Beckoned Through The Dark

81 // Abigail // Under Siege

I wanted to go and see Lesego, but I had to help Bridgette with preparing some herbs.

After I told her about my observations from the other night, she wasn't too keen on letting me conduct this ceremony, however, she agreed to let me prepare the herbs required.

She left first thing in the morning, to look for more herbs, and she'd been gone for hours.

I still hadn't told her about Karabelo breaking free from the trap she set for her.

The ritual Bridgette performed to keep her there wasn't easy, but she managed. And after all her efforts, we were all sure that she wouldn't be able to make it out of there without any help.

I'd hate to think I helped her out, because truth be told, I wanted her dead.

I wanted her dead more than anything, and my sister's void body on the bed was motive enough.

I could feel Claudia's soul, she was close yet so far; she was in a state of what I called 'no return.' It was believed that unless being controlled, souls that left their bodies were most likely not to return to their owner, thereby lost forever.

They would wander forever until they perished.

I didn't want that happening to Claudia, yes, we didn't have the best relationship, but she was still my blood.

I waited for Bridgette the entire day, but she never returned, and her phone was off.

I didn't have a good feeling about this, and I didn't like it.

I had to go on and perform the ceremony alone even though it would have probably been much better with her guidance.

I hadn't practiced in a long time, my last case was so draining, I nearly died from it.

I only ever did small things, especially at the hospital when people came for a medical diagnosis, only to find out that their problems were ancestral.

It was a risky deal, and of course, I could get fired if I ever got caught, but I kept it well under wraps.

Sometimes I even prepared 'muthi,' which was a term used to refer to traditional medicine.

But that did not require much effort.

However, connecting with the ancestors was a task, and it was difficult depending on which ancestor wanted to use you.

I felt like the sitting room was too open, so I set up Claudia's bedroom instead. I placed a seamed-mat and pillow on the floor, and then laid her there.

I changed into a white vest and wrapped a shawl I found in Claudia's closet since I didn't have mine. I had a shawl over my shoulders, one around my head, and another around my waist.

It was sort of a custom to wear them when practicing.

I lit up candles all around us and burned incense.

I was so nervous because I hadn't practiced in a while, and now that I knew what I was dealing with, I had no idea where to begin.

I could still feel Karabelo's darkness deep in my bones, that girl was evil beyond imagination.

Someone had to emancipate her, but if I had to wait on Lesego, we would most likely wait longer, because she was just not ready at all to put her powers to use.

Not to mention that she was too emotionally involved, not that I wasn't, but everything happening was very close to her heart.

From holding her hands, I encountered her ring, and the things it showed me were out of this world.

That ring was the key to destroying Karabelo, I just had to figure out how.

Something about it felt familiar, it reminded me so much of Cecilia, but then Lesego said it belonged to her grandmother, now I had to find out what was the connection between the two.

I had to work out something fast, because besides seeing and feeling Karabelo's powers, there was a dark storm heading towards Lesego.

If I don't have anything in two days, a lot of people would get hurt.

I couldn't fail, not now.

I dropped to my knees and started chanting in tongues, calling to my forefathers for protection and guidance.

Mostly during consultation, our ancestors showed me answers through visions; with just a simple touch I was able to see into somebody else's life.

Normally, I would throw my bones to seek answers from the ancestors first, but today was different.

I laid my hand on Claudia's forehead, and within a split second, I was pulled into a well of darkness.

I could hear her calling for help, but I could not locate her.

Her voice was coming from a baobab tree under polluted water, I couldn't even put a precise name to my location.

There were dark spirits wandering around like zombies. It was so loud, filled with demonic chants.

The tree seemed as if it had come to life, its branches looking like claws.

"Help me! Mom, please help me, I want to come back home." Claudia's voice sounded from inside the tree. It was as if she was trapped in a bottle filled with helium.

I had to get her out of here!

"Claudia!" I ran towards the tree, but it kept moving back. "Claudia, can you hear me?" I yelled.

"Abigail? Abigail, is that you?"

"Yes, sweetie, it's me. Where are you? I can't get to you!"

"She trapped me inside this tree, I can't get out!" She cried. "I'm so sorry about everything, I know I haven't been kind to you. I was jealous, because I thought you were trying take my place. I'm so sorry, please forgive me!" Her voice was fading, and everything seemed to slow down.

Everything around me stopped, and I couldn't even lift my foot; it was as if time had stopped.

Souls were floating in the same place without really moving around like they were supposed to.

I felt restrained, I tried to speak, but the water entered my mouth, causing me to choke.

What's happening? I was in the spirit realm, which meant that I was only here in spirit. I shouldn't be physically present.

"Did you really think you could come into my realm and do as you please?" My breath caught when I caught sight of Karabelo.

She was the goddess of darkness herself.

She was literally here, physically and spiritually.

Her power resonated around me, giving a new sense of life to this place.

"I saw you," she said darkly, her eyes glowing like the blood moon. "And you saw me." She trailed her finger across my face.

How was she able to do this?

And what does she mean when she says– No! It couldn't be. There's no way she could have seen that I revisited Lesego's visions. "Yes, that's right, dear. I would let you know how Lesego felt, but you aren't worth my time. Neither you, your mother, your sister, nor Lesego," she mocked as she took a step back. "Be careful, girl." She blew a kiss at me, and I was pulled back into my body.

When I resurfaced in Claudia's room, the room was flooded, and I was soaked while coughing out water.

"Claudia!" I pulled her up and dragged her towards the bed, leaving her hanging on the side, and then I opened the door to let all the water out.

I slid down the wall as I tried to catch my breath.

Tears flooded my eyes as I replayed everything that happened. What did I get myself into?

Karabelo was dangerous, and if I didn't figure out a way to emancipate her, we were all doomed.