CHAPTER 7: THE ALLURE OF CHARMS
Mammy Adonai's words had a lure to them that tempted Briar the moment she received that offer again.
Ever since Mammy learnt that she was in love with Logan, she kept on offering for her to work her magic on Logan and put him putty in her hands.
The offer was very tempting. After all, having such a man be crazy in love with her was something that even a fool could kill for.
There were many times when Selena was alive when she wanted to take Mammy's charms and use them. She wanted to steal Logan and the kids. Since Selena didn't cherish them like her, then she might as well steal them.
However, when clarity and sense came over her, she got enlightened.
Love can't be forced. Today, that charm might work, but what if something happens, and he gets clarity? Won't she be doomed? Won't she lose everything that she had gained because of it?
There was so much for her to lose just for the sake of forcing him to love her.
Although the allure of charms was great and it worked perfectly, the fact that every time she would be looking at him, in a daze and in love with her, she would be the only one knowing that everything was just an illusion.
It wasn't like she wanted to be with him for the sake of parading him and showing off to others. If they are in love, in a relationship and together, it should be voluntary. In her case, let nature take its course, or work hard to let him notice her, take an interest in her romantically and become hers forever.
"No, mammy. I can't do that. I will find other ways to make him love me and have me in his eyes only!" after thinking things through, she looked at Mammy Adonai with determination and firmness in her eyes.
Mammy Adonai, seeing that, her lips unconsciously curled upward, her eyes full of approval.
People who rely too much on charms and are too lazy to work hard for what they want tend to suffer every single time in the future. She had served so many people like that, and she didn't want to see Briar in a situation like that.
However, it didn't hurt to keep on sending the bait. Only when she gets her response, would she be certain of what kind of person Briar was growing up to be when she was in that city all by herself.
"That's good. I will not bring this up ever again!" with a nod of her head, Mammy Adonai said with a smile, her wrinkles deepening and that sight made Briar beam as well.
"Mammy, I need to go through the initiation. We don't know what might happen now that I am married! There is so much that needs to be covered!" with an anxious heart, Briar implored her mammy.
Mammy Adonai hearing that, her eyes narrowed as she fixated her gaze on Briar for a while without saying a word. Briar sat there nervously, praying earnestly that her wish could be fulfilled.
If she were to fail when she had reached this far, she knew that she was going to suffer so much in the future. If he noticed it, became suspicious and questioned her, what was she going to answer?
She didn't dare think about it. It was another reason why she needed to come back to the village, apart from her brother's problem. Hers was big as well. And without solving it, then there might be no helping Benjamin in the future. It was that serious.
After being silent for a while, Mammy Adonai loosened her brows as she took a deep breath and said, "That can be done. You just need to bear some pain. Can you, do it?"
Briar's eyes lit up when she heard that. She nodded her head like a rattling drum, her action making Mammy Adonai chuckle faintly.
Was she that in a hurry?
"I can bear the pain. Let's just do it!" Briar responded enthusiastically.
Mammy Adonai, seeing that, smiled. "We will do it once we are done. Now let's talk about something serious!" she said in agreement.
Briar heaved a sigh of relief when she heard the first part before her mood plummeted. Was there something serious more than this again?
She couldn't be in trouble, could she?
And when she saw how Mammy had become serious all of a sudden, Briar unconsciously sat straight as her heart thumped wildly, wondering, 'Was it that serious?'
That question was shortly answered, and she felt as if someone had poured a bucket of freezing water over her head.
"Child, with this marriage, you will be putting yourself in the open. Those who weren't interested in you would start keeping an eye on you. There will be fierce competitors. Women who will do anything to get their hands on your man, even if it means destroying others. There will be men taking this opportunity to test the waters and come to you like wolves. When that happens, my child, always remember why you are in such a situation in the first place. Would these temptations be so alluring to make you lose everything that you have worked hard for years?"
Hearing that, Briar hurriedly shook her head. So, what if they have more money, or handsome than Logan? They weren't him. How could she be tempted?
However, the fact about these women who hadn't been making great moves to now appear, she didn't think that far when she agreed to the marriage. Logan was in demand and she knew a few people who even shamelessly came to the mansion, trying to climb into his bed.
Of course, she dealt with some of them, while for others she could only grit her teeth and hope that they won't return.
Now that she was hearing that there would be more, Briar's mind started wandering. Did she still have enough charms and herbs to deal with them?
"Those women won't be a problem, but dear, if they happen to take drastic measures to deal with you. You need to be prepared. You need to have all kinds of plans to get out of this. As long as you manage to go through it all, I can assure you that your life will be very smooth without any bumps in the future!" Mammy Adonai continued and Briar when she heard about the smooth journey, a smile broke on her face.
She didn't believe that she would lose to a scheme. However, her joy was cut short when Mammy continued with her words, "If you fail, then my child, it would be the end of you."
When Mammy says it's the end of it all, Briar's heart sank heavily. She understood perfectly what those words meant. It didn't mean losing the fame, the family or the man, but literally her life.
It was a gamble of life and death. If she wins, she gets life, but if she loses, then death awaits her. That's what it was like. And hearing that. Briar closed her eyes as despair washed over her.
After a moment, she snapped her eyes open and urgently asked, "Mammy, isn't there a way to deal with this problem?" her eyes filled with hope for a good answer.
Mammy Adonai went silent for a moment before she responded, a sigh in her voice as she said, "Right now, the answer I am receiving is when things get hard, seek the guidance of the circle. And if it really gets hard, the kind that can't be solved by the circle, then you should accept your destiny. As long as you embrace it, then …"
Mammy Adonai didn't need to finish as Briar understood her meaning at once.
However, understanding the last part of embracing her destiny didn't mean that she was going to just accept whatever was laid out for her. No wonder why mammy sighed heavily before replying to her.
"I will deal with it when the trouble comes. For now, let's do what matters!" with a tired tone in her voice, Briar said, her manner that of brushing the issue away.
As if Mammy Adonai was expecting it, she nodded her head and continued, "Go and take a bath. We will start the ceremony and get that thing dealt with. By tomorrow, you will be fine as new!"
And that was good news for someone who had been receiving blow after blow.
"I will go ahead and do so, mammy!" with a cheerful smile on her face, Briar said as she stood on her feet, ready to leave the room as if someone had set fire to her feet.
"Go ahead!" Mammy Adonai didn't try to stop her and just let her leave.
There was so much that needed to be done, she might as well just leave.
However, as she watched Briar leave, her eyes suddenly rolled inward, an action that if Briar had been in the room would have known that something was definitely going to go wrong. Unfortunately, she didn't see it as she was busy preparing for her initiation.
When Mammy Adonai came to be, a grave expression was on her face and a glint of resolution was flashing in her eyes.
'Since that has been revealed to me, I will make sure that I will not disappoint you. We can't let our dear child's journey end before it begins, can we?'