Gods of the earth - Chapters 39-40

Chapter 39

Pastor Adewusi entered the hospital ward to find Wunmi propped up in bed, wrapped up in bandages and her leg suspended.

“She has a broken leg and has suffered concussion. She is still in a state of shock, so she can’t yet talk,” said Mary.

“I understand. They almost didn’t let me in, till I told them I was her pastor and had come to pray for her,” replied Pastor Adewusi as he sat on a vacant bed beside Wunmi.

Wunmi stared ahead of her; her eyes were opened wide as though she was relieving some horrible event.

“It has started. They are trying to demoralize us by their guerrilla tactics. They do not want an open confrontation so they strike and run away,” said Pastor Adewusi, turning to Mary.

“Yes sir, quite unlike the Great Battle six years ago, which was an open confrontation,” replied Mary.

“But what is worse is that they are not attacking us spiritually as before; they are attacking our physical bodies…they aim to kill off as many as they can physically. I have to get back home and begin to pray Mary…this is worse than I thought and so far we have not received any angelic help,” said Pastor Adewusi.

“About that pastor, the Spirit expressly told Wunmi not to expect any,” Mary said, also rising to her feet to escort Pastor Adewusi to the door.

“Oh,” said the pastor, a little disappointed.

“Well, the Spirit must have his reasons,” concluded Pastor Adewusi as he took his leave.

As he drove out of the hospital gates, he passed Muyiwa’s car just driving in and stopped to have a word with both of them.

“She will be fine,” assured Pastor Adewusi, rolling down the glass on the passenger side to talk to them.

“Sir, has she regained consciousness yet?” asked a very anxious Kola.

“Not yet, but she will…don’t be anxious or worried,” the pastor reassured Kola again as he drove off.

Wunmi was in a very lovely garden…some Man whose face she couldn’t see held her hand…the flowers seemed to smile when she passed them by…then she realized that they were bending towards her as though they wanted to touch her. Their petals widened as she passed them…that was how she knew they were smiling…even the way they suddenly started rustling after she passed them by…they were whispering among themselves about her.

“The fear of death is the last enemy that must be conquered,” said the Man beside her.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;  

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage – Hebrews 2: 14-15” quoted Wunmi glibly…she had never memorized that scripture but it came to her now unbidden. 

She suddenly stopped…

“You came to deliver me from my fear of death didn’t you…you knew I was afraid of physical pain and death and so you let me pass through that experience.” Wunmi sank to her knees, holding on tightly to the hem of the garment of the Man beside her.

“My Lord and my God!” she exclaimed, beginning to weep profusely.

“My ways are not your ways, neither are my thoughts your thoughts,” said the Man, lifting her to her feet…Wunmi still held on tightly to him, her eyes downcast.

“My Lord what will you have me do now?” asked Wunmi.

“Oh you’ve already started daughter…I needed you to overcome your fear of death physically…for the things that lie ahead of you and the others will require the life of one who no longer lives for Self…for it is Self - the Old Man, that is afraid to die…to lose permanently the enjoyment of its insatiable lusts is something it cannot even begin to consider…but when one such as you gives it up willingly, by giving up your body…then he who has the power of death no longer has power over you.”

“Does this mean I’m going to die Lord?” asked Wunmi, slowing down a little bit.

“I cannot tell you that, for then you would no longer be walking by faith but by sight,” answered the Man she had called Lord.

“But it is time for you to return…you must trust me as you always have, for trying times are still ahead of you…I have healed your body…because I need you now more than ever. Go with my blessing child…go, oh Enemy of Darkness!”

Wunmi suddenly sat up in bed, breathing heavily. She stared around her wildly for a moment then got her bearings. Kola was beside her in an instant.

She saw her leg dangling in a cast…suspended above her and weakly signalled to Kola to remove it.

“I can’t my dear, you broke your leg!” said Kola, moving closer to her as she struggled to sit up.

“Wunmi please relax and take it easy, you’ve been hurt pretty badly!” said Mary, coming to sit beside her cousin.

“I’m healed now,” said Wunmi.

“Amen and Amen,” said Muyiwa coming to stand by Kola as he tried to stop his wife from removing the bandage around her head.

“You had some bad knocks to your head Wunmi, please just lie back,” he said.

“Listen guys…while I was unconscious I saw Jesus…I was with him! He told me he had healed my body, so will you please help me out of these ridiculous things?” Wunmi indicated the cast and the bandages around her head.

“You were with the Lord?” asked Mary incredulously.

“What did he say?” asked Kola.

“Oh my God, you actually saw the Lord!” exclaimed Muyiwa, breathing faster.

The nurse came in at that moment and started sending them out.

“Please you have to go now, you’ve already disturbed her with the noise,” she said angrily.

“No it’s okay,” said Wunmi.

“I said please leave! I’m going to call the doctor,” the nurse stormed out angrily.

By the time she came back, Wunmi was already on her feet and packing her things with Mary’s help. Kola and Muyiwa stood by dumbfounded…the doctor placed both his hands on his head and let out a small shout…the nurse ran out yelling for people to ‘come and see something!’

“Jesus told me that trying times are still ahead of us…he said some personal things to me which I am not allowed to reveal…but the bottom line is that we all need to prepare…this battle might be worse than the Great Battle,” said Wunmi as Muyiwa drove off.

“The Ogbunikes are dead Wunmi…they were beaten to death,” Mary broke the news as gently as she could.

“Oh my God!” said Wunmi, burying her head in her hands and beginning to mourn…they were members of her home fellowship…strong members...the Lord hadn’t mentioned their death to her at all…they had died for their faith even though they had not been tortured…but they had been killed because they were Christians…genuine believers…they were martyrs…their crowns of righteousness was already guaranteed…now she had to work out her own salvation with fear and trembling and make sure she was found worthy to wear the crown…

Chapter 40

Pastor Adewusi realized his mistake too late! He should have known that those feathers he had found in the church building were not put there for fun…he had simply locked them up in his office, intending to show the Fifteen later…of course he knew they were charms, but he believed that no charms could affect him as a child of God…but these weren’t ordinary ‘spiritual’ charms obviously…they carried the germs of a deadly disease.

He had begun to feel quite uncomfortable in the middle of night after his visit to Wunmi in the hospital…he had started sweating profusely…then he had gone to the bathroom to ease himself…that was when he had inadvertently looked at himself in the mirror and saw the blotches begin appearing on his face…he had smallpox!

He had sneaked out of the house after calling a medical doctor friend of his, who immediately sent an ambulance to fetch him… Pastor Adewusi couldn’t afford to infect his wife as well…he was about to call when his phone began to ring…

“I’m so sorry darling; I couldn’t risk staying in the house a moment longer. I began feeling very uncomfortable in the middle of the night and when I checked myself in the mirror in the bathroom, I discovered all these blotches appearing all over my face and body…I have small pox and have been quarantined.”

“I’m getting more weary by the day darling…will we ever win this battle?” asked his wife, breaking down in tears.

“Even if we don’t win, we still have to do what is right…we will still gather to fellowship with ourselves and the Lord…it is the same thing Daniel, Meshach and Abednego would have done…we will not be intimidated in the face of oppression or even torture…that is the whole point of being believers, remember the scripture that says they that will live godly in  Christ shall suffer persecution…you cannot afford to grow weary now, several others are looking up to you at this time. You should call Mary and find out how Wunmi is… I love you…I will call later,” Pastor Adewusi cut the line.

There were certain things he had to do…the church premises had to be completely disinfected and his office sealed off. He made a few calls and then turned his attention towards the Word and a particular scripture that had fixed itself permanently in his mind for several days…

2 Cor 7: 5-6 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus

“Are you sending someone Lord?” whispered Pastor Adewusi, not daring to breathe…for it had been long since he had heard expressly from the Spirit.

They want this battle to be fought in the physical realm, but remember that you wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and wicked spirits in heavenly places. You have been tricked into making this a physical battle by allowing yourselves to be affected by what is happening physically to you…it was worn you down…you must therefore return to the battle, knowing that there is a hierarchy you must confront…conquer the principalities and you will conquer the wicked spirits in heavenly places.

Pastor Adewusi’s eyes had been enlightened…he saw it now! The Enemy had brought the battle into the physical realm…the area of their greatest strength…we cannot battle them in their area of strength, we have to climb above them…far above principalities and powers!

His phone rang…it was Wunmi!

“Pastor, I just want you to know that I have been healed…it is a long story but Christ took me into his Presence while I was unconscious…he said there are still trying times ahead of us.”

“Yes I believe so. I have been quarantined because of small pox. They came into the church and murdered the gateman on the altar, then distributed several black feathers all over the church under the chairs. I noticed one; then went around and collected over twenty of them. I kept them in my office to show you guys, thinking they were spiritual charms…I didn’t realize they were merely charms to inflict small pox. The Spirit spoke to me a few moments ago…we have been tricked into bringing the battle to their door step…to the area of their greatest strength…the flesh…now we have to take it back up above principalities and powers and every name that is named…we need to pray for the gift of Discerning of Spirits and find out which principalities are behind this…when we find out, we will know what we are up against and how to wage war in the spirit,” said Pastor Adewusi.

“Got you sir, we will inform the rest of the Fifteen at once,” said Wunmi.

“No. This is now between the six of us, you and your spouses; and my wife and I,” replied the pastor.

“Okay sir, I will inform the others,” said Wunmi.

Michael watched the sun rise gradually...the battle may soon begin…they however had to wait on the Spirit for his go ahead. He surveyed his Hosts still hidden under the Shadow of His Wings. They were alert…grim…and battle ready…Michael guessed what the Spirit was waiting for…a Son of God had to initiate the battle against Principalities before He, Michael, could step into it…it had to be Principality against Principality…but a Son of God had to engage them first in combat…like the scriptures had said…a wrestling match!

He marvelled at the strength that had been given to mortals…to wrestle against even Principalities…he did not doubt the outcome of a battle between himself and one of the true Sons of God…for hadn’t the Most High made Man a little lower than angels but crowned him with honour and glory just as his Lord the Christ also had gone through the same thing for the suffering of death on behalf of Man?

Thus when a true Son of God lost his fear of death, he also would be crowned with honour and glory just like their Lord and God…One of them must have been tested and had lost the fear of death…such a one was fit now to wrestle against Principalities, having been crowned with the honour and glory of the Lord…oh the unsearchable riches of the wisdom of Majesty! Michael exalted and praised the Most High with his mighty sword arm!

It was almost noon when the Spirit lifted his Wings and they became visible to their foes…with a mighty shout, the Enemy rallied themselves as they saw the Hosts of Heaven gathered round about them…

It was almost noon when Mary got the first breakthrough…they had been praying non-stop for almost five hours.

“It is Belial! Belial is their Commander!” Mary said in a loud voice that startled everyone.

“Yes, but there are others as well…” said Wunmi.

“I know who they are,” said Kola…

“Janut and Baal,” finished Muyiwa.

“Thank you Lord! We are ready…let the battle begin!” said Wunmi.

Gods of the earth Chapters 37-38

Chapter 37

Odugbemi took the news of his son’s death stoically. When he was told the mysterious circumstances under which he died and the corpses of the two women found beside him, he knew at once that his son had outlived his usefulness to the fallen angels…it always eventually came to this…it was what he had been afraid of when Ade refused to take his place as an Elder…from that moment on he was regarded as a nonconformist as far as the fallen angels were concerned…it was only a matter of time before they got all they needed from him and disposed of him.

He didn’t dare mourn…it was forbidden in the cult to mourn the death of a son or the death of an Elder. He welcomed sympathizers to his home, and assured them that he had come to terms with it. None of his colleagues in the cult put in an appearance…it was forbidden.

The funeral took place only a few days after, then he was left all alone…but Odugbemi wasn’t sad…years of being a cult member and seeing countless of human sacrifices had killed whatever emotion or conscience remained in him.

The important thing now was that he was free to take over his son’s entire business empire. He had stopped by at the office and introduced himself and watched with a little amusement how everyone fell over to please him.

He had sat down in Ade’s office, waiting for the lawyers to come and do the paper work with him.

“Can I get you anything sir?” asked Rhoda, Ade’s PA; knocking discreetly before coming into the office. She had earlier introduced herself and the entire office staff to him when he had introduced himself.

“A bottle of cold beer perhaps and some fried rice,” replied Odugbemi, feasting his eyes slowly on her voluptuous body. Rhoda waited till she felt he had satisfied himself and then curtsied deeply before leaving. Ade had taught her well and Odugbemi liked what he had seen.

Odugbemi switched on the TV and switched channels absentmindedly…there was nothing that interested him…nevertheless he left it on because the background noise kept him company…he was used to being alone…but no one could ever get used to loneliness…not like that.

In the outer office, Rhoda and Titi chatted in low tones.

“I knew he was playing with fire the day you told me about his penchant for charms and rituals. Nobody dines with the devil and goes away empty,” said Rhoda, still in shock at the gruesome deaths of her boss and the two women.

“I too am having a rethink. I mean, suppose it is going to be ‘like father like son’…suppose the father too is into this ritual thing?” asked Titi, walking Rhoda to the door on her way to buy the things the new boss ordered for.

 “So are you going to resign?” asked Rhoda looking for a taxi to wave down.

“No not just yet. I need to find another job first, but in the meantime I mustn’t make myself too conspicuous to the boss so he doesn’t take an interest in me. I don’t envy you Rhoda,” said Titi.

“You should have seen the way he kept looking at me…lusting after me with his eyes is more like it,” said Rhoda as a taxi slowed down beside her.

“Just be careful okay?” said Titi, shutting the door and watching the taxi drive away. The nearest Eatery was on the next street much further down the road.

Odugbemi retrieved his Consciousness…out of sheer boredom he had followed Rhoda with his mind to the outer office with the intention of continuing to feast on her body…his Familiars had made that possible…but she hadn’t gone directly; instead she had engaged in a conversation with a receptionist and he had listened in on the entire conversation till Titi saw her off in a taxi.

He frowned as his consciousness realigned with his physical senses. Obviously the two women were destabilized by the death of their former boss…if he didn’t do something to secure their loyalty once and for all; they may leak out secrets that would not be in the best interests of the cult.

Replace those weak Familiars within the two of them with Egnat and Vairog at once!

Putrak his Familiar Servant sped off immediately to perform the task.

Odugbemi relaxed a little…by this time tonight, both women will be in his bed and he will teach them a lesson in humility and loyalty that they would never forget!

Titi knocked on the door and came in to announce the arrival of the lawyers.

“About time too, bring them in,” said Odugbemi.

A little while later, Rhoda came in with the food and beer. Odugbemi looked at her briefly and noticed that her eyes appeared a little dull…it was the tell-tale mark of possession…he wondered why Ade had sent some weak Familiar into her…possibly because he had taken a liking to her and wanted more of her personality to show than the subservience of the Familiar…

The lawyers concluded their business speedily…the company now belonged to Mr Odugbemi. As they left his office, he called for Rhoda and Titi.

Without a word, they knelt before him in the office…

“Do you realize I am your god?” asked Odugbemi.

Instantly the two young women bowed their faces to the ground in abject worship…the Familiars were in there all right…they now belonged to him; spirit, body and soul.

They had been stuck in traffic for almost half an hour now, on a road that was usually very quiet and peaceful. It was the road that led to their church premises. Someone approached them from the front and knocked lightly on the window. Muyiwa rolled down the glass ever so slightly.

“Oga they are burning churches in front o, so everyone is reversing quickly. You need to turn back so I can move my car please,” said the man, walking away quickly to the car behind theirs to deliver the same message.

“They are burning churches…oh my God, Wunmi and Kola are in there!” exclaimed Mary in shock.

Muyiwa was already trying to reverse the car within the small space available as were several cars trying to do simultaneously.

Mary instinctively picked up her phone and dialled Wunmi’s number but there was no response…even Kola wasn’t picking up…something was very wrong!

“Turn around, there is a dirt road somewhere around here, we might be able to pass through the neighbouring compound into the church premises,” said Mary.

“But we would have to jump over the fence,” said Muyiwa, a little confused.

Something was happening up in front…people were running back towards them furiously…abandoning their cars. They heard sounds of people screaming as thudding sounds pervaded the air…people were being slaughtered!

“Get out of the car and run!” said Muyiwa, getting out of his car and going over to Mary’s side. They ran in the general direction the crowd was going, till Mary tugged at Muyiwa’s arm and steered him into a dirt road, well hidden by a refuse heap and bushy undergrowth. No one else followed them.

They paused to catch their breath after going a distance from the main road.

“So where does this lead to?” asked Muyiwa who had recovered slightly.

“”To the back of the church; I have to warn them that they are burning all churches along the road. It won’t take them much time to get to the church,” said Mary, pulling herself together and taking Muyiwa by the hand again.

The dirt road got even narrower until it burst out through some intertwined bushes on to a deserted road…they had already burnt a small church here…several cars were parked by the road, most of them had been badly damaged and there was broken glass scattered everywhere.

Far in the distance they saw police vehicles parked and several police men running around. There was a Black Maria and several men were being shoved into it at gun point.

It was Muyiwa who first spotted Wunmi’s dark blue Camry…he pointed in its direction unable to speak, and began running towards it. Mary followed closely behind him.

Several police officers were gathered around two dead bodies on the ground…Mary ran faster…as they approached the dead bodies the police officers looked up.

“Do you know them?”

Mary moved closer and covered her mouth in shock even as she began to cry…

“It is the Ogbunikes, they are members of our church!” she cried.

Muyiwa held her close to him and tried to comfort her…he hadn’t known them very well.

“Did you see anyone else?” he asked the officer.

“There is another woman over there…she was lucky, she has just regained consciousness…they beat her almost to a pulp. She needs medical attention but we are still looking for a vehicle for her.”

Mary didn’t wait to hear the rest of it as she raced madly to the figure she now saw lying on the ground in the distance, surrounded by two more police officers. The entire area was being cordoned off, but they let her through when she began screaming Wunmi’s name.

“She is my cousin, my car is just down the road there, please tell them to allow me to bring it so I can take her to the hospital please!” begged Mary as Muyiwa began running back towards the car.

The police officer called out to one of his colleagues in the distance, shouting instructions to allow the car to pass through.

Mary sat in the back seat with Wunmi’s head propped up on her knees while Muyiwa drove to the nearest hospital…

Chapter 38

Pastor Adewusi had been trying to reach the Fifteen all morning but couldn’t seem to get through. He had received the news of the burning of churches rather late from a pastor friend of his who called to warn him.

Pastor Adewusi therefore decided to go to the church premises to wait for people who might not have heard the news and came to church. The first unusual thing he saw was that the gate was ajar…the gateman was nowhere to be found.

He went into the gatehouse but the gateman wasn’t there…so he entered the church…everything seemed normal as he walked towards the stage…that was where he saw the gateman…he had been murdered on the altar! He had been stretched out on the floor in the sign of the cross and the knife that had been used to kill him was still stuck in his chest!

He called his wife and told her what had happened…she panicked and told him to come home at once…but Pastor Adewusi had other plans…first he called the police to report it…then he walked around the church premises, praying in the spirit…hoping that the Spirit would give him a revelation of what was going on.

As he walked through the church slowly, he noticed a black feather lying under a chair…he picked it up and continued walking till he came to another one…then another…by the time he went around the church thrice, he had found twenty feathers in different places…so this was how the attack was going to be.

He began to pray earnestly in the spirit till his wife called again…

“Darling, sometimes an under shepherd has to lay his life on the line for God’s sheep. If it pleases the Lord to spare my life after today, I will certainly be home before nightfall, but I cannot come home now till I am sure that all the sheep are safe…that means I will stay here to see if any will turn up and then take them to safety…the attack has begun, but not in the form we anticipated. I have reported the murder to the police and they should be on their way here now,” he said to his wife, and waited till she had finished her heart rending prayers for him amidst her tears before cutting the call.

Pastor Adewusi soon lost track of time as he poured out his anguish in prayer…till his phone rang…it was Mary.

“Pastor, Wunmi was attacked on her way to church and was beaten up very badly. We are with her in the hospital but she is yet to regain consciousness. Pastor…the Ogbunikes are dead…they were beaten to death while on their way to church around the new Mall,” Mary cut the call quickly because she knew she was very close to tears…

Muyiwa had tried severally to get in touch with Kola, but he wasn’t picking up the calls…so he had decided to drive over to their house.

“Please be careful my darling,” pleaded Mary, tears shining through her eyes.


Adebajo had dismissed the Elders of the cult with promises of huge sums of money for each of them. They had accepted him as their leader and had followed him willingly to the church premises…yes indeed he was so pleased with them that he had asked them to return the next day for their reward.

He recalled how easy it had all been…the Afose (Leaf of Authority) that he had placed under his tongue had done the job. He had smiled sweetly at the gateman at half past four in the morning upon their arrival at the church premises, and asked him nicely to open the gate…the gateman had smiled sweetly back at him and had opened the gates and taken them on a tour of the church facility.

Afterwards, Adebajo had told him nicely to lie down on the altar, which the gateman did very eagerly…then after a long incantation by Adebajo with interjections of responses from the Elders, he had plunged the knife directly into the gateman’s heart…a sacrifice to the Lord of Darkness right on the altar of God…it was the highest form of blasphemy and he knew that with it, he would catch the attention of the Lord of Darkness…there would be a series of rapid promotions for him after this was over…the world would fall at his feet!

He swallowed half a glass of whisky in one gulp to celebrate this first victory…as he walked to his private bedroom, he was mindful of the last ritual he had to perform before turning in for a long rest.

He turned down a long corridor and stopped at the end of it…there were no doors on this corridor, but the moment he arrived at the end of the corridor, he uttered a few words in a low tone…a segment of the wall slid back and he entered in.

The wall shut itself as he walked towards the raised dais in the centre of the large room where a young virgin knelt with a large pot on her head.

All around the room were littered currency in every denomination of the world…they lay thicker than a carpet around his feet.

Adebajo opened a wooden cabinet installed into the wall on the left side of the dais and brought out a large calabash…it contained the blood of the murdered gateman…he spoke in a guttural language to the girl and she instantly raised the pot high above her head…then Adebajo poured the contents of the calabash all over her head, and she returned the pot to her head…to all intents and purposes, the girl was unconscious…or dead…

Adebajo waited a few moments and then smiled as the pot began to fill up and bubble over with money…like an overflowing river it kept flowing ceaselessly. He picked up several hundred dollar bills and stashed them into a bag he kept handy around the room for that purpose and strode out the same way he had come…he would give the Elders the money…their reward…but it also came with its own repercussions…for whoever spent the money had to repay it sooner or later with a life.


When Muyiwa arrived at Kola’s house, Kola was still lying unconscious on the floor. Muyiwa started lifting him up to take him into the car…

Leave him be, he will come round soon…

He stared wildly around him…Janut had returned! He backed himself against a wall and looked around for the source of the voice…

“I know you are here Janut, I heard your voice,” he said as an old fear began to seep into his heart. At that moment, Kola groaned and began to stir. Muyiwa went to him, uneasily watching his back for the appearance of Janut.


He helped Kola sit up and he groaned even more…

“I feel like I’ve been beaten and battered…what happened, did I get knocked down by a car? I don’t remember anything,” Kola said, groaning in pain.

“Take it easy Kola; it will come back to you presently”.

 “Where is my wife?”

“I’m afraid she is in the hospital,”

“What happened?” asked Kola, standing to his feet suddenly in alarm and then collapsing on a nearby sofa.

“You need to take it easy right now Kola, your wife is safe. She was the victim of a bad beating by thugs, but Mary is with her now at the hospital.”

“Is she really okay?” asked Kola again, attempting to stand up but this time a little slower.

“She was still unconscious when I left the hospital,”

“That was why I suddenly felt like praying so strongly and so suddenly, she was in trouble and the Spirit wanted me to pray!” said Kola, as his memory slowly returned.

 “Listen man, Janut is here…he told me to leave you be, and that you will come round soon,” whispered Muyiwa into Kola’s ear.

“That wasn’t Janut, that was the Spirit of God Muyiwa,” said Kola, leaning heavily on Muyiwa as they walked out of the house into the car.

Gods of the earth -Chapters 35 & 36

Chapter 35

The winds howled and raged, screaming obscenities as the huge trees bowed low before its anger. It was a very dark night and they had all been told to remain indoors tonight by the Elders of the Seven Tribes…for tonight was the Crossing Over.

Witch Mother had often told them stories about previous Cross Overs…there had been two that she had told them about…the gods had been at war with the mortal race and had come down then in their thousands…the entire world had been engulfed in war on both occasions.

Karinna watched from behind the safety of the wooden window that was framed in the sturdy mud wall. She saw the shimmering shapes that constantly changed form as they sped on their way into the far away cities beyond the mountains that shielded the Seven Tribes…they were headed for one particular city…the gods were about to take vengeance on them for some reason that she didn’t know.

She saw the huge shrine of her Tribe far in the distance, glowing with an eerie light as the Familiars came through in their hundreds. She had said her goodbyes to her little brother Bulawa…who was not so little anymore…she had never known the full extent of his powers, but she knew he was very important to the gods…so important that when he was about to leave…the Protector of the Tribes had appeared beside him and held his hand as they vanished slowly together.

She had known it was the Protector because of the way her mother and Witch Mother had fallen prostrate on their faces, not daring to look up. Quickly she and her sisters had followed suit. This greeting was only accorded to the Protector…for all the other gods; they merely bowed their faces to the ground on their knees.

Karinna’s sisters came to join her at the window to watch the spectacular sight of Familiars speeding away through the wind that gave them their shapes…they were grateful for their gifts for they knew that only witches and warlocks could see what they now watched.

“That city must have grievously offended our Protector,” said Saranta.

“Yes, I heard Witch Mother and our mother discussing it two nights ago at the back of the house,” answered Sarinya.

“What did they say?” asked Karinna, curiously.

“That most of the city worships another god in the city, and that this god is very powerful and has been stealing away our people to serve in their own shrines. There is going to be a full scale war between our Protector and this god; and our people and theirs,” answered Sarinya.

“And Bulawa and Witch Mother will fight for us all in this battle,” finished Karinna, nodding her head in understanding.

Witch Mother and their mother were saying their final goodbyes too…but they didn’t want to see them…mother was weeping and it would make them weep as well…best they give them some privacy.

Somehow Karinna felt that something was wrong somewhere…why would their mother cry so much as though Witch Mother would not return to them after the war…unless she knew she was not returning…but she kept her thoughts to herself.

The night was far spent when the light from the Shrine slowly began to dim from its fiery red colour to a dull reddish brown colour, and then finally it faded away, signifying the closing of the Gateway from the spirit realm.

Witches were nocturnal creatures who were active in the nights and slept in the mornings till late in the afternoon…no one dared disturb them. Karinna and her sisters went to their mother’s room as soon as they heard her shutting the door…she had come back from seeing Witch Mother off...they hoped that their presence with her would give her some sort of comfort, for they had never seen their mother weep before…she had always been a very strong woman.

“I’ll be fine,” said their Mother with a sad smile as they entered her room.

“Then why were you weeping?” asked Karinna boldly.

“Because I do not know if I will see my older sister again,” sighed Mother as she lay down on the mat.

Her daughters sat beside her…Sarinya tentatively stretched out her hand and grasped her mother’s hand, and squeezed it.

“She will return to us mother,” said Karinna, a deep sinking feeling of foreboding suddenly filled her in the pit of her stomach. 

“Thank you my daughters, now you too should go to bed before the dawn breaks and saps away your powers with the early morning sun.”

Michael had deployed his Hosts all around the city so that they formed a tight circle; but they remained hidden under the Shadow of the Spirit’s Wings. He had never thought he would see the day when he would need the Spirit’s protection…he chuckled to himself…he had always thought that His protection was reserved for mortals…but now, he saw that without the Spirit’s protection he and his Hosts would not only be hopelessly outnumbered, but also severely at a disadvantage.

Lucifer had not spared any pains in organising this Battle…there were three of his arch angels here and so many Powers and Wicked Spirits!

He watched the armies of the Familiars arrive into the city just before the break of dawn when the night was still at its darkest…they were followed by their Commanders – the Powers…fallen angels just below the rank of Princes.

He had not yet seen Lucifer but knew he would be around somewhere…Belial was busy deploying his Commanders around the city among their Hosts.

Janut and Baal were doing the same with their Commanders…for the first time; Michael began to see the magnitude of the huge war that Lucifer was planning to wage against the city…he wanted to destroy its mostly Christian population even though most were purely nominal Christians.

Suddenly it came to him where Lucifer would be…he will be at the church waiting for the Enemy of Darkness to arrive!

Michael thanked the Spirit for the information…his orders were not to interfere with the battle at the church…it was meant to be between the church and Lucifer and his chosen warriors…The Majesty intended it show the manifold wisdom of God in the Church for all time.

Gideon’s battle was not won by force of numbers…neither will yours…Majesty had told him before he left the Throne Room. 

Dawn was breaking when the Familiars finally found their targets…mortals of like minds with them…they began trooping out in their numbers…to burn and loot and rape mindlessly…the spirit of lawlessness had come upon them…the mystery of iniquity had begun its cold and deadly work.

Adebajo had been informed by his foster father that the entire cult would be needed in this battle and Adebajo had begun preparing himself accordingly…there was a certain church that he had been ordered to go to…it was there that he would play his part and contend with the ones his foster father had named the Fifteen.

He knew what he had to do…there were charms he had to prepare and take to the church before their Sunday Service. The charms were debilitating to mortal flesh…for it brought on small pox to whoever sat on them…they were prepared from rare herbs that only the initiated knew where to find.

He had other charms prepared, but the strongest of them all was the one that brought on insanity…he had reserved those for the ones his foster father had mentioned…Wunmi and Mary…those names were indelibly imprinted in his mind.

He closed his eyes and brought mental images of them to his mind…he had never seen them before physically…but he had travelled at his father’s behest to their homes one night…each of them…and had watched them pray…their prayers had built a hedge around them that became so thick, it obscured them from his view…but at least he had seen their faces and would remember them forever.

“I’m coming for you,” he whispered in his mind to the mental images before dismissing them.

Ade looked around him helplessly…he had no idea of what had transpired…he had only woken up to find himself on the floor of the bedroom with two dead women…the women he had given to Baal and Janut. The fallen angels must have taken the babies with them, for there was no trace of them.

A thought occurred to him and he tried out some of the new found abilities Janut had given him…none of them worked…Janut had deserted him! He was totally on his own…a sure indication that he had been marked for death.

He had only a little space of time left to prove that he was still relevant; otherwise he would face a most horrible death. Swiftly he summoned his Familiars to help dispose of the bodies…none responded…he didn’t sense them anymore within or around him…it was too late…he had been terminated…and even as he thought on it…he felt his life starting to ebb away…a most horrible pain started from his heart region and began spreading to the other parts of his body…it was a fire in his bones…he was burning inwardly…it didn’t consume his flesh but it burnt his very soul…

He felt his mind melting…his very thoughts were being erased by the pain…in the dim light of his eyes, he saw the Reality of the spirit realm now superimposed on the physical realm…it was getting more solid while the physical realm was slowly fading…far in front of him, what looked like ancient Egyptian slave masters stood afar of waiting for him…they cracked their long whips and smiled evilly at him. 

Chapter 36

Wunmi and Kola were up before 4am to prepare for the Service that morning. Both their children had been taken to their paternal grandmother far away in another city until the danger was past…school was still in session, but their parents deemed their safety more important than the classes they would miss.

The couple had been praying and fasting for the whole week…it had been so hard on Kola who wasn’t used to it, but he was very determined…if his wife could do it, he wondered why he couldn’t too.

“Sometimes these things need some getting used to,” Wunmi had said to encourage her husband when she saw how weak he was getting by the fourth day.

“I know, but our lives may depend on this,” he had replied bravely.

Wunmi had been hopeful that the Spirit would give them some instructions concerning the day. Pastor Adewusi had been so certain that the battle would take place today in church.

But as they had prayed and fasted, a little disappointment began to creep into her heart…the Spirit wasn’t going to say anything to them about the battle ahead…He wanted pure blind faith on their part.

As they got ready for Service, Kola held her hands suddenly…

“Whatever happens, I want you to know that I’ll always love you darling,” he said looking deeply into her eyes.

“I love you too darling, but we are both in God’s hands now. If he decides to take us…we know where we are going and that our children will be well taken care of right?” replied Wunmi.

Kola nodded his head, unable to speak…several kinds of emotions began to flow through him…he wished he could see his children one more time…

You are beginning to let fear creep into your heart…fear has no place in this battle…you will let the others down…you should pull out now…

He heard the words clearly in his spirit...just like when the Spirit had called him ‘Son’.

He turned back reluctantly to Wunmi…

“I don’t think I will be fighting in this battle, the Spirit just told me to pull out…I have allowed fear into my heart and I will only be a liability to you,” he said with downcast eyes.

Wunmi went to him quickly and held his hands.

“It’s okay my dear, you are still relatively a babe in the Lord Jesus Christ…to be honest I have had my doubts…please don’t feel bad, as a matter of fact, I am rather glad because I was beginning to worry about you,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek.

“I don’t know why I feel so nervous…I have seen a fallen arch angel before and I thought it was about the fear of seeing so many horrible looking creatures; but it isn’t that at all…I have gotten used to the powers that Janut gave me and now that they have gone, I feel so naked without them. I don’t have any powers, and I am yet to develop my faith like you and Mary,” said Kola, finally voicing out his innermost fears.

“You can still be involved in the battle from here you know…you can simply keep praying in the spirit for us right here without being at  the church…your physical presence is not required to be a part of the battle.”

“That is true!” Kola said, suddenly realizing that spiritual warfare did not necessarily involve physical presence. He felt relieved that he wasn’t out of it entirely after all. Yes he would stay back and pray fervently…many lives were at stake…he would trust the Holy Spirit to help him pray.

As Wunmi drove off to church, he felt a sudden impression to pray for her safety on the road.

“What is it Lord, what is wrong?” he asked quietly, trying to figure out the uneasiness that had suddenly come upon him…it wasn’t there a moment ago when he stood with his wife outside…

He began to pray…pacing around the large living room…he felt a definite sense of urgency to pray…his heart beat faster as though he was in deep trouble…

As Wunmi reached the turning to the street where her church premises was, she noticed a crowd of people burning tires. They had blocked the road and had set fire to a pile of tires right in the centre of the road. Several cars were parked by the road side and people were running helter skelter. There was no sign of any police officers which was very strange as a police station stood no more than 400 metres away.

A man and his wife were being battered on the ground with sticks by a bunch of thugs…Wunmi parked her car some distance away and stepped out, trying to see the couple on the ground…it was Mr and Mrs Ogbunike from church!

Wunmi’s first thought was to run to them and try to rescue them from the beating they were getting, but she knew that they would probably pounce on her too.

“Holy Spirit, what do I do?” she asked quietly as she felt cold fear begin to trigger off panic in her heart. Blood was streaming out of multiple wounds from the couple and she could hear their screams from where she stood. Everyone else had abandoned their cars and fled.

Wunmi stepped away from her car feeling confused…she wanted to run but something kept her rooted to the ground.

Can you take a beating for me like Paul did?

She knew exactly what she had to do now, but she didn’t have the courage to do it…her flesh was weak even though her spirit was willing…she saw now that she still had a lot to learn…sometimes physical opposition and pain will come in to intimidate…to get one to compromise under torture…she saw that now…

Someone spotted her standing alone near her car and raised the cry…several thugs began running towards her…only a couple of hundred metres…Wunmi panicked and began to run…then slowed down…she turned around, her heart beating fast. She still felt the cold hands of fear tightening even more around her heart…yet she stood her ground and waited for them, not knowing why.

Someone knocked her to the ground and kicked her in the stomach…the next few minutes were filled with pain that she had never thought she could bear…she felt blood sliding down into her eyes…a stick battered her repeatedly as she thrashed around on the ground, screaming and writhing in pain.

At length someone pulled her to her feet and began dragging her to where the couple lay motionless.

“You are a Christian aren’t you? One of those who put fear in people’s hearts about a coming judgement, like these fools lying on the ground,” a tall man whose eyes were red stood towering over her and staring down at her with deep hatred.

“I will kill you all; today the streets will flow with your blood. Never again will you try to make others believe that your god is superior to others,” he roared before beginning to rain down blows upon Wunmi with a long jagged whip.

From a long distance away, a siren began to blow…then two and then several at the same time.

“Move out!” shouted their boss…the police were coming. His boys ran in different directions but the boss remained where he was. He took out a long knife from his belt and raised it to stab Wunmi.

Kola was praying in the spirit when he felt tears rolling down his cheeks…he didn’t know why he was feeling so sad…he felt like someone dear to him had died. He dropped to his knees and began to cry, but his weeping turned to groaning…he found himself under a great burden that pressed him almost into the ground…he groaned and he felt the pain…something was pressing hard on his stomach, but he knew it wasn’t physical. He felt bruised and battered all over his body and there was great pain over his right eye…Kola gasped for breath and passed out.