Roger and the Necromantic Abode

The Revelation

“We will have to make a plan.”

“What plan?”

“You will come here every day at 9:00 pm. So we can see each other at night-time. And you can go, when the sun rises as John and James, the twin brothers, will wake up at 6:30 in the morning. We can repeat this cycle.”

“Okay, I agree.”

This went on for six months. One night when he was lying down with Ziphora, he told her about the day when he proposed to her and the dream that came to him.

“The place in my dream was like heaven. There were a lot of animals together and it was like seeing a fantasy world. And they were telling a fate about someone called Roger.”

Ziphora’s eyes widened when she heard the name Roger. She asked with astonishment, “What did you just say? Is what I heard true? Did you hear the word Roger in your dream?”

Stevenson said “Uh, yeah.”

“Are you sure that the name you heard was Roger?”

“Yes and why are you asking me this to me?” he asked demented.

“This happened to me a long time ago. One hot night I saw a bright light at the gate and I barked at it, you know because it seemed to be the right thing to do.” She said.

“And a voice spoke from the light and it said, ‘“Don’t bark at me. I am not going to harm you and your masters. I am the power of the Amulet of Tuvalu. I escaped from an evil person who was trying to use my power to become an immortal human being and to destroy all the good people and now I want a place to hide from her until I regain the power to fight her.”’ She said. “As he said this I remembered that my mom had shown me a place where you can hide. But there was a problem that it can only be used once in thirty years. I helped the power of the Amulet of Tuvalu anyway. I said ‘“Sir, I have a place where you can hide as long as you want. But there is a problem, it can only be unlocked from the outside once.”’

‘“But, wouldn’t you want to visit there? I know your mother has taught you to chant the hymn to open that door. And don’t ask me how I knew that because I know a lot of things”’

“Then what did you do?”

“I said, ‘“No and I’ll never have to use that hiding place””’

‘“I will never forget this and I promise that one day I’ll pay you forward.”’ He said. I showed him the way and chanted the hymn to open the hiding place. After three months, he grew stronger than ever and he defeated the evil one. One day, he came back to me and said that the door will open again in five years. And then he said a thing that I didn’t even guess would happen. ‘“Ziphora, you will have a child who can speak to one human being who believes that animals can talk and that person will be his best friend. And you will know this when the one who falls in love with you at first sight will see a dream mentioning the name Roger and he tells you. After sometime you will be pregnant with him.”’ And with that he vanished.”

“So does that mean……”

Suddenly they heard some noise and Ziphora said “GO, NOW.” And Stevenson left.

The next day was a normal one. Stevenson went and waited for the new bakery’s worker. The worker came and left some food. When Stevenson came and looked, there were freshly baked cookies and croissants.

He said “Whoa, it’s my lucky day.” Before stuffing his face with cookies, he looked at the croissants. He remembered that Ziph liked croissants. So he rushed to his sleeping spot, grabbed a rug, and came as fast as he could. He started packing croissants for Ziph and cookies for his lunch and dinner.

At night he went to faith as usual. And he saw Ziphora sleeping on the grass. He woke her up from her sleep and she barked.

“Why are you barking at me?” Stevenson asked.

“Sorry. I thought it was a snake.” And she went to her sleep again.

“Hey,wake up Ziph. I am Stevenson.” At this sentence she arose from her sleep, yawned and said “Stevenson. It’s you…..”

“Before you say anything, here, it’s your favourite.” He said handing her a croissant.

She ate the whole thing in just ten seconds. He asked “Do you want another one?”

“Yes!” And just like that she ate the croissants while Stevenson was just starting to munch on his cookies.

She said “Stevenson…”

“Hmmm.”

“You are going to become a father.” She squealed with excitement.

Stevenson choked. “What?” he asked in a low voice but Ziphora understood the question and said “Yes. We are going to become parents.”

And he started running around the house with excitement. At last he stopped to catch his breath.

He asked, “Will they allow you to keep the child?”

“That’s my only worry.” She said.

“Will it be a girl or a boy?” he asked.

“A girl with the name Roger? Are you crazy?”

“Oh, I forgot.” He said with a laugh.