22/4/1885
As Ehogsa led Mirabel through the lush gardens of the compound, showcasing her extensive knowledge of herbs and their properties, Mirabel struggled to maintain her focus. Her mind was elsewhere, consumed by her primary objective: finding Eamon.
Days had passed since she had infiltrated the compound, and she had painstakingly searched every corner of the house, every room, every hidden passage, every secret chamber. Yet, there was no sign of Eamon. It was as if he had vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.
Her thoughts were abruptly shattered by a massive shadow that suddenly engulfed them, plunging the garden into an eerie darkness. Mirabel instinctively looked up, her eyes widening in disbelief and apprehension.
Soaring above them was a colossal creature, unlike anything she had ever seen before. It resembled a dragon in its general form, but it possessed unique features that set it apart from the mythical beasts of legend. Its body was covered in thick, reptilian scales, shimmering with an oily sheen, and its head was adorned with a bony crest that curved backwards like a crown. Leathery wings, spanning an enormous distance, propelled it through the air with powerful, rhythmic strokes. Bony spikes ran down its spine, adding to its intimidating silhouette.
The creature let out a terrifying screech, a high-pitched wail that echoed through the compound, sending shivers down Mirabel's spine. Then, with a final beat of its wings, it took off towards the main house, its shadow growing smaller as it receded into the distance.
Ehogsa , noticing the terrified expression on Mirabel's face, let out a dry chuckle. "You've seen giants," she said, her eyes glinting with amusement, "and yet you're still scared of that?"
She shrugged dismissively. "Don't worry," she added. "It's not attacking us or anything. It's just one of Onome's children, as she likes to call them."
As if on cue, the creature swooped down and landed gracefully in the courtyard of the house, its massive frame barely disturbing the meticulously manicured lawns. Onome emerged from the doorway, her purple eyes gleaming with affection.
The creature, its reptilian features softening, tilted its head towards Onome , its movements almost…docile. It was clear that there was a bond between them, a connection that transcended the boundaries of species. The relationship had a pet to owner feel and a mother to child like bond with it.
Onome approached the creature, her hand outstretched. She began to pet it, stroking its scales, caressing its head, and patting it affectionately. The creature nuzzled against her, its eyes closed in contentment.
Then, Onome looked to its teeth and saw in its mouth was the Obsidian Codex. Then it released to it to Onome. Onome walked with the book to Esse.
The moment Esse took the book she grinned and went for a walk with Onome.
Mirabel watched the scene unfold, her mind reeling. The compound was even more bizarre and dangerous than she had initially imagined. But amidst the chaos and the surreal encounters, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was getting closer to Eamon. She knew he was here somewhere, and she was determined to find him, no matter what the cost.
As Esse and Onome strolled through the gardens, their conversation took a serious turn, revealing the true depths of their machinations.
"Are you sure we can trust that boy of yours?" Esse asked, her voice laced with suspicion. "Emeka?"
Onome smirked, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Emeka owes me his life, literally. So yes, we can trust him. I mean, when I asked him to give the Obsidian Codex to any witch, he handpicked his girlfriend to show his unwavering loyalty."
Esse nodded slowly, her expression still skeptical. "I still don't understand why you gave him free will," she said. "It's dangerous. You created the form he is now, so you can control it, but giving him his free will is dangerous, because what if he decides to betray us?"
Onome shrugged, dismissing her sister's concerns with a wave of her hand. "It's a risk I'm willing to take," she said.
Esse smiled." Well , nevertheless, now the Obsidian Codex has been charged. Now we can use it without suffering the consequences."
She turned to Onome, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Now I need you to get to work," she said. "Create a new vessel to store the soul of the time traveler. We will need him to play a major role in getting the Chosen One."
Onome nodded, Esse's expression became more focused. "Speaking of which," she said, "how far have you gone, Onome ?"
"The soul of the psychic has been obtained," Onome replied, her voice devoid of emotion. "As soon as we start the transfer of soul, we can get on with the placement."
Esse smiled, a cruel glint in her eyes. "Good," she said. "You deserve a reward, so I'll give you the honor to cast the First Spell." She extended her hand, offering Onome the Obsidian Codex.
As Onome took the ancient book, she felt a surge of power coursing through her veins. Her purple eyes shone with an unnatural intensity, and a dark smile spread across her lips.
"Vbẹn ẹdẹ na, me ghi gbẹ́ ẹre ru iwẹẹn, na ẹre ghi ye ẹnu gbẹ́ ewa, irẹn, aro, ẹmwẹẹn bhiẹn. Me ghi gbẹ́ ẹre ru iwẹẹn bhi ẹghẹ ogbẹ́gbẹ.(" I mark all of you today," she chanted, her voice taking on an unnatural resonance. "And this mark will be my gate to your body, mind, and soul. I mark you from all corners of time.")
With a surge of power, she released a wave of purple magic that swept across the compound, reaching out to touch those who were destined to play a role in their twisted game.
One by one, a mark burned into the necks of Emeka, Eamon and Sunmi, searing their skin with an invisible brand. Both Emeka and Sunmi recoiled in pain, their hands flying to their necks as they felt the searing heat but Eamon's expression remained neutral as if expecting the mark.
"What the fuck?" Emeka exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.
Sunmi gasped, stumbling backwards, her heart pounding in her chest. She ran to her bedroom and looked at the mirror.
The mark was two trees, one upright, reaching towards the sky, and another beneath it, upside down, mirroring its counterpart in a twisted reflection. The symbol pulsed with a faint, purple light, a constant reminder of the dark magic that now bound them to Onome and her nefarious plans.
After Onome cast the spell, Esse turned to her, a look of approval in her eyes.
"Ọmọmwanren, emwin yee hoo" she started in Edo ("Well done, my sister"). Then Esse said in English, "Now you can continue."
Onome just took a bow, acknowledging her sister's praise, and walked towards the reptilian creature, affectionately petting its head. Then, she climbed onto its back, settling comfortably amidst its scales.
"Wa!" (Fly!)she commanded,
With a powerful surge of its wings, the creature launched into the air, soaring gracefully above the compound. Mirabel, watching from the garden, realized that this was her chance. Eamon had to be at the end of that journey.
Giving Ehogsa , who was still droning on about the properties of various herbs, a quick, mumbled excuse, Mirabel set off in pursuit of the winged beast, determined to follow it no matter what.
As Onome flew through the air, it naturally proved faster than Mirabel on foot, but she managed to keep it just within eyesight, her determination fueled by the hope of finding Eamon. After a while, the creature descended, landing in front of a large opening and looked like the entrance to a cave, nestled in the side of a rocky hill.
Onome climbed down from its back, her expression thoughtful. She picked up a wooden stick from the ground, examining it closely. Then, she whispered something under her breath, that caused the stick to burst into flames, illuminating the cave entrance with an eerie glow. With the burning stick in hand,Onome disappeared into the cave.
Mirabel continued to wait for hours. Finally Onome reemerged, climbed back onto the reptilian creature, and flew away. It was Mirabel's moment.
Deciding to investigate the cave for herself, Mirabel cautiously approached the entrance, her senses on high alert. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and something else, something…unnatural.
With a deep breath, she stepped inside, her eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness. The cave was larger than she had anticipated, its walls lined with strange formations of rock and glistening minerals. As she ventured deeper, she began to notice something peculiar: wax sculptures.
They were everywhere, lining the walls and arranged in lifelike poses, depicting different people of all ages and walks of life. They were incredibly realistic, their features meticulously crafted, their skin possessing a texture that felt almost…alive.
Then, she saw him. Eamon.
Or rather, a sculpture of Eamon. It was a perfect replica of the Eamon in the present timeline capturing every detail of his face, his body, his posture. It looked so real, so alive, that Mirabel reached out to touch it, her fingers tracing the contours of his cheek. The skin felt warm and smooth, just like the real Eamon.
Suddenly, a sound broke the silence, a faint scraping noise that seemed to be coming from the depths of the cave. Mirabel whirled around, her heart pounding in her chest.
Chains. She heard the sound of chains. She began muffling some sound.
As she turned back, she saw him. She saw him like chained. Not the wax sculpture of the present Eamon . The adult version of Eamon.
He was suspended in the air, his hands and feet bound by heavy chains that stretched taut, holding him in a grotesque parody of crucifixion. His body was bruised and battered, his clothes torn and filthy, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and terror.
The chains were stretching, holding his hands up and his legs too. Holding him in a way that was so violent that Mirabel could feel Eamon's pain coursing through her own body.
He was struggling against his bonds, his mouth moving as if he were trying to speak, but his words were muffled, indistinct. Mirabel leaned closer, straining to hear what he was saying.
It was as if he was telling Mirabel to "Run... run... run... run..." repeating over and over again.
Suddenly, a piercing screech echoed through the cave, a familiar sound that sent a chill down Mirabel's spine. It was the winged creature, returning.
Mirabel's heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing the terror that gripped her. She spun around, her eyes darting frantically, searching for an escape route, but there was none. The cave was a trap, and she had walked right into it.
Her mind raced, grappling with the immediate threat. Onome would be back any minute, and if she found Mirabel here, the consequences would be dire, not only for herself but for Eamon as well.
Her power. She had to use her power.
Her first instinct was to pause time, to freeze everything in place, giving herself a chance to escape or to formulate a plan. But the thought was quickly followed by a wave of doubt and apprehension. She had never paused time on command before. It had always been a subconscious reaction, a desperate response to a moment of extreme danger.
What if she couldn't do it? What if she tried and failed, leaving herself vulnerable and exposed? The fear of failure was almost as paralyzing as the fear of Onome's return.
She glanced at Eamon, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and concern. His worried expression only fueled her panic, adding to the pressure, making it harder to think clearly. She closed her eyes, trying to focus, to channel her energy, but her mind was a chaotic jumble of thoughts and emotions.
The screeching grew louder, closer, the sound reverberating through the cave, amplifying her terror. Onome was coming. She could feel it.
Desperate, she closed her eyes, concentrating with every fiber of her being. She reached for that familiar sensation, the feeling of the world slowing down, of time bending to her will. She pictured it, visualized it, willed it to happen. Then, she opened her eyes.
Mirabel stared in disbelief, her mind reeling. Had it worked? Had she managed to pause time and escape? But then, a chilling realization dawned on her: she wasn't just at the entrance of the cave. She was further back. The stick was still in Onome's hand. She was further back! That Stick wasn't on fire yet!
A wave of confusion washed over her, followed by a surge of relief. She hadn't just paused time; she had somehow jumped back hours in time, back to the moment before Onome entered the cave.
Instead of waiting and entering the cave like she had done before, Mirabel decided to retreat, to regroup, to devise a plan. She had to find a way to save Eamon, but she couldn't afford to act rashly, to let her emotions cloud her judgment. She needed a strategy, a well-thought-out plan that would give her the best chance of success. She couldn't waste this opportunity.