Eternal Vows

Chapter 1: A Meeting of Mortal and Divine

In a lively little village called Ilu Ailasiri (Transparent), known for its eventful activities, beautiful people and enviable cultures, this secret lies hidden –

A boundary that connected men to the immortal.

In this village, an unusual looking young maiden, Oluwakemi, still oblivious to the grace she embodied, lived an ordinary life. Her life of routine soon encounters the divine.

This encounter happened on a day when Oluwakemi went to Oja-Oba market. Oba – as Oja-Oba market was popularly called, was majestic compared to other markets in Ilu Ailasiri and even across the seven neighbouring villages. The Melodies of laughter,  colourful textiles, moulding of clays, aromatic air of spices mingled with fresh fruits and foods, and the lively chatter and banter between traders and buyers were the trademark of Oba (King). Here, on the auspicious fortnight Oba was known to open, Oluwakemi first encountered Fijabi.

On that day, Kemi’s attention developed a will of its own as her eyes trailed this stranger whose attempt at blending in with the typical crowd failed. Everything about him screamed a difference that the common Buba and Sokoto he wore couldn’t conceal.  His gait bespoke authority and something… she couldn’t describe. She knew Oba drew men of all kinds, from royalties to nobels and even the commoner like herself. But this didn’t quite fit into these three categories. The only thing that aptly captured this enigmatic stranger seemed to be the Market – Oba, he occupied. He filled the environment, and even the simplicity of his attire didn’t spare him from the people’s gaze.

Her gaze flickered around the market as she noticed the stillness. For the first time, Oba, who had never known silence, was dead silent. Every activity seemed to freeze as they all beheld this. “Just Who Are You?” popped into her head.

She felt a pull to look ahead, and when she did, her eyes gazed into a pair of waiting eyes. The connection was instant and binding, saying things words couldn’t.

Drawn by a force of immediacy she couldn’t understand, she moved through the market towards this stranger. He also moved towards her, his gaze never leaving her. As they got closer, an unseen cord shifted, providing an energy that affected everything around them.

A few feet toward the stranger, she gets intercepted by her uncle, who informs her of an urgent issue at home. Without wasting much time, he pulls her out of the market. Desperately, she turns to catch a glimpse of the stranger, but to her dismay, he is nowhere in sight, gone like a dream, and Oba, brimming with activities like the few moments never happened.

Unknown to her, the one whom she felt this indescribable pull was one beyond her realm, a Diety. Unknown to them, they had accepted a fate. A fate that went against the cosmic realm that determined fate for humans and deities alike.

CHAPTER 2: The Dream

 After the encounter at Oba, Oluwakemi’s world never remained the same.

 Disheartened by the unexplainable event at the market and her uncle’s interference, she got home to discover that the matter of urgency that had her rushed out of the market was a suitor.

Her parents had received an offer for her hand in marriage from Oladeji, a wealthy farmer in the village—an offer that would have been welcome news to her the previous day, but after the encounter of one who called to her being in ways she didn’t know had been possible she easily rejected the offer. Thankfully, her parents didn’t push for the union, especially after she declared her desire to be her husband’s first and only wife just as her mother was – not a second wife as Olajide wanted.

As the next Fortnight turned into four fortnights, during which she went to Oba without any sign of the stranger, Oluwakemi became more afraid that the encounter had been nothing but her imagination. The sorrow she felt intensified with every failed visit to Oba where she didn’t encounter her Oba – as she’d begun to call the stranger. The sorrow she felt became so great that it tale to her parents, who tried countless times to get the truth out of her but failed.

On her fourth visit to Oba, she saw Oladeji with his new wife at the market. Despite herself, she felt sorrow and regret when she saw them. She left the market quickly to avoid their notice.

As she went home, she cursed herself for stupidly allowing her imagination to make her reject the only man who had asked for her hand in marriage. She was beautiful, or so she was told by most, but despite all of this, she couldn’t fail to notice how all her – but she had been married off while she remained in her father’s house without even a single soul – before Oladeji asking for her hand in marriage. It was a surprise that her parents had never complained of her ill luck with me or forced her to Olajide when he came.

Her hands clutched the coral beds on her neck as the pain of her friends’ withdrawal from her after marriage. She didn’t hold any grudge against them for staying away. The rumour had been that she was cursed. She had believed that she was cursed, so she had prayed and offered sacrifice to the gods for a change from her ill fate. And just when they answered her, she rejected their answer. All for what?  A man she had imagined. 

If only the gods could be merciful again-

She walks into her father’s compound through the backdoor with those thoughts. There, she finds her beaming mother. “ Indeed, you’ll live long, my daughter. I was just about to send for you. You have a Suitor—the First Son of Chief Balogun,” her mother said.

CHAPTER 3: Forbidden Desires

That night, as she lay in bed, Oluwakemi allowed the tears to fall. Since the stranger encounter – her imagined encounter, she had felt like crying. But she held on to hope and held back her tears. But the events of the day had hit her like a rock. They reminded her of past pains and secret fears that she thought time had healed.

That encounter – she thought she’d had, at the market had given her hope. But now, that same encounter had brutally ripped what was left of her already battered heart and esteem.

She had to be cursed. Because only cursed aptly defined a woman who cried over a man she had imagined – A man who hadn’t even wished a good day not to think of counting her and only cursed defined this unexplainable yearning within her.

She had accepted Akin’s proposal much to the delight of all present, but still, she was unhappy. She finally got the marriage proposal she had prayed for – one she never thought would come so quickly after Oladeji. A proposal from an industrious merchant – first son to the high chief, who she hadn’t realised had noticed her. Why, then, was she unhappy?

Oh, she cursed herself and that cursed imagination.

It was a relief when sleep finally came. With sleep came a dream—the strangest kind.

***

Kemi felt a presence before she saw it. Someone was in her room and watching her. She knew it wasn’t her parent because she had felt this presence for a while now and had even taken to sleeping in her mother’s hut until today – where her sorrow demanded seclusion. She contemplated screaming or pretending to be asleep and hoped it would go away as always. Or–

Mentally, she calculates the distance between her bed and the door and is about to go for it when she hears a soothing yet powerful voice say–

“Relax, it’s me.”

All went still for a while, her whole being soaked in the sound of that voice. And then–

Kemi’s eyes flutter open, and she sits up abruptly, wanting to confirm what her heart knew.

“It’s You” Kemi stared incredulously at the source of her torment. Her hand flew to rest on her chest.

So he had been real? She hadn’t imagined him. Hadn’t imagined those opaque eyes. She had thought them black under the light of day, but now, under the soft glow of the night fire, she noticed they had a deep redness to them.

She had to touch him to be sure that this was real. Her hands trembled as she reached for his face. The heat of his flawless face grazing her palm. Her chin began to tremble. “You… You are “ She could complete the word, and a sob broke out. She enveloped him in a hug, crying freely. But this time, not bitter tears. But tears of relief and joy. 

The heat of his body pressed against her as he deepened the hug felt good. So good. She pressed in more. Fearing it was a dream. Afraid he’ll suddenly disappear on her like he had at the market. “I’m sorry,” he said remorsefully.

Gently, she eased off him as if sensing her intention; he got on the bed and cuddled her. She sighed with contentment as her head met with his chest.

“You didn’t come to the market to look for me, and I went to look for you. I thought I had imagined you or worse than you …

“…I didn’t care?” He completed her words when she couldn’t.

She gazed up at him as he lifted her hand to his lips. Sweet shivers ran through her as skin met with his lips. “My heart recognised and yielded to you from the moment my eyes found you”. Before her eyes, his dark red eyes lightened to the shade of a red moon. This uncommon sight should have scared her off, but it didn’t.

She moved closer, drinking at the sight of him. Her hand followed suit, stroking his face.“Tell me your name,” she whispered.

He takes her hand from his face and places it on his chest. He stared intently at her. Now, his eyes glittered like fire, and she noticed things begin to come alive in the room. The Fire on the candlestick burned brighter than she’d ever seen it. The water pot began to overflow. The wind blew in with a vengeance, circling into a whirlwind that should have had things flying out and uprooted from their position, but nothing in her room moved. They all seem… frozen. Suddenly, silence reigned, and she heard him speak without moving his lips, “Fijabi.”

CHAPTER 4: Journeys Through Realms

In the sky above, where stars formed patterns that told stories of the gods, stories only Ifa – all-knowing revealed to a few worthy men, the Celestial Council of Deities ruled. The council is made up of respected gods who oversaw the affairs of men and maintained the balance between men and Olodumare ( The Supreme Father). Unlike the distracted humans in Oba, these Deities caught sight of this Unique Symphony at Oba market. This symphony they termed forbidden and evil.

On that day, Oluwakemi wasn’t the only one summoned; Fijabi was also summoned—by the council. The celestial council had witnessed the broken balance. Right there, Fijabi was informed that he was to stay away from the humans. The News was painful for Fijabi, who knew what he felt could not be ignored.

Fijabi hadn’t realised – until it was too late that the one whom his heart recognised hadn’t been an orisa. And even when he realised, he hadn’t cared. Before seeing her, he sensed her, but nothing had prepared him for it. Not even the decade-long mission he had just completed had prepared him for the ebb of power that brimmed through him when his eyes beheld her.

 In his haste, he had concluded that she was a deity and had claimed her when they had touched. Her uncle’s timely interruption made him realise he had done the forbidden. He who had never been one to go out of the line had gone beyond the line. In a bid to rectify his actions, he had wiped their memories and taken time back, but when he saw the pain in her eyes as she looked for him, he knew that his powers hadn’t wholly worked on her.

Confused, disoriented and disgusted —with himself for yearning after a human, he leaves the human world. The moment he returned home, he was immediately summoned by the Celestial Council. For the first time, he hated the lack of privacy. He knew why he was suddenly summoned.

They knew.

He should have been more conscious, but then again, how was he to know he would encounter a human like no other? One with the ability to intoxicate an orisa? (god)

Silence fell on all discussion in the grand Hall of Eternity the moment he walked in. He took in space, and the Orisas gathered— was not what he needed at his weakest. The deities, void of their bright robes that reflected the light of distant galaxies, gathered around the throne dressed in grey—the colour for severity. 

Oduduwa, the oldest and wisest among them, took his place at the centre, his eyes expressionless and face stiff. He knew that look and knew what was coming.

The energy of the divine crackled in the air. The tension and disruption couldn’t be concealed. Adasa, impatient, spoke, “What have you done, Fijabi? You know the laws. The ancient laws, written in the scrolls that we are custodians of … that you are a custodian of!”

As though just the opening they needed, the rest of the Orisas began talking all at once. He heard them all: accusations, worry, anger, etc. But in all this mayhem, Oduduwa watched, silent, just looking at him as though waiting on something, then suddenly stood, and all fell silent.

“Nothing like this had ever happened”, Agemo winced.

“Oh, It Has”, A Clear Voice said and even before Fijabi turned, he knew its owner, Ifa.

“It has Agemo.” He smiled, although it didn’t reach his eye. “It has Orisas,” Everyone looked expectantly at Ifa. Itching for his next words, “Although quickly covered and forgotten then due to the fragility of the realm at the time,” he said. This throws the council into a contemplative uproar.

Fijabi was not left out in the uproar as his being soared; maybe there was hope for… His eye caught sight of Oduduwa’s now very expressive face, and what he saw there made him freeze.

Looking away from him, Oduduwa glared at Ifa. Ifa, an Orisa do not easily cowered by the revered Oduduwa indulge him. A brief war passed between these men Fijabi had come to respect and see as his father —

Then Oduduwa stared directly at Fijabi, although addressing everyone. “It happened to one of us. And it… it made him obsessive, wicked, soulless, and evil spirit cast out from us,” he simply said.

He had thought his error and sin to the universe had hurt, but the realisation that loving her was way more than forbidden but cursed. The silent message in Oduduwa’s eyes was clear: Stay Away From The Human.

CHAPTER 5: god amongst Men

The relationship between Kemi and Fijabi became a safe secret kept from both spirits and men, strictly restricted to her dreams and the dark of night sleep where they kept to their world in their room, but the more they persisted, I. In this forbidden embrace, they wanted more.

Rumours were already spreading around the village that the daughter of Mabawonku was possessed as she rejected the suitors who constantly visited her father’s compound to ask for her hand. The tale of how the once dry compound of Mabawonku was now a den filled with eligible young men who constantly had their dreams dashed when Kemi rejected them.

At first, the story was that she wanted someone with great wealth and power. However, when the men, young and old, of royal descent and blue of blood, came wooing her with immeasurable wealth and she refused, the rumours changed to her wanting the men to grovel for the years she was scorned. The envious ones concocted tales of pride – now that Kemi had been blessed by the gods.

Despite these rumours, the suitors didn’t stop coming. Her father’s compound was filled with gifts of animals, cowries, crops and fruits, materials, and artefacts from all around, which he had to begin giving out and rejecting. The gods’ favour seemed to be upon them that even her parents’ crops yielded the most for the year.

As time passed, the tale of Kemi grew and brought her more fame, but her parents feared this identity. Despite their plea, their daughter refused to settle with any of the suitors who filled their compound asking for her hand. The only thing they noticed was the forlorn and sad expression on her face, as though she waited on someone  – whose identity they had failed to coax out of her.

If only they knew their daughter was in love with one, she couldn’t have. One she constantly wished could be one of those suitors who walked into the compound to request for her. She knew that she couldn’t continue to reject suitors, but she also knew that she could accept anyone other than the one she loved. If only…If only the gods could be merciful.

CHAPTER 6: The Pain of the Forbidden

As he moved to depart as he usually did when it was near the break of dawn, he heard Kemi say, “Don’t go”, the pain and pleas in her voice piercing his heart. Fijabi knew something troubled her, although she had denied it, and he, being the coward he had recently found himself to be, had not used his powers to invade her thoughts.

“You know I have to go,” he said softly, turning his back against her to hide from her eyes, which he could feel on him.

“The men, they keep coming…asking my father for my hand.” At her words, he stiffened. He knew this day would come. He didn’t have it to stop her; she couldn’t keep rejecting suitors that came her way.

So, although it killed him inside, he said, “Then pick anyone your heart is set on …settle –” he felt choked, “Settle with him,”

“What happens to you if I do?” She questioned calmly.

“Don’t worry about me, I’ll manage” he replied with a calmness that opposed the storm within him. It was a lie. He couldn’t manage. The thought of her with another…, married to him as it was the way of humans, lying beside her, feeling her warmth, listening to her voice as she sang or spoke… he couldn’t bring himself to see another that he didn’t want to kill. He might be on his way to becoming the evil spirit he had been warned of.

She laughed bitterly. “You’ll manage? Without me…in your life, you’ll manage?” she began dressing. It’s fine; you can leave if you can manage without me. I’ll also manage.” A sob escapes her, and he immediately goes to comfort her.

“My heart doesn’t…,” she jerks away From him

“Don’t touch me!” she shouts. “You’ll manage without me, you say. I should pick another my heart sets on, you say? Then you don’t know how much I can’t deal with this life if it isn’t you. My life, soul, and heart are made and drawn from you. Do you know how every day I hear a suitor ask for my hands, I hope upon the gods that I’ll walk in, and It’s You,” By now, the tears were flowing.

As he watches the tears fall, Fijabi feels defeated helplessly. He had caused this, he had been the reason Kemi hurt why she wept.

She charged at him.“You don’t love anymore. You want a way out, maybe because you’ve already set your heart on someone else other than me… someone who is more befitting. Someone of your kind —”

“There’s no one else!” he yelled. The force of it was stronger than he had intended. The fire on the lampstand grew and spread on the wall. Burning everything close to it —The water jar, the stool and the clothes. He hated her surprise gaps as she watched this.

Fijabi immediately quenched the fire, but because he didn’t want to leave a trail that led to, he refrained from reviving Kemi’s burnt belongings.

“I apologise for my out—” he began moving towards her to offer comfort, but he stopped in his tracks when she moved away from him.

“Please leave”, she said, wrapping her hands protectively around herself. Protecting herself from him.

“But—” Fijabi began arguing, but she interrupted him

“You’ve done enough already… I… you should leave… please,” She said brokenly. Her back turned to him.

Hurt but helpless, he replied, “As you wish.”

Chapter 6: Trials of Sacrifice

It has been a fortnight since the incident in her room, but Oluwakemi still feels the hurt of that morning. She chastised herself for missing him, reminding herself it was the right thing she had done. They were worlds apart; no matter how much she loved him, they were not meant to be. It has taken the impact of his fury to awaken her from the dream she had deceived herself into believing was a reality.

Their love was forbidden and opposed by nature herself. It demanded sacrifices that would have a profound impact on their lives. Fijabi must also realise that they would face more than physical and emotional challenges if they continued, hence his absence so far.

As Kemi arrived at the stream path, she noticed it was quiet and deserted. As she got in full view of the stream, she saw the soft glow of the setting sun at the far end of the stream, which gave the impression of a deep cave. To the path that led to the cave, which was by her left, was a beautiful moonlight that bathed the water in that direction in different lovely colours. And to the right was the sun shining beautifully on flowers of various colours, which she never knew could bloom out of the palm trees that enveloped the river. The air was filled with a harmonious symphony that echoed the peace that eluded her heart.

Oluwakemi, astounded by the beauty that surrounded her, didn’t realise the site before she was unusual. She was so seduced that she walked into the centre of the stream, which created a divide between these two sights.

Suddenly, she felt a drop of water on her face. She instinctively brushed it away, thinking it was a drizzle. But when she looked up, her scream of horror echoed through the deserted space. The anticipated drizzle was no gentle shower; it was a deluge of blood. The once beautiful sight was now marred by a crimson stream cascading from the sky.

In panic, Kemi attempted to flee, but she found herself trapped, unable to break free. “Fijabi!” she cried out in desperation as she was dragged into the depths of the stream’s cavern, gripped tightly by a vibrant, multi-coloured vine – made of black, red, green and white colours.

***

Same time

“I love her”, Fijabi thundered as they landed on the hard core of the cloud that was the Celestial council’s floor, an effect of a gun strike.

 He was tired of hiding. Tired of covering up his tracks and only visiting the woman he loves in her dreams. Tired of the guilt and hurt that ensued after every meeting? It was good that Oduduwa found out, now he could freely fight to love her the way she wanted — the way she deserved to be loved.

“You love her? What do you know about love? You fool who lied and broke a sacred promise he made to the Council,” Oduduwa spat.

Fijabi knew he had disappointed this man he’d come to know as his father. But he couldn’t pretend to be what he wasn’t any more to please him. “I tried not to. Believe me, I did. I tried to stay away like I promised. But… I just couldn’t,” He went on his knees as though to say he submitted himself to Oduduwa’s mercy or wrath. “Please… please just let me love her.”

Oduduwa grabbed Fijabi, “I should have let you die that day rather than risk my life to save you.” he thundered angrily.

“What are you talking about?” Fijabi queries. A sudden fear crawled into him.

Ifa rushes to his rescue. “Oduduwa, please let’s handle this —”

Oduduwa glaring, Ifa. “ Not today, Ifa . I listened to you before… not today —”. He pulled Fijabi back in his grip, forcing him to stare into his blade-like eyes, “I’ll tell you. Maybe then you’ll understand what you’ve done,” Fijabi shook his head and tried to escape. Because he could feel he wouldn’t like what Oduduwa said next.

Oduduwa’s grip was frozen and held him in place. “Your father did the same thing you did. Ignoring good counsel. Breaking the sacred laws. He went after a human. When she rejected him, she went for another human. It drove him mad. He killed the human, everything she held dear and forcefully took her. When the council opposed him, he joined forces with Esu to fight the Orisas. The war almost destroyed the entire earth and almost ruined the Celestial council, but for the intervention of Olodumare. The cries of the humans led to the curse of your father’s offspring, which led to you being born as a stillborn. But due to the plea of your dying mother and Ifa, I gave up half of my powers to bring you to life. Now you do this, rendering my sacrifices to not,” He finished.

“This is not. You lie. I am a god!” Fijabi thundered. Causing the element of the heavens to roar in response. “Can you hear that? They responded to me. I am an Orisa. The one who fought alongside Agemo to bring victory to Olodumare. I control not just one element but all elements. The fire awakens at just a thought from me. I, Fijabi, performed the celestial two centuries pilgrimage in just ten years, and you stand here to tell me a lie because I choose to love?” He roared at Oduduwa.

All in the room watch this exchange with wide eyes. Fijabi was always known to be the quiet one. Taking everything with control and ease. He has never lost his temper, not once, not even in the highest of provocations. But today—

“Be still, Fijabi,” Ifa said soothingly. As he approached—

“Don’t stop him, Ifa. Let him carry on with tales of his achievements, but that still won’t change the truth that you’re half-human and of a cursed union.”

Fijabi charged at Oduduwa at those words but stopped, frozen as he heard Kemi’s scream ring through the realm. “What have you done!” he demanded. Seizing Oduduwa by the throat.

Oduduwa said with a control that aggravated Fijabi, “You did this, not me. I told you to let her go, but you didn’t. Now, you put her in danger by making her carry your seed.”

Fijabi was confused for a minute “My seed… she carries my child?” Fijabi questioned helplessly. “What am I doing? I have to go save her” he released his grip on Oduduwa and began heading out —

“It is no use, you can’t save her. Please just let it go. She decided her fate when she —

“Her fate is life!” Fijabi roared, setting the space that housed Oduduwa on fire, but the flame did nothing to him. It vanished as it touched him.

Oduduwa smiled – one that didn’t reach his eyes. Confidently, he approached Fijabi, who watched him, eyes vigilant like a wounded lion ready to pounce. “ I risked my life to save you, and I will stop you from making that a waste.” In a swift move that surprised Fijabi, Oduduwa tapped  Fijabi’s forehead.

At that tap, Fijabi felt power slip out of him. And he crumbled like a rock reduced to dust on the floor. “What… have…you done…” Fijabi struggled to say as he lay paralysed. “Pl…plea..se I… have to…to.. save her”, he begged. Then he slipped into unconsciousness.

Chapter 7: A Greater Light

 He tried to get hold of Kemi, but she kept slipping from his reach. This time, as he approached her, he screamed, looking in his direction as tho not seeing him but a monster behind. As he turned to see what it was —

Fijabi jerked awake. It had been a dream. He tried to rise but felt himself bound. He tried to break free but felt a severe pain that almost knocked him out. The event at the Celestial Hall returned with a vengeance.

“Kemi, Kemi needed him” he couldn’t stay bound. She needed him. Their child needed him. “Let me out!” he screamed with all the strength he could muster amidst the pain rushing through him.

There was nothing for a while, and then he heard footsteps.

“Fijabi” He didn’t want the pity he heard in Ifa’s voice. He wanted to be set free — for his powers and strength to be restored. How could Oduduwa do this to him? He’ll never forgive himself or Oduduwa if anything happens to Kemi.

“Please help me, Ifa. I need to save her. I can’t live or forgive myself if anything happens to them. I vow to stay away this time… just… please help me…” Fijabi managed brokenly.

Ifa said uncomfortably, “I’m sorry, Fijabi, but it’s too late. She’s already been snatched to Esu’s realm, and you know no one—”

“No! Olodumare, Please no! Not her. I went after her. Please punish me, but don’t—” Fijabi stopped breaking into tears. He should have stayed away. Now, he’s condemned her to a life worse than death.

Ifa watched, helpless, as the one he had natured as his own wept bitterly. He wished he could do something about it but knew it was a lost cause. Orisa didn’t interfere in the realm of Esu. Unless on command by Olodumare — They became possessed and forever trapped if they did of their free will.

Oduduwa, knowing Fijabi, knew he wouldn’t care for the rule. That was why he had taken his power. Oduduwa wasn’t one to show emotion, but he loved Fijabi and wanted him safe. But he also knew Fijabi would never understand or forgive him for this, nor would he remain the same after this.

Ifa approached Fijabi to offer comfort but stopped on his track when he beheld a sight that confounded his wisdom.

A tear slipped from Fijabi’s eyes the moment it touched the floor. It Crystallized, radiating a power that spread across the room. It broke the eternal chain used to bind Fijabi as though it were a mere fishnet used by humans.

The cloud growled and waved furiously. The room and everything in it shook, including Ifa. The one thing  it favoured was Fijabi, who radiated a blinding light that enveloped him, making it difficult to behold his countenance. The little Ifa saw he used his mind’s eyes—eyes shut. First, Fijab was enveloped in the light, then bathed in fire, drenched in water, and finally dried by a whirlwind that coned him.

Then silence prevailed.

The Fijabi he saw was not one he was used to. This one exuded power, stood taller, was more assured and moved with purposes and authority. This man will evade Esu’s Realm. Catching the blaze in Fijabi’s eyes, Ifa prayed to Olodumare – this war, he already knew, would make a mockery of that of his father.

By the time he was done, the earth would know that Orisas were Real.