Bonded

Chapter eleven

I woke up with a strange sense of déjà vu. My back was pressed against a soft material feeling fingertips like touches caressing my body. I sat up straight, wondering where I was. The place was almost dark only the single door made room for light to pass through. Around the corner, a tiny flower pot grow plants next to it a clay pot. The place was completely bare and unfamiliar.

I turned around anxiously worry filling my streams. Wrapping my hands around my body, I tried desperately to shield myself. Tracing the tips of my fingers along my arm. A bitter teste of nostalgia hammered into my skull. Images passed through my head like a witness or a audience in a theatre. Black furry beast attacked another beast like creature. The scene all to familiar, like being hit by a train. I started to connect the missing pieces together. Alpha Leone the owner of the mansion was a werewolf just like his infamous name implied. The Alpha of the pack the leader. Just like a myth Ebere said, it was true. Placing my hands on my head, i breathed out. The idea seemed unreal and hard to grasp. Doubt started to creep in. Maybe I saw it wrong, maybe this was a dream. Somehow the voice in my head knew better than to stay in denial. It was as true as day Alpha Leone was the cursed breast.

An old woman walked through the door, tightly holding a stick. Her back was hunched, from the waist down she tied a green wrapper matched with a white blouse. She doesn't turn my way and moves to the corner dropping a sack.

'i see you are awake' her voice is cracky almost hoarse. She finally turns and walks slowly towards the bed, the stick making a thud. Her different coloured iris are captivating. I found myself staring. One is deep blue while the other is golden like flames. Her features are light and soft, old age cracks her skin with uneven broken lineas.

I murmur a greeting looking elsewhere.

She hums in return, I can feel her eyes on mine before she finally turns away moving away from the bed.

Before I can ask the where this place is. She respond to my unspoken words.

' You are in Amadora' the woman says lightly. The word is foreign to my ears. Have never gone far from my village before only wondering the woods part except for Ekerda were the mansion is.

'What happened' I found myself asking. I can't remember anything after Leone changed. Touching my body, I see no bruise, checking my hands nothing. Only a scar was there. I looked up finding her eyes already on mine. She looked compose and human to me. But I knew there was something amiss. I narrowed my eyes at her.

' I saw you unconscious in the forest. You might have fall and hit your head. ' she said.

'But....' she cut me off by placing a cup filled with water near my mouth. I felt bewildered staring into her unusual orbs. She nodded pushing the cup gently into my lips. I opened up compiled into her spill. The cold water drown down my throat.

' This would make you feel better' she spoke softly. Somehow I started to believe her.

She went back and placed the cup back into the clay pot. Shaking my head, i tried to make sense of the situation.

Someone entered into the hut, grazing up a man came inside. His side profile was all I could see while he talked to the woman. He had an outgrown beard, from here I could easily highlight his lean figure from his white polo. I cleared my throat looking away from them.

They were speaking in another dialect that wasn't igbo.

When there finally turn towards here I was stationed, I got a closer view of the man. He was probably in his early twenties. He was somehow handsome but would be way better without the beard covering his face.

'you are finally awake' his voice was a deep bass.

He took a step away from the woman coming closer.

'Am Philip'

I hesitate before giving him my name, his aura kept me guarded by the way he watched me.

'Vivian'

' you must be hungry. Come let's go and eat' he offered.

I looked at him skeptical, his offer tempting.

' Trust me I don't bite' he said with a boyish smile.

I looked down at my attire, i was already dressed again with a v neck black grown. The material was loose on my body swallowing me. I moved from the single bed, held my bamboo stick. Placing my feet on the floor there was already a leather slippers positioned on the floor. Looking up the old woman, she gave me I small nod. I slip into it, standing up.

He moved towards the door, I followed his lead. Before I walked out, I turned to the woman.

' Thank you for helping me' I said with deep gratitude.

' you are welcome my daughter'

I smiled a little.

The sun was blinding, I blinked several times not yet used to the light. After staying in a dark place for God knows how long.

'Come this way' he instructed.

I looked back at the hut, it's roof covered in Palm trees leave. Following the stranger called Philip. Leaving the mysterious old woman with beautiful mesmerizing orbs behind.

We walked down a clear path that was made by others. Discordant cacophony surrendered the thick forest. Timber woods layed with mushrooms growing on top. The feeling of being outside made my skin tingle. The smell of old waste replaced by cool morning breeze. I looked up at the sun through it was blinding. Was I free at last? I thought. Was this what freedom felt like.

'Amadora village has been up for centuries, it's a hidden village' his words cut into my thoughts. I looked at him as we walked side by side.

'We use the tress as coverage from the outside world. Mostly the occupant are people with no home or lost that stumble upon this place.'

'Have lived in Amadora all my life, am a pure indigene' I could hear the pride in his voice as he spoke about his community.

'Where do you live?' he asked curiously.

I snapped my eyes to his.

'Umuahia village' I cleared my throat midway through.

He only nodded to my statement. We stayed in silence till he continued to speak again.

' you must be wondering what type of creature that woman is' I turned to him. His eye were ahead.

I shrugged my shoulder. Is she one of them?.

' she's a witch' he said

'wait' I said he paused waiting for me to speak.

' she's a witch, I thought witches was just silly story. Aren't they blood sucker? '

He snuffled up a laugh at my response.

' No she is not a blood sucker' he said with a smile.

'Actual she's an ancient witch. When the first pioneer of Amadora came to find this place. They were outcast banish from there villages for one problem or the other. They stumbled upon the hut. They thought the woman was just an ordinary weird old lady. She became a healer to the sick and helped Amadora grow.'

'There never discovered her true nature till recently. She isn't a bad witch or a native doctor. Just a I think friendly witch'

'Does that make sense' he asked with a shrugged. If he said his a month ago, I would have thought he was mad. Now a days madness was the new norm.

' She healed me. I think ...... was it with a portion? I asked curiously.

' Actually no.... Amadora isn't like any ordinary village' he pointed with his finger north. I could only see trees.

'There behind those tall trees. A waterfall flows down. It produces healing water. You were almost died when she brought you in.

I was fascinated by his stories, my eyes swept around the enchanting forest. This was truly madness.

' we are almost there' Philip moved forward. A thick brush leave almost like a vile was before us. Using his hands to make way, he turned over waiting. I looked at it skeptical. Going through the vile, the sight before me was breathtaking. In the midst is held little cottage homes, the trees surrounding it. It had this enchanting glow the sunlight casting it's warmth.

I didn't notice Philip beside me till he called me out from my thought. He had this mischievous smile on his lips.

'Come Vincent is waiting for you' he nudge forward I followed bewildered by it all.

' who's this Vincent' I stuttered out catching my breath.

'The chief' he voice rose up with pride.

I followed silently through the steps. People moved around, Women and children. Some where dressed in tied wrapper around there chest and waist. Children clinging into them. Curious eyes watched us making way for us to pass, others minded there business.

We moved down the sandy path going forward. A much large house stands at the brink of the community. Structures like the others. We go through the small steps going through the door. Revealing a modern yet simple design with adornment. Glass windows, a cozy fireplace at the end, with leather couches by the sound. The sound of loud footsteps made me turn. A man walked into the room, he had the same outgrown beard like Philip but he was more muscular filling his cloth in the right place. He had small eyes that didn't stand out with thick eyebrows.

' who is this' he asked once his eyes landed on mine.

'This Vivian' he introduced on my behalf.

The man narrowed his eyes on Philip waiting for a better introduction.

'The girl the healer saved'

I don't miss the way he said healer, I got the draft quickly.

He eyed me up and down like a meat, I met his eyes when it reached my face. He doesn't mind that I caught him staring. He still holds my graze steadily, till he looks away. Addressing Philip .

'Take her to the dining room. She must be hungry' he goes out from the room.

Did he just insult me, I was all bone and no flesh. I haven't eaten anything for days.

' come you really need to eat' he said looking my way.

'Are you calling me slim' I was offended. Crossing my hands over my chest, I gave him a pointed look.

He raised him arm in mocking surrender, hiding a smile.

I ate to my satisfaction, I was heavy when I was done. Philip staying by my side through out making light conversation. Resting my shoulders on the chair, I made myself comfortable.

'So when I we going to meet the chief' i asked. Dropping the spoon and reaching for a glass of water.

'We already have'

I turned to him shocked, I expected the chief to be older, around 50 or more. I didn't expect a man in his early thirties and he wasn't plump.

'Are you shocked' he question.

Clearing my throat 'Yeah' I didn't elaborate further.

'Come we have to go and meet the chief'

'Why' my voice came out more forced. He turned standing up in the process.

'For house assigning' I stood up with him. His words echoing in my head. My plan was pretty much to wonder around till I stumbled upon another village. I never anticipated I would live or better still get a house in Amadora. Was I really free to live simply?

All those bothersome questions filled my head, I didn't notice we were standing before the chief. Scattered papers were littered in his table, he looked at it in deep concentration.

Philip cleared his throat gaining his attention, he looked up at once.

' Sorry for the mess' he said. Clearing some with his hands. We stayed in silence till he spoke again.

'All in house in Amadora are all occupied' his eyes moved to mine. I looked down disappointed.

'But.. you can stay in my guest house just at the back till we finished renovation for new once.

My heart leap out in joy at his statement.

With deep gratitude I thanked him profusely.

Philip walked me to a small cottage just outside the chiefs home. He waited for me to open the door before he followed my lead. It was already packed with furniture and other things. I felt my throat close up at the sight.

'So what do you think' Philip asked a smile on his face.

'is okay' I returned.

He face lift up, I smiled back.

'i should get going'

'Can I ask a question'?

'Sure' he watched me curiously.

'Is the beard a custom in Amadora... I noticed some men also had the same beard on.

He scratch his head before answering.

'Well not really' he said boyishly.

'You should shave it off' I looked him dead in the eye. He looked shocked by my words. Taking a moment to reply.

'Why?

'It look hideous' he wasn't offended by my words. He laughed covering it up with a frown.

He walked out his laughter echoing through the room. I smiled back watching him leave.