle were all dead, one after another.

I was impressed for such action, that the gods of Janport Island did not spare any of them alive.

That was a very good action, taking by the gods of the land.” He suddenly jerked his head towards the back, and he saw an old ugly woman, standing at his back. And there were all shouted, and ran away from the present of the old woman. There were confused, thinking who the woman was.

In a little while, the old ugly woman appeared to them the second time. She could not waste much time to introduce herself to them: “I am Diana Lorborough.

What are you discussing with the noble gods of Janport Island?

Is it your duty to determine the decision of the gods?” There were all down on their knees and covered their faces on the ground. While Diana Lorborough stretched out her hands on Jessica’s head.

She shouted immediately; looking for a way to escape, but it was impossible for her.

Then, Diana Lorborough pulled back her hands on her head: “Look at me very well.” There were watching over her,

“I am Diana Lorborough, the Queen mother of Janport Island.

Jessica, I have been looking for you ever since. Why are you running away from me and reject the honour of the gods; while you fly on the flag of disgrace to the ancient gods? Do you think you can run away from your shadow? Your parents had rejected to dedicate you to me in other to claim that honour from me as a priestess. Having such honour, you would flag on the banners of

the ancient gods divine in the whole Island and in the secret Palace of our gods. Tell me; can they took the honour of a Queen and gave to a street goats and dogs that have no father or mother; talk-less of having the right of occupancy?

The answer is no!

For such reasons, it is better for you to accept the honour in other to occupy the seat of a Queen; instead of giving the honour to the street goats and dogs. Your father has missed the honour of a King, which I gave to him. While you are here, looking for men to marry; and left the secret Palace of the ancient gods empty. Did you know that the ancient gods are looking for you to burn the secret flames of fire?

It is better for you to agree to serve the ancient gods, or you remain as an endless street beggar. Don’t you know that you are the only Priestess of the ancient gods, kidnapped by a slave mother? Do you forget what you are to me?

Listen to my last words: if you refuse to serve me, you would never get peace in your life. Then I will pour out poverty upon your generation. Be warned.” By the cracking sound of the thunder, Diana Lorborough vanished on the air without a trace. Immediately, James and Jessica opened their eyes, Diana Lorborough was already vanished on the air with a cracking sound of thunder. They breath often and often, and there find their way back to James’ office. Where they continue with their story:

“J. J., never you mind the old ancient woman, let us continue with our talk, her time has ed.” They all smile and continue, “J. J., it will thrill me to marry from a well-respected and well-known family in this Island, like yours.

One day, the Royal House and the crown King will surely return to your father’s house. By then, you will become a Princess and I will become a Prince in the Royal House of Janport Island,” James concluded his story.

Jessica couldn’t believe the story would end up under her pillow.

She can’t get the actual colour of the story. Then she asked James the meaning of the story. And James fuel more light to the story the more: “My story is all about you; is all about our marriage. And it is all about our relationship; you and me and all of us. Nothing else, but you,” Then he tossed a braid over her shoulder. “Oh my God . . .! You mean you want to marry me?” She smiles as never before. “Yes, I want to marry you – either in good time, or in a hard time. No matter any condition in life, I will be they for you. No one else, but you,” he whispered.

Jessica smile, “Oh, Mr. Pretender who does the worst; you just pretended, you love me.

But there is no single sign of love in you, since we knew ourselves.

If you love me, why don’t you take me out in daytime, instead of night? Is as if people are telling you, I am the only ugliest lady in town, and you agreed on their standpoint. Is it not true?” she hissed and walked away. James gave her a sharp respond,

“Why did you say so?” “Yep, it is because the tribal marks on my face are agents of my hatred.

If not so, why don’t you go out with me in the daytime, instead of night?” Jessica commented. “No, no, no, that is not true. How can I be pretending that I love you?

Is it not a disgrace to me and our future relationship? I can’t do that to you.” He frond his eyes on her, “Let me tell you, never you follow what people are saying about you and me; there are fuelling our relationship with fire. At the same time, there are deceiving you not to fall in love with me. I really love you with every single bits of my heart.

And no one will succeed by taking you away from me.”

“I swear.” Bring your mind home and think like a Queen and not a kid.

Here me now: have you ever seen someone, having hatred on a rose flower and still he would plant it in his compound, where he lives-?

Have you ever tasted a bitter salt in your mother’s kitchen?

If you have not tasted such salt in your mum’s kitchen, it means your love to me is not bitter.

“No, that can never happen!” “Your tribal marks to me are marks of romantic loves, marks of beauty, marks of freedom of jealousy, and marks of dignity.

Your love to me can never fade, while the Moon is shining on our path.

And the trees are sharing their beauty over us, while we walked on the path of utopia, where our loves lives. Believe me, no one can ever depart us a path; no matter any circumstances. Sincerely, the love I have for you is not the love of lying lips – but it is a genuine love that would bring enlightenment into our souls. Even at the point of dead, my love for you, will go on and on. No one can stop

me from loving you.

Chapter 6

The Cottage of Ugly Drama

Oh, my goodness of love has gone out of me.

There have taken away my joy and announced pains and bitterness in me. And I saw an ugly charm, exposing me to danger.

Can the street dogs that had no hope, share their love with humans?

James Parker could not stop, expressing his love on Jessica, “When I think of you, I always see you at the centre of my hearts, where the candles of loves are lightening to shine our path. And when I opened my eyes, I see you and me in the city of love. Whenever the people at the darkest side of life, hits us with negative words,

I always have the confidence that, soonest, they would dry off like a leaf; waving in the wilderness of no hope. But still the trees are still alive, while it stands, firm to produce good fruits in due season.

My Dear, we are the trees that produces endless love.

Don’t let the devilish words, deviate your hearts from me. Our loves is still on and on; no one can stop it. As long as no one can stop the rising of the Sun, neither the Moon – no one can ever stop my love from you.” He gave her a warm kisses and then he smiled, “Since you came into my world, there is no more darkness in me. But pure light that shine in my path.

My world was missing someone like you, while I took my mind to the Island of dystopia. Now, I have found you and I can’t do without you.”

And he continued,

“Jessica, you are the only Sun in my cloud and the only missing Moon on my path. The Moonlight has shared her joy with the Stars in the night.

I never knew it would be you, sharing my joy, together in the darkest hour of my life. It is now, I am a complete pair.” Jessica smile, earnestly,

“You make me who I am at this point in time and mould me in the ladder way of love. This is the precious moment, giving you a complete day of my life.

The ion between us is so strong and ferocious to those that see the feelings as it is shining between us.”

“Me for you – you for me –” “As you go home, kindly remind your parents about our marriage that is coming

up in the next three months,” he recited. “Your wishes are my command.

Thank you so much for being so good in everything,” Jessica commented. “Wow, I’m ready to go with you into one glooming union and nothing can stop me.

Meanwhile, to tell your dad to keep Janport Island delicious food and some fresh local wind for me and my family.” He purse and then smile,

“Best regards for you and your love once. Goodbye, my love.”

“Your wishes are mine.

It will thrilled me to see you they with your family and my dad will welcome you in a grand style. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye for now, my love.”

It’s naturally believes that life without love is alive without life.

It is really noticing that the right hand can’t do without the left hand.

J- J- as James Parker do call her, has finally free from fashion design after three years of apprenticeship. And James had fully partner with her. They turned their hobby into a hub of fashion design, which he named the company as J- JFashion Enterprise. There also creates an empire of fashion and design, as a onestep shop in Delid City and environed. Fashion design becomes part and parcel of their lives: for such reasons, they made it as mandatory to travel from far and near to showcase their different, ready-made clothes of all kinds within and outside of the city as at when due. Six months later, James began to change his characters towards his wife, Jessica. She began to murmur within herself. After some weeks, she could not bear it any longer. She exposed all her pains and grievances to him, face to face:

“James, my bitter honey, I have seen a lot of changes in you all these days towards me.

A wife is always speaks, eat and drink with her husband, one on one.

As a husband, you no longer care about me.

Tell me, what have I done wrong to you that you no longer gave me a sweet honey to drink?” she lamented.

James did not know exactly what she was talking about and he asked her,

“What changes are you talking about?” James questioned her.

“I notice that your behaviour has changed towards me.

Tell me, do you have another wife apart from me?” said Jessica. “No! I don’t have any.

What do you notice about me?” James replied. “Good question!”

“You really know that am pregnant; soonest, I would deliver a baby for – either male or female. You don’t even care about me as you used to do. In the past two weeks, you have rejected to eat my food.

Do you think I want to poison you?

And again, you have stopped, taking me out for shopping, nor even taking me out for a dinner at Delid City Restaurant as you used to do.

I also notice that whenever you prepare for a church service, you don’t care to take me along. It has proof to me that the ugly pictures in me have exposed more danger to me. Is that what you are nursing in mind towards me,” she fumed.

“My dear, that is not true! I still love you.”

“I – mean – a – natural – love.

Since you came into my life, you have brought light into my soul. I mean a genuine light that no one can dim. But I know no one is perfect. With your love, I’m well please.

Just take it easy from me,” James wailed.

“Dear, how can I take it easy with you, when you refused to do your primary duties as a husband? It means what people are saying about me is true.

If people are telling you, I am ugly and you truly believe that is true. If you said that I am not ugly, why don’t you take me as a wife? But I have notice that you have decided to take me as your house help, instead of a wife.

Why don’t you allow me to stay on my own with my ugly face?

Tell me; is it now that you get to your senses, when things had got spoil? Why are you sowing evil to me, instead of good?” she asked, sorrowfully.

James couldn’t know what to do next. He kneeled down and begged her, “Please,

am sorry – forgive me in anywhere I went wrong with you.” She jerked her head towards the bush and kept quiet for some time.

James pulled his hands on her shoulder and said,

“Please, forgive me in any area I went wrong with you. I still love you, and I will continue to love you the more.” She turned her head to James, while her shadow – reflected on the ground. And she cried bitterly, “I heard what you have said. But you have to changed your attitude towards me and take me as your wife, and not your enemy. Always put me at the back of your mind and do not abandon me any longer. Because it is now, I needed your love the more,” said corrected.

A cat does not urinate in an open place; rather, it kept it secret.

Upon how Jessica confronted James Parker about his character, he refused to change – he was still an anti hero, worsted than before. Three months later, Jessica could no longer control her anger. She reported him to her dad through phone call, and she tells the conducts of her husband, James. When the phone rang, her dad couldn’t pick the call at that very moment.

It was later that he call her back. Jackson Rowe advised her to endure her husband. That very soon, he would change. As long as she has got into the marriage, there is no going back. Jessica suspected James of having another lady outside marriage; though she didn’t see the lady face to face.

Three days later, Jessica went to work together with him.

As the walking clocks hits five-thirty, Jessica inform him that she is not feeling fine – that she wanted to go home and have a rest and James reply to her,

“No problem, just take good care of yourself – I will soon be back.” And when night approaches; the nature hits the clocks at seven forty-five, she waited and waited; murmur and murmur, but she could not see James returning from office. And she charted a taxi to find him in his office. When she arrived at J- J- Fashion Enterprise, she moved directly to James' office and opened the front door without knocking.

Immediately, she saw James, seating in front of Katrin Oliver, telling her, he loves her. When she looks at them, she was mad,

“James, have you forgotten that you said, you will love only me forever?

What are you doing with this prostitute by this very time? Is this the customer’s job you wanted to deliver?” she speaks rudely.

There were all shocked, surprising to see Jessica at that moment. And tension arose in them. “Oh, this is what you were doing ever since. I have seen why you neglected me for a while and regard as a slave.” She ignored the husband and face Katrin Oliver,

“A woman of many men – are you the one who took away my joy and replace it with pains! Why are you doing this to me?” She walked out of them and stops at the door post,

“Well, there is no problem – I shall see the end of your happiness, while I’m at home, feeling the pains,” she complained, shaking her head and she walked away. There couldn’t say anything at that very moment.

In a little beat of her heart, she left the office back home. Arriving home, she cried bitterly – nonstop, saying, “Oh my God, I’m finished – Katrin has taken away my joy and displayed pains on me.” “How can I be sharing my love with the dogs that have no hope?”

“Oh . . ., an evil mirror has exposed me to danger.

How would I get back to James’ heart, again,” Jessica grieved. Three months later, Jessica delivered a newborn baby, boy at St. Luke Hospital in Delid Avenue, Delid City.

When James heard the good news, he was so happy for having a newborn baby. Two days later, Jessica was released from the Hospital back home. Arriving home, she met Katrin Oliver, relaxing with James on the bed in the master’s room. With her layered brown hair.

Immediately she cited two of them, she fainted; and she was rushed to the Hospital with the baby for treatment. Five hours later, she woke up from the hospital bed. And she saw herself with the baby, lying down on the bed.

When she looked around, she saw James, her husband, beside her. And she said to him, “Dear, what brought me here after I was properly released?” “Oh, it was just a mistake; you fell down on the ground with the baby and you couldn’t speak any longer. . . . Your heart beat was all gone out of you.

And I thought, you were dead – that was why, I brought you here for treatment,” James smile.

When she arrived home together with James, she met Katrin Oliver the second time, sleeping in the master’s room. Immediately Katrin heard her voice, she woke up from the bed and sad down – she looked at Jessica and watched her from head to toe and she murmured,

“Katrin, the wicked daughter of Oliver, does it mean that you have become a housewife, instead of an apprentice?” She rubbed her head,

“Are you telling me that, you are no longer an apprentice?” she squalled.

At that very moment, Jessica couldn’t control her temper. She jerked her head towards James,

“Wicked lover, who had no value to our lover.

You mean, you have turned our matrimonial home to a hotel?

What do you think you are doing . . .?” James was beating down his lips; shaking his head like a lizard. He couldn’t say anything. Then, she turned to her left and harassed Katrin Oliver,

“Katrin, it looks like you are crazy. If you are not crazy, you couldn’t have been here at this very moment; kissing my husband, as if you are the one, marrying him.” Katrin kept silence on her for a while. And she looked at her, roughly.

When she turned her head towards the ward-roof, she saw a blue-coloured bag, full of clothes. Some were hanging on wall; while some were inside the bag.

She dragged the bag and removed her clothes, one after another – and scattered it all over the room: “Do you think here is your husband’s house?”

“It is either you park from this house, or I park and leave the house for you – you this wicked harlot. Enough is enough for you.” Jessica yelped. Katrin looks at her, and nodded her head and laugh,

“Ha, ha, ha, I laughed at you, because you are an empty vessel.

Who gave you such power to scatter my clothes all over the room? Do you think James Parker would marry you?

You are wasting your very good time in this house, thinking you have got married.

Have you ever looked at yourself in a mirror, since you were born?

If you have not done that yet; better do it now, and you would discovered, yourself as the most, ugliest woman in town.” She walked down on her: “It is better for you to look for your husband, before it is too late.

Because a black goat can’t be seen in the night; rather, you looked for it in the daytime.

The very James, you are talking about, is my fiancé, and my lover.” She jumped up and down, “You, ugly daughter of Jackson Rowe, James is not for you. He is my fiancé and my lover.

. . . You this deathly, ugly witch – get out of my front, now.” she spat on her face and walk away.

Chapter 7

Mr. Double Hearts

There is a shadow, reflecting in the eyes of everyone. Again, it looks so dark. I could’ve died, if I didn’t set my eyes, off your evils. Let it be as a sound of warning to you. Don’t ever ask me of your baby, because, your excitement with me are full of evils. You can’t just have interest to your baby and betray me as a mother. The baby you are talking about is in the deep pit.

Enough is enough.

The clamouring of war is always in the hearts of a lion. When the mind is set to haunt his enemies, it doesn’t look back.

James Parker was sitting down on the bed, as if he is innocent; watching the drama, going on in the room. When Jessica set her eyes on him, she provoked him the more.

“A man with a double hearts”

“So you are there, watching this harlot; talking to me as if I am her mate. I know you are the one that sent her to embarrass me.

James, let me asked you one question.”

“Oh, a wife with one heart – go on with your nonsense questions.”

“Good of you, Mr. Double Hearts. Did you take me as your wife, or your girlfriend? Just let me know what is going on here.

. . . But I can’t wait for your stupid reply.

Let me tell you, one more time. It is better for you to tell me now. Whether, I’m your wife or a girlfriend. Do you note me?” said Jessica, provoke so seriously. “Why are you asking me such stupid question? Don’t you know that, Katrin is my second wife? Are you waiting for me to tell you before you recognize her as my second wife? I don’t expect such stupid questions from you,” he hissed and walked away. “I know I’m so stupid for a long, long time before now. I also realize that I was a stupid lady before you fall in love with me – not just today but then and then. If you said I’m stupid, it means the flames of love were intimidated you with stupidity before you made such attempt of falling in love with me.

Why don’t you call me by my nickname; ugly witch?

That could have been the proper name for you to call me as your wife.

Does it sound clear to you?

You mean Katrin Oliver is your second wife . . .?”

“Wonders shall never end,”

She huffed and said,

“I don’t think two female lions that are hunting at each other can stay in one roof. Better tell me now, who will stay and who will leave your home.

Else, I will do something, you never expect in your life.”

“Nonsense –” “Jessica, do anything you want to do. I have no time for you,” James shrugged. “There is no problem. Let us wait and see what would happen in the next few days,” said Jessica. Katrin stood up from the bed and double her mouth with laugh:

“Ha, ha, ha, I have kept quite on you, ever since, because of your senseless life over our relationship. So, you have the gods to call me harlot.

Before you became a married woman – as you call yourself. What was your

major occupation then?

You mean harlot has become your new name? That is fine.

You are the harlot, not me; because you came to J- J- Fashion as an apprentice, not as a wife. Now, you have claimed to be a wife, because of your longer throat.

You ugly witch, you better look for a black goat, when it is not yet dark; because, James is my fiancé and my lover, and not yours.

It is better you park all your loads, down to your village and continue with your witchcraft,” she bossed. “Katrin, I don’t blame you, it is James who invited you to come and insult me, anyhow,” Jessica grumbled.

For a short while, Jessica jerked her head on James,

“James, there is no sign of love in you towards me. You are pretending you love me, but there is no love, reflecting in you. That is why my ugly face is exposing me to danger.

I have detected your plan ever since, that your love to me is no more existing. That is why you refused to render you love to me. And you also rejected to love me in the daytime, except by night; because you hate me the more.” She

quavered: “Well, today, I have learned important thing from you, which I will never forget in my life. You only called me, J- J- when people are not around.

You only call me, J- J- when it is night – that is when the appreciation of love comes into play.

When the sun is shining, you turned back on me, and called me, an ugly witch. Let me tell you, you can’t just frustrate me and go free. Mr. Double Hearts, you should regard me as a wife, but not to betray me as an enemy. Now, you have hated me, more than your worst enemy; because of your double hearts. As long as I’m concerned, there shall be no peace in this house!”

“James, I hate you.”

She jerked her head and face Katrin,

“You stupid harlot, husband snatcher – you came to destroy my relationship without reasons. I will never forgive you.” A mighty rain, flows out of her eyes as a raining day in sun's hearts. “Point of correction; don’t ever called me, stupid harlot – because I’m more intelligent than you. Well, I do not blame you in the first place; because your waywardness is wordless in the hearts of my fiancé.

You have to leave this house for me and my fiancé.”

“Nonsense –”

James walked in and whispered,

“Jessica, I heard your conversation with Katrin. Are you waiting for me to introduce her to you as my second wife?

Let me tell you, I was with Katrin in a serious relationship before I knew you as a wife.” “Don’t think you are the first woman I knew.” “Then why did you come to me, when you were already with her as a propose wife?” Jessica asked.

He walked closed to her and placed his hand on her shoulder,

“Well, I can’t tell lies; there was same certain character, you possessed, earlier before now. And your family is interrelated with my own family.

In the other hands, I didn’t want to disclose the relationship; I had with Katrin before I fall in love with you.” Katrin Oliver was laughing on them,

“As from today, you have to recognise Katrin Oliver as my second wife.

There is no need of hiding anything from you. . . . Okay!” he boasted. “Come again . . .!”

“Did I hear you say, second wife?” Jessica doubted. “Yes. I can’t deny her, because of you. She is my fiancée and most beautiful Queen,” he gloated: “James, I told you earlier that you are a pretender, right?

You are a mad man in the heart of love.

Why don’t you tell me earlier that you have a serious relationship with Katrin ever since? After you might have impregnated me; and I have delivered a handsome baby boy to you and you think, it is time for you to frustrate me and take Katrin as a wife.

, you told me, you love me;

Is the love gone out of you that you no longer care about the love you meant to love? Are your eyes darkening that you can’t set your eyes on me?

Is your hearts, flames with fire that you can’t groom my love, which we swear to

love?

Really, you are worst more than the enemies of war. If you think you can frustrate me, I will also frustrate you.

I swear,” Jessica replied.

After a while, she left the room, shrieking with tears. There were all sitting down on the bed, laughing at her. When she approached the living room, she sat down on a chair. An evil came into her mind, immediately and her mind was changed. At about four am, when the nature hits the clocks, and she wake up from the living room, where she slept. As she was about calling a taxi driver on the phone, she wrapped the baby with a rapper and walked down to the front door. She looked her left and right, she couldn’t see anyone, confronting her.

Then she took some steps, silently and moved straight to a deep pit in the backyard. And she dropped the baby, inside and left without the knowledge of anyone. When she approached the front door, the taxi was already there, waiting to pick her with her loads. Immediately she finished parking her loads in the car, James came out to see the vehicle that drove inside the compound. Not knowing that the taxi was about to leave. He looked inside the vehicle and he saw Jessica without seeing the baby: “J- J-, where is my baby?” James asked. And Jessica replied and said,

“Mr. Double Hearts, there is a shadow, reflecting in your eyes.

. . . I could’ve died, if I didn’t set my eyes off your evils.

What concern you with the baby?

You can’t love you baby and betray me as a mother.

Let it be as a sound of warning to you.

Don’t ever ask me of your baby; because, your excitement with me are full of evils. The baby you are talking about is waiting for you in a deep pit.” “What – do – you – mean – by – that? I have much concern about you and my baby.” Tears, running down on his cheeks, “Please, it’s not up to that extend. Don’t go away from me; I still need you as my wife. Come back to me, everything will be all right. . . . Okay,” said James. “Thank you so much for your stupid love. It is too late to embrace your dirty love,” she whispered.

James hits the car in other to stop it:

“Wait a minute. Can you show me, where you keep my baby?” “Oh, baby lover! You mean you are looking for your baby!

Oh no! Why did you hate me and decided to like your baby? – Is on fair.

If you need your baby, you better walked down to the pit at the backyard, and you would see the baby, waiting for you.

Mr. Double Hearts, it is time for you to continue with your stupid love. Goodbye to you, Mr. Double Hearts,” She hissed and the taxi drove away. When the car was moving, he ran to catch up with the car, huffing rapidly, “Driver, please, waits a minute, let me talk to my wife. . . .” The car could not stop for him. After the car might have gone, he was running to meet up with the car and he could not, “So, Jessica had dropped my baby inside the deep pit? If she did that, it means, she is wicked to me.” When he looked through the street, he could not see the car any longer. Reaching the pit, he could not see the baby, because it was already night. Immediately, he returned to the front door, he sighted Katrin, standing beside the door and he said to her,

“Have you seen where Jessica dropped my baby?”

“No, I didn’t see any baby.

It looks like; she has gone away with the baby?”

“I don’t understand Jessica.

Can you imagine when I looked inside the car; I could not set my eyes on my baby. She told me that I should check the deep pit at the back of the house.

And when I got there, I could not see the baby.

What have I done to this woman that is so wicked to me like this?” He murmured, “She can’t do that to my baby.

Well, let me go back the second time and check, if I can see my baby,” he grumbled. A week later, he called Jessica on phone; and she denied him,

“Are you okay with your senses?”

“Point of correction; what do you mean by James?”

“I have no husband for now.”

“If I decided to have a husband, it couldn’t be you.

First of all, why did you call me, when you have already shared your hearts into two?

Let it be the first and the last; I have nothing to do with you . . .

A man with Double Hearts – go away from me.

Goodbye to you.” The conversation was ended with red rock. Six days later, the baby was found at the bottom of the deep pit with the help of the neighbours.

As it pleases God, the baby did not die. It was as if the baby was inside the mother’s womb.

The following day, being the seventh day, the baby was named, according to the customs and traditions of Janport Island.

James had invited his family , friends and the neighbours, including his in-laws for the naming ceremony. The Janport Royal Family was not left out. There were all present, including the King of Janport Island, King Pedro the 2nd.

As the guest arrived at #35, Pokka Street, which is closed to J- J- Fashion Enterprise; James and his new wife, Katrin Oliver, presented the newborn baby to the minister in charge of Flow of Salvation Bible Church, Rev. Fred Mark in

other to announce the baby’s name as Lawrence James Parker;

“May he lives to serve the Lord, the nation, and his family at large: in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To God is the Glory.” Amen was answered, chorally.” After proclaiming the baby’s name, the Mighty dancers of Delid City, presented their cultural dance with their cultural attires, singing and chanting in different songs. This was the first in the history of Delid City.

At the end of the naming ceremony, the guest and well-wishers, departed to their various homes with happiness and joy.

Chapter 8

The Breath of Death

In the infinite nature of man, blood is not for blood testers; neither should it be shared in an open place. I didn’t want to kill your son, Lawrence. It is because you intentionally treated me, wrongly as unknown slave. I promise to be your lovely wife, now and in the Ages to come. I’m super excited to be your wife once again.

There is no smoke without fire. And there is no lightening without light. A family without a child is a family without a future. Mr. Parker Omaha was happy on a cold day of June in Pomoor County, Janport Island, when he saw his grandchild, Lawrence James who grow up to bring glory to his family.

Concerning the past incident that happens, he ed that without the help of the neighbours, Lawrence could have been a dead child by now.

Parker Omaha called King Pedro the 2nd and his relatives to thank them for the they gave to him during the misunderstanding with his son in-law. As there were all arrived, he appreciates the good job there deed to him. He gave thanks to everyone who honoured his invitation.

Above all, he also gave thanks to the king, King Pedro the 2nd, who gave him the full during the conflict.

He also appreciates the effort of the senior Police officer in charge of Delid City Police Department, who ed the curse of the fight.

That if not the officers, it could have been more worsted than that. It is because he was partly single, due to the death of his wife.

“Life without a woman is a life full of sorrow, pains and loneliness.

If death is not a separator from humankind, my wife supposed to be here with us; preparing a delicious meal for all of you as my visitors. But today, she is no more here with me.

Well, God knows why he took her away from me. And He is the giver and the taker of life: he knows everything about all of us from the day of our birth. However, our life is as a shadow that es away; after our end, there is no returning: for it is fast sealed, and no man comes in this life after death. For we bore at all our adventures; and we shall be as though we had never been here before. For the breath in our nostrils is as a smoke.

And a little spark in the moving of our hearts, which brings, extinguished to our body, and it shall turn into ashes and our spirit shall vanish as the soft air. Though no man ever returned from the grave and comes back to life; it is supper natural that no one can changed yesterday to become today. I have to

her for the love she shared with me before she died.

I know my cry cannot bring her back to life. But it can only trace her soul in the grave to bring peace into her spirit.” He called the guest to remain in one minute silent to his wife,

“Let us remain in one-minute silence to welcome our spirit into our present as part of love I do shared with her before her died.” There all stood up and respond to a one minute silence, “May our soul rest in perfect peace,” he lamented and fell on the floor. In a very little beat of his heart, he could no longer control his temper. James Parker took him to the inner room for him to rest a little while. Thirty-seven minutes later, Mr. Parker Omaha was able to regain his strength, and he walked sluggishly to meet the guest in the living room; where he finally gave a vote of thanks to them before their departure. Eight months later, James Parker, demanded to return Jessica Jackson back in other to initiate a proper mother care for her son, Lawrence.

As Katrin Oliver got notice on what James was trying to do – she reject to accept the return of Jessica Jackson. “Jessica shouldn’t be returned to this house.”

“If your son, Lawrence is ready to die without his mother, let him die before the warning face of the Moon. And before he arrived, the spirit world, I will bear a son, neither a daughter, better than him.

And if you make such attempt to bring her back, I would kill you before I commit suicide. And there would bury two of us in the same grave as husband

and wife.

When we get there, we would continue the love, we missed on earth. And no one would reject the kisses of each other,” she orated.

“How can you make such statement to me? Are you trying to eliminate my life? That is a threat to life.

Did I make any mistake to take you as a wife?”

“Oh husband! Then, do I make any mistake to take you as a husband?”

“No, no, no! I can’t take that from you.” He walked away from her. “Oh, Mr. Double Hearts,

That is what Jessica, called you before she departed from you. Let me remind you, what I dreamed last night. I dreamed of killing a young man in my dream last night.

Do you want to be the next victim in the physical world? If you are ready to take that ugly witch back as a wife, you would regret of being a human being. Just do what is in your mind, I’m ready for you,” Katrin boomed.

“What . . .?”

“I can’t believe, you can say all these evil words to me. As a matter of facts, I really love you, and I gave you all my hearts, right from the beginning. And I will not stop, loving you.

If you say, I didn’t love you, and who do you think I would give my love to?

I can’t believe it. Its looks like a dream to me. Can you give me one or two reasons, why you want to kill me? Is it because I wanted to bring my wife back to my fold again? Is it because you killed someone in your dream, last night and you wanted to kill me too. And add to the very first person you killed?

“It is impossible.”

“If you are so wicked as such, and you want to make your evils dream comes true, just get ready to kill me as your enemy, but not as your husband.

that it is because of you, I sent Jessica away from this house. Any well, I will not tell you my mind.

We shall see. . . .” He looked at her from head to toe and left.

Six months later, James was looking on how to reconcile with his former wife, Jessica due to the condition of his baby. One early morning, he came out from his room, dressed in a white T-shirt and blue jeans with his pyjama cap. And he opened the front door and walked down to where he packed his black Toyota Corolla. And he gets into the car, ready to move.

Immediately, Katrin saw him, she ran down to meet him. But she could not get to where the car was heading to.

As the car went away, she stands still for a while, and huffed repeatedly and called him on phone,

“Dear, where are you going to? Come back home, and let’s talk.” James aborted the call, immediately.

She could not know exactly where he was heading to.

While she was standing, closed to the entrance gate, she speaks to herself.

No one had heard what she was saying. But only her lips indicate her sorrow;

“Dead is always a friend to a sleep, but the sleep refused to recognize the death as part of it body. What God has ed together, no one can put a sunder!

How can a sleep agreed with the death, when sleep is not part of him and at the end, he put an end to a man’s life? I know death is not the end of life. But after death, there is life. A month later, James discovered where Jessica leaves. When he approached her apartment, he knocked at the gate and said,

“Who is here? Is anybody in the house?” When Jessica heard it, she answered immediately, “Who is there at the gate!” “Is someone you love–-”

“Who is that someone I love?” She moved at the moment, “– Wait, I’m coming.” As she approached the gate, she discovered that it was James, her former husband. She grows annoyed and speaks to him, rudely,

“What brought you here, you evils man?

Please, just go away from me, I have nothing to do with you.”

She made a u-turn and go back to where she lives. James pleaded earnestly with her, but she refused to listen to him,

“I said, go away from me; you evil incarnate. You have sent me away from your house, because of your new wife, Katrin.

Mr. Double Hearts, what do you want from me now? Don’t you see how foolishness you are!

I have given you enough chance to grove with Katrin Oliver as your second in coming wife, and you are still looking for me. What can a betrayed wife do for you?

Please, just leave me alone, “she replied and walked away. James pushed himself down on his knees,

“Dear, it is all about love. Without an ocean, the fishes can’t survive. Without flowers, the butterfly can’t survive. Without the energy of the Sun at night, the Moon can’t shine in the darkness. It shows that you are the only lighter that light my fire – no one else can do this, except you.

Without you, I am nothing under the earth.”

“I swear!”

“Honey, just accept me back to your fold as your beloved husband.

Let forget the past, and focused in the present,” he speaks sorrowfully.

When Jessica heard all the flickering statements from him – her mind was flame with fire and she couldn’t go further. And James continued, begging for settlement.

“Honey, don’t forget the first love I had for you.

Just decide and come back to me; our loves will grow stronger.”

“Oh, is it now, you notice me as a honey! When we were together, honey was not part of you. Then, why did you call me honey?” she whispered.

“That’s fine! You become my honey, because I can’t stay without you.” He breathes in, so deep, “I am here to remind you that your son, Lawrence, is still alive. He wasn’t dead,” James replied, soberly. Jessica jumped – up, she could no longer keeping silent on him; and she turned her face and looked at him, huffed repeatedly and gave him a replied,

“What are you saying? I can’t hear you well.

You mean my son is still alive-? And you gave him a name, Lawrence!

Is that what you said?” “Yes, that is his name. He is still alive. I brought him out from the deep pit after

three days. He wasn’t dead as you expected – he is still alive,” he broadcasted.

“Oh my God . . ., you are my real honey before my lips.

Thank you for being so good to me and my son, Lawrence.”

In his present, she gets down on her knees and begged him for forgiveness,

“Honey – this is a new word that sparks on your lips. Forgive me for being so wicked to my son, Lawrence. It wasn’t my intention to kill my son, but it was because of how you intentionally treated me wrongly as a domestic slave in your home and sent me out of your apartment. Forgive me; I will never make such a mistake again in my life. As from today onward, I promise to be your wife. And I will love you more than you expected. Nothing will take me from you,” Jessica pleaded earnestly. As she was down on her knees, she begs him for forgiveness. James was also on his knees in front of her, begging her forgiveness,

“Dear, there is no smoke without fire; and it is only the water that Quaich the fire.

I have discovered that it is harder for a monkey to be tracking in life. But when the monkey track, it means there is no strength in him. Because of the love I have for you, I am weak and fainted in my heart.

I have been looking for you for a while and at the end, I found you,” he replied “Oh dear, that’s great, I have accepted you as my husband and I promise to be your wife. No one will ever take me from you.”

She rose up together with him and kissed him with a lovely kiss.

When two of them met together in the living room, she asked James,

“Wait first; where is my son, Lawrence?” “Oh, Lawrence is at home with Katrin,” he replied. “What about Katrin?” Jessica asked. “She is at home also,” he whispered. Jessica’s mind was darkening, when she heard that Katrin is still living in James’ apartment,

“You mean – Katrin is still living with you?

Oh, this is another fresh fire in our relationship. I think the house would not contend both of us, if I decided to come back to the house. If you want me to be your wife, you have to rent a separate apartment for me alone. I don’t want to embark on a second journey that killed Mongo-park.” She walked across his front and whispered, “Wait, let me asked you one question; if I reconcile with you, will you marry Katrin as your second wife?” “No, I can’t send her away. She remains my second wife.”

“Honey, I think you should divorce her before she becomes a notorious killer to you.”

“How can I send her away? I can’t do that to her.”

“If you demanded for a separate apartment – I will do that for you.

But you can’t force me to divorce her as a wife,” he vacillated. “Why can’t you divorce her? Maybe you took a blood covenant with her?

That means you would depart from her at a point of death.

Honey, I think the best solution is for you to divorce her. Else, she may be the one to kill you. I strongly advise you to take my advice: else, you will lose your life–“ “Don’t say that to me, Katrin can’t kill me . . ., she is my wife. She loves me so much. Before I came back to you, I am ready to solve every problem that would rise among us. I don’t think giving her a divorce certificate is the best solution. Rather, it would inject hatred between us.

I can’t do that to someone I love,” he whispered.

“Honey, don’t forget that, I had dreamed a dream, two days ago before you came to me. And I don’t even believe that you would come back to me for the rest of my life.

You have to leave Katrin Oliver – now or you die.” She spit on the floor and walked down to the kitchen.

Chapter 9

The Vision of Dead

I can’t set my eyes on you when your blood is floating over my head. A man with Double Hearts; what can I gain from you when you have sold your hearts to difference lovers? What should I say to the red sea when it pushes you down to the extreme end of the mountain unknown to me? Well, the only word that I can say to you is: farewell to you, Mr. Double Hearts.”

It was a surprising moment to Jessica to see James Parker, knocking at the entrance gate in the early hours of Tuesday, when the nature hits the clocks at ten. “This is a surprising moment to see you in my apartment.

I can see that my dream has become true. The dream has proved itself to be true, and it is all about you,” said Jessica. “What kind of dream do you dreamed about me? You had a dream two days ago and today, you see me in your apartment. Truly, your dream is all about me.”

“Is that what you mean?” James replied. “Life is all about believing in whatever you see and those that are hidden from you: if you neglect those things, unseen, it would knock you down. And that can put you to dead as well. I think the dream is all about you.

What I saw in my dream was very bloody,” she commented. “Can you briefly, tell me about your dreams?” James responded.

“In my dream, we were eating together in the dining table. Suddenly, a lady walked into the living room and she met us in the dining room, eating. The next thing I saw, she started pointing hands on you: ‘Mr. Double Hearts, why are you here? I have been warning you several times not to look for Jessica; don’t you know that she is a witch?

She can kill you at any time. And I don’t see the reason why you are so serious about Jessica. This is a lady who dumped your baby in a deep pit before she left your house? And you are still looking for her?’ Then she walked down on you; pushing you to follow her and you refused.

While I was begging her to leave you alone, she shouted and pushed me to the wall.

The next thing I saw, she brought a dagger from her handbag. And she stabbed you on your chest. When she saw that a lot of blood – flows out from your chest, she ran away from our presence. Then, I ran immediately to get her arrested and hand over to the Police, but it was impossible.

When I woke up from sleep, I thought it was in a real life: not doing, it was a dream. It is when you arrived here, I realize that, the dream was about you,” she mumbled and sat behind the chair. “What . . .! This is unbelievable.

Can you recognize the lady in question?” he asked.

“No, I can’t recognize her because she covered her face with a black clothe mast,” Jessica replied. “That can never happen in my life,” he replied immediately. “Honey, don’t say that again; anything that happens in the physical life must first of all, materialize itself in the dream world. It may be Katrin or someone’s’ else. You should forget about Katrin; tell her to leave you alone, you have your own life to live. If you like my word, take it – if you dislike it, leave it.

Let go home . . .,” she encouraged.

In a little beats of their hearts, they walked down to Jessica’s new apartment.

Immediately he sat down on a chair, closed to Jessica, he ed what his father told him, when he was at school, “My father told me that it is dangerous to get married to two women. That the one, I thought, she loves me, maybe the one to kill me; and the one that hates me, maybe the one who would safe my life. I have seen the reason why my dad said that, it is worthless to get married to two women,” he recalled his memories.

“What kind of lesson, have you learn from your father before he died?”

“It is true that, our parents due see things in a far distance.

Two weeks ago, Katrin Oliver, my newly fiancée wanted to poison me. Because I wanted to bring you back as my first wife. When I discovered that without you,

my little kid, Lawrence cannot survive without you –“

“And then, what happened?”

“I saw her when she was about poisoning my food. When I saw that, I avoid eating her food for a while. Since then, I was uncomfortable to share my love with her. That was when I started searching for you.

And then, my heart became dark as the phase of a new moon.”

“Then what is the difference between me and Katrin Oliver?”

“You are a selfless woman that cares about everyone around you.

The only reason I offended you was that, Katrin Oliver was the first lady, who poison’s my hearts with love in other for me, to hate you and love her, more than my expectations.” He breathes in as if thunder struck him down, “I think that is the reflection of your dreams; for seeing her, making an attempt to stab me before I died.”

James continued added more stories,

“I wonder why life always drive someone like me to misfortune –”

“What happened to you?”

“The other day, Katrin refilled a secret to me –“

“What can of secret?”

“She told me that, she is a twin sister to me, which they stole from our mother, during the time of birth.”

“Who told you that she was your twin sister?” she whispered.

“My mother was trying to tell me before she died. But I couldn’t understand the story as at then.”

“After that what does she said?”

“She told me that, she had no any other where to stick her life with; neither there is any other relative to lay down her life with – that to marry me, is the best option in her life. If I refused to take her as a wife, she would kill me and end every other relationship that I would made with. That as long as I am the only person she had, I have to marry her.”

“I told you that the dream was about the relationship you had with Katrin

Oliver,” she added.

“Then what should I do?”

“You have to divorce her and marry me alone,” she encourage.

As it pleases the nature, the nature kicks the clocks at three thirty-eight.

He arrived home and he walked down to the living room and sat down quietly.

When Katrin saw him, she was unhappy, “Dear, where have you been since morning?

“Is it right for you to go out without telling me? Why are you treating me as your housemaid? Is on fair for you to treat me like that – take me as your wife, and not a housemaid.” James was keeping her quiet, and she asked him the second time,

“I’m talking to you, Dear. Why are you keeping me quiet?

Please, it is time for you to lend me your heart. This is not the time to keep silent on me.” He was there, sitting down as if he is a dwarf and dump, “Can’t you talk to me? I said, where have been, since morning?” she whispered.

“Why did you ask such stupid questions?

Do my hearts look like money? I can’t lend you my hearts. While you refused to borrow me your life. I can go anywhere; I want to go with no questionable mark on my face.

It was your attitudes that drove me away from home, when I decided to borrow you my hearts. Your questions have no meaning to me; you need to answer the questions by yourself,” James replied, roughly.

“What was my reaction that prompts you to walk out of my present without telling me? What I said to you can’t scare you away from home.

I have been calling your mobile phone, since morning; you refused to pick my call. How can my words, so soft like a cream, drive you out of home?

Don’t say that again – you have gone out on your own, but not because of what I said,” said Katrin. He did not mindful of her and he asked her a different question:

“Where is my son, Lawrence?”

“Oh, I thought you have become a dwarfed.

I was asking you some questions, ever since and you kept mute on me.

How then could you think I should respond to your questions?

Please, I have nothing to say. Let call it a day,” she hissed and walked away. James walked into the master’s room and carried his son, Lawrence, to where his car was park.

When he was about entering his car, Katrin asked him,

“Where are you going with the baby?”

James did not say a single word to her,

“My Dear husband, can’t you answer me?” Katrin words was better as better leafs,

“How can you ask me such silly questions, again and again?

Is it not my baby? I can take him to anywhere. So, stop asking me such silly questions,” he vocalized. She laughed, “You mean, I have no right to ask you any question concerning your son? Well, no problem,” Katrin commented. He frond his eyes, “I can’t answer such question – answer it by yourself,” James replied.

As he was about to entering his car; Katrin walked closed to him and drag the ignition key from him. However, she could not succeed. James pushed her down and he opened his car immediately, and went away with the baby. On his arrival at Jessica’s new apartment, she looked at the baby, he was looking so sad and she said to James, “Does she drag the baby from you?” “No, no, no, my dear; she can’t do that. But she was trying to stop me when I was entering my car. Then I pushed her down and went away with the baby,” James replied. “That’s right! Where is she has at now?” she recited. “Maybe, she is at home,” James, replied.

Then Jessica took the baby from James. And she was surprised to see the boy so fate and she said, “Oh my God, is this my son – he looks so fate like a ball.” She looks at the young boy,

“Lawrence, how are you? That is my boy.

I really missed you so long – I kiss you, boy . . . .” She kisses the boy as many times as she could and then throw the boy up – the boy smile.

Three months later, Katrin began to look for James, when she was tired to stay at home lonely. But she could not locate him immediately.

As she was unconsciously tremble; James phone was bombard with calls, time without number. But he aborted her calls at last. There she scrambled, crying, looking for whom to comfort her, but nobody beside her.

Five months of James’ escape was as five years to her. As a notorious gang leader, Katrin began to send her gang to haunt for James. Which they found him, together with Jessica at #21, Windfall Street, Delid City when the nature hits the clocks at four twenty-six. Approaching the gate, she calls his mobile phone and its rank and he refused pick. After the phone might have ranked the third time, he realized it was Katrin. He picked the call and asked her, why she is haunting after him as a mad dog? She responds to him,

“I need you as much as I needed you before. Because it had been long when you missed by my side – that is why I’m here,” said Katrin.

“Any well, just wait, I’m coming,” James replied.

When James met with her outside the gate, he said to her,

“What brought you here? I don’t want to see you for now.

It is better you go home, soonest, I will be back. Goodbye.” He walked away from her. When James was making a U-turn, she holds his shirt, “Go home to do what? Did you marry me to keep me lonely at home? I can’t go home; your single word can’t move me to anyway: we have already ed as husband and wife – I should not be staying at home lonely, when you are still alive. Over my death body, I can’t go home – except I go with you.” She holds his waist and the shirt as well. He struggle to relieve from the pains,

“Katrin, what are you doing? Why can’t you go home and wait for me? I can’t stay with you for now. Okay . . .,” James pleaded. She was franking her face and looked at him in a bloody where,” So your plans is to run away from me? It can’t work. Have you ever seen someone running away from his shadow? If you can’t run away from your shadow, it means you can’t escape from me.

It is only dead that can separate us.” Said Katrin, “Or, you died with me, now.”

“Tell me what I had done wrong with you!” He wailed, “Is like you are not hearing me well; leave my shirt and go home, while I will come home soon,” he sobbed. “No, let go inside together,” she whispered. It was at a point of surprise to Jessica, when she saw Katrin Oliver walking in with James in her apartment. Jessica asked her:

“Katrin, what brought you here?” She stood up from the chair, “You have no right to come to my house.” Katrin jerked her head and face her, “I didn’t come here because of you: it is because of my fiancé.” Said Katrin, “Point of correction, I knew James Parker before you; why do you want to take him from me? If you had been betraying others and succeeded, it would never happen to me – over my death body.” She pulled her left hand to the front, Look at yourself; you are happy, carrying a baby on your lap: if not me, would you have this baby?

When you dump the little boy inside the deep pit, did you think he would survive? You are irresponsible to yourself and your family.

Nonsense –”

Jessica was still sitting down on one of the executive chairs; looking so sad and she refused to respond to her.

Katrin suddenly jerked her head and looked James,

“A man with Double Hearts, I’m tired of you.”

She continued,

“Today is your last day in your life.

Just begin to say your last prayer.

You can’t frustrate me and go free.

No! It can’t happen. Before you dump me, I would first of all frustrate you.

I have been numbered your days to the end, today.

We have to go home, now or you lose your life.

Which one do you choose: life or dead?” Katrin whispered.

James thought that Katrin was joking. He was sitting down; watching over her, while his hands were fold up. And he froze his eyes on the floor,

“Katrin Oliver the only woman that can kill her fiancée?”

“Why don’t you think like human, instead of thinking like a devil? I knew you like responsible lady. But now, you have become a devil.” He stood in front of her: “If you are a God, it means you have the ultimate power to take my life. If not, you can only destroy the physical body, but you can’t destroy my soul.

Do what you think is right, nobody would asked you about me.

But what I know, I have not offended you in anywhere. When life ends here, another one begins somewhere.

Don’t think of killing me, but think of renewing me.

Moreover, if you killed me; you would lose me. But if you love me, you would benefit from me as soon as possible,” he whined. Katrin laughed,

“A man with Double Hearts; what do you think I can gain from you? I have nothing to gain from you, because you have sold your hearts into two different lovers. One side of your heart may keep you alive; while the other side will kill you.” She provoke, “ Did you know that you have offended me – I can’t count all of them.”

“In what way had I offended you as a wife to be?” She put her hands on her waist and added,

“You have abandoned me for months at home; you have planned to divorce me and go for your old school wife. Whom you have abandoned for months and you went back and ate with her like a hungry mad dog. It shows that you are a mad dog in human form – that is what you are,” she ended.

James nodded his head,

“Have you round up with your abuse?” he continued, “A lady who like to mock her fiancé, continue to abuse me, more as your mind wishes you to speak. Is as if you have lost out of your brain cells; I have told you earlier, go home and wait for me, I would soon come home but you refuse.

Why are you declaring war against yourself?” James asked.

Katrin laugh and hit her legs on the floor,

“I said no, I want to go home with you,” she demanded. “Okay! If we go home, what are you going to tell me,” he replied. “Follow me first; let us go home. That is what I want from you. Else, you would lose your life – nothing less and nothing more, “she boosted.

James was still looking at her, voicelessly. Then, Katrin opened her handbag and removed a dagger; immediately, she stabbed him on his chest and he fell on the floor. Blood began to spread on the floor of the living room – screaming to the cotter of death.

Jessica ran after her in other to arrest her and hand over to the Police, but Katrin escape like a spider. And no one could be able to trace her. As Jessica was standing at the door-post, shouting and looking for help from the neighbourhood; “Somebody should help me; my husband is dying over here.

. . . Can somebody help me? When she returned to the living room; James was already down on the floor.

She grabs him up,

“My dear, get up – let go to the hospital . . .” There was no response from James. She continued to hits his shoulder; still, they were no response from James, neither the neighbourhood. As she was monitoring the breath of her husband, James; nothing was huffing on him:

She shouted,

“Truly, my husband is death.”

“Dear, get up.”

Still, there was no response from James,

“So, Katrin Oliver had finally killed you and ran away!

. . . But you shouldn’t have died by this time that I needed you most.” She shouted,

“Oh, the shadow that dwells in you had announced my name as a widow.”

Blood upon blood was streaming out from James’ chest as running water in the cotter of death. His eyes became glacial; while the tears were shared with blood and it dropped side by side as a running river. Who knows if he was crying in the abode of the death! But the tears that dropped side by side on his face signify sorrow. His blood streamed into the extreme end of the red sea and he gave off the ghost.

Chapter 10

The Melody of the Family

Sir Noel Peirce Coward was a nobleman. He was not just a coward as his name sound, but a creator of all. He deserved to be honoured. A true nobleman always creates a strong relationship with one another. No matter the distance, colour or where he comes from, he always appreciate the nature of man. King Nicholas Easton, a noble king who dwells in the LightCastle City of the ancient gods. He is a true loyalist to the State of Janport Island.

It is truly saying that, a fly who does not listen to an instruction always follows the corpse into the grave.

In the world we live today, life shouldn’t have been tempered with.

As a matter of facts, life worth a living. But it shouldn’t have been toyed with. No matter whether it is worthy or unworthy to live; life worth a living. Katrin Oliver finally put an end to the life of a gentle man who always acknowledges the love of everyone around him.

As an opened minded man, his life had jacked the life of others into danger. And put the entire family in total darkness at the age of fifty-two.

J. J. as James due called her – had become a widow, declaring the little young boy, Lawrence as an orphan. It is only those who sees tomorrow can tell the story.

A year later, Jessica could not be able to pay the house rent, neither to feed for a day. She park to James’ permanent resident at #19, Water Front Lane, Pomoor City.

Jessica was a well-trained fashion designer for over ten years. She took over the Jessica and James Fashion Enterprise, popularly known as J. J. Fashion Hub as an executive officer of the company. When Katrin Oliver, a notorious gang leader heard that Jessica was about to take over the company as C. E. O. from the hand of the caretaker committee. Katrin went there at night and set the entire building into flames of fire. What a calamity in the face of a widow!

The melody of the family is in the heart of a child. No one can do without a child. Time has come for the little young boy to start school, but there was nothing left behind for the mother to train him.

Jessica never mind the embarrassment she would face in the office of the head teacher. She decided and took Lawrence to meet the head teacher of the school, Pomoor Central Primary School, Villa Park, Pomoor City for registration.

When she arrived at the school premises, she met the head teacher and shared a little light on the condition of the young boy after the dead of his father.

However when the head teacher heard what happened to Lawrence’s father, he made a vow to pay the ission fee to Lawrence for free.

At that very time, Lawrence was about five years old when he started the school. The very first day in school, the teachers were all amaze to see Lawrence alive, since the ugly incident happened to him during the first week of birth.

After he might have ed, the head teacher itted Lawrence to elementary one class; and the mother left him at the school premises and returned home. The school was highly populated, due to modern facilities provided by the Central Government, which attract more parents to send their wards to the school. Lawrence was a brilliant child; he always took first in the class. Because of his competency, he was appointed as a class prefect. Whenever his class teacher, Mr. Andrew Thomson, saw him, he ed the ugly incident that took place during the time of his birth, and that of his father’s death. The teacher gave him a nickname, ’Who knows tomorrow.’ During the break time, his classmates love to share biscuits and a bottle of water with him.

During primary six, he took part in the national easy competition where he took the first position. And they awarded him a scholarship to cover secondary level. But the evil men, behind him don’t give him the highway to run the rest.

Because of corruption in the school system in Estermoor, the head teacher diverted the scholarship to another pupil in the same school. Three months later, the local school Board gave the head teacher indefinite suspension, and they fully returned the scholarship to Lawrence.

Thereafter there was no stress for the mother to pay any school fees. During the long holiday period, the young little boy, Lawrence, paid a visit to his grandparents, Jackson Rowe, since he was born. On his arrival at Villa Park, the home town of Jackson Rowe; he was so happy to see his grandparents, living a life of poverty. While there are still laughing. Lawrence was the only grandchild in Jackson Rowe’s family. To his surprised, he saw a house made of woods in a bush track, closed to the Zoo in Villa Park Square.

Whenever he walked close to the Zoo, he wondered how birds are gathering in the shadowy forest within the Zoo. And for a little while, he heard unfamiliar sounds of birds, twittering, often and often.

With the happiness of seeing his grandchild, Jackson Rowe took Lawrence to a tour around the major places in the City.

The very first place they visit was a Zoo, which attracts Lawrence attention as much as he could hear the flowing twit of the birds.

Thereafter, Jackson took him to the central post office. There also visited the Palace of King Pedro, the crown king of Janport Island.

Jackson as well took him to the cemetery where his father, James Parker, was being buried. No one knows why, and no one knows when. When they approached the cemetery, his grandpa gave him a bunch of rose flower to place on the tombstone of his late father, James Parker.

However, when Jackson show the little boy, Lawrence the picture of his dad as it engraved on the tombstone, Lawrence cried bitterly. And it was difficult to stop him.

On their way going, his grandpa took him to Villa Park Central market and bought him a big, big jumbo bicycle. Arriving home, the little young boy took the jumbo bicycle and presented it to his grandma,

“Grandma, look, grandpa had bought me a big, big jumbo bicycle in the market square.”

The grandma told him,

“That’s fine . . .” Though she could not see him, or the bicycle. The grandma replied to him, “Have you greeted the grandpa? The little boy replied and said, “Yes, I have greeted him.” When the nature hits the clocks at seven, the grandma tells him some moonlight stories, which Lawrence like to listen to it.

The most interesting story he do like was a story of a King, who travel to a faraway distance land and the grandma began the story,

“Story, story”

“Story,” Lawrence replied. “Once upon a time, there was a King called King Nicholas Eliot, alias, ‘The Singer of life,’ who loves to travel from one strange land to another.

After travelling to different places, having no interest in any of these communities, he moved further to a foreign land, closer to one particular kingdom; where there were so many abandon resources to work with and he stops there to look for where he can stay.

His intention was also to travel there to restore peace in the kingdom after many years of war. Immediately he arrived there, he healed the people that fell sick. Three years later, he decided not to go back to his hometown, and they gave him a first class honour to rule them as a noble king. As the Singer of life, he travels along the ley line with his two white horses, and Mr. Willman, also known as Jongleur

The Jongleur was an entertainer to the King; He always makes the king happy at the time of sorrow or difficulties.

When he reached a certain place, the Jongleur informed him about the tiredness of the horses. He told him that, instead of using the two horses, they should use a

boat for simple movement, along the Nile of the river Saintepole, the Island of the reincarnated people, which he acknowledged the advice of the Jongleur. Immediately they got to the Nile of the river, King Nicholas Estermoor heals some anglers who fell sick from one sickness to another.

And when the fishes in the river heard what he did, they chanted some melodious songs of praise to him and there sang with their stirring tuned:

“We would overcome, one day,

We would overcome, one day in sickness and in pains,

In fairness and of freedom, from the hands of our enemies,

We shall free, free, one – day.” Three hours later, they all arrived at a certain Island called Saint Virgin Island, which is closed to the border of Western Etilia – a State with no entrance road, which he lived and take over the Island as his own empire. He claimed a big portion of land and named it, LightCastle City, which means, the ‘City of the ancient gods.’ On the other hands, he couldn’t forget to set up his healing altar as he settled there.

When he round up in building his Royal Castle and his virgin healing home, he appointed seven Lords to lead the seven counties that make up the entire empire. Among the seven Lords, he appointed one as the overall head and gave him all the powers to oversee the rest. As the overall leader, he became more powerful and stronger than others; and at the mitt point, he misused his powers and authorities by tresing into other people’s land and converting them to his own personal use.

At the end, he died as a coward, followed by his wife and four children. That is the end of our story. My son, what do you learn from the story?”

Lawrence replied and said,

“Grandma, the story tells us that we should always have comion to one another in our daily living. No matter our colour, no matter the distance – either rich or poor; we all are one family. By having a genuine comion to one another, we can heal our land from calamity to bring peace and harmony in our society. Mom, I also learn that we should leave a life of being creative in our daily living. Grandma, the most important thing I learn from the story is that we should learn how to travel from one place to another, because travelling is part of education.” The Grandma, clapped hands for him and ends up with,

“Very good, my son, you are very correct. That means, you have listened to my

story very well.

My son, the story also tells us that we should learn on how to appreciate someone in area of life. Because one hand cannot wash itself clean, except by the of the other hand. And one good thing deserves another. According to the story, we should learn how to discover new things in our environment: this would enable us to live a better life as Noel Pierce Coward's deed in his lifetime.

Finally, we should not convert other people’s properties to our own use.

Because we shall pay for either good or bad work we do in time to come. A few minutes later, he was carried away; and the grandma took him to bed for a night rest.

Chapter11

The Evil Circle

I have poisoned Lawrence’s food. It was later; it got to my notice that the food would kill him. But there was no option, than to die. To be sincere, it is not only you that line up for the execution; your wife, Mary and you are among the top list. If you or your wife is lucky enough, one may be free, while the other would be killed. Possibly, two of you will be killed and no one would escape.

It is truly said, the sun and the moon are the symbols of light, but it is not yet known in the eyes of the blind; neither the understanding of a little child, until he or she grows up. As the new day has ushered in with the early morning thunderstorm, darkness with cold over shadows the day. Regis Wode who was a well known cook and stewards to the grandparents of the little young boy, Lawrence James, was the one who prepared a delicious meal to energies the morning weather with poison.

Finishing the cooking, he serves part of the food to Lawrence in his own plate and serve the remaining one to the grand mum and dad, Jackson and Mary.

When the food was set on the dining table, the little young boy, Lawrence was called upon to come over the dining room to eat his food. Immediately he walked down to the dining room, Lawrence took his sit, closer to the table. He drew the plate of the food and opened it, ready to eat.

As he looked inside the plate, he saw the food, changing to difference colours. Beat by beat, until it became black in colour.

In a little while, he shook his head and left the dining room to meet his grandpa without eating the food.

When he approached his grandpa, he started crying. Jackson asked him and said, “My son, what is the problem? Have you eaten your food?” The little young boy refused to respond,

“My little boy, have you eaten your food?” The boy insists not to answer the grandpa.

He asked him again, the third time,

“Is there anything that wrong with your food?” The young boy – still refused to reply him and he continue crying. The grandpa later said to him,

“Okay! Follow me; let us go to the dining room and see what is happening to

your food,” said grandpa. He holds the young boy’s hand and move, gently, down to the dining room. When the grandpa and the little young boy reached the dining room, the grandpa opened the plate of food, and looked inside: it was already black in colour.

He shouted, “What . . .?” The grandpa called the cook,

“Regis Wode, where are you?” There was no response from Regis. He called him the second time, “Regis, are you still there?

. . . Come over here, your attention is needed”

And he answered and said,

“Master, am coming,” Regis Wode replied. In a little beats of his heart, he walked down to the dining room and met Jackson with the little young boy, Lawrence, standing beside the dining table.

Immediately the grandpa sighted him, he said to him: “Regis, can you tell me, what happened to my grandson’s food that is so black like charcoal?”

Regis whispered on him,

“Master, nothing wrong with the food,” Regis stated. “How can you tell me that nothing wrong with the food, when the food is already black? If you said, the food is not black. You have to opened the food and see whether there is anything that wrong with it or not,” said Jackson, the grandpa. As Regis opened the plate, he saw that the food has become black.

He remained silent for a while. The Grandpa looked at him and said,

“Regis Wode, I am still waiting for your response.” Still, there was no response from him.

Then, the grandpa asked him the third time,

“Regis Wode, I am asking you; what have you seen in the plate?” “Master, I think the food is black,” he murmured. Grandpa was not satisfied with the answer. He cross-examined him to know exactly what really happened to the food.

“How can you just finish cooking the food, within a second it becomes black?

Okay, if you said my grandson’s food is black, what makes it to be black?” Regis Wode was still looking at the grandpa and he kept silence on him for a while. Jackson, the grandpa still repeats the same question,

“Regis the son of Wode, I am asking you; what happen to the food that makes it black?

Regis, have you heard me? If you said nothing wrong with the food, you have to taste the food by yourself, as you refused to tell me the truth.” He ordered him to move closer to the table,

“My wicked friend, move closer to the table and take your seat, while you start eating your delicious meal.”

I hope you have heard what I’m saying?” Jackson, the grandpa, looks at Regis; sweats covered all over his body: he was still in a standing position, looking at the plate on the table.

Grandpa asked him,

“Are you still there, looking at your delicious meal as a moron?” Grandpa moves closer to him and pushed his head on the table,

“You have to eat this food, whether you like it or not.” “Master, sorry – I’m going to tell you what happened to the food,” Regis cried. “Why can’t you eat your delicious meal? Are you not the one who cooked the food?” said grandpa, Jackson. “Master, I’m the one that cooked it, but I can’t taste the food,” he sobbed.

“You can’t say that rubbish to me.”

“Because you are the one that cook the food; so, you have to eat the food,” said Grandpa Jackson. He pushed his head on the table, “My wicked friend, who never thought any good thing to a fellow human being. You have to eat the food,” said Grandpa Jackson in a rushing voice. In the process of pushing him, he hits his head on the table, Regis responded and said, “Master, I would tell you what happened to the food.” “Regis, I know, you have poison the food.

Tell me what happen and how you manage to poison the food?” said Grandpa Jackson.

“Master, I have poisoned the food when I dish it inside the plate,” Regis faltered.

And the grandpa said to him,

“Oh my God . . .,

Why do you want to kill him?” “He did nothing,” he stammered. Immediately, Regis Wode, fell on the floor, as if someone pushes him down.

And he screamed,

“My eyes have got blind. Please, help me – I can’t see any more.

Master, kindly help me; there is fire, burning on my head. I’m really to expose everything I committed.” Then he started confessing,

“Master, I am begging you for forgiveness – kindly forgive me for whatever I did to the little young boy,” Regis grieved.

Grandpa was surprised of seeing him, on the ground, begging for forgiveness: “Why did you fell on the ground, where there is no one, pushing you down?

Mr. Regis Wode, can you tell me the reason, why you decided to kill my grandson?” “Master, I have poisoned his food . . ., I knew the food would kill him. But there

was no option than to die.

I have seen the little boy’s future, flaming in my inner eyes as a great man. Moreover, I have done so many other evils in your household for so long

But this very one, over-power me,” Regis Wode replied.

“Does it mean you are the one, causing confusion in my family?” said Grandpa Jackson. “Master, let me finish my confession; there is fire, burning on my head.” “Tell me what you and your gang did to my family,” said Grandpa Jackson.

“Master, I am a messenger to our coven – I have destroyed many souls for years, including your family. I am the one who took your family matter to the coven.

And I was sent to bring the little boy, Lawrence to the coven for execution.

When I took him over there, the Queen tired him on the mighty tree at the centre of the coven for judgment to begin.

When the Queen placed him on the judgment seat, there was a mighty thunder, striking directly to the tree. As the thunder stroke with fire, everyone landed on the ground and no one could see each other. After the thunder might have pushed us down, as we opened our eyes, Lawrence

wasn’t seen on the tree. Immediately, the coven dismissed.

Seven months later, the matter rise again; the Queen told me that I should go back home and poison his food. Immediately I came back home, I poison his food,” Regis mumbled. “My God has risen and fought for me. Thank God, you did not kill him.” The Grandpa answered and walked away. “Master, allow me to finish the confession, there is a mighty man, standing behind me: he is the one, putting fire on my head.

Kindly tell him to stop, I am going to say it all,” Regis sniffled. “How can I tell him to stop putting fire on your head? When you started performing your evil, did you inform me?” said Grandpa Jackson.

“No, I didn’t inform you – but you have to help me out from this trouble.” “Then why should I pleaded on your behave when you didn’t inform me about your evil?

Please, speak it out and tell me, whatever you committed. Then I can beg for you,” said Grandpa Jackson.

Regis Wode couldn’t stop, when the confession was not yet over,

“Another evil I deed was on your wife, Mary. I took her to the coven early

before the one of Lawrence. Our intention was to kill her.

Unfortunately, the thunder that struck us down, during the trial of Lawrence, was the same thunder that strikes us the second time. All our eyes were dim; we could no longer see each other at a close range; likewise her spirit that was tired behind the palm tree. In that same process, we were unable to kill her at that particular time. And her spirit left the coven without our knowledge.

When we brought her the second time for trial, the Queen was afraid to handle her case. Then I was chosen to take over the proceeding of her trial.

As the proceeding began, I could no longer speak in other to command her (- -),” said Regis Wode. Grandpa Jackson couldn’t wait until the end of the confession. He begins to cry.

“. . . Why did you decided to condemn my family?” said Grandpa Jackson. “It was not my fault; it was the order of the Queen mother, who chose me as an agent to destroy your family,” Regis Wode replied. When Mary heard her name mentioned, she arose from the bed and met them in the dining room,

“What have I done to you that I deserve your wickedness?

As the date of my birth is unknown to you, so shall the end of my life will be unknown to you too.

As my days are filled with darkness, my tomorrow will be brighter than today.

If darkness befalls on me, life on the other side will take me home to see the light in the Day of Judgment – except the Day of Judgment will not come to past.

But if the Day of Judgment will surely come to , so shall I be free in the presence of the Almighty. Death can only separate a man from life; after death, there is life. Regis Wode, the agent of evils was nursing evil in his mind for a long, long time. When his evils, betray him, he was rolling on the ground, begging for forgiveness. And he saw the one, higher than him, descending fire on his head. Upon all his bagging, the grandpa and his wife couldn’t forgive him.

Chapter 12

The Family Secret Box

I couldn’t have such mind to dick a stronghold in your family.

But the greatness that flows in you is the one causing your problems. . . . This is not a joke; if I kill you, it could’ve been worst than dead. Please, if I expose those things I did secretly, would you forgive me? Well, I will say it all.

It was the hardest moment with Regis Wode; he couldn’t maintain his status in Jackson’s house. He was force to expose everything he did in the secret:

“What do you want to say that you did not say?

You have said it all. It is time to leave my house, because we could no longer need your services anymore.

Above all, it is time to say goodbye,” said Grandma, Mary. “Master, this is what I want to say, last; if you can give me the permission.

I was told to bring you to the secret circle as the last person and the head of the family for trial. Maybe, if your spirit is more powerful than what we are, you may be free. If not, they would kill you after the last trial. Your trial started one week ago, when we were cerebrating ’Witch Night.’

If the judgement is concluded, you would be killed, and they would be no mercy upon you,” Regis Wode whispered.

Jackson Rowe, looked at him,

“Who are you talking to? Is it me or my wife?” “I’m talking to you, not my mistress.” Mary jerked her head on him,

“What have I done to you that you want to kill me?

If you killed me, would you calm my properties?” said Grandpa, Jackson. “You did nothing to me, but you are the last person to be killed in the next three months,” Regis Wode whispered.

“What does my life got to do with your gang?”

“You are the head of the family: when once you are killed, the family would become blink, and no one would carry on the plans, you have for the family,” Regis Wode replied.

“So, upon what I did to you for the past eight years, you still have the mind to plan evils against me and my family?

Why did you want to kill a poor man like me? “Said Grandpa Jackson. “Yes, master, you do no evil to me; it is that greatness that we saw in you: that is why I was sent to destroy your entire family.

That is all I have to say. Have mercy on me by telling the mighty man who is standing behind me to step descending fire on my head: the more he descend the fire, the more my eyes become dim. I can’t see any longer. Kindly tell him to opened my eyes; I have said it all,” he begged earnestly. Regis Wode was wiped seriously, begging for forgiveness, but no one could listen to him,

“Who is the man you are talking about?” said Grandpa Jackson. “Master, he is a Mighty man, wearing white linen. He is holding fire on his hands and he blows it towards my head. Tell him to forgive me, I will not repeat such evil again in my life,” Regis Wode, replied.

“Point of correction, don’t ever call me, master: I can’t be your evil master.

Let your evil be your master,” Grandpa Jackson corrected.

Thereafter, Mary rose up from where she was sleeping, and sighted her husband, “Dear, am tired of all these evil stories. Allowed him to go away from us; we no longer needed his services any more. Let him park his loads and go home,” said

Grandma, Mary.

“Mistress, I can no longer see you with my two eyes. How can I go home from here? Have mercy on me: I promise, I will no longer do any evil to your family, “Regis Wode, replied. “How can you tell me nonsense words, when you are already destroying my family? Whatever a man sowed, that is what he will reap.

It is your own turn to become blind.

It has come to a time for the almighty cook and steward to become blind.

He did not believe that Grandpa, Jackson, would send him parking.

He saw himself in the street of Pomoor, begging for food to eat and water to drink.

What he planned in the past is now returning to him.

Regis Wode became a beggar on the street of Pomoor: no one listens to his cry. The sun and the rain become his bed and pillow. At the end, he died restlessly, without proper burial. They were no grave for him. He becomes the story of the day in every home and on every street. His body becomes food for the birds of the air to feed on. While his spirit, stood behind

his body, pleading for forgiveness. But no one saw his spirit; it was only his sorrow that indicates his pains.

His body became rotten as the body of a frock, beside a river.

The Flies become his death clothe as the sick-clothe of David in the days of his sorrow.

It is better to have a good name, rather than riches; because the evil that a man do, always leave and walk with him.

Chapter 13 The Romantic AgeThe Romantic Age

The graves, couldn’t hold the airing stars of a noble man, neither could a blizzard, darken mind of the Moonlight, mourned a great hero. I thought the darkest hearts of the nights, would set him free – that is how we do play.

Eight years later, Dr. Lawrence James was clamouring to haunt for a life partner who would make him a happiest man at the age of thirty. On a faithful day, when the Sun was mourning, he met with a young, beautiful lady, who constantly sniffling and blowing her nose, named, Susan Wille: a native of Wellford County, Etilia. A city where winds and the birds are hitting the knuckles of every tree and every home as the nature kicks off the seasons.

Susan Willie’s mother was a victim of cancer for over ten years, before Susan Wille took her to Lowman Specialist Hospital for treatment. It was someone that survived from cancer at the same hospital, directed her to meet the doctor for a proper treatment. When she arrived, Lowman Specialist Hospital in Wellford County, as the nature hits the clocks at one forty-eight. She was directed to see the resident doctor for proper check up. One hour later, Susan Wille and her mum, Gretel met the doctor in his office.

At the point of medical check up, she was successfully diagnosed to report back in the next three weeks. Dr. Lawrence James, who became a haunting dog, furiously, focused on how to get her addressed, through the visitor’s

from reception hall after they left.

When he got her address, he made a direct phone call with her in other to engage her as a fiancée. Through their conversation, he understood that Susan’s mother is getting better. Susan Wille promise to meet him in the next three weeks for a deep discussion. On Tuesday, October 23rd 1932, there arrived at Lowman Special Hospital the second time for a medical check up. At a hold, she left the mother in the reception hall and met with Dr. Lawrence James in his office. But she couldn’t waste much time from their discussion, due to a long distance journey from Pomoor City to Wellford County.

Dr. Lawrence speaks directly to the point when there met. He told her that he is looking for a serious relationship that would led to marriage and he said to her,

“I believed – you are the lady that I was waiting for. I can’t miss the target of my haunting spirit, which is painful to be lonely for a long time. Now is the time for me to set my eyes to the one I was waiting for,” he whispered.

Susan Willie couldn’t wait, until she was told to smile. She smiles so melt as an ice in the hot hour of winter.

In a little beat of his hearts, he set a simple question to her,

“Susan!”

“Yes Dr. Lawrence.”

“I have seen you in the mirror of my heart.”

“Then, what happened to the mirror of your heart?”

“You look so gentle, humble, and gentle into the mirror of my heart. And I had a tinny voice, informing me to announce you as my fiancée.

Does your humbleness and gentility, empower my consciousness to call you, my fiancée?”

“Of course –”

“Then, I will say, “Do, my Susan, Re, my Susan, Mi, my Susan, Fa, my Susan, So, my Susan, and so on and so ford.”

“Wow . . ., it sounds like a lyric,” Susan whispered.

Dr. Lawrence, continued the discussion,

“The very first day I saw you in my office, I thought you were an angel, sent to

earth for a mission. It was later on; I discovered that you are an earthly angel, send to me as my fiancée and to love me, more and more and more.” Immediately, she looks at him, and she gave him a smiling face,

“For some months now, I was praying at home, even in my office. I pray – day and night on how to see a beautiful woman, so beautiful to be my fiancée.

I mean, a woman that would dance with me, when the red carpet would be spread in the street of excitement. Not just for friendship, but as a soul mate, which I will take her home until eternity?

Apart from that, I always dreamed of a beautiful woman, visiting me in my office: probably, it may be you and I thought no other person else.

I really know you would not reject me as your soul mate, but to build a strong relationship with someone like you.” He breathes in so deeply and laid his hand on her shoulder,

Susan Willie, can I just hear you say, Doctor, you are my fiancé!”

She withheld his hand and smile,

“Doctor, you are so funny.”

“I like the where you talk to me. And I appreciate your effort towards our

relationship,” she encouraged.

“Really, if you forgot to say, I love to be your fiancée Then, I will force myself to say, Susan, you are my fiancée.”

“Doctor, you have got it right,” she approved. “That is what I wanted to hear from you. It really shows that, there is love in the air – I appreciate.

“You mean it!”

“Yes, my dear.”

“I have accepted you as my fiancé,” she rejoiced. At the end of their discussion, she promises to visit him in the next five weeks and Dr. Lawrence James gave her a brief response,

“Yana, I am expecting you as soon as possible. Please, extend my greetings to your love once. Goodbye for now.” “Bye . . .,” she replied. Two months later, Susan Wille travel to meet Dr. Lawrence James in his permanent resident for face-to-face talk. On her arrival, Dr. Lawrence James

took her into the pallor and welcomes her,

“My first lady, you are welcome.”

“Thank you.”

While she was sitting down, he brought a bottle of Irish wine and presented to her, “This wine, represent our love; let share the beginning of our love, as if we are under a Moon tree. While the icicles of the Moon, shadows our loves, as if we were ones a lover.” He opened the wine and took a glass and shared it with her, “Let toast it together as a sign of love.” Then, they toasted their glasses together with a little breaking sound, “As we share this wine together on a chilly day like this, so shall our loves, grow cold as a raining day. Our love would never dry off – from season to seasons.

From the rising of the Moon, down to where the Moon seat, we shall in oneness to share our love forever. “As the Moon and the Venus, shared the same beauty”

“The beauty of our love shall spring forth as the rising of the Sun. And we shall remain as one entity with love. As a butterfly, befriend the portal of a flower, our loves would never fade up from each other.

As the ocean never dried from season to season, our loves will flow to the hills of our hearts into the tent of our future. May we continue from here, sharing our love together with joy and peace –”

“Amen.”

“As my heart spring on you, never you depart from me, when my love is lingering on you. And I will never forget to call you, my beloved fiancée.”

Both of them toast their glasses together with a smiling kisses.

Lawrence couldn’t hang over on the discussion. He continued digging her heart to discover the golden gold; he is looking for, “Good to have you her with me.”

“Good to meet you too,” Susan Wille replied.

As the discussion was going on, he discovered that Susan Wille studied pharmacy at the university and he asked her,

“I am excited to have someone like you. It means, you would work with me in my hospital.”

She smile,

“That’s fine; I am ready to work with you at all time.”

In a separate note, he whispered on her,

“Thank you for having encounter with me for love. I have experienced one thing in life. Anything that happens to a man or woman, either good, or bad, there is a reason for that,

A critical condition can tune someone to become a guest of good fortune.

Properly, you are a special guest in my life – love and anything I may think of.”

He continued,

“Susan, did you believe in this life, you would meet with someone like me?

I know you would say “No.”

She hook on him with a smiling faces,

Really, I couldn’t believe, I would meet someone like you.”

“Is a pleasure having you –”

“Pleasure is yours.”

“To my understanding, it is not possible for every human being to read the future; no matter how cleaver, he or she is. It is only the future that will bring good fortune to us, depending on our hard work.

In the other hands, the future will determined to build a solid foundation that would walk us down to our destiny. If we decided to listen to the inner man that always speak to us.” He spoke to her and her mind was wheel to the tuned of love. While her hearts was cold as glacial winds of winter,

“Three years ago, I made a vow that I will never marry a city girl, because there are irresponsible in their daily living. I thank God today; I have met someone like you. As beautiful and humble as the raising of the Sun.

I promise you, as from today’s onward, nothing will depart me from you.”

“We will leave to leave again, while our love would grow, higher in the tent of our future.”

He spoke to her, diligently while his thought, took him to a moment of rapture.

“So shall it be,” she whispered.

Five years later, there wedded and stayed together as husband and wife without a child in the family.

In the nature of man, children are the heritage to every family. But when there is no child, there is no happiness among them; even though there are smiling, often and often.

It the moment of empty happiness in the family, they reason and asked themselves, so many questions, which none of them could answer even one question. “What have we done to God that he refused to give us a child? We have been together for five years now; we couldn’t hear a crying of a baby in the house.”

“Why?”

“Has God forgotten us? Why did our creature, wicked to us – as if we are enemy to him? What have we done wrong to him that he cannot forgive us?

Can we continue like this without a child?” “Susan, have you forgotten your age?”

Susan whispered on him,

“My Dear, how can I forget my age?”

“Oh, I thought, you have forgotten your age.”

“Can you imagine – I’m forty years as at now? When will I hear a sound of a baby, crying in my house?

I mean, when?

Shall we continue to stay like this forever?” Dr. Lawrence James lamented.

Susan Willie replied to him,

“My Dear, never you worry, God will fulfil his will towards us. He has a purpose for us in this life. And He knows everything – and nothing God cannot do.

If we strongly believed in him, he can do all things we needed in life. It is only our faith can build a strong relationship with Him.

Let us keep our hope and strengthen our faith in Him; he will surely do for us as he did to others in the past.” As there could not had the opportunity of having a child, they believed that if there can set up an orphanage home, there could take care of abandoning babies within and outside Pomoor County. By so doing, God would easily reward them with babies. Immediately Lawrence ended his lamentation, Susan Willie, joyfully acknowledge his ideas. There was on second thought on how to finance the project.

However, Susan Willie brought the idea on how to get abandon babies within and outside Pomoor County. Two years later, Lawrence was able to accomplish his gold by completing the orphanage home and name it, Lowman Orphanage Home.

Since the opening of the orphanage home, there were no more abandoned babies within and outside Pomoor County. Young girls and ladies were afraid of abortion. The young girls and ladies – reorganized their thought, that whenever there got pregnant, they would have the opportunity to take the baby to Lowman Orphanage home for proper care.

Again, there was no more selling of babies as it used to be in the past.

The entire Janport Island, appreciates the humanitarian work of Dr. Lawrence James. With his effort, the rate of abandoning babies in the Island was reduced to the best minimum. For the period of one year, the orphanage home, received about twenty-three orphans within a shortage period of time. Every month, the orphanage home

receives a cash rewards, gift items from churches, schools, Government officials, companies, and individuals, etc. Dr. Lawrence James had not forgotten to educate and trained the orphans.

He trained them from nursery to the university level. Upon all the deed and done, there was no single child in his bosom, and he keeps on lamenting, “Can we continue like this for forever?” Dr. Lawrence James asked himself. Death can only put a break to a man’s destiny, but it can’t close the border of his life. Three years later, Dr. Lawrence James got a ghastly motor accident when he returned from his office, while the nature hits the clocks at five. And the Sun, walked down to the seat of his nature. A Good Samaritan rushed him to the nearby hospital for proper treatment, but unfortunately, he could not survive. A few minutes later, he gave off the ghost. His body was deposited at the nearby mortuary. When a Good Samaritan came to the scene of accident – he searched through his diary in his pocket. And he found a mobile number of Susan Willie. She was informed immediately about the death of her husband.

Immediately she got the message, darkness embodied her mind, and she fainted immediately. And she was rushed to the hospital for treatment before she was able to trace were her husband’s corpse was deposited.

His private hospital was also informed about his death. The management of the hospital declared, One week of mourning in other to mourn him.

King Pedro was also declared, one week of mourning as one of the first indigenous medical Doctor, who had a selfless life and eleemosynary relief character to others. There were all lamented so deeply about his dead.

“What a calamity in the face of Janport Island! When shall we get such a welleducated medical doctor like Lawrence James? They have taken away our honour from us. The spirit of death has overwhelmed the dignity of our kingdom.

Well, God knows the best. He is the one that gave and he has the power to take one’s life. What a pity in the eyes of the indigenous people of Janport Island!”

“May his soul rest in perfect peace –” On a snowy afternoon of May 3rd, 1942, late Dr. Lawrence James was buried in the central cemetery, Delid City, closed to his father’s grave.

After his dead, Susan Willie was uncomfortable; she receives a lot of condolence messages, send to her through friends, neighbours, family , and workers of Lowman Specialist hospital. All the condolence messages – sent to her was like a burning fire in her heart. And yet, she was still lamenting from time to time.

On a glorious day of July 10th, 1942, late Dr. Lawrence James was seen, sitting down together with a group of people in Delid Beach Park, which s closed to Newgater, the capital city of Arctilumana.

It’s truly believed that – death can never put an end to a man’s destiny, when his future is not yet fulfilled. And it was another new life that begins in the eyes of Dr. Lawrence James, a philanthropic in the whole City of Delid before he died.

No one can say it all – no one can do it well. There was another new life, flourishing in another circle – as if it was a rebirth, but no one could be able to identify him in the city of Newgater.

Where a man stops, his consciousness can pushed him forward in other to begin a new life. When Dr. Lawrence James begins a new life, he went back to meet the former medical director, Dr. Baseman at the University Central Medical Centre to renew his relationship and inform him about his ambition of getting a new job. But his death could not disclose to Dr. Baseman.

It is believe that, life can only demarcate by a single stroke of blockage, which is being said, ‘It is only the death that can see the living, but the living cannot see the death.’

When Dr. Lawrence James arrived at the office of Dr. Baseman, he greeted him and said, “Good afternoon, sir.”

Dr. Baseman replied to him,

“Oh my able Doctor, good to see you, once again after so many years.

How is your profession, doing?”

“Well, by the special grace of God, all is well.” He breathes in, deeply:

“I am still managing with my profession over there. But it will thrill on me, if you can help me, once again for a job.”

Chapter 14 Breaking the Cape

Is the bird, twits with me? It sounds so lovely, while my body flows on the unknown sea. The only problem I had is you. Not just a lover, but the one who would sing a melodious song with a stirring tune at the bits of my heart. As a wedding bell that rings in the wedding day of Queen Elizabeth. And I will be glad to hear such sound, pitching in my hearts, ring – ring – ring!

This is a blooming day of begonia.

Dr. Baseman asked Dr. Lawrence some relevant questions.

“I learnt that you have opened a specialist Hospital in your community. Is your Hospital doing well?” “Well, I have been managing the hospital ever since, I left this Medical Centre. Unfortunately, there was a fire incidence that struck down the entire building of my hospital, and left nothing behind. I mean, dust to dust.

Now, I am just starting a new life. That is why I’m here, if there is any vacancy in the Hospital,” Dr. Lawrence replied, while tears ran down on his cheeks.

“How manage?”

“That is how it happened.”

“Does it mean that the local fire service could not put an end to the fire incident?” “Well, the local fire service, tried all the possible best, but they couldn’t stop the fire,” Dr. Lawrence replied. “Please, I am very sorry about the hot incidence that happens to you.

Don’t worry, you would soon recover,” said Dr. Baseman.

“Thank you so much.” “. . . You are an honest man, right from time. I want to inform you that the hospital management Board has announced some vacancies for the position of an orthopaedic surgeon and Oncologist for some weeks ago. I think, you are the only qualified candidate to occupy such position as it rhyme with your profession.”

“You mean it?”

“Thank God I am here today.”

Six weeks later, he was offered a letter of employment to resume duty on

November 1st, 1942, which he travelled as the management board of the hospital, approved his leave.

It is believes that every woman needs a lover; but getting to the end of the tunnel, she cannot find the one dearest to her heart.

As Susan Wille arrives, Newgater, she chartered a taxi to meet her uncle, Uncle Jose at #32, Melody Crescent, Newgater. She was dressed with green traditional attires that make her look as good as a natural woman.

As the nature hits the clocks at seven, while the light met with darkness, she arrived at Uncle Jose's apartment, and she was welcome in a grand style.

Uncle Jose later took her to – Eater Booker for a dinner. But there was a reflection of many souls – men and women. Playing their paths towards their exits, but Susan’s mind was absent from them. Two days later, Uncle Jose took her to Delid County Beach with a chartered taxi, to enable them, catch some fun.

At the point of entering the Beach, unpleasant footmarks walked behind them, scenting their memories as their mind cluttered together to make some joke. As there were trying to settle down, Uncle Jose met his friend, Mr. Abbot, which they work together for years before he got a new job. And they sat down and chat for a while and share some fun. A few hours later, Mr. Abbot excused Uncle Jose, took him to a hidden Corner and made a discussion with him in other to connect Susan Wille to Mr. Abbot as a friend. When they approach under a coconut tree, closed to where they sat

down, Uncle Jose tells Mr. Abbot, the live story of Susa Wille, which Mr. Abbot was interested for having her as a friend.

As the discussion was going on, Uncle Jose, capture the mind of Mr. Abbot:

“I can see – your interest is well developed with my cousin, Susan, to make her as a friend. Don’t be afraid to ask her for friendship, she would accept you as a friend.”

Mr. Abbot Smiled,

“ . . . Truly, you are my real friend.”

When Mr. Abbot met with Susan Wille – he becomes childish, refusing to talk to her freely. Uncle Jose fell back and forced Mr. Abbot to tell Susan Wille, what he needed from her,

“Why are you afraid to tell her, you love her? Don’t hide your feelings from her.

I know you need her as a friend. Do you note me?”

“That’s true, Mr. Jose.”

Then Mr. Abbot became, friendly with her. He introduced himself to Susan Willie,

“Good day lady, my name is Mr. Abbot; I am a native of Edmond Villa.”

“Can I know your name?”

“Yeah, my names are Susan Wille.”

“It’s great to know someone like you,”

“Thank you.”

“I am a pharmacist and medical Director of Lowman Specialist Hospital.

What about you?”

“Oh, I am a manager of Slock Group of Companies at #42, Roundel Road, Newgater.”

Mr. Abbot was afraid to introduce himself to her better.

He couldn’t keep his eyes horizontally with Susan, and he demanded a telephone number from her,

“Can I have your phone number, in other to call you later in the evening?” “Oh Mr. Abbot, what do you really want from me that you can’t speak it out?” Don’t hide your feelings from me.” Mr. Abbot replied and said to her,

“My voice is lifeless; it’s only you that knows what my mind is about to speak.

If I can force myself to speak, let my mind be silent, while my mouth speaks a brief word to you. And the only paltry word I can speak is,

“It is only one day a player can make a friend with someone who is now a player to him.”

“Let be friends.”

“Just like that . . .?”

“Yes of course!”

“Doctor, do you think you can buy my heart with flicking words?”

“Yeah, it is good, having fun with someone I love,” Mr. Abbot announced. She couldn’t give her phone number to Mr. Abbot. And she referred Mr. Abbot to meet Uncle Jose in other to give him her phone num.

Mr. Abbot asked her,

“Why are you referring me to meet Uncle Jose? You are the only right person to give me your phone number and not Uncle Joes.” “Mr. Abbot, just accept what I’m telling you.” “I heard what you have said! But if Uncle Jose gave me the phone number, I will give you a call, when I get home.

Goodbye,” he smile.

In a very little beats of their heart, Uncle Jose and Susan departed with a chartered taxi and left Mr. Abbot at the Beach.

Three days later, Mr. Abbot visited Susan Willie at Uncle Jose’s apartment.

On his arrival, he met Susan Wille in absent of Uncle Jose. Mr. Abbot could not hide his feelings when he got there. He told her his intention of coming. That he is looking for a beautiful, young woman to marry. He believed, she is the one, who would stick in his heart, like never before. Susan Wille told him that, marriage issues are not her problems. That she came to Newgater to attend a conference and not to look for a man to fall in love with.

And she whispered on him,

“Don’t tell me all these! Don’t you know that I lost my husband?

“Oh, I’m sorry. I know it has been long when he died. Forget about him for now. He had gone, he had gone. You have to look for a new relationship that would pull your love forward. I think, I am the one who would flame your heart with love.”

“Accept my sympathy.”

“Thank you, Mr. Abbot.”

“Did I announce to you, I need someone, who would flame my heart with love?”

“No, I’m just suggesting, you should take me home.”

“But if I am in want of a man who would flame my heart with love, it shouldn’t be at this time. Leave me alone. . . .” She reflected her mind back home; and she remained herself what happened to her in the past,

“It shouldn’t be this time! How can I fall in love with someone, when I’m still

mourning my husband?” She spoke to herself, but no one heard what she was saying.

Immediately, she scents the spirit of her husband, Lawrence, but Mr. Abbot did not notice what was going on. Susan Wille stood up and left him in the sitting room. Mr. Abbot looks a shame and left Uncle Jose's apartment and returned to his office.

Two days later, Mr. Abbot went back to meet Susan Wille; immediately she saw him, she asked him,

“Why can’t you leave me alone?”

“It is not by force to befriend you; leave me alone,” she hissed and walked away from him.

Mr. Abbot told her,

“The only problem I had with you – is for you to be my fiancée.

Singing a melodious song to me with a stirring tune in my hearts, as a wedding bell, ringing on the wedding day of Queen Elizabeth. And I will be glad to hear such sound, pitching in my ears: rick, rick, rick and rick. This is the sound; I’m expected to hear from you in a blooming day of begonia.”

“Do you want to take me home?”

“Of course, my hearts is as cold as the icicle of winter. And again, I am in wants, more of you; and you more of me.

In the first place, if I may ask, do you married to someone else, now or before?”

Susan Willie stares her eyes on him,

“Why are you asking me such question that looks like a lyric of a song that would provoke the dancers to begin dancing?

I’m I looking younger – younger or older than my mother in age?”

“Yes! You looks, younger than your age, and I am glad to fall in love with you,” Mr Abbot, recommended.

Chapter 15 Painted Names

Come on, my sweetheart. The empty voices I heard are pitching in my hearts, and I could no longer be pretending to tell you. Why are you looking so sad, as if something has gone wrong with you?

Are you in a surprising moment to hear my names?

Oh, don’t worry, this is not, hocus-pocus. If you are mindful of me, you can call me by my English names.

She was wondering, what he was saying, after waited for a moment. She began to imagined who Mr. Abbot was and she replied,

“Thank you for upgrading me a little beat younger than my age.”

“You are welcome.”

He began to ire her, again and again,

“Susan, a beautiful angel of mine –”

“Yes, Mr. Abbot!”

“I have discovered one thing in you.”

“What is that very thing that is so wonderful to discover from me?”

“You look so beautiful like a raising sun of the east.”

“Really –”

“Yes!”

“And when I looked into the mirror of your heart, I discovered that, you are happy more than me.

Tell me the secret, and I will make you, a happy woman.”

“There is no secret about me; though you refused to call me an angel. But if you say, I’m beautiful, like the rising sun from the east, why don’t you call me an angel!”

“Oh, my beautiful one of the east, I forgot to classify you as an angel.”

“My angel and the most beautiful one of the east, would you marry me?” Mr. Abbot whispered.

“Oh my God, why are you so worried about marriage? You shouldn’t be worried for now, until I see how you love me. Do you note me?”

“Yes, I have to be worried . . ., because I love you more than myself. And I want you to be my wife,” he added. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, I am very, very serious to take you home as my new car.”

“The most shining one, who shine like a mirror in my heart, would you take me home?”

“No, no, no, Mr. Abbot, let me tell you, it is too early to declare such intention on me. We just knew ourselves recently. It can’t be possible to give you a reply for now. But, if I have interest to take you home, I will think of it and gave you a reasonable answer as soon as possible,” she smile. “Why can’t you give me the reply for now?” “Mr. Abbot, why are you in a hurry? It is too early to say that.

Don’t worry; I would give you the reply, if you are serious about it,” said Susan.

“Well, no problem. It is time to go home. When I get home, I will give you a call.”

“Goodbye.”

Susan Wille walked behind him and stopped beside the doorpost, and she peep him,

“Goodbye to you, Mr. Abbot . . .”

There he departed.

Immediately Mr. Abbot left, Susan Wille, she asked herself:

“As I promise to give Mr. Abbot a reply, if he comes back, what would I tell him? Well, until when I set my eyes on him.” She spoke from her heart; no one could hear what she was saying.

Immediately, her imagination arose,

“Since the dead of my husband, no one ever told me a love story. Everyone knows I am a widow.”

“Imagine, Lawrence's spirit whispered to me in my dreams, begging me to endure with him, until a new love begins.

Now that another lover is flourishing on me. Can I go for a second journey to Mr. Abbot, whose love is so stronger than dead?

If I agreed with him, would I be safe from the hands of my late husband’s spirit?

But the first journey did not favour me at all. Why should I be keeping on waiting for him for nothing! I have to look for a new lover who would take me home.” Immediately, she heard a cracking sound on the wall. And she framed her eyes over on the wall. She saw a gray shadowy spirit of her late husband, watching over her. She shouted immediately and ran away from the living room. The spirit of Lawrence followed her immediately, down to the master’s room, and he framed his spirit at the curving edge of the wall. While she was down on the bed, starring her dark eyes on the wall; she saw the same spirit, hanging himself and watching over her.

When she was looking on how to escape to the next room, the entrance door pulled down no her on her body. She felt a charming cold all over her body.

What she saw next was the shadow fainted spirit of Lawrence. She could not

escape any longer. She shouted, while she lay down on the bed, helplessly. “Time has ed for my spirit to be mock. When my body was lies in state at the conference hall of Lowman Hospital, like the body of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4th, 1968. Your eyes were empty like a river in Asia. Now you have took a dirty lover into your mind, thinking, I would be here, giving you such chance to fall in love with him. Do you think my spirit would be assassinated as it happened to Martin Luther King Jr. at his second story room at Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee? No! That cannot happen in my time. Rather, I will be the one to assassinate him.

When a river dried off, the sand field must be they, waging war with the nature, to regain it straight and wait for the sea to flourish. Did you know the outcome of the war against love?

Your eyes can’t see when my spirit walked around you. Neither your mind nor body could be infused with the old loves of ours. Are you forcing my spirit to fall in love with you when my soul already, departed from the physical world to regain my straight in the spirit body?

Why can’t you stay for years without making love with an unknown human being, who wanted to frustrate you in the near future?

That is why you can’t see in the dark, when the sun and the moon are gone out of your sight. Even though the favourable star, flourish in the east, you can’t see the star, neither feeling his riches, because you are rushing to make love that would not favour you.

“Don’t think I’m gone – I will soon be back.”

“My soul, my spirit is so much in need of you. Because my love with you was incomplete before I left. That is why I came to remind you about my second coming. I swear to my spirit, I will never leave you until you love me, one more time. But don’t forget, I am still in love with you, no matter how men are haunting for you,” he whispered. The ornate carving wall, fail on her, while she was lying down on the bed and the mystery of dreams took her off.

No one knows when the spirit of Lawrence left the room.

One Sunday morning, a ghost was seen in the street. No one could tell the mysterious drama. Helena Lotus, a friend of Susan Willie, took the analogue phone as old as the age of Dr. Lawrence James before he died.

Helena Lotus, a good lady of Newgater City, went to see Susan Willie in Uncle Jose’s apartment. Helena Lotus told her, what she saw after the spirit of Dr. Lawrence past by in Greenlander street, Newgater.

The spirit of Dr. Lawrence James in the street of Newgater

“Susan!”

“Yes, Helena, tell me what happened?”

“There is a rumour that the spirit of Herbert Lawrence, your late husband was found in the Street of Greenlander, Newgater. A city of secret killers, kidnappers, drunkard, which is a city of no sleep at night. But upon what there say, nobody can trace his ways about.

For the past one week, I began to think – think and think – if I can be able to recognize him, one more time. He looked like someone I knew. But what I know he looks like your late husband.

I use to see him within our neighbourhood.

When I went to his apartment, he couldn’t be found.

A night later, I saw him in my dream; he told me to take the analogue phone to you, in other for you to communicate with him. . . .And I wondered what you are going to do with the analogue phone. That is why I came to meet you.”

“Is he the one who told you to bring the analogue phone to me?”

“Yes.”

“He told me to bring the analogue phone to you, in other for you to communicate with him?”

“Is that what he told you?”

“Yes!”

“Susan, I am wondering, how you are going to use the phone to communicate with him in the other side.”

“Helena, he knows the reason why he sent the phone to me.”

She kept on telling him what he saw,

“Susan!”

“Yes Helena.”

“There is one thing I forgot to tell you.”

“What is that very thing?”

“He said, every midnight, around two ‘O’ clock, you should hang the analogue phone in front his picture that you brought from home. Then, exactly that time, the phone would rank, and you make sure, you pick the call. Then, two of you would communicate.”

“I heard what you just said. When that time comes, we would speak to each other,” said Susan.

Then, Helena Lotus, returned back to her home.

When Uncle Jose came back home, Susan Wille refused to tell him, what happened when he left the house; neither informed him about the visit of Mr. Abbot and their discussion.

Two weeks later, she met with Dr. Lawrence James at Pharmaceutical Association of Estermoor in annual conference at Wilford Hotel and Suite, Newgater.

When she met with Dr. Lawrence, he introduced himself to her at the end of the conference as Dr. Herbert James and he said,

“Hey, good afternoon madam,” said Dr. Herbert. “Good to have,” Susan replied. “My name is Dr. Herbert James, good to meet you.”

“Good to meet you too,”

“Can I know you better?”

“My names are Susan Wille, a medical director, and Pharmacist at Lowman Specialist Hospital,” she replied. “Good to meet you once again.”

“Thank you,” Susan replied.

“Madam, are you the wife to Dr. Lawrence James, who leaves in Pomoor County?”

“Exactly,” Susan Wille replied. “ … It had been long, long time ago, I couldn’t see him. That is true; your face looks familiar to me. The last time I met your husband was at the 3rd annual conference in 1939 at Edmond County, Western Etilia.

Then, I was told that Dr. Lawrence James, died in a ghastly motor accident about

four years ago.”

“Is it true?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

She stares her eyes on him for a moment. While she closed her eyes, and then huffed and stares back to him, the second time and then she screamed. In a very little beats of her heart, her tears ran down on her cheeks, as thick as blood. And it flows down and gum on her chest, as if she is at the point of dead. Dr. Herbert’s heart, flee off the air, and he said to her,

“No, no, no, madam; why are you crying like a baby? Is okay – stop crying – it would be soon over.” Dr. Herbert stretched his hands on her shoulder and watched her at a closer range. And there was nobody that focusing on them. And he turned, round and round and he said:

“Susan Willie, why are you crying as if you are a baby?

It is not yet time to cry – and time is coming that you would no longer cry.

If I didn’t know you, I couldn’t have asked you about him.

Please, stop crying, God knows the best and the best time is God. He would soon bring your comforter.

Immediately Dr. Herbert pronounced his feign name. She shook, and jerked up her head, while she remained a little bit silent. Dr. Herbert said to her,

“What is the problem? Talk to me; do not keep silent on me; I may be the one to help you, if you are mindful of me.

Don’t think I am an angel. But I can be your friend, a friend of your – if you wish to share things in common with me. But never mind, I was once a friend with your husband. As the space of your husband is empty, I can be the one to fill that space,” he sniffled.

Susan Wille felt a heart break and stared at his face; she pushes his hands out of her shoulder and walked away from him. And he called her back immediately, “Susan Wille, come back here. . . . You can’t just go away from me.

”He ran and brought her back.

“Tell me, why are you walking away from me as a car that has no break?”

Susan Wille replied,

“Mr. Herbert, allow me to go home. Your words are unworthy to me at this very moment. Please, kindly allow me to go home; I am not interested about your friendship.”

Chapter 16 The Window of Confusion

If the roofs flew over the ocean, my mind would only remind me of those ancient thought that I forgot not. But if the waves are mindful of me, the mystery mirrors of my thought would reflect on me to tale a manor stories.

“No, no, no, you can’t just go away from me. Why don’t you allow me to finish my talk before you go home? You can make me happy, you can make me glad. Because your mare happiness can just make me happy, but your inner heart can be blink towards me,” he whispered.

“Why can’t you hear what I’m saying?

“What are you saying?”

“Your words are unpleasant to me.”

She huffed, and stared her eyes on him:

“But wait . . ., you looked so familiar, like my late husband. Did you have any relationship with him?”

“No! I have no relationship with him at all. But I was once his friend.

That is how people normally look alike.” He hooked over her shoulder,

“Is that why you walked away from me?” “Yes! Because I’m tired of you; allow me to go home. May be, we would talk better whenever we meet again,” Susan replied.

“Susan Willie, don’t worry, let us talk for some minutes before you go home.

If paradise on earth, would past away; neither the moon nor the stars, no longer seen in the sky – it would thrilled on me to fall in love with a pretty lady like you.” He praised her the more, “It is not too late to go home – and it is not too late to tell me, I love you.”

“But don’t forget that a pretender is a dangerous weapon for love affairs.”

“Dr. Herbert I’m tired of you; just late me go home.”

“Is all right?”

“It’s always amazing to me whenever my eyes get in touch with you. And I want to let you know that, since the beginning of this conference, I was so iring to your beauty – beauty that attract my heart. And I am thinking on how to take you

home. A home that would flee away your widowhood, but now, you are telling me, you want to go home. As if you are singing song in the midst of sorrow.

I want to let you know, I am in want of having you as a wife, in other to replace your former husband. And all your tears, sorrow and loneliness would past away. Then I will become your husband in a little flying of your hearts.”

“Would you become my wife–?”

“I mean a pretty lady like you.

That would sing a lovely song . . . at the moment of my excitement!”

“Dr. Herbert, I wanted to go home, please.”

“Going home is not the problem. But your problem is your loneliness of heart and loneliness of at home.

It is not too late to take the right decision, now.”

“Doctor, is it because of marriage you delayed me up till this time? Please, I don’t have any interest about your marriage. You have to take your love to another woman.” She faltered and added, “Just leave me alone, and let me go home.”

“Oh, a woman of tremendous beauty, why are you always complaining of home; a home of nobody, a home of no joy and happiness. What are the goodies that occupied this home that doesn’t allow you to gain happiness in life?

. . . Tell me, oh beautiful one of beauty.

Moreover, don’t you know that, a woman that had no happiness in life is not a complete woman? What is your gain of being in a castle of loneliness?

Just forget about the old dating games that took place in a childless home that had no value to humanity.

That is why I am here to renew the relationship. Just tell me your mind and accept me to be your husband?” he whispered.

“Doctor, you are talking too much. You were not like this before.”

“Why?”

“Oh, the beautiful one of my life; my talking too much is your talking too well. My talk is a talk that would make you well. Don’t think I’m mad. I’m not mad. But if you thought I’m mad, I’m mad to make you well, one more time.”

Upon how Dr. Herbert was demonstrate to make her happy, she was still worried about the new relationship with him and she said:

“Please doctor, leave me alone with your marriage talk and let me go home.”

“You can’t go home just like that. Just listen to me before you go, because I’m serious about this relationship. Let us become one body, one soul and be in one spirit. Just tell me your mind and I will tell you my own,” said Dr. Herbert. “Doctor, I heard you, but let me go home, I will give you the as soon as possible,” Susan replied.

“Is all right, you are free to go home.

When I reach home, I will give you a call.”

“See you soon. . . .”

Susan Willie, waves her two hands and stood for a while; looking at him as he was going towards his car, and she finally said,

“No problem, see you soon. And have a lovely day,” she rejoiced.

She walked down to where she parked her car, and she entered the car and left.

It was a surprising moment for Susan Willie to see someone who resembles her late husband. On her way going, she was worried, the where she met two men in a period of one month asking her for marriage. When the nature hits the clocks at eight, Uncle Jose returned from work. He called Susan for her to tell him the experience she had for a short period of time, since her visit in Newgater. As she responded to the call of Uncle Jose, she sat down beside one of the executive chairs and he said to her:

“Susan!”

“Yes Uncle!”

“All these days, I was unable to ask you about the experience you have, since you visited me. Can you tell me some of your experience, since you came to Newgater?”

“Uncle Jose, I am totally confused all these days.

Uncle, can you imagine, I met two men within one month, asking me for marriage. I am confused.

Uncle Jose, tell me, what should I do to avoid quarrel with these two men, whose mind are so desperate in marriage?” Susan Wille replied.

“What are you saying?”

“How can two men, ask you for marriage within one month of your visit?

It means you are a hot cake that set on the counter of Newgater Resort centre for consumption. Have you made any attempt to accept any of them for marriage?”

“No uncle, I don’t accept any of them!

I only made some promises to them that as soon as possible,

I would give them the ,” Susan replied.

“Wait! Can you tell me the names of those two men?” “Uncle, the first person is your friend, Mr. Abbot. While the second person is Dr. Herbert James, who met me at Wilford Hotel and Suite, when I attended a conference,” Susan replied.

“You mean, my friend, Abbot, asked you for marriage without telling me.

Have you accepted him?” “No, Uncle, I can’t do that without your knowledge. I only promise him for in the next few days to come,” Susan replied.

“What about the medical doctor?”

“Uncle, I promise to give him as soon as possible.”

“Good of you.” “Uncle, another experienced that I had is about Dr. Herbert James.”

“Uncle –”

“Yes, Susi –”

“His name looks similar to that of my late husband.”

“You mean it?”

“Yes Uncle. Can you imagine when I saw him, the first time, he looks like my late husband, Lawrence James – he is just a photocopy of my late husband.”

“I swear.”

“When I sighted him for the first time, I thought that, Lawrence is back to filled my emptiness. But when I looked at him the second time, his face changed to another person.”

“Uncle –”

“Yes, Susi–”

“I can’t tell you lie; I so much love Dr. Herbert because of his appearance, compared to my late husband, Lawrence James. I don’t know whether or not, I should marry him.”

“Uncle–”

“Yes, Susi–”

“What do you say, concerning Dr. Herbert?”

“Susan, I would be the last person to choose a husband for you. May be after the marriage, he can match your head down on the floor. Then, how would you regard me when such thing happened?

Would you regard me as a good Uncle, or a bad Uncle?”

“I will regard you as a good Uncle, if you choose the right man to replace Dr. Lawrence James.”

“That is a good idea, but the only advice I can give to you is that, you should choose your husband by yourself: not for someone like me, to choose a husband for you. You have that free will to do that for yourself.”

“Uncle, I heard what you have said.

I will make my own decision.

Because I am getting too old, every day by day,” Susan murmured.

Thereafter, Uncle Jose left the living room, and she sat down, thinking about what to do next.

Immediately she decided on what to do, she received a phone call from Dr. Herbert James. At the end of their conversation, Dr. Herbert asked her where she lives in other to locate her for more discussion, which she replied to him:

“You can meet me, in Uncle Jose’s apartment at #33, First Street, Melody Crescent.”

Dr. Herbert told her to wait for two hours time; he will be they as soon as possible.” Two hours, thirty-seven minutes, Dr. Herbert arrived at Uncle Jose’s apartment. And when she heard the sound of his vehicle at the entrance gate, Susan Wille

called the security guard to open the gate for him to drive in with his black tented glass Range Rover jeep. Immediately Susan Wille cited him, she stood up and opened the front door, while he walked in. Susan Wille was afraid about the new relationship with Dr Herbert James, which she was totally disorganized before the discussion began:

“What would I replied, Dr. Herbert James when he comes?” She spoke to herself, only her lips, moves, but her voice was not heard. Immediately, he walked in, she directed him to have a seat.

At that very moment, she started giving him a smiling face, often and often.

Dr Herbert James gaze on her and said,

“Oh, my beautiful one of the east and my dear to be; I can see you, smiling on me, as the sun smiles on every humanity on earth. It shows that, I am already in the flaming hearts of love. Really, I can see you, smiling at me to accept me as your own husband. There are no more words in my mouth than to say, thank you for accepting me as your lovely husband.”

She breathe in and out, so softly,

“How do you know what is in my mind?” Susan Wille replied, smiling repeatedly.

Dr Herbert also ed her with a smiling toast. “There is no need of asking you if you have agreed with me to be your husband. Your body language has said it all,”

“That is good of you, dear,”

He walked closed to her, while his hands were hanging over Susan’s shoulder. “With all my hearts, oh beautiful Queen of my life, I have accepted you to be my lovely wife.” Susan Wille smile and she said:

“Serious . . .?”

“I thought you were joking over the marriage issue!

. . . I love that.” “My dear Susan, you are giving me wrong impression. Did you see me with a getter or mouth Hogan, the very day of our discussion? I was so serious of getting you as my fiancée.” He flicks his hands, downward to his front:

“With my age, I do not think I can still be joke over getting married with someone, so beautiful like the rising sun in the east you.

Never the list, don’t look down on me, my physical appearance would deceive you. Just acknowledge my request and accept me as your dearest one with a

flaming hearts of love,” said Dr Herbert James.

Chapter 17

The Scaring Heart

The love I had for him is more than the one I have for my parents; though there have gone out of my sight. And I do that I had a dream of two men, influencing me with moonlight tales; over and over again. However, if I had such magical formulas, the midnight tales, couldn’t have cleared in my eyes in other to tell the manor stories. Can a woman have a double hearts in other to tell her scaring dreams?

Susan Wille looked at him:

“Wow, so, so serious about marriage!

“And then. . . . Without your dad, getting married to your mom, would you be able to exist as a beautiful lady?”

She smiled,

“Is okay; I was joking in other to see the mirror of your heart.

I have accepted you as the one, dearest to my heart in other to tell our love stories. But there is one thing that left behind, and my heart would not permit me to speak it now at this moment. I will reveal the whole secrets to you when time comes,” said Susan Willie.

He replied to her immediately,

“That is what I needed to hear from you.”

“My dear Susan –”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“Can you tell me the very thing that is bordering you in mind?”

“I told you, you don’t need to be worried for now.”

“Is it my age or because I am one of your late husband’s friend?”

“Doctor, age is not a barrier to every love we thought to share.”

“Then, you don’t need to keep any secret from me, it is too early to do that,” he whispered.

Susan Willie replied to him:

“Dear, it is not a matter of keeping secret from you. I promise, I will tell you later.”

“Well, your wishes are my command. First of all, I thank you for not using me to play a football.

Thank you so much for accepting me as your fiancé.

He kisses her and stood in front of her,

“My kiss would never cease to dry from your lips. And I will continue to be kissing you, kiss, and kiss you forever. And nobody would stop me for kissing you.” There all smile, “Your next action is to go home and tell your parents about me: tell them you have found the one, dearest to your hearts. Soonest, we would do our wedding and round up with court marriage,” Dr. Herbert, encouraged.

Susan Willie stared her eyes on him:

“Oh dear, I love your quick action, it would clear away my old tears and bring to me an endless love – that is my perfect husband to be” She smiles and walked closed to him and kissed him as much as she can:

“There is one thing that surprised me with such endless gift, ever in the history of my life. And I know as soon as possible, people would stop calling me a widow.

Dear, I really appreciate your effort for wiping away, widow’s tears out of my eyes.”

Some minutes later, Dr. Herbert left Uncle Jose’s apartment back home. Immediately, Uncle Jose arrived home, she told him what they discussed with Dr. Herbert:

“Uncle Jose!”

“Yes my Susi.”

“Dr. Herbert just left some minutes ago, and he told me, he will finally marry me.”

“What . . .?”

“You mean Dr. Herbert James would soon become your husband?”

“Yes Uncle. He was telling me to inform you and mom that our traditional marriage is coming up soon and he would round up in customary court in other to our marriage,” she thrilled. Uncle Jose replied to her:

“That is wonderful news. He looks like an action man. Tell me, are you trying to abandon Mr. Abbot, my friend?

If he comes to you, what would be your , concerning the promise you made with him?”

“Uncle, I love Dr. Herbert more than Mr. Abbot, your friend. Dr. Herbert is a nice-looking guy to go out with. If Mr. Abbot comes, I know what to tell him,” she replied.

Susan Willie was very, very, emphasized for Uncle Jose not to disclose the marriage arrangement to Mr. Abbot. It means she would tell Mr. Abbot; she is still in love with him. Uncle Jose replied to her and said:

“Why do you want to tell him, you are still in love with him, why you are not? No, don’t do that to my friend. Tell him, everything about your new lover, because very soon, it would backfire on you.” “Uncle Jose, don’t worry about Mr. Abbot, he is still my boyfriend.

I know what to tell him when he comes,” she whispered. Two weeks later, Mr. Abbot paid a visit to Susan Willie, together with his friend, Jude Richmond in Uncle Jose’s apartment with his green coloured Mercedes Benz. When Mr. Abbot Approach Uncle Jose’s entrance door, he knocked at the door:

“Hello, who is here . . .?” Susan Willie answered and said:

“Yes, is me, I’m coming. . . .” She walked down to the entrance door and saw Mr. Abbot, standing with his friend. She welcomes two of them and took them inside the living room.

When they approached into the living room, she directed Mr. Abbot to seat down with his friend:

“You people can have a seat.” “Thank you, Miss Susan Willie,” Mr. Abbot replied together with his friend, Jude Richmond.

Thereafter, Mr. Abbot introduced his friend to her and he said:

“Jude Richmond is my closed friend. I worked together with him for a long time. And I told him to accompany me in other to say hay to you, my fiancée.” “Oh, that’s fine! Mr. Richmond, you are welcome.” “Thank you, madam,” Mr. Richmond replied. “Mr. Abbot quickly jumped into his previous discussion. And he reminded her about their new relationship, which she made a promise to gave him the :

“My new Rose flower, Susan –”

“Yes, Mr. Abbot; I am with you!”

“I came to remind you, I am interested in marrying you, which you promise to give . What is your own conclusion about our last discussion?” Susan Wille was grumbling and kept mute on him for over seven minutes.

Mr. Abbot gazed on her and said:

“Susan, what happened? Talk to me, and I needed your response.”

Susan Willie was still watching over him. She felt so sad, and tears ran down on

her cheeks as a mighty rain, running in the Street of Edmond County.

Mr. Abbot Walked closed to her, and he touches her shoulder and said:

“Susan, why are you crying? Is it tears of joy or tears of sorrow? If it is tears of love, you can continue with the flow of your tears. If you regard my request of marriage as sad news, instead of good news, stop crying while am here. But if there is any other thing, just tell me, I will be glad to comfort you.”

In a distance minutes, Susan Willie informed him to go home, whenever she met with her mom; she would give him the as soon as possible.

Mr. Abbot began to pet her to stop crying in other for him to go home. But Susan Willie ignored his request. He decided not to leave her empty-handed without giving her a token. Maybe the token would melt down her mind in other to give him a positive reply. He put his right hand in his back pocket, and removed his wallet: he counted a token and gave to her. Susan Willie collected the Arctienny (Arctilumania official currency), and grabbed it, on her right hand – while she used her left hand to wipe away her tears. He also removed a beautiful rose flower, which he kept in his briefcase and gave to her by calling her name, “Susi.” She nodded her head, while she remained silent.

Mr. Abbot could not stop calling her name. He called her name, the second time

and he said:

“Susi, I know you would not answer me. Just take the money; I am giving you with a sincere heart. It really pains to hit you with tears, because of love; and love is an expiration of happiness and not a sorrowful moment. And that reminds me, that you really love me. I am using this as an opportunity to wipe away your tears, which I know you would not stop loving me.

Just borrow me your hearts, and I will give you my love. But you have to font your hearts in a colourful design like love, as a beautiful Queen to me. And then, I will be ready to fund my life for you, even at the point of dead in other to dwell in your night’s dreams.”

Susan Willie watches over him, as if she didn’t heard what he was saying: “If you consider me as your fiancé, am ready to do more than this in time to come. Do you determine to give me your love in other to serve my life?”

“Mr. Abbot, I have no word to say at this very moment. But I hope to pull my love for you in one of these days,” she crooned.

“Miss Susan, it is all about love, but no one else can sell our love, except we come in one agreement. But you have to do something now in other to serve my life. Who knows if I would be alive, the very day you would announced your love to me?”

Susan Willie was waving hands on him. But she could not talk, while she sat

down as if she is innocent.

Mr. Abbot continued to influence her with romantic words:

“Susan, you have to sock me in your heart, like the rain, who socked the dry sand in the desert. Then my heart would receive joy under the shadow of the moon. I will at the same time called you, the only light that lightened my darkness; no one else, but you.” Susan Willie was seating down in front of him, waving hands as she use to do. While sorrow, continue reflecting on her face, but she could not say a word. Whatsoever Mr. Abbot was telling her at that very moment - was as if he was beating her! But he continued, beating her with love words:

“Whenever I ed everything about you, I always see the light, shining on my path.”

“Susan smiled.”

“Since Uncle Jose, introduced you to me, you always be my happiness in other to straighten my love. Do not think of forsaking me in other for me not to commit suicide, soon or later.

Late our day, include a happy day, day and days. And I will stretch my hands on your shoulder. While we walk down, under the shadow of the moon, and trace our path to the red carpet. Then, our guest would be standing, side by side – singing with a stirring voice:

‘I do, I, Oooh, ooh, Oooh.’

“I will always be by your side to comfort you,”

“And even though we are about to die, we will be hibernated in paradise before our enemy mock after our souls.”

Susan Wille looked at him, her eyes was rushed with tears, thinking on what to say next. While she kneeled down in front of him and she said:

“Thank you so much for being so good to me at this time, I appreciate.

I will also share my wishes to you. That, if I can love you only one day and night, you would gain a lot of joy and happiness from me. For one day and night, a night and day, my love would sustain you forever. And again, I promise to love you only one day and night. And then, even as at now, I would say to you, goodbye, my one day lover.”

At the end, she finally collected the gift and walked away from him without telling him goodbye.

Mr. Abbot groaned – but she did not return to him.

Chapter 18 The Hero of Love

Oh, you are mocking at us because we are living in shadowing graves. That is not your business. You are not better than us, either. Rather, you should always, congratulate the gods of Janport Island, who bears witness to you. While they quicken your transition to see our brethren in Janport Island ones again. You should not blame us; soonest, our transition would quicken us, too.

A decision of a man comes from his heart; he can determine the mode of his action that would led him to leave a better life. Dr. Herbert James determined to take his own decision and embrace what belongs to him in other to fulfil his destiny.

However, he was so desperate of having a child before life, finally ends in him. Still, he was hanging himself up with the spirit of: ‘I can still make it in life.’ Dr. Herbert James finally takes the right step in the right direction, where he travelled with Susan Wille to Edmond County in Western Etilia to perform the traditional rite and the wedding feast. On his arrival with his black coloured Range Rover jeep, together with his friends, Gaston Thomas, Solomon Wick, and Duckers Wilfred, which they dressed in Western Etilia traditional attires.

Due to hold-up on the highway, they could not be able to reach the old building of Wille Clerk (Dr. Herbert fathers’ in-law) in time.

At the closed end of Emirate gate in Western Etilia, the natives Royal Guards refused him to have entry into the city, because it was already late.

He stopped over to lodge at Rockers City Hotel and Suit, closed to Emirate gate, Edmond County. At the darkest hour of the witches and wizard, Wille Clerk appears in Dr. Herbert’s room with his friends. Walking in with their lifeless feet; he frames his empty eyes on the bed, where Dr. Herbert and Susan Wille slept, like a gothic font. It was only Dr. Herbert that scents their distinctive odour and their enchantment of a ghost. Willie Clerk knew that Susan’s spirit has gone into the deep space of her dream. He stretches his hands and touches Dr. Herbert. But he could not say anything, because he knew who there are.

Immediately, Willie Clerk stood behind the bed, his friends could not step forward, while they looked at the next action of Wille Clerk. Dr. Herbert quickly gets up and stared his eyes on them. He knew who there are, but he intentionally asked Wille Clerk:

“Who are you looking for?” “May I know you, including your fellow friends?” he whispered in a shadowing voice. Willie Clerk could not wait to introduce himself first to Dr. Herbert.

He descended a direct statement on him:

“Dr. Herbert James, the ‘hero of live”, I came with my friends to express my gratitude to you, because you have made it all.”

“Congratulation”

“Because you have the willing mind, hopefully to fulfil what was darken and emptied in your matrimonial home before departed to the world unknown.”

“Congratulation, once again,”

“Thank you my special guest.”

“You are welcome.”

“Furthermore, I am happy to meet a courageous hero like you.

As a matter of facts, I cannot hide who my friends are for a moment like this. Then, I have to introduce all of them to you, one after another. The person standing closed to me, her name is, Marigold Richman, while the two other persons at the centre are, Wilford Seaman and Markford Bush.

The person closed to Markford Bush is name is, Stephen King, the first wizard in Western Etilia. May be when you were a kid, by then, you could’ve known him.”

“His face looks familiar.”

“He died a long time ago. I know you can no longer him.”

“Let us continue with our introduction,”

“And the last person over there is, Saturwiller; she was a notorious gang leader before she died. I can’t hide her. She did a lot of atrocity.

They shouldn’t be forgotten in Maryland as a whole, because of what they did during the American civil war. Though there were slaves, there were in full to the American soldiers in other to end the civil war.” He jerked his head all over the room, while he captured the odour of someone attempting to knock the door.

He returned his head immediately and he said:

“As you can see, we are spirit of departed souls which you are aware.” “You are right,”

“Thank you, Dr. Herbert.”

“I am Wille Clerk, your fathers’ in-law.”

“I know all of you as a ghost.”

“Don’t call us a ghost at this time.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Is okay my good in-law, I cannot wait to see my lovely daughter, Susan, preparing herself for her wedding feast which is coming up soon. This is beyond human understanding, though she does not scent you as a departed soul.

She can never know the kind of person you are; no matter how deep her senses are. I can’t emptied my mind on her – that cannot be done, anywhere. The mystery of life did not default the natural laws in other for you to die, but life violently blows you off, for you to begin a new life in other to regain your potentials.”

Dr. Herbert claps his hands for him, because of some courageous words her spoke.“I can see, you are asking us, why are we living in lying graves. You can’t talk to me like that – is it because you are my in-law?”

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“Do you think you are perfect more than us?”

“No sir.”

“You should not blame us, but tell the gods of Janport Island, congratulations.

Always pray for us for a quick transition. Today is another beginning in the history of your life; I am proud of you; congratulation for having so much courage towards your new life.” He shook his hand the second time and said, congratulation.”

His friends could not wait until Herbert said thank you. Willie’s friends also stepped forward and have a handshake with Dr. Herbert James and they all spoke in one,

“Congratulation Dr. Herbert James.” Dr. Herbert James breathes deeply, and he replied, “Greetings to you all.” Wille Clerk rolled his empty eyes beside his friends: behold, there all nodded their heads and Wilford Seaman step forward and said to him,

“We are here to thank you for not allowing a widow’s mirror to flame in the face of Susan Wille. We have seen the desire you have for marriage. The frustration you had in the past have encourage you to leave a better life.

“Dr. Herbert!”

“Yes, the spirit man.”

“Do you that you deceived Dr. Baseman at the University of Western Etilia, Medical Centre, when you went there to look for work? And you deceived him and enrolled yourself in other to received salaries and allowances as a living soul to survive the hard time.”

“Is it true or fault?”

“You know what it means to survive in a hard time.”

“Oh, you mean it was a hard time?”

“Yes, of course, that was a hard time to me.”

“My friend, it was pure corruption in the highest order.”

“You mean it was corruption?”

“Yes, that was the highest corruption to a spirit man to perform.

You have to stop such attitude of corruption in other to serve your soul in eternity.”

“I won’t do that again in this second life.”

“Good! As you go home; you have to handle my daughter very well; as someone who has ed through hard time.” He steps forward and had a handshake with Dr. Herbert James;

“Congratulation to you a spirit man –”

In a very little beat of their heart, Wille Clerk told Dr. Herbert to look towards his right hand side. And he did as he was commanded. Dr. Herbert James engraves his eyes and saw the number of children he would bear before his final journey to the world unknown.

A few seconds later, Dr. Herbert heard another directive, flowing into his ears, “Take this golden ring, the ‘ring of invisibility’; wherever you go, put it on and no one will recognize you as a ed away soul. Rather, they will always see you as a living soul.” He suddenly jerked his head to the back and his friends nodded their heads, too, to the tuned of his commandment. And again, he jerked his head to the front and he notice what Dr. Herbert was thinking:

“Oh, I can see your mind; you are thinking about money.”

“Exactly –”

“I like you, you always say the truth.”

“Thank you.”

“Let me tell you, money would never be a problem to you. A little token would always be at the closed end of your pocket,” he thrilled. Dr. Herbert took his hand and collected the ring and put it inside his pocket.

He cleared his throat and said:

“Thank you for caring about me,” Dr. Herbert whispered.

At the end, Wille Clerk told Dr. Herbert that he should not be afraid of what would happen in the future. That a child and one child would remain – as such that child would inherit the glory of the family.” Dr. Herbert, dimed his eyes and said: “Why are you discouraging me? Your statement is inferior to my future.

I wanted to hear, words of encouragement from you – a word that no human had spoken to his friend here on earth. Whatever that would sit-in on my

achievement. Good or bad, it would not be my problem.

Rather, it would be a glory to my destiny.” “Doctor, thank you for correcting me; I did not know, you are so courageous like that. However, do not forget that at the end of this journey, you would surely come back to us,” Wille Clerk replied. In a pitch of his heart, there were all disappeared from the room, while Wille Clark dropped his old wedding gang to prove the identity of his visit to his daughter, Susan Wille. Whenever she woke up, she would know who owns the wedding gang. At the point of their invisibility, Dr. Herbert touches Susan’s shoulder and woke her up. They embrace themselves and feel with the essence of ecstasy. At the dawn of a new day, there took their bath and journey down to Willie Clark’s compound. Immediately they sighted the gate, there saw Susan’s family , waiting at the entrance gate to receive them. There were all welcome and took them to the reception ground and entertainment of the traditional feast begins in an orderly manner, according to the customs and tradition of Edmond County.

Chapter 19

The Festival of the Dead

Air and the hairs, waves and the ways – and the bell were ringing in the manor and we preserved the blood in the bucket. If I had known that the blood could not be prevented – not to spread over the gargoyles. But when the blood becomes shares at the entrance gate of the manor, the forces of the blood knock us down.

Can a bell rings by itself?

After the completion of the traditional marriage, as hospitable to the customs and traditions of Edmond County, Etilia – the family of Susan Wille handed over her to Dr. Herbert James. At that very moment, there was a mighty rain, pouring within the premises. Their traditional attires became socked. And the couple ran into a private room, well prepared for them for the marriage. Nobody could withstand the weight of the rain.

The rain did not just weight only the bridegroom. But it destroyed the canopies, tables and the chairs, which it were all stumbling and fell by the windstorm.

No one could set his or her eyes to each other until the storm was over. Immediately, Dr. Herbert and his wife walked into the private room. There was a

melodious song, flowing in the air and there knew not the singers. Within a twinkling of an eye, some unknown visitors walked into the private room, where the bridegroom was resting. As there walked in, they chanted the same courageous song that brought them into the arena with different banners and descriptions; displaying at the marriage arena and they sang the song, so sweet in the ear of everyone: “Hero of love – hero of life Victory is all you need (3xs).

No one knows the meaning of the song, except Dr. Herbert. When there came out of the private room, no one knows what they discussed with the couples. While there were chanting to hits their way back to the entrance gate, Dr. Herbert James notice that it was the spirit of Wille Clerk, his father’s in-law and his friends that met with him in the Hotel room. And he is the same person who led them to the marriage ground.

When there were going back, there sang the song with a stirring tune, flowing continuously in the pitches of their heart – while he was rejoicing, nodded his head as the waves of an ocean inside the private room.

At that very moment, he saw their legs with a fainted shadowing mark on the ground, while there vanish without trace at the point of entry.

And he said to them:

“. . . Farewell to you all, my special guest.” While the entertainment was going on, Susan Wille took Dr. Herbert to the graveyard of her late father, Wille Clerk, including the three sisters, Wallis Willie, Tonia Willie and Theresa Willie; where Uncle Jose is to performed the ‘festival of the dead.’ The festival of the dead is one of the most valuable festivals in the entire Western Etilia, including Wellford County, which is the origin of the festival. The festival of the dead usually comes up in every seventeen days after the ‘festival of flames’, which is a special ceremony for the ancient gods of Arctilumana.

Uncle Jose did not consider the cloudy weather; he encouraged and took them down to the cemetery where the grave is located. Immediately they approached the cemetery, they walked down to the grave of Wille Clerk with bear footed. Immediately they surrounded the grave of Wille Clerk, Uncle Jose commanded them to kneel and face the tombstone and Susan Wille, Dr. Herbert, and Gretel Willie, including the three sisters. And they did as Uncle Jose commanded them in other for him to offer a prayer for the remembrance of the departed souls of their family, including Wille Clerk.

The prayer begins. “Our dear father, this is a season of the festival of the dead which is a tradition of Wellford County. In humbleness and sincerity of the heart, we reminded you today that we still you as our father who brought us into this world. We also brought our in-law, Dr. Herbert James, and the rest of your beloved daughters in other to grace this festival. In that same spirit, we also ed those who died in our family before you. We can never forget you, nor the very day you departed from us. We want to remind you today that you are still refreshing in our memories in every moment of our life. Week after weeks, month after months, we need you. Without you, the entire

universe could not recognize us. There is a hardedge that says, ’Whosoever feed the hungry can never lack in life.’ As you used to make a parable in the past which says, ‘whosoever knows where he comes from, can never forget where he is going to.’ In the history of our family, we can’t forget you as a father. Without you, we are nothing. With the joy and happiness of this festival, we offer you this dried fish, kola-nut, palm wind to refresh your throat. We also offer you this local gin, and a bottle of wind, etc. All these items belong to you and your guest, including other of our family, who died before you. Again, we have kept a plate of rice for you and your visitors to eat, but not to be hungry. We can’t keep you in darkness – that is why we brought this candle to you as a symbol of light. As we light this candle, so shall there be light in your path until we meet you again in a glorious day of the Lord. As we all ed you today, may we remain, fruitful in other to fulfil our life purpose here on earth! In addition, may our store be multiply day-by-day without an end. May they be food on our table! May our destiny favour us! May we continue to experience peace, joy, harmony and love in our family! Whosoever rise against us, may they stumble and fell in other for us to rise. Finally, as we all you today, may we hope to see you in the Day of Judgment, where all the living and the death would rise again to meet our Lord! Though we are still feeling the pains of your departed soul, may your soul continue to rest in perfect peace with the Lord, until we meet again,” said Uncle Jose. At the end of the prayer, they all returned and walked towards the northwest to with other guests at the reception ground. One week later, Mr. Abbot Paid a visit to Uncle Jose in his country home, together with his friend, Jude Redmond, to confirm whether Susan Willie has got married to another man.

On his arrival, he met Uncle Jose, together with Gretel Willie, and other two family , sitting under a mango tree. While there were busy taking some fresh wind. As Mr. Abbot and his friend stood in the midst of them, he said to them:

“Greetings to you all, my in-laws to be –” “Mr. Jose, don’t worry, soonest, you would recognize me.”

“Well, late forget about in-law matters.”

“Welcome to my country home, Mr. Abbot and co,” Uncle Jose replied.

Mr. Abbot and his friend took their seats immediately.

“Mr. Abbot, how do you manage to locate my father’s residence?”

“It was the help of your neighbours.”

“Oh, am very, very sorry for not informing you about the festival of the dead.”

He pleaded earnestly.

Thereafter, both of them introduced themselves to each other and Uncle Jose said to him,

“Good to see you and your friend in our midst. It is a wonderful day to meet you, mostly in my country home.” He pointed hands to the wind on the table:

“This is a chill wind and hot drinks – there is love in sharing, share with us.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Jose. Before I share the drinks with you, let me tell you, what brought me here.” “Go on, Mr. Abbot.”

“Thank you for giving me such privilege to speak.

I came to fix the date of my wedding ceremony of my fiancée, Susan Willie, your cousin. I believed she might have told you or her mum.”

“That is so wonderful. . . . Mr. Abbot, you mean, you wanted to marry my daughter. Is she the one that told you to come?” said Gretel Willie.

“Yes, madam –” “That is very good of you, Mr. Abbot.”

“Thank you, madam.”

“Young man –”

“Yes madam, I’m here.”

“Don’t ever look for my daughter; she is married to someone else.”

“Madam, she can’t marry another person, accept me.”

“Oh, is that what you said?”

“Yes madam, I trust her more than myself.”

“Is all right, go on with your faith –”

Immediately, Uncle Jose, call his attention:

“As a friend, you have made an enormous mistake.”

“In what where, Mr. Jose”

“You could have informed me earlier before making such decision.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“How can you allow my cousin, Susan to deceive you?”

“No, she can’t do that to me.”

“How do you know she can’t deceive you?”

“I know her very well as my fiancée.”

How do you want me t classify you?”

“I don’t know.” “Is it a fool or a wise man?”

“You have to classify me as a wise man because I’m your friend.”

“You can’t be a wise man, but big fool.” “Uncle Jose, I don’t understand you.”

“Why can’t you understand me, when you have already become a compound fool because of love?”

“Mr. Jose, how can you call me a fool?”

“You are a fool because of your foolishness.”

“Well, I’m a fool because love. What next do you call me?”

“Fool, fool and fool,”

“Susan Willie, had got married to a well recognize medical doctor,” said Uncle Jose.

“That is impossible.”

“This is reality. She is no longer your friend.”

“I said, impossible.”

“Oh my friend, you have to believe me. Maybe you might have known him.”

“Susan can’t do that to me.”

“Anywhere you see her, address her as Mrs. Herbert James.”

“Mrs. what?”

“Mrs. Herbert James.”

“That is not my Susan; maybe, you are referring to another Susan.”

“She is now a married woman – not an ordinary lady as you used to address her.”

“Mr. Jose, you are a joke.”

“I can’t tell you liar.”

“Please Mr. Jose, don’t say that to me.”

“Mr. Abbot, you have to believe me.”

“Mr Jose, are you serious?”

“Yes, look for another woman as your fiancée, not my cousin.”

Immediately Mr. Abbot heard that Susan Willie has got married to someone else; he failed on the ground and hit his head, and he could not breathe further.

Gretel speaks to him: “Are you trying to kill yourself because of love?”

( - - ) Mr Abbot could not speak further.

“No! You have to walk across the road and died over there, if you wish to die,” Gretel added.

Still, Mr. Abbot could not speak, nor rise his head up from the ground. Gretel ran quickly and held his head, while Uncle Jose stood behind him: “What kind of insult is this? How can Susan deceive this very gentleman, which she knew, soonest, she would get married to Dr. Herbert James?

I wonder why young ladies, now a day’s, doesn’t speaks the truth.”

“Why?”

“This is a huge disgrace to us and I will not take it kindly with her, whenever she comes.” Gretel and Uncle Jose believed that Mr. Abbot would soon, regained his strength. And find his way home together with his friend, Jude Richmond. Nobody knew Mr. Abbot was dead.

Chapter 20

The Arrow of Life

A child is always needed a parental care, but if the parents neglect the moral right of a child, the intruder and the indigenous rights of the child would blow him or her off.

When the future arrives, the child would become wayward.’ On October 13th 1985, Susan Willie delivered a triplet after ten years of marriage; one male and two females. It was a joyful moment for them. No one believed Susan Willie and her husband would have a child in this world of theirs. When they ed the past years of barrenness, Susan Willie, praised God, and there forgot what they spoke, concerning the God of their destiny. Messages were send to Wilford County, Etilia to Susan’s mother, Gretel Willie. And she also send message to her Uncle, Uncle Jose in Newgater, the seat of Government of Arctilumana. Uncle Jose was happy, happy indeed, that his cousin has broken the barrier of barrenness in the history of their family.

Exactly seven days of delivery, Dr. Herbert invited his co-workers, friends and neighbours for a naming ceremony of his children.

When the nature hits the clocks at five, as the sun walked his way off the horizon. There where jubilating, as happy as there were; and they waited for a while in other to hear the name of the new born baby before returning to their

various homes. At the closed end of the naming ceremony, the minister in-charge of the United Fellowship Centre for Christ, at the University of Newgater Medical Centre, announced the names of the triplet: Jack Herbert, Emmanuelle Herbert, and Melinda Herbert.

Three years later, Dr. Herbert James refused to introduce, neither bring any of his relatives to show his wife, Susan Willie. She was uncomfortable, staying lonely at home, since she got married to her husband, Dr. Herbert James. As big as the apartment was, she could not see anybody that she could welcome as a relative(s) to her husband. Susan Wille told Dr. Herbert to make known to her, his parents, and he gave her a deaf ear. She kept on reminding him to introduce his parents to her, and there was no concrete reply from him. On a dawn broke over the Valley, she woke him up and tell him how serious she is about the absence of his parents in their relationship. When she gets to the bed, she greeted him and he refused to answer her. He knew what Susan Willie wanted to say and she said,

“Dear, since I knew you as a husband, there are many pains in our marriage more than pleasure. I can no longer bear such pains as a wife who needed love more than pains. It is time for you to unfold the secrets that is hiding in you in other to serve guide our relationship. I want to know your parents, more deeply in other to strengthen our relationship, rather than hiding them in a secret cabinet.

I wanted to let you know that, a bird of the air can once where it comes from when night approached in due seasons: though, when they grew up a little bit older, they could no longer their parents and there would have an interest in building a nest on their own in other to survive. No matter how big an ocean is, there is a certain point of emptiness. I have once heard that, the three enemies of human beings are, heart break, pains

and sorrow. Are you wishing to continue filling more pains, more than pleasure? Are you planning to relieve me with pains and sorrow, while my sorrow would turn to joy.

Among there three parables that I just mention, which one do you belong to. Are you belonging to any? Or, are you belonging to all of them? … Tell me, dear,” Susan Willie. Dr. Herbert then replied to her:

“My beloved wife, what do you mean by all these things that you are saying?

Did I make any mistake to take you as a wife? Supposed you know how I got you as a wife? Do you suppose to tell me all this flipping words? I don’t expect such words from you, dear.” “Good, my dear. But since I knew you as a husband, you didn’t tell me where you came from, or who your parents are. Is it fair?” she replied. Two days later, she met him the second time and tell him how she felt worried about knowing his parents and she said to him:

“My Dear Susan, why are you always worrying yourself because of my parents? Are you trying to call me, a bird? Who knows no mother, nor father as you just said? Stop putting burdens to yourself. I have a mother, when I am relieved from hard-hock duties, I will apply for annual leave. And I will take you to where she leaves, which is where I came from. She is so lovely and caring to see you as my wife. Did you note me?” said Dr. Herbert James. Susan Willie replied and said,

“You always tell me empty promises, whenever you feel like talking to me.

Tell me, when would you, apply for annual leave?” “I don’t really know for now because of the courses I enrolled in abroad. But I promise you, one day, I will surely take you to where I come from,” said Dr. Herbert James.

The discussion continues,

“My Dear, it is very, very shameful thing to you as a man to hide your wife, where you come from, for over ten years. Is it right to keep on promising me on things you cannot do? As from today onward, I will not force you any longer; neither asked you anything concerning your parents. In the next three months, I promise to put an end to this relationship to avoid too much pains in my life. If I do so, never you plan to come and beg me to restore our relationship. I am telling you the truth that if you do not fulfil your promises, I will take our relationship to an end with a notice.” She walked away from him.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes!” “My dear, why did you make such threatening statement to me?”

“How can I wish you to die when you refuse to do the right thing?”

“Don’t wish me, wishes of dead; I know where I came from.”

“My dear, indirectly, you are telling me that you are a bird, having no dad, neither a mum, no place of birth, nor any other relatives around you. It means you are not a man, but a bird,” she whispered.

They he kneeled down and begged his wife, Susan Wille:

“Susan, tell me, if you end this relationship, what would be your gain?”

“You would lose me and I would lose you as well.” “I have suffered to survive in this life to share my love and my life with you. This is the love that I kept for you; even to have a child was a colossal blow for us, which you know . . .,” he crooned. “My Dear Herbert, I don’t understand your statement! What do you mean by saying, ‘you suffered to survive in this life to share your love and life with me –”

“Are you a shaman?”

“No, I am not.”

“Is your love a journey?”

“No, I can’t be a journey man, but a man.”

“I’m not satisfy with you answer.”

“Asked me whatever you wanted to know about me.”

“Are you unknown Soldier?”

“Certainly not; I have never ed soldier before.”

She continued to pulled his heart to get the answer,

“Please, I need more of your explanation,” she asked, immediately. In a very little beat of her heart, she cast another deep question on him. He kicks his consciousness to a different direction. He jerked his head towards the entrance door and remained silent without saying a single word.

Cold overwhelmed Susan Willie at that very moment, and she shivered as if she was bitten by the rain. Some minutes later, she could not make a move; neither speaks a word. She looks as if she was a deaf. And she flicks her two hands towards him and gave him a questionable look. He jerked his head immediately and looked at her, while he walked close to her and pulled his hand on her shoulder,

“I have suffered to survive a hard time in my life to love you and give all I have to you, due to the vow I make with my mum. To have a child was difficult to me. And I was alone in life, but now, I have become a man. I do not want my space to be empty. Don’t threaten to cut the rail of my relationship. Because every end can becomes a new beginning. If you can cross to the other side of the rail, you would discover that it is empty. And when people are crossing to the empty land, there would be looking for ways to returned, but it would be impossible for them to do so.

Are you ready to journey to the other side of the rail?” he asked.

Susan Wille jerked her head on him and she huffed for a while before she can say a single word, “My Dear Herbert, I am not threatening you, but you refused to link me up with your family.

You have to straighten our relationship and make it stronger. Just decide on your own and introduce me to your parents. The kids and I are interested to know them. Whether or not there are alive, it is good to know any of them.

You have to do the right thing at the right time. “Don’t worry yourself, when the appointed time comes, I will take you to where there are living,” said Dr. Herbert. One year later, Dr. Herbert James unexpectedly informed her to get prepared the following morning in other to travel to their hometown to see his mum and the rest of his family. When the nature hits the clocks at seventeen fortytwo, there arrived Pomoor City with his black coloured Range Rover jeep.

As he was about to approach the junction close to his compound, he branched towards his permanent resident by the right and parked his car at the front of his compound and he spoke to his wife: “Here we comes . . ., home sweet home; there is no place like home. This is my country home, you were waiting for…” Immediately he parked his car, he opened the front door and jumped down and he said to his wife, “Please, I want to urinate at the backyard, you people should wait inside the car until I comes back, okay! Susan Wille replied immediately and said, “No problem, we are still waiting for you. But don’t delay to come back,” Susan Wille replied. Immediately he jumped down from the Jeep, he walked down towards the backyard. Susan and his children were still waiting for his return, but they could not see him. Susan Wille jumped down from the jeep and started looking for him.

Approaching the backyard, she saw his footmark and one leg of his shoe, which she thought, the shoe had dropped out from his leg and fall beside the wall – but she could not see him. As she could no longer wait for him, she started calling his name:

“Honey, where are you? I am here, waiting for you. Please, come and show us where to keep our loads. I am tired of staying inside the car.” She kept on calling his name, on and on and on.” Upon all her effort, Dr. Herbert could not be found behind the backyard.

Chapter 21 The Terrible Moment of Adventures

The voices I heard were not humans, but the voices of the death. To my surprised, I saw most of my family that I missed for long; it was strange to me. My Dear, I know I gave you a fake name in other to pull my love on you. Let birr gone be birr gone. I will still love you more than I did before.

To her surprise, she saw an old woman coming out from the back door. The old woman asked her who she is looking for. And then she replied:

“My name is Susan Willie, the wife of the owner of this compound. I came with him to say hay to his mum. Maybe you may be the mother.”

“How do you know?”

“You looked like him.”

“Woman, you are funny.”

“No, madam; he told me that I should wait for him inside the car – but up till

now, I did not see him. Are you the mother? If you are the one, tell him, we are here, waiting for him.”

The old woman replied and said,

“My name is Jessica James. This house belongs to my late son, Lawrence James, who was a medical doctor before he died. Nobody lives here, a part from me.”

“Is like you don’t know where you are going.”

“No madam, he told me to wait here for him.”

“How can you tell me, you are waiting for the owner of the house who is not living here? It is better you looked for him before night time. Because I won’t allow you to stay here at night,” said Jessica James.

Susan Willie walked closed to her and explained herself to the woman. “Madam, I have told you earlier that I am the wife of Herbert James, who owns this house. But you are telling me, uncommon thing! I can’t just walk in here, telling you what I am not.

These are his children: Emmanuelle, Jack, and Melinda.

I came with him, all the way from Newgater City in other to see his parents.”

“Then tell me what happened.”

“As he drove in, he told me that, this compound belongs to him. we should wait for him, while he urinates at the backyard. But up till now, I could not set my eyes on him.” She pulled her hands on the shoulder of the children,

“Madam, are you the mother to him?”

“Ah, woman, why are you asking such question?

Tell me who you are, then I would I introduce myself to you.

“My name is Susan Willie, a wife of Dr. Herbert James.”

When Jessica looked at the children, they resemble her late son, Lawrence and she ask her, “You said, you are Susan Willie, can you tell me the real name of your husband that you are waiting for. Perhaps, you have forgotten his real name.”

“My husband’s name is Dr. Herbert James,” Susan replied. “Wonderful! Your husband’s name, resemble my late son’s name, Dr. Lawrence James, who died in a ghastly motor accident some years ago. He was my late son; I can’t forget his name.

Meanwhile; as I looked at the three children, there resemble my late son, Lawrence.”

“Tell me, where did you get these children from?”

“These are the children of Dr. Herbert James.” When Jessica mentioned her son’s name, Susan Wille shocked; surprising to hear such a name being mentioned. “Madam, what are you trying to say? The very name you just mention is my late husband’s name, who got married to me fifteen years ago.

Suddenly, he got an accident when he returned from his private hospital. I can , he is the owner of Lowman Specialist Hospital. Why are you telling me this very man is your son?”

“Madam, this is an expensive joke.” “Come again! You mean my son, Lawrence, who was a medical Doctor. You mean he was your husband before he died?”

“Yes madam---”

----“My son was the one, bearing that very name in this city: no one else. How can you tell me, my late son is your husband? Somebody that died many years ago; this is strange to me.” She stared her eyes on her and said. “But wait . . . . You mean you are Susan Willie, a native of Wilford County, who got married to my late son before he died?”

“Yes madam. He is my late husband. ”

“Are you telling me, you are the one, who ran away and abandon his corpse to the family alone?”

“No, madam; I can’t do that to my late husband’s corpse.”

“Well, if you are the real Susan Willie that I knew, I missed you for so long, because you were so kind to my late son, though I did not set my eyes on you before he died,”

“Where have you been ever since?” said Jessica. The children were laughing, nonstop. “Grandma, it is true . . ., I am the one who got married to your late son, Lawrence James, but I didn’t run away from you. I only travelled to Newgater City to see my uncle, Uncle Jose Rede, because my husband was late, and no one to tell me. “My dear, I love you as he used to say.”

“So, you were still looking for love when your husband is late?”

“Yes, that was what he used to tell me.” “You mean it?”

“Yes! By the time I needed him most, he left me lonely and there was nobody

beside me to share my love with; and nobody to comfort me, while the entire house becomes manor of ghost. At a point in time, my hearts was empty without love.” She closed her eyes, while her head, wheeled as a windmill.

As she opened her eyes she saw her mother in-law. “Grandma, you said I ran away from you! Do you think someone in this world can stay without love?” “I know nobody can stay without love. Love is everything that makes life better.”

“But if you are the real Susan Willie, I missed you ever since.”

“I know you missed me.”

“When you travelled to the city of Newgater, have you discovered love?”

“These children are the love I bring to you,” Susan whispered.

“Oh, I’m very happy to have them in my house.”

“But I wanted to let you know that love is the only thing that makes life better.”

“Yes, that is true.”

She blow her nose often and often as she used to do. “Without love, husband and wife can’t stay together. Love is the only thing that ed man together with woman. Without love, life is worthless,” she grieved. “Sorry my dear –”

“I heard you.”

“But now, Herbert has made me a real woman,” said Susan.

“That’s true.”

“Then why are you telling me something else?”

“No, don’t take it that way.”

“As at now, what do you want me to be?

Is it a widow or a street harlot?” she corrected, immediately. “Are you trying to tell me your love stories . . ., Can’t you put more light on it?”

“I have brought children to you which are the light.”

“My son died many years ago, how can he be your husband?

Please be realistic.

What I know my son did not have any child before he died.

Did you understand what you are saying?” said Jessica. “Yes, madam, I really understand what am saying – he is my husband.

Moreover, he is the one who drove this very jeep from Newgater City down here, and these are his children.

If you are still doubting on me, wait a minute, let me bring some of his pictures from the car,” She ran immediately and brought some group pictures inside the car and she return to meet her,

“Look at these very pictures; you can see two of us, standing together with the little kids. He is my real husband, I can’t tell you lie,” Susan wailed.

Jessica spry her eyes over the pictures and she saw someone, who resembled her late son, Dr. Lawrence James, standing together with his wife, Susan Willie, including the three little kids and she said to her, “ . . . That means he is your real husband. You mean, after he might have dead, he returned from the grave and met you in

Newgater?”

“My husband was not dead when I knew him in Newgater.”

“It means, he did not die before we buried him.”

“I can’t tell, exactly.” “When we buried him, he was already death. And we buried him as a dead person. How can my son deceive the entire family? Someone who died cannot come back to life again, talk-less of having children: not even one, but three.” “This is what a white man called a miracle,” he thrilled.

“Oh, is now, you get my point?” “My dear, this is strange to me, I did not experience such thing, since I was born. I can only believe you, because of the three children that resemble him.

Apart from that, there is no way for you to convince me. Those things that didn’t happen in ancient time, is now happening nowadays.”

“You have getting my point.”

Well, that is the nature of man.

I thank God; my son can now boost with three kids. If he truly died as a normal human being, may his soul rest in perfect peace.

Hence, may he quickly return from his shadowing grave, soon in other for him to journey down to earth, where humans dwells –”

“That is my pray.” “Susan!”

“Yes madam!”

“I really missed you for so long; it is now, you really make me, happy as a mother of a single child. Come, let us go inside the house and celebrate together with my grandchildren; because you and my late son have done what I expected from him before he died.” “This is a veritable miracle,” said Jessica. In a very little beats of her heart, Jessica took her grandchildren inside the living room. Her heart felt with joy, while Susan Willie was not comfortable at that very moment. She looks at the old woman, and she became mad. Her mind felt with bitterness. And she kept silence and walked down to where the jeep was packed.

At the stage of confusion, she searched for the vehicle document inside the jeep. As she discovered the document of the vehicle, she saw a brown envelope, attached to the vehicle document, well sailed.

When she looked at the front cover of the envelope, she saw her name written, boldly with a green biro and she opened the envelope and start reading the content: “Mrs. Susan Herbert Willie, my dear wife, this is all about our journey in this life that no one can escape from dead. My dearest in hearts, this is my apology to you, which no man on earth can apologist to you, except, someone like me, who was your husband. I felt that I am not mad, to come back to life, to complete my journey into this very villainous dark world. I feel that we cannot continue to go through another terrible pains and sorrow. I have discovered and restated myself, which is not by my power, but by the power and the grace of the Almighty God who created Heaven and earth. My Dear Susan, I don’t know how you would call this. But to me, I can call this, a miracle.

At that very moment, the mystery of death overwhelmed me.

And I thought, you knew, I wanted to die. By then, I started hearing voices, which I did not quickly; recognize that very moment, the voices were echoing on my name.

Not knowing, it was the voices of the death, calling me to follow them. They called me, as if there were singing hymn, “Come, let go home, no man can escape.”

“Before I open my eyes, I saw myself in a different world unknown to me.

When I arrived at the circle of the spirit world, I surprise to see many of my beloved once, who died some years ago. They ask me, ‘Lawrence, what are you doing here?’ He breathe in, in a deep motion, “Oh, I ed that I gave you a fake name. To tell you the truth, Lawrence was my real name when I was alive. I just wanted to set confusion on you, because if I mistakenly mention my real name, you would scare away from me – that was why I gave you the fake name.”

“I’m sorry.”

“All right, let us continue from where I stop.

When they asked me such questions, I couldn’t answer anyone. Rather, I kept silence on them, because I did not understand the rhythm of their questions. Again, one of the spirit man asked me the second time; ‘Lawrence, am asking you, why are you here? It is not yet time for you to come here.’ Then I said to one of them, “I don’t really know where I am. Can you tell me exactly where I am?” I question him.

One of them walked close to me with his skeletal body and he said to me, ‘This is spirit world, where no one comes and go back to the other side of life.’ At that very moment, I did not want him to touch me, because I was scared. I was surprised to hear such statement from a skeletal being. I can how he spoke to me. He speaks so weak as if there was no energy in him. The next word I heard from one of the spirit man was: ‘You have to go home, now, now; don’t delay. Very soon, the gate would shut down by the gatekeeper. And if they shut the gate down on you, you would find

no way to go home.’ When I looked at them, they were all spirit souls. And when I jerked my head towards the east, I saw a mighty man, holding, seven colours of candles on a candlestick. It was a strange thing to me at the moment.

One of them repeated the same word to me, ‘Lawrence, go home now, don’t delay.’ The spirit man that spoke to me last, looked like my great grandfather.

That was why I reason with them, quickly. Then I had no option than to run towards the west end to locate where I can escape. When I approached the west end, I saw a mighty gate, already opened, waiting for me to past through it – that was how I manage to escape from the land of the spirit.

Oh, my dear, I was so lucky enough to past through the gate without any barrier. That was another wonderful moment in my life.

Chapter 22

Dagger of Sorrow

The sun had fought with the moon and the Rook stroke its wings down to the King’s Palace. And the red sea, provoke his hanger and filled the universe. The most scenic of the ancient Kings and Queens, raise their voices in the air, but no one can settle.

While my foot step flood over the other side of the ocean, I stared my eyes on the mighty ocean, flowing towards the west end and I jumped into the deep of the ocean. Immediately, I saw myself, back on earth. Dear, I can boost of myself, I am the only man on earth that returned from the spirit world within few days. The only man that I can compare myself with is Jesus of Nazareth. But I do not have such power to compare myself with him, because he is the son of God.

Finally, my departure was very short in other to come home to see you as my beloved wife. And before I arrived home, I discovered that you have travelled to Newgater to see your uncle.

When I recalled the first love that brought us together, you gave me the best greatest happiness in life that no one else can render to me.

It took me more years to discover myself. And I later new, it was a miraculous

love, but not an ordinary love.

You have been in every moment . . ., and all that nobody else could do, you have done it to me. I don’t think anybody else can give me the true happiness in life than what you did to me, until the first terrible death that comes and took me away from you. I believed – death is the only thing that can separate a man apart.

If not, I should have continued to share my endless love with you.”

She sat down on a chair, wailing her voice, as if she saw Dr. Lawrence in her present, “When I came the second time, meeting you in Newgater, you look, so beautiful like a young angel who never visited this very life before. I think it was the cosmic energy that pushes you to me.”

“I swear.”

“That was so wonderful on my side. I know, you thought, it was a magic.”

She smiled a smile of sorrow, “No, it was not a magic. I swear to myself, it was a miracle that moves me toward my destiny. Up till today, you don’t believed; I am your husband, Dr. Lawrence James. I just set confusion with my fake name, instead of telling you my biological name. I fake my name to be Dr. Herbert James, instead of Dr. Lawrence James. That was not my real name, but it was a fake name. Forgive me if I offended you. I know you have been entirely patient with me, all the way, from the very first

day I knew you; while you place your life in a fantastic level with me. When we were haunting for children like hunters, who look for an animal to kill in the darkest night, you put more effort in other to bring good result in my family. If anybody could have served me, it could have been you, nobody else. Let me tell you, I don’t really think two of us could’ve been so happy than we have been. No one could’ve gone through that painful moment as we did before now, but we do it with happiness. That is the nature of love we met as husband and wife. A man is always tempted with sorrow and bitterness of heart, in other to straighten his faith and hope in God, when things go wrong with him. At the end, he achieves his purpose on earth. My dear Susan, can you , I often asked you one question?

I don’t think you have ed the question. Let me, remind you in case you have forgotten, “Would you die with me, if it is possible to die the third time?” Can you get the right answer to that question? I don’t think you have got it right, but you always said no! I did you really know why I hate you?” Her eyes look like a Gothic font, floating on the written note, and a tear was running down to her cheeks. She shook her head, as if her late husband is speaking to her, face to face, “The reason I hate you is that, when you would discovered that I am a ghost. You would instigate evil, against my children, including my mum, who is innocent about my death. I know even though, I begged you not to kill them, you won’t listen to me. Frankly speaking, it was not my fault to die the very first time, and I don’t even talk about the very last one that I am going, now.

A ship that ed over the waves of the high sea cannot be found, when it is gone; neither the pathway.

Alternatively, when a bird hath flown on the air, there is no token of her way that

could be found. But the light air, being beaten with the stroke of her wings can be parted with the violent noise and notice of them, being ed through. And they afterward, no sign, where she went to is to be found. That is why you should not plan to kill the innocent children and my mum. If you killed any of them, you would not trace their pathway back to life.

In addition, if you can how painful it was to get the three children, you won’t make any attempt to kill any of them at all.

As you plan to empty the whole family, don’t forget, no matter how you would cry, begging for forgiveness, nobody will listen to you on that very day. When you take away their lives down to the empty land; you would think and think of killing yourself, but you cannot do so, because your life is not in your hands. But you have to get prepared to face the punishment ahead of you. Again, you would also think and think of poisoning yourself, but the poison will not kill you. But you would suffer for years before you died. You would run from one city to another, but you won’t see a hiding carve to hide yourself. That very day, you may think it is a judgment day.

No! That is not a judgment day. But the process of that very day would remind you on how judgment day would look like. I know you would not refrain from your evil, you would still do it: I’m just telling you this, so that the day it would happened, you won’t blame anybody.

You have been nursing this evil in mind for long, which you were pretending because you saw me. But for now, nobody would tell you, don’t do it. I cannot fight any longer the things of this world, though the thought of having children was my best target in life.

In life, children are gifts from God; no human beings can render such a wonderful gift to any family on earth. In addition, children are pride to any family; no one can do without a child. I know, as I am speaking to you, is like, I am spoiling your mind. I know without me, you can still survive and walk in this evil world of yours.

Do not think I do fear to die. I had been dying for several years before I was born. And I have not yet suffered the slightest inconvenience from it. All I wanted to say, I owe you all the happiness of my life and if I have another opportunity to arrive in the abode of the living, I will still love you the more, because you have made me proud in life.

Without you, I cannot get those three kids that you are about to kill.

No matter how wicked are you, you have to make sure that you don’t kill the three kids; allow at least one of them to remain. Before you make such an attempt, that, when thunderstorm blast in a forest, it cannot gun down all the trees; one or two trees must survive in the same bush.

Refrained yourself from evil, it will not bring you any good return in life. There is no pretending, I said it with absolute clarity, I love you and I will still love you even until I rise again from the grave. Hence, if there would be another life after now, I will still love you by then. Mine regards to you and your wicked life.” When Susan Willie finished reading the letter, she cried and cried.

While she was crying, tears, flows down and dropped at the front of the envelope as running water. As she was still crying, she shouted, loudly and said, “Herbert, you have finally made the worst mistake in my life. You have deceived me as a ghost, and brought me in this lonely home that I left lonely. Is this the love you swear to love me? Dose this situation, symbolized the oath we swear?

I swear, as long as you abandon me, I will do all my best to kill all your kids, including your mum, and I will prepay their graves by myself in other for them to pay the dead of the prize ghost. No one would escape the blood shared in the family. Come sun, come rain.” Thereafter, she carried all her belongings down to the living room.

As she approached the living room, she dropped the bags and sat down on a single chair, opposite the mother-in-law. She looked at her, playing with her grandchildren as if she knew them before. And she sat down with them for a while, and Susan Willie remained silent, imagining her husband, who is a ghost and she questioned her mother-in-law, Jessica, “Grandma, tell me; you mean your son is a ghost?” said Susan. “I didn’t tell you that my son is a ghost; it is only you that classified him as a ghost. If he was a ghost, he could not be able to marry you as a wife. As long as he can bring three kids to me, he is not a ghost, but he is super hero in this generation. In the other where round; if you wish to follow me, I can take you to the cemetery where he was buried. One thing I surprised is how you met with him the second time in Newgater and continued another fresh relationship that brought these wonderful children to me. Lawrence James, my late son, has put extra joy in my family, which was empty before. I am super excited,” she whispered. In the walking fingers of a clock, Jessica took her grandchildren, down to her room. While she opened a box and showed the kids some old school pictures of their late father, Dr. Herbert James. When there go through the pictures, the

children were all happy.

Susan Willie was still sitting down, lonely in the living room and she continued with her imaginations, “How can I make such mistake to fall in love with a bloody ghost.” She spoke to herself, but her voice could not be heard, “This is a big mast to my romantic affairs.”

“Why?” After a while, the nature hits the clocks at eight, Susan took Melinda to the master’s room, where her husband, due stayed before he died.

As she was sitting down on the double size bed, she looked on the wall and she saw some old school pictures, they took together in a party. When she saw the pictures, she shook and said, “So, this man is the one who married me before he died?” She took one of the pictures at a time and looked over it and said, “Herbert, why are you so wicked and pretending you love me, deceiving me with the mystical element of a ghost. Can you call this love? I can’t take it kindly with you. It is better for two of us, including the children, to become a ghost, rather than you alone, going there as a single ghost. This is pure madness; I can’t take this from you.” No one can say it all – no one can do it well. When she saw that the mother-in-law has gone to bed with the two kids, she silently walked down to the kitchen cabinet and took a kitchen knife. And when the nature hits the clocks at two twenty-eight, when the owl, began to mourn the dead of Jessica, and her two grandchildren in the night hours of sorrow. She went back to the very room, where Jessica, her mother-in-law slept with the two kids. In a very little beats of her heart, she got into the room, and took the knife and stabbed Jessica on her chest, three consecutive times and Jessica struggle and

shouting for help, but there was no help. Immediately, Jessica started struggling: along the process, she said,

“You, a bloody mother of ghost, you can’t go free from me. It is better for you to your spirit son in the land of the death.” She spit on her face,

“I can’t continue to be falling in love with your son as a ghost, when I’m still alive.” She slapped her on her cheek, as much as she could do,

“You must die today.” she shrieked.

She did not even care – if she had stabbed her on her chest.

Immediately the owl stroke it wing on top of the roof, she gave off the ghost.

When she noticed that Jessica was no longer breathing, she jerked her head to the extreme end of the double size bed, where the two kids were sleeping. And she jumped on top of the bed and stabbed the two kids on their chest, one by one, and she said to them.

“You the children of the ghost, it is time to meet your dad and tell him to take proper care for two of you. I can’t train the children of a ghost – never.” She saw the kids struggling to the point of death, and she left the room and went back to her room, and picked her handbag and went away; forgetting that Melinda slept the same room with her.

They she went to an unknown destination. At the ends of the darkest night of death, their bodies were there, feeling the agony of pains and there were there, struggle throughout the darkest night and nobody could help them. Their blood, float all over the bed, down to the floor as the running river of Amazon, screaming and shouting for help, but the whole house was silence, and there gave off their ghost. There is no good time, there is no bad time. When the darkest night of the death was all over, King Pedro 11 walked down to the residential quarter of late Dr. Lawrence James to rescue them after he received the information about their dead. As he walked close to the entrance door, in the main building, he saw the door already open. He started calling Jessica’s name as he used to call her, but the entire house was silence, he found nobody. Then he moved inside the parlour. He saw some footmark, stain with blood on the floor, and he continued moving towards the closest room. As he approached the door, he pushed the door open and walked inside the room. Immediately he cited the double size bed. He saw the body of Jessica and the two kids, lying down helplessly at the front end of the bed. And he whispered on Jessica’s name. Her voice was empty. He placed his hands, one by one, on their chest, but there were lifeless. King Pedro became afraid, he could not know exactly what to do. He jumped down from the bed and moved further to the master’s room. Immediately he got to the master’s room, he saw the little girl, Melinda, lying down on the bed, sleeping. He woke her up and took her to the Palace.

Chapter 23 The Hills of the Queen

There were not wise enough; none of them could have died. Tell King Pedro, I am the host of this Island. Princess Melinda Lawrence is the one to sit on the throne as a crown Queen.

There is no more King in Janport Island, I swear.

Six years later, King Pedro was frightened with old age; he could no longer be active in the affairs of the kingdom. At that very moment, he presented a request for an appointment of a woman to run the affairs of the kingdom. He chose his cousin, Princess Melinda Lawrence, to avoid the mistake in the past in other to correct the wrong. The next day, the King sent his messenger to call Stephenson King, the head of the House of Lords and the oldest man in the kingdom, to tender his request to him for confirmation.

Stephenson King trip into the Palace, as the nature hits the clocks at six thirtynine, and the sun walked down into the sea, he salute the King. “My Royal Majesty, may you live long as a king to render your selfless leadership to our kingdom.”

“And you too: may you live long to lead the House of Lords as a magnanimous elder,” King Pedro replied.

“Thank you, my king. I’m here in respect of your call.”

“Yes, my elder statesman – I am the one that send for you.”

They, he took a seat and he sat down opposite the king. And the king speaks further and said, “My elder statesman, I’m the one who sent for you, in regard of my plan for this great kingdom, which it will bring peace and development in the entire kingdom.

It would also bring prosperity to every home and every face of our youths and awakening the lives of our old men and women. As you can see, I am getting old; I want to let you know that I am no longer active in running the affairs of this kingdom.

From now onward, I have appointed Princess Melinda Lawrence to be the head of this Kingdom. I also proposed her to be the next Queen to take over the throne, because she is from the Royal House of Janport Island. Though the mother was forcefully made her an orphan. The gods of this Island can as well choose her as the next Queen.”

“My Royal Majesty, what qualify her to be the next Queen?”

“She is among the first lineage of the Royal House of Janport Island.”

“But you have no right to choose her.”

“I have chosen her but the gods will confirm her as the next Queen.”

The King slammed his head towards the kinsmen, “Before I became a king, I was told, that the first person who ruled the Island was a Queen. Her name was Queen Mary Pedro the 1st.

She was from the Royal House of Janport Island – that was the same Royal House that we are today. Thereafter, the nine elders that represent the nine Counties – amended the degree to allow a King to sit on the throne, instead of a Queen.” The king watched over the picture of Queen Mary that hanged beside the throne:

“I wonder how they allowed, a woman to be the first person to rule this kingdom. Well, maybe, the gods was the one that ruled their mind.”

He also blow his mind back to the history of the Island and he spoke, politely, “I was told, according to the history of this Island, that Royal House of Janport Island, crowned my father as the first King to seat on the golden throne as a crown King. When I heard such history, I was so excited that my dad was the first noble King to seat on the throne. But when it was my turned, the language change.” He shook his head, as a woodpecker, “What have I done to the gods that they had a selfish mind on me?

It is my turned to live the throne, due to what I saw in my dreams.

If the gods would allowed me to rule under Princess Melinda, I will be happy. But if not, I will also happy in a sorrowful heart to see myself, walking out of the Palace as a royal slave in the Royal House of Janport Island. Maybe I would be the last King to seat on the throne, but I never dreamed of the dethronement yet, until the invisible woman made it known to me.”

“My King and my Lord, your lamentation is getting too much.

Why don’t you leave everything to the gods of the land?

“I think this is my last lamentation – why don’t you allow me to continue with my sorrow, instead of joy? This is the only time to express myself to you. Maybe by tomorrow, you may see me no more.”

“Oh King, may it please you to continue with your sorrow,” said Stephenson King.

“My father was the first King – myself, the last King. My imagination has pushed me to become a philosopher, and the ancient gods of Janport Island, is also planning to calculate the mathematics in this where. And I can’t reject the calculation of the ancient gods divine. My elder statesman, did you have anything to say?” said King Pedro. “My Royal Majesty, oh king, may your wisdom, grow to the highest level and may you live long. My king, and my lord, I want to remind you one more thing,” Stephenson King replied.

“Tell me, what is in your mind.”

“Good! Did you know that a tree could not make a forest? If a tree cannot make a forest, it means, you are indirectly choosing a new Queen in our kingdom without the knowledge of the House of Lords. To tell you the truth, we can never accept such ideology in this very kingdom. Now, let me take you back to the table of history.

Can you in the past, that after the death of Queen Mary, the 1st, the degree was changed from the ruling of a Queen to the ruling of a King? That is why you are sitting here as a King.”

“Where do you want me to seat as a King?”

“Tell me, are you trying to condemn the old laws of our kingdom?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Again, are you planning to condemn more lives the second time?”

“I am out of my senses as a King. Then, why would I do that?”

“, many lives have lost, because of what happened in the past. He who fight and run away – would fight another day. But he, who fought and lost his life, would fight no more.

As the head of the House of Lords, I think, the council of the House of Lords – would not accept such outdated ideologies for now. Maybe if the gods – disorganize the present House of Lords, you may be given such opportunity to act alone, as autonomous king. But for now, you can’t do that,” said Chief Stephenson King.

The King was very furious, according to the statement of Stephenson King. And he stood up and said, “I am not a kid in this very Island, but I am a King in this very Island. This is not for my own benefit, neither for the benefits of my immediate family. But I am doing this for the benefits of the new incoming generation. I know quite well that a tree cannot make a forest as you just said. However, I think with the effort of other trees, around the forest, a single tree can shade a forest. What I saw at a distance range, your eyes cannot see it – even though you climb a mountain, you cannot see it clearly. Tell the House of Lords, I, King Pedro, the 2nd, have chosen Princess Melinda James to rule, and run the affairs of this very Island, until further notice. Tell the twenty-four elders, now, before it is too late – that it is my own decision for Princess Melinda James to succeed me as the next Queen; no one can change it,” he rasped. “My Royal Majesty, you are the only King above every other king in this planet earth. May you live long on earth to serve us and not to destroy us. What I know is that the twenty-four Lords of Janport Island – would not accept the very lady you are choosing, because the constitution of the Janport Island can’t be amended by you, alone – but by the general House of Lords.

Well, I don’t have any objection to the words of a king, because the word of a king is a word of wisdom.

I will go right now to inform the House of Lords, and I hope to give you the as soon as possible,” Stephenson King, replied.

There he went as the sun walked down to the sea; hitting his walking stick on the ground as fast as he can. A head of him, the walking stick, talk: Koi, koi, koi, while he heard the birds, twittering by both side of the bush. He kept on going without looking back.

Three days later, Stephenson King, report back to the King and give him the .

On his arrival at the king’s Palace, he met the King, sitting in his golden chamber with some visitors, which the King pleaded with them to give him a little chance to speak with one of the High Chief of the kingdom which they all comply with him. Stephenson King steps into the right chamber of the king and said to him, “My Royal Majesty, may your days belong on earth.” “And you too, my elder statesman, have a seat,” King Pedro, replied. Immediately, Stephenson King sat down opposite the king and he said to him, “My king and my lord, I am here to give you the from the House of Lords.” “You are welcome. What was their reply?” “I met with all the twenty-four elders of this Island and there said, ‘they have rejected your request, concerning Princess Melinda Lawrence, who you choose as the head of this very Island, until we crowned a new King.’ According to the House of Lords, there say that, since the old degree has been changed from the reign of Queen Mary Pedro the 1st, Janport Island cannot fall backward to the outdated laws. Instead, we have to move forward to a greater height for the benefits of our future generation. The House of Lords also said that, ‘you have no right to choose a young woman,

who does not have the capacity to rule the entire Island; it is only the House of Lords that have the constitutional right to choose, who would rule our land but not you.

My lord, that is the response from the House of Lords,” said Stephenson King. The king was not happy, the where the House of Lords treated his request. The King’s mind was empty, and he reminded himself, what happened to his father before he died, “Is it how the House of Lords treated my matter?” He spoke only to himself; it was only his lips that indicate a sorrow:

“My elder statesman, do you mean, I have no right to decide on what to do in my kingdom? Does it mean, among the twenty-four lords, there is no one who fills with wisdom? In the beginning, our ancestors used to say, ‘The opinion of a king is always right. With the authority bestowed on me, I have the constitutional right as a King to choose anyone, who is going to head any position in this Island, until the gods decide, whoever that would rule this Island,” said the King.

“My king and my lord – may you live long. That is not what the House of Lords said. What there said is that, ‘you have made a wrong choice at the right time; meaning, you have no right to choose a woman to be the head of this Island, even though she is from the Royal House of Janport Island. Indirectly, you are choosing her as a new Queen without following the normal procedures. You have no constitutional right as a king to choose who will rule this great kingdom. Instead, the only thing you should do is to make a suggestion on whom to choose. Princess Melinda James cannot be our next Queen, until we hear from the gods of the land,” Stephenson King replied. “Well, I have nothing to tell you at this very moment; it is only the ancestors that have the final say. Do not worry; you are free to go, “said King Pedro, sharing tears.

“My king and my lord, is that what you can say? My words are not provoking you in other to cry. That is an abomination before our gods. If you wish to cry, it should not be at this time until, the gods declare sorrow on you. That is when you supposed to cry,” Stephenson King replied. “What do you want to hear from me, after the House of Lords has rejected my request? I have nothing to say to the people of Janport Island, until I hear it from the gods,” said the King. “Is all right… My Royal Majesty, don’t cry again, am going home, your cry cannot solve the matter, except the gods gave the final judgement. If you have any other thing to present to the House of Lords, let me know, and I would come over to the Palace and respond to your request. Thank you and goodbye,” Stephenson King replied. There he went. . . . In the early hours of Tuesday, the nature hits the clocks at three.

While the moon displays her beauty; Diana Lorborough, the Queen mother, appeared to the chief priest, Edwin Workman, in his room as an ugly young lady.

Immediately she landed in the room, she remote the whole room to become a kitchen of an ancient mother in a manor, and she said, “The eyes of Janport Island, the fearful one; the only wise one who hears the voices of the gods. Be happy to smell my foot mark at your door post – no one can ever see my face and remained blind in his inner eyes. I have brought a message to you, to tell the entire Janport Island; hear my voice. As you rise up this morning, you have to go the King’s Palace and tell him, I, Diana Lorborough, the Queen mother of this Island, have risen to wipe away the tears of the indigenous people of Janport Island.

Tell Stephenson King that for him to be the head of the House of Lords does not mean he is the alpha and omega; neither is he the owner of this Island. Tell him, I am the one that owns the land – nobody else.

Tell him, he has no right to reject the request of a King. The King is working according to my directives.”

“All your words would be made known to him.” “The eyes of the gods –“

“The only invisible woman –”

“Are you aware that I am the one who rule in the spirit, likewise the king, ruling in the physical realm?”

“That is what you meant to do.”

“More grace to you for your wonderful replied.”

“Did you that it was the former House of Lords, who crowned the father of King Pedro?”

“I heard about the story?”

It was not my own authority, but they decided on their own without knowing who I am.”

“That was what happened.” “When I sat down in my inner Palace, looking at the entire House of Lords, being so foolish to crown the late father of this present King; it looks like there were all foolish – foolish and foolish without a little wisdom in them. Can a blind man lead a blind man?”

“The wise ancient one – that is impossible.”

“Good of you; King Pedro was not the rightful sibling to sit on the throne as the last indigenous King, we may think of.”

“The wise ancient one, is he the last King that we have?”

“Yes! He is gone – gone and gone. There is no more King in this Island. Because women are lacking behind; it’s time for the women to take part in government.”

“The wisest one of the west – that is truth. I had a revelation. That woman is more active than men. And there would have a greater share in governing the Island,” High Priest Edwin Workman added.

“Am so excited about your dreams – that is what we want in our land.

I can that after the dead of his father, the House of Lords forgot to do the right thing, and continued to flourish with their evil thought. Instead of correcting the past mistakes and they repeated the same thing, and crowned him as a King.”

“Why are they deceiving themselves?”

“Does it mean, among the former elders, there was no wise one among them?”

“Are there still alive?”

“They have all gone to the kingdom unknown,” High Priest Edwin Workman replied.

“If there were wise enough, none of them could have died.

They died because of their foolishness; foolishness of the highest order. They used their hands to dick their graves in the dust. This is the repercussion of bribery and corruption among the House of Lords as at then.

Bribery and corruption are detrimental to a good government.

And every citizen of Janport Island should avoid bribery and corruption and the

entire universe.

Very soon, I will judge the entire Janport Island, including the entire world. Let these be as a sound of warning to all sons and daughters of this great Island, including the ruling class and the entire world in general.

Chapter 24 The Dethronement of a Noble King

Ah, it was not a dream. She spoke to me, one on one. That was my first time of seeing her, since I was born. Imagine, she looks like a young girl of yesterday. But she has nothing to do with the prisoners of war . . ., we don’t have even one. It is time to welcome the new Queen on the throne.

I killed all of them because the Prince was not qualified to be a king. Now is the time to correct the wrong. Tell King Pedro, he must leave the throne; else, I kill him. The gods are not fools; it is only the servants of the gods, who made themselves as fools. Can a servant drag the head of a cut glass with his master or the mistress?”

“The wisest one of the west, that is impossible.”

“You are right! It is only the master or the mistress that has the full right to hold the head of the cut glass. I, Diana Lorborough, the Queen mother of this Island, I am the one, holding the head of the cut glass. I am the one who brings light in the midst of darkness, where all things shine and bright.

For now, darkness can’t work with the light. I can choose who would govern the

entire Island, and nobody else can question me. This is the right time for us to wipe away the elements of corruption in the face of Janport Island, including the entire world.”

The High Priest gave a hand offering to the invisible Queen, and she was super excited, “As long as I live, the Kings and the Queens, the rulers of each country are subject to me.

Every citizens of Arctilumana must learn to speak, Arctiluma as a local dialect. I have the right to dethroned whosoever that disobeyed the rules and regulations of this Island, including the right of all citizens of the universe. I have the authority to crowned, Princess Melinda as the sixth Queen and not a King.”

“This is the right time, this is the good time.”

She pushes a chair to a corner and sat down, which is closed to the bed of the High Priest, “Can you that in the past centuries, it was only the Queen, who ruled the entire Island, not a King?”

“You are right, Oh mother of the Queens.”

“My keeping quiet, does not mean, I do not see what was going on in this Island. My eyes have seen, far and near; my eyes can see all things in darkness, likewise the light. I kept silence, because the gate of Jackson Rowe, failed to honour me. Neither do they recognize me as the Queen mother, by dedicating their daughter, Jessica,

to serve me in my secret Castle.

Jessica was my daughter before the creation of Arctilumana, but not Jackson’s daughter. They failed to accept me, because their inner eyes are blind; they can’t see the plan I had for them and the entire Island. There forgot that, before they arrived this Island, there were all slaves to the Royal House of Janport Island. As green as my Castle was, they refused to stay with me, upon what I did to them. Because a dog is always a dog; even though you took it to our neighbouring city, which is Kansas City, it would remain a dog.

Jessica Jackson, can only become their daughter, only when the parents are fully declare her to me as my vestal virgin Princess. And I would roll them over into the Royal House of Janport Island, as my siblings, while I took the mother as my sister. No one can ever do such conversion to them in a noble, Royal Home like ours.

I did it because the indigenous people of Janport Island maltreated and tortured them, wrongfully, during the uprising of slave trade in Arctilumana, from all the boarders that surround us.”

The High Priest was sitting down on the bed, watching over her,

“The slave masters wanted to hand over them to the European merchants. By then, the whole world knew what I did to them. When I took my mind to olden days, I ed what Abraham Lincoln deed by abolished, slavery in the face of United States of America. And I always proud of him; though John Wick assassinated him; he must surely pay the prise at the judgement seat.

I know, this is your first time of hearing such secrets as a mouthpiece of this Island – the King himself is not aware of these. To tell you the truth, they are my choosing one; I can’t do without them, if the entire Island like it – I am the one who choose them, right from time immemorial and no one else can changed it from generation to generation to come. As from now onward, every first female child of Jackson Rowe’s family is the one that has all the traditional rights to sit on the throne as a crown Queen. Now, I have seen the glory of this Island in their midst, rolling like a diamond in the sky, because they have realized their mistake and recognized me as the Queen mother of Janport Island, and the incumbent mother of the Kingdom of Arctilumana; I have to recognize them too. This is the voice of Diana Lorborough, the only wise Queen in the heart of every citizen of Janport Island. That is my promise that I made to all Janportanians, including the Kingdom of Arctilumana.”

This is the right time, this is the good times. She dropped an ancient handbag, full of different types of crystals, diamonds, gold’s, as well as magic mirror, on the ground and placed her right hand by the side of the bed. While she whispered to the High Priest, “The only Priest who hears the voices of the gods, and the one who see’s, when the gods of this Island are walking in the street of Lorborough, Delid County, and Pomoor County, Western Etilia, as well as Newgater, the City State of Arctilumana.

If I may ask you, one question, can you fetched out the major problems of King Pedro?” “I don’t know, even one.” “You cannot fetched one out of the whole problems he had.

The most dangerous problem, he is facing right now is; he doesn’t have a wife, nor a child. I am the one who denies him right to marry, as many as beautiful women, neither an ugly one – because he is not worthy to sit on the throne. If I may consider him, and gave him beautiful women, no matter how she ugly, he may used magical formulas to enchant, secret forces in other to have a child. Then his family would remained on the throne as a King, as long as the family excess.”

“The light bearer in the midst darkness

Why can’t you consider him a child?”

“I can never, never give him a child in this life, because he is not qualified to have a child. It is time for him to leave the throne. If he doesn’t obey my commandment; I will hide his mind to quit from the throne.” “I am Diana Lorborough,

The incumbent mother of Janport Island –” “The eyes of the gods; let us come back home.

Tell Chief Stephenson King that he has rejected the choosing one, who supposed to be the next Queen. Tell him, I am the one who directed the King to choose Princess Melinda Lawrence as the next Queen.”

“No. I am not aware of this!” High Priest Edwin Workman replied.

“Fine –“

“If you are going to the Palace, tell the King that it is time for the Queen, who satisfied with the beauty of nature as beautiful as Aphrodite, the wife of a Warrior, King Ares. Tell him, it’s time for her to sit on the throne and rule my people. It is time for the King to park all his loads and leave the Palace, because the throne was mainly for the Queens’ and not for the Kings. I know you are not aware of this, right from time immemorial. Take note of this, because of the future generation that is coming on board, so that they would not fell as a victim.”

“I will.”

“Good and fine . . ., I am here to let you know I have risen to put things in order. I have abolished the rule of Kingship to the rule of Queenship to rule the natives of Janport Island, starting from Princess Melinda Lawrence, whom I choose as the sixth Queen. As a matter of facts, tell the King and all the twenty-four of the House of Lords of this great Island.

I Diana Lorborough, the Queen mother, who sees’ far and near has revised from the old degree to the new laws. Then, the former glory of this Island would I returned to the family of Jackson Rowe Pedro in other for Princess Melinda Lawrence to wear the golden crowned as a Queen and not a kid. This is my final warning to the entire Janport Island.”

“A word is enough for the wise.”

When Diana Lorborough was about to leave the room, she invoked smoke in other to cover the entire room, and she vanished without the notice of High Priest Edwin Workman. After Diana Lorborough has gone, there was no flicking of smoke in the room. High Priest Edwin Workman – cleared his throat, twice and looked around, if it was a dream, but he could not understand what was going on. He pulled off his Google, looking around, as if he can see someone, standing behind him, but he could not see, even one person.

And he discovered that what he saw was not a dream, but it happens in the physical realm. At the dawn broke over the valley, he took his walking stick and walked down to see the King in his Palace, concerning what he saw at night. Immediately he approached the Palace, he walked in and stood before the king, while Stephenson King was standing behind him.

And he hits his oracle staff on the ground, three times in other to attract the attention of the king, and he greeted the King and said:

“My Royal Majesty,”

“Yes! The only Priest that had the voices of the gods –”

“May you live long as a wise King in our land, who sees’ far and near.”

(- -), the King was not answered.

Then, the High Priest hits his oracle staff on the ground, and said, “The only wise King who is able to rule us in a selfless manner.”

The King stood up and mocked their present, rudely, “The one who hears the voices of the gods, you are not authorized to mock at me, when you are wishing me nonsense of long life.” He turned to his right, and he saw Stephenson King, standing at his back, at a self-distance places. And he whispered on him:

“The head of the House of Lords, I welcome you, because you deserve to be honoured, as one of the lord of Janport Island.” He turned his face towards the High Priest: “The High Priest, point of correction: the longevity that you are wishing me is a taboo to my priesthood. In my own understanding, the gods are to be blame, because there have set a fresh war against me. What should I do with such longevity, while my spirit is down within me? I have rejected such longevity; take it by yourself, maybe if the gods would allow me to rule the kingdom that is when I will accept your longevity. But for now, I don’t need it; I am okay with my life. For such reason, take that very honour to a new Queen, because she is the one who can received such a remarkable honour, but not me.

Never you wish me such foolish honour any longer – go back and look for the rejected one, whom I choose and give her the honour.

Thank you for telling me to leave a life of foolishness and disgrace.”

The High Priest looked at him with one eye and smiled. He hits his oracle staff on the ground with a loud noise, “A King is always honoured in the presence of his people, especially the kinsmen. My King and my lord – why have you rejected my honour! A prisoner of war is entitled to sit on a chair, he is entitled to sleep on a comfortable bed, and he has the full right to eat a delicious meal of all kind. He has the right to receive proper medical treatment, before they finally executed him or her. Then why did you reason, negatively, telling me to give my honour to a Princess, who is not yet, crowned as a Queen?”

“It is not done, anywhere.” “If she is luckily enough to put on the golden crown on her head, that is when she would fully receive my honour. But for now, she cannot receive such first class honour from me.

My royal majesty, you cannot tell me what I know, concerning this Island. No one can say it all, except by me.” He hit the oracle staff on the ground, once, twice and said, “My Royal Majesty, I can’t see the light and then call it darkness. Light is day and darkness is all about night. The honour of a king is not what brought me here, but the appearance of Diana Lorborough, the invisible woman, who appeared to me in my room last night and spoke to me, face to face.

When I looked at her, she looks like a young girl. And I thought it was a dream. But later on, I realize, it was not a dream,” said the High Priest Edwin Workman. “If you think I am your King, why did you reject my request before the House of Lords?” the King replied.

The High Priest hit his oracle staff, twice on the ground and said, “No, my king and my lord, they didn’t rejected your request. The only thing is that you presented your request, wrongfully. Forgive them for whatever they did to you,” the High Priest, replied.

“Tell me, what brought you here by this very hour,” said King Pedro.

“That is what I wanted to hear from you before I speak further. What I saw last night was very terrible; Diana Lorborough, the Queen mother, said that she is very, very serious about this very matter of restoring a new Queen in this Island. The Queen mother appeared to me last night that I should inform you and the entire House of Lords.That she has abolished the rule of a King, sitting on the throne. And she has decided to fall back to the old degree of a Queen, sitting on the throne, in which she consecrated, for sixth centuries ago to honour the Queen, who fought and conger the enemies, not to overthrow our ancestors and take over the Island as their own territory. According to the Queen mother, the reason why she allowed a King to rule the Island is because the family of Jackson Rowe, who were the guardians of the Queen’s crown, right from time, neglected and rejected to honour the invisible woman, the Queen mother of the land. They refused to worship her in the secret Castle at the beautiful altar, which is the secret castle to the esthete. Since then – she withdraw the crown from them. And took it to his cousin, which is your own family. And your father becomes the guardian of the king’s crown in other to rule the Island as a King.

Now that they have realized their mistake that there did. She has decided to return the golden crown of a Queen to them in other for Princess Melinda, who is the granddaughter to become a Queen with no questionable mark on her. She said that you should leave the throne with immediately effect.

If you can’t comply with the order, they would be a mighty rain fall in the entire Island for the period of six months as it happened in Amazon rainforest. Then she would kill you on the last day of the rain fall.

Then, the entire Island would know she is the incumbent mother of this Island.

Chapter 25 The Revelation of the gods

The Janport Island will not sink in my hands as a train that missed the pathway. I am not surprised to hear the ancient bell, ringing in my ears; farewell to the noble King. If I die, I will not be the last King to die under the act of dethronement of the god’s divine. Neither would I close the gates of hell, but let the House of Lords speaks, the truth.

I must speak the truth. According to the Queen mother, she told me, I should inform you, concerning your late father.

Diana Lorborough said, your father was not the rightful Prince to be crowned as a king by the night era of evil – then talk-less of you. The entire House of Lords knows the right thing to do, but they refused to do it. Because of the bribe, your father gave to them to deviate the crown to his family. The Queen mother said, I should tell you, ‘you are a nonentity before her.’ My lord and my King, please, don’t be offended if I called you, a nonentity – because that was what Diana Lorborough said I should call you; I cannot speak such words to you, but it was the order of the invisible woman.” “What!”

“You mean I have become a nonentity before the gods! Well, the end shall tell,” the King commented, immediately.

“My lord, forgive our gods, if she called you a nonentity. She is trying to correct you from the mistake, your father did.

Please, my lord, permit me to continue from where I stop.” “What do you want me to speak to the Queen mother? She has the power to abuse me, the way she likes,” the King complained immediately.

“Is okay, my lord . . . .! According to the Queen mother, she said that, ‘after they have shared the bribe within the House of Lords, and they finally crowned your father, wrongfully. As your father was unworthy to the gods of the land, how long does he last?

A King who cannot speak, directly with the gods without the efforts of a Priest; is he a king, or a slave? I think, he is a slave to the ancient gods, divine. That is not the type of king I want. According to the invisible woman, your father was the one who corrupted the mind of all the of the House of Lords with bribery and corruption. He doesn’t stop there; he went to a foreign land and arranged an evil oath for them to swear in other to keep the secret.” “Where are the former elders? Are they still alive?”

My Royal majesty, you have heard what the Queen mother has said! Think of yourself, first and do not let it happen to you as it happened to your late father. Nobody knows whether you are the last king in this Island, or not; think twice and safe your life.”

“What would I do, if am dethrone out of the throne,” he crooned.

“My king and my lord, you would not die, but you would leave, if you are rejected as a king.

The Queen mother also said that, you and your father have condemned many souls, and send them to an early grave, which you have to pay the price, when the time comes.”

“Oh, my High Priest, would I pay the prise by dead, or by living a new live –?” he grieved.

“My lord, it is only the invisible woman that can answer your question. The Queen mother said that, I should thank you, for having the wisdom to choose the rightful person, who would sit on the throne as indigenous Queen; that I should thank you for having such knowledge. She finally said, I should remind you that as from today onward; no more King in this Island, but a Queen who would rule our kingdom.’”

Then he hit the oracle staff on the ground and said, “This is the voice of Diana Lorborough, the invisible woman of Janport Island.” And he finally hit his oracle staff on the ground, again and again, and then he returned to the seat. Then, Stephenson King, stood up, and step forward, “Oh King of our land, may you live long. It is now that I know; you made the right decision to choose Princess Melinda Lawrence, which you proposed as the next Queen. You have seen what we couldn’t see ahead of us. To God, who made me, you are really a wise King. No matter the danger, a head of you; you are a real in born king. To add to what the High Priest has just said, Diana Lorborough, the invisible woman, also appeared to me in my room, that I should tell you, you have made

the right choice by choosing Princess Melinda Lawrence to be the next Queen. She said, as from now onward, we should not accept any King to sit on the throne, except a crowned Queen, who is well, recognized by the Royal House of Janport Island. She also said that, we must choose a Queen from the family of Jackson Rowe Pedro, which is the main Royal Family in Janport Island as a whole. That is what the Queen mother said, I should tell you,” said Stephenson King. The King pulled down his Google and dropped it on the table and said, “The only High Priest in Janport Island, first, I so much give thanks to God Almighty for bringing you here, this very morning. Second, I thank Diana Lorborough, who appeared to you in your room for the proper confirmation of this matter to enable us, follow the right way to bring peace and harmony to safe guard this Island from calamity.

Third, I thank Stephenson King, for following you to this Palace in other to confirm the message. I also thank the spirit of openness, who does not allow the message to fall by the wrong hands. Through her appearance in our dreams, and in our rooms, the entire Island would be no longer remained in darkness and frustration. I thank two of you for bringing such a wonderful message to me this early morning.

To add to what two of you have just said, Diana Lorborough has refilled herself to me in my dream, concerning this very matter: she is a faithful mother who does not harbour injustice. Stephenson King, I am so much pointing hands on you –!”

“What have I done?” Stephenson King replied.

“It is because you are the one that accuse me much, concerning my decision on the Queenship –!”

“Oh . . ., I thought, you did it by your own power,” Stephenson King replied. “Let me tell you, before Abraham, I was. I knew what I did before the pronouncement of Princess Melinda Lawrence, who will take over from me as the new Queen. I can’t just do things because I wanted the whole matter in favour of me. If I wanted the whole matter in favour of me, it means, I am preparing to dig, new graves for myself and for the entire of my family, who refuse to bear my name. Not only digging new furnished graves for myself and my family, but also to dig, new graves for the twenty-four elders of the House of Lords, who represent the twenty-four families of this Island.

I did these according to the inspiration of the gods, who thought that frustrating me is the best solution to the kingship. Diana Lorborough, the Queen mother of the gods, also told me that, if I refused to step down from the throne, she would cause the rainfall to spread with blood and set the Island in danger. Alternatively, if the entire twenty-four elders of the House of Lord, chose another King to continue from where I stop, she whispered to me, she would slather all the of the House of Lords at the same time, as the birds of the air that has no mother, neither a father, nor a brother, nor a sister with no mercy. What am I trying to say, a kingdom like ours, who has no respect to the Royal House of Janport Island, is a kingdom without hope of the future. Stephenson King, as the head of the House of Lords, it is your own duty to inform the twenty-four elders before the entire Island knows what is going on. Tell the elders that, the Queen mother, who owns the Island, has appeared to the High Priest and you, including me, in our rooms and in our dreams, that there is

no more King, sitting on the throne, but a Queen, ruling the Island. Tell the general House of Lords that, I am not afraid to say this, neither I am afraid to step down from the throne; though the spirit of the dead has brought unknown oath for me to swear.

The inner man who fail not, would judge every soul, according to our work, here on earth. Tell the elders exactly, what you and I saw in our dreams, and in our rooms. Do it very fast with immediate effect,” said the King.

The High Priest added to what the King said: “My Royal Majesty, you are right. You will live longer: no matter the condition, you are facing right now. I think that was the very statement you hate before now: if you like it, you will live long to see our new Queen, sitting on the Royal golden chamber of a Queen. I have heard all what you have just said, but before I met the entire House of Lords:

you have to give me full assurance that, you will step down from the throne to afford spiritual slathering.

What I mean is, the previous elders, who lifted the crown on your head, on the very day of your coronation, were all dead, one by one, until the last elder who hang, himself on a tree, closed to the king’s Palace, and he died at the end of struggling to give off the ghost. Apart from the elders, who crowned you as a king, the other remaining elders, who rejected you as king, there were all dead.

I don’t want to die like the former member of the House of Lords in the early 1800 century. My king and my lord, take the right step before it is too late.”

There is no good time, there is no bad time.

Stephenson King, jerk his head towards the High Priest and said,

“The High Priest, the only choosing one, who ears the voices of the gods, you are right! He has to make the right decision, when the days are still young, and we would hands and cerebrate with him as the only king on planet earth, who accepted a defeat.” Edwin Workman, the High Priest stood up and said, “The only wise King, do not looked back, you have to take the right step before it is too late for you to survive. You have to look for a black goat before it is night. It is only the white cock that took itself to a shaman, who would killed the cock and serve the gods of the land as a sacrifice.

I tell you the truth; you should not be like a white cock. . . . Take the right decision now.” “Thank you so much the wise one, who hears the voices of the gods from afar and near. I thank you for shedding more light in our darkness. I think without me, the entire Island can still move forward to a greater future. I know what is good to me, and I know what is bad to me. I will take the right decision as you said,” the King, replied.

“My elder statesman, do you have anything to say, go on and say it. I am

preparing to go to a home, so glooms, a home, where no human’s can escape.” Stephenson King, whispered to the King, “Thank you, Oh King, for giving me such opportunity to continue from where I stopped. My Royal Majesty, I am asking you to look at the dancing drums, waiting for you in your Royal chamber; if you looked down with your third eyes, through the mystery realm, you would see that the dancers are they, waiting to hear the mysterious sound of the drums before the dance begins. Tell me, now; what is your own decision, according to the High Priest, who is so close to the gods of the Island?” “Because the dethronement is around the corner.” “My elder statesman, my High Priest, you people are all right. That is why two of you are spiritual eyes of this Island. Without people like you, the entire Island would have sunk into a deep pit, like a train that missed the pathway.

Apart from two of you, no one can ask me, such intelligent questions. I can’t remained in this Palace as a King, as long as I am alive, but if I do so, what about those, who would die without knowing the cause of their death? What I know is that the ear can never see the eyes, neither the face, able to see the back of the head. That is why I have to step down on my own, before I am forced to remove the golden crown on my head. If there is no one in the whole Island that can say, goodbye to me, while I walked out of the Palace, I can say to myself, ‘Farewell to the noble King of Janport Island.’”

He breathes in, so deeply, as a strike of a thunder, “That is the only word that is lingering in the mind to all Janportanians. I can see men and women, both young and old, hearing the rumour of my defect in all looks and corners of the city States of Janport Island. That is not my problem,

but let the gods speaks the truth. But I have to step down honourably, not for my sake, but for the benefits of those behind me –”

All of them were murmuring and he continued to speak what is in his mind. “I don’t fear about dethronement; I don’t care about the defeat. Neither do I have any fear about death ahead of me. Probably, if I die, I will not be the last King to die, nor would I close the gate of hell.

I have to respect myself in other to welcome my cousin as the new Queen, to take over the throne as the Royal Queen of Janport Island. If I continued to put on the crown, I am digging my grave in the dust of wilderness, whereby I would not dig, up to three fits before it collapsed on me. In addition, they would be no one to assist me, when the grave collapsed on me. Not only digging my grave – but also digging, new graves for the elders and the youths, who would my cause as a King.

The House of Lords may abandon my corpse in the evil forest, where the mighty birds of the air would feed on my flesh, and the chimpanzee would use my bones to build their tent, while the trees, waged their bodies on my grave. What a pity in the eyes of a noble King. This is more than a disgrace, if the gods of Janport Island can’t forgive me and my late father. Then, where would I be, if I ed my ancestors in Dystopia Island, who is now, a home for the death?”

Chapter 26 The Strange Voices of the Unknown

In the middle of the sea, there is an Island. The fishes are lamenting, moving upward to hear the sound of the earth, but they couldn’t. When would the Island, separated from the sea, while the dagger’s of the ancient gods, fail not on the chest of a noble King?

Then, the King declared in the presence of the House of Lords. “I have seen much poverty, frustration, difficulties and calamity in the surface of our land, though I have dreamed of seeing a sea, surrounded my body. Can a sea survived without the echo of the sand and water? Then, how can I continue to sit on the throne as a king, who has no value before the kinsmen, neither the House of Lords! If I continued to sit as a king, I am another Judas Iscariot, who value money more than his master. The citizens of Janport Island cannot suffer – over my death body. Though I have no wife, neither a child, let me step down honourably in other for my cousin and the House of Lords to celebrate the new Queen.”

They were murmuring, while the King was busy talking, “If I die today, nobody should cry; let the living bury the dead, but if I live, let the spirit of the dead flee away from me, while I walked to the city of unknown. If I can live more years to come, glory be to God, but if I die in the next few hours, glory will still be unto the Lord our God. I have feel so many pains, more than pleasure, since I was crowned as a King: “No wife, no child, no friend; then what am I to the Janportanians?” “Why should I continue to bear the pains as a King, instead of pleasure? No, enough is enough.” He cleared his throat: “I have finally beaten the mystery

drums in other to clear the view for the Queen and the audience to see the golden crown at the beautiful chamber where the Queen seat. No King can do what I did today, but I do it for the sake of Janportanians, who bear the pains, right from the reign of my father.

When would the gods forgive me and my father? Would the gods allow my body to lying down in the dust of the wilderness? Today being the beginning of the new Moon – I have declared freedom for justice to the entire Island. I have beaten the drums to unfold the highways of prosperity for both young and old. I have declared equal right for all men and women, both young and old.

I have declared peace in the whole Janport Island, for the sons and daughters to feel the sense of belongings, even the noble Queen that is about to sit on the throne.

As from today onward, I have declared the floor opened, for all the mystery dancers to begin the dance of endless happiness, freedom of human right towards prosperity in the life of all indigenous people of Janport Island. What then should I do for the people of Janport Island?” the King grieved.

Then, Edwin Workman, the High Priest, jerked his head to the right and looked at the Stephenson King. Then he turned his eyes again towards the King and said, “His Royal Majesty, may you live long to see our new Queen, sitting on the throne. Thank you so much for being the only wise King in this century. No other King in this planet earth can do what you did today.

It shows that you are a true loyalist and a true sportsman who always accept

defeat. I thank you for accepting this very defeat.

For the reason of your defeat, we would write your name in a golden biro on the four corners of the wall of this great Island.

Apart from that, we would engrave your photograph, together with your name at the entrance gate of the Queen’s Palace, where all the of House of Lords and the Royal Family met.

When the indigenous people of Janport Island saw your name, written with golden biro, they would marvel and know that you were a great hero of our time.

From generation to generation, your story will ring bell in the ears of all sons and daughters of this great Island of Arctilumana as a whole. I have a dream that no one would be like you, from generation to generation to come. I have a dream that one day; they will release the old gods of Arctilumana from the magical bottles of the King and the Lords of Arctilumana, where the gods will reign again in all the cities and States of Arctilumana.

Congratulation to you, Oh King for being a great noble hero of dethronement . . .” Stephenson King stood up gently,

“Your Royal Majesty, I have heard all you have said; I promise to deliver your message to the House of Lords before the entire Island is aware. I also promise to do it before the rise of the full Moon, where the Moon would pay a visit to the

favourable star, Sagittarius, who is in charge of leadership and prosperity to confirm the agreement, between you and the entire Island. After all the deed and done, I will give you the as soon as possible.

Once again, congratulation to you and goodbye –”

Thereafter, they depart back to their various homes. In the early morning, cloudy Saturday, King Pedro invited Princess Melinda Lawrence to inform her about the new action plan in the kingdom, concerning her. On her arrival at the King's Palace, she moved straight to where the king sat. When she stood in front of the King, she greeted him,

“My Royal Majesty, may you live long to rule our land.”

“Thank you my Princess.”

Immediately Princess Melinda sat down in front of him, he told her the opportunity that is upon her, “Thank God; you are here to hear the good news, I have for you. In a brief note, this is to inform you that the gods of Janport Island have chosen you to be the next Queen.

Congratulation for becoming the sixth Queen of Janport Island –!

I know, you would ask a lot of questions: ‘Why am I choosing as the next Queen – as young as I am – who doesn’t know the rules of the gods?’

Don’t take it that way. The crown had been they, waiting for you before you were born. You have to accept it in good faith. The God who gives wisdom and knowledge would show you, how to lead your people,” he declared.

The Princess replied immediately, “Dad, you mean I am the next Queen?” “Yes, that is what you are!”

“Young girl like me – a Queen –”

“Yes, it is your own turned to lead your people.”

“Dad, are you trying to tell me, I am your wife?”

“How can you be my wife?”

“It looks like, you grand me access to be your wife.”

“No, a cousin cannot marry an Uncle.”

“But you have no wife!”

“Yes, I have no wife, neither a child, but I can’t marry you?

“Why can’t you grand me access to be you wife?”

“No, people would mock at us.”

“Just make up your mind and take me as your wife.” No, no, no, you can’t be my wife.

“Dad, let us make a history.”

“No, that cannot happen in my own time.”

“Why are you doing this to me, Dad?” “You are my immediate cousin; it is only the gods that mock at me,” said the King.

“Then, how can you call me a Queen, when am not your wife?”

“Wonderful. . . . You ask to get the accurate answer.”

“But, let do together as husband and wife.”

“No . . ., not this time.”

”Why –”

“To tell you the truth, the gods, who owns the Island had chosen you to be the next Queen in other to oversee the affairs of this Island –“

“You can as well choose me as you first wife.”

“Melinda, don’t set me on fire before the gods.”

“What concern marriage with fire?”

“It is only my physical body that you see here, but the gods have sent my spirit out of this Palace. Truly speaking, I was wrongfully crowned as a King, because of what happened in the past. Now the wrong must be corrected. That is why you have been chosen as the sixth Queen, who has the authority and powers to sit on the throne,” said King Pedro.

“Dad, you have been ruling this Island for many years; how do you know, you were wrongfully crown as a King?” she replied. “Princess, it is a long story; I can’t say it all – if I want to tell you the whole story, the whole day would become dark.” “Dad, you can’t say that, why am here.” “Just take it like that from me. I promise you, very soon, you will see the golden crown, sparkling upon your forehead, as that of the Queen of England,” he replied immediately. “No! Dad, you are still alive. How can you step down because of me?”

“You should find the gods and asked,” he whispered.

“Are the gods, reason like gods?”

“I don’t know.” “Were the gods, alive for the very day of your coronation?”

“I can’t tell, what happened to them that very day.” Princess Melinda stood in front of the King and whispered, “A King that was on the throne for many years, leading his people, well and at a certain stage, they tell him to step down, “Just like that?”

“That is what I saw,” the King replied.

“No, Dad, it is unfair; it cannot just happen like that. You are the one who brought me up, and refused to fall in love with me, since the death of my parents. Dad, if I were you, you should have declared on me as your first Queen. And continue with me as a King. Just forget about the gods for now, the gods would speak for themselves. While I fall in love with you as a Queen,” she whispered.

“Princess, never you worry, you cannot be my wife in this generation; maybe, in the next generation to come, I will be your husband and you would be my wife.

However, you cannot fight the gods of the land, because of me; it is only the gods that can fight for me. Just go home and wait to celebrate your new crown as a Queen,” the King lamented. “Well, I heard you, dad. But never forget to call me, a wife in the present of the House of Lords, and I will make you a King in my life.” she predicted. They, she returned to her apartment with a shadow of joy.

Chapter 27 The Echo of the Death

No, no, no, I can’t call it suicide, but a deliberate act. Really, I didn’t know I got married to a living ghost.

Then; I became mad. But I don’t know if the gods have told you, what really happened. That is why am here to throw more light over my madness.

It’s time for the King to quit the throne; the gods, who see’s from afar and near, have sent the spirit of the dead to walk around him. The King could not withstand with the spirit of the dead, who walked from wall to wall in search of him, and he cannot fight with them.

He speaks, loud and clear,

“The dust of the shadow of death has overwhelmed my consciousness; I have seen myself, dwelling in the house of clay, whose foundation is made by the dust of the death.” “Let the gods speak the truth.”

“Did the gods travelled on the day of my coronation?

Did the citizens of Janport Island, flee out of the city on the day of my coronation? . . . No one can speak the truth?

Let the mind of every living soul speaks the truth. The good citizens of Janport Island, every one of you should pray for my soul,” “. . . I am no more human, but a skeleton in the cabinet.”

And I discovered that, no member among the House of Lords can speak the truth.

Immediately, Princess Melinda approached her door post, she saw an old woman, sitting down on the ground, and she asked the King’s Guards: “Guards, who is that very woman, sitting down in front of my door?”

One of the guards answered and said,

“Oh Queen to be, the woman told us that she is your mum.” “Mom . . .?”

“Yes, she said, she is your mom.”

“I have no mother, even one.”

“That is what she told us,” one of the Guard’s replied.

“I have no mom, anymore; my mother died many years ago.” She walked closed to the woman, and she whispered to her, “Hello madam, can I help you?”

“Yes!”

“Who are you looking for?”

“I am looking for Princess Melinda Lawrence,” said Susan Willie.

“What do you got to do with her?”

“She is my daughter.”

“Daughter . . .?”

“Yes! Are you the one?” Susan Willie replied.

“Yes, I am the one.”

“My only daughters, long time, no see.”

“What can I do for you, madam?”

Susan Willie, waves her hands towards her to view her well.

Being an aged woman, she stared her eyes and watched over her, again and again, “Truly, you are my daughter; we look alike.

I can’t forget your beautiful face, since I missed out of you.

Your beautiful face, is still lingering in my memory,” “I am your mother. . . . I didn’t die; I am still life.”

Princess Melinda stepped backward.

“Did I hear you say, mother?”

“Yes, I am your mother,” Susan Willie replied.

“I don’t think I have a mother; the only mother I had, died many years ago. Even though I have a mother, you don’t deserve to be my mother.”

“Why?”

“Maybe you have forgotten your daughter.”

“No, I can still my daughter.”

“You better walked out from me, and look for your daughter.”

“Don’t reject your mom, I am your mother.”

“I am not the one,” Princess Melinda replied.

“Don’t say that to me, I am your mother.”

“How can you be my mother when you are dead?”

“I did not die; I escape from the spirit of the dead was not genuine.”

“What make you escape?”

“I killed Jack, Emmanuelle, and mother in-law.”

“What have they done to you?”

“It’s a long, long story to tell?”

“Where do you escaped to?”

“Upon my escape for years, I did not have rest of mind. The spirits of the dead were haunting after me, day and night. For now, I can no longer be hiding any more. That is why I came to apologize to you, if the spirits of the dead, would flee away me,” Susan Willie whispered.

Princess Melinda looked at her from head to toe and said; “You mean you came to apologize to me for killing my brother, Jack, killing my sister, Emmanuelle, killing my grandma, Jessica! Your story is not a hidden thing to me, I heard about it for long. Are you here to apologize to me, for leaving me lonely for the past twenty-three years? Or, are you here to kill me as the last person in the family? Is that what you came here for?” she shouted immediately. Susan Willie kneeled in front of her, pleading to accept her as a mother. “What are you begging me for? I don’t know what to call you: whether a woman or a ghost.” She forced her to meet the King in his Royal chamber, in other to explain

more deeply to him; “Let us see the King in his royal chamber.”

When they enter the upper chamber, Princess Melinda slammed her head and salute the King, and she introduced Susan Willie to him and she end up by saying, “Your Royal Majesty, may you live long on earth.” “My Princess, the same goes to you as an incoming Queen, whom the gods have chosen,” the King replied.

The King pulled down his Google and hold it on his right hand, and mould his eyes like a oak, “Woman, are you the one telling mine Princess that, you are her mother?

Is that what you said?”

Susan Willie, lifted her face from the ground and said, “Yes, my lord! My name is Susan Willie, I am her real mother.” “Ah . . ., I thought, you were death,” King Pedro replied. “No, am still alive.” Susan Willie, you are looking older than your age. Is it because of the evil you committed to your entire family?”

She looked towards the King, and she refused to speak. In a very little beat of her heart, she crooned, but she couldn’t say a word. And the King looked at her, and he repeated the same questions the second time,

“Woman, did you hear what am asking?” Susan Willie nodded her head, but she could not speak, further.

And the King stared his eyes on her and said, “My question is, are you telling us that you are the real mother of Princess Melinda, the one who killed her two children, killed the mother-in-law, Jessica and ran away to an unknown destination?” said King Pedro. Then Susan Willie stood up from where she was sitting down, and she ran to the King’s royal seat and fell down flat in front of him, and she said, “Yes, my King may you live long to speak the truth. I am Susan Willie, who committed the deathly act against my family. I cannot call such a situation as suicide, but I can define it as a deliberate act.”

“That is true; you resemble the wife of late Dr. Lawrence James, though you called him, Herbert, but I knew him as Lawrence James before he died. If you are the one who claimed the lives of those family , what prompt you to act in such manner?” said King Pedro. “My king and my lord, it was because I got married to a living ghost, who was formerly my late husband, which he transformed himself as Dr. Herbert James. When I discovered that he is not human, but a ghost, I became mad.

My King and my lord, I knew, you didn’t really know, exactly what happened that very day. Which I know nobody told you the real story at the backdrop of my madness: that is why am here this afternoon to put more light on that ugly incident. The reason was that Dr. Herbert James, came to meet me in Newgater City, when I travelled to see Uncle Jose; six months after his death. When I arrive Newgater City, three weeks later, I was invited, as a Pharmacist to

attend the annual national Pharmaceutical association conference at Newgater Hotel and Suite, at #345, Presidential Street, Face one, Newgater City.

At the end of the conference, he met me, outside the gate and introduced himself to me as Dr. Herbert James. As we get to his home town. Then I discovered that he is a ghost, but not a real human being. After he introduced himself to me, I told him; I am not interested in any serious relationship that would result in marriage, but he refused to listen to me. A month later, he continued calling my mobile phone in several occasions, which I refused to accept such deadly intimacy.

Later on, it gets to me . . ., as a cat relationship. He later traced me down to Uncle Jose’s apartment, which I did not know who told him where I am living.

When I trip to Uncle Jose apartment, he began to place a request of marriage from me; he worried and worried in difference occasion to accept him as my husband, but not just a friend. I was wondering and wondering on what to do. Because of his trouble over the issue of marriage, I infused love on him and accepted him as my husband.”

“I swear.”

“You mean it?”

“Yes, no woman can do what I did . . ., anywhere.

A month later, he summons courage to meet with my family at Wilford County, Etilia for my wedding festival, which none of you are aware. After finishing all . . ., he thought, he could do. We stayed for over five years without a single child, who would strengthen our relationship. It was so boring over me, because of the absence of a child in the family. He looks like someone, who doesn’t have air to breathe. Then, our marriage was filled with pains and sorrow, but has no pleasure.

Having no child at home, I did not keep silence over it; I continued to petition my Higher-self, until I got the required result. He was the one, who answered Sarah at the time of old, and he did the same to me by giving me triplet at once; that was a miraculous thing in our lives. Which no one believes, we could have children in our lives. After the blessing of the Lord, feel our lives, I stayed for some years, lonely at home, as if I was a cat, knowing, none of his relatives, neither knowing where he came from.

Because of that, I wilfully forced him to take me down to his parents in any part of the country they lives. I didn’t even care whether his parents are from Arctilumana or any part of the world, which I was ready to embark upon. I thought that, it was a freedom struggle and apartheid, which happened in South Africa. At the end, he took us to his hometown, after dribbling me up and down for years. When we arrived at his permanent residence, which is closed to the King’s Palace, it confused me a lot, and I asked myself many questions.” Susan Willie wailed, “Is this not the very compound I leave before I travelled to Newgater to see Uncle Jose? But I couldn’t answer that question at the moment.”

Chapter 28 The funny Hours of Lamentation

I thought, you have returned the lives of your kids and Jessica, your mother-in-law from the graves – that is what I wanted to hear from you. I didn’t understand you; neither do I have the power to judge you as far as this case involved human blood. What you have to do is that, go home and wait for the one who created humans, for he has all it takes to judge you, but not me. Goodbye.

But I could not really recognize the compound, the very first time; I put my steps there, because there were a lot of changes in the environment. When we drove down to his permanent resident, he told me that, we should wait for him inside the jeep, until he comes back. I waited and waited for over one hour, I could not set my eyes on him. At the flowing of my heartbeat, it was as if I was drunk. My eyes were turning me; I could not hold myself any longer. Then the next thing, I saw myself falling down from inside the jeep, and matched my head on the ground, as if I was climbing a tree. When I opened my eyes, after a while, I was already down on the ground, struggling to get up, but it was impossible.

When I manage to get up from the ground, I sat there for a while and later on; I got back to my feet again. That was so funny on me, when I get back to my senses again. When I regained my strength, I started looking for him within the compound, calling his name repeatedly, but it was impossible for me to locate him. After shouting and shouting all over the yard, I saw one old woman, came out from the

back door, asking me, ‘Who are you looking for?’ I told her that we are waiting for Dr. Herbert James, who is my husband. Thereafter his mum explained to me . . . . Later on, I realize, he was the ‘Death of the prize Ghost,’ looking for all means to fulfil his life purpose on earth. That was where I started blaming myself for being a victim to fall in love with a death ghost. With a sticking heat in my heart, I started losing my temper towards the tent of evil and I could no longer control myself. Nothing I could do, than to involve myself, killing my first son, Jack. Then killed my lovely daughter, Emmanuelle, and finally end up by killing the one who brought the ever-ending soul to life in the person of my mother-in-law, Jessica James. That was the greatest mistake I did in my life . . .

“When you finally killed all your kids, including your mother in-law, were have you been, since then?” said King Pedro. “After putting an end to the lives of my kids, including, Jessica, my mother inlaw, I escape to a far distant land, where no one can trace me, until the end of my life. But upon my hidings for years, I could not have rest of mind. I moved from one community to another, looking for a solution to erase the bloodstain on my hands, but no water in the entire part of Arctilumana that can wash away the stain on my hands; nor any spiritual oil that can wash the stain out of my palms.

I became a song in the mouth of every citizen of Saintepole Island, the only Island that has no connection with any parts of the world.

Instead of getting rest of mind, I was perfuming with flames of fire, day and night. Whenever I make an attempt to close my eyes, I would be seeing those souls, which I condemned to an early grave, laughing at me as if I am a comedian. They drew me down and they told me, I should be following them to the other side of the dust.

If you looked at me now, I have become a rotten garment of moth clay, living a lifeless life; no one can tell, but only I can say it all.”

“My King and my lord –”

“Tell me the mind of you wickedness –”

“Have you ever seen someone, living a lifeless life?”

“Death is worth then your living.”

“I know but death is running away from me.”

“What a woman sore, that is what she would ripe,” the King whispered. Then the King gaze on her, nodded his head, as if he is a parrot.

“Can you tell me the benefits for killing your kids and your mother in-law in one minute?” “My King and my lord, it was the devil's hand work. I do not believe,

Someone like me would have such behaviour to kill my kids, which I suffered for years before I got them. You are the only person I knew in the family, before I got married to him.

Please, on behalf of Pedro’s family, forgive me and set me free from the hands of the ghost,” she whispered. The King watched over her, again and again. “Oh, you mean the devil shared his hands with you?”

“It was more than sharing of hands.” “What do you want me to do for you, now?”

“Forgiving me is forgiving my wickedness.”

Do you want me to forgive you as a man, or a god?” the King responded.

“As a King who is closed to gods –”

“If I forgive you, would you bring those souls beak to life?”

“They always appeared to me, every day and night, even in my dreams. However, whenever am eating, I always ed my daughter, Melinda; she is the only child that left. No brother, no sister, no father; even a grandma. There are all gone because of my evil. Please, have a true mind to forgive me.”

“I have no power to forgive you,” the King whispered.

“You have the power to forgive me, if you wish.” She was silent for a while, “Since I committed this deathly evoke, they have rejected me in any community I migrated to –“

“You deserved to be treated as a slave.”

“But a slave is better than me. . . . Then, my bones were filled with colds of blood, but now, it smells as dust of the death –“

“That is the result of wickedness,” the King whispered.

“Oh King, why don’t you have the mind to pity me –”

“You mean pity?”

“Yes! Your lips should be filled with pettiness.”

“Oh, am sorry . . ., you don’t deserved to be pitied.”

“Well, no problems, but if waters where accepted to be used to erase our sins. I could have washed all the innocent bloods with clean water from Arctic sea, which is cleaned water for the forgiveness of sins –“

“Point of correction, Arctic sea is not for cleansing of sins.” “But that is the only sea that is closed to me.”

“Don’t try it, the sea gods will killed you before you died.”

“Then you have to talk to them as a King. Because day and night, I always think on how to bring those lives, I condemned to death back to life.

But if I’m trying to do that, it would make me to tempt God. My King and my lord, do you think money can settle this very case?”

“That is impossible.”

“You are right. Money can’t solve these very problems. If money can be us to buy life, I could have bought and settle the problems in one day. Please, kindly have a simple mind to forgive me – because I am shivering, frightened; and I always see myself in a tunnel of fire, all day and all night,” she apologized.

“Ah – apology . . . . Apology is not for a case that involves blood,” the King replied. At the end of their talk, Princess Melinda looked at her, “Am tired of listening to your evil words that had no meaning to my life.

You evil old woman, even though I do not have a mother, I can’t accept you as my mom. It is better for you to look for those souls, which you condemned to death. They may have the mind to forgive you. But I will not forgive you at all.”

As the story becomes so burden to the King, he stood up and said, “Susan Willie – is that all you can say – concerning the death of your children?”

“Yes, my lord.” “I thought, you would tell me, you would bring those souls back to life.”

“I have no power to do that,” Susan Willie replied.

Well, let me tell you, as far as this case, involved human blood, I have no power to judge you. What you have to do, go home and wait for the creator of humanity, he is the one who has all the powers and authority to judge any sinner like you,”

“Go home, now . . ., there is no remedy for this case. Goodbye,” said the King. “My Royal Majesty, if you can’t forgive me, you may as well pray for me; your prayers can straighten me.

In the other way round, putting me in your daily prayer, and sharing my stories with friends and neighbours, can be a kind of help to me.

When you seat with the Kings and Queens, their prayers can, as well, bring peace and harmony into my life. By sharing my story with one another; whosoever that had a willing mind to commit evils, would depart from it, because evil does not bring any good thing in the life of everyone. Rather, it brings pains and sorrow in one’s life. Please, have mercy on me for forgiveness,” she sniffled.

The King did not allow her to end up her talk. He ed what she did in that night of agony.

“Susan Willie,”

“Yes my lord!”

“Have you ed what you did to Jessica, when you were about to killed her?”

“No, my lord, I can’t .”

“When you knew that Jessica was no longer breathing, you jerked your head to the extreme end of the double size bed, where the kids were sleeping. And you jumped and stood on top of the bed; and stabbed the two kids on their chest, one by one. And you spoke to them before they finally gave off their ghost, ‘You all are children of ghost; it’s time to meet your daddy over they. To enable him trained two of you, because I have no fund to trained, children of the ghost, even

now and then.”

“Did you ?”

“No, my lord; is that what I said?”

“Yes. Now, it’s time for you to meet the kids to train you.”

“My lord, where would I see the kids?”

“You know where you kept the kids.”

“Please, forgive me finally – because forgiveness has no limit.”

“Susan Willie –“

“Yes my lord,” she cried.

“If I forgive you today, what about the blood that stained in your hands?

What you have to do is for you to look for those souls, and pleaded for

forgiveness. If they can forgive you, you are lucky enough to live a better life. But if they can’t forgive you, go home and wait for the Day of Judgment.” One of the Royal Guard brought a bucket of water to the King and he washed his hands and said, “Susan Willie, you are free to go home. I have wished my hands out of your case; I am not worthy to judge you at this moment.”

“Goodbye . . .” In a little pitches of her heart, the King called the Royal Guards to drive her away from the King’s Palace. Not only sending her out of the Kings Palace, but he also gave order to the Royal Guards to banish her from the entire Janport Island. He sent letters to the Kings of the neighbouring States and country. Telling them not to sell, nor buy anything from her. There should not, eat, or drink with her, until she is death. Three months later, the King of Saintepole Island sent his messenger to King Pedro to inform him about the dead of Susan Willie.

Susan Willie died, by hanging herself on the ceiling fan – inside her room.

The neighbours could not rescue her at the point of dead.

The only word the neighbours heard in her room was an empty noise of people, rejoicing. But no one could see any of them physically. At the feet of Susan’s bed, there was a written note, which one of the neighbours took the paper and unfolded it, while others gathered around him. And they ed their voices together and red the note.

“The last prize of my evil has fully paid. The dust of the shadow of death has encomed me; there is no way for my escape.

Killing my beloved children and my mother-in-law was my greatest mistake I made in the history of my life. This is the results of my evil. I have seen myself, dwelling in the tunnel of fire before the commencement of my death. . . . Will I be free in the final day of judgement?”

“Nobody can tell.”

“If men and women, young and the old, could realize their mistakes, at the edge of their fingertips, that committing evils, is a sin and not a trade of gain. They won’t think of doing evils in their life.

I have seen death among the Royal House of Janport Island, again and again, if there fail to play the game of sibling to sibling.

Let me go home and rest in the bosom of my evils before my bones, melt as the icicle of winter.

Nobody should blame me; it was my negative reasoning of marrying a ghost. And now, I have walked with my own feet to meet him in the place I was rejected to be. Let everyone, I know, refrained from evil.”

Two days later, the King of Saintepole, King Lamunder, sent his guards to inform King Pedro at his Palace about the dead of Susan Willie. When they arrived at the King’s Palace, Unsurprisingly, the King could not have any option to reject the message from King Lamunder. Rather, he informed Princess Melinda immediately about the death of her rejected mother.

Who knows what would happen in the next hour?

He was regretting for banishing Susan Willie as an evil woman out of the Janport Island as a whole.

At the end, they blew Susan Willie, the only aged mother that left in the royal family out of their memory, because of the evils she did. What about the daughter? She also regretted of rejecting her only mother because of the empty fossil that her mother placed in their family, which no one can erase. She thought that when she rejected her mother, there would be another brand new mother that is worthy to be called a mother. Though the end, always speaks by itself.

The evils that men and women do – always walked and leave with them.

Chapter 29 The Unforgettable Home

Wow . . ., that is mystery. What was the message all about?

Did he send any greetings to me, as one of his cousin, who is in charge of his properties? I know the spirit of the death due extend greetings to those he loves’.

In the second month of winter, Princess Melinda paid a visit to her ancestral home, which is behind Pomoor Cultural Park. Reaching there, she took a bunch of keys from her poise, and opened the front door, leading to the living room. This was the first time she has visited her father’s compound, since the death of her mom and the rest of the family.

Unfortunately, grasses have taken over the whole compound, because there was nobody living there. Immediately she entered the living room. The first thing that captured her eyes was the enlarged photograph of her late father, Dr. Lawrence James that was hanging on the wall. Opposite the entrance door, this was closed to the bookshelves. As she was looking at the photograph, she started screaming, as mighty as the ocean, rolling down to the desert. She could not wait for a minute before she started crying. And she shortened her eyes from the view of the photograph, immediately. When she opened her eyes, as wide as the highway,

she saw the photograph, shaking itself, and getting ready to advance towards her. When she looked into the eyes of the photograph, the eyes was blinking up and down, smiling on her face. And she heard, voices, echoing within the photograph. The next word she heard was, “My beloved daughter, you are welcome to the ancestral home of your father, which you knew nothing at the darkest hours of my death. Here is your ancestral home that was abandoned for years, because of the emptiness in the family. This house belongs to you.” She looked around herself, she saw nobody, and he said, “No one else can take it from you.

Never you be afraid, I am always here to assist you to recover all my properties in the hands of King Pedro.” While she was trying to open the front door in other to escape out from the living room, she ed that she had forgotten her handbag.

As she was going back to pick the handbag, she heard another voice, echoing within the living room, “Princess Melinda, do not be afraid, I have something, so special for you, which no one is aware of it.” Having heard the voices screaming on her name, she focused on the photograph, as if her dad would come out of the photograph.

As she looked around, from left to right, the voices echoed repeatedly; “Princess Melinda, never you be afraid, I am your father, who owns this house. Even though I’m death, there is life within me. I can never forget to be your guard at all time, because you are the only child that left behind. My love is always with you, no one else, but you –“

“Love . . . , what kind of love are you talking about?”

“If I don’t love you, you shouldn’t have encounter with me.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“You would do me a favour right now.”

“What kind of favour?”

She huffed behind the chair. “What can I do for you, when you are already death?” she whispered. Then the spirit of her father replied to her. “What you have to do for me have nothing to do with the death; it is for your own good; not for my own good. Never the list, my death can never stop me not to discover my lost properties from the hands of King Pedro. No one can do this to me, except by you. My properties are all over the country and abroad. I want to let you know, if King Pedro died today, my properties would get lost. He has nothing to do with my properties; he cannot enjoy what he doesn’t suffer for.” When the voices were still rolling on, she holds the handle of the chair, closed to her and the voices continued, echoing again and again. “My daughter, listen to me attentively. After this time, you can’t hear this message from me, neither from anybody else –“

“What kind of message?”

“There is time for everything in life. And this is the right time for you to take over all my properties from the hands of my Uncle, King Pedro. When you go

home, tell him, I am the one who sent you to him, concerning my properties. When you meet him, don’t be afraid of him. Since the death of your mom, he has taken over my properties for his own used without remitting any fund to my bank .

He listed all his properties to her. And she stood behind the chair, as the voice was echoing. She could not speak a word, until he rounded up by refilling the final properties to her,

“The fourth property is this very compound that you are standing now; it belongs to me, including the Range Rover, Jeep that is parked at the front of this house.

All the properties I just mention belong to me. Tell him to hand over all the documents of these properties to you. Finally, remind him about my two-bank , including the check book, which is in his possession. After handing over all the properties to you, come back to this compound. I will tell you what to do next. No one knows about it for now. At the end of their discussion, she shut down the front door and went back to the King’s Palace to meet with the King. Immediately she arrived at the King’s Palace, she moved straight to the upper chamber to meet with the King.

As she approached the King, she walked closed to him and kneeled down in front of him, “My Royal Majesty, may you live long,” said Melinda. “Thank you, my daughter. May you live long too to enjoyed the fruit of my labour,” King Pedro replied.

“Pressure is yours.”

“Is there any other problem with you,” said King Pedro.

Yes, Dad –”

“What is that very problem that is bordering you in mine?” “My late father, sent me to you, concerning his properties,” she replied.

“How do you see your dad, who died some years ago?”

Did you see him in your dream? Or, have you seen him physical?” said King Pedro.

No, I heard an encounter with him, when I visited his home.”

Then the King continued to cross-examine her and he said to her,

“When you reached the compound, what did you see?” “He spoke to me through his enlarged photograph, which is hanging from the wall, closed to the book shave at the living room,”

Princess Melinda replied.”

“Wow . . ., that is a mystery!”

“Pinched me the more; did he told you to greet me as his cousin?”

“No =”

“I know some time; the spirit of the death due greets his beloved ones.

Is there anything like that?” said the King.

“No, he doesn’t . . .,”

“He told me that I should inform you to hand over all his properties to me, both home and abroad. He also told me that you have enjoyed his properties for long without remitting any fund in his bank ,” she added.

“Are you sure what you are saying?” said King Pedro.

“Dad, how can I lie to you –” “The King was surprised to hear such mystery from the Princess and he replied,

“Wonder shall never end . . .”

“I have heard such mystery before now. I am not surprised to hear such story the second time from you.”

“Dad, is it true that my late father’s properties are under your care?”

“That is true.”

“Are you ready to handover the properties to me?”

“Don’t be hurry. First, let me thank you for reminding me about your late father’s properties. I took over your father’s properties, when your mom killed other of your family, and she left to unknown destination. At that very time, you were a kid. And there was no one else in the family that can take over those properties, apart from me. Any time I wanted to inform you about your late father’s properties, other things would come into play and I would forgot about it. There is time for everything. Now is the right time for me to do that. Thereafter, she returned to her own room with happiness.

Chapter 30 The Will of Destiny

The secret sound of the mystery drums of the ancestors is echoing into the ears of the noblemen. Whose beliefs, will opened all doors and usher in freedom and dignity to every citizens, who departed from the rail of truth. And there will be joy in our heart.

Two days later, King Pedro invited Princess Melinda, the House of Lords, led by Stephenson King, Edwin Workman, the Head of King’s Guard, Commander Mark Woodman, and other prominent elders from the twenty-four families that make up Janport Island. Before the arrival of the King, there were all seated in the golden chamber of the king. Immediately he stepped into his Royal chamber. The Royal Guards gave him a guard of honour, and they sang the national anthem of Arctilumana.

At the end of the national anthem, the of the House of Lords and the entire invited guest took their seats, and he red his opening speech. “You are all welcome into the Royal Chamber of the Queen, whose knowledge and wisdom is best on the truth of our gods, nothing but the truth. This is the last speech for me to speak to all of you.

I can see the future so closer to us, when the golden ladies and the incumbent Queen, are standing in the right Chamber of the Queens’ Palace. And all the citizens of Janport Island would thrill on the feet of the Queen.

In the beginning of this Island, truth was the birth rock of everything that we speak in this Island. This truth is the same truth that would unite us together as one entity.

Best of the knowledge of truth and openness, our ancestors have laid a good foundation for us to benefits, up to this day. No man or woman should condemn any human souls in this Island.

Whosoever takes someone’s life, he or she must face the root of the law. I have called every one of you to be my witness, for the things that is about to happened in the entire Island as a whole. This is the official announcement for all the indigenous people of the Janport Island. I have chosen Princess Melinda to be our next Queen, through the inspiration of the invisible woman of Janport Island, Diana Lorborough. Princess Melinda is the only remaining daughter in the Royal House of Janport Island. She is also the only daughter in the Royal House of Queens, who is going to take over the throne as a Queen. She is the only bone of my bones, because of my childless nature of my manhood. As a man, made up with water and blood, he must have one or two errors in life. The gods are to blame; though there have not yet told us, they are in-charge of the realm of the spirit. But as a King, I knew their powers are beyond human understanding. And they are aware of what is happening to me, right from the beginning of my life, till the end. But they refused to speak the truth, in other to eras all my misfortune.

To tell you the truth, the gods of this land refused to make me a man in nature, which the flames of my tears are with me, all day long.

Who knows one day, I would be dethroned as a King in this Island! I believe that is why I did not have a child, up till today – this is important issue that touches my heart. And that is why I declared, Princess Melinda as my only

daughter and my earthly gift that would wipe away my tears. It means all my properties in this Island and else way, belongs to her. No one else has the full right to share any of my properties.

In the actual sense, I cannot take her as my own daughter: if I consider her as an adopted child, by tomorrow, her life, maybe gone down to the nightfall and wave over the other side of life.

The reason I bring this to the notice of everyone in this kingdom is because, by tomorrow, one or two persons would come up from no way and claim my properties as the rightful owner; I am from his father’s family; I am from his mother’s family. . . . No, that is not the true.

If such thing happened, the person is a criminal. I have nobody else, apart from Princess Melinda. She is my only property I have on earth – likewise all my properties belong to her. I have taken all of you as my true witnesses. Not only as my witnesses but also to remind you, why did the gods of the land kept Princess Melinda alive to this day. It is because; my loneliness in this very life could’ve been too much, if not Princess Melinda. In the other where round, if there was an opportunity for Susan Willie to kill her, nobody should have been on my side to hand over all my properties to.

Apart from handing over all my properties to her, my properties could have become American Dollars that are touching the hands of every citizens of the world. Maybe I could have acted the where one of the American wealthy millionaire deed. Which he did not has a single child in his life before he died.

Having no single child, he divided his properties into two places; one side, he ‘Will’ it to one of his lovely dog, while he ‘Will’ the second side to an unknown person. And he wrote the ‘WILL’ and put it inside a sealed bottle and through it inside an ocean. Whosoever that would pick the bottle, all the properties would automatically belong to the person. I think that was why the gods kept Princess Melinda alive for me, so it would not happen as it happened to that of the American wealthy millionaire.

Instead of sharing my properties to one of my dog and cat, I’m going to ‘will’ all of my properties to my immediate cousin, Princess Melinda. The chosen ones of this great Island, this is a clear decision to me and nobody should change it.

Since I brought Princess Melinda into this very Palace, automatically she becomes the bone of my bones, thinking that, the gods who has favour to great kings in the past would favour me with a child. But the gods of the land refused to render mercy and a comionate heart unto me – that is why the gods should be blamed. When a child needs bread and the father gave him a serpent; is the father, a good father or a wicked father? I know no one can get the right answer, because the truth is hard to speak.

The accurate answer is that, the father is a terrible father, if he gave his son a serpent. That means the gods of this great Island are terrible gods, who have no tender mercy to someone like me. The gods of this Island knew everything about me, both in the present and in the past. There knew, one day, they would dethrone me as a king in my kingdom. Knowing quite well that I have no child beside me to replace me as a King, when I cross over to the other side of the red sea,”

“What a pity in the life of a noble King like me.”

“One thing I discovered from the creator of man is that, every man, who journey into this circle of life, has a destiny to fulfil before he died. My destiny fulfilment in this life is to become a King with empty home. Before embarking on the journey to the red sea; a place of no returned. I have to speak the truth in the present of everyone, here present, because the gods are so wicked to a noble King like me. I have tried and tried all the possible best in my life to marry a woman of my choice. Who is beautiful than the Queen of England. But no one accept a handsome man like me as a husband; or even an ordinary friend. Apart from being a childless father, my fossils in this very circle of life has no foot mark to trace me, when am gone.” He huffed for a while, “What a shame to me, as my manhood had no value to humanity. I have choose Princess Melinda to be my immediate foot mark, which I knew, my properties can never be my foot mark, but it is only my Princess that can be my true foot mark in this very generation that is full of evil. As from today, onward, I have confirmed this in the presence of all of you as my witnesses to take her as my only daughter. As from today, I have ‘WILL’ all my properties to her; either fixed asset or cash. If I died today or tomorrow, no one, born of woman should drag any of my properties with her. This is the original copy of the Will:

The chairman of the House of Lords, the High Priest of Janport Island, and the Head of the King’s Guards, senior elders, representing the twenty-four families, the Youth President, the Chair-lady of the women’s Council, the Ancestor of our land, knowingly and unknowingly, and my spirit guards. You are all my witnesses to this day in the fourth month of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is officially confirm to this ‘WILL’ to my only beloved daughter, Princess Melinda Lawrence. That she is my loyal daughter, including her future generation, yet unborn.”

All eyes were on him, while they remained silent:

“I stand on this holy Palace that was built for the Queens to dwell in peace and not in pieces in other to carry out their legitimate duties of this great Island. As from today’s onward, whosoever that would drag any of my properties with Princess Melinda, or plan any evil against her, openly, or secretly, may he or she not live to see his or her grandchildren. May he or she become barren as I am today!

Chapter 31

The Cappella of the Royal Queen

I always told you people that an accident is part of human life; though it claims many lives. Everyone in this world are always tempted in one where or another. Some may look for ways to gets it done, while others could not see the gate to walk out of their problems. Then the facts of their problems pushed them into the act of committing suicide. But we have to strive to overcome the enemies within us.

Again, there are no imitations in our mind, except those we acknowledge. Every one of us must consider in one way, or another in other to change the world we are living. If our thought is positive, our mind would as well becomes positive.

The king could not withdraw his curse, for those who would tres over his properties; he speaks, rudely before the presence of the audience. “No child, no wife, even though he or she adopted a child from any orphanage home within the town or else way, let the child die within seven days. Even though he or she has a wife or husband, they must die before the coming of the festival of flames.”

“I swear to this day with pains in my heart,”

“As I hit this staff of office on the ground, which our forefathers use, right from the origin of this great Island; I have endorsed a physical and spiritual signature

over this ‘Will’ to Princess Melinda Lawrence. Whosoever that will temper on any of my properties must surely die.” Edwin Workman could no longer bear it. He stood up and speaks,

“Your Royal Majesty, please, reduced the capacity of the curse; it is too high for anyone who would tres into your properties. What happened to you, concerning your childless nature of your manhood is not ordinary, but it is in the hands of the gods divine.

Do not let what happened to you, generate to another person else.

Kindly reduced some curses from the will.”

“No! I can never reduce the curse to anybody who is going to tres over my own properties. Tell me, does it mean that you are planning to drag any of my properties with Princess Melinda?

What . . . , I don’t have such thing in mind,” Edwin Workman replied.

It shows that you are nursing evil in mind. If you try it, you must surely die. I have said it, no going back.”

The King hit his staff of office on the ground, repeatedly: “I have sealed and signed this ‘Will’ in the presents of the following witnesses as

follows.” As he hit the staff of office on the ground, he endorses his signature; Signed by me, King Pedro, the King of Janport Island. Witness one: Chairman of the House of Lords, Stephenson King. Witness two: Edwin Workman, the High Priest. Witness three: Mr. Andrew Evanson, the youth President. After the g of the Will, he handed over the original copy of the ‘Will’ to Princess Melinda.

Princess Melinda rejected the ‘Will’ immediately and she tendered a request of marriage in the present of the audience:

“Oh King, I have never made a King like you, since I was born. Who value his properties more than love! When I was a child, I behave like a child. When I grew up, I continued to stay with you as a baby. And when I became adult, as beautiful as I am, you refused to tender a request of love and marriage to me and make me a wife.

I have told you this in a secret room, time without number: a woman cannot leave without a man, likewise a man. You are so wicked more than the devil; if you refused to declare me in the present of the general house of Janport Island that, I am your wife. Then your ‘WILL’ to me, is worthless.”

“The King of my lineage –,” said Princess Melinda.

“The only daughter that waken my spirit –”

“Lend your hearts to me and you will leave forever.”

“As a cousin, what should I do for you that would please your heart?”

“You must hand over your hearts to me and make me a woman.”

“In this present age, can such immorality be done?”

“The changes must begin with us,” she whispered.

The King jerked his head to the audience and said, “The secret sound of the mystical drums is echoing in my ears in other to corrupt my hearts, while the noble men and women are watching over me in other to commit authorities.

Can my heart be departed from the rail of truth . . .?

I have hits the mystical drums, today, and no one is ready to dance with me.”

“Oh King, declare yourself to me and I will dance with you,” she rejoiced. On Saturday, when the nature kicks the clocks at three forty-five in summer seasons itself in the middle of the nature, King Pedro called for an emergency meeting in his Palace after returning from Newgater, the Capital City of

Arctilumana.

Immediately they arrived, he presented his final speech before the commencement of the dethronement:

“The leader of the House of lords, the Elders of the twenty-four families, the High Priest, the Chair-lady of the women's council, here represented, and other prominent citizens of our land; I welcome you all for this remarkable day in the history of this great kingdom. And this would remain in the mind of all the sons and daughters of this great Island. I cannot hide anything from any of you. I had offended the entire Island, if am not mistaken, including the young women, men and the elderly people. If you may ask, why do I offend any of you?

The reason is that, the kingship of this Island was absent in the mind of the invisible woman in the past century. But now, it has unfolded in her super conscious mind. She knows the INS and the OUTS of this Island in this present age. The confidentiality of the Queenship has been exposed to all sons and daughters of this magnificent Island of ours.

The founding fathers of this great Island has missed lead the Royal House of Janport Island, including the Janportanians. All the secrets where kept within the two bodies – which were unknown to anyone else, except the House of Lords and the Royal House of Queens.

But now, it has rolled in, in the hearts of every son and daughters of this Island.

There is one thing I always happy – when I ed that, I am not the one who crowned myself as a King. It means I and my late father are innocent before

the House of Lords, and the Royal House of Queens. If not, the gods of the land could have swallowed us alive as a hungry lion. When I see myself being childless, I give thanks to the ancestors for keeping me alive up till today. I always proud of Princess Melinda, because she is standing by my side to renew my foot-mark, when am gone. If Susan Willie has the power to kill her, nobody could have been on my side to take over all my properties, when am gone to the other side of the river of dead. In addition, I wanted to expose the secrets of this Island today, to every one of you here present; it is no more a hidden thing in the Royal House of Queen and the House of Lords. Some years ago, I got married to three different women as a King; I paid their dairies in full, but today, no one has put birth to me, nor stayed with me in the Palace as a wife or wives. I had visited four different orphanage homes in this town and elsewhere for adoption of a child. But today, no one is alive to become a mirror of my life. Whenever I adopt any child and stepped into the golden gate of this very Palace, the next seven days, the child would die, unexpectedly. I have tried these four times, but no one has the head or tail.

What have I done wrong to the gods of this Island? In the past seven years, I discovered that the cause of my problem is in the hands of the invisible woman of this Island. Then I have performed so many rituals to the gods of this land, including Diana Lorborough. They pretend to me that, they have accepted the sacrifice, but then, things are still remain the same. What can I do to wipe away the pains in my heart?

To me, an accident is part of human life, though it has claimed so many lives. By adopting precautional measures, it would reduce the loss of innocent lives on this Island. That is why I am accidentally prepared to accept this dethronement in my kingdom.

Napoleon Hill, once said, ‘There are no imitations to the mind, except those we acknowledge.’ Today, I have acknowledged all my past and the present mistakes. To my understanding, no one can change the things in the past. Except we acknowledge our wrongdoings, and prepared to changed our tomorrow. That is why I apologize to the entire Island to opened up all my wrong that I did in the past, including that of my father.

When I ed the core stories of this Island, they were nothing like a King, sitting on the throne, but a Queen was the one, who rule the entire Island. But today, it has made known to all of you, no more secret any longer. When I pictured my consciousness, I saw my father sitting as a King . . ., and today; I saw myself also in the throne, sitting as a crown King too, which the House of Lords are ready to dethrone me as a kid and not a King. My fellow citizens of Janport Island, if the House of Lords knew I am not the rightful Prince to sit on the throne, they should have set me aside as an abandoned slave in the Royal of the Queen.

Then, if we were not slaves in our father’s land, why should the gods treated us as slaves in the land of our ancestors? Why should the House of Lords, crowned me as a King? Am I to be blamed? Or the entire House of Lords. Should I put the whole blames to the gods of the land? Again, we have so many questions to ask the gods of Janport Island, before pouring all the blames on me. When I ed the twenty-four elders, who lifted the Golden Crown unto my head and today, where are they? They have all gone to the land of the spirit, one after another. Let everyone take note this to afford further mistake. What a pity in the heart of a noble King like me.

It is now, my turned to leave the throne in a respectful where, before they took my body to the evil force for the birds of the air to eat all my flesh, off the bones. It is time for me to the ancestors on the other side of the River Jordan, where no one goes there and returned to life.”

“What a sorrow in the heart of men.”

“With my whole heart, I have apologized for all the indigenous people of this great Island, both young and the old, and to those living abroad; seen and unseen, knowingly and unknowingly. May you all accept my apology in good faith; believing, one day, we shall meet again! Our ancestors used to say, ‘A wrong cannot make a right, except the right corrects the wrong.’

Fellow citizens of Janport Island, I have seen all the mistakes my father and I deed, keeping the entire kingdom in total darkness. Today, our silent night has gone in other to open the nosy day to end poverty, and usher in freedom of justice to flow in every looks and corners of this great Island. No more silent night – no more poverty, no more war in our midst. No more crises in our land, but peace, dwelling in our midst.

I have a dream that one day, a Queen would control the State of Janport Island. In months to come, it would surely come to past. No more Kings, sitting on the throne. But Queens, rolling the entire Island as the case, maybe. This is a new beginning; we have to celebrate it together. As from today, prosperity has ushered into the four corners of this great Island. May you all accept my apology in good faith! When the last judgment is on our doorstep, we shall meet again.”

Immediately the King finished his final speech, he slummed on the floor and he was rushed to Lowman Specialist Hospital

When Princess Melinda heard that, King Pedro had been rushed to the hospital, she travelled back immediately to meet with the House of Lords to planed for the final burial of the King.

Arriving at the King’s Palace, the Royal House of Queen and the House of Lords assemble and discuses on how to crown Princess Melinda as the sixth Queen to take over the throne from King Pedro the 2nd.

When Edwin Workman, the High Priest was about to crowned her, he remained her that, she is the only one to survive King Pedro at a point of shadowy grave. That, King Pedro died because of the absent of a wife and the children in his family.

Princess Melinda traced and found where the body of King Pedro was laid. She rest up the death body of King Pedro, and remained him that, she would marry him, if he would recovered from slumber before rapture took place. The King was already death and nobody knew if he would be recovered again.

Princess Melinda stood beside the death body of King Pedro. She cried and cried in other to wake up the spirit of the King. But it was impossible. She made a kiss and kisses him the more. And his body was already decomposed. She covered him with a linen clothe.

And when she was about to shut down to door, she told him that, the invisible woman had appeared to her in the dream and made a promise to crown him together with her as a second in-command, but the spirit of King Pedro had gone beyond human understanding.

On the coronation day, King Pedro was seen, walking in from the entrance door, which he covered all his body with linen clothe.

As he trip into the Palace, he announced to the whole audience. “Princess

Melinda, I can’t spend my life and die without having someone like you as a wife. And I can’t go home that no man ever returned back on earth. Unfortunately when I arrived the Dystopia Island, mom, dad, and the kids would mock at me. . . . Behind me, there is nothing. Before me, there is nothing.

Come to me, Oh, the most beautiful Queen, a Queen that break my heart. And I will marry you as a Queen, instead of dying like a coward. And the entire House of Lords and the House of Queen would us together as husband and wife.” The audience were all watching over him, while he walked into the hall sluggishly.

As he trip closed to the Queen, he hung on her shoulder with a breathless motion. “I know I hardly say it because I feel that you already know it; every time I do say it with a voiceless manner, but I couldn’t speak it out and by then, I couldn’t understand that you are the one to safe my life. I was shying at all time, even sometimes and I was scared and scared to tell you how I feel as if I just met with you for the first time, but I was with you when you were a kid. It is because I don’t want to disgrace myself to you as an Uncle. But I will never again be shameful to say it in the public . . .”

He toasts her with kisses. “Yes . . ., I love you and I’m proud of having you as a fiancée. Though the Janportanians would mock at me, but I will never forget to say, I love you, I love and I love.

Down to the bottom of my heart, I will spell your name without using a biro. Then, I will continue to say, I love you, I love you, I love you.” He jerked his head to the audience, “My life, my love, my hearts was an orphan to every beautiful and the most ugly woman in town.

But today, I can’t die for not loving you. I will love you and depart no more –“

Queen Melinda smiled. “That’s true –“

“Oh yes . . . . I will love you today, tomorrow and forever.

Moreover, I felt in my hearts, you would consider me, now as your fiancé. Then, in the next few second, you will announce my name as your husband.” He trilled, “I will never, never die again because I have a Queen, so beautiful like you,”

It was a joyful moment in the Queen’s Palace, when the House of Lords and the House of Queen, ed the dethroned King with the new crowned Queen, Queen Melinda Lawrence as a new couple in town. And it was a surprising moonlight moment to all Janportanians to see the King, getting married to his cousin. But Pedro Rowe, the former King and Queen Melinda, the sixth did not mindful to love each other as husband and wife.

At the closed end of the coronation, Queen Melinda, the sixth gave thanks to the House of Lords and the House of Queen, the invitees who witness a brighter moment of love, joy and happiness that is about to spring in their lives.

At the end, there were all excited to see the couple, making merriment of marriage in the Queen’s Palace; and they departed to their various homes with joy.

To – God – be – the – glory.

Acknowledgement

My regards goes to my higher self who energies me with creative muscles towards bringing this project into fruition.

To Him, alone is all the glory.

My acknowledgement also spring to my irable mentor, Jeanie Reeve from Scotland; without her, this project won’t have existed in the realm where humans dwell. She had made me proud; I have a mentor like her.

About the Author

Chrissaint Trivett is a Nigeria best Novelist, interested in writing Gothic, Horror, Fantasy and Historical Novels, a Book Cover Designer, Reviewer, a creator of Creativearenna; he is editor-in-chief of Krissaint Boon Publishers and the editor of Destiny Boon Digest, an essential monthly newsletter for those seeking to redress and restore their destiny to the right track, which is widely red worldwide. He is the author of, The Tears of Suicide and paperback” (published January 19th 2019), which is one of the bestselling book so far.

We Hate to Depart: A Winter Night's Dreams.

He holds a Master Degree in Parapsychology and numerous Degrees he obtained from various fields of studies.

He lives in Alaska, USA with his wife, Patience, with five children, and one cat, Zooky and a dog, Mooney.

Connect with the Author:

EmailAdress: [email protected],

Goodreads Profile

Friend me on Facebook

Follow Me on Twitter

Follow Me on Pinterest

Visit our official Blog and sign up Newsletters: https://www.creativearenna.blogspot.com.

Postscript

Katrin Oliver, a notorious gang leader died in 2003 in E2 Nightclub in Chicago. After killing her husband, James Parker for more than twenty years, but her memory lives on.

The End.