Chapter 76

Vincent opened his mouth to speak but no word came out of it as he nervously rubbed his knee. Finally, he said, "Let's just say that I've made whatever confession I've to my mentor, Bishop Joseph."

"I see..." The parish priest simply said in a skeptical manner. "If it's the same Bishop Joseph that I know, I'll advise you to be careful..." As Vincent was about to ask him why he said such, the Parish priest asked again, "What about Babatunde's daughter? The one you have been teaching to read the Bible? I haven't seen her for eight days now? Is there any problem whatsoever?"

Vincent swallowed hard. He didn't like to lie and he knew it is a sin, but in order to protect Ewatomi who was still in a coma, he did. "Not at all father... she's well but has only decided to take a short break for now."

"Very well then, I'll have to leave the rest to God." The Parish priest said then turned to address Gideon. "Father Gideon, it's a great mystery that you have not turned out like Father Paul here. I don't know what's amiss, but for that maiden to go all the way of getting pregnant for you, well that's new and I have no idea why she'd do that! As for now, I'll like us to pray for forgiveness and together go through deliverance, especially for Father Paul. During the course of this deliverance, we'll have to embark on a seven-day fasting. After that, Father Gideon, I hope you know that I'll have no choice than to report your acts to the bishop of this diocese which means that you'll be inevitably dismissed from priesthood since you now have a child on the way."

"I know, father." Gideon murmured in regret.

"If I may ask, what do you intend to do with the maiden? Have you two started discussing marriage?"

"Marriage?" Gideon lifted his head, asking with a frown.

"Yes of course, or do you intend to leave the maiden stranded with a child while you return to the east? She'll never get a man to marry her. The men hear stay away from single mothers, especially those who got pregnant for a different tribe or race. They even value young widows than single mothers. They firmly believe in virginity and since this maiden has gone against that rule, you are her only chance at marriage."

"Well, my thoughts haven't actually gone towards marriage, father..." Gideon answered.

"Then were you considering an abortion?" The Parish priest gave him a suspicious look.

"Well..." He shrugged. 

"Do you even love this maiden at all?"

"I thought all that there would be between us would just be the sex, I didn't expect pregnancy to be in the way... My folks back at home might never accept a Yoruba lady, especially an uneducated one." Gideon stated.

"Hmmm..." The parish priest thoughtfully said then heaved a sigh. "Anyway, I cannot make any decisions until the bishop comes down here...but for now, I want you to start convincing that girl to follow you to the church. She also needs to be delivered and if she can also convince her other friends, then that's good news... Shall we pray?" He lowered his head now and the other priests did the same.

                                                                                     ★★★

Vincent walked into his room that evening and paused when he saw Ewatomi who was clad in a flowery dress, standing and staring out of the window and watching the rain patter on the leaves, while her back turned to the door. He had hardly left her side while she was still in a coma, and with Sewa's help, he had watched her heal very well much to his astonishment; even though he knew that God had a bigger role to play in her healing because even in her comatose state, he would hear her mumble bible verses on rare occasions. 

Despite the fact that she had healed very well, he had feared that she might never come out of the coma, and every night before he went to bed, he would place her head on his lap and read the Bible to her, hoping that she could still hear him. Well, he was pleased when he would see her smile a bit or her fingers won't twitch, which showed that she could hear his words, but it was never more than that.

Every morning, Sewa would come in and wash her body then change her clothes. Ever since she slipped into a coma, Sewa had been dressing her in non-white dresses and even though Vincent knew that Ewatomi might not like it, he just had to let the housekeeper do her thing. He had even fasted and prayed to God, begging him to restore Ewatomi back to life. He had even written a letter to the bishop, informing him of the present situation and he had also revealed to the bishop that he was contemplating leaving the priesthood. 

He had discovered that in the days he spent watching Ewatomi heal, his feelings for her had grown beyond great measure and he knew that the only way he could legally have her was to leave the priesthood. Not that he really wanted to be a priest anyway, it was his father's idea, and now that he had lived his father's dream, it was high time he lived his.

"Are you going to keep standing there, staring at me, or you are going to come into your own room?" She partially turned to smile at him after her words for she had long sensed his presence before he even walked into the house.

He smiled and walked into the room, placed his Bible and rosary on the table near the wall, then joined her at the window. He was a bit wet and the umbrella which he had been given by the Parish Priest had done little to protect him from the rain through the long walk all the way from the church. "I'm surprised that you are awake." He said in awe and great relief as he thanked God in his heart.

"I'm surprised myself." She replied. "A man in a shiny white robe walked into the room, took my hand and helped me get off the bed. Then he told me that I had rested enough and it's time I returned to know more about his father."

Vincent stared at her in surprise. "It seems you have just had an encounter with Jesus, which is rather very rare."

"He looked amazing." She beamed. "I've never seen a man more beautiful."

Vincent smiled. "That's a divine encounter that I've always wished that I could have."

"He told me something else though..." She said in a sober tone now, turning her head to watch a snail crawl up the stem of a cocoyam plant, leaving behind a trail of slime.

"What did he say?" Vincent asked.

"He told me that it's only after I've accepted him that I can be whole and I'll have whatever I ask of him." Then she turned to look at him as she asked. "How can I fully accept Jesus Christ?"

Vincent sighed softly when he recalled the letter that he had received from the bishop a few days ago which had stated- 

“Whatever you do, do not let her accept Christ yet. If she does, she'll be unable to shape-shift into her mermaid form and that means that we will never know if she was ever telling the truth. Tell her that she can accept Christ after her twenty-fifth birthday. I'll be traveling down to join you two days before that fateful day.

 I also have to see her shape-shift for myself. You have to understand that this is a lifetime opportunity that I can't let pass me by. I need to see this mermaid! I need to confirm her claim! If this is true and you can prove it, I promise you, Vincent, I'll let you off priesthood a very happy man, and with my blessings and support, you can go ahead and marry her! I give you my word!"

Snapping out of the flashback, Vincent said to Ewatomi, "You'll have to officially confess that's Lord then accept him as your personal Lord and savior. After that, you have to get baptized too and also let go of your past. For 2 Corinthians 17:5 says-" He started to quote the scriptures but was cut off by her.

She interrupted him by saying the verse instead. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new...but accepting Jesus means that I'll have to forfeit my world, right?" She asked sadly. "It also means that I might never see my family anymore, doesn't it?" 

"Yes... You'll have to let go of everything that does not go in line with Christ." He answered.

Ewatomi sighed sadly then lowered her gaze as lightning flashed in the sky and a distant rumble of thunder could be heard. "This is really a big decision that I've to make...but first, I'll have to think about it."

"Take all the time you want." Vincent told her. "Your twenty-fifth birthday is just three weeks away. That's long enough to think about it, isn't it?" He asked.

She lifted her eyes to look at him. "What if I want to accept him before my twenty-fifth birthday?"

"I just think it's wise for you to wait... Besides, you can do it a few hours later, but I really want to see you turn into the mermaid you have always claimed that you are."

"You still doubt me, don't you?"

"Well, it's still pretty hard to believe." He gave a subtle shrug. "I mean, I've heard of mermaids quite alright I but I always thought that they were a myth. Your proving me wrong will mean that I believe that they actually exist."

"Fine, because of you, I'll wait. I just hope that it will not be too late to give my life to Christ by then."

"Nah, Christ is always ready and willing to accept you anytime."

"I can see that you two lovebirds are having a good time." Sewa said and they turned around to look at her. "I brought dinner." She said as she walked to the table and placed the tray of food on it, then she approached Ewatomi and took her hands in hers. "Abeni, you have healed so well." She said after scrutinizing her body.

 "I'm surprised at how you turned out. It's good to finally have you get out of that coma." She pulled Ewatomi into a hug. When they separated, she glanced at Vincent as she said to Ewatomi. "This young man never wanted to leave your side. I had to force him to eat, take a bath and even go to church, promising to look after you until he's back. If this isn't genuine love, then I don't know what is."

Ewatomi glanced at Vincent and smiled shyly. "Thank you." She smiled. "Thank you for all your help."

"Don't mention dear. You deserve every bit of it and more." Sewa smiled. "Now, you two should eat up, especially you Abeni. You'll need to regain your strength too. If you need anything else, I'll be downstairs, all you have to do is call for me and I'll be up here in a jiffy."

"Ese (thank you), mama." Ewatomi said.

Sewa turned to leave, remembered something then paused and turned to look at them. "I think it's only proper that I let you two know."

"What is it, Sewa?" Vincent asked. "The princess' friends came here a couple of times-" Sewa started to say but Ewatomi suddenly gasped in fear and grabbed Vincent's hand. Noticing how pale she looked, Sewa smiled and said, "Have no cause for alarm, my dear. I can assure you that they mean you no harm anymore. They did come here three times in the priest's absence to check on you. They were sorry and wanted to make up for it. In fact, from what I was told, they told me that they were going to hide your hideout from Kikelomo because she still seeks your life."

Ewatomi tried to relax but she was still nervous. "I don't want to have anything to do with them, mama, they almost killed me."

"I understand your fears, Abeni. But you also have to understand that they were only acting on orders. Those girls have been bullied into pleasing the princess ever since they were children and now, they have told me that they want to break away from her. They wish to live normal lives but they cannot do that when they are still initiated to the snake goddess. Father, is there anything you can do to help them?"

"Yes, you could tell them to come to the church for deliverance." Vincent replied. "There's nothing God cannot do."

"Of course." Sewa said then sighed, "I really feel sorry for them and I also want to help them, but there's a fourth one that doesn't show up with them. I don't know if she's still on the princess' side."

Suddenly Vincent cried out in pain and jumped away from where he was standing to see a snake coiled on the floor after biting him. Unknown to them, the snake had crawled up the window behind them and had stealthily slithered into the room.

"Jesus!" Vincent grimaced in pain as he checked his foot and saw two beads of blood where the snake's fangs had sunk into his flesh. "In the mighty name of Jesus, I command you to reveal your true form!" He declared and the snake suddenly shapeshifted to Abisola on the floor.

"You!" Ewatomi cried out and rushed to stand behind Sewa.

Abisola slowly rose to her feet, looking helpless.

"You bit me!" Vincent stated.

"Yes, I did, but don't worry, it was a dry bite, I pumped no venom. I only did that to get your attention." Abisola explained.

"What do you want?" Vincent asked. "Have you come here to finish her off?" 

"No..." Abisola shook her head. "I've not come for Ewatomi. I've been sent to kill you instead."

"Kill me?" Vincent frowned, baffled. "By whom? I have wronged no one."

"Yes, you have wronged no one indeed, but that doesn't stop Kikelomo's great-grandmother from wishing you dead. She wants me to kill you. She claims that you pose a threat to her and you are an unwanted distraction to her great-granddaughter, therefore, she wants you gone."

"Then why didn't you kill him?" Sewa stepped forward now. "You had the chance to strike, but you didn't kill him. Why?"

"Because I don't want any more blood on my head anymore. I want to be free but Olori Bukunmi has asked me to do this or she would tell the princess that I tried to betray her by setting Oyediran free."

"My grandfather!" Ewatomi uttered in dread.

"Wait a minute, Olori Bukunmi is still alive?" Sewa asked in shock. "I was told that she vanished without a trace over two hundred years ago! How come she's still alive?! She ought to be dead!"