Todd was on his quest: searching for his mentor. The man's number had not been connecting and he decided to give up calling but rather, look into the head nurse's house as he had before now. He had been watching the house for some days now. Well … he deduced that since his mentor had an interest in Eucharia, there was probably something in her house, that could link Todd back to him. As the young man sat there doing his "thing", car parked by the road in front of the head nurse's house. A man got out of the car, Todd didn't get a chance to glimpse at the man's face because he walked hurriedly into the compound. Todd ignored the inner voice pestering him to go after the man. All these would be in vain if he was caught and then managed to set aside his curiosity and stay back to watch it all.
About twenty minutes later, the man, Lily and Eucharia came out of the compound, got into the car and drove away. But one thing was clear to Todd, Eucharia appeared to sulk as she grudgingly got into the car. Without any second thoughts, Todd hailed down a taxi and asked the cab man to go after them. They drove for about five minutes, and to Todd's surprise, their destination was a hospital. Questions popped up in his head. Who was sick amongst them? Or where were they in the hospital to see to an ailing patient? That was not a problem … going after them, he would definitely find out. He watched as the three exited car and headed inside the clinic.
Todd paid the driver and followed suit. This time, there was no need of being discreet. After all, he worked in the hospital. But that was his mistake. In his haste to catch up with them, he had forgotten it was a different hospital, not the one where he or the head nurse worked.
***********
Lily and Magnus had persuaded Eucharia to visit the hospital. At first, she had none of it but reluctantly accepted, all for her daughter. This gladdened Lily as it was usually wasn't easy to change the woman's mind. When the doctor had checked her blood pressure and conducted some series of tests, the results were shocking. Eucharia was perfectly fine! There was absolutely nothing wrong with her. It is what it is, Lily thought. They would drive back home.
"I told you guys that there is nothing wrong with me. I'm absolutely okay." Eucharia complained. "But you didn't listen."
"Yes mum, you're okay, especially since you started eating peanuts and wearing bum shorts. Very okay mum." Lily said barely resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
"No, do not use that tone on me young lady." Eucharia paused. " You should have at least trusted me on this." The woman wasn't happy about it all.
"Please please, we will go home but …. Eucharia? Lily and I were about you. Don't you think we should?" Magnus' look on Eucharia was filled with plea.
Lily's phone chose this moment to go off. It was Philip. Oh! Calling him that they were no longer at home totally escaped her mind.
"Mum and Magnus , I have to answer this call, very important." The people she spoke to weren't paying attention, they were busy arguing. Her mum being firm that they should have listened to her. The noise there was overbearing, so Lily left them to answer the phone.
"Hi Philip."
"Where are you? I'm at the house and no one's here." His tone sounded very worried. At least this was genuine, not what that Magnus of a man was scheming.
"We are at the hospital."
"What? Why? Is anyone hurt?"
"No … not that, we are okay , well except mum. She now eats foods allergic to her system, she had been peeking at me and to crown it all, almost used her dagger on Magnus."
"Well … I would definitely say kudos to the last incident Lily. She wanted slaying the enemy. Don't you think it's good to have your mum slay your demons?"
"What ? Not after she did all sorts of strange things to me, moreover how did she know he's the enemy? I never told anyone about it."
"What Lily? You mean you haven't told her? Why sweetheart … you should have."
"I know Philip. But something always came up, that's why I haven't told her. So seeing this, it's very obvious that something's wrong somewhere. I never told her about him. Why then did she attack him with a dagger? Mum is not a violent type." Lily heard Philip draw in a slow breath. He was as tired as she felt.
"What did the doctors say?"
"They said she's completely okay." There was a pause. Just then, a guy passed by. He was around 21 years of age and good looking. He was an intern like Eucharia had said. Lily had only seen him once.
"You're coming back right?" Philip question interrupted Lily's study of the young man.
"Yes, we are on our way home." Lily paused and decided to drop the bombshell. "So is the enemy, he's with us."
"What does he think he's doing? I'm going to beat up that bastard to a pulp."
"Just wait you will meet him Philip. I don't want him with us again. I'm sick of his pretense and already fed up in the game."
"He's a damn loser, no worries."
"I hope so Philip." Lily wasn't sure any longer.
"Okay, I'm here, waiting dear, drive safely."
When they disconnected, Lily breathed in a sign of relief and walked back to Magnus and Eucharia. She got there to see the intern exchanging pleasantries with her mum. The young man saw them off to Magnus' car. He waved at them at them as they drove away. One thought came to Lily. This wasn't the hospital he worked, what was he doing there? Perhaps he came to see someone.
Then an image flashed in her mind. Oh no … she thought, watching him walk back to the hospital. The intern was familiar. His back form and the way he hurriedly left. Lily had always prided herself on her ability to recall things, people, forms. Now, the young lady was sure. She was very sure that he was the delivery boy, who had brought her parcel and being the lady she was, this all fueled her curiosity. Why would an intern send that dreadful parcel?
**********
As Magnus drove, Lily discussed with her mum.
"What is the intern's name?" The question surprised both Magnus and her mum as she had never asked about anyone. Magnus looked at her from the driving mirror, raising one of his brows and Lily gave him a flat look.
"Todd. Why do you ask dear?"
"Nothing mum, just asking. He seems very close to you."
"Yeah … he's a very hard-working person." Eucharia smiled, she must really like the intern. Well … Lily would see how her mum would look at Todd when she found out he had been watching their house.
When they got home, Philip hadn't arrived yet. So Eucharia went straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner while she and Magnus sat facing each other.
"There must be something you're not telling me." Lily really looked at him. Pretense much? Two can definitely play a game, she thought. If you keep things from me, I will grace you with a scheme of mine.
"What? If I may ask." Her look was now full of innocent curiosity.
"Your behavior towards me when I came and you asking after Todd … If there's anything, let me know. Okay?"
"Yep." Lily was already bored. So she answered monosyllabically.
"I will be on my way now. Just maybe you need my help, call me okay? Here's my number." Magnus offered his card. Lily trying to play her part efficiently, reluctantly took his card. Suddenly, he pulled her to a hug. Lily not expecting any of it, unconsciously drew in some breath. This was her mistake because, she drew in his scent. His spicy scent filled her nostrils. What perfume did he use? What? She thought amused. How can I bask in the scent of my own doom?
Well … nothing was new to her anymore. From her strange drawings to her mum's creepy behaviour, to her mum's friend or whatever he was, being her doom and now this? It all made sense in a way Lily couldn't comprehend. You could call her naïve but one thing she understood was that it was alarming … really alarming to fall for ones doom.