Saturday mornings are the worst. Seniors walking around everywhere, giving commands, making us run stupid errands like going to the boys hostel to pick flowers and catch butterflies –even when they are aware that if we get caught, we could get deboarded or expelled– all in the name of Inspection. I don't know why, but Federal Government College, Enugu has a knack for tormenting its students with activities that are unnecessary and effortlessly annoying.
Well, despite all the crap that will happen today, I'm gonna be a-okay. I've already cut the grass, swept the backyard and I even took it upon myself to clear out the various "leavings" I could muster up the courage to approach. Mehn girls are nasty!
Now I'm just gonna lie down on my bed and wait for those cleaning the hostel to finish up so that I can dress my bed and get this nightmare of a morning over with!
"Jade why are you in your bed?", I hear from a distant corner. When I look I see who I wish my eyes could unsee. Chibundo. The overly pampered, pretty, pompous princess and the House Captain, Senior Melody's school daughter has come to grace me with her sour presence. I so wanna hurl right now.
"What do you want Chibundo?". I watch her walk all the way to my corner and I bury my head in my pillow, letting out a frustrated scream. I don't usually get along with my classmates, SS1 girls...or boys and they have nothing to do with me so what could possibly be drawing the Queen bee to me?
She sits on the bed next to mine and I scoot away to create more distance between us. I don't need our auras blending.
"Who was that senior boy that you were talking to yesterday after class?", she asked me with an eagerness that made my spine shift. "He's my half demon brother, why do you ask?". Chibundo shrugs and snaps her fingers. "Tufiakwa, when will stop telling all these your creepy demon lies? It's no wonder everyone hates you". Urgh! Here we go again. "See, I've told everyone before that my mother cursed my tongue so that I could never tell a lie before she died. Everything I say is the truth whether you like it or not". I pick up my pillow and I climb down from the bed in attempt to leave the corner for her but she holds me back. "Oya sorry wait. I think the guy is cute and I like him. That's why I asked. Could you hook me up?", she says seeming innocent and sincere but I know it's only to get what she wants. I laugh. I laugh hard. "You?... With Amethyst? My brother? That could never happen love, but if you insist I'll be meeting with him today after inspection in the field. Tag along and I'll introduce you". "That's so nice of you! Thanks Jade!". She tries to hug me but I slip out of the way. "Not a hugger", I say and I leave the corner for her. I hear her screech excitedly and I'm just wondering how she of all people in the world could be attracted to Amethyst, who is not even presentably cute. I giggle and leave the hostel as the inspection was about to start.
The inspection ended two hours ago and now I'm walking with Chibundo to go meet Amethyst at the field. The silence is awkward and perfect, just the way I like it. I see a group of boys up ahead and I immediately pull my hood up. I don't like it when people stare at my purple eyes.
"What's wrong?", Chibundo asks trying to take my hood off. "Don't you dare!", I bark at her. She shrinks and turns away, retreating into herself. "You know that hoodie is contraband", she mutters. She folds her arms like an annoyed toddler. "Yeah I know, now shut up please. Let's just walk and go see Amethyst". I know I've hurt her feelings but she's not exactly one who cares about others too, besides the silence is needed. The boys passed and the silence stretches from that point up until we reach the field. I can see Amethyst already waiting at the basketball court.
"Jadie Wadie!", he says twisting his tongue so that the words crawl out as if he was trying to make a baby laugh. "Don't even". I push him away as he came in for a hug he knew I wouldn't want. He laughs and I make a face. Then he looks at Chibundo hairline to toe nail tips. "You didn't tell me you were bringing an angel", he said and took her hand. I watch her as her bright yellow skin slowly begins to turn pink. Ew.
"Amethyst this is Chibundo... Chibundo, Amethyst". He looks into her eyes and I'm beginning to wonder what exactly this egghead half-brother of mine is doing. "Chibundo... a name so gracious, so perfectly fitting for a girl of such beauty", he says and kissed her hand. I throw up a little in my mouth.
I turn to go but then I get a glimpse of Chibundo collapsing in his arms. When I look back I see Amethyst make a portal and he takes Chibundo with him. "Amethyst stop! What are you doing?!". He ignores me and jumps through. Oh!!!! That scheming...urgh!!!
I make my own portal and I jump through. I'm sure I know where he's going.
I'm home. I land in the kitchen and Amethyst has already tied Chibundo up on the slaughter table. She's unconscious. I don't see Amethyst any where so I rush to Chibundo to untie her but as I touch the ropes I'm blasted all the way to the refrigerator. My back thuds against it and I slide down and hit the floor. "I knew you'd come back for her so I jinxed the ropes. You can't touch 'em without getting blasted", Amethyst says. Despite the loud ringing in my ear, I could hear him loud and clear. I get up and dust myself. I am so mad right now. "Amethyst what is wrong with you?! You can't just keep kidnapping girls! Oh and wrong choice by the way 'cause she's not a virgin!". Amethyst laughed. "Is that what she's been telling you?", he walks up to the slaughter table. "Well yeah, she's told everyone in the class about her various sexual escapades". I guess the certainty in my voice while I said those words caused Amethyst to laugh so hard. "No baby sis, those are all stories. Sweetheart here hasn't even kissed a guy before. She's the perfect virgin". He pulls a knife out of nowhere and caresses her face with it.
I go over to the table. "Let her go Amethyst. Now!". When I say it, I feel a spring of warmness break open inside me. I just hope it isn't what I think it is.
"Jade why are you stubborn?! I'm doing this for you. Don't you want to break mother's curse? Don't you want to tell lies again? You're a half-demon princess Jade. Lying is the air you breathe. Don't you want that back?". Amethyst leaves the knife and puts his hand over my right hand resting on the slaughter table. I look at him and I see the sincerety of his thoughts. I see the trueness of his heart. Hold on one second! Half-demons aren't true!!!! I remove my hand from under his.
"You evil monster!". "Awww thanks sis", he says and it makes me wanna slap his silly face. I don't say anything else. I swipe the knife from his side and I cut the ropes. "Jade stop, I'm trying to help you", disappointment soaks his words but I don't care. Mother had good reason for cursing me and I'm ready to live with it. "Amethyst go read a book or something. I can't stand you". I take Chibundo's body and I turn a blast hits me and I fall and drop her. I get up immediately. "Did you just blast me?! Oh it is on!". I don't have any combustion powers because I'm a half human but Amethyst is a full demon so he throws all he's got at me. All I do is avoid and evade. One of his blasts struck me and I go down, hard.
"Your demise is going to be very slow and enjoyable...well, for me", I could feel him stomping toward me. I lay flat on my back on the floor. I look for Chibundo but I don't see her anymore. Where could she have gone to?
I grunt and growl in pain as Amethyst is now over me. He bends down to look into my eyes. Sick habit. "Good bye Lil' Sis", he whispers into my ear and his hands begin to glow bright red. Another blast. I think about my mother and I'm not proud of what I've become. And I've had just about enough of this game. My fury makes my purple eyes glow and I yell, "GET OFF ME!!!".
Amethyst gets off and I notice his eyes glow too as soon as mine diminshes. He just stands there like a toy soldier waiting for next command. I get up from the floor. I examine him for a little while to understand why he doesn't move. Then it clicks. I'm a puppet master! That's my power! Who woulda thunk?! I smirk and rub my hands maniacally.
"Amethyst go into the toilet and tie yourself up in there with your explodey-rope". He begins to move and I laughed. No one will be able to get him out of there in a week. When he is gone I hear my name. "Chibundo?! You're awake!". She crawls out from under the slaughter table looking very frightened. "W...what... I..I..I woke up when I hit the floor. Y...you weren't lying!". She is shivering like a wet rat. I want to laugh but now won't be a good time. "I told you I wasn't lying. Time to take you back". I open a portal and I take her hand and we walk through.
Back in school, at the basketball court where we were. Chibundo turns to me, "Jade I'm sorry I didn't believe you. You saved my life and for that I'm indebted to you. I'd like us to be friends. Good friends". She smiled and tries to hug me. I want to step away but I don't and she hugs me. It's my first hug, ever. And it feels...it feels... Urgh!!! It feels terrible! I can't live like this.
"Chibundo!", I yell and her eyes glow. I pull away from her grip. "You will not remember anything that happened after I brought you here". The glow dies.
I stare at her and wait to know if it worked. She looks left and right. "Well! Where is he?!". Yes! It did! I laughed. "Uhm... He was here but I locked up in the toilet at home because he tried to kill you". She looks at me angrily and quizzically but more angrily than quizzically.
"You are just... terrible!! You just wasted my time and pranked me! I bet he's not even your brother. You're just a nobody I should have never talked to!". I laugh some more as I watch her storm off.
I still have my truth tongue and I gotta say, it's actually better this way.