Chapter 46: A Hidden Ritual and a Test of Will
1322words
Back in the dust-covered secret room, Eki felt very anxious as she looked at the breaking walls with only Ayo's phone light flickering. Kunle was also uneasy, moving his weight from one foot to another and quickly looking around the place.
"There must be something," Eki whispered, her fingers moving over the rough stone. "A clue, a message..."
All of a sudden, she noticed something sparkle. Up on the wall, hidden partly by spider webs and dirt, was a weak writing carved into the stone. Eki took a piece of metal trash lying nearby and cleaned off the dirt, seeing old words coming out.
Her heart beat strongly against her chest when she read the inscription. It was not Yoruba but a blend of symbols and old writing no one remembers. Hours become minutes as Eki and Kunle, with help from many hurried online searches and calls to their friend Dapo who was more and more doubtful, translated the strange message.
It was not just simple magic words; it was a ritual. The writing showed the steps – first, collect special things, then give an offering to Oya, and finally say out loud the wish for artistic freedom when the storm is strongest. The ritual, as per the inscription, had the power to break the Moonlight Lease. But the warnings were very serious. The ritual was risky, like dancing with a storm which could leave them both damaged.
Relief fought with fear inside Eki's heart. This was the moment, a way out from the dark place. But the process will not be easy. The materials needed are rare, some looking almost impossible to get in a busy city like Lagos. There was indigo dye, which people say shows the wild strength of a storm, and white clay that stands for pure intentions. But getting the offering itself proved hardest – an unmarked piece of white cloth not touched by any human hand.
"Where do we even find something like that?" Ayo, who only just fell asleep earlier that night, now stands near Eki, her voice full of worry.
Eki didn't have an answer. She scrolled through obscure online listings, her frustration mounting. The clock was moving, the entity growing stronger with each hour. Her stomach felt more and more tense with worry.
"Wait," Kunle interrupted, his voice sounding unsure. "There's a place...a market on the edge of town that's famous for selling unusual items."
Hope flickered in Eki's eyes. "Are you sure?"
Kunle nodded. "It's a long shot, but it's worth a try."
Their race against time now started. Moving through the maze-like streets on the city's edge, where the air is heavy with moisture and loud voices of street sellers fill the surroundings, Eki felt the tension growing stronger. The market, a big area full of stalls with many unusual items, was very overwhelming for her senses. With Kunle next to her, they moved through the large crowd of people, Eki looking at everything carefully.
"Indigo dye… here!" Ayo exclaimed, pointing to a stall overflowing with vibrant pigments. Eki felt a huge sense of relief as she bought the deep blue dye. The colour made her think about the stormy feelings inside her.
They continued, their search becoming more and more urgent. Each stall they visited brought only frustration and no success. Just when Eki was almost ready to stop trying, she felt her heart sink. A big strong man with an always angry face stood in their way.
"Looking for something specific, newbie?" he sneered, eyeing Eki with suspicion.
Eki's stomach felt uneasy. She recognized this kind of person – a guardian to the dark side of the city, someone who traded in odd and forbidden things. "We need… white fabric," she said, her voice small. "Untouched, pure."
The man's eyes gleamed with a predatory glint. "Untouched?" he chuckled, a humourless sound. "That comes at a price, child. A price you might not be willing to pay."
Eki's mind raced. She had nothing of value, nothing this man would barter with. But then, she thought about the paintbrush, tucked safely in her pocket. It was a risk, but she had no other option.
"This," she said, pulling out the paintbrush. The man scoffed. "A paintbrush? You think that buys you a piece of the moon?"
Eki looked at him with a challenging stare. "It's not only a paintbrush," she replied, her voice getting louder. "It is a symbol. A sign of our resistance, our freedom to make things without chains."
The man's eyes showed a little light of something like respect. He looked at the brush for quite some time, then slowly a smile appeared on his face. "Interesting," he rumbled. "Show me what you can do with it."
Eki faltered. This wasn't part of the plan. But stuck between feeling very desperate and oddly seeing a chance, she realized taking a big risk was needed. She looked around and noticed her eyes stopping at a stall close by that had lots of thrown-away pieces of canvas.
With a deep breath, Eki grabbed a piece of paper and faced the closest wall. She felt very anxious inside, but she forced it away, using her strong feelings to keep going. Putting the brush into the indigo dye, her hand started to move with a new kind of elegance. Blues and purples twirled like a small storm on the canvas.
It is not perfect, far from it. But when she paints, strong energy rushes inside her. City chaos gives power, her defiance also helps, and the hidden strength of Orisha makes it an even more powerful feeling. The man watched in silence, his scowl replaced by a look of intrigued amusement.
At the end, Eki took a step back, her breath heavy. The painting might not be the perfect piece of art, but it had strong energy. It showed a small part of the big feeling she was trying to show like a storm from inside her heart.
The man looked at the painting for a long time, with nothing but quiet between them. At last, he gave a quick nod. "Alright," he grunted. "You've convinced me. But make no mistake, child, this changes the game."
He went into the crowded maze of stalls and came back shortly with a small, detailed woven box. Inside this box, resting on soft velvet, was a fabric piece that Eki had never seen before in his life. It was white, a very pure kind of white, not spoiled by any human hands. It looked like it glowed with light that seemed to come from another world.
Eki held it in her shaking hands, feeling great relief come over her. They now had the materials. Now, the only thing left was the ritual. But when she looked at the mysterious cloth, a fresh worry started to grow in her heart.
The man's words stayed in her head – "This changes the game." Did he know something she did not? What cost will she face for her act of defiance? She felt a shiver of fear, but soon it changed to strong determination. She had come too far to return now. The destiny of Lagos, and her freedom in art, were at stake.
Eki took a deep breath and put the fabric in a safe place. The night was not finished yet. The storm was starting, and she prepared to meet it with a paintbrush in her hand and hope shining inside her heart.
