Prosperity charm

Few minutes on...

Aaliyah picked it up and immediately she heard the voice of a woman saying...

"My pretty princess.. please accept my little gift from me to you, it's from my heart full of love for you for your hard work on land! Please treasure and guard it with all that you've got.."

Aaliyah did not wait for her to finish her statement, she threw the necklace to the floor and was about running when the voice spoke to her again..

"My daughter.. please do not be afraid.. for I am not here to hurt you, but to love, guide and protect you from any harm that may want to come your way. Please pick your gift up and wear it around your neck. Make sure always that.. you do not remove it, not even when you want to take your bath!  And remember... You can ask me for anything.. anything whatsoever that you may need. Just talk to your necklace, and you will get it from me withing a few minutes! Feel free to talk to me, and tell me anything... at anytime..."

Gradually... the fear in Aaliyah left her, as she walked towards the position where she threw the necklace. She got there, bent down and picked it up. And without wasting much time, she wore it around her neck and smiled... Few minutes into Aaliyah's return home, her aunt who came visiting called to find out where she was at that time. And she replied her saying...

"Yes aunt... Please I will be there in a short while from now. I am done with the deliveries, and I came home to pick up something. I am on my way already..."

Aaliyah quickly locked the door and went back to her mother's shop. When she got there, her aunt gave her some packaged foods to take to some customers as again, and as she raised her head up, she saw a very bright light that flashed into her eyes. She looked carefully and saw that it was what her neice was wearing...

"What is this you are wearing on your neck Aaliyah..? Where did you get it from?" She whispered into her neice's ear at first, touching it.. while Aaliyah was pulling backwards a bit!

"Aunt Lixue.. it's a gift from someone.."

"Some.. what..? Who is that person that gave this expensive necklace to you.. Aaliyah...? Tell me..!  who did..? And moreover, who would want to give this kind of an expensive jewelry to a young girl of your age, without expecting anything in return Aaliyah..! Come on... You better tell me now before I show it to the woman who gave birth to you! You know her.. right..?"

Aaliyah could not say anything, seeing how vexed her aunt had become at that time, she just stood there stirring at her... and blinking her eyes because she knew that she was in for a great trouble!

 But what would she tell her aunt..? That she collected a diamond necklace from a stranger she knew not..? 

Or probably tell her it's from a mermaid! These questions kept turning Aaliyah off balance. And when she saw that the situation of things was getting out of control, she told her aunt to hold on , and that when they get home at night, she would tell her everything that she needed to know. 

Her aunt became a bit calm, for she knew how most young girls are being deceived by most men, just to get in-between their legs. She also felt maybe because of the environment that the both of them where in, which was their restaurant, that was why Aaliyah could not talk to her. She feared that the customers around would hear her telling her the story on how she got the diamond necklace. 

After a while, Aaliyah collected the bags of food for delivery, and left for the homes they were to be delivered to...

On her way, she saw an old woman who was struggling to walk. She walked up to her to know the reason she came out knowing fully well that she could barely walk. And she said to her..

"I am here to wait for you..!"

Aaliyah was shocked as she pulled backwards... Asking her what she meant by that.. and she said..

"I am the one who gave you that diamond necklace. I just want to warn you not to make the mistake of telling anyone about it.!"

"But why.. my aunt wants to know, and I cannot lie to her"

"I have warned you Aaliyah... If you flaunt my orders, you will be chained for life...!"

As Aaliyah heard that statement from the old woman, she quickly removed the necklace from her neck.. stretching it towards her and telling her calmly, but in a tone of rejection..

"Please... Kindly take it back, I do not want it anymore.. the person who gave it to me told me that she was asked to give it to me by her mother as a gift for my hardwork. So why then a gift would put me in chains for life..?"

"My beauty.. I do not mean literarily the word 'you would be chained for life', I mean you would be rubbed of the blessings attached to this diamond necklace of yours.. please keep it, it's for your good, and I would not give you anything that would hurt you. Just trust my word!"

Aaliyah became very cold on hearing those words at first from the old woman, but later felt at ease as she continued.

She accepted back the diamond necklace and wore it around her neck. And when she was done wearing it, she thanked the woman specially for giving it to her, and appreciated it's beautiful nature. She also told her how expensive her aunt said it is, that is the reason she wants to know who gave it to her. The old woman laughed and said to her...

"Be very careful who you tell things about yourself. Especially things that concerns your future!"

After a while, Aaliyah bent down to collect the bags of food she kept on a stone, and then she raised up her head to thank the old woman, but she could not find her there any longer. She screamed and ran away...