Jessica, it is a long, long story to tell. It was not our fault to give you such indelible birth mark on your face. Diana Lorborough the Queen mother of Janport Island was the one visiting you at midnight, while you rested. She could've killed you. Fortunately, she couldn't take your life.
A Philosophical man once said, 'Gaining knowledge in the early stage will be the foundation of a child's education.' The time had come for Jessica to start school after wasting many years, doing nothing at home, because of endless poverty in the family.
Jackson was always complaining about having one child from the wife. Because Jessica was a girl, Jackson insisted not to send her to school. He believes that when Jessica upgrade to a higher level, her eventually husband would take the glory.
Jackson forgot that women are the bread winners in any family, rather than men do.
When she arrive Delid Modern School, she saw her friends from the neighborhood, attending the same school. It surprised her friends to see her too. The school was in the center of Delid city, east of Janport Island. The school was crowded because of the popularity and the support, given by the central government of Arctilumania. However, what Jessica did at home, she did at school, too. She plays with her friends: Happiness, Esther, Bright, and Samson during break time and forgets to spend her time on studies. No wonder, it was not a surprising thing, Jessica was a nutty girl, because her friends were not brilliant either. As she grew older, the tribal mark on her face, changed, making her looks, ugly the more.
Her classmates call her 'Delid idol'; Jessica bang her legs on the ground. "No one should make me angry, even though am ugly is not your business." She gave them a severe warning not to call her such name, but they continued, on and on and on.
After eight months, the name had escalated throughout the entire school. Indeed, the neighboring community, too. Everywhere Jessica went; her nickname rang a bell, all over the place. She asked herself one day. "What have I done wrong to these pupils that warrant them to be calling me, 'Delid idol?' Even the teachers use that name, too."
Days later, she continued to imagine why such a name stamped on her face. "Have I committed any crime against these people; so they call me, 'Delid idol? It is not the name my dad gave to me."
Whenever her nickname was shouted at school or in the neighborhood, a mark of sorrow, embedded on her face, she dreamed up ideas after two days. "I can't believe, even the teachers started to glint at me." She spoke as she was hiding behind an empty class room. "Should I stop, attending this school? I'm sure my parents brought this curse and other things to me." She found a place and sat down and considered what to do next. She continue watching, if someone is pepping at her,
"What should I do about these indelible marks on my face?"
She rubbed her hand over the horrible scar. "The only thing I can do is to stop coming to school." She strolled home, repeating the same statement. "I will not go to that school again." She speaks on and on – over and over until she arrived home.
When she tripped into her father's compound, she spotted her dad, a raining moment, fed on her face. While she walked in, Jackson heard what she was saying. He asked her, "Jessica, tell me, why are you saying that you wouldn't go to school again?" The lines on Jackson's brow, wrinkled as he placed a hand under her chin. "Is there anybody who hurts you?"
Jessica shook her head. "Dad, I will not go back to the school . . ., everybody hates me."
Jackson frowned his face on her. "Why do they hate you? Did you do anything to them?"
"No! They call me Delid idol because of the tribal marks on my face." She sniffed and raised her head up. "Dad, what is the major reason for these horrible scars?"
Jackson sighed. "My dear, it is an endless story to tell. It was not our fault to give you such indelible marks, when you were three years of age. We were looking for ways to stop the unpleasant relationship with Diana Lorborough; because she always visited you at midnight, while you were sleeping. She was trying to take your life. She tried but she couldn't kill you." Jackson took Jessica's hand and motioned her to a stool. Jessica stood, staring at her father. "When you were tiny, your mum put you in bed before midnight." He said, "Every morning, she would find you, lying on the floor. It happened on different occasions.
As soon as we gave you the marks, Diana Lorborough stopped coming to you at the darkest hour – that was why we made those scars out from you.
Later on, Diana Lorborough told us that she was your mother before you incarnated back to life this second time. If we had not done this, you could have been a dead child, long ago. By now, a mighty tree will have grown in your graveyard – that was how we saved you."
Seeing the shock on Jessica's face, he quickly added. "Please, stop looking so gloomy. You are alive, and don't allow the marks to drag you down! If people call you Delid idol, one day, it will turn to opportunity." He pulled up a seat; he continued to reveal hidden secrets to her. "Come. Sit with me and let me tell you a story." Jackson said, "One day, your mum walked to the market. Diana Lorborough, the invisible woman, sent someone to warn your mother, concerning you.
The messenger even told your mum, her nickname, 'The Bearer of Light.' But her proper name is Diana Lorborough, the Queen mother.
Our ancestors named the State Capital, Lorborough, after he name. She is in charge of mystery in the spiritual realm.
She said, she loves you so much, and nobody can take you away from her." Jackson looked towards the room, where Mary was sleeping; nodded his head, he turned back to his daughter. "There was another message the messenger told us. The messenger said, she stole you from her Palace, at the time when the Queen travelled to a far foreign land. I was surprised to hear that. She found you wandering and crying, and nobody taking care of you. So, she brought you to our home. I wonder why your mum did that to the invisible woman.
Seven months later, Diana Lorborough appeared to your mum as she returned from shopping. It was at the closed end of the four corner junction. At that moment, there was a clap of thunder, and she fell onto the ground. A thick darkness covered her eyes. Diana Lorborough asked why we gave you such a terrible mark on your face. She said, even though we changed your outlook, she would still recognize you anywhere. Mary did not see the person talking to her, because it is then, she became blind. From then, until today," he sighed.
"Dad, is it because of me, mum turned blind?"
"Yes! That was how your mum became blind. " A tiny tear escaped from Jackson's eye.
"Why did she do such evil to us?"
"She told us you are the only daughter to her, and you must serve her in the secret Palace. Just imagine how magnificent it would be. " Jackson said, grinning.
Jessica wailed. "So, she made mum go blind, dad–! It means she is a wicked Queen.
How can I perform duties for her, if she is so cruel?"
Jackson held up a hand to calm her down. "No, no, my dear, we couldn't understand the problems at the early stage; we could've settle things with her to leave you alone. I talk to your mum, Mary, several times that we should dedicate you to the Queen mother, but she refused."
Jessica nodded her head. "So, mum disagreed with your opinion?" Jessica asked.
"Yes, she told me I should forget about the spirit Queen. She wanted nothing to do with her."
"Dad, mum is right. How can I serve her when she is so wicked to us? How can I serve a woman I cannot see? If she is putting pressure on me, she is wasting her own time." Jessica shook her head. She sat down, biting her lips. Then, her eyes lit up. "We can turn things around, dad."
Jackson raised his eyebrows. "How–"
"If she wanted me to serve her, let her unblind my mother, and I will fulfill her demands as her Priestess," said Jessica.
Jackson smiled and he touches Jessica's hand. "My daughter, my advice to you is, you go, serve Diana Lorborough. Then she may help us. Maybe, our lives would get better. Just forget about your mum. I will do everything possible to put you there as a Princess."
Jessica's eyes, opened wide. She jumped out of her chair and frowned her face to her dad. "Dad, how can you become a fool for evils? You can't pretend to me, you are a priest. Are you not aware that Diana Lorborough is not worthy of praise! Mum is right! Mum is the only one, worthy of praise, not you, because you support evils." Her voice quicken, she moved closer to her dad. "Dad, tell me, how can I serve a wicked Queen. However, if she wants me, let her come physically and talk to me as her child. Or, if she does evil, let her take my life. My soul will rise and plead for me, and I will embark on another journey for the glory of my family."
Jackson sat down, his eyes wide. He had never heard his daughter speaks in such a firm, manner. "Dad, don't worry, if I die, I will not go to where she lives; I will find my way to my ancestors. And they will give me another chance for a new transition. Which I will make my decision to become your child the second time. They my spirit image will dwell in happiness."
Next door in the bed room, Mary jumped up from the bed. She swinging her walking stick from left to right and she marched across the room. She stopped at the door. Both Jackson and Jessica looked up.
"Jackson!" Mary demanded, "You want to dedicate your only child to Diana Lorborough, the Queen mother of the land? Is that what you said? I thought you are a true Christian."
Jackson glanced at Jessica. "Yes! That is what I said. It is because; Diana Lorborough has chosen her as a Princess to serve in the secret Palace, including the castle. Don't you realize that Jessica is lucky to serve the Queen mother?" Jackson whispered, "The Queen mother didn't choose from other family, but she made the right choose by choosing our daughter. Why are you not happy about such an opportunity?"
Mary struck her cane on the ground and snapped. "Well, if you want to follow her, you are free to do so. But my daughter will not serve her, while I am alive!" she walked away.
Jackson stood, calling to Mary, "Mary, my dear, please, accept my decision as your husband and the head of this family. I have shown you the right way to follow, but you said no." He waited, but Mary did not return. "Okay, if that is how it is, I have washed my hands from this matter from today onward. I will leave everything for you to decide on how to settle things with Diana Lorborough. If you do not want to dedicate your daughter to her, it is up to you. But, if you don't, we would remain in trouble for the rest of our lives.