Father's Love & other Stories

SAVED

SAVED

©Okere Charles N

Jennifer had been married seven times, but an evil demon, killed each husband before the marriage could be consummated. Some sadist made fun of her, they called her a witch, a husband killer. They constantly remind her of how she had been married to seven husbands, but not one of them lived long enough to give her a child. They told her to die and join her dead husbands, rather than her killing every man that comes to ask for her hand marriage. One fateful day Jennifer had an argument with one of her younger cousin, the cousin got angry and told her, “I hope we never see any child from you, man Killer!!!

Jennifer was so depressed that she burst into tears and went upstairs determined to hang herself. But when she thought it over, she said to herself,”No, I won’t do it! My mockers would laugh at me and say, the miserable lady finally hanged hersf. They might even laughed at my parents and say,”you had only one daughter, a daughter whom you both loved so much. But she hanged herself because she felt so miserable. Such pain would lead them to the grave before their time and I would be responsible.

I won’t take my own life, I will just beg God to kill me. Then I won’t have to listen to insults any more. She was afraid of going into a serious relationship, because she don’t want to be responsible for anyone’s death. So she made up her mind to shun every male/suitor that developed interest in her.

But that didn’t stopped them, as they kept flocking after her, like bees after honey. The more she tried to avoid them, the more they chased after her, like ones under a strong voodoo. She even told them, she’s cursed, any man who desired her will died. They laughed at it, thinking she’s just trying to scare them away.

One fateful evening, she strolled to a supermarket to get some toiletries. While in the supermarket, so many men were staring and admiring her beauty. Even the ladies were not left out, they admired the wonderful hands of God. To them God took his time in creating a beautiful creature. But only one particular hunk caught her attention.

She managed to ignore his stares and walked out of the supermarket after paying her bills. As she was about walking out of the premises, she heard someone calling her by her pet name from behind. She e frozed when she turned around to see the hunk walking towards her.

He called my pet name, how? Who told him? Come to think of it, only my mum calls me,” ijenwanyi” she thought to herself. The hunk approached her and offered to walk her home, which she accepted. She wanted to ask him, how he knew her pet name, but she didn’t.

When they got to the frontage of her house, the hunk bid her goodbye and then turned around to leave. But Jennifer stopped him and requested to know his name?

The hunk curved his face with a smile and responded “relax you’ll know when the time comes”. He bid her goodbye once again and walked away. When it was bedtime, Jennifer laid on her bed and thought about the hunk response. She swung on her bed restlessly for about three hours.

She stood up from her bed and walked straight to the refrigerator in the kitchen. She brought out an Eva bottled water and drunk some quantity of it. She kept it back in the refrigerator and proceeded back to her room.

A shiver went up her spine, when she saw the hunk laying on her bed topless. She wanted to scream, but she couldn’t. The hunk curved his face with a smile and told her not to waste her energy screaming. He invited her to join him in bed, but she refused to and attempted to run out of the room. But she discovered her legs couldn’t move, she helplessly stood at that position and asked him “who he was and what he wanted with her?

The hunk smiled and responded to her question? I have been patiently waiting for this day, to see my darling wife and the long awaited day is today.

Jennifer stared at him in surprised and asked, what do you mean by the long awaited day is today and who’s your darling wife?

The hunk smiled again and stood up from the bed. He walked round her caressing her hairs. One thing I loved most about you is that you’re a good actress. Don’t tell me you are yet to figure out what’s happening and who I am to you in the spiritual realm?

Jennifer stared at him speechlessly trying to be sure of her suspicion. So you are the one responsible for my misfortunes in marriage? She asked. The hunk curves his face with a smile and vanished..

Jennifer jerked up from her bed, sweating profusely. She tried to recalled the event of the dream she had, but she couldn’t. . So she shunned the dream and move on with her daily activity.

Months later she bumped into an old time childhood friend she hadn’t seen for years. They exchanged pleasantries, they talked about old time and their childhood escapes. She was compelled to narrate her misfortunes in marriage, when asked if she was married.

The friend felt so sorry after listening to her pathetic story and promised to take her to a spiritualist. Five days later they visited the spiritualist who told her she has a spirit husband and he’s the one responsible for death of her suitors. The spiritualist gave her some substances and instructed her to drink, rub and sprinkle it round her room every night before she sleep. These she must do for three days in order to get rid of the spirit husband.

At first Jennifer doubted the spiritualist, because she don’t believe in such things as spirit husband/wife. But on a second thought she decided to give it a try, due to the obvious circumstances surrounding her misfortunes in marriage. So she did as she was instructed.

On the eve of the third night, Jennifer was sound asleep, when a knock on her window woke her up. She jerked up from her bed, staring at window open-mouthed. She picked up her phone to check the time.it was 1:59Am.

She became terrified, but summoned up courage and walked to the window. She gently peep through the window, but saw no one. She took a deep breath and went back to bed. As she was about to close her eyes, she heard a knock on her door. She asked who it was, but got no response. Rather the person continued banging on the door. She thought her little nephews are the one playing a prank on her. So she angrily got out from the bed and walked to the door, with the intention of smacking whoever it was.

She was shocked to find no one at the door, when she opened it. Every where was dead silent. She stood “stilled” at her door for some minutes and closed it back.

She turned around and froze in fear, for a moment she thought her mind was messing with her head. Or perhaps someone may have mixed the vegetable soup she ate before going to bed with an expired weed. The hunk curved his face with a smile and asked.

“E shock you?

Jennifer nodded in response, she couldn’t speak. She was contemplating if she was dreaming or not.

“you amuse me Jennifer, what made you think you can get rid of me? If you must know, that spiritualist worship a deity under my dominion. I have legends of demons, gods and goddesses under my control. One thing is certain, you can never get rid of me. I am here to stay, you belong to me. No matter how hard you try, you will never chase me out of your life. And no mortal man will ever have you.

Jennifer summoned up courage and asked him, what made him think or feel she can’t get rid of him?

The demon laughed out loud and told her, she was betrothed to him when she was sixteen and ever since his eyes had always been on her.

Jennifer shivered when the demon told her she was betrothed to him at the age of sixteen and asked him who was the person that betrothed her to him? The demon response sent a very hot shiver up her spine.

The demon said, she was the one that betrothed herself to him.

Jennifer stared at him in disbelief and protested that she can never betroth herself to a demon consciously, except it was done subconsciouslly.

The demon laughed evilly and told her she did it with her conscious mind, in fact she repeated the same words more than thrice.

Jennifer screamed God forbid and dare the demon to tell her how it happened. The demon laughed evilly again and said, “with all pleasure my darling.

Eighteen years ago, you and your cousin sisters went for a swim in a river. While you were having fun, a young sad looking man dressed in a raggy clothes, came by and sat at a corner of the river bank. He was looking so dirty and unkept.

You and your cousins felt disgusted on sighting the man, and even laughed at him. One of your cousins decided to teased you and called him your husband more than thrice. And you In return responded that such a dirty man will never be your husband. You will rather marry and grow old with the prince of this river. You even went on to say, at least spirit husbands, are so cute and neater than this thing. These you constantly repeated. So I granted your wish and you became my precious possession.

Jennifer couldn’t speak, while the demon was speaking everything was playing in her head like a movie. She remembered the event happened on the eve of her 16th birthday being 27th December 2006.

“bu…bu..t.. bu.. Jennifer stammer

“oops she has suddenly turned to a stammer.

“ but that was long time ago, you are not supposed to take it serious. I was naïve and ignorant teenager who was only having fun.

“it doesn’t work that way darling, there’s power in spoken words. And the spirits of the universe don’t care if you’re naïve or ignorant of what you said. A lot of my kinds are scattered all over the world, looking for people like you who aren’t mindful of their words. Most especially the empty vessels, those that don’t have the spirit of our rival in them.

Jennifer asked the demon, “who is your rival?

The demon in response told Jennifer this the reason why she will forever remain under his dominating powers and will never be free from his strong chains. No matter how hard she tried she will never be saved. Mark my words you will never be married, so keep avoiding and rejecting every marriage proposal, you are mine till the end of time. The demon vanished immediately after saying this.

Jennifer jerk up from her bed, breathing heavily. This time she remember every event of her dream. She cried bitterly, begging God to show her mercy and deliver her from the dominating powers of the demon.

She called her friend Maureen, the one who introduced her the spiritualist. Maureen consoled her and requested for them to meet in the evening.

Jennifer narrated her dream again to Maureen, she was sobbing while narrating the dream and how the demon told her no one can save her from his chains dominion.

Maureen took in a deep breath after hearing her pathetic story again and told her not to worry, ensuring her everything will be okay. And promised to get back to her in few days.

Some days later, Maureen took Jennifer to a man of God. Who has the power to cast out evil demons, spirit husbands and wives. According to Maureen the person that told her about the man of God, said he can also do the impossible.

The man of God, demanded for 400k, in order to consult his heavenly father for directions. Jennifer being so desperate to get rid of the demon by all means possible, requested for the man of God account details and paid on the money.

The man of God, after praying for an hour, told Jennifer she has to pay in another 400k, for liberation, in order to wipe out the evil spirit husband out of her life. Again Jennifer transferred the money into his account.

After the liberation, the man of God, personally asked Jennifer to come to his house for final deliverance and prayers. He instructed her to come alone. At first Jennifer find the clergy instruction odd, why his house, instead of the church? Jennifer asked herself. But since she wanted the spirit husband out of her life. She obeyed his instruction.

On arrival the man of God informed her that the prayers will be done by 12.00Am. According to him that the time the demon moves around. Around 11.50pm, the man of God sneak into the room where Jennifer was. He tried to lure her into having s*x with him, saying that’s the only way God told him they can force the spirit to come out from his hiding place. Thereafter he will wipe him out of existence.

But Jennifer refused to be lured. So the clergy, overpowered her and tore her clothes. While Jennifer screamed helplessly. He was about having his way on her, suddenly the atmosphere of the room was covered in a dark mist, accompanied with thunder and lightening.

The clergy sensing what’s happening jumped out of the bed. He saw creature standing at a corner of the room. He stared at the creature in awe and urinated on his boxer. The demon snapped his right finger and the ground split open and swallowed him.

Jennifer frozed in awe, she couldn’t believe what just happened. It was like she just watched a Hollywood movie. She jumped out of the bed immediately and focused her attention on the demon.

He stared at her fiercely and walked up to her, Jennifer went down on her knees and begged for him to spare her life.

“why are you so stubborn? I told no one can save you from my holds. So stop trying to be saved. Now get up, put on your clothes and get out of here now. Before I do something worse than what I did to that i***t.

The demon vanished after saying this, while Jennifer packed her stuffs immediately and ran out of the room.

The following morning, Jennifer called Maureen and narrated everything that happened to her last night. Maureen shivered in awe, she couldn't believed the pastor was a Swindler, a fake she felt guilty and blamed herself for introducing a fake clergy to her friend.

Jennifer was weeping bitterly on the phone, like one who just loss someone so dear to her. Maureen begged her to stop crying and assured her she will surely come out of this stubborn predicament. She promised to always stand by her side, until they extinguish the stubborn spirit husband out of existence.

She promised to get back to Jennifer later in the week. Jennifer thanked her and ended the call. Some weeks later Maureen took Jennifer to a prophetess for prayers. The prophetess on sighting them, told them the reason why they came to see her and the places they had visited before coming to her church. She even told Jennifer everything that happened some nights ago in the fake clergy man's house.

Jennifer and Maureen, froze in awe. Because they haven't said anything to the prophetess. They concluded in their minds that they've gotten to the final bus stop.

The prophetess said, in order to get rid of the demon, they must go to where it all started. They will have to go to the river where Jennifer uttered the words that's binding her with the demon, for spiritual purification.

The prophetess requested for 250k, in order to get items for the spiritual purification. Jennifer paid in the money and asked the prophetess if her friend can come along with her. The prophetess shakes her head in response.

After the spiritual purification, Jennifer didn't see or notice any sign of the demon for three months. She was exemly happy that she has finally gotten rid of the demon and thanked Maureen for all her love and care.

Jennifer found love again, with a guy whose name was Jerry. Few weeks later Jerry propose to Jennifer and she accepted. So they started preparing for their white and traditional wedding.

One fateful morning Jennifer was getting ready to go to the market to get some items for her wedding. She was singing joyful while dressing, but her songs of joy was interrupted by a very loud thunderous sound and lightening, accompanied with a great wind. Dark smoking cloud gradually covered the atmosphere of the room.

Jennifer sensing what's happening shivered in fear, and surprise. Then out of the smoking clouds the demon appeared. Jennifer stared at him in terror.

Oh Jennifer darling it has been a while. Do you miss me? He asked.

Jennifer didn't utter a word.

The demon took in a deep breath and said,

Hmm, I know you don't miss me, you just want to extinguish me out of your life by all means right? What did I tell you about trying to get rid me?

Jennifer still didn't utter a word...

Answer me!!!!! The demon screamed in anger.

Jennifer's entire body vibrated in fear, even the appliances in her room also felt the Denon's rage.

You say I can't get rid of you and no one can save me from your dominating powers. Jennifer responded stammering.

Good, then why did you accept to follow your friend Maureen to that miserable prophetess? The demon asked..

Nothing sir, please forgive us. Jennifer responded.

Your friend is becoming too nosey for my liking, you better tell her to backoff and mind her business. She should stop mending on matters that doesn't concern her. Otherwise I will erase her, let her focus on her family affairs. But come to think of it, what made you and your friend think you can get rid of me through that so called spiritual purification huh? Rather you just attracted more male water demon.

Jennifer placed her both hands on her head and screamed...

Oh my God, am finish...

The demon laughed out loud and said,

What were you thinking while bathing naked in the name of spiritual purification? Don't you know demons also lust for humans nakedness? These demons go after such humans and make them their own forwcer. Now listen, your wedding with Jerry will not hold. If you truly love him and you don't want him dead, tell him you are mo longer interested in getting married to him. Do Iake myself clear?

In a tears Jennifer responded..

.

Why can't you let me be, why can't you allow me to leave a normal life? I made an innocent mistake some years ago, but must you continue to punish me because of it? I have being through so much mockery, shame and disgrace all because of you. Haven't you punished me enough, haven't I suffered a enough in your hands wicked demon?

The demon smiled evilly and vanished..

Jennifer fell down on the ground weeping bitterly. Jennifer's parents, her siblings and those that wanted to follow her to the market heard her weeping bitterly. They tried to know what happened, but Jennifer didn't answer them. The more they asked the more she weept.

They thought Jerry may had called off the wedding. They called Jerry to be sure of their suspicion. After hearing from him, they told him what's happening. Jerry rushed to Jennifer's house immediately to see Jennifer. But Jennifer didn't say anything to Jerry, when he tried to know why she was crying.

She called Maureen and asked her to come over. Maureen rushed to Jennifer's house immediately. Jennifer narrated everything to her, especially how the demon threatening to erase her, if she don't stop mending in affairs that doesn't concern her.

Maureen took a deep breath and said..

“Jennifer, please pay no attention to whatever the demon said. He’s just a manipulative spirit, trying to make you believe no one can save you from his captivity. I believe one day we will find a true servant of God who will cast out this evil demon and send it back to where it belongs. So my friend don’t dwell in his words or threats okay.

Jennifer nodded and said..

But when? When are we going to find a true servant of God, who has the spirit of God huh? Is it when I get very old or when the demon kill everyone who tries to help me? Oh it seem the demon was right after all, no one can save me from him. I just have to accept my fate and..

Maureen cuts in…

I rebuke those words from your mouth in the name of jedus christ. Don’t ever say such words again Jennifer. Don’t give the demon the pleasure of seeing you cry. But come to think of it, you said the demon instructed you to call off the wedding or he would kill Jerry right?

Yes, Jennifer responded.

Okay, a thoggt just came through my mind. Why would the demon instruct you to call off the wedding in order to keep Jerry safe. When he can easily kill him without notifying you, just like he did to the others in the past? Again why didn’t the demon made himself known to you all those years he was killing every man that wants to marry you? He suddenly made himself known to you some months ago. I think the demon has a reason for making himself visible to you and I think it is because of Jerry. Don’t you think there’s something about this Jerry that we don’t know? I think you should let Jerry know about the evil spirit husband.

Jennifer disagree and said…

I can’t do that, he might get scared and walk away from me.

If he truly loves you, he won’t walk away. Let him know, you and I can’t keep doing this only. He may be the help we have been searching for.

Jennifer took a deep thought about what Maureen said and made up her mind to tell Jerry. That same night she saw the demon in her dream, warning her not to say anything concerning him to Jerry.

The demon warning only lifted up her spirit mind the more to tell Jerry what she has been going through in the hands of the demon.

Jennifer called Jerry and ask for them to meet. Jennifer told Jerry everything that she has been going through in the hands of the demon. Surprisingly Jerry knew about the demon. He told Jennifer how God revealed everything to him, before they met. He said, there meeting together wasn’t by chance, but by destiny.

God had ordained them to be couple, even before creation. He took Jennifer to see his pastor, who conducted a seven days fasting and prayers for both of them. Maureen also participate in the fasting and prayers.

The demon noticing he was loosing, did everything he could to discourage and distract Jennifer from the fasting and prayers. But he never succeeded, the connections between him and Jennifer was broken.

After the fasting and prayers, Jennifer, Jerry and Maureen went to see the pastor for conclusion of their fasting and prayers.

When the demon saw that God has taken over, he fled very far away and never returned.

Jennifer and Jerry got married, their wedding was the talk of the town. Even those that laught and mocked her cover their faces in shame.

A year later Jennifer put to bed set of Quintuplets, three boys, two girls. Jennifer and Jerry lived happy ever after.

.

The End.

©OKERE CHARLES N