Dark

Episode 4

Abamama had kept her promise, she collected me immediately at midnight. The good thing about not having a boyfriend, kids, or a housemate is that, no one would ask you where you are going at midnight, wearing a black robe and beads around you. She had brought me a brand new silver broom, and for the first time, I was flying alone. It was easy, scary at first, but once you get the hang of it, it is nothing. You just have to navigate your way by holding the handle, just like driving a car.

We had flew all the way to a certain jungle around Maun called Jirabe. It was my first time coming here, and I was shocked about it's beauty. This was like the heart of Maun, and for a moment, the beauty below me shocked me. I didn't know that such places exist just a broom away from me, I was starting to like this flying thing. The trees were artfully shaped, exposing thick twisted branches, bearing few leaves on them. They were mostly mophane trees, together with a few other Dry Savannah land vegetation.

We landed on a bare land, no grass, just a circle of white sand and mophane trees around it.

Abamama: This, my dear, is one of the million entrances to the underground. You just have to meditate and concentrate hard in order to spot one.

Me: So, how do we get in?

Her: Just follow the leader, we are already late child.

This woman loves calling me child, but we look the same age. I would have to ask her, her age sometimes, just to clear the air. She hit the ground with her broom nine times and the ground shook, then opened. I stepped back, scared of the vibrations it made while opening, she stepped forward and I could see some stairs. I quickly followed her and she waited for me on a certain stair case. She held my hand, without any warning, we accelerated downwards, fast. Turns out the stairs were magical. We reached a very large market-like place. I looked up and noticed that there was a ceiling. It just looked like I was in an indoor mall, not underground. I gasped at the street vendors selling all various things, most of them bowed down to Abamama and offered her treats, but she ignored them. Another million questions about Abamama added on top of the ones I already had. Who really is this woman?

Turns out that the ceremony was an award giving ceremony to everyone who managed to make a sacrifice that day. Abamama didn't want to tell me, it was a suprise. I was given my award, it was a clear jelly fish, which I was told to swallow in front of everyone. They cheered for me after swallowing that dreadful thing. I looked around the crowd and smiled at them, despite them not being able to see me under my big hood. We are required to hide our identities when attending big ceremonies. The MC gave me a spell book, I waved and they ululated. I descended the stage and went on stand besides my spiritual mother. She held my hand and led me outside. We squeezed our way through to the door. I noticed that our attires were different. The elders were wearing long black robes covering their bodies, just like me. The children, teenagers particularly, were wearing makgabe (traditional skirts) made from black beads, the younger ones were naked only with beads on their necks. All the kids (teenagers and young ones) had a white ash smeared all over their bodies and face, so it was impossible to identify them.

We got stopped by two people, who looked like women. They were fat and had huge hips. "SSäłñç! DeDevïl" They greeted us. Okay, here is the thing, we have our own language and songs, that is why when a person hears witches during the night, they wouldn't be able to make out their conversation, no matter how hard they listen.

Abamama: SSäłñç¡ DeDevïl ğřû (The Devil be with you too) {Abamama replied them}

Lady: We saw you getting an award, your aura tells me that you are of the nurturing kind. Can you please help us with the Sunday school kids?

Me: Sunday school? You guys have Sunday school?

Lady: Oh, you are of impure blood? A newbie? Of course we have Sunday school. Every night on Sunday, the kids goes to a Sunday school. We chose Sunday, to confuse people with the Christian's Sunday school lessons. I'll recommended you to be a Sunday school teacher once you graduate.

Lady: Or you can join the herbalist club. Be a healer like us.

I jerked my head at that statement, my mother was a healer, I was about to ask her a question when Abamama dragged me. The ladies blocked our way once again. She took out her hood in frustration. They all scrambled to the side and bowed down. "ABAMAMA!" They chanted and other witches in the room bowed down as well. Once again, she ignored them and dragged me outside. I was expecting a lecture as usual from her, about talking to strangers, but she surprisingly kept quiet and covered her head again.

Abamama: I will choose your fate when the right time comes, okay?

Me: Yes, Abamama. But why is it called a fate? Not a job?

Her: You have questions, don't you?

Me: Lots.

Her: About me. (That was a surprise, how did she know?)

Me: Umm, yeah.

Her: First of all, My Earth name was Josephine. I died 345 years ago, at the age of 30. I was a witch all my life, a very powerful one, and when I died, my spirit carried on doing the loyal duties of the Devil.

Me: I thought a spirit can't live on after death.

Her: They do, just that your third eye is only partially opened. Or else, you would be recognizing people you know here, who had long died.

Me: I don't believe you.

Her: Believe the Devil then.

Me: Wow, okay. How does he look like?

Her: Who?

Me: The Devil?

Her: Shh! He can hear you when you ask unnecessary questions. But just know that I had never met him. I only met upper rank demons like Amus, Valak, Nijshro and the others.

Me: Intruiging. (She chuckled)

We finally exited the conference room and emerged into the market place. We were heading to where we had parked our brooms. I couldn't help glancing around, because this time around, we were walking slowly. There were street vendors, demons in all forms, selling all kinds of things, frogs, brooms, coats, charms, love portions, snakes that makes you rich.

Demon: Come buy a money making snake! Snakes for sale! Snakes for sale! One drop of blood gets you a very powerful snake!

I stopped walking and looked at the demon. It wasn't expensive, just a single drop of blood? I turned to Abamama, who was looking at me.

Me: Ga se gore motho a ithekele noganyana? Ke bata go huma jaaka bana ba malwapa a mangwe le nna (I want to be rich, I want to buy a snake)

Abamama: If you want a snake, I would give you one very soon. My snake had laid some eggs, they would hatch soon.

Me: Okay (reluctantly) Is that Pistachios? I always wanted to taste them. Can I go buy?

Abamama: You shouldn't eat anything you lay your hands on. Just like you and me, they are Satan's agents, you are a witch, you are supposed to know that Satan's target is the mind, and his weapon is lies, manipulation. Sela! Your blood is very precious, you are no ordinary mortal. Look at them, they are salivating just at your scent, there are so many demons here who are so evil than me.

Me: Huh?

Her: Witches and demons kills each other too, it's not only the Christians and non-witches we target. Don't trust anyone, not even me, we are in a war against the world, a war against God, his people, good, and a war against each other. I can't lose you over a handful of nuts Sela, I'll get you pistachios early in the morning if you want them. If you lose one drop of blood in this place you would be dead within seconds. Your blood is different from everyone in the entire universe. You have angel... (She clasped her mouth as if she said an offensive word)

I pestered her all the way about what she said but she just kept quiet, ignoring me. Typical of her. We reached our brooms and stepped outside the underground. I saw a rocket like thing a bit far from us. I shook her shoulder and pointed at it, she was surprised too. Her watch beeped violently and she starred at me, open mouthed.

Her: Wow, I had this watch on for 345 years but it never beeped. (She stared at the watch and looked at me again) A message from Satan himself! It just says "Meet me at the Bermuda triangle, Satan's Nuptial soon."

Me: What's does it mean?

Her: I don't know. I don't even know that he dwells there, the Bermuda triangle. Maybe he wants to marry me Sela! I mean, I had been working overtime all these years.

Me: Wow, goodluck. I'm happy for you.

Her: Yeah, goodbye, let me try to locate the Bermuda triangle. You will go safely right?

Me: Yeah, bye. (I was getting sleepy)

I was about to mount my broom when a large owl landed on her shoulder. It whispered something to her and she looked at me.

Her: Umm, Sela?

Me: Yes, Abamama.

Her: He wants you to come too. (I could see jealousy all over her face)

Me: Me?

Her: Yes.

Me: I'm scared Abamama.

Her: Don't be, be honoured, be proud child. It's not everyone who gets this chance, maybe he just wants to congratulate us. But I hope he marries me...

The owl led us to the rocket thing, the doors opened automatically upon our arrival and we walked in together with our brooms. We buckled up, it looked just like an ordinary aeroplane inside. The pilot turned to us, he was a very tall, handsome white man. He looked so handsome that I couldn't stop myself from gazing at him. My stomach started experiencing that butterfly thing, like when you meet your crush for the first time. He had a cold expression on his face, I could see pain in his eyes too, but he was hiding it well.

Him: I am fallen angel Azazeal, the leader of the first fallen angels, allow me to pilot you at my master's service.

He didn't bother to wait for our reply. He turned and started this thing. Such a rude demon! Abamama elbowed me and whispered in my ear.

Her: I think I'm dreaming, this isn't real. The mighty Azazeal piloting us? Wow!

Me: (I whispered back) Isn't he hot? I think I found me a crush.

Her: Don't even think about it. He is not into women, never was. All the first fallen angels, fell because they wanted to marry the humans. But he, his sole purpose for falling into this Earth, was to teach the mankind war, science and technology.

Me: (I sighed) Oh! What a waste of handsomeness. (I heard him chuckling, clearly he was listening)

Her: So, are you ready? This had never happened before. An impure blood, a newbie, meeting our master? You are so blessed, no witch had seen where our master resides. Even I would be meeting him for the first time.

I just starred ahead, a million questions in my head. I don't want to lie, I was scared. My mind wondered off to what was going to happen ahead, what was this Bermuda triangle? What does the Devil wants with me?

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