Chapter Ten

And Taiwo rose from the dead. "What a miracle!!" Dyanga was really happy that for the first time in her life, she was able to rise a man from the dead and give him life again. She only heard tales of how it happened from her parents, she never tried it before but then, she did it. Her confidence didn't fail her. But the risen merman didn't remember anything about how he got there.

Dyanga: Marimar dakula malisi Eywa!! Marimar dakula malisi Eywa!! Marimar dakula malisi Eywa!! Marimar dakula............(All thanks to Eywa)

Taiwo interrupted her with his surprise and anxious question.

Taiwo: Where am I?

She continued thanking Eywa.

Dyanga: Marimar dakula malisi Eywa!! Marimar dakula malisi Eywa!!! Marimar dakula malisi Eywa!!! Marimar dakula........

He interrupted her again, a bit harsh this time.

Taiwo: I said where am I???

She ignored him again.

Dyanga: Marimar dakula malisi Eywa!! Marimar dakula malisi Eywa!!

Then he got angry and shouted as he tried to get up but he was surprised at what he saw.

Taiwo: I said where........... Oh!! What's this? Where are my legs?

He looked around, then it dawned on him that he was in the deepest part of the deep blue sea where mermaids and mermans lived. Then he looked at himself closely with the greatest shock of his life.

Taiwo: Whaaatttt!!! Where are my legs? What is this? A tail? I'm breathing under water? What's this?? I don't understand all this. Can someone please explain to me? I don't know what I am now. I don't know what I've become but this wasn't the way I was before.

Dyanga finished praying to Eywa then she faced Taiwo.

Dyanga: Young Man!! How do you feel now?

Taiwo: I don't know how I feel now. This isn't my self. I'm not supposed to be here.

Dyanga: Then where are you supposed to be? The dragon defeated and dropped you in our world. That marked the beginning of your punishment. Your sister in the jungle is waiting for your return. She'll soon know that you'll never return to her until you two complete the punishment. She'll leave the jungle to the animals and search for you until she finds you.

Taiwo: My sister would never do that!! She promised me she'll stay and .....

She interrupted him.

Dyanga: The punishment was meant for the both of you, not only her. Too much love for you will make her search for you until she finds you. Be prepared for that.

She rose and swam around.

Dyanga: Do you know how you became what you are now? I guess you don't.

Taiwo: Yes I don't know how. The last thing I remember is that I......

She interrupted him

Dyanga: Fought with a dragon. Only the bravest of the bravest men in the whole universe would dare challenge a dragon with only a spear. Like I said, it marked the beginning of the punishment.

He was surprised that she knew everything.

Taiwo: How did you know that?

Dyanga: The dragon defeated you and dropped you in our world where a beautiful mermaid brought you here dead.

He was really surprised.

Taiwo: Brought me here?? I thought the sharks would eat me. I tried to hide from them but I stopped when I couldn't move again. That's the last thing I remember.

Dyanga: She brought you here to be risen from the dead because you have a great destiny to fulfill, you and your sister.

He looked and saw Marina swimming towards them. He was stunned when he saw the greatest beauty of his life approaching him.

Taiwo: her?

Marina: Yes.

He just kept looking at her straight in her eyes.

Dyanga: Marina!! Your will has been done and all thanks to Eywa.

Marina: Marimar dakula malisi!! Can I take him now?

Dyanga: Oh yes but he must learn how to be his new self

Marina: I'll teach him everything.

They left, leaving Dyanga.

Taiwo and Marina grew fund of themselves as she taught him their ways. He learnt the ways of the jungle world and there he was again learning the ways of the water world. Keyinde on the other hand was busy searching for her beloved brother. She went through thick and thins just to find him and probably take him home if they were forgiven or keep on serving their punishment. Anyone that knew where her brother was would have said she was going on an impossible mission. Even with all the challenges she encountered, she never gave up the search. She was asleep one night, she dreamt about her brother.

IN THE DREAM LAND.

Taiwo and Marina were already in love with themselves. Paris, the heir to the throne of serenia, was also in love with Marina but she didn't love him and she made it clear to him but all he felt was jealousy. He wanted to get rid of Taiwo so he met with some of his friends to help him hatch his plan.

Bran: Hmmmmmm!!! I don't know what to do about this oooooo. She's doesn't love you and that's it. Paris you have to let her be.

Paris: What nonsense are you saying? Let who be? I'll rather kill any man that tries to take her away from me.

Tyrion: Yeah that's right!! Bran can you leave Selena to me just because I love her too?

Bran: Are you mad? Of course I can't.

Tyrion: Then why are you advising him to let go of what he wants?

Bran: This is different from what.......

Paris interrupted him.

Paris: Different from what? Different from what????

Bran: Well, if you won't listen to my advice as your friend, I'm out of here and henceforth, don't ever call me your friend again. Infact, start seeing me as your enemy if you want. Do whatever you want but just know that when the result is out, I'll be the first to laugh at you.

He finished talking and left their presence.

Paris: Nothing is going to happen okay!!!! Go if you want..

He shouted as Bran swam away angrily.

Tyrion: Hey Paris!!! You don't need to stress your voice over that good for nothing. Go after what you want.

Paris: Yes but I don't know what to do.

Tyrion: I think I've got an idea.

Paris: Really!! Tell me.

Tyrion: Let's make him a thief.

Paris looked confused.

Paris: A thief? How?

Tyrion laughed.

Tyrion: Very simple. Just go into Marina's home and steal anything precious to her. I mean anything you know she can do anything to get back no matter what and......

He interrupted him.

Paris: But I don't know anything precious to her.

Tyrion: Why are you behaving like a kid? Weren't you there when her mother died? We all know that her mother gave her a bracelet before whispering something to her and died. She must have told her to keep it well and make sure it doesn't get lost. Do you understand what that means to us now?

Paris: Hmmmmmm!!! She can do anything to get the bracelet back. If that bracelet find it's way to that stranger's hands, she'll almost kill him.

He laughed.

Tyrion: Yes that's true but she'll also die for killing another soul.

Paris: She's going to hate him for that and end up with me and he'll be imprisoned for the rest of his life for stealing something that almost worth a person's life. What a great idea!!!

Tyrion: Yes!! A great idea it is but how do you plan to steal it?

Paris: You leave that to me and wait for the result.

Tyrion: Alright then, I trust you.

They cheered each other and swam different directions. Paris went straight into his Chambers. He called one of his most trusted guards and gave him the order.

Paris: Fredo!!!! Fredo!!!!!

Fredo swam in hearing the voice of his master.

Fredo: Yes my prince!!!

Paris: Listen to me Fredo!! I want you to do something for me. You're going to go to Marina's cave and get that bracelet her mother gave to her then you take it to Taiwo's cave and hide it there. Now go!!

Fredo: My prince this is too dangerous. What if I'm caught?

Paris: Emmmm!!! When you get there, make sure someone sees you stealing it. Surely, the person will come and report you to the king and when he does, you'll be apprehended. You might want to tell him that I sent you but my father won't believe you when you do so because I'll tell him you're lying against me and you know what happens when you lie against the heir to the throne of serenia.

Fear gripped Fredo immediately. He swam as fast as he could to do what he was asked.

Paris: What a fool he is? Get caught and you'll bear the whole consequences yourself.

He also left to talk to Marina in her usual spot. He knew she'd be there at that time of the day.

Paris: Marina!!!

She looked back to see who called her name.

Marina: Oh my prince!!! You're welcome!!

She bowed.

Paris: Oh no!!! Take your seat. Can I stay beside you?

Marina: Of course you can.

He sat beside her.

Marina: How do you know I'd be here?

Paris: Everyone knows this place is very sacred to you. It's where your mother was buried here exactly this hour of the day few years back. That's how I know.

She smiled.

Marina: Oh that's true. What brought you here?

Paris: I just wanted to see your beautiful face.

She smiled again.

Marina: Oh really!!! You're just flattering me.

Paris: Well if you say so. Why aren't you wearing your bracelet?

Marina: My mother forbade it for me to wear it whenever I come visit her.

Paris:(thinking) Hmmmmmm I know that. That's why I set my plan at this time.

Paris: Ohh!!! She must have a reason for that, right?

Marina: Yes, a reason I don't know.

He cleared his throat.

Paris: Emmmm!!! Marina!!! I actually want to tell you something I've been telling you.....

She interrupted him.

Marina: I know that's why you came. You know my answer. It's no because I love someone else. I can't love two people at the same time.

Paris: hmmmmmm!!! He's a stranger. He must have been here on a mission to cause havoc here. He probably has something bad in mind that he's yet to accomplish and.......

She interrupted him again.

Marina: I'm sorry my prince but it's time for me to go home.

She got up and swam away.

Paris: Oh yes it's time

He went to his Chambers to wait for Fredo's return.

Fredo: My prince!!!

He bowed.

Paris: Did you do what I asked?

Fredo: Yes my prince. It's perfect.

Paris: Take this message to Tyrion immediately. Make sure no one is there.

Fredo: Yes my prince.

He left immediately. Marina had turned her cave upside down searching for the most precious thing in her life, her bracelet but it was nowhere to be found. She sent words to the royal cave immediately and the search for her bracelet began. To her surprise, it was found in her lover's cave. He was brought before the king for questioning but he couldn't say anything. All he did was to look at the sad and tearful face of Marina. At last, judgement was passed and he's was to be in the dungeons for the rest of his life. Marina swam very fast back to her cave, feeling very sad and ashamed that her lover stole from her. Paris met with his friend Tyrion.

Tyrion: Wow!!!! What a great job. You got rid of him just like that.

He laughed.

Paris: Now there is no obstacle on the way. I'll just go meet her. You also proved to be a friend. You sealed his tongue just like I told you in the message.

Tyrion: It's actually for that period.

Paris: That's what I wanted too. Let me run along.

He swam to Marina's cave.

Paris: Marina!! Marina!! Marina are you there?

He searched for her, found her in a corner.

Paris: Marina you don't need to cry anymore. At least you've gotten your bracelet back. Thanks to Eywa that he hasn't done anything with it.

Marina: Why did I fall in love with him? Why??? I shouldn't have ..... I should have known this is how it's going to end....I.....

She cried profusely.

Paris: it's okay dear!! I'm here for you. I love you so much and nothing is going to separate us ever again.

She kept crying!!!

Marina: Well, I don't have any other choice. I've been loving a stranger that ended up betraying me. Now it's time for me to love the only son of the soil that loves me.

She smiled and hugged Paris!!

Paris:(thinking) now you're mine.

Years passed by, Paris became the king after the suspicious death of his father. Marina never for once thought about visiting Taiwo in the dungeon because her husband successfully poisoned her mind against him. In all those years, Eywa didn't bless them with children and if a king should die without a son, kingship will become prohibited to his coming generation. That alone put king Paris in a very devastating state. Marina visited Dyanga for help for the first time after five years.

Dyanga: I've been expecting your visitation since the day you got married to him.

Marina: Then you know why I'm here.

Dyanga laughed.

Dyanga: Have you ever asked yourself why your mother gave you that bracelet on your wrist?

Marina: It's just for me to always remember her. She told me keep it as if it's my life.

Dyanga: Did you asked yourself why she asked you to keep it?

Marina: It's an ancestral bracelet and the last thing remaining of her.

She sighed.

Dyanga: Hmmmmmm!!! Have you ever thought about visiting him in the dungeon?

Marina: Who?

Dyanga: Him.

She thought for some seconds.

Marina: Oh you mean Taiwo!! Why should I visit him? Why are you asking me questions? I came here for a child not to talk about Taiwo.

She laughed.

Dyanga: Go home, try to remember the significant things that happened whenever you were with him....

She interrupted her.

Marina: I can't think about a bastard like.....

She interrupted her too.

Dyanga: Then prepare to face the punishment of every barren in serenia if their husband dies without a child, especially the king.

Marina swam slowly and quietly out of Dyanga's cave back to her chamber. She kept kept asking herself two questions that took her many days to answer; "Why did my mother give me this bracelet?" "What significant thing happened between Taiwo and I?". Then one night, she sneaked out to the dungeon to find answers to her questions.

Taiwo: Why are you here? You should go to your husband.

Marina: shut up your mouth!! I didn't come here to see you thief.

Taiwo: But here you are, talking to a merman everyone calls a thief of which he isn't one.

She laughed.

Marina: A thief calling himself innocent. Why didn't you say that when you had the chance? You will die here and when you do, your body will be fed to the fishes.

She got up and turned to leave.

Taiwo: I think you're forgetting something. I'm not going to die here, my sister is out there looking for me. One day, she'll find out that the dragon dropped me in the deep blue sea where the sharks live and when she does, she'll come looking for me. She'll find out a beautiful mermaid saved him from the sharks' teeth, took him to a place where he was risen from the dead to become a merman, the only merman that has the ability to become human. She'll find out that this same beautiful mermaid was the one who taught him the ways of the water world and they eventually fell in love with themselves. She'll find out that another man, a prince, also fell in love with her and conspired against her lover just to have her to himself. She'll find out that because of that, she also turned against her lover, hated him with passion because she doesn't know the truth. When his sister finds out everything, she'll save her brother and both will end up forgiving everyone because they know it's part of their encounter to victory. Even while his sister searches for him, she'll face many death challenges but end up conquering them all with the divine strength Elédùmarè has given her. Before he and his sister began this deadly journey, they've been told by their mother's spirit that they'll find true love. The brother has found his but here she is, turning her back against the one destined for her by God himself. You can go if you want, your husband will be worried about you.

All the while he was talking, she was shedding tears. She turned back and stretched her hands to reach him but he moved away.

Taiwo: Why do you want to touch a thief? A thief doesn't deserve to be touched by a queen.

Marina: Taiwo I'm sorry!! I didn't know that was how it happened. I'm sorry...I'm Soo......

She cried profusely. He felt pity for her and held her hand. Just then, the bracelet on her wrist started shining again then she remembered the first time she saw it shone like that was when she touched him when his love filled her heart. Then she looked at him straight in the eyes.

Taiwo: You have to go now. He'll be looking for you.

She gave him an unaware deep kiss, one she never gave to Paris then left. She visited Dyanga the next day.

Dyanga: Must be you queen Marina!!!!

She talked from the inner cave.

Marina: Yes I am and.....

Dyanga: and you have answers you your questions. To make you know that after all this ends, you will be a mother and a wife to Taiwo and that's going to save you from being a barren and the consequences.

Marina: How did you know all that?

Dyanga: Do not forget that I'm Dyanga. I've known everything since the day I set my eyes on him. Paris Muller will die a childless king. His killer is on her way to save her brother, the Muller dynasty will fall forever but you will be saved. That was the sacrifice your mother made before she died. She sacrificed her life not just for you but for her coming generation. Eywa should her in her dream that if you ended up with Paris, you'll have no children and that will mean the end of your generation.

BACK TO REALITY

Keyinde woke up, praising God for showing her everything that will happen to her brother.

Keyinde: Elédùmarè òsé!!! Iya mi olufunke!! E Seun ooo.....now I know where my brother is. The deep blue sea is many miles away from here. How am I going to get there? Even if I do, neither am I a mermaid nor can I swim but all in all, Elédùmarè will put me through.

Knowing where her brother was, she continued her mission that seemed impossible. Taiwo on the other hand was already getting engrossed with the water way of life and also falling in love with Marina, the most beautiful mermaid in all of serenia. They grew fund of themselves to the extent that all other sea creatures so jealous of them, especially the heir to the throne of serenia, prince Paris. Taiwo and Marina were always together playing love while prince Paris always watched with hatred and jealousy but they didn't know. He started hatching evil plans to get them separated but all his plans failed.

Keyinde fell asleep one night in the thick forest. That night, something bad happened to her while sleeping. A large python crawled and surrounded her. It patiently watched her as she slept, waiting for her to wake up so it could devour her peacefully. She did woke up and what she saw before her became the most scariest thing in the world that moment. Before she could think of anything within a second, she was already in the mouth of the very big python, almost at the verge of death. She started thinking about everything she faced in life, her mother, her brother...

Keyinde: Am I just going to die inside this python? No....my mother, my brother...I haven't found my brother....I've got to find him before I die or I won't be at peace...

All that happened before the snake swallowed her. She thought about what to do to save herself.... just then, she felt something, a dagger. She took it and stabbed it's throat continuously, she was already getting short of breath but she kept stabbing until it was forced to spit her out. She gasped for her like she ran a marathon race, laying like a lifeless body on the ground after which she passed out. Hours later, she woke up to kind herself in the kingdom of slaves. How she got there, she didn't know. She started screaming for help as she struggled to get away but all she got was merciless beating from the ground. Little did they know that none of them was no match for her in a combat but she couldn't free herself due to her unconsciousness. She gently sat among other slaves in the cage weeping profusely as she thought deeply about her brother and her mother

Keyinde: Ìyá mi olufunke omo Àsàbí níbo lewà? Mother why did you just abandon your seeds here on Earth while you dwell happily in heaven beside God? Why can't you plead to God on behalf of your seeds? Your son is or will soon be suffering for an offense he didn't commit and I'm here because you never wanted us to get separated and I love my brother so much but here I am just going through all odds just to get to him without having a specific plan on how to get to him. Mother please save me!! Save us...save your kids...save your seeds....save....

Her thoughts was interrupted by someone beside her.

Slave: Mistress!!!!! Mistress!!!!!

She didn't hear until she felt a touch on her shoulder, she was startled.

Slave: I've been calling you but you didn't hear. I guess you're deep in thought.

She sighed...

Keyinde: oh!! I'm sorry!!! I was deep in thought.

Slave: Can I sit beside you?

Keyinde: Yes you can!! Sit here.

Slave: Thanks so much!!! My name is omolabake. What about you?

Keyinde: omokeyinde.

Labake: ohh nice to meet you keyinde. Why is your body so sticky? Did the slave hunters do something bad to you?

Keyinde: I really do not know how I got here. All I remember is that last night, I was attacked and swallowed by a very big python but I luckily saved myself with my little dagger before I ran out of breath. I gasped for air and fainted immediately it spat me out and I woke up just to find myself here. I didn't get the chance to find a stream to clean myself.

Labake: what??? You must have being through a lot.

Keyinde: yes....I'm going through all these because I'm looking for my brother.

Labake: Your twin brother, right? Where's he?

Keyinde: He's hundreds of miles away from here in the deep blue sea where mystical creatures live.

Labake got so surprised.

Labake: like mermaids and mermans?

Keyinde: Yes...it seems impossible to you right? Yes it is because you don't understand anything about me now. Even the birth of both of us and our mission is a mystery.

Labake: It's hard to believe.

Keyinde: Yes it is. Anyways, how did you get here?

Labake: Our small village was attacked about ten years ago. I was eight years old and the only child of my mother. My father died when I was three years. They killed my mother and since then I've been their captive.

Keyinde: Ohh no!!! That's sad but I have to keep moving. I can't be here for long. I have to keep searching for my brother.

Labake: You will die if you try to escape. I've seen so many people that tried to escape but they were all killed. I'm telling you if you go you'll die.

Keyinde: Is that how things are here?

Labake: Yes you just have to accept your fate.

Keyinde: hmmmmm accept my fate!!! Okay

THINKING: I can't accept this!! I have to get out of here

She got up and looked at the whole place.

My brother is the only one that can save all of these people from their suffering. I must get to him and let the world know him because he's the saviour Elédùmarè sent to this world to make it a better place. He.....

Her thoughts was interrupted.

Labake: Are you thinking again?

Keyinde: No!! I'm just watching how these people are suffering with pity. Some of them must have being here all their lives.

Labake: Yes!! Just like that old man sitting there. He was born here. He has never had any happy moment with a woman and there he is, his days are numbered. He's the oldest man here.

She thought for some seconds

If he's the oldest person here then he should probably know everything about this place.

Keyinde: But how can I get to him?

Labake: I've never gone to him before though but I think there's an underground passage there where you can pass to meet him but to get there you'll have to pass through the guards...lot of guards.

Little did labake know that her new friend was already plotting an escape for the both of them but how the plan was going to go, she didn't know.

Keyinde: Okay thanks...I just want to see him.

Labake: Just be careful. He has something no one in this place has that's why he was kept separately.

Keyinde: Really!! What's that?

Labake: Only God, the guards and he himself knows what it is.

Just then, a guard whipped them from behind for talking before he gave them their meal. That was keyinde's first meal as a slave.