Sunmi arrived at the café, spotting Tolu and Moses already seated at a table, their faces etched with a mixture of anticipation and concern. She dropped her bag onto the ground with a loud thud, letting out a long, exasperated hiss.
Tolu immediately recognized the sign of trouble. "Let me guess," she said, a knowing smile spreading across her face. "Angel struck again?"
Sunmi groaned, collapsing into the empty chair beside Tolu. "Ugh, don't even get me started," she said, running a hand through her hair. "Now that we're on holiday, I hate the fact I'll be seeing her every single day. It's going to be unbearable."
She turned to Moses, who had been patiently waiting for them to settle in. "Okay, spill it," she said. "You asked us to meet up. What's up?"
Moses cleared his throat, leaning forward conspiratorially. "Right," he said, lowering his voice. "Now we can start our super squad meeting."
Tolu raised an eyebrow, a skeptical look on her face. "Super squad?" she repeated, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Sunmi rolled her eyes, nudging Tolu playfully. "Oh, I forgot to mention," she said, turning to Tolu with a mischievous grin. "Moses has a superhero fetish."
Tolu and Sunmi burst into laughter, easing the tension that had been building since Sunmi's arrival.
Moses, undeterred by their teasing, cleared his throat again, trying to regain control of the conversation. "Okay, seriously," he said. "This is important. Someone robbed Bassy, the Impenetrable."
Tolu's laughter died down, her eyes widening in shock. "What?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief. "How is that even possible? He's called Bassy the Impenetrable for a reason! His vault is legendary, no one is able to break in there!"
Moses nodded grimly. "Not only was he robbed, but he was also killed."
Tolu gasped, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle a scream and prevent from drawing attention to them. "Oh my God," she whispered, her eyes wide with horror.
They turned to Sunmi,noticing her stunned silence. "We forgot you're new to this," Tolu said gently, her voice softening.
They proceeded to explain the legend of Bassy, the self-proclaimed "Impenetrable," a wealthy and powerful man known for his impenetrable vault, rumored to be protected by ancient magic and unbreakable defenses.
As they spoke, Sunmi listened intently, feigning shock and surprise. But inside, her mind was racing, her heart pounding with a mixture of guilt and dread. She knew exactly how Bassy was robbed, how his impenetrable vault was breached, and how he had been killed. She was the one who had done it, even if she hadn't been fully in control at the time. How would she act if she needed to hide all of this?
Moses paused, his expression grave. "And that's not all," he said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I overheard my father and the rest of the council discussing it. After tracing the magic used during the robbery, they found traces of… the Darkness."
Tolu gasped, her eyes widening in horror. "No freaking way!" she exclaimed, her voice rising sharply.
Several patrons in the café turned to stare, their conversations dying down as they focused on the commotion at Sumi's table. Tolu, realizing her mistake, quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, her face flushing with embarrassment.
"Sorry, sorry," she muttered, lowering her voice and leaning closer to Sumi and Moses. "But how is that even possible?"
Moses shrugged, his expression troubled. "Think about it," he said. "The book that turned you evil had traces of the Darkness. And now, someone is using it to enhance their own magic, that is really not good"
He paused, his gaze shifting to Sunmi , a hint of unease flickering in his eyes. "For those that do not know, darkness is an entity that existed before creation itself. It threatens to return the world back to the darkness."
Tolu and Moses continued to discuss the Darkness, their voices hushed with a mixture of fear and fascination. They spoke of its ancient origins, its immense power, and its potential to plunge the world into eternal chaos.
Their words were like daggers twisting in Sunmi's heart, each syllable a fresh wave of guilt washing over her. She knew what they were talking about, perhaps better than they did. She had felt the Darkness firsthand, had been consumed by its power, and had tasted the bitter fruit of its influence.
Her heart raced in her chest, a frantic drumbeat echoing her inner turmoil. She tried to remind herself that she hadn't been in control, that the Darkness had taken over her, manipulating her actions, twisting her intentions. But the rationalizations felt hollow, inadequate in the face of the truth. She had killed Mr. Bassy, had broken into his vault, had unleashed chaos and destruction. And whether she had been in control or not, she was responsible.
"Sunmi ? You okay?" Tolu's voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present.
"You seem miles away," Moses added, his brow furrowed with concern. "What's going on?"
Sunmi forced a weak smile, shaking her head dismissively. "Nothing," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I just… I just ordered something. But I'm not feeling too great. I think it's a stomachache."
She knew they wouldn't buy it, but she couldn't afford to let them see how deeply their words had affected her. She needed to get home, to escape the suffocating weight of her guilt, and to figure out what to do next.
They waved her good bye but they still stayed to continue their conversation.
As Tolu and Moses continued their hushed discussion about the Darkness, a nagging feeling began to prickle at the back of Tolu's mind. Something felt…off. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but a strange energy seemed to be swirling around them, a subtle vibration that resonated deep within her soul.
Then, she heard it – a faint, high-pitched cry that sounded strangely out of place. She paused, her ears perking up, trying to discern the source of the unusual sound.
"Did you hear that?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Moses frowned, tilting his head. "Hear what? I don't hear anything."
Then, she heard it again, louder this time, unmistakable. It was the call of a peacock.
She scanned the café, her eyes darting around the room, searching for the source of the strange noise. And then she saw it – a peacock, strutting confidently through the tables, its iridescent feathers shimmering in the dim light.
A peacock? In a café? It was absurd, impossible, and yet…there it was. And there was something odd about it, something…familiar. It was looking to Tolu, trying to communicate with her telepathically.
Tolu felt a jolt of recognition, a sudden understanding flooding her mind. Peacocks weren't just birds; they were sacred, symbols of beauty, power, and divine grace. And in Yoruba tradition, they were closely associated with Osun, the goddess of beauty, love, fertility, and divination. It was one of her animal representations here.
Without a word to Moses, Tolu rose from her chair and began to follow the peacock, her heart pounding with anticipation. She trusted her instincts, knew that something important was about to happen.
As she trailed the peacock through the crowded café, it led her to a quiet corner, away from the prying eyes of the other patrons. There, the peacock paused, its iridescent feathers shimmering in the soft light.
Suddenly, the bird began to glow, its form shifting and changing, its feathers dissolving into a cloud of shimmering light. Before Tolu's eyes, the peacock transformed into a radiant figure of a woman, her face serene, her eyes filled with ancient wisdom.
It was Osun, the goddess of beauty and love.
Tolu's breath caught in her throat. Her instincts were right. This was far more than just a strange encounter. This was a divine intervention.
With a reverent bow, she prostrated herself before the goddess, her head bowed low in respect. Then she asked. "Iya Osun, ṣe iwọ ni eyi gaan? Ki lo de ti o wa nibi?" ("Mother Osun, is this really you? Why are you here?")
Osun smiled, her eyes filled with warmth and compassion. "Tolu, ọmọ mi" ("Tolu, my child"), she replied, her voice soothing and resonant, echoing in Tolu's mind. "I know you have been feeling lost since you lost your powers. I know you've been calling out for a sign.
Tolu was taken aback. How did Oshun know about her inner turmoil? How did she know about the strange calling drums that she had heard?
"We have been trying to reach you, which is why you have been hearing the talking drums," Oshun explained, her voice gentle but firm.
Tolu lifted her head, her expression filled with confusion. "But what do you need from me?" she asked. "I don't have my magic anymore. I used it and wronged you!"
Oshun's gaze intensified, her eyes piercing into Tolu's soul. "First, you must do what is right," she said, her voice filled with an urgency that sent a shiver down Tolu's spine.
Tolu knew what Oshun was talking about. She had to confess. She had to confess to the council of magic that she was the one who killed Emeka. But the thought of revealing her dark secret, of facing the consequences of her actions, filled her with terror.
Before she could voice her fears, Oshun vanished, her form dissolving into a wisp of light, leaving Tolu alone in the corner, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Tolu? Tolu, where did you go?" Moses's voice startled her, pulling her back to reality.
Tolu took in deep breaths each one heavier than the last . She looked like she as having a panic attack.
"Ok? Tolu you're kinda scaring me here . What's up?" Moses asked,as he placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
She then removed and held it tightly giving him an intense stare ." Moses. I need you to promise me something….."
"Nope," Moses cut her off." Any time someone says that it's not always good news after."
But Tolu's sincere looks we're able to make Moses give in." I think I known what's been happening to me and why I've been feeling off lately. It's because the guilt of killing Emeka is eating me up and I think I need to the right thing." She said, giving Moses a knowing look.
"No! No way in hell are you even considering it. I get your lie has caused the life of many supernaturals but think about it what about Sunmi? Or your parents. What are you going to do about them?" Moses asked. His voice laced with concern.
Tolu just took a deep breath but didn't answer.
Sunmi arrived home, a tempest of conflicting raging within her. The guilt of her actions, the fear of the Darkness, the weight of responsibility – it all threatened to crush her. She longed to collapse onto her bed, to bury her face in her pillow and cry until she could no longer feel the pain.
But as she stepped inside, her plans for solitary despair were immediately thwarted. Angel, true to form, was waiting for her, perched on the living room sofa like a queen surveying her domain. And to add insult to injury, she was wearing Sunmi's favorite dress, a delicate silk creation that Sunmi had cherished for years. Angel looked so happy!
It was a deliberate act of provocation, a blatant attempt to antagonize Sunmi, and for a moment, it worked. A surge of anger coursed through Sunmi, her fists clenching at her sides. But she quickly regained control, reminding herself that she couldn't afford to lose her temper. Not now.
"Angel," Sunmi said, her voice low and controlled, "take off my dress."
Angel, smirking triumphantly, feigned innocence. She stood up, pretending to reach for the zipper. "Oh, this old thing?" she said, batting her eyelashes. "Sure, no problem."
But instead of carefully unzipping the dress, she grabbed the fabric and yanked, ripping it with a loud tear that echoed through the room. "Oops," she said, her eyes sparkling with malice. "My bad."
Sunmi's anger flared, but she refused to give Angel the satisfaction of seeing her lose control. Instead, she calmly walked over to the table where Angel had carelessly tossed her phone. Without a word, she picked it up, raised it above her head, and slammed it onto the floor. Then, she proceeded to grind it into dust with her heel, her movements deliberate and precise.
"Now we're even," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.
Angel shrieked in fury, her carefully constructed composure shattering. "You little bitch!" she screamed, lunging towards Sunmi.
Sunmi turned and fled, running towards the stairs, Angel hot on her heels. As they raced up the steps, Angel managed to grab Sunmi's arm.
Sunmi, fueled by adrenaline and rage, whirled around, her eyes flashing with uncontrolled power. Without thinking, she lashed out with her mind, unleashing a telekinetic blast that sent Angel flying backwards.
The distance wasn't far, so Angel wasn't hurt badly. She was shocked at the amount of strength that Sunmi had and was more surprised about the range. But immediately, Angel began to wail, clutching her ankle and feigning excruciating pain. As if on cue, Sunmi's mom's voice rang out from outside the door.
"Kini gbogbo ariwo yi?!" ("What's all this noise?!") she yelled in Yoruba, her voice laced with exasperation. "These children will not kill me!"
She burst into the living room, her eyes widening as she took in the scene: Sunmi standing at the top of the stairs, her face flushed with anger, and Angel sprawled on the floor, clutching her ankle and sobbing dramatically.
It was clear what had happened in her mother's eyes, and this frustrated Sunmi.
Sunmi knew that even though Angel had started it, had provoked her, had destroyed her dress, her mother would still blame her. It was always the same.
Without a word, she turned and ran the rest of the way upstairs, slamming her bedroom door shut behind her, desperate to escape the chaos and the judgment. The world felt like it was collapsing.