Merry Haven - Episode 13

 

Reginald beheld a sight that got her thinking back at the worst day of her life - the day she lost her parents to the cold hands of death. She sat beside him, watching the eyes of Unkur, they were a reflection of each other. Annas got all his features, it made her shudder with fright, but she hid it. She swore to hate him forever, but it was unfair to hate him. It wasn't his fault, he only had Unkur's looks. 
  Annas greeted her with a voice she couldn't forget, she wasn't liking it . He took not only his looks, but his slow-like voice. She got along, hiding her frightened state. Unkur was bald but Annas wasn't, Annas also had long beards. He also looked older than Unkur, which was surprising.
 She scanned her hands at his face, veiling his mind from Unkur's connection. Her hands stopped on his beards, shielding it. It made her sick when she figured it all, he was a carbon copy of Unkur. 
   She spent more time with Annas, talking about life and it's treatment. About  education, likes and dislikes. She was tired of maintaining the conversation. She excused her self, moving quickly to the rest room. 
  She saw her frightened face in the  mirror, her nicely cut hair was the only part oblivious of her agony. She cried loudly in the restroom, purging out her feelings with a sweet relieving sob

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/merry-haven

. She needed to pour out the tears. Annas had made her returned to a long forgotten past, she loathed his face, it disgusted her. She would never have anything with a man carrying the face of Unkur around. 

That was weeks ago, or a month now. She had learnt to accept Annas. Though he had Unkur's looks, but Reginald loved his good manners. He was a selfless friend, he was so innocent.

 Reginald started accepting Annas the day she delved into his tormented realm. She felt his pains, the pain of his torments. It was a torment that could kill him, but he was strong, stronger than some men. His great grand relatives tormented him, making him suffer for a sin that wasn't his. He was plagued with their curses and torments. He couldn't stand a million dead relatives torment. Reginald delved into his realm, pulling him out of  his woes. 
   Out of pity, she promised to always help him with her powers. A man shouldn't go through such torments. She made it her priority to find out the mystery behind his torments. He didn't kill his great grand relatives, Unkur did. She couldn't watch him suffering from what he knew nothing about. 

  She now welcomed him to Wide-pass with a fair heart. They went to the basketball court together, drove in his Ferrari together, visited wonderful sites together. They were like couples. Reginald still loathed his eyes, it was a reminder of her woes. She had grown to love his manners alone. Annas helped by wearing sunglass, covering his eyes. She felt sorry about it all. 
  Reginald was now understanding her powers, with the help of the ancient spirit lady. The lady thought her how to  harness time, just like Unkur. She was a lady, that had known Reginald since her parents death. Helping her hone her powers, but she was only known to Reginald alone. Few knew about the lady, but her identity wasn't known.
 She used the time abilities to slow time around the grave, making Unkur meet their absence. she did it brilliantly. It was a tough task, but she, with the help of Annas had succeded in bringing the dajri and the healer back home safely. The time helped a great deal. Kashees wanted to know how she used it, but she prefer not telling. The tricks were meant for her and her alone, she had the right to keep it. So she thought.

   Reginald and Annas were in a two storey building located at the hub of Wide-pass. It was one of her assets. She needed a time off Kashees's jungle. Annas offered to stay with her; Aaron and Castro stayed as well. Miraj was with Kashees.

The living room was nicely adorned with figurines and other exotic collections of carved artefacts. There was a portrait on the wall, it was a painting of Reginald's lost uncle. He had a bald hair, and big eyes.
  It was a bright afternoon, Aaron and Castro were away, Reginald was left with Annas. 
  Annas appeared at the living room with a tray. He dropped it on a stool, drawing the stool to Reginald. He sat on the floor, watching Reginald with happiness, he seemed impatient, he wanted to watch her eat. 

"Come on Reggie, eat, I prepared it with joy and love." He said, with excitement. Reginald drew the stool close to where she sat, near her  couch.

"Wow, it looks nice. It's rice..." Reginald muttered, rubbing her palms together. She dipped the spoon into the rice, conveying the fetched rice into her mouth. She chewed slowly, relishing the sweet taste. 

"How is it, do you like it?" Annas asked. 

"I love it!" She confessed. "Come join me."

"I have had my fill already, eat." Annas said, watching her. He was on his sunglass.

"Are your friends still calling?"

"Yes, all the time. Even my mum. But I told her l will be coming soon."

"What about your friends, what are you telling them?"

"Same thing I told my mum." 

"Okay..."

"Tell me Reggie, how did you harnessed time when we were at the graveyard?"

"It's a long process, I can't explain it now, maybe later."

"What are your powers, I just know you can do magic, but  I don't know your specialty."

"Am just plain..."

"I don't think so. You are stronger than my brother, you brought me out from the torment when my brother can't, now you are harnessing time. What are you?"
 
She ate her rice, preferring to eat, she had been avoiding the question for some time now. Reginald was a lady with abilities beyond her comprehension. She could speak to a lady in her mind. She was like a conduit, the lady used her to rein out magical forces, but with her consent. Her late uncle (she believed he was alive somewhere) told her she was a vessel used by a strong goddess, thus her strange powers.

"Reginald, some one is knocking, let me go get the door." 

"I didn't hear any one knocking." said Reginald, confused.

Annas moved to the door to know whom it was, but Reginald could swear that she didn't hear a thing.

"Noooo!!!" His screaming blinded her ears. Reginald sped to the door, clutching Annas on his firm hands.

"What happened, why are you shouting?"

Annas only pointed out the door, Reginald followed his fingers, but there was no one outside.

"Please leave me, am not your killer, I didn't do it, please!!!" Annas shouted again.

It was too much for Reginald, she tapped him on his back, trying to pull him off his trance. It only disturbed him when he was drunk, but Annas wasn't. She was with him all day.

"Annas listen to me... Come out of it. You can do it, you didn't kill them."

Annas slammed the door, locking it from an invincible being Reginald couldn't see. He sped in, moving upstairs.
Reginald heard him screaming, Annas didn't feel her presence. She followed him, trying to ease him off the burden. He entered a nearby room locking the door. Reginald shook the door knob, trying to open it.

"Annas, open the door I can help you." She said, still shaking the door knob. It was useless. Reginald thought about the room in her mind, in seconds she was in. "Please Annas be calm."
She clutched his right arm, trying to see what Annas could see.

You can't do anything about it now... The lady said in her mind.

But he needs my help, please help him, he is suffering. He needs your help... Reginald begged the voice.

This is beyond my reach. The curse is coming soon, it wouldn't be up to a month any longer...

What curse, but but he is suffering, let me see what he sees, please...

I can't let you. It will kill you...

But they will kill him, I don't want that... Reginald said to the voice.

Annas shoved his hands with fright, hitting Reginald on her cheeks, she dropped to the floor, cradling her injured cheeks. Annas ran to the bed, covering his head with a white pillow, shivering. "Leave me alone, I didn't kill you, leave me!!" Annas wailed.

The time has come, the curse must take it's effect. The damned spirits sense the coming of more deaths.... Said the voice in Reginald's head.
Reginald ran to Annas, gripping his elbow.

She appeared in Kashees living room (which was like a hall), screaming. "Kashees!!" She called again. Kashees appeared lifting his brother up from the wooden floor. He sped up the spiral stair with his brother on his arms.

"Come up, follow us, please.." Kashees called her. She followed.

They laid him on a bed. Kashees clutched his legs, Miraj gripped his hands. 

"Reginald, now, do it." Kashees said. Annas was too strong to hold, he was shaking violently. "Reginald now!"

"I can't." She said, with tears trickling down her cheeks.

"What do you mean?" Kashees said, with a confused look.

"I can't help him. It's the effect of your family curse, the time has come. I am sorry..." She said, pouring out her tears.
They watched him suffer. It was too much for her to bear, she ran downstairs, sobbing loudly on her way.

About an hour past, they joined her downstairs, wearing a sad face. "He has stopped, now he is sleeping." Kashees told her.

"This shouldn't be his life, he is a nice person. He shouldn't go through this treatment. It hurts that I cannot help him again." Reginald said, feeling pensive.

"What did he drink?" Kashees asked.

"He was with me through out the day. I didn't see him drink. He was fine. He didn't drink at all."

"I can't believe it's happening. We are doomed." Kashees muttered.

"How?" Asked Miraj.

"It's the curse, it wouldn't pass two weeks now. It has come." Said Kashees.

"But we have scores of magicians we would all help your family." Reginald suggested.

"It would amount to nothing. My great great great grand parents tried doing same, but the curse was too strong, the killer slaid all the magicians, many of my great great grand parents tried using more magicians, but they failed. The curse is too strong. He that slays the whole family is stronger than millions, even stronger than superman."

"But we can try, you have a plan. Remember?" Miraj said. Not having the knowledge of what was going on.

"I did, not again. It didn't work. I can't make connection with him when he falls into the trance. I wanted to contact my great grandfather through Annas, but they didn't let me, the souls threw me back with the torments. It was too much to bear, I felt the pains of a thousand man. God please save Annas!" Kashees said, pitying his younger brother. He looked pathetic.

They assembled magicians, begging for help, some left, refusing to be part of it. 
 Reginald was in her living room with many magicians, all dressed in colourful cultural attires. They were nine males and a female. Castro, Miraj, Faruq, and Aaron all stood near her. Annas was with his brother, back in the jungle, preparing to leave. They had embraced their fate.

"We all know about the curse, no one had ever succeeded in the past." Said the only lady in the group. She was a very slim woman, her hair had a stylish threading style. She had an owl-like eyes.

"There are chances that we can win, that's why I called you here." Said Reginald.

"It is believed that the one who kills the family is possessed with leagues of demons that even Unkur can't control. They are all with him shielding him from harm, they give him power beyond human capacity. How do we have a chance against thousands of demons." Said the woman, she seemed skeptic. The group grumbled, probably agreeing with her.

They all went silent when they heard a knock on the door.
"I will get the door." Aaron volunteered. He appeared back with much company. 
 They all came in, they were also clothed in beautiful brocade, Ankara, and many more beautiful fabrics, styled to their taste - magicians loved keeping it native. Reginald counted about fifteen of the magicians. They were with Benjamin and Ernest. They were five ladies out of the fifteen magicians. 
 A tall man with a staff, watched her closely. His face looked rough, his head was creased giving him a stern look.

"I am Ahiaba, we received your summon, and we are here to help." Said the tall man.

"I also received it as well. We are the sworn brothers, we live to see that the Jacobs live." Said a little man amongst them.

Reginald knew them all, they were the descendants of the nine magicians, the heroic deed of their grandparents was well known among the council of magicians.

"We believe you can also play a big role in this fight. We know you are a seer, a vessel, the goddess speak through you. You can help us speak with the goddess, she will help us." Said the little man.

"God bless you all for doing this, my family will forever appreciate your selfless efforts." Benjamin said, looking glad.

"Thank you all, we are happy that men and women of your kind are here to see that we fight and defeat one enemy." Ernest added.

"Like I told Ernest and Benjamin, his son Tettes is working hard to bring Ebiye back from the dead as a dajri, Ebiye has a good plan, we will be needing him." Said Ahiaba.

They were grumbling and whispering all around, they looked surprised. 

"Ebiye is the only way, he will help us as well." The little man helped, seeing that they were jarred speeches around.

Ebiye was the name of Annas's great grandfather, a cunning, wise, and smart magician. He had helped magicians during his stay on earth. A renowned magician.
 They all swore to fight Unkur to death. It was a very great moment for Reginald, she felt the love and admiration for her good and selfless act. She was their hero.

She met the wooden building empty, she ran up the spiral stair, checking all the rooms, but she found nobody. Virrn the Caracal came to her in the living room, feeling lost, and lonely.

"Virrn, where did they go?" She asked. The Caracal only stared at her.