The Sacred Pendant

Chapter 3

Celine woke up 4 a.m. the next morning. It was still dark so she sat up on her bed, rested her head on the headboard and began thinking on how life would be now. She could go outside now; she could have friends; she could do what she wanted; she could have a life here with her aunt who was nice to her. Celine smiled.
It was a good idea to come here after all , Celine thought.
She got out of her bed and went to take her bath. Celine found her new school uniform neatly folded in her wardrobe. She unfolded the uniform and took a good look at it. It was a white T-shirt with a flared ash tummy skirt and an ash coat.
She put on the uniform and it suited her.
"Nice, " Celine said, admiring herself on the full-length mirror beside her chest of drawers.
She unloaded her bags and arranged her clothes in the wardrobe. She put on her long white socks and a pair of black flats. Celine made the duvet on her bed; carried her backpack, after checking it's content and went to the kitchen.
Margenta wasn't there, she was nowhere in sight. But as she promised, breakfast was ready for Celine. She had made bread and omelette for Celine and placed it on the wooden table. Beside the food was a piece of paper. Celine picked up the paper and saw it was a letter from her aunt.
Dear Celine,
I'm sorry I won't be able to take you to school today but the address of the school is at the back of this paper you are holding. Don't worry, the school isn't hard to find. Everyone knows Excellence Senior High. It's a very popular school and big too, so you can't miss it. And as I promised, I made you breakfast. Hope you enjoy it!
Have fun at school and try not to let anyone bully you.(Celine tittered and rolled her eyes) And don't worry, I've paid a cleaner to help with the house. When you come back home from school, it will be so pristine that you won't recognize it.
Once again have fun!
Your lovely aunt,
Margenta.
Celine grinned and turned to the back of the letter. True to Margenta's words, the school address was scribbled there.
Celine sat on the chair and started eating. The food was delicious and she enjoyed it. After eating, she took her plate and dropped it in the washbasin. Celine was about leaving the kitchen when she saw another paper on the table. She looked at her hand to confirm if Margenta's letter was still with her and it was, nicely clutched on her palm.
It must have been under the plate , Celine thought.
She walked over to the table and picked up the paper. It was folded in half.
And here's a note, in case you get hungry in school.
Celine unfolded the paper and found a thousand naira note in it. There was really no need for Margenta to give her money because she already had more than enough money in her account; money that her parents had been gathering for her since she had been born. She hadn't know about it until her mother died.
But Celine appreciated it anyway.
"Thanks, aunt, " She muttered and kept the money in her backpack, then she headed for the door.
Do I leave the door like this or is there supposed to be a key that I would lock it with? Celine wondered as she stood on the doorstep, staring at the door.
Margenta didn't leave anything in her letter about how or if Celine should close the door.
Since everyone thinks she's a witch, I doubt anyone would want to break into her house ,Celine thought and shrugged her shoulders.
"Mum, I need to go! I'm already late for school," Someone said and Celine quickly recognize Chi's voice.
"At least have breakfast, " A woman said from inside but Chi was already outside and heading to the pavement.
"Bye, mum, " She said rolling her eyes.
"Chi, " Celine called and ran to meet her on the pavement.
"What do we have here? We attend the same school! " Chi shrieked delightfully.
"I guess so, " Celine said looking from Chi's uniform to hers. Chi's uniform was new too and well ironed. Her coat was hanged on her shoulder.
"Do you even know the way? I thought you were new here, "Chi said.
"Yes, I am. I don't know the way. I was going to find it out myself but fortunately, we attend the same school. So lead the way, miss, " Celine said and Chi chortled. She held Celine's hand and they walked along the pavement abreast.
"So how do you find your aunt? " Chi asked.
"She's really nice, " Celine replied.
"Really? " Chi asked, surprised.
"Yes, and loving too, " Celine said, "Oh, and also a good cook. "
"So she isn't a witch? "Chi asked.
"No, she isn't. She knows people think she's a witch but she doesn't care. And no weird noises come out of house at night, " Celine said, "Have
you heard weird noises come out of her house before? "
"Well, people say -"
"Have you heard it before? " Celine asked again.
"But people -"
"Have you? " Celine pressed on.
"OK, fine! I haven't but some people say they have. You know, those people that were here before me. I just got here two years ago, " Chi said.
"You didn't even hear it for yourself, yet you sounded so sure ," Celine said.
"Because I believe those people that said it, " Chi said.
"Well, she isn't a witch, " Celine said.
"Why didn't she take you to school today since it's your first day? " Chi asked.
"She couldn't, she's busy, " Celine said.
"With what? " Chi asked quizzically.
"I don't know, " Celine shrugged.
"But she's your aunt, you are supposed to know what it is she's doing that she's so busy with. Why didn't she tell you? Why don't you know? " Chi pressed on.
"If you are looking for something to clear your doubts about my aunt being a witch, trust me, you won't get it from me, " Celine said and Chi guffawed.
"I wasn't doing that, " Chi defended.
"Of course, you weren't, " Celine said sarcastically.