Chapter 19

“Brett, you will take my body for burial. And my request is, I want to be at my funeral. Will you take us there, then bring us back here after?”

He turned to her with anguished eyes.

“Have you just given up? Can’t you trust that I, as an angel, can help you get back your life?”

“You have to go through a lot of levels of admin to get me that, right?” She asked him with genuine curiosity.

“Yes.” His voice was terse.

“Don’t bother.” She was just as short. “All I ever wanted was to be with my family. Now that I am, no matter where we are, I am content.”

“Why? I will get you out of here. If it’s the last thing I do as an angel of God, I will.”

His face was solemn as if he was making a vow.

But Nina was more interested in getting him to take them to her funeral.

“Will you?” She insisted.

His face clouded over. The anguish in his eyes tore at her heart.

Her aunt interfered at that point.

“Why would you want to go to your own funeral?”

“That’s what I would like to know too?” Interjected Cagilaba.

Nina glared at him.

“Why not?”

She was curious as to why he didn’t want her to. Then she surprised the look in his eyes.

“Oh, my goodness! You’re afraid I won’t return.”

He went to protest, but she put up a silencing finger.

“Don’t bother. The reason is, I feel safer here. My family are here. You haven’t harmed them. That is a plus for you. I don’t want to be with you, but I’d rather be here, than anywhere else in the world.”

She faced Brett who still had that agonized look on his face.

“I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t make sense to you. But it’s what I want. Please, I’d like you to respect my decision.”

Nina knew he didn’t want to, but her plea silenced him. He was silent, but the protest came through loud and clear just from his demeanor.

She turned to face her Aunt Seni next. She surprised a look that she found hard to decipher. It was almost like hatred.

Or was it anger?

Nina wasn’t too sure, but it made the questions in her breast clamor for answers.

“Now the reason I want to go to my own funeral is, I want to see what, or who it would flush out. If it’s true what Cagilaba said. That he was not responsible for killing you and Semi. Who was? Will he or she show up at my funeral? I want to know as well, who has been tormenting me.”

“It’s done. Let it go, Nina. We’re all together now.” Her aunt commanded.

But Nina overrode her.

“I want to know. I need to know. I have to know.”

Her aunt’s face was stony, but the look in her eyes tore through Nina like a knife.

“I don’t want to wonder for the rest of my existence who was to blame. Don’t you?” She insisted.

“No. I don’t. All I want is here with me now. That is all I want to know.” Aunt Seni could be stubborn too.

“I’m with Nina.”

Semi had come to stand beside her.

“I want to know who the mofo was who killed us. That’s if, it wasn’t Cagilaba.”

He turned apologetic eyes to Cagilaba.

“If it really wasn’t you, then I do apologize in advance, for everything I said to you, and all that I thought about you.”

Cagilaba suddenly grinned.

His brooding face transformed in that instance.

It took everyone by surprise. They all gazed, spellbound.

Nina was equally affected.

‘He really is a gorgeous being.’ She marveled once again.

She was so engrossed in him, that she was blind and deaf to everything. That is, until she heard Brett growl.

She blinked.

And snapped out of the spell she had been under.

Cagilaba was staring right back at her with an unfathomable look in his eyes. Then his lips twisted into a smirk. She had initially softened her stance, but his aggravating personality was a deterrent. Her good intentions took a nosedive. She hardened her resolve to keep her dislike active. He could be a jerk when he wanted to.

She turned her attention to Brett, whose scowl rivaled that of Cagilaba on his worst days. She glared back at him.

“Oh, not you too. Have enough of that with this jerk.”

She jerked a finger at Cagilaba.

“What now?”

“If I take you up there,” Brett inclined his head skywards. “You might want to stay up there. What then?”

Out of the corner of her eye, she noted Cagilaba give a start. He looked agitated.

‘Hmm. Is he still insecure over that?’

But she was not overly concerned about that at this moment.

“No, I’m pretty sure I won’t. I don’t want to be one of those mournful ghosts who haunt people, or places.”

That thought lightened her spirits for a second. Especially when she imagined herself as a ghost scaring people.

Then she sobered.

“Or be one of those seeking spirits who still have something to finish before they can leave the earthly plane. I don’t think I have anything else to do on earth. Besides, all the family I had are all dead. My parents are probably in another realm to this one. But I for one, hope they are in paradise.”

“Me too, baby, but I will search the realms, spirit prison, and paradise to find them.” Brett assured her.

He anticipated all of her problems and tried to solve them before they even occurred. His nature was one of the reasons why he would always have her heart.

“You don’t have to do that.” Aunt Sani protested.

Nina stared at her with dismay.

“Why not?” She asked.

Her aunt stuttered and stammered, as she tried to formulate an answer.

“Why? Well…because they…because…” She stammered to a halt.

Brett and Caglia watched her struggle with interest. Nina wondered what was going through their heads at that exact moment.

“If you don’t, then I do. I want to know that they’re in a good place.”

She would not budge on that.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. That is top of my list.”

Brett was equally adamant on that issue.

Semi piped up.

“That is interesting, mother. Why don’t you want to know how your brother and his wife are doing? If that was Nina, whom I love like a sister. I would want to know. And vice versa.”

He looked to Nina for confirmation.

She nodded as she hugged him. They stood in solidarity facing her aunt.

Nina could tell at that moment her aunt had been put on the spot.

It was a position she hated to be in.

And in that instant, Nina knew with a perfect clarity that Aunt Seni hated her.

Her heart sank.

Her subconscious teemed with agonized questions.

‘How long?

Was this new? Or has she always hated me?

This was a whole new perspective on their relationship.

There was a buzzing in her head.

Then she was shocked to hear Brett’s voice in her mind.

‘She is hiding something.’

“What?” She said aloud, then realized her mistake when everyone’s gaze turned on her.

She gave them a sheepish smile.

Only Semi smiled back at her.

Cagilaba had a speculative look on his face. Brett was looking daggers at her. And her aunt had a look of distaste.

‘How can we communicate? Oh, you know what I mean…’

She was quietly contemplative, as she queried him in her head.

His face changed.

‘Yes. I don’t know, babe. I just thought I’d try to contact your mind. And it went through.”

He sounded joyful.

The same feeling was reflected on his face.

Cagilaba scowled.

“I know what’s going on. But I will let that pass for now.”

His magnanimous words didn’t jell with the look on his face.

“When are you taking them? And when you do, consider this. I am going too.”

“No, you’re not.” Brett said, expressionless.

Nina didn’t agree with him.

“Yes.” She argued. “He is welcome to come.”

Brett glared at her.

He was beginning to amuse her.

One minute he was smiling, the next, he was scowling, glaring at her.

“No, I don’t want him there.”

She ignored his anger.

“I do. We need all the help we can get. He can snoop around, while you arrange my funeral. He has a body. You do too. We don’t. Two of you is better than one. Having a body is more powerful than not having one. You can open doors. But then, not having a body, like us, can have its uses. The three of us can help as well. We can go in unseen, go snoop around in lots of places. So yes, he goes.”

“I work alone.” The arrogant angel was back.

“So do I.” Countered Cagilaba, “But concerning Nina, I think we should listen to her wishes. Or we’ll both be out in the cold.”

This resonated with her.

He was still in her bad books, but for once they agreed on this.

But she wasn’t going to tell him the thought had never crossed her mind.

‘Let him believe what he wants. Maybe thinking that way, will keep them in line.’

She thought with some humor.

She was disconcerted when Brett chuckled.

‘Damn I forgot that.’ She lamented.

“Yes, you did. Good for me.’ He rejoiced in her mind.

“But I still work alone.” He reiterated aloud to everyone.

“Heck, why are you so stubborn.” She was irked with him again.

“Hmm, pot, meet kettle.” He was amused.

She wanted to smack him, but he was too big.

Cagilaba eyed the two of them.

He caught her attention when he growled out.

“But then I really don’t need your permission, do I?”

His voice was assertive, conviction strengthening it.

He had a point.

“I only need her to want me there.”

The suggestive nuance in his voice grated on her nerves, but she remained silent. She saw annoyance, then jealousy cross Brett’s face. But right now, she wasn’t going to placate him. She would let him stew on that for a while.

She needed his agreement.

Even if she had to play dirty.

She watched him with bated breath, wondering which way he’d jump. He looked like he was pondering the turn of events. If the ferocious scowl on his face was any indication, his thoughts weren’t pleasant. She then watched Cagilaba, watching him.

He looked highly amused. Like he knew the outcome.

She exhaled noisily when Brett gave a shrug of resignation.

“Okay, but stay out of my way.” He warned Cagilaba in a steely voice.

He didn’t look happy, and neither was she.

But they had to take what they could get.

Cagilaba didn’t acknowledge his warning. He smirked, then turned to her.

“Ready?”

Brett surged forward.

“Oh no, you don’t. No way I’m allowing you anywhere near her. You can do whatever the hell you want, but she’s going with me.”

Cagilaba’s grin grew wider.

“Hmm…You do sound insecure. Afraid I’ll win her from you?”

“No, you won’t.” Brett retaliated.

“Shit. Stop. I’m not a prize to be fought over. Please, let’s just try to get through this.”

She felt no one was taking this seriously enough.

She felt she was swimming in a fog. That she was separated from herself. Not literally, but figuratively. It was true she was dead and separated from her body. But this had to do with her mind.

Her energy was failing.

Was she going to fade away to nothing?

‘Shit, I hope not. That isn’t going to be me. Not if I can help it.’

Worried, she turned to Brett.

“Am I fading?”

He looked alarmed.

“Do you feel you are?” He prevaricated.

She tensed.

“Yes.” She answered.

“Hell…” He swore.

“What? What is wrong with me?”

She started panicking.

“Hurry. We need to get her topside.”

He grabbed her, then ordered Cagilaba.

“Bring her body, and her aunt. I’ll take Nina and Semi.”

He turned to order Semi.

“Grab onto me.”

Semi eagerly grabbed onto Brett’s arm. He looked impressed, as he tested the muscles in his arm. Grinning at Nina, he mouthed, “Wow!” He winked.

Nina shook her head at him, amused at his antics.

Without warning, they flashed straight up. The passing scenery was a blur as they ascended.

“You could have warned me…” She yelled into Brett’s ear.

He just grunted.

His demeanor was forbidding. His grumpiness didn’t faze her.

“Where will we go?”

He didn’t answer.

They landed.

Cagilaba was right there, a second later, with Aunt Seni, and her body.

“Well?” She queried Brett again.

“We will decide here where we will go. As long as you’re on Terra Firma, you won’t feel disoriented.”

He explained when she grew more agitated.

“Okay…”

She deflated, touched at his thoughtfulness.