Merry Haven - Episode 6

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Annas was beginning to freak out, Faruq was a man he couldn't comprehend. Faruq walked out, and appeared back with whiskey and two glass cups. He filled the two glass cups with the liquid content of the whiskey, he stretched out a cup to Annas, Annas took it, he had no choice, the professor gave him non.

"Clement said he knows you, he said that the markings are alphabets of a secret cult."

"I don't know any Clement."

"But he said you can help me with the symbol."

"What else did he tell you?"

"He told me to be careful."

"Convincing..." Said Faruq, nodding his head.

"Please what's convincing?" Annas asked, not getting a hang of it.

"You see, he told you all that not of his free will, he wanted you to seek for answers which you are in search of now."

"I don't understand."

"You will. You are here for answers and your brother will give you answers . Kashees was the fellow that spoke with you that day, not Clement."

"You must be joking. Am not here for jokes, if that's what you think." said Annas, his suspicion was clear to him now - Faruq was a freak. " Take me to my brother if you know where he resides."

"Just listen to me first

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. You have to get it right."

"You can't just tell me to believe that Clement was Kashees!." Snapped Annas

"I didn't say that. Kashees was only manipulating his mind that day, he needed to pass a message across."

"Then he could have told me plainly."

"And you could have thought Clement to be insane, Just as you think of me now." Said Faruq, Annas was calm now, trying to listen to whatever the professor could offer. " Good, just listen... We were all with Kashees the day he meddled with that youth's head, we had to send you a message, we thought the message on the wall wouldn't do."

"I got the message."

"We know that, Mind games and blood empathy is what Kashees and his gifted kind use to meddle with the average people's mind, apart from normal magic, they use it to shield their appearance as well. It can also be used to manipulate dreams, just as he did to you."

"Mind manipulation?" Asked Annas, he had a skeptic look." Which of my dreams?" He asked, trying to figure out the truth.

"The one he sat on the roots of an Iroko tree, remember?"

Annas jaw dropped, could Kashees be that strong? He should know more about his brother. "What else can he do, why did you call my eyes a corruption of the real eyes, who else has the type of my eyes, who are you guys?"

"Slow down youth, is a good thing we summoned you, there are things you should know that you haven't. Let's talk about the symbols...
 They are symbols of a secret cult, it had been - and it's still alphabets of a powerful cult, way back from the pre-colonial era. It is used solely for the communication of its members that are scattered all over Africa."

"It was written on the pavement of the Merryhaven murder, they attacked my uncle's employee, why?"

"They didn't, it was masterminded by an enemy of the secret cult, Unkur."

"Who is Unkur?"

"An enemy we all are wary of."

"Including my uncle?" Annas asked, Faruq nodded.

"We are all not safe since Unkur returned, our lives are all in jeopardy; yours, your family, the secret cult, and many poor Jujumen and women."

"I haven't been around trouble these days, no one is after me, where the hell is my brother!" Annas snapped, his fear was beginning to impinge on his mood again. Who was this Unkur?

"We follow due process, I can't just take you to your brother, you must go there through a different fellow." Faruq cautioned.

"Who is this Unkur?"

"I wouldn't tell you, your brother will, he is meant to tell you that, but I can tell you about his followers." Said Faruq, Annas calmed, letting his ears listen to the tales. Faruq continued: "His followers are called the Eigengrau Confraternity, they are fellows you shouldn't mess with, the Eigengrist serve Unkur, in return he enriches them, they are sworn to serve him forever." Faruq explained, he fetched a paper on the table, that had a symbol painted on it.

Annas peered closer to the symbol, it was a gold crescent spots, shaped like the gold spots on his eyes, above the dotted crescent was a dark blue circle. He was awed at what he was beholding. Is this some how related to my eyes, he thought.

"This gold dots are shaped like  mine, and I also have blue eyes, does this mean something?" Annas asked, he was beginning to sense something amiss. 

Faruq swallowed the liquid content from his glass cup and said: "That's their symbol, they serve Unkuriamima, your brother will tell you all of it, there are things I shouldn't tell."

"Unkuriam - whatever the full name is, I have no business with the demon. I just have to see my brother."

"Some one will meet you in this bar.." said Faruq, he fetched a paper, scrubbing a pen on it. "Here" Annas took it.

"Why can't you go with me?"

"Well... We are being careful. Unkur have eyes."

"I still don't get it."

"You will, soon..."

"I don't just get it, who are you guys.. My brother can't be that powerful, how could he meddle with a stranger's thought, one he has never met before." Said Annas, returning back to the mind and blood-empath ability.

"He used the fellow's blood."

"What do you mean! But he has never seen Clement."

"Your brother was in Merryhaven before you went to prison, he walked into the prison to get a little of the fellow's blood, after that he wiped out his memory."

"What do you mean, did Kashees just knocked on the bars of Clement's cell to ask for a spare of his blood?!" Annas purred, sinking into an abyss of confusion.

"Kashees went to him as a Jailer, in the eyes of the police men and the Jailers he was their colleague; he used magic."

"How did he know I will be coming there, and how the hell did he know I will be joining Clement?!"

"He was also in charge of the prison, he saw to it."

"So he saw me!" Annas was short of words; they fled.

"He loves you, he was there for you, he had to bring you here with the message, you are difficult to convince."

"What else did he do?"

"Few things, he made the Wide-pass Basketballer menacing and violent, that was why the player knocked down his opponent - your team mate. Kashees was a police officer that day, he and his colleagues were parked few miles away, waiting for the chaos, waiting to get you. Plus, he made you hit the player."

"We fought as he had expected.."

"We know about the long hatred Merryhaven Basketballers have for their Wide-pass opponent, we knew the fight might come, it just needed something to spur it."

"And you used me, you got me to prison to send a message, that's so not human. How did Kashees use Clement's blood to manipulate him?"

"He used it in a way only those with such abilities can understand, Blood is an essence of a human life, it speaks to people like Kashees, he accessed the fellow with the fellow's blood."

"What about me, he was meddling with my dream, and you said he made me fight that fat basketballer, is he with my blood as well?" Annas asked, Faruq only stared, studying Annas.

"He doesn't need to extract your blood, the same blood that flows in your veins also flows in his, You're brothers. That's how he made you hit the player."

"So he can meddle with me anyhow he likes. I really must see him."

Faruq sipped from his cup. "You can block your mind off his meddling with magic... You just have to get to that bar, some one will meet you, but it's definitely not today, hastening things could be disastrous." Faruq said, sipping his whiskey.

"But the Wide-pass guy I hit was being manipulated, was Kashees using his blood in the presence of the police men?" Annas asked, ignoring his advice.

"Yes, but to them he was doing something else. He used magic to deceive their eyes, Kashees is also good at it."

They sipped silently, Annas was beginning to doubt the credibility of all Faruq told him, life was not made for people who could control some physical laws that were impossible to wield. The word 'Unkur' was reverberating in his head, he knew not about Unkur, but he had started despising the name.

"How did Unkur understand the secret alphabets that was secret?" Annas managed to ask.

"Unkuriamima dedicated his time to exposing the secret cult, he stole some of his knowledge from the secret cult, the alphabets was part of it."

"So it's a he that's human, I thought it was a demon or monster, do humans serve humans, the Eigengrist shouldn't serve a fellow human."

Faruq lips made a slight stretch "welcome to a new world... Unkuriamima is not just an ordinary man. I can't tell you about him, it's not in my place to tell you, your brother will."

"Why must it be my brother, you are with Kashees, hearing it from you is as good as hearing it from my brother."

"I don't think so."

"Then am out of here, don't mess with my mind, and don't follow me!" Annas snapped, rising up to be free from this alien world he was discovering.

"Wait youth, it concerns your family, please give him the benefit of telling you." Faruq begged, he clutched Annas on his waist, beckoning him seat, fidgeting. "please don't ask me why he has to tell you, but just know that he has to." 

Annas settled again, He noticed how uneasy Faruq was, this time Annas's head was filled with different theories, he wished this was all a lie, he wanted to go back and probably erase these discoveries out of his memory, but deep down, he felt something, something he couldn't fathom out, the feeling that had been tormenting him returned, but he was used to it already.

"Did Kashees draw that markings on the wall?" Annas asked, after he was seated.

"Yes, but it was a long time ago."

"I don't get it, so he knew i will be coming?"

"When he found out about his abilities, the alphabets and all of it, he was working underground. He broke a political law, so he was arrested, that was when he wrote the message on the wall, and that was why he wanted you to go to that same cell to get the message. You need to know things you have been deprived of, it is your right."

"Why was he arrested?"

"What else, if not for a crime he committed. He always went to prison before, you know that yourself, now he has changed though."

"Why me, why not Sydney."

"He will answer all that for you."

"Why should the message be in a cell?"

Faruq chuckled, "your brother is many things, his abilities often made him do things, and he does some for sport."

"So the basketball fight was appealing to him. He made my dad punished me for it, I stayed longer in that cell."

"Sorry for the damages, we gave him other ways of making you get the message, but he wanted you to see the markings in the prison. Maybe it's symbolic to him."

Annas was amazed at it all, was his brother this manipulative, he hated being subdued by any one, Kashees had no right to manipulate him. He was boiling inside, he wanted to pour out his anger on his brother. He would wait, but he despised the gloomy bungalow. Where are his family, Annas asked himself, wondering how one could choose to live in such solitude.

"You have no family or wife?" Said Annas, wondering why his home was isolated and lonely." No maids?" 

"I have maids, but they don't live with me, i don't like the average people to pry in my activities." He said. Annas noticed how he skipped the wife and family part.

"And your family?" Annas threw again.

"Long story maybe some other time..." He said, there was sadness in his tone. 

The day was getting old, Faruq insisted that Annas stay for meal, but Annas objected, he needed to free his mind.

Annas wanted answers; the more he tried to know the more the dread creeped in. He was at the bar, he took Faruq's advice of going to the bar the next day.

He waited patiently, sitting at the bar, sipping a scotch wine. The bar was distinct from what he knew in Merryhaven. 

They were men engaged in a brisk conversation with some ladies at a secluded corner of the bar, a huge old man was shouting out orders or threat at a young man. Young men were playing card game, curses and punches were accompanied with the game. They were times some fought, but soon after they would get engaged in the game like the fight had never happened.

 Faruq begged him to be patient "you will know once they come for you." was Faruq's words, but he wondered how they will spot him - maybe with his strange eyes, but Annas was on sunglasses, he wanted no admiration from any stranger.

He was patient, not because of it, he only wanted answers. His brother had no right to meddle with his mind, he hated it. Mind games, blood, control, it seemed like things an ordinary man wouldn't try, who was his brother? He wanted to know the other side of his brother that he hadn't known, Kashees had to tell him all he needed to know, all of it. 

He wanted to halt the drinking but he couldn't, malt would do. It was better he drank malt than be persistent on the scotch.

"Hey, give me malt." He ordered. The Bartender hearkened to his order.

He swallowed the chilled liquid content, it felt good, getting drunk wasn't what he wanted, it came with consequences, he dreaded the dire consequences, drinking malt could settle his nerve.

His phone was vibrating in his pocket, who could it be, he wondered. His mum hadn't heard from him, he smiled when he saw her number.

"Mum..."

'Son, come home, you have had your fill with her, don't scare me any longer!'

"Mum, I don't get you."

'You do Ann, come home, don't keep me worrying.'

"As soon as am done with the business program." Said Annas, he heard her sniggering.

'Just come home soon, staying there makes me scared, I don't like that place.'

"I will come soon, it's sweet of you to care Juliet. Don't worry about me, am not a kid, am twenty four."

'You are always my little boy. No matter how big, or how old you are.'

"Whatever, I will call you later."

'How good is this one that kept you staying longer, hope she isn't giving you disease!'

"Mum... Please stop it, I'm not with any girl. Am now single.."

'Really....? I don't believe it, you can't stand it.'

"Bye mum."

'Wait!! I can hear noises, are you in a night club, where are you son, Wide-pass is not a safe state, it's contaminated with miscreants, come home quick'

"I will mum, bye...." He severed the connection, at least he ended the conversation properly, his mum hated it when he cut the connection while she is speaking.

Annas beheld a sight that made his jaw dropped, a young girl was making her way into the bar. She wore a dark leather jacket, a dark ripped jeans and a brown timberland high heels. She was elegant, she moved like a girl that control the world, her grandeur was what other girls lacked, what was wrong, what was Annas seeing in her?
  
   Annas loved her every step. She was slim, making her look like a model, she was indeed a model because she walked like one, but more serious with her every step, like she was trying to pounce on her prey, hence her cunning and careful pace.

She wasn't like Chichi, she was more of a lady with her female endowments and more, Annas couldn't place her type. She was a true beauty, Annas prayed she possess such beauty forever, his mind's eye was over doing it, he prayed to stop the praises, but his mind was building more pictures about her. She moved to Annas, sitting on a bar stool, beside him.

"Hi, Felix." The girl acknowledged the Bartender, she had a sweet voice. She had a nice hair cut.

"Welcome Regina, how is your day going?" 

"Smooth..." She said, receiving a glass cup of Kir Royale. "Thanks man!" 

Why wasn't she staring, it could help Annas, but she seemed to care less about him. The mysterious girl continued her hearty conversation with the Bartender, Annas wanted to delve in, but he held himself back.

"This bar ain't safe for a unique lady like you." He managed to say, he had to say something, anything. He knew he wasn't saying what might suit the moment, but he said something. What was wrong, he was losing it.

"You should be the odd one in here, not me." She spat back, not turning to face Annas. Who the hell is she? Annas asked himself.

"You think? I like that 'bout you. I can take you somewhere okay, the bar isn't." Annas said, she turned to him, Annas was glad she did.

The girl seemed difficult to talk to, but Annas tried his best, they chatted like old lost friends, she liked things he liked, some she detested, she was something Annas had never seen.

They spent great chats together, her smile melted Annas's heart, it meant she wasn't a trouble after all. Her name was Regina, but she preferred being called Reginald.

"Why are you on glasses, let me see who you are." The girl said, Annas drew the glasses out.

She stared at his godlike eyes with awe, but she was fidgeting, she studied his fingers, focusing on his scar, she tilted her gaze back at his face.

She managed a frail smile on her face. She covered his face with her hands, bringing it down to his beard. Her hands tried to cover Annas's beard, she tried to veil the beard, probably to know who Annas was without the beards. Annas wondered if she was okay, but she looked okay to him. 

"Your cute, your braids and beards are a perfect combination, they're great." She said, "Felix please toss me a pen." Felix rummaged around, finding a pen after minutes of searching. She used the pen to paint a straight line on each of Annas's cheeks.

Annas grinned, "When Mamma  birthed me she didn't plan on giving me an ethnic mark. So you think it will look good on me? Well that's cute." Annas said, trying to fathom out what was amiss. "Felix does it look good." he asked the bartender. Felix nodded.

She studied Annas the more, Annas noticed how insecure she was looking, she wasn't okay, what was wrong? Annas wasn't given the luxury of knowing.

"Please I have to use the restroom. I will be right back." She announced, moving out. Annas watched as she left, something was wrong. Asking Felix wouldn't yield any result, he wouldn't speak.

"Please who is that beauty? she is one of a kind." Annas asked Felix.

"Don't go flirting, she doesn't have that time."

"I can make her have my time, what does she do?"

"She is always busy. Being the richest girl in Wide-pass comes with hard work and the drive to succeed."

"How rich is she?" Annas said, craving to know more about the mysterious girl.

"She is very rich, It's surprising how she was free with you minutes ago, maybe she fancy you. You don't look bad yourself, she can choose you."

"You speak of her as if she is very unique," Said Annas, a girl like her should be precious, she was a gift from God, Annas was awed at the fantasies of his mind. He had never created a special place for a lady before, but his mind was constructing a world that had the mysterious girl in it. "Don't she speak to strangers?"

"She is many things, at least she is answering you. Try and be good."

She appeared minutes later, feeling better. "What took you so long, Annas?" She said, sipping her drink, like she didn't utter a word. 

 Annas was surprised, because they never exchanged names. It could only be what his thoughts were telling him - Kashees sent her.