CHAPTER 222

" Why did you agree to her terms? Don't you know how much Evelyn is so manipulative? She will do everything to win the war and she will take the ancestral vase away from us. I am totally disappointed in you Evelyn" shouted Magdalene as she turned towards Ruth filled with lots of anger.

" She can do everything she can but I know that she can never win against the power of an angry witch" Ruth said filled with lots of confidence. 

 " You do not know what Evelyn is capable of. Remember I raised her own daughter without knowing. I made you marry her grandson without knowing. Now she wants  the power which I have built for so many years to make me rule over the closer gates and fellow witches. She can do everything that she wants to do but I will never surrender the ancestral vase before. Bring me the ancestral vase" shouted Magdalene at Ruth.

" How will I be able to bring the ancestral vase to you grandma? I am sorry for being a disappointment " said Ruth in a pellucid voice.

" You always know where to find me when you want me. You stand beside me everyday as you cry together with my daughter Naomi regretting why I left both of you in this world to fight all the battles by yourselves. Please do not ask me too many questions. You know very well where you should bring the ancestral vase to. I cannot help you more than that. Now go and stop disturbing my peace. Please leave and don't come back again" shouted Magdalene at Ruth. 

Ruth's spirit immediately left the spiritual world which made her to suddenly wake up from where she was lying. She immediately stood and took the ancestral vase. She knew exactly where she was supposed to take the ancestral vase and that is the exact place she took it, at Magdalene's grave. 

As soon as she placed the ancestral vase on top of Magdalene's face, Ruth saw a huge transformation which caused tofall into deep state of confusion. Magdalene had overtaken her mind and soul. This made Ruth to think like Magdalene, walk like Magdalene and even bear the same tastes as Magdalene. 

The ancestral vase had also disappeared from Magdalene's grave. 

Ruth under the transformation of Magdalene immediately went back to the house. She changed her dress and immediately dressed in a white dress. She therefore cleaned the house and ensured everything was clean just like the way Magdalene could had done. 

Magdalene loved cleanliness above all. That is what she was praised for since childhood. 

Ruth finally ensured that everything was tidy in the house and left the house after locking the main door. She was prepared to go to the war between her and Evelyn even though she had no idea if she was going to win or not.  All she wished and hoped for was not to loose her family's source of power which was the ancestral vase. 

After ensuring that everything in the compound was secure, Ruth locked the gate and finally boarderd a taxi. She ordered the taxi driver to take her to the closer gates. She seemed that she was fully prepared for the war but had neither practised ant tactics nor thought of a plan on how the operation was going to be successful. 

The taxi took alot of hours before it could arrive at the closer gates. This was simply because the taxi driver was slow to drive and quick to force Ruth to highlight as soon as Ruth arrived at the closer gates.

She found out that there were no guards at the gate like there were before. Ruth entered the closer gates and was astonished to see a large number of people coming towards her who were ready to welcome her into the closer gates. 

Ruth danced as they sang as they escorted her to the closer gates but was suddenly stopped by Martin on the way who seemed to be filled by lots of anger. Martin took Ruth's arm and led her to the servant quarters where there were no servants around. That was the only private place that Martin found wiser to have a conversation with .

" What do you think you are doing Ruth? Why did you propose to engage into this deadly war with my grandma Evelyn. You don't know everything that my grandma Evelyn is capable of. Please do not dare engage yourself in the war" shouted Martin at Ruth who seemed to be more than confudent , more than she had ever been before.

" I am doing what is best for my people at the closer gates. I must fight to win because if I don't fight to win, my family will loose it's position as the keeper of the ancestral vase. My mama and Nelly will never be seen my me again. Do you now understand why I have to do this? I want my family back into my arms" shouted Ruth at Martin who was keenly listening.

" That does not give you the right to accept the invite to fight with my grandma Evelyn. Who will take care of me once you are gone? Aren't you scared that something bad is going to happen to me ? I will loose ypu to my grandma if I win this war but I cannot really dare to let that happen. If you cannot stop, then I will be the one to make you step" said Martin as he held Ruth's arm tightly. 

Ruth angrily removed her arms from Martin and slapped Martin on his cheeks filled with lots anger. 

" At this point you cannot decide anything for me a d about my life. I am not your wife, daughter, or mother. I am Ruth Bora and I am the only one who got married to you at the age of sixteen. You used to control me as much as you could before simply because I was your wife but not now, your grandma has kidnapped my ailing sister Nelly and my mama. I have to fight to win for the sake of both of them" said Ruth which made Martin to widen his eyes in disbelief. 

He found it hard to believe that Naomi was missing and his own grandmother was the one at fault. Martin was still fond of Naomi. 

" No" shouted Martin at Ruth who was suddenly feeling sad. 

" The truth really hurts Martin. I have nothing more to explain to you. By the way, after this war is over,  you will have to forget about me. My family and I will be leaving this town for good" said Ruth who suddenly left the closer gates. 

As soon as her supporters saw her, they began to dance for her as Ruth continued to dance til Ruth reached at the meeting square. They were really confident that Ruth was going to win.

After an hour of waiting for Evelyn, she suddenly showed up dressed in a red dress. On the back of his dress it was written "  I will be your murderer for tonight Ruth" . Ruth read it and just smiled. She was not really scared of anything. 

" You showed up my best friend's granddaughter. I thought you would give up fighting a powerful witch like me" said Evelyn in a pellucid voice.

" How can I back out from a fight that will benefit my own family? I have come not totally prepared for the war but I know that I am destined to win this  fight. So why don't we start? I can't wait to see you bleed and disappear from our lives forever. You have to and that is the only way that your family, people at the closer gates and my family will be free from your wicked claws" shouted Ruth at Evelyn who suddenly stretched her arm towards Ruth and wanted to slap her but Ruth suddenly stopped her by holding her arm and pushing her away till she fell on Martin's arm. 

Martin immediately assisted her to stand. Evelyn looked at Ruth a little bit astonished. She wondered how Ruth had so much power to fight against power. 

" Where have you gotten so much power to fight against me? Who exactly is helping you out? You must tell me the truth or else this will be the end of you. I will make sure that you will be the one to bleed unmercilessly. You have no right to live Ruth. You have no right to fight for these people who signed up to be our slaves" shouted Evelyn at Ruth. 

Evelyn's eyes suddenly turned to red as fire came out from her mouth pushing Ruth to the far end of the meeting square but Ruth immediately raised her hand which prevented the fire from throwing her down and backfired. This caused Evelyn to fall on the floor once more.

" These people are not our slaves. We are their slaves. We have to feed them, cloth them and bury them once they die. That is not what we should sign up for. We should be there for them and live as brothers and sisters" said Ruth as she suddenly walked towards Evelyn and assisted her to stand. 

MARRIED AT SIXTEEN