OJUJU: THE VILLAGE OF FORBIDDEN LOVE - EPISODE 7
The king called a meeting of his elders and sat in his throne room surrounded by his elders.
"I am disappointed in Amisha's actions. This is not what I expected from her. I thought she would be the one to bring about the needed change when she becomes the priestess but now, she has gone too far with these sacrifices. Hers is even more disastrous than that of Asakwe" The king lamented
One of the elders got up spoke
"Long maks you reign your highness. Your Majesty, we must be careful. Amisha is now the vessel of Ojuju. We don't know what she's capable of. We all don't want to incur her wrath"
"I don't care. I will not seat and watch while my people are being slaught*red regularly in the name of Ojuju." The king said angrily
The king's wife upon hearing what was going on in the council chamber rushed down and knelt before her husband the king
" My king and husband please stay off this one. You know how your last action led to the demise of my first son in the hands of Asakwe, please think before you act" She said while crying
" Woman who invited you here?" The king asked and ordered her to leave his presence.
Just as she was about to leave, the palace gate suddenly burst open and all the guards manning the gate ran away
"What is going on?" One of the elders asked
Before anyone else could speak further, Amisha suddenly stood before them with an angry facial expression blazing with an intensity of fury
"Why have you been speaking ill of me Your Majesty," Amisha asked
The king stood up and said
"Amisha what happened. Why have you suddenly become that which you detested?" The king asked
"How dare you question Ojuju's mouthpiece?" Amisha asked the king
"Great one, please forgive my husband. Please" The queen pleaded
"Very well then for your sake, I will forgive him this one but he must apologize right here and now to me" Amisha said
"He would surely do that" The queen's wife said and began to beg her husband to say sorry to priestess Amisha
"I will never do that. Never!" The king said
"My king please. If the great one demands an apology in order to be merciful, please offer one and let's put this incident behind us" One of the elders adviced
"I won't. As a matter of fact, I will no longer sacrifice any of my people to Ojuju. It's barbaric and unjust." The king declared
Amisha laughed in a mysterious and unsettling way.
"For blasph*ming against Ojuju and it's priestess, you have been dethroned, Your Majesty. The throne will leave the house of your fathers and will be with Ojuju forever. I shall become the new ruler of the land and rule it according to the tenets of Ojuju's will. You shall become a normal villager just like the rest of the villagers" Amisha said
"You are talking nonsense " The king said
"I am trying to be merciful because of your family and who I am but you seem to be pushing me further. You will now also be banish from this village. Take your family and leave at once before I change my mind" Amisha said
"That will never happen. I will never give up my throne. A throne handed over to me by my fathers, neither will I leave this village as I am a free born of royal blood" He said
"Very well then, you and your family will be use for the s*crifice instead of the villagers choosen already. Nothing will please Ojuju more than the bl**d of you and your family members spilling on it altar" Amisha said
"Guards" The king shouted
"Yes your highness" Ten guards chorused as they appeared before the king
"Seize her and throw her into the village dungeon until she comes back to her human senses " The king said but the guard did not move
"Did you hear what I said?" The king asked his guards
"We did my king but we can not lay out filthy hands on the great priestess of Ojuju. The gods forbid we ever try such" They said
"Abomination! My king what do you think you are doing?" One of the elders asked, as Amisha's eyes flashed with anger.
"Seize him," Amisha ordered the king's own guards
"Lock him up in the dungeon, and throw his family in as well." Amisha added
"Yes great one" they all chorused
The guards without hesitation seized the king and his family, dragging them away to the dungeon. The king struggled and shouted, but it was of no use.
"You'll pay for this, Amisha. You'll regret all you are doing now" The king said
"Prepare yourself for the s*crifice and announce to the whole village that they would be having a new queen in me soon" Amisha told the elders
"Yes great one "They all said with their heads bowed down
Amisha vanished into thin air. The elders were left in shock and terrified by what they had just witnessed.
"My eyes have seen too much for one day. I need to retire to my house now" One of the elders said taking to his heels
"Please wait for me" Another said and soon everyone dispersed, leaving the palace empty
Amisha's powers continue to grow as she was now the ruler of the kingdom as well as the Priestess and her influence was spreading far and wide. The people trembled at the mention of her name.
Amisha's declaration that the king and his family would be used for s*crifice also sent fear throughout the village. The people were horrified by the thought of their beloved king meeting such a fate.
Adazi Amisha's father, heard about the declaration and knew he had to act quickly. He rushed to Ojuju's shrine, in a bid to change his daughter's mind.
Ojuju's shrine was grand and imposing, with many servants attending to Amisha's needs. Adazi demanded to see his daughter, but was told to wait.
"I'm Adazi Priestess Amisha's father. I need to see her immediately."
"I'm sorry but you would have to wait or come back another time. The priestess is busy at the moment" One of the servants said
"I will wait" Adazi said as he paced back and forth with his anxiety growing with each passing moment.
"This is ridiculous. I am her father. How could She keep me waiting. She should see me immediately." Adazi said to himself
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Adazi was taken into a chamber meant to receive visitors to Ojuju's shrine. There he saw Amisha seating on a large chair and been fanned by several servants
"I was told you wanted to see me" Amisha said without even greeting her father
"No words of salutation to your father anymore?" Adazi asked
"Father have you forgotten that the great priestess of Ojuju never greets anyone no matter their age. Everyone is a subject of the priestess and she their mother" Amisha reminded her father
"Amisha what has come over you?" Adazi asked
"How do you mean?" Amisha asked
"You have changed and what is it about you s*crificing the king and his family and ascending the throne as queen?" Adazi asked
"That's Ojuju's wish after the king blasph*med" Amisha said
"Amisha, my child, please reconsider. The king and his family don't deserve to d*e." Adazi pleaded
"Father, I have made up my mind. The king and his family will be s*crificed to Ojuju. It's the will of the gods." Amisha replied
"But Amisha, you're my daughter. I don't want to see you do something that will haunt you for the rest of your life." Adazi continued
"Please Amisha, think of the kingdom's future. This will only bring more suffering and chaos." Adazi added
"You would question the will of Ojuju?. I am the vessel of the gods, and I will not be swayed by sentiments." Amisha said
"But what about compassion?. What about mercy? Don't you remember the values I taught you?" He asked
"Those values are weak. Ojuju demands s*crifice, and I will deliver." She replied
Adazi realized that he was never going to make her change her mind. He stood up with his eyes filled with sadness and disappointment.
"I fear for your soul, Amisha," he said before turning to leave.
"Father don't bother trying to change who I have become. It's futile." Amisha said
Adazi turned back to Amisha
"Amisha, my child, you're not thinking clearly. This isn't the Amisha I know."
"You don't know me, Father. I am the vessel of Ojuju now. And I will do what needs to be done." She said
It was clear now to Adazi that the king's fate was sealed, and he couldn't help but wonder if he would ever see his daughter return to the girl he raised ever again. The thought of the king and his family being sacrificed to Ojuju was a sad reality that Adazi couldn't bear.
"I'll pray for you, Amisha. I hope you find your way back to the light. I regret playing a part in encouraging you into this life" he said
"Father be careful not to incur Ojuju's wrath. I will not spare even you if you did" Amisha warned
Adazi shook his head and left the shrine. As he walked away from the shrine, he couldn't believe that his only daughter had become so consumed by her role as the vessel of Ojuju.
"Amisha, my child. What have they done to you?" He asked himself
Adazi regretted not standing by Amisha when she refused to become the next priestess of Ojuju. He regretted not being able to protect her from the influence of Ojuju.
"I should have been there for you more. I should have protected you and not encouraged you. If only I saw the future." Adazi lamented
When Adazi got home, he fell to his knees, praying for his daughter and for the kingdom.
"Please, gods of my ancestors, bring Amisha back to the light. Save her from the darkness." He prayed
The following day, as Adazi walked through the village, he met one of the villagers named Ukazi who was his long time friend
"Adazi my friend" Ukazi greeted
"Ukazi how was your day on the farm?" Adazi asked
"Very fine and yours?" Ukazi asked
"I have not been to the farm for a long while now" Adazi said
""Adazi my friend. I totally understand. With all that is happening with your daughter, I can relate with what you are going through and how you are feeling right now" Ukazi said
"It's not just about Amisha. It's about the kingdom. We have to do something to stop this." Adazi said
"What can we do?. Amisha's power is too great and you know it " Ukazi said
"I know, but we have to try. We can't just sit back and watch as our kingdom is destroyed." Adazi said
"You want to lead a revolt against your own daughter?" Ukazi asked
"At this stage, I don't mind if that would bring back her senses" Adazi said
"I have to find a way, a way to save my daughter and my kingdom." Adazi said
"So what do you intend to do?" Ukazi asked
"I intend to raise awareness in our people. An awareness that can help liberate this village from the powerful grasp of Ojuju" Adazi said
"Really?" Ukazi asked
"Yes. I want to encourage them to stand up to their fears. I want to let them know that we as a people can say No to Ojuju's demands and if we stand together, we can effect a change. Ojuju cannot possibly wipe us all away" Adazi said
"Then in that case you can count me in. I am ready" Ukazi said
"Thank you Ukazi much friend" Adazi said
"What are you thanking me for, you are a good man. Other fathers would sit back and enjoy all the goodies coming from their daughter being the most powerful person in this village but here you are doing the right thing. Not minding if it affects your daughter or not" Ukazi said
"Someone has to do it" Adazi replied
"So when do we start?" Ukazi asked
"First thing tomorrow morning " Adazi said
"Alright. So where do we meet?" Ukazi asked
"I will come over to your house and from there we would proceed house to house to enlighten our people " Adazi said
"No problem. Let me head home as it is about to rain. I will see you tomorrow morning" Ukazi said
"Alright my friend " Adazi replied as they parted ways
The following morning, Adazi woke up at the first cockcrow, got ready and headed for Ukazi's house. He got there and met people gathered and crying
"What happened"he asked?
"Ukazi my husband was hale and hearty as at the time he went to bed last night. He even told me both of you have something to do this morning and that I should wake him up very early. This morning I woke him up and just as he got up, his body began to rotten away and that was how live magg*t suddenly came from no where and fist on my husband's body until he passed away" Ukazi's wife said
Soon the whole compound was filled with sympathizers. Suddenly there was a great wind and there comes the chant of
"Amisha Jim Jim! Ojuju Jim Jim!"
"Priestess Amisha is heading this way" one of the villagers said and everyone knelt down and bowed
"The great Priestess is here, pay homage everyone " Amisha's male servant announced
"Long live Amisha the great" All the villagers chanted
"Ukazi rebelled against Ojuju and was struck by our god Ojuju. He and his family would face the maximum penalty. Put his body inside the house, throw every member of his family inside the house, lock up everywhere and set the house ablaze. Wait till everything burns down totally" Amisha ordered and her servants set to work
His father Adazi came close to her but was held by her servants
"How dare you attempt to go close to the great one " They questioned
"Allow me talk to my daughter " Adazi said
"Leave him alone " Amisha commanded
"Yes great one" The servants said and released their grips from Adazi
"Father you must learn to respect me just like the others. That you are my father doesn't make you above my wrath" Amisha said
"Amisha please don't do these" Adazi begged
"You should have thought about that before co-opting Ukazi into your scheming. You are lucky you are my father, if not you would have met a worse fate. Father everything that is happening here is your fault and the next time you dare me, you will feel my heat" Amisha said and disappeared
Soon the smell of things both living and non living burning filled the air.
To be continued