In shock from what was revealed, Selassi was reeling from the complete betrayal, she never thought Auntie Diane could be this kind of person. She just assumed that Auntie Diane's strange behaviour may have stemmed from jealousy of her parents, she knew that Auntie Diane wasn't brought up the same as Selassi's mother.

Her mother sometimes did treat Auntie Diane with some classist disdain because Auntie Diane never had expensive clothing or any real social status. She thought that maybe Auntie Diane wanted to have the house if she couldn't sell it in the appropriate time but it was clear that other things brewing in that deranged brain of hers.

Selassi felt so stupid for not heeding the words of those who warned her before, she had really shot in herself in the foot for that one and it seemed like she wouldn't have that much longer to regret it. She just hoped that her baby would survive all of this, that's all she cared about at this point but she wasn't sure how merciful these people might be.

The contractions regained power, putting Selassi through an astronomical level of pain that was indescribable. Her body felt like it was a constant state of aching and no matter what position she wanted to put herself in; the discomfort was unparalleled in an unnatural way.

The chants changed gears as the cloaked bodies upped the ante, throwing insults whilst praising Daimonioi and all this made James sick to the stomach, he couldn't help but wade through the bodies to be by her side.

Her eyes found it hard to remain open but it didn't she couldn't tell that James' sorry self was clinging onto her hand like a puppy. His eyes indicate remorse but she knew in her heart and spirit that he was nothing more than manipulator.

Lisa's reading had been so spot-on that Selassi wished could've thanked for this warning but it was too late for that however she was going to miss the opportunity to show James how she felt about him. 

James' face instantly stung with irritation as Selassi's hand hit cheek with such vigour that made him almost cry in shock but he understood her to hurt feelings that he just accepted the pain that lingered. Selassi's head dropped back as the contractions continued to have her in complete anguish, she held onto anything as she tried to fight against each wave of contractions that came.

The person who was holding her legs down attempted to soothe by reaching their hand but Selassi to get her frustration, kicking the person in the chest purposely which made them fall back instantly.

" I'm sorry, baby. I, I, I didn't mean... well I did but I didn't know that I would fall for you the way I did. I had a mission to complete and not even you could stop me but when you told me that you were pregnant and I thought about every intimate moment we shared, I have been feeling guilty ever since. Believe or not, I wanted to keep you from Theo because I knew this would happen and despite what he did to you, he didn't deserve to get involved with this" James expressed apologetically as Selassi scrunched in her face in an uncomfortable frown, gripping his hand with an unnatural strength that had him groaning in pain.

 The ceremonies chants maintained a wicked tone that made Selassi's contractions deeply agonising, every breath she took felt like the hardest task and it was starting to make her feel more delirious that she was happy to just pass out and never wake up again. 

James positioned himself behind, caressing her arms to soothe her pains and this time she didn't refuse him, it was hard to as time like this. As for Auntie Diane, she witnessed this display affection as a means to end because James knew that there would be dire consequences if he attempted to thwart any chances for the cult to fulfil the ritual for the Great Daimonioi. 

Auntie Diane couldn't be happier with things had unravelled, it wasn't Selassi's fault this had to happen, all the blame to her parents' reckless decision and Auntie Diane had warned them of the consequences time and time again but they never heeded her words.

All her life, Auntie Diane had lived in the shadow of others, never considered important to many but they needed her for something, she had to be there without question and Ama was one of those people.

.........................................................................................................................................................

A young Diane walked down the busy road, hissing in pain as her shoes were becoming smaller for her but her father didn't have the money to get her one right now so she had to wait.

Reaching the junction, she waited for a gap to cross the road but a car screeched to halt, parking right in her pathway, she trembled in fear as she waited to see who it was.

" Get in Didi, you know how far it is to the school?" A young Ama exclaimed, gesturing inside the car and Diane meekly entered in, sitting down. A feeling of relief washed over her as she took her aching feet out of the shoes.

"What size are you?" Ama asked, looked at Diane's feet in disgust and sifting through boxes of shoes in the boot behind her, Diane was simply stunned at what she was doing.

This all started when Ama joined the Form 4 (Year 10) after her family relocated back to Accra from London since her parents were both diplomats which meant she travelled around a lot so it had always been hard for her to make any consistent friends.

One day, Ama had just approached the lonely Diane and struck up a lively conversation throughout lunchtime, it didn't take them long to become close which made Diane feel a little special.

The Ghana International School was a renowned institution located in the prestigious area of Cantonments in Accra and so Diane was eternally grateful that she was able to get a scholarship with them, she worked hard to get it and prove herself to her father.

Ama wasn't all that academic and that's where Diane came in, she helped with Ama everything from essays to maths equations and in return, Ama helped her feel more confident in herself.

" I'm a size 6" Diane answered shyly

" Ok,  you should wear this, they're really comfortable and look good. Here" Ama gave her a patent leather loafers with tassel, fresh out of the box and all Diane could smile in gratitude.

"Thanks, Ama, you didn't have to do this" Diane replied meekly. The car finally reached the school and the girls got out, walking through the school entrance as others began piling through.

" You're my friend, that's what friends do and, you can't be looking like that and hanging out with me, it's not becoming," Ama said, flipping her thick kinky hair over the shoulder which Diane admired since she had a short afro, she couldn't afford to get her hair done so she kept it short like most teenage girls in Ghana.

The girls went to their individual classes and eventually met up later, with Ama's boyfriend, Kweku and his friends during lunchtime. The weather was particularly hot as they sat under the shade of the big tree on benches, Diane sat on the end and ate her sandwich wince she was awkward around her boys.

Some of Kweku's friends left, leaving one who was eagerly looking at the shy Diane. Noticing this, Ama needed a cover for her and Kweku to leave the school grounds for a much needed alone time.

"Didi, me and Kweku are going out for a bit. Can you come cover for me whilst we're gone? I promise we will be back before lunchtime ends" Ama said, with a pleading look in her eyes and despite being unsure, Diane simply nodded.

" Great, Kwesi here can keep you company. Byeeee" Ama pointing to the creepy-looking guy waving to Diane.

It wasn't long before Diane was still sitting on the bench alone, it turns out Kwesi wasn't really as interested in her as he made it out be but she was fine nonetheless.

Looking around, Diane didn't notice the teacher coming towards her and pulling her by the collar, Diane was frightened as she looked back to see if Ama was coming or not.

"Did you not hear the bell? Lunchtime is over and you're still idling out here for what? Boys?" The teacher seethed.

" No, I wasn't. I was waiting for Ama, miss, please." Diane pleaded with her but the teacher wasn't hearing it as she pulled her into the classroom, leaving at the door. All the kids started laughing at her rugged looked, making her feel even more insecure but what hurt more was seeing that Ama and Kweku were in fact in class, all over each other as a matter of fact.

Diane simply slipped her chair, feeling so betrayed and vowed to be more careful around Ama for the sake of her sanity.

................................................................................................................................................................

Auntie Diane, unfortunately, didn't heed her own words and time and time again, Ama treated her with very little respect but there came a time when Ama was desperate, so desperate that she had to practically get on her knees and beg Diane, she never felt so satisfied in her whole life.

Looking at Selassi, she knew that this sacrifice would worth it and the more than Selassi became engaged in pain, the more that Auntie Diane realised that she was much closer to getting what she wanted and for that, she didn't mind the agony that poor child was going through. 

A demonic screeched emitted the dark corner and all the cloaked bodies fell to their knees, including Auntie Diane, humming in a choral manner. Selassi lifted her weakened head to see that it was here, she couldn't even focus on the pain of contractions as she watched it emerge out of the darkness with its staff.

It smiled, overlooking it's dedicated disciples greeting it but its focus was on the start of the ritual, Selassi who was becoming more vulnerable by the minute. They all started to bow up and down to it as it began to strip off the priest cloak, dropping the staff on the floor causing a slight quake in the house.

Its eyes flickered to snake-like eyes as it hissed, burning off its disguise as the fetish priest to reveal something quite diabolical, a horrifying hybrid of human and snake. It fell to the ground, slithering itself towards the petrified Selassi and when it got there, it sat up next to her with its reptilian hands landing on her baby bump.

Selassi couldn't keep her eyes off it as James looked away, in complete shock at what he witnessed and realising what a stupid risk he had taken doing this, now he would live to regret it.

The demonic creature moved closer to Selassi's face, it's forked tongue hissed out and licked the side of her face making her feel so uneasy that she could cry. 

It let out a screech as it joined in with the cloaked bodies in their maniacal chanting and just like that Selassi felt the grave the danger she was in as the contractions began to take an entirely different turn. The baby's cries were becoming more apparent as it was thrown from side to side making dents to the sides of Selassi's body.

The bruises continued to form into visible stains on her body as Selassi's cries became more pained and agonising, guilt ran through James' veins as he listened to each horrible sound that came from her mouth.

Selassi was now really at her wit's end and she knew that any moment now, the baby would come, she just hoped that she could withstand whatever the sacrifice would be.

.......................................................................................................................................................

Hey guys,

Another chapter for you guys.

2 more chapters left!!!!

Tell me what you think of this chapter in your comments.

As always, vote, please.

Love,

TamaraMensah.