Chapter 28: Chapter 28
IN LIFE OR IN DEATH!
There were five major government owned hospitals in the city. When Ariana perceived Roberto's essence, she could tell that Sergio was close to him. From where her flame burned, she blasted her way through streets and a three-storey building like a missile destroying whatever was in its path!
Sergio sensed her presence as well. She was approaching very quickly. Therefore, he fled hurriedly. But she went right after him. It was on a balcony that she finally caught his leg and lifted him upside down. But for some reason, she didn't blast him to death.
"Mother, I do only your bidding! It's the sentiment and emotions of the body you now possess that make you act in this manner. I am your humble servant." Sergio was in so much pain. His pants melted and the smell of his burning skin was in the air.
Ariana became her human self again and the coach fell off the balcony. But he was saved by some cables. She rushed back into the room to where Roberto was staying. There were burnt bodies on the floor. They belonged to the police officer and the nurse.
"Babe, you are alive!" She was in tears. Ariana regretted what the flame had done. "We need to get out of here immediately. I can hear sirens blaring."
She put on a piece of clothing. They climbed down the balcony and headed towards Robbo's mansion while the building burned behind them.
Sergio hid himself in a bathroom somewhere. He gazed at a mirror hanging on the wall and his face looked back at him. 'All the effort I have put in to show my loyalty to Olana has been in vain! Every single time she appears, I am treated like nothing more than a mere slave. My position as priest is not even regarded,' the coach thought to himself. 'But not anymore! I won't continue to be mistreated. After all, I know the way that leads to the bane of her existence!'
There was an ancient hut in which the hawk of ages was hidden. If Sergio could transform the vengeful spirit into a human form. Then, he stood a chance against Olana and her cult.
If he played his cards right, then the fiery rivalry between Olana and the hawk could be used to his advantage. This way, the coach could finally free himself from a life of constant unappreciated servitude.
'I am going to become more daring and contest for power. Today marks the end of my settling for less.' He stood up and turned the tap on. A stream of water flowed into the sink. Sergio cupped some in his hands and rinsed his face while grimacing grotesquely. "I will make sure Olana and her god remain trapped in the spirit realm. The hawk is in the human world, it will be transformed to a demigod who will serve me unknowingly. Therefore, I will dominate!"
This idea of his greatly pleased him. He grinned and was no longer despondent. 'I shall do for myself, every single thing I was ready to do for that witch, and even more. This is my chance!'
Meanwhile, there was a gathering of people. They were twenty-three in number. Nineteen of them were women and the other four were men. The members of this group were very cautious of time and words. Every single person was disciplined. No one spoke out of turn. When it was necessary to talk, they did so one after the other in a clockwise order.
They sat to almost form a perfect circle, except for the fact that one seat was missing. The person who was absent happened to be the most important member of their coven! Therefore, her seat was replaced with red paint on the ground. This was the gathering of the chieftains of the cult of Faya.
According to their belief, Olana had corrupted the witnesses and custodians of the ancient hut. The same one the coach served. In the olden days, she promised to make his family's shrine the most important after hers. Therefore, Sergio's ancestors passed a false story about Faya, who worked tirelessly to stop Olana from carrying out more needless killings.
Faya's coven only accepted the narration which claimed that jealousy was provoked in Olana's heart when she noticed the people's growing support and fondness for their matriarch.
Olana managed to seduce Ashlavugi who was the strongest of the deities during her time. This was in order to work against Faya who had begun to seek power from other shrines to stop her.
Faya was an epitome of prudence, she knew a day like that would come. In order to ensure the continuity of her plan, the maiden had begun a secret cult that would outlive her for generations until she could be reincarnated. But, Olana considered it the greatest betrayal and sentenced her to death between two great stones not far from Kirkaaka.
For generations, Faya's coven knew that they had two mortal enemies to contend with, Olana's cult and the treacherous witnesses who were the custodians of the ancient hut. Therefore, five of them set out with orders to capture Sergio before the next full moon. Six went in search of Jemimah who was unaware of her title and relevance.
The last leader of the coven passed away only weeks ago, there wasn't enough time for a proper ritual of initiation before the cult of Olana began to strike relentlessly. Still, Jemimah Carpenter remained the most important member of Faya's cult. She was to be the next spiritual head of the group.
Another six left the coven in search of the Olana coven's bride. Their sole intention was to stop her! Lastly, six more witches went after the groom, they were supposed to stop him also.
Their aim must be achieved whether or not it is in death or in life!