Fear,a feeling best buried,Apeke had learnt thus far but has she laid on the cold,dirty floor ,she found it hard to keep buried. Hearing the constant laughter of her captor that she now knew to be Asake did nothing to calm her nerves.
Apeke had never been one for following rules,she knew she could never please her mother. She could never be the perfect child her mother wants. Nobody could be, honestly. She knew better than to believe that. Perfection was nothing facade,it was impossible to attain. She realised this years ago as a child after a friend of hers had been raped and left to die. Her parents wanted to give her away for marriage to rid themselves of the shame brought forth by her 'atrocity' as they had called it,as if the poor girl was at fault. Her mother,known as a sweet healer, an angel even was the one who suggested the to kill the baby that had began to grow in the girls womb. She said it was hindering attracted suitors. That had been the last straw for their 'perfect' daughter she wasn't going to let anyone harm her child,so she fled and she had never been found since.
Apeke didn't believe in the lies that was deeply buried in the heart of the society,making it almost impossible to be rid of. She didn't believe in what or how she was expected to act. She wasn't going to be a good little wife and listen to the every whims of a man,she had sworn because she believed that it was all a lie.
There was no great reward for a being a respectful wife who puts her husband on some pedestal after all one can do that and still be plotting your demise. She learnt that when her lamb of a neighbor stabbed her husband gruesomely in his sleep.
She knew that deep down most people agreed with her but we're too scared to admit it but she wasn't. She had always loved her freedom ,that was one of the reasons she was determined not to be married to the crown price. She was relieved he shared her dissaproval of the alliance but she wasn't sure how long that would even last.
What if his mother managed to convince him?
Either way,she was in no mood to be trapped for whatever reason.
"Asake!"She yelled.
"Squirming already,my favourite captive?" She replied.
"Wouldn't exactly call it squirming but if you've done your homework you would know that shackles isn't exactly my favourite jewelry."
"Hah,the witty sister,never one to sit still and listen. You know you and I are a lot alike."
"We aren't alike, I don't kidnap the people I claim to love." Apeke seethed.
"He deserves it. How can you not see that even after everything I've told you?"
"I've known Alani my whole life,I think I know what he's capable of."
"I thought I knew him too,you know and he was just lying to me the whole time."
"He would never do what you accuse him of,it makes no sense."
"I've told you the truth already,yet you choose to cling to lies!"Asake said in anger.
"You're the one who's choosing to cling to lies,you knew me. Why would I do that to you? What would I have gained from it?"Alani said.
"You wanted the throne. "
"Is that what you really believe? How could you even think that? After everything we've been through."
"You are such a liar.." Asake started but was interrupted by a someone whispering in her ears.
"She's here."
Asake huffed and said "This isn't over" to the siblings before leaving.
"We need to get out out here. Let's get back to our original plan,shall we?" Alani said.
"Anything to leave your crazy ex." She said and moved closer to him and they tried to untie themselves. Apeke managed to get Alani loose before they began to hear footsteps approaching. They moved back to their previous positions to avoid suspicions.
Their captor walked in with someone else and they soon found out that that person was Jumoke.
"Look at you all tied up. You don't look so confident now,do you? " Jumoke said.
"Let me guess,this was all your idea?" Apeke said.
"Guess you have brains,after all. "Jumoke smirked.
"I can't believe you would do all this because of your insecurities."
"Insecurities? I don't have any insecurities. He's mine, that's a fact and everyone knows it."
"If you're so sure of that, what's all this for?" Apeke replied.
"It's to send a message,so everyone knows knows that he's mine. Most importantly, I did this to warn you to know your place. Don't even think about agreeing to the alliance."
"You are crazy. I wasn't even going to agree to it, everyone knows that." Apeke explained.
"You think I don't know what you're trying to do, right?"
"And what, according to your deranged mind,is that?"
"You're pretending like you don't want him,so he becomes curious to know why and that's when you catch him, right? You're trying to make the rest of us look superficial and power hungry,well your plan isn't going to work, understand? If you don't leave him be I will be your worst nightmare. Do not test me."
"Fine, message understood. Now,will you let us go. This little adventure has been fun but we do have a family to get to."Apeke smiled.
"One more thing. Don't you even think about winning to my prince,you got that?"Joke said.
"Whatever you say, princess."Apeke replied.
Asake walked over to Alani and whispered in his ears. "Don't worry,my Alani I'm not done with you just yet. Don't miss me too much."
"Release them in a few hours." Asake told one of the people working for them and she nodded,smirking sinisterly.
...
Omowumi was close to tears at this point. It was noon already and yet they had found no trace of either Alani or Apeke.
"We'll find them, don't worry." Ajani said.
Omowumi nodded trying to have some hope their search party was interupted by someone running in their direction.
"They're safe."The stranger says.
"Who's safe?"
"The people you are looking for." The stranger replied.
"You found her/him?!"Abeke and Fabumi said at the same time.
"Yes, they are in your house asking for your whereabouts."
"You're saying they're okay?"Omowumi said.
"Yes ,yes they are fine. Now,will you come with me instead of sulking over here?"
"We're coming."
"You don't have to ask twice."
.
Apeke woke up disoriented, not aware of where she was. There was a group of people surrounding them.
"Are they dead?"
"No, probably just unconscious." She heard them whisper.
"Oh, what a shame."
"Poor souls ,who knows what happened to them."
"They should have died if you ask me."
"Well no one did."
"Why would you wish them death?"
"It's an easy way out."
Apeke guessed they hadn't realized she was awake yet. She groaned as she tried to get up,that seemed to gain their attention.
"Oh, she's awake."
She managed to get into a sitting position but she couldn't see where she was because the crowd was obstructing her view and honestly,she was feeling suffocated.
"Move back, you're overwhelming them."Someone said admidst the crowd.
Apeke was grateful for this. She could finally breathe. She looked around and realized she was in front of her house. Ah,so that's where the devil's spawn decided to leave them.
She stood up and saw her brother struggling to get up as well,she let him be. Still mad at him for not telling her something as serious as that had happened during his time in Majekodunmi. She was wondering where her parents where and before she could voice out her question,she heard someone say behind her,
"If you are looking for your parents, they are busy looking for the two of you." A stranger said with an uninterested look.
"I'll go tell them you're back,bet they would be thrilled." An exited voice said behind them,the owner running towards her destination.
"Well, that's Idunnu ,always happy. Just as her name implies." The stranger said.
"You don't sound like you like her very much."Apeke said.
"Oh I do,in fact we're best friends I just wish she was a little less enthusiastic about...well everything."
"Why are you even telling me this?"
"Because she seems to have taken a liken to you. She is awed by the oy woman who managed to make the crown prince smile."
"It's not that special. Be has a betroth,I bet she makes him smile a lot too." Apeke said even though she hated the said , betroth with all her heart. She did kidnap her after all.
"That still explains nothing." Apeke stated. The stranger had failed to explain why she was telling her about her best friend.
"I'd like for you to warn her."
"Warn her?"
"I believe she is in danger of that which she is to blind to see."
"Look, I'm pretty sure you can do a fine job if protecting your friend,you do not need me. I already have enough on my plate as it is."
"It's complicated. I can't help her without seeming jealous,she respects you,so she would listen to you."
"She respects me simply because I got the crown prince to flash his teeth in my direction? How pitiful?" She chuckled.
"How dare you!" The stranger exclaimed.
" She believes in a fantasy," Apeke continued "The prince was just amused at my audacity. He isn't interested in making me his wife. You must have heard about his determination to stay with one wife right? Well that wife is his beloved betroth and not me. So,please tell that to your friend and leave me be."
Apeke said and walked into her compound. She sat in front of the house, expecting her family. She didn't have to wait for long as they soon came running to meet her.
"Oh,my dear daughter,how have you been? What in earth happened to you?"Fabumi said as she pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Where is my son? What did you do to him?"Abeke said.
"Who cares about what happens to that drunk? My precious daughter is safe and that's all that matters." Fabumi said , holding Apeke's face lovingly.
"That's all that matters?"Abeke scoffed. "What more can you expect from a snake? We agreed to work together so we could both find our children and now that you've found yours,that's all that matters?"Abeke continued.
"Abeke please calm down...
"Calm down? Of course you would take her side. You always do.
"Mother, that's enough."Alani said from behind them. He had gone in to get some water because he was thirsty and when he came out he found his mother arguing with his stepmother as usual.
It was beginning to feel like home already,he scoffed.
"What happened to you ,my son?"Abeke attempted to touch him but he held her hand.
"I am fine there is no need for you to be conserned." He paused."I'm surprised you even noticed I was gone."He chuckled darkly.
"I said the same thing."Fabumi said.
"Fabumi ,please don't intervene." Ajani said.
"You always stop me from saying the truth but the fact is that neither of you have been good parents to the poor boy." Fabumi said.
"Fabumi!"
"What? Can't handle the truth, father? You call me a drunk but do you even care to know why I took to drinking so much? No, because you don't care. I will always be a dissapoint to you. If you were so happy with your first child then you shouldn't have remarried." Alani said what had been on his mind for so long. He searched admidst the sea of bodies for the only person that he really wanted to see right now ,his one and only love, Omowumi.
Fabumi noticed him looking for someone, immediately knowing it was Omowumi.
"If you're looking for Omowumi, she's outside the compound. Your mother wouldn't let her come in but she vowed not to leave until she was sure you two were okay." She explained and he immediately went after her and Apeke followed him.
He spotted her pacing and biting her nails,worked up.
Once he saw her,he ran to her and pulled her into his arms. He has thought he would never get to see her again. He had been so scared.
"I missed you so much. I thought I would never get to see you again."He said, inhaling her scent. For some reason it felt like home.
"I was so scared,I didn't want to think of what could have happened to you."Omowumi said.
Apeke coughed to gain their attention.
"Oh,thank the gods you're alright. What would I do without my sister from another mother."Omowumi said, hugging her best friend.
"Nothing,my friend. You can't do anything without me." They both bursting into laughter.
"I'm so glad you're both okay."Omowumi said.
They were glad too but they couldn't help but be scared of the future. Their enemies were still lurking around.
.
Adeniyi was listening to the rain,it always seemed to be a perfect lullaby to lull him to sleep,but it also reminds him of the woman who made it so ,his mother. She loved the rain,she had always talked about how the sounds of the rain reminded of her of two lovers at war. The rain at war with that it falls on. They argue but they stay together because they need each other.
She also told him that when his father used to sneak around because of her strict parents the rain had made it easier for them to meet,as the rain would hide whatever sounds made.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock.
It was his friend,he could already tell from the signature knock.
"He didn't say anything,knowing his friend would understand and come in and he did.
Adelaja came in and sat on the floor with his friend.
"Did you hear?"Adelaja said.
"About your bride's little adventure?"
"Don't call her that." Adelaja cringed making Adeniyi chuckle a bit.
"You know who's behind this,right?"
Adeniyi looked at him with an expression that meant,"We both do." and Adelaja sighed.
"What are you doing,Jumoke?"