She released her hands from Mike’s soft grip, walked away from him, and turned rather too suddenly. She then narrowed her eyes at Mike, “Mike we are married for three years now, but sincerely I’m ashamed I still don’t know how to be part of your worries or world. Yes, we are wealthy, but that is certainly not all to a happy married life, come on Mike.” She flared, but knew she mustn’t stop talking, “I can see you are hiding something from me. Can’t you see, I look so stupid before you? Just take a look at yourself, you have grown so lean and you are fast losing weight. Come on honey, I don’t deserve to be kept in the dark. You’ve always told me you love me. I believe you—I’m afraid. I really cannot figure out what’s going on with our family anymore! Can’t your love for me open up some of your heart worries; for once let me into it? I’m hurt by your quietness, Honey. And this isn’t funny at all. Let me feel your pains—your fears. I love you Mike, please don’t scare me.” She walked back to where Mike was still standing. She was confused and surprised Mike was not communicating the way he should.
A lot of things started crawling through her mind, but the more she thought about them, the more she see herself sinking deep into his mind. A mind so dark, she can’t see through.
She cleared her throat, and wanted to say something, but was caught up in her sob, “Please don’t make me cry, your silence is killing me and—” she stopped, and her thoughts suddenly flattened.
A few minutes later, it picked up.
Was he listening? Or just gazing and watching her lips move.
Why is he not talking to me?
She embraced him, pulled his head down with her hands, and then kissed his lips calmly with her eyes closed.
A few seconds later, she opened her eyes slowly, fixing them on Mike’s. She saw in his eyes what was difficult to express in words.
Immediately, she knew it wasn’t Mike she was seeing, but a shadow of him. She grabbed Mike's head firmly, “talk to me, Honey! Please don’t keep me in the dark, what’s going on? Yes, Doctor Lens said you needed rest, but you look eaten up by something really big, please Honey let’s kill it together, two heads are better than one, let me into your pains, Sweetheart!”
Mike stared at Stephnie for a few seconds. He could see pains crawling through her heart. She was a woman with such an exceptional character that was very rare in most women of her generation. She is smart, motherly, homely, romantic, and virtuous. He knew he would miss her greatly, especially her beautiful appearance, fun-making attitude, and natural smile that spread on her face effortlessly.
The oath will never be broken, and the covenant so strong. He knew he can’t reveal anything to Stephnie.
He looked at Terry, who was busy playing with his toys at the far end of the sitting room. He shifted his eyes away from him and slowly fixed them, this time on Stephnie, who was already fidgeting. He walked up to her chair and sat beside her. As he bent his head down, his thought froze.
The moment, he lifted his head. He still found it difficult to tell Stephnie anything.
He felt sweat on both hands, and his head was becoming heavy, but his brain was alert. He knew he must say something. He cleared his throat and ventured. “These things you see may be lost soon. I didn’t fix the plug on Terry. He is still a kid. I want him alive, you will remember when the time comes,” he smiled.
Stephnie was moved by his words. His words sank deep into her brain cells. She felt a cold breeze pass through her skin, and that made her develop goose pimples. She held onto his hands firmly, “what exactly are you talking about Honey? You are burning my heart with fear, are you okay, Sweetheart? I have to call Doctor Lens right now.” She stood up nervously, and as she started for the phone on the wooden polished table close to the plasma television set, she felt a chill breeze. And as she started dialing Doctor Lens’s number, she noticed Mike was behind her.
She felt his hands so weak on her shoulders. She felt the sweat on his hand and wondered how it came about, and how come his temperature changed so fast.
The urge to call Doctor Lens swelled up within, and she knew the words of Mike can’t stop her now. “Please don’t sweetheart, I don’t need him, I’ll be okay perhaps I am a little dizzy. I’ll get over it, trust me.” His weak voice echoed. He wasn’t so sure what he was saying. Those words came out of his mouth effortlessly.
He walked back to his chair, sat down, and a few seconds later, he was dead.
Stephnie knew Mike was not all right. She can’t imagine losing Mike to death. She was only thirty-two years old, and she knew Terry needs him. She also knew she had to defy Mike’s resilience and call Doctor Lens. And as she started dialing Doctor Len’s number, her left-hand fingers drummed nervously on the table.
She felt sweat dripping from her hands now, as her lips shivered. And as she struggled to put herself together, the phone started ringing at the other end.
“Pick it up quickly, Lens—hurry,” she spoke quietly to herself, and suddenly the line came alive, “hello Doctor Lens, this is Stephnie, I will like you to—” As she spun around to look at Mike if he was still mad at her, she noticed Mike's eyes were bulged out with spit missed with blood dripping slowly from one side of his lips—it looks forming. Her heart skipped, and dropping the phone down, she ran to where Mike was sitting. She called out his name, and there was no response.
She pushed him firmly and was surprised, he didn’t respond, “Sweetheart, please don’t die on me, please get up. Okay, I have stopped, I will not call Doctor Lens, let’s talk about something more interesting. I mean like our last outing and—”
She discovered Mike’s hands were gradually becoming cold and stiff. As she screamed, Terry started crying when he saw her Mum crying. “No Honey, please don’t leave me all alone, I can’t face the world full of hate, jealousy, and wickedness all alone, please wake up, be strong for me. Okay, I’m sorry if I offended you with my words. I can’t remember what I said. Perhaps, I was just being childish you know, please wake up. We could work things out—you, Terry, and I. Yes the three of us. We could go to New York, Miami, Germany or London. Yes, just to cool our heads—this burning tension—change our environment for a while, at least that would help.” She touched him again, this time, he wasn’t responding, and there was no sign of life in him.
Now, her heartbeat was even faster, her eyes widened and her bones got frozen.
Was it a nightmare?
No, it wasn’t, it can’t be. It was still sunny outside.
What’s going on?
Her thought bounced. She brought it back and pondered carefully, but the lines couldn’t merge.
Her breath seems to be failing her now. She dragged in more air quickly to ensure her consciousness. She once more put her strength together and screamed. Her scream alerted the security men at the gate. They came rushing into the sitting room and with eyes roving around the extremely large sitting room. They spotted Mike, who was sitting down lifeless.
Paul Douglas and Landus held unto Mike and shook him carefully.
Somehow, they knew he was dead, but needed a Doctor's confirmation. They wondered how it all happened. They stared at Stephnie, who was now wailing on the floor. They changed their minds, and stood still completely senseless and confused about what to do—it can’t be her?
What then happened?
Mike is dead, the words were hard for them to even whisper. They folded their hands in defeat with thoughts building up within them. They pondered; he had shown no sign of ill health, recently and can’t possibly be dead. They stood still for a few minutes wondering as they waited eagerly for Stephnie to give instructions.
A few minutes later, they knew they weren’t thinking right. They hurried and helped Stephnie to her feet. It was obvious Mike was no more. But a Doctor—their thoughts got busy once more.
Stephnie did not hang the phone up. Doctor Lens could hear Stephnie screaming, and the strange noise in the background. He knew something must have gone wrong. He was supposed to be in the operating room in an hour's time but decided that should wait. He gazed at his wristwatch and then called Doctor Kelly instead to handle the operation.
Hurrying into his BMW, he started for the Dickson’s house.
************
Humman Cruizerdin staggered to the altar of Darkis, he knew something was wrong. He opened his right hand towards the altar and shouted several incantations. He walked backward and forward.
He could feel a sharp pain in his back. His spine ached as he walked around mysteriously. The pot on the altar that contained the blood of Teger Maxwell got broken suddenly with a thundering sound. And that very moment, he knew Mike was dead. His blood must be stronger, he pondered. And being able to displace that of Teger from the altar was enough evidence.
He knew he had never staggered anytime any member was taken away by Manzus, the way he did seconds ago.
Mike would have undoubtedly been the next Grandmaster and wondered at Manzus’s choice to have Mike sacrificed.
Quickly, he took his Zustic stick and touched the seat of Ohman Chrest.
Ohman Chrest made his appearance promptly. He looked around boldly, and stared at Cruizerdin, “you sent for me, Grandmaster?”
Cruizerdin responded quickly. “Yes I did, the eagle that flies without perching, the Lion that wonders for prey at odd hours, the fearless dragon and the one, who possesses the sword that never gets dried with bloodstains, has fallen—Mike the great warrior is dead. Mazus has taken him home, but, we must perform the ritual that makes us honorable. Go quickly with the Sixteszo, and get his blood from him. The blood of Teger on the altar of Darkis had expired and must be replaced immediately. But you must remember, the organ of Mike must be extracted for other use, Ohman. You must go now with your men.” He shouted with a loud voice as he stretched forth his Zustic stick.
Ohman disappeared swiftly, and a few minutes later, they were in Mike’s compound. They had black overalls and exceptionally dark glasses to fit.
They made a physical appearance as they entered Mike’s house and then hurried into the sitting room.
Ohman walked towards Stephnie and said. “Sorry woman, you don’t have to see this, you have to excuse us. Take your security men out with you. This is strictly confidential, I will explain later.”
Stephnie could recognize Ohman. He was the only close friend Mike had, and she knew how ultimate their friendship was, but certainly not anymore.
How did he know so soon that Mike was dead?
Her thought crept off her mind when Ohman’s outfit and those that accompanied him left her spellbound. They were in black outfit that was nicely tailored.
A few minutes later, she noticed she was walking out of the sitting room and dragging Terry along as she did. She also noticed her security men walking sheepishly behind her.
What were they doing?
The incense, terrible aroma, in the air—