CRIMSON SKY

Chapter Two I WAS DOWN WITH FEVER the next morning, unable to close my eyes a wink as the unseen watcher who had been giving me fitful nights for the past weeks took new faces in my mind. First it was Lara, later it was Ebiye and the three other girls, and then a smattering of the students I saw during the confrontation—the unseen eyes making my skin crawl as I expected its owner to materialize from the shadows at any moment and fall upon me.My whole body hurt like I carried heavy metal weights over the night, with my head banging in an irregular pattern and my body shivering with cold. I was coiled fatally on the bed as any sprightly movement sent spikes of pain arcing through me and increased the staccato beat in my head.The rain was pattering heavily outside, starting since dawn, and I had been too weak to stand up and shut the blinds, making the room as cold as a refrigerator. It was until the others were set and ready for scho

 THE SKY LOOKED SOMETHING LIKE the early hours of dawn—not bright, not dark. Red clouds gathered in clusters over the horizon to the left, and a grey outline of the sun and moon hung up high in the sky side by side with a soft sliver glow. Everywhere as far as my eyes could see looked the same, bare and plain under the soft shadow of light, and the ground where we stood was as dark as night and soft, giving off a feeling of standing afloat on air.My heart pounded hard as I was lost between fear and curiosity, but I was simply winging through it out of trust for mama. She had promised me all would be fine.I fingered the eagle pendant and chain resting on my chest as I thought of my mother, trying to permanently imprint the memory of her face and her voice on my mind. Mama had given me the chain to me when she finished talking, and then I saw the message my mother left for me. “My love I am so sorry I will not be there for you, but I believe I

                                                             THE FOLLOWING WEEKS WERE my hardest and also my happiest. I was free, more at peace, and relaxed. Every other night found me at Olofi on the ancient training grounds, pushed hard by my taskmaster, Oniko, in weapons and magic training, while the days at school became more fun with Kudaisi to spice things up. The watcher who made my nights sleepless had turned out to be a witch sentry posted to keep watch and protect me at nights, since the cursed ones could only move at night. And with the help of Lara, I finally dealt with Ebiye and her group, giving them the scare of their lives when they learnt I was a witchlord—a position far above even the matrons they feared—while Stephen and his group did their best to avoid Kudaisi and I after the incident which pu

Iditan scoffed, staring death at me before shifting her gaze away. Succeeded in what? Making a fool of me? I passed a glance at the two of them. “That’s more like it. I knew you could do it.” Oniko came towards me.  “You planned this?” I asked. He smiled warmly. “We are hard pressed for time and it will have taken us months to get you to where you just got to a few weeks.” I frowned, angry at being played around. The cuts on my body slowly began to heal, itching as my torn clothes also come together. “Now, all you need to do is try to replicate what you felt when you sparred with Iditan until you fully ignite your fighting spirit, and that can only come with more practice,” Oniko continued. “Everyone come together.” Oniko waved us towards the shade under the trees. “Wow! You should have seen yourself. You were so awesome.” Chike came up to my side, smiling wide. “I’m now scared at the thoughts of having a spar with

I stood against Ramatu, studying her stance. Rage filled every ounce of my body—rage against Kudaisi who had taken to ignoring me—surprisingly giving me a kind of clarity and strength as I focused it in my spars against others. Chike who I had beaten some minutes ago sat by the sides, laughing and gisting with the four nighthawks who recently joined us, Bashir, Kola, Irene, and Biola, Oniko’s son. “Start already,” Damola who had taken up our training since Oniko and Iditan had not been around for the past two nights declared. The duo had been leading the battle against the cursed ones which I heard was more intense recently. “Fight!” Irene added in her shrill voice. Ramatu would make no move if I didn’t make the first, that was her way of fighting, to hold her defense tight while others attacked and wait for her opportunity when she would strike a quick killing blow. Let’s get this done with. I threw everything to the wind and rushed her fast, letting my rage