Chapter 30My worst enemy is my father. . . and my memory - Geoffrey.GEOFFREYI had taken an oath to destroy Eyare from receiving his birth right when I was but a young boy, shy of thirteen years.Did I want to do it?Let's be frank, I didn't have much of an option.I was living a seriously repressed life by the man who fathered me. He forced me to do it. He said I would understand when I became a man.Should he be blamed for it, yes, but I could have fought against the tide.I could have fought against the spiritual pull.I could have fought against the lure.I could have fought, instead, I succumbed.So it became my fault too.I forgot all about it when I left the town to school in the city.I was living the life, enjoying myself, finding a breath of fresh air away from my oppressive father. I became the very embodiment of what I didn't want to be --- irresponsible and carefree.I womanized and broke the fragile hearts of women, just for the fun of it. I didn't know my fate had alre

Chapter 32It is true about the saying; Things have to go very bad, before they eventually get better!EYAREThe man who opened the gates of the palace for Imade and I, had identified himself as Monday. Imade had him taken to the police station where he was interrogated.He said Chief 'bazuaye had kidnapped my mother and taken her hostage, but he didn't know where.Where were all the policemen that guarded my mom at the palace?Monday had smiled an eerie smile then. "My oga sharp well well. Him bribe all the policemen, give them plenty money make them work for am." (My boss is a smart man, he bribed all the policemen with plenty money to work for him).I had reeled with anger at his statement. I couldn't help myself as my hand connected with his face in a series of slaps, over and over again. He became weak and lay flopped against the chair like a rag doll. After that, he requested for water and drank like a fish that that had gone out of water for a long while.He went ahead to paint

OSAGIEDEI was shocked to my bone marrow and my mouth hung open. I couldn't believe what he had just said.Eseosa was bawling like it was going out of fashion, yet I couldn't move. Beside me, Imade was equally shocked into silence, not a squeak could be heard from her. Geoffrey on the other hand, was staring at me with a steely look in his eyes. All forms of sadness ebbed away, replaced with a certain determination on his face.Suddenly there was an eerie silence and I realised Eseosa had stopped crying. This could only mean one thing --- she had seen something to distract her and that usually didn't end well. Last time that happened, the whole jar of cream I'd just bought, was dumped on the bed, smearing the clean sheets I had just put on the bed. I caught her just in the nick of time as she was about to dip some into her mouth.That's what happened when she was left alone without adult supervision.Adrenaline pushed me into action and Geoffrey's confession was momentarily forgotten

Chapter 36OsagiedeI felt like a cornered rat as they both stared at me --- Rita and my daughter.Imade noticed the look on my face and immediately understood, but she didn't turn around. Instead, she smiled and nodded at me."Yes, of course you both are having an affair of sorts. That's because both Geoffrey and Eyare both grew up together and they're like brothers. That makes him somewhat of a brother in law to you." She smiled at me, sending a message with her eyes."Yes, yes that's true!" I replied, grateful for her ingenuous move, but in the same vein, annoyed at her audacity. Still, I played along."He's quite the charmer, though." She continued talking, as if to herself. "Eyare told me a bit about him. Little wonder chicks fall for him like a pack of cards." She looked me straight in the eyes and chuckled sarcastically.Her barb didn't fall short on me. I had a few up my sleeves too. Unlike her, I didn't have time to play around. I went straight for the jugular."Well now, from

Chapter 38OsagiedeI took in the scene before me and I vowed that my heart skipped some precious beats. It left me holding unto the door post for aid.Eyare had a knife to Eseosa's neck and was mumbling unintelligible words. His hands were a tight clamp round her neck.Something seemed off.His eyes were open, but blank - unseeing, like he wasn't there at all mentally. His face had taken on a slack look, as if his muscles were no longer functioning. He didn't look like the man I knew, like the man I married.Spittle dribbled down his lips and his head lolled to one side.I was distinctly reminded of a zombie -- a mindless zombie. He shifted backwards and forwards on his feet, as if unsure of which direction to take.Eseosa was crying pathetically and I just stood helplessly, unsure of what to do. She looked anguished and confused. She sighted me and lifted a hand up, calling me for aid to help her.The life of my daughter flashed before me. Her birth, the news of the debilitating sick