Cullayne POV

"Miss Cullayne? Miss Cullayne!"

"Hhmmm... what?"

"Two persons outside wanting a reading, what must I tell them?"

I looked up from the paper before me and stared at the girl standing by the door. "I told you no reading."

I could see that she was tensed and very much wanting to be elsewhere but she took a deep breath and replied.

"They coming from out a parish miss..."

I sighed and rubbed my aching forehead. My mind was caught up in Kemar's declaration and all the emotions that came with it.

Who would have thought a declaration of love would come from him where I was concerned?

I had rushed home as soon as it had lighted out, making like a thief through Kemar's quiet house I hastened to the taxi that I had Shanty called for me to pick me up after she told me of the situation that was unfolding.

I honestly wish I could convince myself that I had rushed from Kemar's because of the unfortunate situation at hand. I was once again being the track star because I was afraid to face Kemar.

I wish I could decipher how I was to delve into the matter of his declaration, the feelings it kept pulling out of me and the matter at hand involving Seana.

I had wanted more than anything to quietly spend some time figuring out how to handle the situation and all the emotions that suddenly broke forth from the caged recess of my heart.

It however had not been so. I had come home to a beehive of drama, a mayhem of confusion and worries, the constant ringing of my phone and a barrage of messages. By nine o'clock I was down and out of it.

There was no easy part to the mayhem that was unfolding. I was devastated to hear that both my cousin and Bryan were involved in the reprisal that occurred because of Bagga Don's death. I was out of my mind more so when I was told the church was marred by Seana dealing in and selling witchcraft items.

My desire to come home in the morning and lock myself away so that I could lay bare the feelings in my heart and confront them has turned into me finding out that Seana was missing and Bryan was found with his throat cut in his car in his driveway. In the midst of this, they were having an affair.

"Neesi I am in no mental state to do a reading please send th---"

My words were cut off by Shanty coming to announce that Inspector Gregory and a few red seams were here with a search warrant to check Seana's room and conduct questioning.

I was not yet prepared for the extent of what was unfolding with this unwarranted circumstance and my mind was overwhelmed with all that was happening. I stood and turned to Neesi and said. "Please see if they'll reschedule if not that's just it."

I walked out with Shanty a few minutes later after I mentally tried to pull myself together. I knew I could not run away from the unfortunate situation. I had to deal with the matter that seemed like a nightmare but no matter how I tried to wake myself from it I was held firm in its dark dismal grasp.

The past few hours since arriving home had placed me in a position where I had to find my footing and take charge but it was not easy as all I wanted to do was run away and hide.

I nonetheless had to face the reality that once again God was chiselling away the unwanted pieces and laying form to the structure that was needed to fulfil my purpose at hand.

I had known Seana was up to something there were occasions when I sensed she had blocked me from reading her but I had let fear and my contentment to hide away from my ability to read keep me from finding out what it was. 

I had held back and left it but now I have come to realize that if I were to fulfil my purpose and do the will of God my disciples had to be in sync with me to carry out the devices of what the Lord had laid out waiting.

"Go and handle the situation Layne leave everything else to us," I heard Shanty say and I automatically nodded at her as I walked to the door.

I was so happy she was around. I needed her strength and her ability to take control. I have to take charge and prepare myself to charge onto the battlefield that lay ahead of me.

Something majesty was waiting to happen. The Lord did not have an ordinary breakthrough coming. I was not back home to hide away but to stand in my purpose. This was not Lamais season but mine and the longer I took to realise the the more God was going to take the matter in and do what He must and I would have to follow suit.

I was through the door and heading to where Inspector Gregory waited when I felt a hand grip mine. I look to see Kemar standing there. In a light cream shirt and khaki jeans a pair of brown oxfords his masculine frame offered me immediate comfort and without hesitation I flung myself into his arms.

I needed him more than ever. He was the tower of strength that God sent for me and whatever had transpired last night was the next step in our journey. Unlike myself, Kemar was never going to run away he was always going to be by my side because he was selfless and caring and for him, I mattered that much.

His interest in me was not what had propelled him here but his concern for my wellbeing. Even if I was not a reader the look in his eyes spoke volumes as he looked down at me when I pulled away to look up at him.

I felt tears prick the back of my eyes as my feelings for him spiralled. I wished I could go back to when he held me in the warm cozy comfort of his room where that moment brought about the best feeling I had in a long time.

This man loves me. He has always loved me. I knew right here and now what my feelings for him were. I felt my mouth open to tell him when I heard.

"Mi did warn unuh. Yeesssss mi did tell unuh."

A harsh bitter sound that I figured to be a humourless laugh followed as the voice continued.

"Unuh neva listened. Yuh seit now. Vial and all evil mixup mixup come to light. Deeaatthhhhhh murdahhhhh! Wickedness. Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live! Exodus 22:18..."

I felt my body grow cold.

"... Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful work of darkness, but rather reprove them!"

I felt Kemar's hands tighten around me as he said softly.

"Unto thee O Lord do I lift Cullayne let her not be ashamed and let not her enemies triumph over her."

A piece that passeth all understanding shrouded my body like an invisible cloak and I smiled up at the man whom I knew without the benefit of a doubt I loved with every fibre of my being.

I smiled wider as I pulled away from him and looked towards the figure that still ranted away.  My eyes travelled from the woman to the crowd that had gathered and then to my small group that stood looking forlorn.

If I accept defeat and appear weak they are going to crumble.

I smile confidently at them and walk over to where they stand.

"Tobias and Sanballat don't stand a chance against us."

When I walked over to Inspector Gregory I was more than ready for the battle and very much prepared to win the war.