"I will bring him back no matter what happens."I said trying to get up on my legs."So brave! But this bravery of yours might not work on me tonight. Am sure you still want to live, am I right? Going against me would shut down all of your future hopes. I advise you to stay back and let me do my task. I had unfinished businesses before I was burnt from here." He said biting his lip."Unfinished businesses?"I repeated his words."Well you see I made a deal with your parents. Your mother couldn't conceive for more than a hundred years, she was barren so they came to my house for some help. I agree to help them but on two conditions. The first was that your mother would spend a night with me after confirming her pregnancy and the second one was that their child would later be my daughter-in-law of which they didn't fulfill. And when I came here to remind them about our deal, I ended up getting burnt alive." He said developing long fangs that got me scared."Thank God they never fulfilled
"I even forgot that you have grown into an intelligent woman, my daughter. Am proud of you. And yes, you are right, you don't need to explain yourself to anybody.""Keep updating me about the situation.""Alright then. I will get going." And just like that she disappeared.Heading to our room I felt so guilty. I wondered what happened when Anu found out that it was my shadow that was in bed with him. I couldn't gather the courage to face him at a moment so with the help of my powers, I became invisible and entered the room. Surprisingly Anu was tied up with chains but he was in his normal form. "If he didn't change, then why did they chain him up here?" I asked myself."Anu, what's wrong? Why are you being chained up? Is everything okay?" I asked. Of course I felt concerned about him. He was my husband after all and mother had asked me to focus on my marriage."Artie. Are you back and alright?"that's what he said before turning into a statue."No Anu. You can't leave me alone and go l
"I am but mother..""Shuhhhh! No ifs and buts. You have to find it or else you might lose Anu for good. This poison is very dangerous. His mother used the same ashes to put him in this condition and the only way to cure him is to sprinkle him with the solution of that ash and your blood."she said."My blood? Are you sure mother?""Yes dear. This is the only way to revive your husband.""Where will I find the leopard's bone and how sure would I be that it's a leopard's bone?""There's one way for you to be sure about that. You will attack the leopard, get a bone from its flesh and make sure it remains alive and healthy. If anything happens to that leopard after using its bone, Anu would die too."she warned."So I have to go hunting?" "Yes. But not from anywhere you feel like, you will have to hunt for it from the Dark forest." She said emphasizing 'dark forest'."I have never heard about this. Where is it found?" Mother's words were making me lose my courage. In fact I was turning int
I closed my eyes waiting for it's last decision, to be fed on. But no, it didn't. "Maybe I should open my eyes and see."I thought so I opened my eyes."How is this possible? Who could have killed this lion?" I screamed but with relief when I saw the lion dead. I looked around but couldn't see anyone. "Could it be my powers?" I wondered but before I could praise my powers and myself, an owl came fluttering in the air and landed before me."Young lady, what brought you here. Don't you know it's very dangerous for you to be here and that too alone?"it pointed."Strange! A talking owl? "I was shocked. "You can talk? I mean are you a human?"I asked though it was obvious that I was scared."You aren't a human too but you can talk, why can't I then?"it replied."What a great answer! Anyway, am just wondering how this lion died. I didn't attack it."maybe I had considered the owl my friend."I killed it."it said."How? I mean it was so big and strong so how did you...?"I couldn't bring mysel
All went well like how he had told me. Going back to check on the leopard, it was fine already so I had to leave the forest. I wanted to see my husband. I was longing to hug him for hours, to whisper ' l love you ' in his ear thus confessing my love to him. I wanted to confort him because I knew he was still thinking about what his mother did to him. Trying to perform a spell to vanish from the Dark forest, I failed for ten times I tried."What's happening with me? Why can't I do a spell. Why can't I use my powers anymore?"I wondered.I then thought back about Mike, how would he leave this forest if he doesn't come back with his magic. I went back to the blood lake to check if he had managed to come back to life but no. He wasn't there but instead there was a feather that looked to be of an owl. It was white with black spots."Could this mean Mike has already come back to life? Did he leave this behind for me?"I thought. "I think I should take it with me for remembrance of him." I th
A knock on the door. "Let me go get the door." I said. Opening it, it was my mother-in-law. "What does she want now?" I asked myself. "How are you feeling now my dear."she started but Anu just ignored her. "I blinked my eyes in refusal to what he was doing to his mom. She was still her mother no matter what she did."Am now fine mother."he finally replied to her after a long wait for an answer. "I still don't get it, how did this happen to you? I have never witnessed something like that before."maybe she thought Anu didn't know anything about her evil plans. She was shedding crocodile tears before him."I also don't know what had happened to me, mother."he said."Am also wondering why anyone would think of harming Anu. I mean he doesn't have enemies so who could it be?"I said while gazing at her."I only came to check on you and since you are doing well, I will go."she excused herself to go but before she could leave the room, I called for her attention."Mother, why are you in a hurr
When we reached somewhere, we heard someone breathing. "Wait a second. Do you also hear that? It's like someone is finding it hard to breathe. Let's go and have a look."I said.My detective star stopped at the same place but Mom wasn't there."What's wrong with your star. I mean it has stopped moving and mother-in-law isn't here."he was getting terrified about the situation."This could only mean one thing, mother is somewhere close to us though we can't see her.""I still don't understand what you are saying to me.""I have a feeling that my mother is under the ground. That man is so powerful and strong. Maybe he defeated, killed and buried her somewhere."I said."You are getting me scared. Your mother is also powerful, isn't she? So how is it possible?" "My mother is powerful but remember she is just a hex. She is partly human too."I explained."You are right. But what are we going to do now. That man is going to be our king soon and I hope you know the results of that.""Yes I kn
"There are two ways. It is by killing either her husband or daughter. But unfortunately am not visible, am just thin air so I can't be killed."he said."That means we only have one option which is ' killing Artie ' ."Anu said in a worried manner."Are you worried now."I asked him."Of course I am. Any husband out there feels scared and worried when his wife is on her death bed but mine is different. My wife is going to be killed before my eyes."he said as tears ran down his face."Won't you save me?"I asked while wiping down his tears."Of course I won't, saving you would be like sacrificing mother-in-law for my happiness. Am so sorry for now, dear wife. We have to sacrifice you to bring your mother back. I know you also like it this way but don't worry, mother-in-law will somehow find a way to bring you back sooner or later and if she fails, I promise I will find you there so we can start a new life together."he comforted me but I was already sweating, I was imagining how Anu would l
My heart jumped with joy and happiness after reading the letter. I couldn't wait to see my father again. I couldn't find sleep since my mind was very busy imagining how the surprise would be like..It was approaching to four o'clock in the morning when my heart skipped a beat and my mind went blank. I thought that maybe I was very excited to share the news with the family so I had to wake up and make noise through singing so that everyone's sleep could be interrupted and it really worked. Everybody woke up with a frowned face because they were angry with me at the moment."I have good news for you all.. I meant to say that father has called us all. He said he wants to surprise us."I said with a big smile."What's wrong with you? When did you see him?"Anu couldn't believe."Read this. I don't have to meet up with him in order to communicate with him, we're demons after all."I sighed."Read it for us Anu. Am sure Artie isn't joking about this, right Artie?"Nikki said."It's true Grandpa
"But who had possessed you and why?"Nikki asked."I'll tell you later. What's very important right now is to conduct this ritual and let them inside first."she said."Alright then. But how will you do the ritual when the holy water isn't enough. I meant to say that there are only five Jerry cans of holy water yet they're....."he pointed."I think we'll have to seek help from the witch's tree once again."she looked to be lost in thoughts as she spoke."What are you waiting for then."Mother then tried to summon the witch's tree but in vain. We thought that maybe it was because of our presence and she had to walk away from the crowd but again the tree didn't show up.A minute later, a twig came and fell on my head and turned into a rocket immediately. It was the same rocket that Carlos gave me. I had left it at the ocean bank hoping that he'd one day collect it from there because I had no hopes of seeing him again. Moreso I didn't want to keep it as it would remind me of the best momen
After some time, the other three woke up too. Mani immediately recognized me however his brother Manu just stood there, staring at me as if I was a stranger. "How are you mother."Mani hugged me. I couldn't answer because I was driven away by thoughts and sorrow. "My own son doesn't recognize me?"I breathed deeply before looking him in the eye. "Manu dear, don't you know who I am?"I asked politely. I didn't want to force things."I know you very well. I know how you left dad and I and disappeared. You don't love me at all. Dad might've forgiven you but I... I will never forgive you for neglecting me like that. You're the reason why I went through all this."he said and for a moment my mind went blank. I didn't have what to say to him or how to explain things to him. I just stared at him, speechless."Manu dear, it's not like how you think. Your mother loves both of you equally. I agree she left us but trust me when I say that she did what was right at the moment. She wanted to save y
On opening it, I couldn't stop crying because of what was written there, ' best friends forever'."You'll forever be remembered my dear friend."I said.The girls did their best to put me in good mood but my worry for my family was too much. "Don't worry ma'am, am sure that cousin of yours will help you and very soon your family will come back."Remi comforted."I don't think he'll, after all he's a horrible person. He's a murderer remember and I don't trust him at all."Rema pointed sharply."How can I explain to you that Carlos is only a pure soul and he would never think of killing someone no matter what. He only took the blame for my sake."I thought. "I think we should trust him once, let's see if he can do something good for anyone."I said."As you say madam. And anyway ma'am, do you mind if we call you auntie because to me you're like my real auntie.""Of course I won't mind at all. You're my little angels and angels should only be loved and nothing else. It's okay you can call me
"Why won't you dear?"he asked politely."Because the woman you're going to propose to is already married.""Ohh! You're right about that but you've forgotten that her husband is dead now which makes her single."he lied."Why do I have a feeling that you're lying to us? My mom always said that when someone is telling a lie, he can't look you in the eye and that's what you're doing."one of them pointed. This made me notice something about the two of them, one was introvert and the other was the opposite. She was so talkative I must say."Where's your mom's corpse?"I asked them."We're sorry madam. We conducted the last rituals by ourselves. We knew you were going through a lot that's why we never came to bother you.""I don't believe you, someone else must have helped you because I don't think you could do all that alone.""But we did madam."she said raising a brow."What made you disappear after healing my husband's wound. I didn't understand."I wanted answers to my questions."Am not
"No. I refuse to believe this. My Anu can't be dead. I know you've taken him somewhere. You have to tell me what you've done to him, tell me now."I grabbed his arm with all my strength."What are you doing Artie? I know this is hard for you to believe but am afraid it's the truth... your husband is dead now."he said.I couldn't stop myself but to slap him so hard on his face. "Shut up! Do not say another word about my husband, do you hear me?""I won't say anything if that's what you really want. I think I should leave you and your problems alone because am tired of explaining myself to you that I'm not a bad person and my intentions are good yet no one is willing to believe in me. Am sorry if I troubled you in any way."he said and vanished.At that time I didn't care at all. I was only worried about my family. "Would they come back?"I kept asking myself. All I had to do was to wait for them with hopes that they'd surely come back.Some days elapsed with no sign of their return. As a
Mother had to leave and go back home. "Artie, keep my words in mind."she said before disappearing."This woman also! Why can't see that all this is happening because Anu wanted to keep his powers and this decision of his is stopping my children from coming back to me. I need to do something, but what?"I thought. We couldn't speak to each other for two days although Anu tried to cheer me up sometimes.On the third day of the second week, the old man in my dreams came and appeared before Anu and I. "I've been watching you and I really like your patience. You still have hopes that your sons will come back even after all these days. Wow, keep it up."he said."Who are you?"Anu barked at him."He...is the same old man I told you about.""Old man?""Yes, he's the one who always come in my dreams."I explained. "What brings you here."I asked."I came here to help you after seeing how much you both love your sons."he said smiling."How are you going to help? And who called for your help?"Anu sh
I then took her to where I had left Anu. The moment we came very close to him, I started to see some improvement. "What kind of magic does this girl possess?"I asked myself."Here he is."I said."Oh! He's my uncle."she jumped in excitement after looking at his face."Your uncle? How? I mean do you know him?""Yes, he's the same man in the picture that mom used to show to us. She said we should call him uncle, that's why. Oh, am so happy but..."she couldn't complete."What?"I asked curiously."I don't understand one thing, my mom used to tell us that uncle doesn't have a wife that's why he wanted to marry my mom so how come you're claiming to be his wife?""My worries are slowly coming true, Cucu's blood is haunting us."I breathed deeply. "Well...we married recently, that's why."I lied."Let me heal my uncle first but before that, you need to hide somewhere because my magic can't work when someone is watching me.""Alright then I'll go and hide. You'll call me when you're done, okay?"
It was almost coming to midday and our kids hadn't returned yet, there was no any sign of their return the thing that caused locomotion in my stomach."No, the old man's words shouldn't come true."I prayed inwardly. I was getting worried and restless that I thought of summoning my mother. I felt like sharing the weird dream with her. I knew she could interpret it for me but no... she wasn't allowed to come see me at the moment as only Manu's parents and siblings were accepted."What should I do now."I didn't know that I said it loudly. "What, what do you want to do?"Anu asked."It's nothing."I lied."Still worried about the dream, right?""Ahhh no. I mean am not worried at all."I said giving him a plastic smile. "Am here, nothing is going to happen to our sons I promise. They'll have to come back for us no matter what."he assured.I always loved the courageous version of his. It always got me fall in love with him over and over again. "I love you Mr Anu."I said coming closer to him an