Adrain sat down thinking. He always sat, doing nothing on Thursdays. It was his sacred day; the day he was born. On Thursdays, he didn't engage in any work. It was his day of rest. He knew he would win it all. Sure … he already felt victorious. Theophilus didn't know it's me, he said to himself. He had been the one who came to see the teacher and pretended to be someone else. His reason being that, pretending to be someone else, proved that what he had always told the man had been true. He always told Theophilus about his adversaries. And the foolish old man believed me, he thought. Well … the man had been gone for about 24 years, he will never come back, he thought again.
Adrain praised himself on his manipulative skills. This was the time to act on this "skill" of his. No one would ever know the truth. He was the one who took the true prophesy. How would it be when "they" realised that everything "they" had worked so hard for, was all null and void? That he had the upper hand? Adrain smirked to himself as he faced the mirror. He got up from his seat in a little house at the outskirts of the town. He had acquired the house from a farmer.
All these peasants, he thought. Anyway, they had helped him secure an accommodation that would be of help to him even though it was old and rugged. He needed to act fast, since it was almost time for the phase to begin. One thing he was actually good at, was waiting. After all, the old man was deceived because he waited patiently and observed it all. Having thought of that, he needed to do "something". Yeah… "something" that always made him feel the victory in his veins. He knew victory was his abode hence, needed to do this "something" which he always did whenever depression came.
Adrain needed to read it, yeah… read the prophesy. So, he moved to the sacred box because, it held the prophesy he was destined for. He got to the sacred box and took out a piece of paper that had words written in dried up blood. The words written were:
"Through and through, the beast wins via the pil!"
Adrain nodded slowly and looked upward, he had won. Still standing, he remembered his birth story.
**********
In the year 1983 …
An 18 year old young lady sat at her dressing table, eagerly reading a book; a present from her mother. The book was titled "The last phase of Earth". This was what she had always thought about; how to get hold of the whole world, making everything in it hers and how to create a new one. The young lady, Anastasia smiled when she got to the part that explained the transition of Earth into a "falling Planet" as it lost it's orbit around the sun, and continuously fell to the realms beneath. Anastasia read on, sipping her tea.
"Ana." Her mother, Lydia called out. "Anytime you read that book, you forget yourself. I'm not doing any of your chores. You're to do them this time." The young lady smiled, her mother was not helping her with work. It would be a busy day for her.
"Anastasia!" The young lady's eyes widened, her mother never called her name in full, unless she was upset.
"Mum." She practically ran to her mum. The young lady got to the older woman but her back was to Anastasia.
"Mum?' Lydia slowly turned to her and …
"Ta-daa!" She playfully exclaimed, laughing at her daughter's expression. Anastasia sighed, her mother's smile had eased her growing panic. She wasn't upset.
"Mum … you had me there." She laughed softly when Lydia's laughter ceased. "Thought you were angry."
"Why would I be angry with you baby? But then …" Anastasia looked at her, waiting for her mum to complete the statement. The said mum's voice halted when someone knocked on their door. The two females looked at each other. No one was expected at that time.
"Hang on baby, let me see who it is". Anastasia stayed put, waiting for her mum. With the book in her hand, she continued from where she stopped. She read for a long time but her mum still wasn't back. What was wrong? Hence, the young lady got up and walked quietly to the sitting room, where she hoped Lydia would be with the visitor.
She met a very old man sitting, with his head bowed and to add to her surprise, he was alone. Her mum wasn't with him. Where was she? The old man sensing a presence in the room, looked up slowly and appraised her. He looked at her intently, "his look" scared the hell out of her as he appeared to look right into her soul.
"The woman with me, left to get some herbs." His voice was a deadly whisper and it sent chills to the young lady. Who was this man?
"I am here to fulfill your wishes. So what is that which you most desire? Anastasia remained silent. It was obvious this man read people's minds. She had always loved to be in control of the whole Earth. Well, her wishes were meaningless.
"I just want to see my mum." The man stared at her for some moments that felt like hours to Anastasia and smiled knowingly.
"That's what you say but not what you wish for." There was silence. The young lady watched the old man as he in turn, watched her. It was all absurd to her, she would never get her utmost desire. So, why waste her precious time on the old man? With that in mind, she turned around in search for her mum, leaving the old man behind. He gave her goose bums. Anastasia hadn't taken up to four steps when the old man halted her with his next words.
"Do not worry, the seed I just put inside you, will fulfil your wishes. You must prepare him for this; his destiny." Anastasia went still for a moment, absorbing these words and turned to face the strange old man. But he wasn't there anymore. She stood rooted at the spot, paralysed with fear. One thing was, she never believed in spirits but she just encountered one. So shaken was Anastasia that she fell to the floor, her feet couldn't hold her. She remained that way until she felt it at last; something swirling through her veins, something that made her stronger than she had ever felt …
Nine months later, Anastasia gave birth to a son and named him Adrain …
***********
Magnus surprised Lily with their easy going talks. They discussed as Eucharia made lunch. Lily felt proud of her acting skills. Two could definitely play the game.
"How old are you Lily? Magnus asked.
"You know, it's rude to ask a lady her age." The smile from Magnus transformed him into a teenager at that very moment. Lily looked at him, daring him to question her.
"Like seriously? This is the 21st century. I had no idea such thing still exists."
"Well you know now. If you really want to know, you have to say "please" first".
"Oh … please Lily?"
"Better, I will be 24 by June".
"Nice, you don't look your age." Lily raised her brows at him. What he said could have two meanings.
"Are you implying I look older or younger?"
"What? No … you look so much younger. I would say you're 18 years old."
"Okay. Thanks then."
"You're welcome. So what are your plans for the future?"
"Well … I love to teach kids. I love them a lot."
"I can see that. It's lovely."
"How can you see that?" Lily smiled.
"I meant to say okay, it's all good." Magnus said, smirking and giving her a meaningful look.
"I see."
"What can you see?" And they burst out laughing. Lily felt free with this man. She couldn't help but wonder how he would be her doom. He didn't look stern in reality only in her dreams. Although he looked slightly intense.
"That necklace looks nice."
"Thanks, mum gave it to me." And he nodded.
They teased each other more. Sometimes, Eucharia had to remind them to lower down their voices so that the neighborhood would not be disturbed. Afterwards, Lunch was ready and served. They ate in the dinning and discussed. Magnus clearly enjoyed the meal and expressed his love for the food. Lily watched as her mum beamed at him. She thought about what Philip had said and watched him more. He watched her in return.
After their lunch, Lily went to her room to pass out time by watching some movies and in order to give their "visitor" some space to discuss with her mum. She left them in the dinning, talking. Hope Philip wasn't mistaken when he said that, she thought. Maybe it was some other person who would come see her. She would wait for such a person that wanted to devour her. For now, she just watched her favorite movie "End Game".
As she was watching, their doorbell rang. Lily closed her laptop, stretched herself, yawning. She went to the door because, her mother would feel tired to see to whosoever that was at their door. So she had to do that herself. At the sitting room, her mother winked at her. That was an apology. Lily winked back signaling that all was good. No big deal in seeing to visitors. Eucharia was stressed out enough. Hence, Lily opened the door while, her mum and Magnus conversed.
A young man stood at the door, not more than twenty. He was in some uniform and wore base ball cap.
"I'm from the delivery service. Here's your parcel ma'am."
"Parcel? I'm not expecting any."
"But it says in the name box, "Miss Lily McGrath"."
"That's me, okay… let me have it." Lily said abruptly. If she had stalled, her mother would come over to see the problem. The young man gave her the parcel and walked away. She was apprehensive to see what was inside the parcel. Had she not been, would have noticed the delivery boy didn't ask for her signature and wouldn't have walked so quickly as if he were being chased. When Lily closed back the door, Magnus and her mother turned to face her.
"Lily, hope all is good."
"Yes mum, I ordered a parcel."
"Oh … for you and Jane?"
"Yes mum." Lily easily flowed with it. She walked to her room with the parcel. She hadn't ordered anything and was also not expecting one. So who would send her? She checked the sender's address, there was none. Wow! Or could it be from her so-called doom? Lily laughed quietly, these all sounded hilarious. Why would someone want to even devour her? What had she done? Whosoever it was that sent the parcel must be playing with fire, she thought. She refused to think about a bomb blast if she opened the parcel.
Eventually, she opened the parcel to find nothing, save a piece of paper that was folded. What sort of joke was this? A child's play obviously. Whoever sent this must be depraved. How much had they paid to convey this piece of paper to her. Lily was troubled, she didn't take a good look at the delivery boy. Why would someone go through this length to instill fear into her. This is just too much, I should tell my mum about this, she thought again.
Having decided that, she went ahead to open the paper and what she saw written on the paper sent chills through her entire body. A warning that read:
"Beware of the man in your house. He is up to no good. Whatever it takes, make him leave!"
As she was contemplating on what to do and how to act, a slight noise by her door stopped her. She looked in horror as she saw it. Someone had been eavesdropping on her and this someone just left her door. Magnus had been by her door.