Dealing with the last few details before getting ready, Selassi was exhausted and it was even 9 am yet. She headed back to the house,  making her way to her room and changing into her custom-made funeral outfit that was in the traditional funeral colours of black and red. 

Looking at her face, she noticed how deflated and fatigued she appeared and deciding not to dwell on it, immediately concealing her face with a simple makeup look. She put her dry coils into a bun quickly before heading out.

She reached the living room to see the two urns settled in the middle and room adorned with small decorations. Seeing her uncles and aunties standing in front, she stood behind them as it was a tradition for the families the deceased was born into lead the funeral rites.

Selassi joined the family in singing the hymns for the wake keeping as they walked around the urns and they carried out the rites until it was time to go the church.

She waited as people piled into their individual cars, her phone rang and she looked at the name, smiling at who it was.

"Morning beautiful" Theo's husky tone vibrated through the phone.

"Morning handsome. How are you today?" she asked, twirling her baby hairs.

"I should be asking you that. How you feeling, babe?" he said in a concerned tone.

" Exhausted but I'm still trudging on," she said, walking around. Theo got up from his bed, lifting the arm off his body and standing near his window, trying to focus on Selassi instead of the body that laid naked in his bed right now.

" That's a good baby. I wanted to you know that they may be gone but they will always be with you, no matter what. You've got this, stay strong" He said. Shuffling could be heard the background as the person woke up.

"Theo baby, why you are-" The woman asked.

"What was that, Theo?" Selassi asked. She didn't want to believe that he was doing that now as she grieved for her parents. She wanted badly fo it not to be what she thought it was.

In that time, the fetish Priest appeared behind her, smirking at her despair and moved closer, with its lips inching closer to ear, whispering words of discouragement that seem seep into her psyche.

Theo's explanations just seemed to trigger her and with that, she hung up and the fetish priest disappeared instantly. Just when she thought this day wouldn't be more draining, she was met with the impending realisation that she won't be seeing her parents anymore.

Deflated, she looked out the car window as her and the funeral party drove to Christ The King. Today was like any usual Saturday with people bustling through the streets and things were happening at every corner of the streets.

They reached the church, getting out the car and as they entered, Selassi saw the large pictures of her parents near the urns near the altar and the tears fell down her cheeks as she took steps towards the front pew, not taking her eyes off the pictures.

She sat down, her mouth felt numb as if her lips had sewn together. She attempted to open it but it wouldn't as she continued to silently sob, the strain was causing her agony like something was paralysing in her seat.

Father John began the service as everyone rose to sing the first hymn but Selassi remained where she was. To everyone, she looks lost in a trance with a distant look in her eyes, tears pouring and mouth slightly ajar but for her, it was something much different, something more horrifying.

She wanted to call out to father John but he was preoccupied with the mass to see.  She managed to turn her head to the side, seeing the menacing face that had been tormenting for the past few weeks.

Her eyes watched as it moved past the bodies, its hollow eyes kept her in a stronghold. Auntie Diane looked down to look at Selassi, who still seemed gone and something like a devilish smile formed on her face before it disappeared and she focuses her attention back to the mass.  

As her pain continued, Selassi saw something that couldn't even imagine and as she much wanted to turn, her eyes wouldn't stop watching the scene that unfolded in front of her. Two distinctive carved smiles elongated across the faces like a Cheshire grin with eyes filled to the brim in blood. The bodies were charred but it was still recognisable to her who they are or at least were.

They seemed to wave at her but she fought the urge to wave back, the fear was eating her up from the inside. She wanted to reach for her mother's necklace but she realised that it was lighting up as they continued to wave. 

"My sweetness, oh we have missed you." The first entity said, mimicking Kweku's husky tone.

" Time is running out for you, you will be with us very soon, my love," The second entity said, imitating Ama's soothing voice.

More tears spilt as she listened to these demonic incarnations of her parents, she didn't know why this was happening to her. Did she do something? Was someone offended by her being here?

Whilst her mind rattled, the two entities stood up and moved synchronicity with these eerie smiles still plastered on their faces. The blood fell like tears on their faces and as they were about to reach her, Father John and the congregation uttered the last few lines of Our Father.

" And lead us not in temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen" They said with a strong sense of spiritual undertone, the two entities morphed back into the Fetish Priest which hissed in disdain before disappearing into the crowd.

Selassi let out a gasp, regaining some consciousness from the ordeal she just experienced. She saw the necklace that seemed unchanged but she now realised this thing had been the real cause of her problems and ripped it from her neck, throwing into her purse.

But what she didn't know is that simply wouldn't be enough to stop the force looming around her. The mass continued and when the final blessings were done on the urns, Selassi grabbed them both and made her way to the car park, ignoring the worried pleas from Auntie Diane and Father John.

Getting in the car, she drove off towards to Labadi and reach the beach's entrance, she noticed very little people around and got her parents' urns out. Leaving her shoes, she locked the car and walked to the beach, looking a quiet spot.

She finally sat down, watching the waves move back and forth towards the shore and at that moment, she finally sobbed, allowing to really feel the grief with intensity. Holding the urns on each side of her, her cries flowed out, releasing tense pain wound up in her body and spirit.

After spending a couple of hours at the beach, she came back to the house exhausted and went straight to her room with the urns. Finally, she lay her head down and sleep consumed her with ease.

When she woke up, her stomach was growling with hunger and for the first time, she felt well-rested. 

"Morning, Mum and Dad," She said, touching the urns before going to the bathroom to have her shower. After a nice cool wash, she made her way to the sink and that's when she saw whatever was happening to her was far from over, the necklace's distinct pendant had engraved it's shaping onto her chest as a tattoo.

At this point, Selassi felt so confused and a little defeated. She didn't know why this was happening to her but something told her that the door at the end of the hallway might be able to uncover what might be going on.

" Selassi !" Auntie Diane called out from downstairs. She continued to get changed and threw on a traditional fit for another mass. 

" Yes,  Auntie?" She said, descending the stairs.

" You still need to bury them partially, it's our custom"

" I know, it's that strange things have been happening to me lately so I forgot." Selassi said, sighing.

" I understand, my dear. I got the Thanksgiving mass pushed back a bit so we can bury them, they are waiting for us at the Osu Cemetry" Auntie Diane said, looking at Selassi.

Selassi simply nodded and went up to retrieve her parents' urns, they finally left the house towards Osu Cemetry. They made through the creeping heat, walking past various graves until they saw a single spot laid out for Ama and Kweku Brown, Loving Spouses and Parents.

Selassi sucked in her breath, reeling from looking into the grave that wasn't dug that far down. Father John proceeded with the burial rites and when it came to opening the urns, Selassi poured half of each urn into the grave. She watched the dirt pour over their cremated ashes and with that, she said her final goodbye.

They all filed out and went to the church, Selassi sat in the front pew with the rest of her family. Father John started the mass, it wasn't long before people began to sing hymns but Selassi mind was elsewhere. For the first time in weeks, It wasn't focused on the loss of her parents. She realised that now more than ever she wanted to go back to London without a doubt, there wasn't much here for her and she didn't really know her extended family too well.

She also had been missing Nina, there was so much she wanted to vent about. Letting out a sigh, she still didn't know whether to tell her about what was going on because she honestly felt Nina would probably laugh in her face since she wasn't really superstitious.

To say she was spooked was an understatement, there was unimaginable fear that had found its place comfortably in her spirit and she didn't know what to do next to navigate this issue.

" Today, we are celebrating the lives of two very special people, Ama and Kweku Brown. Their unique dedication and commitment to servicing this church will never be forgotten. They brought joy and light to every event and lived their lives with a positive attitude. Their loss shouldn't be seen as a moment of sadness but a great appreciation of how they truly lived their life to their fullest just like we all should." Father John stated, making Selassi focus. 

She knew her parents would want her to celebrate the life they had and not focus that much on the loss but that was never easy to do. 

Mass finally finished and people gathered a nearby hall, Selassi went around thanking people for their attendance and support. She turned and bumped into a face she hoped to not see again, his grin was irksome and annoying that Selassi simply didn't respond, walking off.

She finally finished thanking everyone and was met with the same pestering face again.

" What are you doing here, James? " She said in a dry tone. His mouth twitched into a small smile, making her roll her eyes.

" I know your parents actually, your father helped me a while back with a job opportunity so you can imagine my shock to her that he passed along with your wonderful mother. My condolences" James said, feigning concern but Selassi wasn't buying it.

" Hmm, I see." She said, looking him up and down.

" I know that you may think I'm some kind of creep but truly, I really did know them." He said softly, she looked at his eyes, searching for sincerity and to her surprise, it seemed that he was telling the truth.

" Well, thank you for coming. It's much appreciated" She said, picking up the urns.

"Let me help you" He offered, taking her father's urn. She stared for one moment and proceeded to walk back to the car with him walking beside her.

"I know that this may seem forward but-"

"Then don't ask because the answer is no" She quickly replied, putting the urn the boot and getting the urn from him. He could only laugh, he knew she would be a challenge so he wasn't offended by the fact she wasn't being receptive to him.

" Please, believe that I have no ill intention. I simply wanted to offer a relaxing company" he said in a charming tone.

"Relaxing company? Is that what you men call it now? "She questioned, chuckling lightly.

" Is there something wrong with that? I don't think a beautiful woman like yourself should be shouldering such grief alone" He said, looking at her with an unmistakable attraction in his eyes. She moved closer to him, looking at him once more with a smirk on her face.

" Have shame, sir. It's better than whatever you're attempting to do right" She said and with that, she entered the car and drove off with James merely watching her go. He smiled a little, turning to see Auntie Diane watching them from a distance.

He kept his eyes on her for a bit before walking away. He had no intention stopping his pursuit for Selassi and he was sure it wouldn't be long before he would have in his arms.

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

Hey Loves,

I hope you're enjoying the book.

What do you think of James?

What about the Fetish Priest? What are predictions about what it wants from Selassi?

Let me know in the comments and don't forget to vote.

Love,

TamaraMensah