Myths: Fatherland

Chapter 7: An invitation, an attack

I spent the next two days at the office going through old archives, typing my report, and catching comments from all sides about the introvert reporter, me. The drive to the office today had been smooth, large clouds as white as snow hovered in the clear blue sky and obscuring the sun, bringing with it heavy winds. My car windows were rolled up as I drove through the busy street and crowded market area, listening to the commotions at every turn. A woman who had come to the market to buy goods was vehemently debating the price for transporting her goods with a taxi driver wearing an oversized shirt and shorts. The wind had blown the umbrella hanging from a SIM centre which knocked the tray off of the head of a woman hawking plantains, there was a lot of begging and apologies with a bit of laughter from unruly passersby. A small vehicle had bumped into the rear side of a bigger one just as I turned a corner. The driver of the smaller vehicle seemed to have been watching the commotion caused by the wind and had not taken his foot off the pedal as he turned the corner. Nylons, polythene bags, small plastic containers, and other small and light items were floating in the air as another gust of heavy wind hit. Undeterred, the haggling of prices, cries of little children, the enticing calls of hawkers, hooting of horns, and the gossiping of market traders and others filled my ears as I continued to drive along. And I began to relive the moment back in the break room. Her small frame shook as she sobbed quietly, causing red streaks to run across her glossy white eyeballs. The feeling that ran through me as I held her slender fingers evoking in me a pleasure, a burning desire I hadn't felt in the longest of time. The urge to know what she would taste like if I pressed my lips to hers and pinning her to the wall. I quickly pushed away the thoughts as I began to think of the taste of her blood, her throat ripped open and her dress stained with blood and she lying lifeless in my arms as I rub my bloodstained fingers across her cold cheeks trying to make her open her eyes. This was one of the many reasons why it would be hard to begin a relationship with a human. They were fragile, and a moment of carelessness was all it would take to end it all. I returned my thoughts again to the scenery and commotions of the market.

As soon as I walked into the large office, bolstering with reporters, I was accosted by a neatly dressed young man holding a camera in his hands. "Good morning sir, I'm Mr Kenneth, I'm here to take the pictures of the employees for the paper." He said, extending his arm for a greeting. I shook it and replied and began to move towards my desk. He followed behind. "The chief wants me to create an album of reporters working on this floor," he was saying as we walked, "You are to be at the round room by 2 pm tomorrow sir." "OK, thank you. I'll pass the message." "There'll be no need for that, I already have. Have a nice day then." "You too." He strode off, and I took my seat behind my desk.

The sun that had risen high and shone brightly had many deceived, for now with the windy and cloudy skies, many who had outfits fit for a sunny day had ther arms wrapped around them, others taking out scarfs or shutting the windows around them. And with the chilly atmosphere came some interesting conversations going around, with groups gathered around deep in conversations. Not having to worry about listening, there on my desk was an envelope addressed to me from the board, and looking at the date on it, it seemed to have arrived just early this morning. I opened it, and cause of the group conversation was revealed. The letter read, "Dear Mr Daniel, you have been invited to the Annual Dinner Party hosted by the members of the board to celebrate The Patriots award for the Best Covered Stories Of The Year." And to add the cherry on top, it was a plus one invitation. A thought ignited in my head, I reached for the phone to dial a number, but got distracted by the voices which were now filtering into my ears, "Who do you think he'll go with?" "I doubt if he'll show up even." A lady replied to her friend. She was a cartoonist, and she looked quite the part. Wearing a striped white and black short sleeves and a black jumper, striped socks and black sandals bangles dangled on both hands, a pair of glasses, and a bizarre hairdo. "I think he's just an introvert." She in a drooling voice. "What? An introvert?!" The other replied, almost coiling away, "Such a handsome guy can't be an introvert." "Hugghh, pls come off it." She said, disgruntled, "I daresay he doesn't have a social life." In another conversation... "He's going to take me along, you'll see,” Monica said to the giggling of her friends, "He called me this morning, you know? After he couldn't resist anymore." She said. Though this wasn't exactly the whole truth, she enjoyed the looks of envy on their faces. "And what about David?!" Asked one of her gossip partners. "And what about him?" She asked affronted. "Aren't you gong out anymore? Aren't you still seeing each other?" Another with hair braided blue and spotting two heavy sets of earrings asked. "Look," she said, "we only went out for like two nights. That's all?" "Not two times but three." The blue haired lady replied. ''Yeah, and don't forget the hot rump on that 3d night." The fourth lady put in. "Fine! Whatever! David's old news. I've got my eyes set on the new mysterious boy wonder." She said, sighing, a soft breath escaping her throat... "...what are you guys now? I mean, you've gone on two dates already." "Well yes, but I don't know. You know he's one of the town's playboys, the 'Yoruba wizards' as they call them, I don't think it's anything serious, well to him anyway." Titi, a fair skinned lady with high cheek bones and slim build, replied to her friend as she scanned through the invitation card. "Oh, come on! He looses his cool when he's with you, and you know it. Oh! Here he comes, I'll talk to you later, bye." Her friend said, scurrying off. "Bye!" "Hello beautiful, good morning..."

"So what do you think? Think he'll show up?" "What does it matter if he attends? See guys, let's just drop the matter and talk something else, biko!" "You guys surprise me, ooo. So that's why you are all here to discuss whether the snub's going to turn up? While I was thinking we were going to be discussing which babes we'll be bringing. Abeg now!" "See guy, no need to pretend like the thought hasn't yet crossed the minds of any of us here, we all know many of the ladies here drool over his matter." "See guys, leave that one. Let's talk something else. As for me, I no think am," David said, "what's on my mind now is how to ask Monica to be my babe. I think she's the one." He declared, grinning heartily, to the raucous laughter of the group. "Bro! Come off it! Monica?! You definitely can do better man." Seyi from the sports section said exasperated. "Ahah! Guy, wetin happen na?" Na your business?" Olu said in a fit of laughter. "Davo, just because you had a good rump with her doesn't mean she's the one o." Prince stated wisely, "We all here know how Monica is. She no dey stay one place my guy!" "How you you take know that one?" David demanded, visibly irritated. "Look, leave him be. The passion from that night still dey him blood." Seyi said to another round of raucous laughter from the guys.

Shaking my head and trying to block out the conversations, I dialled the detective's number. After a few rings, she answered, "Hello, Detective Lola, may I know who is speaking?" "Hi detective, good morning, it's me Daniel." "Oh! Is this a different number of yours?" "Well no. This is my office line, so technically, it's not really mine." "Sure. So what information do you have for me?" She asked, sounding formal. I was starting to rethink the whole idea. 'Was I about to step out of line. These things had never bothered me before. It had always been easy getting my way, either through impetration or my inhumane good looks'. "Well, the reason for this call isn't work related..." "OK..." "I'd like to know you'll be free tomorrow night?" There was a short pause on her end, but it felt endless before she responded, "May I ask why?" "The paper got an award, and there's to be a celebratory party tomorrow night, and the invitation allows for a plus one. I'm sorry I'm asking this on such short notice, it just that I...I'd like to see you again." The second pause that followed was even worse than the first. "Ok, I'm not sure it'll be appropriate for me an officer going out with the reporter who happens to be reporting my case." "Yes, I know. But tell me, when was the last time you went out for fun detective." "(Laughs) Excuse me. I don't think that's an appropriate question sir." "Come on detective. Sometimes you have got to let your hair down. Pls come out with me tomorrow night. I promise we'll go as just friends, and it'll be fun." "Hmm..." There was silence for a while, "...OK, I'll see if it can fit into my schedule. What time?" "8pm, but I'll come pick you up by 7:30pm if that'll be alright by you?" "Alright we'll see, bye." "Bye."

Putting on a tux may have seemed too formal, but I knew the talks that would ensue with my presence at the party would be less about my dressing, but rather, about my even being there and not to mention the sight of the beautiful lady who'd be in attendance with me. I thought to myself as I got dressed and checked the time to see that it was already 6:47pm. Putting a few final touches in place, I headed out the door to one of the elegant vehicles parked in my garage. I had a love for cars that sometimes I just proceed to acquire them whenever I see one that suits my liking, if you know what I mean. For tonight, I had my eyes set on the black and red Mustang. I got in and began to drive to the home of the detective. She had agreed to be my plus one and had sent me her address.

The night was serene, tranquil. The blues playing from my car's stereo gave a euphoric feeling of warmth and, oddly, life. The highway was free and driving undisturbed, I looked out the window into the night sky. It was strewn with stars, giving the impression of the sky being a thick veil blocking out a universe of light and that the stars were holes in the veil, allowing this far away light in. But the beauty of even this universal picture paled in comparison with the bright face of the moon as it shone in the endlessly dark sky above. Its beauty gave a warm feeling of affection and also a distant mystery. It was white as powder, as white as the eyeballs of the lady I was driving to. I wondered what she would be dressed in tonight. 'A glamorous white gown, as white as the moon I was staring at? What hairdo would she have on that would frame that perfectly shaped face of hers? What colour of lipstick would highlight those bow shaped lips?' I smiled to myself as I thought of the warmth in those lips, the warmth and feel of the soft skin of her neck as I held it, bringing her closer to mine.

The thoughts all cleared out as I made a quick swerve to the right to avoid the unruly overtaking of a driver as he came too close to my lane in an attempt to overtake the car in front of him. A rushing rage began to climb in me. I thought to bring my car to a halt, turn it around, and give the driver a chase, and with a car like mine, catching up with him would be all too easy, and then proceed to rip out his throat but not before telling him how the road would be safer without the likes of him on it. 'No! I shouldn't be thinking such!' I concurred as I tried to calm the rage, but it was all to no avail. My throat was constricting with thirst, my dead heart racing with senses beginning to sharpen like it would while on a hunt. I couldn't keep the car moving any longer, so I slammed my foot on the breaks, bringing the car to a stop on the side of the road not far from a filling station. I got down, wanting to clear my, to get the cool breeze of the night in, but the rage and thirst only persisted, getting stronger. I looked into my reflection in the car window, and I was appalled. My eyes had sunken and had turned scarlet, hair was bristle and menacing, my facial skin drawn tight to reveal a hideous monster with fangs bared and ears pointed. The smell of humans and the beating of hearts, now very audible, excited every muscle in me. I slid down in fear of not knowing what was happening to me. An attendant at the nearby filling station had noticed me and was walking over, I tried to get up on my feet again, and the attendant was getting closer, and the monster was pleased. I shouted at him as he drew ever nearer, "I'm fine! Please! Go back now!" He stopped and looked at me, affronted by the shouting and replied, "Na help I say make I help you wey you con dey shout like this! Go die, sef!" And he turned away, walking back to his job, spewing out insults as he did, but I was glad.

I had driven past a large forest along the highway a few metres back, and so, making up my mind, I began to struggle to run back towards it. 'I just have to go into it and feed on the animals I could find, no humans.' I was thinking to my myself. "Why?" Came a voice from out of nowhere. It was feminine and was vile, cold, cruel, eerie, and distant. I could feel my veins constrict from emptiness. The voice came again, "Go back to the station and feed. Call for help and feed on your would-be rescuer to your satisfaction!" "No! I don't want to." I said in a low voice. It was becoming harder to speak or even move fast. My muscles lax and jittery from weakness and hunger. 'But this couldn't be possible. I had fed on my stored rations at home before leaving tonight. This was something else.' I thought. "Why?" The voice came again, "Don't want to cause any more deaths?! But isn't that all your kind does?! Cause death and anguish just so you can survive and live as monsters!" And with that, I knew what this was! I was horror struck at the realization and began to gasp for air, my airway feeling tighter, but I mustn't feed. "No!" I yelled. "Feed monster! Satiate your vile thirst and be damned!" With every ounce of strength I could muster, I gave a resounding but short dash to the edge of the forest and began to half-crawl my way into it. No human blood must I feed on. This was a damning spell. "I see you are familiar with this spell. You must be a strong and ruthless cursed creature to have survived it...or must have witnessed it." The voice was saying as I waddled my way deeper into the forest, "No matter. Your efforts are futile against my powers." The voice said, amused. I couldn't help but wonder how she was doing this, 'How was she in my head?' The smell of humans and blood filled the air. "Do you smell that?!" It asked, its tone again menacing. "Look behind you." I looked but saw nothing. "Look closer, beast!" I screamed, almost giving me a headache. I peered back through the trees I had bounded through to the edge of the forest. Three humans were walking into the forest, the attendant among them, bleeding from cuts they had inflicted on their arms from the objects they held in their hands. 'This witch was out to get me!' I thought and get me good she aimed at. I had to keep moving farther away from, not daring to be tempted to feed on them. "You can't escape this!" The voice came shrieking again, "Feed! Kill! Don't prolong your suffering." "The suffering would only begin if I do." I said, not entirely sure to whom I was speaking. "True, but isn't that what you kind deserves. All your kind does is wreck havoc and infestation!"

I kept going deeper, crazed with hunger, but still sane enough to know not to turn back and dive into the death trap. The trees seemed to be coming to life, attacking me as I pushed past them. They snarled and jeered and cursed and rained down upon me their loads, but on and on I forged, till I fell face down on earthen moss and fallen leaves. The three bewitched humans were still coming after me, looking and smelling all delicious, and I wondered how far they would still go before losing consciousness from blood loss. 'Very far, I should suppose.' I thought as their footsteps and ragged breathing got closer and clearer. The voice kept chanting, and laughter echoed in my head, a terrorizing laughter. I rolled on to my back to take one last look at the moon, to picture that beautiful face one last time, "Die! Feed! Savage beast! Why don't you just end it!" I tried to block out the screeching. "Creature of damnation...born of the raging of the unwanted! Feed!" The voice screamed like a dying bird. But I couldn't see the beautiful face, the peaceful and calm night sky hidden from view by the tree tops and an incoming rain storm. The footsteps were closer now. I could see them a few metres away, blood drained, eyes belonging to another staring at me, they moved closer. I staggered to my feet, I knew how I would look right now, a soulless face covered in dirt, fangs bared, ears stretched tight, and hair bristle. And just as I was about to let go and end my suffering by feeding, though feeding would only bring more suffering, a large squirrel peered its head out of a tree trunk very close by and stared. I moved so quickly, even I couldn't believe that amount of strength was left in me, and I had the squirrel out of the tree and in my hands, and it struggled to get out. My thoughts now were only of feeding, and I knew the spell was starting to get stronger, but now I was about to break this wretched curse. And the witch knew it as well, as she played her last indecent trick.

One of the bewitched humans, a female now spoke to me, but it wasn't in her own voice, nor was it in that of the witch, "Dan, is that you? I've missed you Dan." It was her voice! I looked at the human closely, but she wasn't her face any longer either. The witch must have peered into my head. I wanted to dig my fangs into the squirming animal, but she spoke again, "Dan? Don't you miss me Dan?" Grief ran through me at the memory of the last time I saw her, the time I watched her die painfully in my arms, "I've missed you so much." She said again. "I've missed you too Stacy." I replied, tears flowing down my asked face. I fell to my knees, sobbing, head down, the squirrel still held tightly in my hands. "It's okay Dan, I know you do." The tears came flowing at these words. "I love you Dan." I sniffed, "I love you too Stacy." She was moving closer, and I raised my head to look at her, and alas, she now possessed the face of Stacy. She knelt in front of me, our faces inches apart, and she gestured for one of the other humans to come, and the fuel attendant laid down to our right and placed his head on the lady's laps. "Come to me Dan. We could pick up where we left off," She said, taking the injured arm of the attendant in hers and stretching it out between us, "from that night, do you remember?" "I do." I remembered the town, the house, the seated family, the feeding, the kiss, the passion and the... The lady pressed her lips to mine and began to kiss me, her hand on my arm. It should have felt the same, familiar, warm, loving, and passionate, but instead, it was cold, cruel, raging, and loathful. I felt her hand gliding down my arm towards the now motionless animal in my hands. I drew back, looked at the lady, and now, she didn't have Stacy's face any longer, only the pale face of the strange lady with the eyes of another being stared at me. I snarled and raised the animal to my mouth, piercing its fur and skin with my fangs to drink of its warmth and life. I became overcome with dizziness, and my vision blurred and the scream, 'Noooo!' of the demented witch rang in my ears as I drifted into unconsciousness and drifted into a nightmarish memory.

...the ringing sound was like the jingling of bells. We all looked from one to another. "What is that?" "Shhh shhh! Listen." William said. The house was silent, but upon listening more closely, we all could hear footsteps from outside the gates of the property, heartbeats, and also, chanting. "Witches!" Gwen snarled, Stacy placed a hand on mine, Sonia dropped her meal. Low hissing sounds were roaring out of our throats, our backs tense at the turn of events. "How many do you hear?" Victoria asked, looking to Gwen, but it was Tom who answered, "16 of them." "17," I corrected instantly, "one of them is with child." Sonia spat, Stacy held onto my hand, Tom had an irritated look on his face, and William said, exasperated, "Witches come for us just before dawn looking to take us out and you expect us to go weak in the knee just because one of them is pregnant. Maybe you think they'll let us go if we wish her a safe delivery." Tom seemed to have found this remark funny as he had a grin on his face, and he said, "The heartbeat is faint. They probably do not know about it." "Oh, give it a rest Dan, we've had enough of your kind dead heart for one night." Sonia quipped, moving to look out the window, "They've surrounded the gate. We have to find another way out." We could still hear them chanting, so we all began to look for any other possible exits. But every possible means of escape seemed to have been blocked by some invisible force, the windows wouldn't open, and the walls were impenetrable, unbreakable. "They've sealed every exit. They have us locked in." Stacy reported as she sped back into the dining room. "Not all the exits," Tom, who was now looking out the window at the coven, said, "the front door is open." Just then, the chanting ceased, and there was quiet again, except for the chirping of the early birds and the beating hearts of the gathered coven. "They must want to fight us." Tom said, confusion in his voice, reflecting the state of the rest of us. "It would appear so." Will said a bit solemnly. The outcome of the confrontation was up for no debate. The odds were slightly balanced. '7 well-fed vampires, some with great fighting experience, against a coven of 16 witches, we definitely had the upper hand, especially in this open space.' And my thoughts were aired no sooner than I had had them. "That would be pretty dumb, especially for witches." Gwen said, a twisted grin on her face. "Right you are m'darling, right you are." Tom said, smiling as he sped over to her, giving her a long kiss. The group seemed to have found solace in that and were looking more relaxed. Even Stacy had loosened her grip on my hand and was sharing a smile with Victoria and William. But I didn't think it would be that simple. 'Witches weren't stupid. They'd never face a group of vampires that could overpower them without having a plan that would put them in a favourable position. And they wouldn't dare bring a woman with child to do battle. Why aren't the others thinking this too? Couldn't they smell a flaw in our supposed victory? Or didn't they think much of it?' "I don't think we should go out there. I think it's a trap." I said, trying to make them see what I was seeing. "'Course it's a trap." Responded Sonia, "A trap we're going to use to our favour."

"I don't think it's that simple. Why would a coven of witches attack a group of vampires while one of theirs is pregnant? I think they are up to something. I don't think we should face them!" I looked to Victoria, and for a moment she looked as though she too could see the impossibility a straightforward victory. "And what do we do while were are at it? Sit up here and wait for them to give up and turn back?" William asked, every bit of sarcasm in his voice. "I thought you were the brave, courageous, strong one. Don't tell me you are scared of an unborn witch's child." Tom said to the laughters of Gwen, Sonia and William. "I can make you choke on those words." I said in a tone of annoyance, though I was unsure whether I'd be lucky enough to even win the fight. Tom bared his fangs, his back arced, ready to pounce, low hissing sounds rippling out his mouth, fists balled. I reacted the same. But Stacy stood between us, her hands behind her, restraining me, and she said admonished, "Enough Tom, there'll be no need for that." The atmosphere was tense again. Victoria now had a look of confusion on again, but finally, she spoke, "Tom? Gwen? Can either of you identify the pregnant one?" "What do you plan on doing?" I demanded, but Victoria didn't respond and Stacy looked fiercely at me. 'Where I come from, you don't do any harm to a pregnant woman, but I guess it was different here.' I thought to myself. "We could try." Tom answered after sharing a brief look with Gwen. "Good! We'll all go out the door and out the gate with Tom and Gwen behind," Victoria instructed looking from face to face as she spoke, "and as soon as either of you identifies the one with child, grab her and pull her back in behind us..." "You would attack without the slightest provocation?" I voiced, rather outraged, Stacy put her hand on my chest to keep me from moving any closer, "And attack a pregnant woman?" The idea of attacking a pregnant woman was against the traditions I grew up knowing. A pregnant woman and her unborn child were held in high esteem. "Oh for the love of blood, shut up Daniel!" Shouted Sonia, "And let her finish." All around were angry faces, including Stacy's. 'This couldn't be happening! She was suggesting attacking a woman with child and they all seemed fine with it!' I thought again. "Once she's behind our lines, let me do the talking." Victoria finished, looking pointedly at me.

We assumed the formation instructed by Victoria. She led us out the front door, onto the lawn and out of the gate, and we stood smack in front of the wicked witches, ready for the confrontation.

None of us knowing what consequences would be wrought upon us by the end of it.