In the state of being wilted, they caught their heavy breaths, real fast. Grunting with effort, their bones and muscles, were still weak and their blood flow, went sour due to what the dwarf leader, Banjoko had just done. Asa rubbed her hand through her arm and picked up Delaja's wooden bow, that dropped beside her.
Prince Awade wiped of his head with his hands, hoping to wake from this nightmare. Going from battle to this, was like going from frying pan to fire. He badly needed to sleep but he couldn't even get a wince. Though, he had shiny black hair with highlights of gray, which made his charming look a little more mature. His body felt numb and exhausted while he turned to Banjoko. A veil of darkness and invisible doodlings, covering his vision cleared up in the split of seconds.
It took a while for them to adjust to the effect of the golden twin eggs being together. That was when they realized that everything was back to normal, again.
"Giant has giant's blood. Dwarf has dwarf's blood. Both giants and dwarfs as supernatural beings has supernatural powers. Same as these Ninki Nanka. We are stonger than each other but I don't think four giants can face or conquer an army of beasts. Especially ones like these." Banjoko muttered in ancient Yoruba.
"He said, giant has giant's blood. Dwarf has dwarf's blood. Both giants and dwarfs as supernatural beings has supernatural powers. Same as these Ninki Nanka. We are stonger than each other but I don't think four giants can face or conquer an army of beasts. Especially ones like these." Sanmi translated to others.
"But not like the Ninki Nanka. It repels most spells. Unlike giant's and dwarfs, no witch or wizard can ever cast a spell on it. They're more stronger than you think and with the twin golden eggs, in their possession, we're as good as dead."
"But not like the Ninki Nanka. It repels most spells. Unlike giant's and dwarfs, no witch or wizard can ever cast a spell on it. They're more stronger than you think and with the twin golden eggs, we're as good as dead."
"An the hour after the scratch, humans turns to Fanpayas."
"What's that?"
"Another blood sucking creatures that flies. But if you get scratched or bitten, it's either you become one of them or you also die without any cure."
"What?" Sanmi exclaimed with shock.
"W...what did he say?" Shade moved closer, interested.
"He said others would wake as another evil creatures."
"Wow! Does that means our prince would come back to us, again." Asa raised an eyebrow.
"No... You're getting me wrong, here." Sanmi corrected. "I said, those scratched would come back as evil creatures. if you get scratched or bitten, it's either you die or become one of them–Fanpayas."
"They would wipe everything, body and soul. Our wills would no longer be our own. To kill this creature would bring death to us all." Banjoko added.
A drop of sweat lingered down from Asa's forehead while staring into the burning fire before her. "Death..."
The howling in the distance faded to the endless moonlight. Owl hooted while the floor creaked towards them. Asa turned to the door but the creaky sound wasn't from there.
'Creak–Creeeeaak!'
The sound came again, vacantly from beneath the clothes.
As if tree branches were breaking, bending or growing by themselves, the five of them facing the table looked up at the corner where the bodies were kept. Three first rise from death, seated up with the thick black cloth on their faces.
"What's that?" Ajoke quivered.
Their bodies like worm stretching out for life, from the black earthy soil gave sharp squeaking sounds as their bodies awkward trembled.
"What's happening to them?" Asa asked, Banjoko who seemed to know more about the creatures.
"They must have been scratched." Sanmi gave a hoarse whisper while holding unto a spear beside him.
The clothes on them, tore from their bodies and their blood shot eyes were filled with blood. Pouring from their end eyes, nose and ears. Lingering down like a pipe rushing out water.
"Yaaaaaaaa! Gggrrrrrrhhh!!!!"
Prince Yotifa gave a loud grating shout and others followed, rising up with creaks, the same way.
Their skin grew horns and ears went long and pointy, like that of an elf. Their skin instead of black, turned ash and pale, and it's texture was like that of a disgusting bat can get in the middle of the night. Though, the dim room enabled them move freely. Unable to stand erectly, they resurrected as another creatures. With large baty wings that tore out of their backs and sharp fangs. Their fresh faces formed wrinkled and their nose, chopped off.
Prince Yotifa's new form rose up to his feet, others did the same. Their fingernails were as silver and as sharp as knives. So were their teeth. Some of the servants that still had their swords and spars stepped forward. Holding unto their weapons, tightly. That their veins could be tranced from their transparent, leathery skin.
In an instant, Yotifa flew towards Ajoke, standing on front of her with grunting noises. Staring into his red, bloody eyes, she felt terrified and wiped off her runny nose with a soft sniffle. Somehow, she hope he'd still recognize her and recover from this. And perhaps, get to his senses and fight with them even though he was a beast. Yotifa stared at her with blood dripping out of the gum in his mouth. All his fangs and long, salivary long showed his hunger for more blood. He wanted to feed. He needed her blood.
"No, d..don't do this brother." She swallowed. Standing in place and trying not to hurt him with her knives.
He wiped his bloody mouth with his tongue and a reptilian hiss escaped his lips. Looking back at the others, he signalled them to attack and everyone had to face them, again.
Looking back to Ajoke, she dropped her knives and raised her hands up, as if she'd surrendered, so he would do the same too.
Yotifa wiped his hand at her and a strike of breeze threw her to the wall. She feel off immediately, in complete shock. He wasn't even that close to her but he could controlled her. Yotifa tried staying away from the burning fire, like he was scared if it. Like it weakened him.
Ajoke raised her gaze and she saw Asa, fighting against him. She swing her sword against his chest hand it gave a deep cut.
Shock plastered her face but all she wanted was all of these to end. Asa moved closer and swipe her sword at him. His hands held to her sword and his legs, swiftly pushed her away. Asa his her forehead to the wall as blood tickled down her face. With her sword in his hands. She closed her eyes, knowing he would definitely win against her like this. Yotifa raised the sword up and strike her with it but before the sword could even pierce her skin, someone stabbed him from the back with knives.
He gently turned his horrible face to the person to see who it was. Asa raised her gaze to see that it was Ajoke, his younger sister.
"Rest now brother. Rest in peace." She said to him.
Yotifa dropped dead and the other fanpayas, did the same. As if they had a connection or something. It was a relief, indeed. Their bodies vanished like dusts within the calm air. A couple of servants and two more dwarfs were already dead.
A deep quivering sound came from a corner, Asa and Ajoke quickly rushed to see who it was.
Iretiola.
"I'm sorry... I tried protecting our treasure but I couldn't. I failed. Take the twin egg." She handed it over to Asa, with the blood pouring from the side of her neck where she got bitten. Asa collected it, as her heart raced. She couldn't understand why all of these were happening.
"No, you didn't failed. I'd never forget you, Iretiola. You're the bravest woman I'd ever known. It's so unfortunate that we have to pass through this unending, yet, terrifying night." Asa muttered amidst her tears. She held it back with a deep sigh.
"Promise to protect it with from the beasts." She gasped her last words in pain.
"Of course, I'd protect it with my life... but I need you. We all need you." Tears filled the white space in Asa's eyes while her visioned turned blurry to the gut wrenching tears that tore her apart.
This time, Asa couldn't hold herself. She let the tears flow freely as she held unto Iretiola's hand. She watched how death left her body and somehow, she knew the woman had help them come this far, and had implemented a lot of courageous acts. Definitely, the gods would welcome her to their abode.
A series of silent wailings, hiccoughs and held sobs filled the giant's my main hall once again. Out of everyone, they had to lose a good witch and shaman like Iretiola. The whole of Odo-Ara had lost another great woman.
Looking at Ajoke, she was still frightened for the fact that she killed Yotifa. Ajoke felt somehow; scared and guilty. The pain was never ending, anyway.
While all of these were going on, the old albino man with invisible clock passed through the main hall. He nodded his head abruptly as if he pitied them but, he wasn't moved at all. He entered another room where roasted meats were kept. He took his knife and cut a large piece. Then placed it on a plate and started devouring it.
For no one saw him, no one caught him, no one knew him.