Chapter 4: The Serpent's Bargain
As Adewunmi grappled with the immense weight of the ancient prophecy and the volatile, untamed power that surged within her, a new and immediate threat slithered into her awareness, cold and menacing. One sweltering afternoon, the air thick with humidity and the buzz of cicadas, she sought solace by the familiar stream, hoping to find some understanding in the gentle whispers of the flowing water, a connection to the Orisha who now resided within her. Suddenly, a voice, smooth and chilling as polished obsidian, slithered into the quiet sanctuary of her mind, unbidden and unwelcome.
"So, the little dove has sprouted feathers," it hissed, the words echoing in her thoughts, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine despite the oppressive heat. The voice, malevolent and possessive, identified itself, claiming to belong to Erinlẹ, the formidable Orisha of the hunt, iron, and warfare, a deity revered for his unmatched skill in tracking and his unwavering resolve, but also known for his fierce temper and fiercely territorial nature. His mental tone was accusatory, his unseen presence radiating an aura of raw power and barely contained fury. He accused Adewunmi of unlawfully harboring power that rightfully belonged to Oshun, a fragment of divine essence that had been violently stolen and now inexplicably resided within her mortal form.
Erinlẹ then offered Adewunmi a chilling and seemingly impossible bargain, his mental voice laced with a subtle undercurrent of threat. He demanded that she willingly surrender the fragment of Oshun's essence that had taken root within her. In return for this divine concession, he promised to ensure the continued safety and well-being of her village, guaranteeing protection from any further harm that might befall them in the wake of the stolen amulet. He hinted darkly at the growing chaos that the theft had unleashed in the intricate and often turbulent spiritual realm, claiming that other, far more dangerous and ancient entities were now keenly aware of Ile-Ifẹ's newfound vulnerability, their eyes drawn to the void left by the missing artifact. His mental words were heavy with unspoken menace, painting a terrifying picture of impending doom and unimaginable suffering if she dared to refuse his offer. He gave her a mere three days to consider his proposition, his cold, smooth voice fading from her mind with a chilling promise of a personal visit under the next full moon if she failed to comply with his demands.
Fear for the safety of her family and her entire village warred fiercely with a burgeoning sense of protectiveness over the strange, powerful energy that had inexplicably become an intrinsic part of her being. Surrendering it felt like a profound betrayal of Iya Agba's memory, a rejection of the hope that her people desperately clung to in these dark times. But the very thought of openly defying an Orisha, especially one as formidable and unforgiving as Erinlẹ, seemed like an act of utter folly, a blatant invitation to unimaginable retribution, a potential death wish not just for herself, but for everyone she held dear. Adewunmi found herself trapped in an impossible situation, caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place, the serpent's bargain a venomous coil tightening relentlessly around her young and terrified heart.