A FINAL DECISION

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Chapter 36

Osagiede

I felt like a cornered rat as they both stared at me --- Rita and my daughter.

Imade noticed the look on my face and immediately understood, but she didn't turn around. Instead, she smiled and nodded at me.

"Yes, of course you both are having an affair of sorts. That's because both Geoffrey and Eyare both grew up together and they're like brothers. That makes him somewhat of a brother in law to you." She smiled at me, sending a message with her eyes.

"Yes, yes that's true!" I replied, grateful for her ingenuous move, but in the same vein, annoyed at her audacity. Still, I played along.

"He's quite the charmer, though." She continued talking, as if to herself. "Eyare told me a bit about him. Little wonder chicks fall for him like a pack of cards." She looked me straight in the eyes and chuckled sarcastically.

Her barb didn't fall short on me. I had a few up my sleeves too. Unlike her, I didn't have time to play around. I went straight for the jugular.

"Well now, from the looks of things, you almost fell too. Don't think I didn't notice how you looked at him earlier on like you wanted to devour him." I smiled slyly like a cat.

Her eyes turned cold with anger as she looked at me. Her nostrils flared and I wondered what damaging things she was going to say next, but then the anger cleared from her eyes and she laughed. It sounded forced, and it didn't reach her eyes.

I decided we had put up a show for too long now. "There you both are!" I looked up and smiled at Rita and Eseosa, feigning surprise at seeing them thereby cutting short any further come - back from Imade.

They both came in with Rita clutching Eseosa's hand tightly. There was an odd look on her face as she turned towards Imade.

"Iye mwe." (My mother). She addressed her. I was a bit confused at first, but then it cleared up and I saw it clearly. I now understood why she had looked so familiar.

Rita was Imade's daughter.

I should have known. I looked at Imade in shock. She got her own daughter to look after Eseosa and I and here I was feeling resentful towards her. She took the word 'incredulous' to another level with her selfless actions.

All the initial fight seeped out of me. "You brought your daughter to help me?" I turned towards her, amazed at her grand gesture.

She shrugged and directed all her attention to Rita. She gave her a sweet smile and hugged her. I noticed Rita was still clutching Eseosa's hand and I felt a pang of jealousy move through me. I mentally shrugged it off, because it was a totally ridiculous feeling.

Imade jerked her head at Rita and she nodded and left, taking Eseosa with her, who hadn't even come to me. I quelled the jealousy that once more struggled to rise up inside of me.

I should have been happy Eseosa had taken to someone else apart from me, especially in this current situation. It would have been limiting for me with her clinging to me all the time.

When we were alone, Imade turned to me, one arm on the dip of her hip. While this was a feminine pose, it looked strange on her. She cocked her head to the side, a steely look taking over her face. I didn't have anymore fight in me. I couldn't afford to have her as an enemy, not with what was currently going on. And with the kindness she had shown me, a mere stranger to her.

"I'm sorry." I smiled ruefully at her. "I don't want to fight with you. You've done too much for me. You are still doing so much for me." I indicated helplessly with my hands.

She looked at me for a few long seconds until the steely look was replaced with a softness I had come to realise was her usual demeanor. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have riled you up the way I did. It was wrong of me." She came close and hugged me. It was not as awkward as the first one she ever gave me, but it wasn't quite perfect either. At least she was getting better at it. We smiled at each other and sat down.

"Alright, look, I'm not one to judge and I certainly won't do that now. Geoffrey told me all about it. It wasn't even your fault you fell for him. He had you under a spell, that was the reason."

Sorry, what?!

I stared at her unbelievingly. She nodded at me.

"He said the spell was called Touch and go." I searched her eyes, expecting her to smile at any moment but her face remained stoic.

It would have been hilarious had I not been the recipient of Geoffrey's evil machinations. Instead it made me feel queasy. Bile rose to my throat and I got up and rushed to the toilet to wretch.

When I got back to the sitting room, Imade was standing up with a worried expression on her face. As she rushed to me, I felt the bile rising to my throat once more so I rushed out to the toilet again, and heaved up the contents of my already-empty stomach.

I was still dry-heaving when I felt a cool cloth on my forehead. It was soothing and made me feel better. I stopped wretching and she led me back to the sitting room where I slumped tiredly into a chair.

"How far are you?" A small frown marred her otherwise pretty face.

Instead of answering her, I asked a question of my own. "Where is Rita's father?" I couldn't help it, the question popped into my head and I just couldn't stop it.

She immediately retreated from me and got up, and I became instantly sorry for asking such a personal question. "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't pry. You don't have to answer it." I shrugged and stood up.

My legs were a bit shaky but I managed it. "I'm three months gone already." I stood behind her, touching her arm slightly. She didn't flinch. That was a good sign.

She turned round to look at me. "Listen to me, Osagiede. It's extremely important, more so now for you to see my mother. I'm sure she will be able to do something for Eyare. You need him now. You three need him now." She finished, smiling sadly.

She was right. I had to make sure Eyare was better. I would walk on coals to see him back in good health. I still couldn't believe Geoffrey went as far as using charms on me. That was the height of his despicable nature.

"Okay!" It came out as a whisper.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" She smiled at me.

She heard me quite well, the sly fox, she just wanted me to repeat myself.

I sighed and rolled my eyes dramatically. "Okay, I'll take Eyare to see her. I'll do anything to see him back in good health again."

She squealed and jumped on me and I found it strangely endearing. She got herself under control, a bit embarrassed at her outburst.

I wondered what made her this way. I had a sneaky feeling it had everything to do with Rita's father. I said nothing, for now, but I would definitely re - visit my initial question to her.

* * *

"Bring out the suspect!" She glanced at me, watching my reaction to her statement.

I had always hated police stations. They gave me the creeps. Having to be close to criminals who had committed certain crimes. Some heinous, others not so much.

I cringed as I heard a scream echo from one of the cells. I stared at the door, scared any moment chaos would erupt and some dangerous criminal would burst through it. My heart beat doubled in fear and trepidation of the unknown, but when nothing happened, I turned round to watch Imade.

She was handling some paper work at her desk and talking to someone on the phone. She seemed very officious and professional. I had seen her out of her habitat, but now I got to see the other side of her, as a police woman in her territory.

It was fascinating to watch.

I was initially fooled by her small size until I got to the police station and saw the respect she was accorded. She was a force to be reckoned with. Everyone had snapped to attention, their hands at the sides of their foreheads. The respect they gave her was evident. As I watched, my respect for her quadrupled.

She looked up from the work before her and glanced as someone came into her office.

"Madam, the suspect is here." The officer's voice came from behind me.

With a flick of her wrist, I heard him retreat. I was glued to my seat, not able to turn round to face the person I knew was standing not far from me.

"Sit down!" Imade said. I heard movement behind me and the scrape of the chair beside me as the person sat.

Even then, I didn't look up. My hands were clasped tightly, and I willed myself to stay calm.

"I'll leave you two alone." Imade stood up and left the office.

Some long seconds passed and there was absolute silence. They turned into minutes and I still couldn't bring myself to look up at him.

"I'm sorry." His deep voice reverberated in the small office, making me jump. "I know I messed up and I should never ask for your forgiveness, neither try to validate my actions, but . . ."

For some reason it all seemed hilarious to me and I threw my head back and laughed. I laughed so hard, tears seeped out of my eyes and the sobs followed, sobs that shook my whole body. I became a helpless mess.

Suddenly, warm hands enveloped me from behind and I struggled to release myself, but they were like steel bands --- unrelenting.

Not until I stopped struggling, did he let up. Finally, I looked up into familiar green eyes.

He looked tited. There were dark shadows under his eyes and they looked sunken. He had lost a bit of weight, yet he looked strangely fit. He was wearing a plain black t shirt and grey track downs which fit snugly on his body. He looked handsome in spite of the situation surrounding him.

He smiled sadly at me as he gently cleaned the tears from my face. They began to trace a path down my cheek, until he cupped my chin. His face drew closer and I felt he was about to kiss me, but drew back at the last minute.

He shook his head. "You have me under a spell, Osa."

This was just too much for me, as I reared back and slapped him with all the might in my hand. I was shocked at my audacity.

Once again, I'd slapped him.

He touched the spot on his face and chuckled. "I expected that, though I didn't think it would come so late."

I glared at him with all the hate I could muster and he smiled back at me. "How could you use charms on me?" I stood up then, anger fueling my veins.

At least he had the decency to look forlorn. He sat back on the chair he had vacated minutes ago. "I'm really sorry. I was already used to a certain way of getting along with women, and when I met you, you struck a chord in my heart. It was only you who could make me feel that way. It's always been you." There was a pause as he mentally traveled down memory lane. "When I found out I was in love with you, I had to leave you. Being stuck with one woman was not in my agenda back then."

"And now?" I asked, without thinking. Stupid. So stupid! Why did you ask that?

His eyes gleamed as he looked at me. He stood up, walked over and stooped to my level. "Don't ask questions you are not ready to hear the answers to."

"I want to know." I must have still been under a spell for my mouth to keep yapping and pouring out without allowing my brain to think before delivery.

"You!" He said, coming close to me. So close that our lips almost touched. "No one else but you." Then he got up and began to pace.

Good thing too, because if he had kissed me, I would have let him.

Where did that thought come from?

I shook the cobwebs from my head and focused on trying to get Eyare back to good health. I wondered how much time I had left alone with Geoffrey. I had to be fast. I had some questions to ask him.

"Why? Why did you do this to my husband? You both grew up together like brothers. Was it jealousy that pushed you? Do you know how much he talked about you, how much he loved you?"

He stopped pacing, turned around and looked at me, horror apparent on his face. "Do you honestly think I deliberately did this to him? He's not like my brother. He is my brother and I love him."

He looked at me like I had gone insane.

"Oh I see, you loved him so much you wanted to hurt him, right?"

"Osagiede, there are so many things you do not understand. I really wish I had the time to tell you all about it, but nothing matters, nothing except getting Eyare back in good health. That's where you come into play."

I stopped and stared at him, not quite understanding what he meant. When he saw he had gotten my rapt attention, he continued speaking.

"The charm Eyare touched is a very dangerous one. If in the next three days you don't do what I'm about to tell you, he would likely pass on."

There was stark fear on his face and this was how I knew he was not joking. "What do I have to do?" I whispered.

He came close to me and in a quiet but deadly voice. "You are going to have to walk . . . naked, at night with a calabash containing certain items to the shrine of the goddess of the charms to appease her."

My eyes practically bulged out and I felt suddenly faint. I held on to the chair for support because my knees had suddenly gone wobbly and my mouth was cotton dry. "Wh. . . what do you mean?" I didn't understand what I'd just heard.

Geoffrey looked at me with pity and shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm sorry it has to come to this Osagiede, but there's no other way around it."

"Are you out of your mind? 'Do you not know I'm a Christian?" He must be insane to think I'd do something as crazy as that.

Imade rushed in, a frightened look on her face.

I stood up, but feeling faint, I held the chair for support, but slid into it again, because my legs were suddenly not able to support me anymore.

Imade rushed to me. "Are you okay? Did he do something to you?" She searched my face for signs of distress.

Geoffrey sighed and brought the chair close to me, scraping it on the ground in the process. "I told her what must be done to save Eyare."

Imade turned on him instantly. "We talked about this and I told you that was absolutely out of the question. Why did you have to tell her?"

So she knew about it. I felt hot tears sting my eyes, threatening to fall.

He ignored her and addressed me. "Listen Osagiede, have you not heard you must give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God?"

I ignored him and turned to Imade. 'Do you think that's the only way? Surely your mother, the visionary, can do something for Eyare?" I searched her face for a reply, but she averted it. So I stood up to my feet and announced I was going home.

Geoffrey called out to me, but then I also heard Imade telling him to let me be, because I needed space.

She was damn right. I didn't intend listening to any of them. As I drove back home, I pondered on what Geoffrey said. He must be out of his mind. Me, walk naked in the dead of night to some god - forsaken shrine to appease some demon.

That was the most insane thing I'd heard in my entire existence.
As I drove into the compound of the west pillar where the palace was situated, Rita didn't even bother closing the door before she rushed to me.

"Aunty aunty, uncle has been talking to himself." She had a fearful look in her eyes and she was clearly agitated.

I took the stairs two at a time, forgetting my condition. As I got to the corridor, I heard a humming noise. I rushed into the room and saw a terrifying sight that made me re - think what Geoffrey said.

I made the decision there and then, to give my life, if possible,  to see my husband well again.

*

A/N: Hey guys, what's popping? Been ages since I put up an author's note.

Do you think Osagiede is going to do what Geoffrey requested?

Sound off in the comments, I'd love to see what you think.

Jirogzy 💕💞💕


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