Itanife: The Book Of Ifa (Orisha Chronicles) #NaNo2015Winner

Untitled Part 25

 I jerk out of the dream. My mouth open in a silent scream, I feel held down, tied down. I can't move as much as I try to and my mind instantly falls into a panic.

I remember fragments of the dream like some broken memory. But it can't be a memory when I was not even there. I wonder how I came to have this vision. Instinctively I know the details of that meeting are not something that are openly known. I can still feel the discomfort and terror Oshun felt.

The mother of Abikus is like the monster of nightmares. I am not fooled by her childlike appearance. I know she is the epitome of evil. There was no goodness inside of her that I could feel and it frightens me to know Sheni is a part of that. My mind slowly unclogs itself and I notice I am tangled up in the clothe I used to cover myself. The reason for feeling trapped is instantly explained but the dream still tugs at me. I sit up and watch the dying embers of the fire. I look around our makeshift camp and see everyone is still sleeping.

Everyone that is except Sheni. He is sitting at the rock I sat at earlier. Looking out of camp, into the forrest and I know I have to speak to him. I should leave him alone and go back to sleep but that feels wrong. Suddenly I need to talk to someone about my dream even though I am forgetting pieces as each second passes by and he is my best option of trying to figure out what I think I bore witness to.. The fact that he is also awake reassures me that it is the right thing to do.

I make my way quietly over to him. The night is silent except for the chirping of random small animals. I know they're small from the sounds they make, not because I see them. There is a constant rustling and movement at the edges of the camp. I think I am very glad Sheni knows any magic protective spells. Although I'm still not sure what his spells protect us against; all animals or only supernatural creatures. I realise if I am to survive all this, I will have to pay more attention to what goes on around me. How can I protect Abi and myself if I don't even know what protective measures are being taken.

Sheni looks so forlorn sitting there all alone, I wonder if he will tell me his worries and fears. I seem to be the only one amongst us communicating my fears and no one seems to appreciate the gesture.

He doesn't look up when I slide down next to him. He holds himself in a tense stance as if afraid what my company will entail. The dream and everything else escapes me as all I want is to be near him. I reach out and put my hand over his. He flinches as if I struck him. His reaction is such a shock I draw back. Not sure of myself or of him.

He recovers faster. "Sorry. I wasn't expecting that". He ducks his head. Now he looks like the boy of my childhood.

I offer a small smile which I don't feel. "It's okay. It's not my place.....Kemi...I should...sorry.....". I'm rambling and I can't stop. I want to say so many things and all that comes out of my mouth is cringe worthy.

"Are you actually still going out with Kemi?". I cover my mouth with my hand. I am shocked about my question. From Sheni's wide eyes so is he. Of all the things I could have said, all the questions to ask, how is it I ask the most stupid? The worse most stupid ridiculous and obvious question. I hang my head in shame. I really don't know where to go from here. I pray for the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

"So what's our plan for tomorrow?" I ask to cover up my embarrassing question. All discussions of my dream a foreign entity. There is no come back from that question but I have to at least give it a try.

"We leave the dead forrest and make our way to your.....family. It's a perilous journey and we'll have to be very careful to avoid detection. Every wannabe bad guy and some serious actual bad guys will be looking for us". Sheni answers immediately. Grateful for my distraction as he starts to tell me of his plan.