CHAPTER 4 Beyond the Veil

Present day in the human realm

"No no no no, Why did you wake me up cilia?" Bella yells at her friend with tears in her eyes. She wants to go back and hear what her mother wanted Lady Ruby to remember.

"Bella, you looked like you were not breathing and I was very scared. I was seconds away from calling your parents." Cilia tells her.

Bella looks at her friend and sees how worried she looks and gives her a reassuring smile.

"I am sorry I scared you cilia and also for yelling at you. I just haven't been feeling well lately. I have been having these weird dreams and they are driving me crazy. I decided to have a nap on the floor before you came in." Bella lies about the last part but her best friend does not seem to notice.

"I understand you, Bella, I know how nightmares can make a person freak out. Remember when I dreamt about someone eating my mother's brain, that shit haunted me for months."

Bella wants to tell her friend that the dreams she is having are not scary, they are just confusing. She wants to tell her that the dreams seem real.

Instead, she opens her hands so that Cilia can hug her.

"I remember Cilia and I also remember how you thought sleeping with a knife on your pillow would scare the monsters away."

The two young women look at each other and then start laughing. It has always been like this every time they are scared about something they turn it into a joke and laugh about it.

"Enough with the nightmares, we need to start preparing for your party Bella," Cilia tells her with a huge smile on her face.

The last thing that is on Bella's mind is a party but there is nothing she can do to stop it. Everyone has been preparing for her birthday party for months now, and there is no way she is going to break their hearts.

"Yes, sure, what is first on the list?" Bella does not even know why she is asking her best friend when she knows what will come out of her mouth.

"Three hours at a spa." cilia says jumping and clapping her hands with so much excitement.

It's now like tradition because every time either of them is having a birthday, Cilia always puts the spa first on the birthday celebration to-do list.

"Can we do something different today?"

"No, Bella, we have been doing this for years. Why should we stop now? Plus today you need to look extra beautiful. You are officially an independent woman and moving out of your parent's house."

"I know Cilia, it's just that I am not in the mood to go to the spa today." Bella tries her luck again.

"That is not a problem because we are not going to the spa, but the spa is coming to us. I called the spa last month and booked a session for us here at your place. They will be coming in an hour."

Bella looks at her friend and opens her mouth to say something but nothing comes out. Cilia has always had this ability to make her run out of words. It is like she knew Bella would not be willing to go to the spa and so brought the spa to her. And now she has no excuse but to endure three hours of torture.

"Thank you for arranging this for me cilia, I don't know what I would do without you. You are my angel sent from above."

"You are welcome Bella and don't even think about what you would do without me because I will always be here for you. Now give me that smile that I love so much."

Bella can't help but laugh, her friend knows how to put a smile on her face no matter the situation. If there was a God then he is amazing for bringing cilia into her life. She is an angel in disguise.

Hours later Belladonna and Cecilia are done getting ready and are ready for the party.

"Do you think I look good?" Bella asks her friend nervously. Bella is wearing a crimson red long-sleeved A-line Dress matching it up with diamond necklace earrings and glassy heels. She has painted her nails with red nail polish. Her makeup is simple with only a bit of brown powder, which can only be seen if one pays a lot of attention. She has applied nude lipstick and a bit of eye shadow. Her entire look brings out the glow on her brown skin.

"You look stunning Bella, I am sure everyone's heads will turn the moment you enter the room," Cilia says with a big smile. "you look like a princess Bella."

Unlike Bella, Cecilia has always been confident with everything. Today is no exception she is wearing a Royal blue off-shoulder long-sleeve split dress. Matching it with diamond earrings and black heel sandals. Her nails are painted maroon and her makeup is on point. Her red lipstick can be seen from a distance.

"You look amazing, Cilia," Bella tells her best friend as she finishes doing her makeup.

"Thank you bestie, I am going to go out and then announce your arrival, and then you can come out."

"There is no need for that cilia. I can just go with you."

"Nonsense today is your big day, so we are going to make it memorable." Bella opens her mouth to protest but decides against it. Fighting with cilia is Like pushing a mountain, when she decides to do something she makes sure to do it.

"Okay, I will tell someone to come call you so that you stand on the top stairs and wait for my announcement."

"Okay," Bella answers typing on her phone.

A few minutes after Cilia leaves her room Bella starts to feel strange. It's like her body is on fire. Her head starts to hurt like someone is pounding on it with a hammer. She starts feeling like the dress is suffocating her and holds the dressing stand for support. She is about to remove her dress when someone knocks on her bedroom door.

"It's open" She answers trying to compose herself.

"I was sent to call you Miss Bella guests have arrived." the helper tells her. Unable to say anything because of the pain Bella just nods her head to the helper. After the helper leaves she starts to take deep breaths until the pain lessens. She looks at herself in the mirror one last time and leaves the room.

"Oh, darling, you look beautiful." her mother says with a huge smile on her face when sees her coming.

"Thank you, Mum. But you should thank Cilia for helping me choose this outfit."

"Nonsense it is not the clothes that make a person look beautiful it only helps to look presentable. You would look beautiful even in rags my love" Her mother says.

"Your mother is right, my dear you look beautiful in anything you wear." Her father says kissing her forehead.

"Thanks, Daddy."

"Anytime sweetheart."

Bela feels another ripple of heat all over her body, this time stronger. She bends a little to take a deep breath. The heat leaves her body just as fast as it came.

"Honey, are you okay?"Her mother asks with worry written on her face.

"I am okay, I just feel hot. I am sure it's just my nerves messing with my head." Her parents look at each other weirdly the moment she mentions feeling hot.

"Bella, where is your pendant?" Her mother asks, looking at her neck.

"It is in my bedroom, I wanted to match my earrings with this necklace so I decided to remove the pendant. I am sorry I did not ask you before removing it but I figured you would allow me to remove it just this one time."

Her mother wants to say something but one look from her father makes her close mouth.

"Sweetheart you should go to the party, I am sure your friends can't wait to see you. And about the pendant, it's okay you can go without it today, but make sure you wear it after the party." Says her father.

"Okay, Daddy I love you guys," Bella says to her parents kissing them on their cheeks.

"Here comes the birthday girl," Cilia announces the moment Bella starts coming down the stairs. Getting everyone's attention. All eyes turn on her as she continues to descend the stairs slowly.

"There was no need for that," Bella whispers in her best friend's ear as they give each other pecks.

"It was necessary, today is your big day," Cilia says, giving her the microphone.

"Good evening everyone, thank you for coming. I have been hearing people say that life starts at twenty-one and I just hope they are right because if not then I am screwed, I have been waiting to turn twenty-one since I was ten," she says with a laugh and then continues. " Anyway whether it does or not I am going to enjoy tonight.Cheers to twenty-one." The guests respond with cheers of their own.

"See I told you that it is going to be fun," Cilia says as they make their way to the guests.

There are a lot of people attending, some of whom Bella has no idea who they are. But she is sure Cilia knows them all, the girl knows half the town.

"I have a surprise for you later," Cilia says.

"What is it? At least give me a hint."

"Not happening, you just have to wait until it's time."

"Okay, boss."

Cecilia introduces her to some of the people she does not know. Telling them how special she is. Cilia is the only person in the world apart from her parents who would take a bullet for her. She has always been her rock. They mingle with the guests dancing and drinking like there was no tomorrow. It's almost midnight when Cilia gets the microphone to say something.

"And now the best moment of this night and my present to my best friend Aconitum, Belladonna, Mwale. I introduce to you the Midnight Boys." Cilia announces getting everyone's attention once again but this time with screams.

The guests go crazy hearing the band's name. The group became famous after recording their first song. And now with four albums, they are one of the best in Zambia. They are Bella's favorite band.

"Thank you for this cilia. How did you manage to bring them here?" Bella says as soon as Cilia stands beside her.

"I used my charm like always. Now let's dance and celebrate your freedom."

The band is singing their latest song and the crowd has gone wild. All the parties Cilia organizes are amazing but this one is even more amazing.

As they continue dancing Bella feels the heat again but this time it is accompanied by pain in her stomach. The pain stops but the heat is getting worse.

"Are you okay Bella?" Cilia asks her.

"I am good, I just need fresh air. I will be right back."

Making her way through the crowd to go to the garden, Bella feels sweat all over her body. She is about to go to the far end of the garden when she hears her parents argue.

"I don't even know why you are so calm right now Mike. You heard what Cilia said, she found her on the floor in a trance. We don't even know what she saw or whom she was talking to. What if it was the brotherhood? And I am sure you felt how hot she was before she went downstairs."

Bella can't believe the words her mother just said, Cilia, told them about her collapsing. Why would her best friend betray her like this? And what does she mean by trance?

"I am also worried about her, Regina but unlike you, I am choosing to put myself together. I know her powers are manifesting but we have to let her celebrate tonight. We will talk to her tomorrow morning."

"Then you should have let me convince her to wear the pendant." Her mother says in frustration.

"She wanted to wear something else. We have been making her wear the pendant every day, just let her enjoy tonight."

"I can not, the pendant is the only thing that's preventing the brotherhood from finding her. Without it, they will be able to find her."

Bella feels her heart skip when her mother mentions the brotherhood again, the woman in her dreams also seems to be scared of them.

"Who is the brotherhood?" She asks coming out of hiding before she can stop herself. Her parents look at each other surprised that she heard them.

"It's nothing you should worry about honey. How are you feeling?" Bella can see fear in her mother's eyes.

"I asked a question mum, do not try to change the subject and answer me truthfully. Who is the brotherhood" Bella can feel the heat getting stronger and her vision becoming blurry.

"We can't answer your question right now, there are more pressing matters that we need to take care of." Her father says taking steps toward her.

"Why won't you answer my question?" Bella growls, not recognizing her voice. It's like something else has taken over her body and wants to be set free.

She starts feeling her bones start breaking and the heat getting stronger. Her father puts his hand on her forehead and says some words in a language she can't understand and she loses consciousness.