♪ …………………………..

Lend me your ears,

Thus says the Lord.

Just know that my word,

Will not return void.

Your time I sustain,

There’s no need to fear.

I’m restoring the years,

You’ve sown in tears.

Restoring the years,

You’ve sown in tears.

……………………………….. ♪

The choir ministration moved the laity. They all stood on their feet channeling the lyrics of the song to their personal lives. Some were crying, and some were singing along and after the choir had finished their presentation, the Reverend moved to the pulpit. He blessed the choristers and the church then he told them all to have their sit.

Gabriel directed his gaze to the left pew close to the wall with the huge painting of Christ and his disciples having their last supper, his eyes met with Emy’s where she sat with Mary. They smiled at each other and quickly returned their gaze back to the Reverend.

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Right the exact moment Julie and Gabriel were being blessed at church, some unwanted guest paid their home a visit. Hey knew no one was home,  it was the perfect time to search.

“Tear the whole place if you must, FIND IT!!” a huge gooey dark red fiend roared. He raised his huge hands and slammed the dining table of the Harrison’s house as he spoke, dividing it into two while the mini fiends ransacked the house in search of something.

The huge fiend, ROE, as he was called, was the right hand fiend of BETTRIZA, the king of the underworld. He was rocky strong; his skin was a burning rock with volcanic fire circulating round it, literally he was hell on earth.

A fiend with many forms, Roe, could shape-shift into anything, anyone he wanted and just like any fiend, his sting was death sentence, literally. The Fiends were merciless entities, they fed on human souls just to survive.

Roe walked into the master bedroom, leaving traces of red goo as he took each step. He stood, sniffing the air like a puppy then stopped, his bulky eyes caught Julie’s portrait hanging on the wall. He charged towards it and swallowed it whole.

Leaving the room, his signature had burnt through the floor, forming dark holes everywhere.

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The service was over and everyone was out exchanging pleasantries with one another.

“I guess you’d like to say hello to your friends, I’ll wait for you in the car.” Julie told  Gabriel while she unzipped her purse to bring out her car keys.

“Ok Julie,” Gabriel replied. “I’ll be with you soon.” He assured as he went in search of his friends.

Just as she opened the car door, she heard “Hello Mrs. Harrison.” She turned to see who it was.

“Good morning, Mrs. O'Donnell.” Julie acknowledged, wearing her signature smile. She closed the car door again and rested her gaze on the Beautiful Mrs. Linda O'Donnell.

“How are you fairing?” Linda asked, with a beautiful smile gracing her well made up face.

“I’m very fine Mrs. O’Donnell.” Julie replied. “You look beautiful today.” She complimented.

“Well, thank you Julie.” Her smiled formed wider “And so do you.” Linda added.

“Thank you.”

“I heard from my son that you are a very good event planner, is this true?” Linda asked to be certain. Hearing from the horses mouth held better credit.

“Yes, yes I am.” Julie replied zealously.

“I’ll love you to plan our main event too. If that won't be too much trouble for you. I mean, with you planning the boys own and all.” Linda requested matter-of-factly.

“I’ll be delighted to, ma'am.” Julie said feeling honored and important.

“I mean why hand the contract to someone else when our very own can do the job? Can you come over tomorrow so I can fill you in?” Linda asked politely.

“Yes of course, I will come. Thank you so much, I really appreciate this opportunity. I’ll contact my team immediately.” Julie informed her happily.

Gradually, her smile faded as she felt a sharp pain on her left chest “Arghh!” She puffed out, quite faintly.

“Are you ok” Linda asked placing one hand on her shoulders after noticing the sudden change in her countenance.

“Yes, I’m fine— Arghhh!!” She cried out again, this time, catching the attention of Gabriel who was now chatting with Jason and Andrew.

“You are not fine, you need a doctor.” Linda suggested.

“Hey, got to go, see you guys tomorrow.” Gabriel told his friends with his eyes still on Julie, pressing her hand on her chest as Mrs. O’Donnell tries to hold her up.

“Is she having a heart attack?” Jason asked.

“She’s too young to have a heart attack.” Andrew defended.

Gabriel ignored his friends and ran over to Julie “Are you ok?” He asked as he came close.

“We need to go.” she managed to say.

“First I’ll take you to the hospital then—”

“No!” she yelled “No hospital,  we need to go home, now.”

Gabriel felt no reason to argue, he just assumed he will take her home then call the family doctor to come check her.

“Ok, but I’m driving.” He said, collecting the key from her and helping her into the passenger seat.

Gabriel parked the car in the drive way. He turned around and helped his step mother out of the car.

He wrapped his arm around her to help her walk; they  stood in front of the house door as he reached into his pocket for the house keys.

He placed the key into the key hole and twisted the doorknob open.

The hot air and rotten smell welcomed them as they walked in, Gabriel mouth swung open as Julie made her way through the chattered glass and wood on the floor.

He noticed the burnt holes on the floor; he bent low to observe “What kind of burglar did this?”

“This was no ordinary burglary.” Julie said “What were they looking for?” She wondered.

She walked into the house library with Gabriel following behind her “OH my God, not my mom’s library too!”

All the shelves were on the floor, books and pieces of papers everywhere. Julie picked up a torn book on the floor and found fresh goo on it. She watched as it burn through the book “Roe!” She called angrily.

“I need to call the police.” Gabriel said in panic as he reached for his phone.

It was like an Alarm went off in Julie’s head when she yelled “NO POLICE!”

Gabriel paused and stared confusedly at her “What do you mean No police, huh?” he asked angrily “Some lunatic broke into our home, ransacked the whole place and even burnt the floor. Who knows what they took? Money, mom’s old Jewries, dad valuables or even yours and you are telling me no police?”

“I’ll fix it.” she said thoughtlessly.

“You’ll fix— oh now I’m convinced you’re crazy.” He said as if his suspicions about her were true after all.

“You are right, we won’t know what they took with the whole place all messed up.” Julie was angry and frustrated at the same time she knew her next action was going to put her in more trouble than this, but now wasn't a good time to start arguing with her thoughts.

She turned the circle on top the ring on her thumb clockwise, spread her arms wide and said “Assembler!” She gave a thunderous clap which produced a rush of wind throughout the room.

Gabriel shielded his face with one arm, to avoid being hit as he watched everything flying around and Julie’s eyes glow white with her hair and dress wavering in the wind that happens to be only in their house.

Everything located it original place and stayed there. The noise was too loud that Gabriel couldn’t hear his own thought. He was beyond scared, he haven’t seen anything like this before, except in the movies. But this was real life; his step mom was a witch, a real life witch.

His heart ached from the heavy pounding. He held on the wall firmly to keep his balance then, the wind died down slowly until everything was normal again.

He examined the room where they stood; it was as if nothing happened. The burns on the floor were gone, his mother’s library was back to the way it was before and Julie eyes were normal again.

“Wh—what the hell are you?”  He asked terrified, his eyes widened in horror and his legs, shaky, trying to keep him balanced.

“Gabriel, i—” She took a step forward.

“Stay away from me!” he yelled, stretching forth his arm giving her a warning sign to stay back.

He took aback slowly till he was standing outside the library then, he ran, slamming the front door after he was out.

______________________________________

It's all coming together
Is Gabriel ready to face what is coming next?

Let find out in the next chapter.

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Thanks for reading

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