Above is Wayne

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Gem follow Julie to her house as agreed. Reaching the front door, Julie attempted using her keys to unlock the door, only, to her surprise, did she find it ajarred. The chirping sounds of  Crickets that night, was louder than usual and the night breeze saw it fit to blow calmly.

The varanda light was on and the music playing on the home stereo in the living room was a bit loud too. It was the song Julie and Paul danced to on their first date. It was her favorite song.

“Honey!” She called almost missing a step and instinctively, Gem guided her firmly with her arm around Julie's hip.

“Careful.” Gem said aloud.

They strolled into the living room. And feeling quite relieved from the excruciating pain, Julie managed to stand up straight.

She twisted the top of her ring clockwise as her eyes traveled through the room.

“Do you feel that?” she asked Gem, who had left her side to admire a picture that hung on the white painted wall close to the flat screen TV.

“This is beautiful but also distant.” Gem said still looking closely at the picture try to figure out if the smile on the lady in the portrait meant happy or worried.

“You know, when I took that, I was still—” She paused and walked towards Gem “This picture was missing, the last time Roe ransacked my house, and how did it get here?” Julie looked at Gem, mystified.

“Darling, you’re home.” A deep familiar voice said behind them “And you brought a friend.” He smiled warmly at Gem who had seen him coming before Julie could figure out the direction his voice came from.

Julie turned quickly to search then her eyes fell completely on her husband, Paul “Baby!” He was standing right there, this time, looking more handsome in his deep-blue shirt untucked from the pair of black trouser he wore. His tie was missing from the collar of his shirt and the first three buttons on it were unclasped.

Plastered on his beat, yet handsome face, was a smile that reached his eyes and seeing his spread out arms inviting her, she moved hurriedly towards him and hugged him “When did you return?” She asked.

“This afternoon." He replied "I stopped over at Mr. O’Donnell’s house but I was told you left so, I came home.” He informed, kissing her lightly.

He walked closer to Gem and gestured “Hi, I’m Paul.” He introduced with an out stretched arm.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Gem.” She said, avoiding taking his hands in hers but smiled instead.

Paul slowly withdrew his hands “Nice to meet you too.” He maintained the smile on his face “I made dinner. Gem, would you like to join us?” He asked politely.

“Sure, thanks.” Gem accepted, flashing a side smile to him then returned her gaze to the picture that stole her attention earlier.

Julie left Gem in the living room and went to help Paul prepare the table. Paul had proved himself to be an excellent cook. Julie could remember the early days of her marriage to Paul, he had always challenged her in the kitchen and more than once had he emerged victorious. Julie would always argue that she let him win so he won't feel bad but deep down, she knew it was a lie. Paul was just simply the best.

Tonight, Paul displayed his prowess in the kitchen department and prepared a sumptuous meal for the family to enjoy. The mixed aroma of jellof rice and garlic chicken invaded Julie's nostril and her tummy let out a low rumbling sound, proving her eagerness to taste the food.

“Gabriel informed me about the O’Donnell’s anniversary party and, he also told me he was going with Emy.” Paul mentioned. Distracting Julie from her food thought.

“He did? When?” Julie asked, quite  surprised.

“Today.” Paul stopped what he was doing and stared into her piercing eyes “He should be done in the shower by now.” He told her.

“Gab’s home?” Julie asked aloud catching Gem’s attention who immediately, hurried into the dining room where Julie and Paul stood

“Hello mom.” Gabriel acknowledged as he walked in to join them.

Gem stood closer to Julie so she could get a better view of what Gabriel looked like.

“Mom? He never calls me mom.” Julie whispered to Gem.

“Now that you’ve decided to leave the shower, can we eat?” Paul asked wearing a huge smile.

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Luzmi could feel Gabriel drifting to wonderland as they went. He ignored him but couldn’t stop thinking of how time made it  way through his personality.

The only thing that was the same was the fact that they fell for the same lady both in the past and now. But everything else was different. Himself now was weak and he dreaded this weak state he was witnessing.

“We are here.” Luzmi announced, bringing Gabriel's mind back to reality.

“Here, Where?” Gabriel asked looking around and paused his gaze at somewhere familiar “That is my house. What are we doing here?” He asked, puzzled.

“To get the staff.” Luzmi answered.

“But—”

“Gabriel, tomorrow the town will be distracted at a party, celebrating. Little will they know that the Fiends will be performing a ritual to release Bettriza and without your staff, you, the curators and everyone on this earth will be useless before him. You think Roe or Emilora is evil, wait till you are face to face with Bettriza.” Luzmi assured him.

Gabriel pondered on Luzmi's words and there, he remembered the story Julie read to him when he was ten years old. Now he wished he had let her finish that story. How arrogant and myopic he was. “Julie told me you had fought and conquered Bettriza once, isn’t that true?” He asked after inwardly scolding himself.

“Yes, it’s true.”

“Then, I’ve been face to face with Bettriza before.” Gabriel bantered and then, Walked towards his house.

“He doesn’t even have memories of my victory, now he’s taking my Glory?” Luzmi muttered angrily and followed after Gabriel.

Gabriel touched the handle of the door and a forceful shock wave flung him across the front yard.

Julie and Gem felt a little turbulence as they ate, the shake was little but strong enough to fall her picture that hung on the living room wall and ripping it in half.

“What was that?” Gem asked

“It’s Just the picture.” Gabriel replied staring fixedly at Julie and hoping to notice any slight change in her countenance but was disappointed.

Luzmi stood over Gabriel who was lying flat with his back on the ground.

“What was that?” Gabriel asked in pain as he tried not to pule.

“Your step mother has placed a protection spell over the house and I can see it repelled you too.” Luzmi laughed.

“What? Damn.” Gabriel whined as he tried to stand “It looks like we have to come back for the staff.”

“Look!” Luzmi pointed at the house after seeing a girl, Gem step out of the house and waved goodbye to Julie.

“Who is she?” Luzmi asked.

“I have not seen her in my life. Oh my God, my dad’s home.” Gabriel cried as soon as his eyes fell on Paul.

“It looks like Fiend-Gab is going to keep your parent company.” Luzmi blurted.

“That is not funny, Luzmi.”

Gabriel walked towards the window avoiding touching even the house walls. Luzmi came too, curious  to see what Gabriel was curious to see.

“You must be exhausted honey, let go in and rest.” Paul said with his hand wrapped around Julie.

Gabriel could notice the same dark ashes he had seen on Emy now on her dad. “That’s not my dad!” He told Luzmi.

“I know.”

“Julie is in trouble.”

And just as he tried to see more, he saw Roe in his true form staring fixedly at him.

“We have to go.” Luzmi advised.

“But the staff—”

“We’ll return for it. First, we need to find your body.” Luzmi wasted no time, he stamped his staff on the ground and they disappeared. 

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