Defy

Chapter Two

She came downstairs just before breakfast.

Hib already prepared her a package she was going to take along. She did not even offer a smile as she greeted

“Good morning.”

She was putting on a plaid white shirt under a deep wine kimono jacket with an ecrue coloured skirt. She carried a bag on her back and had her hair tied up in a burn. Her face shown innocent and much more like her Father’s.

Rhamu and Ayomide murmured a greeting in response. The later took her sit with a woof! And started giving attitudes. Hib just approached her with the package and smiled. “Good morning my Angel.”

Her hard surface broke a little as she collected the package and a semblance of a smile flittered across her face. She turned to go and hesitated as her dad slow down at the door. She turned towards him and raised an eyebrow. Hib was looking at Ayomide who was imploring him to stay. I guess there has been some conversations last night after he left. Rhamu stood up and approached Hib.

“Anything the problem?”

The older man sighed and said, “I need to drop her off at the school else she will be late.”

“You need to eat breakfast,” Ayomide countered. “Have to, or it will be cold and I’m not taking an excuse.”

“I will take her.” Rhamu offered.

Daffodil looked daggers at him and he responded with a smile. “Is there a problem with that?”

“No, but you also have to eat.” Ayomide proceeded.

Rhamu ignored her and looked at Hib. Hib looked beseechingly at the teenager, evidence of being torn between the two women.

“What say you?”

The girl walked out not at all happy with what she saw.

“Do you know your way around town?”

“I do find my way Hib…”

The older man nodded and walked back to the table. Rhamu followed the girl while his mum still called after him to come back to eat his breakfast.

He caught up just as she descended into Bolt. Two smaller bike hover where beside the boat and she indicated one of them. “Hitched that for your ride back home.”

He was surprised that all the malice were gone in no time.

He did and quickly joined her as she sat behind the wheels.

“Can I drive her now?”

She started the engine and spun her out of harbour at a very tight circle, then she gunned her down the creek and out into the open. “This is not what Hib was referring to silly!”

Rhamu opened his mouth in confusion

“His car is at the Kurt harbour and that is more than a forty kilometres to my school,” she explained. “I thought you know your way around?”

“I do.” Rhamu processed it all very fast. “So will you let me help you?”

He still pointed at the wheel. “I am good at it.”

“I don’t know what you are up to Ram? But just to be clear, you can’t be my brother.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“Are you this stupid?”

“For trying to be friendly?”

“No, for admitting immediately, can’t you at least deny that to gain some respects.”

“I don’t know that was a thing. But that wasn’t it this morning. I was just trying to ease Hib.”

She was silent for a while and sighed. “I know. I wasn’t just prepared for it. Hib has gone through a lot and I noticed he was happy meeting your mum. We agreed that he deserved that. But I didn’t know it will be this difficult.”

Silence again. “It will work out fine.” He changed the subject. “Can I take the wheels now?”

“Have you driven one before?”

“Yep.”

She yielded and sat down in the back sit. “Can’t get any worse.”

Rhamu surprised her by handling the boat like a professional. Even at top speed, the engine yielded smoothly and didn’t give a sound like it’s over loading. She was astonished at his ability and came to stand beside him, holding on to an overhead rung. She has never ran smooth at such full speed before

Rhamu answered her curiosity without looking away from the water ahead. “I am a map reader.”

“Oh,” she touched him on the shoulder. “Have you met a natural before?”

He smiled and looked into her face accidently. “If I tell you, can you keep a secret?”

She smiled back and shook her head. “Sure.”

“Okay.”

Just then they swung into Kurt harbour.

“Over there.” She pointed as the engine slowed down its speed. “The fifth niche leads directly to the car.”

He killed the engine and let current and previous momentum carry them perfectly into the niche. He was getting out already as they touched edge, she jumped out after him as he secured the boat. She produced a bunch that has the hover-bike and the car keys and took the boat’s from him. A black Rycards waited for them just as they got out of the alcove adjacent the niche in which they secured their boat.

He drove very fast which is not what she was used to and he have to assure her more than twice that she was safe. In a couple of minutes, they approached the school gate and he expertly turned into a parking space very near the gate. She took a heavy sigh and got down.

She felt flushed. “Give me your contact so I can reach you when I am done.”

He opened up his black diary and with two swipes, touched it to her small phone and it pinged her. She smiled again, but did not leave.

“What is that?”

“You haven’t told me the natural map reader.”

“Oh, that.” Rhamu sighed. “You’re looking at him”

She just stood there dumbfounded as he reversed out of the parking space, “and you don’t get to call me Ram. Only my sister can.”

He gave her a wink, and zoomed off.

Daffodil brooded through the school session.

The situation at hand is not giving her any control at all. She started having headaches again. She was forced to take her pills earlier. She needed to see Hib. She wanted to talk to him again about the sudden changes in their plans.

A step brother was never part of it. Most especially not a natural. She was a little bit scared for her dad. She knows from experience that naturals are dangerous. She knew Ayomide will also be a natural. This people are hiding a lot here.

Despite her pills, the headache didn’t subside. It only got worse. Like a miracle, Hib came to pick her up from school. Of course with Ayomide, he was using the chance to make them get along and also try to be there for Hib. Despite the fact that she was glad it was him, she protested.

“You shouldn’t have bothered.”

“Yeah, I know sweet Daf.” He said as he hugged her. “I was showing Ayo around and we kinda meet ourselves here right on time.”

Daffodil allowed the elder woman to pat her on her back. It was warm and suiting somehow. She started wondering if she is an orgy. “What about Rhamu?”

He is around town too. I told him not to bother coming to pick you up. He is searching for a new job though.”

She remembered that he asked her if she can keep a secret. Damn this guy. He is so professional.

As they drove down to Kurt harbour, Hib noticed her unusual countenance. She was brooding and scared. Not angry and uncaring like she used to be. “Is anything the problem princess?”

“She smiled and quickly replied. “Nothing. I just got a lot of school stuffs I need to fix and I don’t know if I can make it on time.”

“Rhamu can always help you.” Ayomide spoke up before she could realise she was offering to help her rival. “He was an ace student and is very versatile irrespective of field.”

Yeah. He probably will be an ace since he was a natural posing as a normal. She wondered how or why he was able to keep his and her mum’s secret for so long. Except if he was messing with her because he was an Ace. That seems to explain it all. No natural can mingle that easily and not be found. They are ‘capital’ bound and are meant to be above the ordinary masses. They say they are gods among men. Except if her Science and History teachers got it all mixed up. She seem to relax a bit.

Rhamu came home very late.

He gave an excuse of delayed meeting with current employers and some interviews which she knows he will perform excellently. He also got caught in the city sight-seeing and having his time to himself.

What he didn’t tell was that he was actually putting the map of Era in his memory. That was the second chance he got at that feat. He has the map of Arch Four where he grew up on his head which was very unusual for a ‘normal’ but okay for a ‘natural’ map reader. Legend says anywhere their feet step, they never forget. Era was small compared to the smallest Major, Arch Two. And still smaller than the capital, while still being the only one with the biggest Market in the archipelagos and still not the biggest in the Minors.

Daffodil stayed after dinner and participated in the chit chat while just waiting for ‘Almighty’ Rhamu to come home and help in her said school works. The pretence worked for her though. She needed to ask him some questions and hoped he will be sincere enough to answer.

But being at the table with Ayomide subjected her to be picked on systematically without Hib’s awareness. The conversation soon turned to word thrust and parries which Hib started noticing and has started to feel concerned again. This time around, Daffodil was getting angry and might lose control. Hib knew he had to do something.

“Have you taken your pills?”

That took the two females by surprise. Ayomide stared questioningly at her soon to be husband. Daffodil just did a Yoga calming technique with her breathe and let out a heavy gust.

“Twice already today.”

“Why, Daf?” Hib was scared at that. “You did not tell me what you were going through?”

“I will be fine dad.” She tried to look reassuring which did not come out well

“What are you not telling me?” Ayomide inquired.

Just then the front door had interrupted with a loud click that opened it. The three at the table looked towards the man entering with mixed feelings. Rhamu knew something was off. He could feel the tension at the table. Not because of his abilities but observations.

“What did I miss?”

He explained the reason behind his delay over his meal and was keeping tab on the older man’s countenance. Daffodil with her attitude might be fine with the man, but adding Ayomide’s drama is the worse nightmare any man of that genre might be confronted with.

“I am sorry I didn’t get to come pick you up at school.”

Daffodil smiled. “I was in good hands.”

“So why are we at dinner late?” Rhamu observed the individuals, “is it customary to wait on anyone who comes late?”

“I needed your help.” Daffodil blurted out. “Alone.”

“Why can’t you just do that here? Why alone?”Ayomide was at something tonight.

“Leave them be,” Hib countered smoothly with a smile while patting her gently on her back. “After all they need to be able to communicate effectively as a family.”

“And the pills?”

“Pills?” Rhamu caught on. “Who is sick?”

“Daf have always been sick.”

“Since birth.” Daffodil put in herself.

“What is wrong with her?” Rhamu was sincerely concerned.

The headache started again…

"It is nothing of importance." Hib smiled charmingly at the young man. "I will explain to you later."

Rhamu smiled as he opened the dish that was laid out for him. He looked up and rubbed his palms together. That earned a smile from the females. Even if Daff's smile was weak. He took his cutlery and ventured on. "How may I be of help?"

"I think we should excuse them hon." Hib suggested to Ayomide, this time around he stood up from the table. "They probably wouldn't need our attention."

"Nonsense darling." Ayomide refused, grabbing Hib's hand. "Who knows what goes on inside the youngs' head..."

That statement caught Rhamu's attention and he looked up disapprovingly at his mum.

"Dear!?" Hib was persistent. "It is just a siblings issue here..."

"No Darling." Ayomide looked placatingly at Hib. "I am a mother and I know when things her fishy. She probably doesn't understand since she didn't have a mother..."

"Dear, please stop it!" Hib cautioned before Rhamu could speak up.

"Oh, sorry darling." Ayomide was smiling. "She probably got the bad vibes from her mum..."

"No! No! No!" Hib shouted grabbing Ayomide by the shoulders with both hands. "You don't..."

Rhamu stood up abruptly looking very angry and pained at the woman he has known as mum for ages.

"Stop it silly," Ayomide said at the brink of laughter. "I was just teasing."

"You!" It came out as a growl. Daff began to get up slowly as she as she vibrated in anger. "Were! Not!" The rest came out as a scream and it happened before anybody could react.

It hit the dinning room like a heat shockwave blast back. Instead of knocking them off , it picked them up inches to the ground and left them choking and hanging with every loose objects in the dinning and sitting room around, plus chairs plates and the dinning table, suit rack. The door ripped slowly out of its hinges and lock. It broke all the chandeliers and bulbs ardoning the room and constricted everything within its radius.

Rhamu felt his blood roaring in his ear with constant pounding as his eyes misted over. His insides began to churn and he felt like his head was going to explode from inside. Blood began to cloud his misty view of the ceiling and it began to dim out.

"Is this the end?" He asked himself.