MY HUSBAND IS A RIVER SPIRIT

EPISODE 4: THE PASTOR AND THE RIVER

The next morning, my mother woke me at 5am."Wear your white. We are going to Winners early morning prayer. Pastor David must see you today."I did not want to go. My mark was still glowing, and I was scared what would happen if I entered church with a spirit husband's mark on my body.The glowing blue plant behind our kitchen had grown overnight. Now it was as tall as me. Its leaves were moving even when there was no wind. And water was still coming out from its root, forming small stream that entered our compound.People in our street came to look."Rumudara has not seen this kind of miracle! Water in dry season!" One woman shouted.My grandmother came out from her hut, saw the plant, and her old eyes opened wide. She started crying."He has planted his wife," she whispered, looking at me. "Amara, he has marked his territory. He will not leave again."At church, Pastor David was shouting and praying for people. When it reached my turn, my mother pushed me forward."Pastor, my daughter is being followed by spirit husband. Since yesterday, strange water in our compound, strange plant. Help us."Pastor David put his hand on my head.The moment he touched me, my collarbone burned like fire. I screamed. Loud.The whole church turned.Pastor David removed his hand fast, as if he touched hot coal."What did you go and do at Old River, Amara?" he shouted. "There is a very strong river spirit on you! I have never seen this kind of spirit! This is not ordinary mami water! This is Ezu himself! Owner of all rivers!"Everyone started murmuring. "Ezu! Ezu has taken Amara!"Pastor David tried again, pouring anointing oil on my head, shouting, "Out! Out in Jesus name!"As he was shouting, I felt cold behind me. So cold that my wrapper became wet.I turned.Kael was inside the church.He was sitting at the back pew, wearing white shirt and black trousers, legs crossed, smiling at me. No one else could see him except me. The church members were clapping and saying Amen, but he was just sitting there, looking at me like I was his and nobody could take me.He raised one finger to his lips. Shhh.And he said inside my head, Tell your pastor to stop shouting. He is disturbing my wife."Pastor, stop!" I shouted without thinking.Pastor stopped and looked at me shocked. "Amara, why are you telling me to stop? This spirit is stubborn!""He said you are disturbing him," I whispered.Pastor David's face changed. He stepped back from me."Amara, this spirit... he is inside this church now, right?"I did not answer, but my eyes went to where Kael was sitting. Kael winked at me and disappeared.Instantly, all the anointing oil Pastor poured on my head turned to clean water and dropped to the floor.Pastor David shouted, "This girl needs stronger power! This Ezu is a 300-year-old spirit! I cannot handle him alone! Take her to Dibia Akukwe in the next village! Only tradition can fight tradition!"My mother started crying right there in church.On our way home, Zainab ran to meet me."Amara! Chike is in hospital! He said after he saw you at the river yesterday, his leg swelled up! He said he saw a tall man inside water! Amara, is it true you have river husband?"I touched my collarbone. The blue mark was now darker. It was not hiding anymore."Zainab, I am in trouble."When we reached home, my father had returned from Port Harcourt. He was standing near the glowing blue plant, holding cutlass, trying to cut it."Who planted this rubbish in my compound?" he shouted.I wanted to shout "Don't touch it!" but it was too late.My father cut one leaf.Immediately, the water gushing from the root turned red. Like blood. And from inside the water, we heard a deep voice, like river roaring, shouting,"DON'T TOUCH MY WIFE'S GIFT!"My father threw cutlass and ran.The plant healed its leaf instantly.5 days left.TO BE CONTINUED...