The house was alive with movement and excitement as December 12 approached. The living room buzzed with relatives sharing laughter and occasional whispers, while caterers busied themselves in the kitchen. Mrs. Ruth moved between rooms, her eyes scanning every detail with precision. But as she passed through the clusters of relatives, she caught fragments of their hushed conversations.
"Did you see the bruises on her arms?"
"She's not even trying to hide them…"
Though she heard the murmurs, Mrs. Ruth kept her composure, pretending their words were lost in the flurry of activity.
Upstairs, Mirabel stood before a full-length mirror, adjusting the ivory lace gown she would wear for the ceremony. Binta had flown in from Lagos to stand by her best friend, her cheerful chatter filling the room as she flitted between makeup brushes and accessories.
"You look like a queen," Binta said, her voice warm with admiration.
Mirabel gave a small smile, her fingers brushing the delicate embroidery on her dress. "Let's hope tomorrow feels as magical as it looks."
Later that afternoon, Femi arrived, his presence as commanding as ever. After pleasantries, he approached Mrs. Ruth, hesitating before speaking. "I think it's time you and Mirabel spoke to my parents," he said. "I know it's late, but they've agreed to a call."
Mrs. Ruth brightened. "Finally! I've been waiting for this moment."
The phone rang, and after a few seconds, a deep, calm voice answered. "Good afternoon, Madam Ruth," said Femi's father, his tone authoritative yet polite.
Mrs. Ruth smiled as she replied, "Good afternoon, sir. It's wonderful to finally speak with you. Your son has been keeping us waiting for far too long." She shot Femi a pointed look, earning a sheepish smile.
Femi's father chuckled. "I apologize for that. I've been eager to speak with you as well. How's the wedding preparation going? And how's the bride?"
"We're almost there. Everything is on track," Mrs. Ruth replied, her tone upbeat. "I only wish you could be here before the big day so we could get better acquainted."
"I'd love that too," he said, his voice carrying a note of regret. "But unfortunately, I'm tied up with work. I promise to make it up to you on the wedding day."
Mrs. Ruth offered to let him speak with Mirabel, but he declined gently. "No, madam. Our first conversation should be in person."
When the call ended, Mirabel exchanged a glance with her mother, both feeling a mix of relief and excitement.
As the house settled into quiet that evening, Mirabel went to her room to prepare for bed. The air felt heavy, the shadows in her room stretching unnaturally long.
As she reached for her nightgown, she froze. A figure in a dark robe stood in the corner of the room, its face obscured. Mirabel blinked, her breath hitching, and suddenly the figure's face morphed ,it was Chief Daniel Mina.
"Chief?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "What are you doing here?"
The figure disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Mirabel's heart raced as she bolted down the hall to her mother's room, her chest heaving with fear.
"Mother, I saw him," she stammered, tears welling in her eyes. "The man in the robe… but it wasn't just him. It was Chief. I know it was."
Mrs. Ruth's face turned pale. "Chief Daniel?" she whispered, her voice shaking. "Mirabel, listen to me. Stay far away from that man. There's something about him… something wrong. Promise me."
Mirabel nodded, her fear mingling with confusion. That night, she slept beside her mother, the weight of unease settling over her like a suffocating blanket.
December 12 : The Wedding
The morning arrived with a symphony of bustling footsteps, laughter, and gospel music playing loudly in the background. Mirabel woke to find her mother already downstairs, overseeing last-minute preparations.
"Bride upstairs!" Binta shouted as she ushered Mirabel back to her room. "You're not allowed to come down until it's time!"
Hours later, Mirabel stood in her gown, radiant and nervous as she made her way to the venue.
Femi was already waiting at the altar, his black suit perfectly tailored. Beside him stood his parents, exuding elegance and wealth. Mirabel's father sat on the opposite side, flanked by his officials, his face calm but his eyes watchful.
The bride price ceremony began, and as Femi handed over the symbolic payment, Mirabel's father noticed something strange—a black feather tattoo on Femi's wrist. His breath caught as he turned his gaze to Binta's hand, where the same tattoo was faintly visible.
His voice trembled as he pulled Mrs. Ruth and Mirabel aside. "That mark," he whispered. "I've seen it before but just can't tell where."
Mrs. Ruth's face darkened, but she shook her head. "It doesn't mean anything. Let's not ruin today over something we can't explain."
Mirabel's father protested, but her resolve was unwavering. Against his better judgment, he agreed to proceed, though his heart remained heavy with doubt.
The Honeymoon
The wedding ended in a whirlwind of celebration. As the guests began to leave, Mirabel hugged her mother tightly, tears streaming down her face.
"Be safe," Mrs. Ruth whispered. "And never forget where you come from."
Mirabel's father pulled Femi aside. "I expect updates on her location at all times," he said sternly.
"Of course," Femi replied with a reassuring smile.
The newlyweds, accompanied by Binta, departed in an SUV. They laughed and chatted as they drove, but something in the air felt off.
When they reached a quiet, desolate area, Femi's parents stepped out of the car. He handed them an envelope with an unsettling calmness.
"What's going on?" Mirabel asked, her voice tinged with unease.
"They won't be coming with us," Femi said simply.
"But why?"
They drove into a strange community where everyone seems different, there were no buying and selling and no children as well.
"Why are we in a community? Femi I thought we were going to the airport",Mirabel asked.
Her words caught in her throat as Femi's voice changed, deepening unnaturally. His hands tightened on the steering wheel, and a sickening crack echoed as he removed them and gave it to a couple standing on the road, the next stop, he pulled out his legs and returned it.
Mirabel's scream filled the car.
"I warned you," Binta said coldly, her face devoid of emotion. "But you wouldn't listen."She continued …"you might be wondering why I'm seeing this with you and it's because I'm part of Femi and his community, as a matter of fact I've been part of them since the day I ate those chocolates, as well as Melody, who is waiting at home for you".
Mirabel's mind immediately ran back to her apartment where she saw Femi speaking words to the chocolate box, "I can't believe this", she exclaimed.
Binta maintaining a cold voice explained, "you see,the night I went home, I was summoned and bitten by Femi as well as Melody and one of the rules he gave us was never to move during the day, or we will be burnt to ashes, have you not wondered why Femi always visit at 6pm, ehn Mirabel? You were just daft and stupid".
The car transformed into a wheelbarrow, and Femi, limbless, stood before her—a grotesque shell of himself.
At the final stop, Mirabel saw him for what he truly was. "Chief!" she cried, her voice breaking. "It was you all along!"
"Yes, my dear," Chief Daniel Mina replied, his voice dripping with malice. "You were mine from the moment we met at the bar.
The night air was dense with an unnatural chill, and Mirabel's mind raced, attempting to grasp the unfolding horror. Her limbs trembled, and her breaths came in shallow gasps as she processed Binta's cold words, Femi's transformation, and the revelation of Chief Daniel Mina's identity.
This wasn't just betrayal. This was something far more sinister—Something otherworldly.
"Let me go!" Mirabel cried, her voice cracking as Binta dragged her toward the ominous black stone mansion. Her cries were ignored. The sound of the wheelbarrow's rattling echoed on the uneven path, and every step toward the foreboding structure felt like a march toward doom.
Inside the mansion, the walls were adorned with dark, cryptic symbols, glowing faintly under the dim light of lanterns. A heavy, suffocating energy filled the air, and shadows moved unnaturally, as if alive. Figures lurked in the corners,pale, gaunt slaves with missing limbs and vacant eyes. They whispered in unison, a haunting sound that seemed to crawl under Mirabel's skin:
"The king has returned. The king has returned".
Mirabel's knees buckled as she was dragged into a grand hall. A massive throne carved from black stone sat at its center, with intricate designs of winged creatures and serpents coiled along its arms. Chief Daniel Mina or whatever he truly was sat regally upon it. His once-charming human facade was gone, replaced by a monstrous form with ashen skin, glowing red eyes, and elongated claws.
"Welcome home, my bride," Chief Mina said, his voice now guttural and reverberating in the chamber.
Mirabel shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face. "Bride? Bride to what? You're a monster!" she screamed.
The room erupted into low laughter from the onlookers. Binta threw Mirabel to the ground, her expression devoid of the warmth of their years of friendship. She looked down at Mirabel with pity and something darker—satisfaction.
"I warned you," Binta said, her voice calm but laced with malice. "But you didn't listen. You wanted the fairytale, the perfect romance. You ignored every sign. And now you're his."
Mirabel clawed at the cold stone floor, trying to inch away. "Why, Binta? Why would you do this to me? I trusted you!"
Binta crouched beside her, her gaze steady. "Because I had no choice. He owns me, just as he now owns you. Once, I was just like you: innocent, trusting, full of hope. But when I made my mistake, there was no going back. You should've listened to me, Mirabel."
Mirabel sobbed, her mind racing through every memory, every warning she had ignored. The late-night meetings, the mysterious bruises on her mother, the feather, and Femi's or Chief Mina's reluctance to let her meet his parents. It all made sense now, but it was too late.
Chief Mina rose from his throne, towering over her. "You were chosen long before you were born, Mirabel. Your lineage carries something unique, a power that belongs to me. And now, it will."
"What are you talking about?" Mirabel demanded, her voice trembling.
"You are the last descendant of the Obianuju bloodline," Mina explained, his tone almost reverent. "Your family was once bound to me in a pact centuries ago, and your life is the final payment. With you by my side, I will reign supreme over this realm and the next."
Mirabel's heart sank. Her family's past had always been shrouded in mystery, but she never imagined it would lead to this.
As the night deepened, the mansion came alive with dark rituals. Mirabel was bound and brought before a massive altar, where strange figures in black robes chanted in a language she couldn't understand. The air grew colder, and shadows danced wildly across the walls.
Chief Mina stepped forward, holding a ceremonial dagger made of black obsidian. He gestured for Binta to stand by his side.
"You will bear witness," Mina said to Binta, "as your friend becomes the vessel of my power."
"No!" Mirabel screamed, struggling against her restraints.
Suddenly, the room fell silent as the doors to the grand hall burst open. Everyone turned to see a figure standing in the doorway, Mirabel's father.
He was flanked by two spiritual leaders, both wielding staffs adorned with glowing talismans. The sight of him filled Mirabel with a mix of hope and dread.
"Release my daughter!" Mr. Obianuju bellowed, his voice commanding.
Chief Mina sneered. "You are brave, old man, but foolish. You think you can stop me?"
Mr. Obianuju stepped forward, his expression steely. "I know what you are, Mina. You have no power here. The Obianuju bloodline is not yours to claim."
The spiritual leaders began chanting, and the talismans glowed brighter. A sudden wave of energy filled the room, disrupting the dark ritual. Chief Mina roared in anger, and his followers scattered like frightened animals.
Mirabel watched in awe as her father confronted Mina directly. "You've tormented my family for generations, but it ends tonight."
The ensuing battle was a blur of light and shadow. The spiritual leaders used their talismans to weaken Mina, while Mr. Obianuju worked to free Mirabel from the altar. Binta tried to stop him, but a burst of light from one of the talismans sent her sprawling.
"Father!" Mirabel cried as he cut her bindings.
"We don't have much time," he said, pulling her to her feet.
The room trembled as Chief Mina unleashed his full power, his form growing larger and more grotesque. But the spiritual leaders held their ground, their chants forming a protective barrier around Mirabel and her father.
"You will not escape!" Mina roared.
But Mr Obianuju was defeated brutally and was ordered to be thrown into the dungeons together with his spiritual leaders.
Chief was only able to defeat Mr Obianuju as a result of the remedy which was given to Mrs Ruth—it signified an oath.
To be continued….