Samuel

Chapter 23

Throughout her preparation to leave her country of residence, her childhood home within Nigeria, her manor, a fog lay over her. The mounting pressure, the draw of one, like her, echoed in the west. An entity who manifested the trio of energies, of mind, body, and spirit. Unable to ignore it, Liddah ruminated upon the potential danger to expose herself to the greater world.

No trouble befell her, procuring transport to the United States. With the considerable wealth Nom bequeathed to her, Liddah secured a private jet along with the proper credentials. The experience of leaving her childhood home, for the first time, filled Liddah with trepidation and exhilaration.

Guided by her own drive to meet one, like herself, Liddah pushed passed the angst swelling in her breast, despite her clammy hands. This 10-year-old girl, blindingly pursued her goal, accompanied by her faux guardian, one whose sole responsibility was to escort her in public locations where her individual presence could be scrutinized.

Not yet mastering her ability to bend the minds of those around her, Liddah discovered, early in her adventure, that she currently possessed simplistic control. Liddah, currently, only held the ability to manifest this power to three people, at the most, concurrently. Despite her prodigious skill in the manifestation of her own spirit and body, Liddah, understood her power over the mind domain, proved difficult, as foreign as breathing underwater.

Now, near the airport where her private jet sat, as her driver road through the night, the lights of the city flickered over her face. Liddah felt a torrent of bioenergy pulsing through her as they moved deeper into the city. Soft and vibrant, the power shook her, as she was previously lost in thought. More powerful than earlier, she recognized the signature as the entity, who beamed through her prior meditative state.

Catching the attention of her escort, a woman in her 30's, selected carefully to appear as kin, she carefully watched as Liddah's face etched full of concentration.

Thinking to herself, Liddah mused, "This is more powerful. Reckless. They are beaming out carelessly."

Cautiously quieting her own energy as her core screamed to resonate with this beacon, aching to beam her own energy, Liddah breathed deeply, regaining her senses. Meticulously, she watched as Nom instructed her, lightly watching with her spirit as her core self-remained grounded in the here and now, Liddah marveled at the power surrounding the beacon. Waves of turbulent energy, a spirit whose density surprised her, lingered close to the beacon. As quickly as the signal radiated, it nearly vanished in its entirety.

Taken aback, Liddah craned her senses as she examined every nuance of the one who held three spiritual forces such as her. Finally discovering a faint glimmer of the trio of forces, Liddah inwardly panicked as the denser spirit closed the distance to them, seemingly swallowing them whole. Again, she watched carefully for any semblance of the bioenergy becoming snuffed out. To her joy, it remained whole. Breathing a sigh of relief, Liddah turned her attention to the pair of eyes who watched her carefully.

Her escort and faux guardian, Ifeoma Ajoko watched on, careful not to interject in her employer's silent moments. Understanding this young girl, was in appearance, only, Ifeoma learned early on, Liddah was far from incompetent in her ability to care for her own needs. Unnerving Ifeoma, at first, she quickly adapted to her assumed role. Liddah's compensation, more than enough, allowed Ifeoma to care for her own, extended family's needs, while providing her a modicum of something she was unable to have, a maternal relationship with a child.

"All is well, Miss Ajoko." Liddah said cutting through the fog of silence, which lingered in the air between the two. "I am just a little...distracted." Glancing out at the window through the nighttime scene before her, Liddah continued, "Looks like we are nearly there."

Eyeing Liddah for many more moments, Ifeoma said while glancing away, as her Nigerian accent carried the hard consonants, "I come from a large family. Sometimes, we get lost in our problems and gravitate away from each other, but we always find a way back because we have each other. Sometimes the people closest to us can help keep us afloat. I hope you have someone like that."

Carefully surveying her, Liddah let the silence linger on the air as her mind passed over the memories of Nom. As a pang pierced her heart, Liddah, blinked away as tears flooded her eyes. Unwilling to let herself fold in front Ifeoma, her new traveling companion and faux caregiver, Liddah glanced away rapidly as the pang cut deeply into her, agonizing her over the loss of Nom.

Liddah's thoughts focused intently upon her grandmother. The intensity of her energy, her demeanor as well as her love and support, Liddah ached for a chance to know what happened to her, to see her again.

As she ruminated over Nom, a veil lifted before her vision as Liddah's body froze in place.

Transplanted to a sandy, desert like area, Liddah's vision dove deep into the ground, surrounded by darkness for many moments as is sunk deep into the land, passing into harsh florescent lamps covering hallways in their yellowish glow. Weaving deeper and deeper into the underground structure, Liddah passed through several floors before following a petite woman, whose business suit hugged her curves. The loud clack clack clack of her heels poured into the hallway before Liddah closed in upon her.

Gaping, Liddah saw the woman freeze in place. Turning slowly, Liddah's eyes widened as she continued watching the vision with rapt attention as she noticed an, all too, familiar profile. Nom, her face embossed with her brilliant bronze hue, with tasteful makeup adorning her lips and eyes, watched carefully before her, quickly, passed a hand over her face.

As quickly as Nom reacted, Liddah felt her consciousness crash back into her body. Her neck pounded upon the headrest of her seat as she grimaced in agony. Her body screaming as pins and needles pulsed throughout her entire frame.

Ifeoma quickly turned as she watched the girl writhe in agony. Careful to not overstep her bounds, she waited until Liddah regained her bearings before interjecting, "Miss, are you well?"

"Yes," Liddah said lying. "I just had a small fit. It happens every now and then." Liddah continued with the lie.

Meanwhile, her heart skipped as Liddah considered Nom. Thinking to herself, Liddah mused, "She's alive. My grandmother. My Nom, is alive."

This time, Liddah was unable to hold back the tears as thick weighty drops streamed as light sobs broke from her lips. A warm, large hand folded over her own as her body instinctively melted upon Ifeoma's. Cradling Liddah gently, the girl melted into her arms. Nestled upon Ifeoma until they reached their destination of the airport, Liddah allowed the woman to cushion her joy, her sorrow. 

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