4 4 DEMORA

What mission?

Mandolin Trump's heart pounded against his chest. He could not believe what he heard and saw. His eyes fixed at Neo. He knew he has a lot to talk to him about.

The hut looked busy on every side but this was more horrific. He sat frozen for a while and suddenly started sweating as he watched goose pimples shot up from his skin.

He had heard Demora said to the creature in the pot. "Stay on for a while. We will start the rituals after my visitors leave..."

Mandolin Trump noticed sweat was all over him now but he was determined to change his destiny, which he felt was in his hands.

Demora voice came again and suddenly, he noticed and felt a strange power crawling into him from the ground.

He screamed and soon felt another being dwelling inside of him.

Was it another being or a demon?

What exactly, he pondered but as the exit door open minutes later. He knew he was different and wasn't himself anymore. But have been empowered with a power he had traveled far with Neo to sort for—pastoral power from the hut of Demora Tala in the forest of the night.

Her gaze was on Dralex but her thought wasn't.

She had been beside herself lately but then, she knew the winter wouldn't have been more of a problem to her if she had put her acts together.

Malaria she came down with the previous weekend had put her off her regular home schedule but that had not deterred her to do the house chores to ensure the house was tidy.

The dirty environment is often a hideout for mosquitoes and insects; she had said when Eric tried to talk her out of doing so much of the house chores alone.

Now she regrets taking her ill health through so much stress already. She stood shivering as the winter wind beat hard against her hairy skin.

She zipped up her jacket and then waved at Dralex who have been picking up scenting flowers in the garden. "Come right in quickly—the wind is blowing hard now!"

Was the weather getting colder or malaria is taking its toll on me?

She thought with her hands folded across her chest.

The cold breeze doesn't seem to move Dralex; she thought but could see she was acting now on her instruction as she watched her walk hurriedly towards where she stood.

Dralex had grown up now, she had added another year to her age just the same way she had also. It all seemed magical to her, but the fact remains that a year had rolled by already.

She only noticed this when Dralex's birthday present caught her attention before coming out to look for her.

And that again reminds her that Doctor Mattis wasn't true to his words. He had said the pill will be flushed out of her system after two years at most, but it hasn't. She thought frowning.

Dralex is five this year and she had wanted a child space of two years interval. The pill isn't right for her and not even Doctor Mattis had the slightest idea when she will perhaps become pregnant again. And if there was anything she regretted more now, was the day she swallowed the contraceptive pills. Perhaps, the billing method would have been better but Eric Travis never wanted that and now she felt she is passing through temporal barrenness and doesn't know for how long it will last.

Her thoughts fired up for a while and the moment Dralex held unto her right hand firmly it slipped, the thoughts, everything.

She stared at Dralex closely and noticed she wasn't cold as she was. She smiled at her and walked her inside.

"Mum, why didn't you come to join me in the garden? The flowers are shooting up and it was great fun out there, watching all of that, should I go back there?"

Prislla nodded "Not now Dralex, it is cold out there and—"

"No mum, it isn't, I love it out there!" Dralex interrupted. "I will like to—"

Prislla broke in again, this time firmly, "Sit Dralex. Much later, we will talk about the garden and all the beautiful flowers you said you saw sprouting, okay."

Dralex sat down quickly but this time, nervous. She fixed her worried eyes on Prislla who now finds it difficult to look into her eyes.

For minutes she looked away and then finally shifted her eyes to Dralex. "Oh no please don't give me such a horrible stare. What's the matter with you?"

"I should be asking you that Mum!" Dralex cut in quickly. "Are you sick or something?"

Prislla looked away, her face turned pale and her lips trembled. "I have been down with malaria. Not to worry, I am getting better now."

"Malaria, what's malaria?" Dralex was inquisitive now but still wondering why her Mum wouldn't want her to go out to the garden when it wasn't as cold as she thought.

"Malaria is an illness caused by mosquitoes. The parasite just works in the blood of its victim until—"

Dralex's tiny voice stopped Prislla again, "Until what happens, Mother? Are you going to die?" Dralex asked with her eyes opened wide.

"Nothing will happen to me Dralex and I am not going to die. I will be alright sweetheart, don't you worry about me."

Dralex could see smiles playing around her Mum's lips.

But was she happy or struggling to put her off?

As she looked set to ask another question, she noticed an engine roared and then stopped in the garage.

"Dad is back, Mum." She stood up and hurried out of the sitting room.

A couple of minutes later, Prislla watched them walk in. She stood up and hugged Eric Travis and then kissed him on the cheek. "How was your day darling—I guess cold?"

Eric glared at her and then dropped his suitcase on the table next to Dralex. "Don't tell me you aren't getting better—can't believe you still have your jacket on."

Prislla's eyes caught Dralex and then reluctantly returned it to Eric. Licking her lower lips, she struggled to talk. "I am cold darling. I will soon be fine—how was your day?"

"Fine—the economy is biting on many. I got a phone call from Mandolin Trump. He is now a pastor, you know?"

"I don't know, tell me something!" Prislla was surprised. "Or everything—"

She sank on a chair next to Eric Travis, staring at him.

"He is a pastor now. We were on phone an hour ago. He spoke differently and the way he spoke about God and wealth got me chilling." Eric Travis whispered and then touched Prislla's hair as he continued. "It has gone past fourteen months already since we last saw and spoke. I heard he was out of the country for a while but I never knew when he returned. I was so surprised to hear him call me on phone. I think he hadn't given up on me."

"I don't understand you, darling?" Prislla gave him a worried look as she sat up now anxious to hear more.

"He still wants me as his assistant and that was what I have been contemplating on. Don't know what to do but he told me he had enough training already to put me through, he sounded confident on the phone. He sounded the same but there is a little extra that makes me feel he has changed perhaps."

Prislla thought over it carefully and then kicked the silence away that almost engulfed them. "Will you tell Pastor Joshua about this?"

Eric Travis hesitated for a while and then reacted calmly. "That won't be necessary. I guess I will get discouraged if I do—"

"I don't think so, Pastor Joshua is a man of faith—a man of God. I think he will have the right counsel for you if you ask me, but—"

Eric Travis's voice stopped her. "He told me he has been praying for an assistant pastor and all is prayer has always been me—it sounds like a calling I must obey, besides—"

"Besides what are you talking about?" Prislla flared.

She stood up furious and walked around nervously. "Did you get a revelation on this? Have you prayed about it? Thank God you said it sound like but obviously, I don't think that man got the calling of God upon him. He wants to use you. I mean take advantage of you. I can't get it. Now tell me, why must it be you?"

"He is not getting a hold on me, Sweetheart. Don't I have eyes? If I see something different when I get there, I walk away."