CHAPTER 28

“Do you have a death wish?” Ezinne raged.

Ogadi wished she were anywhere but with her grandmother at that moment because her grandmother was rather angry at the moment.

The object of her anger sat on the sofa without replying.

That didn't deter Ezinne from continuing, “Impersonating a police officer? Really? What if they didn't listen to your pleas and gave you over to the police? Do you know the sentence for that crime?”

The day before, when Steve and his colleagues had captured Ejike, he'd confessed that he wasn't really an officer of the law and had pleaded with them to let him go. They'd graciously agreed and let him off with a stern warning never to repeat his actions.

“I didn't know what else to do. The amulet was warning me. Did you expect me to give up the chance?” Ejike replied defensively.

“You could have called me.” Ezinne said.

“And what? You'd have flown down to the mall?” Ejike asked sarcastically.

Ogadi winced and wondered if they'd forgotten adults weren't supposed to argue in front of young people.

Ezinne wasn't about to let Ejike have the last word, “Still—”

“Still nothing.” Ejike interrupted, “I made a decision and it turned out to be the wrong one. Even if I had called you, the culprit would have still gotten away.”

Ezinne seemed to ponder on his words for a moment before she nodded, “You're right. What's done is done. How did the amulet warn you?”

Ogadi was not startled by the abrupt change in subject. She knew her grandmother wasn't one to dwell in the past.

“It was like an electric shock. Very painful. It also left a dark spot on my wrist.” Ejike replied, showing them the wrist he'd put the amulet on.

“Wow!” Ezinne and Ogadi exclaimed simultaneously.

A knock on the door prevented them from further examining the dark spot.

Ogadi looked at her grandmother, “Are we expecting anyone?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.” Ezinne replied, smoothing her dress and Ogadi realized her grandmother was putting on an Ankara dress she usually wore when she was going out.

The dress was simple and floor-length with delicate embroidery at the neckline and sleeves.

Ogadi wondered who her grandmother was expecting as she opened the door.

What she saw were three women wearing disgruntled expressions.

One of them, a tall lean woman with regal bearing said disapprovingly, “I wonder why it took you so long to open the door.”

Before Ogadi could apologize, the women silently filed past her into the sitting room.

“Welcome, my sisters.” Ezinne said jovially.

“If you really wanted to welcome us, you wouldn't have kept us waiting.” The tall woman said with perfect diction.

“I'm sorry, Udodi, that you had to wait for five seconds before the door opened.” Ezinne replied sarcastically.

Udodi either didn't get the sarcasm or chose to ignore it because she waved off Ezinne's apology and glanced Ejike.

“Wait, wait! I know this face!” She exclaimed.

“Uh...I don't think so.” Ejike countered.

“No. I actually know this face,” one of the other women spoke up for the first time.

“Yes.” The other concurred, tapping her forehead, “I just can't place it.”

Suddenly, Udodi clapped her hands with glee, “I've got it! I know you! You're Ejike Uwakwe, the man responsible for the death of the then governor's son.”

“Yes!” The other two chorused.

Udodi turned to Ezinne, “Sister, why do you choose to fraternize with this charlatan?”

Ezinne's eyes narrowed, “Ejike is no charlatan. He's a changed man now and has been of immense help to me. I trust him.”

The women gave her odd looks but didn't say anything.

“Good. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's have a proper introduction.” Ezinne said, “Udodi, Akunna, and Ihunanya, this is Ogadi, my granddaughter and a Gate Keeper.”

The women nodded. Akunna was short and chubby while Akunna was slim and of average height.

Ezinne turned to Ogadi, “These women are Gate Keepers too. In fact, they were the only ones I could find.”

“That means we're fewer than I thought we were.” Ogadi mumbled.

Ezinne continued, “Sisters, this is Ejike. Ejike, these are my fellow Gate Keepers.”

Ejike gave the women a fleeting smile. Ogadi wondered if he was ashamed that the women had recognized him.

“My sisters,” Ezinne began without much ado, “Dike Aru might resurrect at any moment unless we stop him.”

“Ala forbid!” Ihunanya exclaimed.

“Ezinne, what are you talking about?” Udodi asked, “After several thousands of years, Dike Aru is going to make a reappearance? Are you well?”

“Yes, I am.” Ezinne replied patiently. She brought out her phone and gave it to Udodi.

“What's this?” Udodi asked without looking at the screen.

“It's a news article on the recent murders of young women in our state.” Ezinne replied.

Ihunanya and Akunna leaned in to read the article. It was news to them because they weren't from Imo state.

“Chukwu save us!” Akunna exclaimed with her hands on her head when she finished reading.

Udodi solemnly handed the phone back to Ezinne, “These were no ordinary murders. Was the sacrifice completed?”

“I'm afraid yes.” Ezinne replied.

“And you didn't think to call us then?” Udodi asked, looking forlorn.

Before Ezinne could reply, Akunna asked, “If the sacrifice was completed, then why hasn't he come back already?”

“I have no idea.” Ezinne shrugged, “My only guess is that he's planning something big.”

The three women exchanged worried glances.

“No wonder there's been an increase in demon possessions these days.” Ihunanya noted.

“And they've become more fearless too.” Akunna agreed.

“Because they know their master will soon join them.” Ezinne explained.

“And what have you been doing to stop this from happening?” Udodi asked Ezinne.

Ogadi scowled. She didn't like the tone of voice the woman took with her grandmother. Before she could stop herself, she replied, “We've gotten the sacred amulet of Ikala.”

Udodi tutted, “Don't you know better than to interrupt your elders when they're talking?”

Ogadi looked away but didn't apologize.

“What's the sacred amulet of Ikala?” Ihunanya asked, confused.

“Don't you know anything?” Udodi questioned angrily, her perfect diction becoming more pronounced, “It's an amulet that warns someone if they've come in contact with people who have had dealings with the underworld.”

“And why would such a thing exist?” Ihunanya asked, not minding the murderous glare Udodi sent her way.

“I don't know but personally, I'm glad it exists. It'll help us find whoever is behind this.” Ezinne replied.

“So we're supposed to wear the amulet and parade the streets? What if the person who murdered those poor women has traveled out of the country?” Akunna asked.

“I think we almost had the person in our grasp earlier today. Ejike was at a mall when he received a huge electric-like shock from the amulet.” Ezinne informed them.

The three women regarded Ejike for a long time but it was only Udodi who spoke, “And you let the person get away?”

“No, he didn't. He was stopped by some security guards.” Ogadi answered, not liking the way the woman made everyone feel like they weren't doing their best.

Udodi smirked at Ogadi but her next words were directed at Ezinne, “Sister, do you think it's wise to trust this man? I mean, he has been known to bring demons from the underworld. Moreover, doesn't it strike you as convenient that he had whoever offered the sacrifice in his grasp and the person escaped?”

Ejike looked downright constipated at Udodi's accusations. He stood and said to Ezinne, “I'll take my leave.”

“No, you won't.” Ezinne replied, motioning him to remain seated. Ejike reluctantly obliged her.

Ezinne scowled and her voice hardened as she faced Udodi, “I might not have been clear the first time so I'll try to be clearer now, I trust Ejike. We've been through a lot together. He's on our side and I'd love it if you stopped making him feel uncomfortable. Sure, he's made some mistakes but who hasn't?”

“Well, I can say I've never caused a young man to jump to his death.” Udodi retorted.

Ihunanya sighed, “Arguing about him won't help us in any way. What do we do to find the murderer? And if we do, is there any way to reverse the damage done?”

Ogadi silently thanked the gods that the woman was smart enough to defuse the tension in the room.

Ezinne wasted no time in answering, “I don't know anything we can do except wearing the amulet and going about. And to answer your second question, if we kill the person who offered the sacrifice, Dike Aru won't be able to resurrect.”

“Who told you this?” Udodi asked suspiciously.

“A demon.” Ezinne replied simply.

Udodi gritted her teeth and roared, “First, a murderer, now a demon? Why are you working with the enemy and how are you stupid enough to believe anything that comes out of the mouth of a demon?”

Ezinne replied coolly, “This demon had the same interests as me. That reminds me, I visited a seer and he told me that a daughter of the earth shall be the one to hand this world over to the underworld.”

There was a moment of silence before Udodi burst out laughing, to the surprise of the other occupants of the room.

When she was done, she wiped tears away from her cheeks and said in a hoarse voice, “And you believed the scammer?”

“He is not a scammer. I also received this message from another ally of mine.” Ezinne said.

Udodi cocked an eyebrow, “What's this one, a thief?”

“No. An enthusiast of Igbo culture and tradition.” Ezinne said unflinchingly.

Ogadi thought her grandmother regretted inviting Udodi to their house.

“Again, this won't help us stop Dike Aru.” Akunna remarked.

“You have been using the amulet wrongly.” Udodi said chidingly.

“Excuse me?” Ezinne and Ogadi asked simultaneously.

“You heard me,” Udodi hit her palm on the table for emphasis, “You've been using the amulet wrongly.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Ogadi asked.

Again, Udodi gave her a look laden with disapproval before she replied, “Few people know of the sacred amulet of Ikala and even fewer know of its proper usage.”

When she saw that she had everyone in the room listening raptly to her, Udodi smiled, “You see the amulet if used properly can seek out anyone who is working for the underworld and snuff out their life force and to get it to do that, we don't even have to walk the streets.”

The other occupants of the room were shocked.

Ejike was the first to regain himself, “How do we do this?”

Udodi chuckled, “I'm afraid you won't be a part of it.” Seeing Ezinne's glare, she rushed to clarify, “Only Gate Keepers can do what is needed.”

“How does this work? What do we need to do?” Ezinne queried.

“You see, the amulet also serves as a conduit for our wishes towards people who have wronged the earth and our goddess, Ala. All we have to do is to call out the offender's crime and the sentence we wish them to serve. The amulet finds the person and makes the person serve the sentence.” Udodi stated smugly.

“How do you know of this?” It was Ezinne's turn to ask suspiciously.

“My mother taught me.” Udodi shrugged.

“I never received such lessons from my teacher.” Akunna said with awe.

“Neither did I.” Ezinne admitted, “I think it's time we all put all the knowledge we have down, maybe even have an electronic database. The oral method of passing knowledge isn't the best. Who knows what other valuable knowledge we've lost thanks to the unreliable human memory?”

“That's by the way.” Udodi replied, “We must hurry and get rid of the murderer so Dike Aru can forget about resurrecting.”

“I agree with you.” Ihunanya nodded, “What exactly do we have to do? When do we start?”

Udodi smiled, “We have to gather at a shrine at twelve am. Leave the rest to me.”