Two Worlds

Chapter 6

The mermaids broke into every house killing every first borns. Most polygamous families even lost three or more in a day. While the vengeful mermaids went on with their onslaught, none of the villagers really saw them because the mermaids were very swift. The village was flooded and the rain added to the destruction by destroying farm crops. The strong wind tore off several roofs and the water destroyed several fences. Trees were uprooted and thrown down and water filled up the houses of all the people, including the palace. There was chaos and wailing could be heard from every house. After wreaking enough havoc, the mermaids seized Adewale's four friends and forcefully took them to the river where Osun who had already fed, dressed and put the baby to sleep was waiting on her high throne which she had conjured to the surface.

The men were thrown before Osun on the shallow bank and the mermaids moved into the water to form a semi-circle around the goddess. Osun scrutinized the trembling men who cowered in her presence in trepidation for a minute.

"Taiye, Alabi, Durojaye and Olumide." Osun spoke now, addressing each man by his first name. "Do you know who I'm?" She asked. When the men continued to tremble, afraid to look up at her, she suddenly yelled, making them shake in fear. "LOOK AT ME OR I'LL HAVE MY DAUGHTERS BEHEAD YOU AND BRING YOUR HEADS CLOSER SO THAT YOU CAN LOOK ME IN THE EYE, YOU COWARDS!"

Swallowing hard, the men reluctantly lifted their heads and beheld her.

"I ask you again, do you know who I am?" Osun asked.

The men quickly nodded in dread.

"Then who am I?" Asked Osun.

"You are the river goddess, Osun." Alabi, the second man answered.

"Do you know that you are the ones who have brought calamity upon your village and curses upon your families and generations yet to come?"

The men nodded, lowering their gazes again. Meanwhile, the Queen was watching what was going on at the river through a magic pot filled with water.

"You killed my daughter!" Osun angrily said. "You took my heiress from me, you callous and heartless men."

"Please Osun, have mercy! Have mercy, please!" They all began to plead.

Osun gave a wicked laughter. "Mercy you say? Did you have mercy on Enitan when you attacked her unprovoked? Did you have mercy on her when you chopped off her tail and set her ablaze? Did you?!" She roared.

"Forgive us, Osun..." Taiye who was still nursing the painful stumps of his bitten-off fingers said in tears. "We were only acting on orders."

"Orders eh? On the orders of who?!" Osun demanded.

As the men glanced at each other, contemplating whether to spill or not, the queen took four little effigies, held them together in one hand and began to wrap a thick thread around their necks.

"SPEAK!" Osun barked and the men flinched in fear.

Durojaye slowly lifted a finger. He knew that if they were going to go down, it would be very unfair to spare the prince. "Osun, it was no other person but the-" before he could finish his words, the queen suddenly held both ends of the thick thread which she had wrapped around the necks of the effigies representing each man, and with both hands, she pulled with all her might. The hands of the men suddenly flew to hold their throats and they began to cough and gag as if they were being choked. They all fell in the water and began to cough and writhe as they struggled to breathe while the queen spiritually choked them from the palace through the effigies.

Realising what was happening, Osun rose from her throne now. "Ehn! EWO! EWOOOR!!! (pronounced as A-wor). She cried out as her eyes searched the sky beyond. "WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?! WHO'S BEHIND THIS?! WHO'S TRYING TO SILENCE THEM?! SHOW YOURSELF!"