Merry Haven - Episode 4

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The lady was adorned with colorful head beads, her bracelet was made from bronze. She had a dark blue eyes with seven thick gold spots on it - like Annas's eyes. It (the eyes) embodied joy, sorrow, and many emotions packed in one when staring at it.
  Why should an African woman possess such eyes? he often asked the same of his brother. Africans iris wasn't painted the way Annas' was . (Definitely not whites; when it comes to the thick gold spots that were glued to his dark blue iris, the gold spots were arranged in a crescent shape.)  Did Annas orchestrated all this? Tettes wouldn't know. It was a silly thought.  

She walked along the pavement, at the spot where Benjamin's employee was murdered, her sorrowful eyes studied the spot, nodding.
 The full moon shone on the street. The street was deserted, with no single being, it was as dead as a graveyard, only interrupted by the singing from an ice cream van.

 She drew her gaze away from the pavement, bringing it to Eatery delite, Tettes heart flew, he hid under a table, grasping a leg of the table with fright. "Please don't see me, please, please, please don't!," he muttered, shivering.
 It seemed his prayers wasn't heard, she studied the window of the restaurant with care this time, her eyes lingered at the table Tettes was under. She walked closer to the window, still watching the table.
 "It is time Unkur, let's wipe out the Jacobs out of the surface of this earth for good." she said, with a languid voice.

Tettes felt the fast pace of his heart beat, the lady was speaking to no one in particular

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

. Was she insane? She was freaking him out. 
 He heard a sound behind the lady, she stooped down, fetching a grey wool with something or someone in it, she stood up, cradling the wool with care - no it wasn't a baby, Tettes noticed, it was a little creature.

 She unclothed the grey wool covering the creature's face, it stretched out it's neck glaring at Tettes, they had seen him already.

 It was a grey creature, with pointy ears, it's orange eyes were big and it was glowing like a burning flame. It looked like a pet, but a pet that was no mere pet. It wielded an evil greater than any demon Tettes could ever imagine, he felt the evil.

Tettes stood up from under the table, peering at the frail creature, the lady smirked, probably at his foolish decision. He wished he could go back hiding, but it was too late.

A greater fear enveloped him when he heard the creature laughing, it sounded funny and hoarse, and very terrifying.
Goose pimples grew on his skin.

 There was a crashing force on the window, it smashed into tiny pieces when a figure dived in, it was a tall man. His face was blur, Tettes couldn't place his facial look. But he perceived him as an old man.

The tall man dusted his old and tattered caftan like it was nothing, there was no noise from the little fiend again. The old man moved to Tettes, grasping his arms when he met him, Tettes somehow felt comforted by the old man's touch.

"Little cub, am here for you. I know that we are meeting in a different scene this time, but don't be scared. They dare not meddle with the Jacobs again." The old man said, his voice was always comforting, his accent was nothing Tettes had ever heard, it sounded archaic.

"You couldn't protect your self, how will you protect them." The lady teased, she was patting the creature on it's head. 

"Watch me." Was the old man's reply.

The creature somehow understood the old man, for it dived out of the lady's bossom, flying towards them, his hands were stretched, and it was laughing. 

It was closer to them this time, Tettes dread revisited him again, he screamed when the creature was an inch closer to him.

Tettes opened his eyes, it was only a dream, but the dream was different compared to his previous ones.
 He shuddered when he spotted Annas watching him. Annas was leaning against the door, with arms folded across his chest.

Tettes dreaded those eyes, it gave him the creeps, why should a black man possess such eyes, was his brother human? he wondered.

"Will you get up, I have been watching you for over thirty minutes now." Annas broke the lingering silence. "You were screaming, what's wrong bro, come on, tell me."

It was unlike Annas to care, maybe he was up to no good, Tettes would keep it to him self "It was nothing big bro, just those silly things I did before going to bed, they found their way into my dreams."

"And what are they?"

"Playing basketball." He lied

Annas gave a mocking laugh "we all know you suck at Basketball, come downstairs, I prepared us a meal." 

"Okay, I will be there soon."

"Nope, follow me, we march together." Said Annas, he moved to his younger brother, lifting him up, out from the bed, Tettes was marvelled at Annas's strength, he lifted him like he wasn't lifting a human, without gasping for breath. They strode together, abreast.

"Why are you screaming in a basketball dream, Basketball is a fun game." Annas said on their way.

"It is fun, but I tried scoring like you did."

"And how do I score?"

"In an epic NBA style - Scoring and holding the hoop."

"Then why were you screaming?, woah! You fell didn't you?"

"I did, and the floor seemed unending, I couldn't hit the ground."

"That's a hell of a dream."

"Yeah, it was." Tettes agreed, he glanced at his brother's milk t-shirt, reading the printed words. "Annas, has dad travelled?"

"So you think I can't wear it in front of him.. your too young to understand what a jerk Mr Ernest is."

"I know he isn't present." Said Tettes, they were closer to the dinning room already.

"He and his assistant travelled, those lot love business." Annas uttered, Tettes knew how nonchalant Annas was, he cared little about anything, especially their father's wealth. Mr Ernest might fume with anger when he sees the t-shirt Annas was wearing; 'Fuck you dad, I love my mum!' was printed on the t-shirt. Annas was everything he wasn't, he could never be like Annas.

Tettes rested on a chair across Mrs Juliet, and Annas. Annas prepared noodles, it was well spiced, with carrots, green beans, and fried chicken.

"Miss Margaret sends her greetings, she travelled this morning." Said Juliet.

"To where?" Tettes asked

"Her first son is getting married next week." Annas answered. Juliet gave him a  stern look, Annas only grinned, shoving a fork filled with noodles into his mouth.

"And am traveling to Dakar today, son." She said to Tettes.

"For what mum, are you all leaving? Dad and Sydney travelled for business, miss Margaret travelled for her son's wedding, and you are traveling as well, I can't stay with Annas."

"You have to. Am going to Dakar for business, I love their fabrics and I will need one in my shop, their fabrics are great, customers choice. And am not only going there for fabrics, am securing a great link with their traders." She explained.

"He doesn't understand all that." said Annas

"When will you be back?" Tettes asked, ignoring his elder brother.

"As soon as am done," Was her reply.

Her travelling bag was at the porch, he helped her with it, bringing it into the boot of the Ferrari, Annas was in the car already, drumming on the steering wheel. 

She thanked him, pulling the door. "And son, read your books." She advised. He hated those sentences, it was like a mantra on her lips already.

"Juliet, he has heard." Annas said, she shut the door.

Tettes waved at them, studying them. A tall gaunt man drew the gate open, saluting Juliet as they rode past him.

 Annas was to drop her at the airport and return with the car, but he knew Annas, he might come late with the car - maybe tomorrow. Tettes cared less, he knew what a Jerk his brother was.

Tettes and Nal was at the backyard, Nal was shoving his fat body in the pool, practicing an awkward backstroke. Tettes was sitting on the steel step ladder, his heels were buried in the water.

It was a boring Saturday for him, he called Nal his pal and classmate to keep him from feeling lonely, they could have great time together, he  wouldn't be alone today. 

 The sun ruled the sky, it was a superb time to have a swim. Nal shuffled his hands, beating the water, he was an amateur.

"Tess, are you seeing this! it's a butterfly stroke, that's what they call it." Nal announced, enjoying the moment. He was a fat short boy, with big ears. He had a tiny head. Tettes often call him 'master elf'.

Nal was the only true friend Tettes had, Nal was the shy type, he was always bullied in school. Tettes had his own problems, but he often made Nal stood for himself and scorn his bullies, he had failed as a coach. Nal was always cheerful in Tettes's presence. 
 Nal was a nerd, very brilliant at academics, Tettes found it helpful, for he thrusted his assignments to Nal. Nal was interested in his dreams.

"Nal, I had those dreams again - but it was a bit different this time. The old man and The lady met." Said Tettes.

Nal stopped his awkward strokes, he swam closer to Tettes. "Wow! Tell me, I want to know all of it!"
 
Tettes told him, he felt relieved pouring it all, it was like an enormous thorn had been plucked out of his flesh.

"This old man that loves teaching you healing herbs, hmmm.... Can you describe the old man?" Nal asked, after listening to Tettes.

"I didn't really studied his looks, I just knew that he was an old man. Besides, we were facing two demons." Tettes managed.

"What about the times you aren't?" Nal asked, he didn't get a reply. "Please don't forget any healing herbs he teaches you next time." He added "He had appeared in your dreams more than once, how then you never noted his facial appearance?"

"That's the power of dreams." Said Tettes.

They both spent the rest of the day together, Annas was still not back. Nal handed a tiny dream diary to Tettes, making him promise to keep on updating his dreams on it, especially the herbal lessons.

"Your dreams are interlinked, is kind of telling you something. You shouldn't treat your dreams lightly." Nal cautioned

"No qualms. please stay longer, I don't think Annas is coming back today." Tettes pleaded.

"It's getting late, I will come back tomorrow morning, I promise."

"Just a little bit more, please..." 

 Nal yielded, he lingered even more than was bargained. They played card games, watched teen programs on TV and moved to playing card games again, they explored different fun games.
The dread night brought was too sinister, Tettes hated nights, it harboured sorrow, especially in his dreams. It was more frightening as he was home alone.

The dream visited again, this time it was the old man.
"Young cub, you must learn how to brew herbs, you could save lives with it." said the old man.

He tutored Tettes on plants and it significance to men, he called diverse healing herbs and made Tettes stirred the cauldron filled with the herbs. 

The little hut was warm with the heat flying out from the cauldron, it whipped Tettes delicate skin. Beads of sweat cascaded down his cheeks.

It wasn't bad, he smiled at realising what he had learnt. A scene corrupted his smile, the familiar tiny creature flew into the hut, hovering. It laughed, hoarsely.

"Don't stop stirring, my young cub. It's here to distract, don't buy its distraction. I will hold it off." The old man said, running after the tiny fiend.

The old man literally vanished when he threw his tightened fist at the flying fiend.

"And it's you and me, cursed cub - you and me in the hut just like before." The little fiend said. It was a fear that knew no bounds, Tettes screamed till his jaw hurt.

He snapped out of the dream. Annas was closer to him, clutching a square shaped package in his hands.

"Again....?! your falling is getting worse, do you need a coach? I can help." Said Annas.

"No need, I am good." Tettes sprang up from his bed, sitting at the edge of the bed. "What's it in the carton?" He asked.

"It's pizza, I thought you might be hungry, I bought it for you." Annas threw the pizza on the bed.

"Thanks." Tettes ears heard the distant blaring of a stereo, it was flying into his room through the window. He swiftly sprang up, moving to the window, he parted the curtains and was awed at the spectacle.

It was indeed a stereo, there was a tall man beside the stereo; smashing a laptop keyboards with his fingers. Wires were scattered on the floor like a long tin tendrils, the wires were tangled and linked to the laptop and the speakers, and other devices Tettes wasn't familiar with, he was obviously a DJ. 

 Tettes craned his neck here and there; they were girls with only undies  playing in the pool, some were at its edge beating the pool. Some men were seated on wooden chairs,  sipping whatever was on their crimson cups, others were jiggling to the tune from the stereo. 

 The party folks were too many for Tettes to count, he  recognized some, others he rarely knew or didn't, he spotted two of Annas's friends; Maleek was chatting with three ladies, and Bernard  was probably joking with the half naked girls in the pool, they were laughing at his jokes.

"You can come have some fun if you wish to." Annas said, Tettes only turned, looking at his brother with disgust. "Don't be shy, come down and spend some time, Jack can never be a dull boy with this much fun downstairs."

When Tettes was done watching the folks activity at the pool, he returned to his bed. "I can't believe you are hosting a party. I just need my quiet, I can't be with those Junkies."

"Its your business. Am going downstairs, eat up your pizza, and come to the pool if you want to party." Annas said, moving away.

"It is on a Sunday morning for God's sake!." Tettes muttered.

"Am not a Christian, even if I was that wouldn't stop me."

"But I am a christian."

"The party has begun, I can't stop it because of you." Annas said, he shut the door.

Tettes sighed, what a brother! Tettes jaw dropped when he discovered the time, it was 10:48 am. 

He and Nal spent the afternoon in his bedroom, he told Nal what he dreamt last night.

"Have you written the recipe down?, we will try brewing the herbs this time." Nal said.

"Yes I have, but where can I see the plants?"

"That wouldn't be a problem."

"You think?"

"I am sure, we can get them before Wednesday." Nal assured, his eyes were glued to the dream diary. "Okay... It can be found in Wide-pass."

"So bad... But we can still find some here."
 
"Yes we can, but it could be in the next two years." Nal joked.

"Wide-pass is many kilometers away from here."

"We can go scouting for some here, my neighbor visits Wide-pass often, he will buy few of the herbs for us there." Nal reassured.

"And if he asks you why you want the plants?" Tettes asked

"I will make up stories. It will not be a hassle." Nal answered, he unzipped his bag, bringing out a carton-brown magazine. "This is Merryhaven watch magazine."

Annas snatched it, peeling the pages open. "It's an old one." he noticed.

"Yeah, about two years ago."

"What use is it to my dreams?" Tettes asked, perplexed.

"It could be useful." he snatched it back, flipping through the pages. "Here!" He said, pointing his fat index finger at a bold write-up.

  They heard loud and excited voices through the window. "Go on, they are all high." Said Tettes.

"But Annas don't drink to stupor, you told me."

"Yeah, he don't. But Annas's friends will."

"Why don't he drink more than his gauge?" Nal wondered.

"It's a mental condition, I have forgotten the medical name Doctor Bitrus called it."

"But that sickness is rare..."

"Don't call it a sickness!" Tettes snapped.

"Okay, am sorry - but what does he see when he gets drunk?"

"Stop it! Just go on with the magazine." Tettes snapped.

Nal showed him an article written about the Jacobs, by an anonymous writer. It was a health related topic; It talked little about how Tettes family contributed in helping Merryhaven and other states out of the shackles of recession, according to the article, 'The Jacobs controls Merryhaven and has shares in many companies and businesses'. 
  It was rumored that the Jacobs long ago were from a long line of royal family, and they had great healers. The writer hinted more about their (Jacobs) specialty in healings.

"Listen to this, it is known by few that a great descendant of the Jacobs healed people of leprosy and brought few who died back from the dead." Nal read out.

"That's crap, the writer was only trying to probe into our wealth, and provoke a negative stir."

"Do you know what happened when this magazine got published that year? your dad and his brother sued the publishers, the publisher apologised, they later told the general public that the article wasn't true."

"What are you insinuating?" Tettes asked.

"I think your dad is hiding something from the general public. When we test this herb and it works, my assumption will become clearer." He studied the magazine again, when he was done skimming through, he turned to Tettes. "you are a healer, I am sure you are, not just an ordinary one, that old man in your dream is trying to teach you how to brew herbs, please hearken to his teachings."

If Nal assumption was true, he would know once the herbs work. His dad was hiding something, Tettes feared it might be the truth, why would his father hide it from the world? He knew it was just the juvenility of a child, Nal could not be that wise.