Chapter 01

The moon cast its silvery glow over the gathering of witches, their faces illuminated by the flickering candles. Queen Mother presided over the meeting, her eyes gleaming with a knowing intensity.

"Has everything been discussed?" Queen Mother asked, preparing to adjourn the meeting.

The other witches nodded in unison, their faces serene. But Omolola, one of the witches, suddenly rose to her feet, her expression troubled.

"Queen Mother," Omolola said,her voice filled with concern. "What is it, Omolola?" Queen Mother asked, her tone expectant.

Omolola took a deep breath, and her words spilled out in a rush. "It's about my son, Richwill," Omolola began. "My neighbor's son, Daniel, has just secured a job at the People's Bank. His family is now free from poverty, and it's a cause for celebration for them, but for us...".

Queen Mother's eyes narrowed. " What point are you trying to make, Omolola?"

Omolola took a deep breath. " My son, Mother. He's idle, with no job. And since Daniel started working, he's distanced himself from my son. People are talking, Mother. They call my son lazy and... "

Queen Mother's voice cut through Omolola's words. "What do I have to do with your family issues, Omolola? This is a gathering of witches, not a forum for personal problems".

Omolola's face fell, but she pressed on. "I beg of you, Mother, please help me. Give me something to make Daniel suffer."

Queen Mother's disapproving expression silenced Omolola. Her piercing gaze seemed to bore into Omolola's soul.

"I don't know if you can help me with this," Omolola said. I mean, I know you can, but I want something like Daniel's death. Maybe that'll be better. Perhaps something like...a curse on Daniel?

" Omolola, are you aware that if Daniel dies, the community churches will hold prayer meetings? "Ekene another witch, pointed out.

" I'm aware... Very much aware, but the shame is humiliating", Omolola replied.

" Requesting wealth for your son would be a better idea, "Adedolapo suggested.

" Enough! "Queen Mother decreed. "Omolola, you have the freedom to choose, but killing Daniel is not an option. I won't consider such a request. "

" Thank you, Queen Mother and fellow sisters of Hilda, for this opportunity, "Omolola said. I'd like my son to be prosperous instead..."

"Your son has no job, "Queen Mother interrupted, cutting her off.

" I know, Queen Mother, "Omolola replied.

" We can't just make him rich, "Queen Mother continued." As the saying goes, 'no food for a lazy man'. The least we can do is to make his business prosper, but he has no business... I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do for your son".

" Queen Mother, we can at least make Daniel suffer", Omolola said.

" How do you propose we do that?" Queen Mother asked.

" We can inflict him with a disease, one that'll take his life", Omolola suggested.

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Omolola. Adedolapo sighed deeply, relieved.

" Say something please", Omolola urged, looking around.

" Omolola, haven't you heard that people don't lay curses without good reason?" Queen Mother asked firmly.

Helen suggested, "Or we could make Daniel lose his temper." Ekene's curiosity was sparked. "How would that work?" she asked.

Helen's eyes gleamed with malice. "We make him direct his anger and aggression toward his mother. She'll either curse the day she gave birth to him or take her own life." The room fell silent, the only sound the soft crackling of the candles. "Then, the involvement of the police and the psychiatric hospital would be the next option. His wealth would be seized by the government, and the whole estate would think he used dark magic to acquire his riches. The trust they had in him would die."

Helen's voice was filled with hatred. "And finally, we can use his mother's blood to make your son rich, Omolola."

Omolola's face remained calm, but her eyes flashed with a sinister intensity. "Helen, I need something worse," she said, her voice low and menacing.

The Queen Mother's eyes blazed with anger. "Take a look at yourself, you greedy fellow!" she exclaimed.

Helen shot the Queen Mother a warning glance, and the older woman's temper seemed to cool. "Mother," Helen said, trying to calm her down. "Omolola, it seems like you don't want Daniel alive, do you?"

Omolola's smile sent shivers down Helen's spine. "Let the death of his mother traumatize him. The mental asylum is his final home."

Ekene nodded in agreement. "If you feel like this will satisfy you, you'll have to bring any of Daniel's belongings so that we can conjure the demon of anger in him."

But the Queen Mother intervened, her voice firm. "No, we won't be using that method. Omolola, come here."

The Queen Mother stood up, her movements fluid and deliberate. She brought out a charm, said some spiritual incantations on it, and handed it to Omolola. "Plant this in front of his house," the Queen Mother instructed.

As the meeting drew to a close, the Queen Mother's eyes seemed to gleam with a malevolent intensity. "I guess that's all for tonight," she said, her voice filled with anticipation.

"Queen Mother, can I see you for a minute?" Helen asked as she walked some distance away from the others, with the Queen Mother following her.

"Let me guess, it's about your barrenness..." the Queen Mother began.

"No, it's not about my barrenness,"Helen replied sarcastically, cutting her off. It's always about my barrenness, what else? "

"My marriage is almost broken," Helen said, her voice trembling. "I can't stand the insults I'm receiving."

"The insults can be dealt with right here and now," the Queen Mother replied. "Just give me the names of the persons responsible."

"No, Queen Mother," Helen countered, "I'd like it done differently. I want you to give me my own child."

"But you mustn't rush our Mother Hilda," the Queen Mother cautioned.

"Sixteen years ago, we were told to wait for Mother Hilda," Helen exclaimed, her frustration boiling over. "Fifteen years ago, we were told to wait. Days turned into months, months into years, and still, nothing. How long must we wait for our dear Hilda? How long?"

"Helen, remember who you're talking to," the Queen Mother warned. "Know your place."

"I know my rightful place," Helen declared, "and it's outside this coven. I'm done serving something I don't believe exists."

"Watch your words," the Queen Mother snapped.

"No, you watch the goddess you serve," Helen retorted confidently. "I don't know the goddess you're serving, but I know she isn't real. We came here, taking lives and sacrificing innocents. Every day, she demands a virgin's head, as if we benefit from it."

"Of course, we benefit from it," the Queen Mother argued.

"In what way?" Helen asked, skepticism etched on her face. "I've been here since I was twenty-eight."

"Let's not forget why you joined us," the Queen Mother said, her voice dripping with condescension. "Your great-grandmother died at thirty-two, leaving behind your grandmother. Your grandmother died at thirty-two, leaving behind your mother. Your mother died at thirty. You came here seeking long life, and now you're forty-four. You should be grateful to our Mother Hilda."

"I'll be grateful for nothing," Helen spat. "I'm forty-four with no child. How sweet is it to be old without a child of your own? How sweet is it..."

"Didn't you understand what I said?" the Queen Mother interrupted, her patience wearing thin. "You came here for long life, not for a child."

"Long live Helen, the barren woman," Helen declared. "You, of all people, should know my importance in this coven. My mother didn't just leave this world at an early age; she left wisdom for me. I grew up to be smart like her. If I were to walk out of this place tonight, this coven would fall spiritually. Believe me, I'd do that if my request is not granted." Helen spoke boldly.

The Queen Mother gazed at Helen for a moment, acknowledging the truth. Then, she turned to the entire coven and proclaimed, "Daughters of Hilda, tonight we spill our blood for our own kind!"

She approached the other witches, her eyes fixed intently on them. Amope, the youngest witch present, produced a short sword and cut the left upper arm of every witch, except Helen, who stood at a distance, still reeling from her argument with the Queen Mother.

As Amope made the cuts, the witches sang a traditional song to their goddess. The Queen Mother was the last to be cut. As Amope made the final incision, the Queen Mother turned to Helen, who still stood motionless.

With a subtle signal, Helen joined the circle. The witches formed a circle around Helen and the Queen Mother, their voices rising in unison. "Show us the way!" the Queen Mother cried out, her eyes lifted to the clouds.

As the song continued, the Queen Mother spoke loudly to the goddess, "Your daughters are here to see your face! Show us the light in the dark tunnel!" Prove to us that you're all-powerful!"

The Queen Mother signaled Helen to kneel. Adedolapo mixed a concoction at the Queen Mother's request. Helen was asked to drink it, and the blood from the calabash was given to the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother raised the blood to the sky, reciting incantations. As the singing turned into a chant, the Queen Mother poured the blood on Helen, watching it flow from her hair to the ground. The blood transformed the sandy soil into concrete.

The clouds gathered, and the chanting grew louder. The Queen Mother told Helen to perform her wifely duties.

"I'm grateful to the goddess Hilda," Helen said, "but I wish to have a boy as my first child. Normally, a woman who has been barren gives birth to a boy."

The Queen Mother replied, "You can't outsmart the goddess. Your family line has always had girls first."

Helen countered, "They weren't barren."

The Queen Mother interrupted, "You don't talk when I talk, Helen," her eyes bulging in anger.

Helen apologized, "I'm sorry, Mother," and bowed her head in shame.

The Queen Mother said, "Peradventure you have a second child..."

Helen looked up, "Peradventure." The Queen Mother's interruption silenced her.

Helen bowed and left. "All hail Mother Hilda!" The Queen Mother declared. The witches chanted and danced.

As Helen left the coven, she knew that the child promised to her would someday return to the goddess. "It's surprising that the Queen Mother didn't ask for anything in return for the child," Helen said to herself as her soul traveled back to her body.

She sat on her massive, king-sized bed with a plush, velvet bedspread. She turned to look at her husband, who was fast asleep. "Words cannot explain how much I love you," she said, gently rubbing his beard.