CHAPTER NINETEEN – ODIYE.

“The afterlife is concretely built on the understanding that not all who die are equal, and therefore not all who die will ascend to the same plane.” 

Emenike said, pausing as he turned to face the class of students, peering at him with varied degrees of interest. 

“Who here can remind me of the different planes and their criterion for ascension?” 

His voice boomed, his long goatee eating up the better half of his upper wrapper-covered body. His eyes scanned the hall and landed on a boy who was mostly black cloud and smoke. The boy sighed like everyone his age would, who is singled out. 

“The plane of bliss, the ancestral plane, and the plane of glory.” 

The boy sounded, his voice reverberating around the room so that even though the class could not hear him, they could feel what he had said. Emenike nodded, his goatee bobbing in sync with him. 

“The ancestral plane does not discriminate; humans and beings from every realm ascend to this plane...” 

Emenike paused again and looked at the class expectantly. 

“Ascenders to the ancestral plane are weighed by Odiye, the servant of Deaths. If a heart is encumbered by the evil they have done in their realm, they are cursed to return and wander the earth as evil spirits, or they become chained as servants of spirit realms, without a will of their own, becoming mindless zombies.” 

A tiny twig whispered, her leaves making whistling noises as if the wind was moving through them. Emenike nodded his approval at her. She beamed at him and returned to her seat. 

“These are lore we should be familiar with, well done, Ogbani. I am aware that we do not fear Deaths in this realm because they walk amongst us, but everything comes to an end. Eternity is a favored myth. You have never met a being from our realm who went extinct, but there have been instances.” 

The class groaned in unison. Parents tell their children about extinction, like human parents tell their children about the monsters lurking in the darkness. At some point, even the adults must see that the children no longer buy it, Ulo thought, stretching her foot in front of her and leaning her head against her transparent desk. She could make her desk whatever she wanted, but she was too lazy to put in that extra effort; she half-listened to Emenike now, biding her time, for when she could ditch before the next class. 

“The other planes, on the other hand, require specific prolific qualities. The plane of glory requires that you were once a being with powers that equate to or frame the universe. And to ascend to the plane of bliss, you must have lived a hero, a martyr, a...” 

Uloma turned her attention to the more important topic of anything else but Emenike. He was droning on, though, animated as if he were telling them the secrets of the realms. 

~ 

Uloma stood beside Eligwe, a tad disoriented. They had been in her palace but were now in the human world. The sun was high above them, glaring at them as if it had an unresolved issue to contest with the world. Uloma sucked in her breath; she felt winded, and her head spun for a second before it settled. 

“You are okay.” 

Eligwe was saying to her, it seemed like he had been saying it all along. Uloma nodded at him. She was not okay; none of this was okay. She blinked away her reserves and discomfort for having traveled so far into the human world, without using one of the portals littered all over their realm.  

“Where are the others?” 

She asked him. The earth under her feet felt scorched from the blistering sun. Still, she could not allow herself not to be okay. She could not permit minor discomforts like that to get to her anymore, not when... no, she shook the thought out of her head. She looked up at Eligwe, who was intently watching her, as if she were an interesting puzzle that he was suddenly discovering. 

“Over there.” 

He replied, pointing to a distance in front of them. Uloma looked up to a view that would have taken her breath away if she had any more room in her head for anything other than the woman and the boy. Before them lay a rolling landscape that looked as if hills were being eaten up by other hills. Granite fought with earth and plants in a chaotic struggle for will and dominance. Where rocks ended, greens, browns, and yellows began. There was a curve in the middle where the landscape appeared to be converging in a truce. Farther away were tall rocks as far as the eye could see. 

“Where exactly?” 

Uloma breathed, looking and unable to see her friends and sister. Eligwe nodded towards the rocks. 

“The tallest rock.” 

He answered. Uloma nodded. 

“They are portals, aren't they?” 

She asked, motioning to the rocks. 

“One of the most significant of all portals.” 

He concurred. Uloma knew this meant he could not carry anyone else with him, up there. This was as close as he could travel with another being. 

“You should be able to get close on your own. I will meet you there.” 

He informed her, his dull eyes returning to their bored state. She nodded at him and vanished. Uloma reappeared at the foot of the rocks. They looked larger than life and more solid from close-ups. 

“We waited an eternity for you.” 

Ekama exaggerated, pulling Uloma to her side. Abali gave her a look that said he knew that something had happened that she was yet to tell them. She grimaced again, her pain contorting in what should have been a smile but was not. Even his scruffy raven looked sad for her. 

“We are going up.” 

Asiya said, as she removed herself from where she was resting against one of the rocks, Uloma realized she had not seen her there, even though she had been right in front of her, like a shadow that tittered on the edge of light. Asiya looked more diminished every time Uloma saw her. 

“Asi, are you okay?” 

Uloma asked, worry tainting her voice. Asiya considered her for a second. 

“Worry about yourself, please.” 

Asiya replied. Her tone was dismissive enough to silence Uloma. 

“I was only asking.” 

Uloma muttered under her breath. 

“Well, conserve that energy for getting to the mouth of the cave.” 

She snapped at her sister. Uloma thought to shoot her a look, but her insides felt too tired for one of their bickering. She looked over at Abali instead. They were here now, close enough to all the answers; the only thing standing between her and those answers was the cave, and they were here. 

“What does she mean about getting to the mouth of the cave?” 

She asked because surely, she could get into it by materializing into it. 

“Asi has a point, you cannot access the cave from inside it, because it is Odiye’s territory, and he will see it as a threat. The rest of us can either float up to it, levitate, or even fly if required; we will all practically be walking into the mouth of the cave. You, I have learned, can do neither of these things.” 

Eligwe supplied as if he was reading her mind. He watched her again, like he thought she had a trick up her sleeve. Uloma ignored him; she ignored Abali and Ekama beside her, as they also tried to solve this problem for her. They were standing at the base of the domineering rocks, and granite and sun were not friends to bare feet. The hot afternoon breeze spreading through the mounds of greenery and ferns surrounding them provided respite from the glare and heat of the sun. Uloma watched the rocks for a second; her conflicting thoughts were raging, surging in response to the dilemma, but she pushed them down. She was done with being saved and rescued and leaving her problems for other people to solve. 

“Ekama.” 

Uloma called, looking concerned. Ekama roused herself from her contemplation with Abali. 

“Mhm?” 

She replied. 

“Odiye will not allow you to enter his cave with me in tow. He will not let me appear inside it either. But he cannot stop you from giving me a lift to where I can get a foothold close enough to climb into his cave, right?” 

She asked, looking up at the near smooth surface of the rocks. There were spaces where the rocks broke up and parted as if they wanted to form another body of rock of their own, but found they could not break free. She was sure she could hoist herself using the small holes and spaces one of those breakaway parts formed. 

“I don’t see why not.” 

Ekama replied thoughtfully. 

“It should work.” 

Abali agreed. 

“Whatever, try not to mess something up.” 

Asiya said and levitated off the ground. Uloma watched her go wistfully. Asi was becoming increasingly powerful by the day; there was almost nothing Deaths could do that she could not do. It made her a formidable person to go against. Eligwe flew up in a swoop; he looked like he had made one giant leap. 

“Ready?” 

Ekama asked Uloma. Uloma thought she was not ready, but she nodded anyway. That cave held a lot; it was the entrance to everything. Uloma could feel it, and she knew that she was not ready. What if the answers she keeps seeking turn out worse than she could ever imagine? There has to be a good reason why her friends were refusing to tell her what they knew. She was not ready for anything about to come, but for Ekama, she had a taut smile. 

“Hey. We will be here with you every step of the way.” 

Abali assured her, she looked into his grey, blank eyes, and could see that he was not just talking about getting into the cave. He looked at her as if he wanted to save her, but was unsure what from. 

“I will make sure not to drop you, I promise. Sort of promise.” 

Ekama volunteered, a wicked grin on her face. Uloma shook her head; she felt herself almost giggle. 

“Why would you even say that?” 

Abali scolded, frowning at Ekama. 

“I was just assuring her?” 

Ekama protested. Uloma felt the bickering coming a mile off, so she stepped in front of it. 

“I am not sure we want to get on my sister’s bad side, and she is already up there waiting. Her patience won’t last forever. So, Ekama, please.” 

Ekama waved her hand with a flourish, and Uloma felt her feet leave the ground. Her whole body tingled when Ekama’s gentle rush of wind touched her. 

“Steady.” 

Abali warned Ekama. 

“Mind your own business, I have been moving things since I learned to crawl.” 

Ekama snapped, leaving the ground herself. 

“Yes, I was there. I also remember that you smashed everything you touched.” 

Abali was floating beside them now. Uloma shook her head. How they could be talking about smashing things when she was being held up by the breeze was beyond her. 

“I have not smashed anything lately.” 

Ekama lied. Uloma could feel Abali rolling his eyes beside her. Even she knew how much of a lie Ekama’s statement was. 

“Okay, the cloud boy does not count; he was in my way, and I was hurrying.” 

Ekama protested. 

“You could have gone around him. Above him, even under him.” 

Uloma reminded her. She had not wanted to be drawn into their fight, but it had been ridiculous how Ekama had blown into the poor boy. 

“Oh, don’t forget you are at my mercy. If I decide to drop you now, what will happen?” 

Ekama threatened. Uloma looked around her. They were nowhere near the peak of the rocks, but the mouth of the cave was right in front of them. 

“Thank mother, we are here now.” 

Uloma replied, she felt the smile now, genuinely felt it. Ekama was her distraction, she thought, not for the first time. Ekama entered the cave, but Abali stayed behind to assist Ulo.  

“Look.” 

He pointed to a foothold near the cave's entrance. 

“Put your hand through here and hold on.” 

He said to her, Ulo found the foothold and reached for it. She groaned from the effort of balancing herself. She could still feel Ekama’s breeze on her; her friend was not taking any chances with letting her go. 

“You have to release her. She must enter on her own.” 

Eligwe called from the inside. Uloma felt it when Ekama reluctantly let her go. Gravity pressed down on her, compelling her to the ground. Uloma swallowed. She could not let herself get hurt. Find another hold, she thought. She let her head scan the space above her. There were spaces between rocks, of course, but none large enough to fit her hand through. She made up her mind to use the spaces that were just enough to hold on to. Not too long now, she thought, she was practically in front of the cave. The rock was rough against her palm when she attempted to hoist herself; she ignored the merciless jabbing of granite against her skin and tried again. 

“There is hope for you yet.” 

Eligwe smiled at her when she finally flung herself into the cave leg first. She realized she had never seen him smile without disinterest or mockery. Uloma was breathing hard from her effort, but her lungs felt smooth as if they had not been struggling from exertion less than a second before. 

“You have done well.” 

Ekama slapped her on the back. Abali winked at her, and she smiled at him. She had just done something that required effort, without giving in and letting someone rescue her. She had not allowed herself to think about how she could defeat that woman with her limited powers. Somewhere at the back of her mind, she was aware that she had been banking on the people around her coming to her rescue. But even Emenike had looked shaken by that woman. What if her friends and family tried to save her as usual, and something happened to them? It did not bear thinking about.  

“What next? No sane being has willingly come this far.” 

Ekama said, looking to Asiya for guidance. Asiya ignored her; she was closing her eyes, and Uloma felt the need to close hers too. It was something about this place, she had felt it in her lungs when she first entered. The cave was dusty with broken-down rock, yet it felt to Uloma like there couldn't be a better place to exist in. She closed her eyes now, unable to stop herself. There was a vibration in the air; it waxed and echoed and bounced around. Uloma felt a tingle on the tip of her fingers and felt her body waking up. Had she been asleep?  

“Hey, are you okay?” 

Abali whispered very close to her. Uloma nodded and opened her eyes. She felt charged; she felt something dancing inside of her, telling her that she was finally somewhere she belonged. Asiya’s eyes shot open, her colors were back. 

“What is that?” 

Ekama whispered, Uloma realized she understood their need to whisper. This cave was reverent; she could feel it; she was connected to it. Around them, small balls of light started to dance into focus. They lit up the already semi-lit cave as they danced into life. As they looked on, the lights drew closer to each other, as if a force were pulling them together. Abali and Ekama shrank away from the light; the look of discomfort on their faces would have worried Uloma at any other given moment, but the light felt warm to her. It felt like looking at a kindred, and it was obvious Asiya felt the same, with the look of gleaming pleasure on her face. The lights were now forming a ball, a glowing, pulsing, orbing ball. And then the lights were gone almost as suddenly as they had appeared, and in their place was a grey wrinkled man, holding a walking staff. His white attire flowed to his feet.   

“Odiye.” 

Uloma realized the man smiled, showing off his brown, sharp teeth. His eyes appeared glued shut, and he was hunched over from the waist. 

“You made it.” 

He croaked in a tired, shaky voice. Something about him had Uloma on her guard. Her friends were on both sides of her now, in their ‘we will shield you’ stance, so they were not fooled by the man’s play at innocence and frailty.  

“Mistress.” 

The man croaked, bowing his head in deference to Asiya. If Asiya had been fading before, she had completely returned to her irritating green now. She grinned her shark and prey grin at Odiye. 

“Servant.” 

She greeted him, but his head stayed bowed. 

“You took your sweet time to get here, kept me waiting. 

She scolded him; even her annoying voice had returned, Uloma thought, annoyed at her sister’s attempt at bullying. 

“Mistress.” 

Odiye repeated. 

“Cut it out.” 

Uloma scolded, irritated at Asiya’s bullying. This was supposed to be a being as powerful as Emenike, but here he was, his head bowed and unmoving to Asi. The man’s head snapped up; his grin stayed on his face. 

“Ah, another Death here, this one a little weaker, not my master yet.” 

He said, his head moving from side to side as if trying to take Uloma in fully. He started to chuckle; his frail body shook from the force of it. The cave rang with his laughter. 

“Ooh, young new Death kills time, she does.” 

Uloma wanted to argue, but she stopped herself. Here was another creature telling her she would fulfill a prophecy. Odiye sniffed at her. 

“Can you not feel it, the power running through your body? This cave is ancient, and yet its power surges through you even now. Oh, my mistress is at home here because the Other Side is close. I am her servant, but the cave does not feed her. It does you, though, all the time, trapped here, running to you for comfort. But you will put an end to them, won’t you?” 

His voice crawled all over Uloma, leaving a chill wherever it touched her. Uloma shook her head in protest. 

“That is enough.” 

Abali growled at a creature capable of harming him without a thought, one that looked like he would, just for the fun of it. 

“He tries to threaten me. Night, that is, young as he is, I was here first, before you, before any of your father was.” 

Odiye grinned again, and Uloma shivered, if ever there was malice in a being. 

“He is with me.” 

Asiya warned. 

“As much as I would like to see harm come to my sister’s soldier, he is still someone we all could use one of these days.” 

Asiya was smiling too. Uloma shot her a look, but Asiya shrugged her tiny shoulders and pouted. 

“What? I told him not to hurt him.” 

She said in response, rolling her eyes, the sprite, Uloma, bristled; she was back all right. 

“Look, we are only here because we are trying to cross over.” 

Abali told Odiye. His easy-mannered look was entirely gone now. Uloma thought she had never seen him treat any being like a threat, as he was treating Odiye. Eligwe, Uloma noticed, had not said a word. He and Ekama just watched the proceedings; at least Ekama looked as if she was unsure when to join in. Eligwe’s disinterest was back, like he was used to getting his way, and Odiye’s presence would not change that. Uloma wondered how he proposed to cross over without the permission of the Hell Hound. 

“I decide who uses my portals. Her Mistress can cross anywhere.” 

Odiye was saying. 

“Well, not at the very moment, her power is still coming in, and I see it is pulling her apart. Oh, mistress, the pain you suffer, your duty pulling at you from every corner, so prematurely.” 

“What are you talking about?” 

Uloma said, looking at Asiya. Asiya looked defiantly back at her sister, but Uloma could see the exhaustion in her eyes again; it was as if Odiye’s words were reminding her body that it felt torn for whatever reason. 

“What is he talking about, Asi?” 

Uloma asked her sister. 

“Ah, mistress is too kind. You bring the mistress pain. Your very essence unbalances the universes, and it is the mistress’s duty to walk in your wake.” 

Odiye’s grin was beyond malicious now. Asiya’s shoulder slumped; it broke Uloma’s heart to see. Asi leans towards the extreme. When she was defeated, she looked truly defeated. Uloma wanted to hurt Odiye. She wanted to shield her sister, but from what? Herself? 

“You take advantage of the fact that these Deaths are young. Their sisters, from what I have heard and seen, will deal harshly with your insubordination if words of your actions get out.” 

Eligwe was sitting with his back to the rocks. He had his head lowered so that they could not see his face as he spoke. Odiye turned his attention to his challenger now. 

“An angel working with beings of Darkness. You do not fear, because you cannot know fear.” 

Odiye said slowly, as if he was contemplating his options. Eligwe looked up at Uloma, his eyes unreadable. 

“I am bored, do something.” 

He told her, ignoring Odiye, his eyebrow raised. 

“What can she do?” 

Ekama asked; Uloma was thinking the same thing, but she knew, even as she had just listened, even as this being had played with them, she had known. He would never let them pass. He could keep them here for eternity, playing at their discomfort. Uloma looked over at Odiye; she truly looked at him. He was no longer just an old man; he was a powerfully tall, muscular man with a dark beard. He was also revibrating balls of light, ebbing and fighting to pull apart, yet mercilessly held together by an invisible force. 

“You see me?” 

Odiye asked her, but he was not expecting an answer. He unbent himself, his walking staff held at his side, no longer supporting him. 

“You are time. All the time that passes.” 

Uloma told him. That was why she had felt him long before she saw him. He was one with this place, and so was she. It was weird, and she couldn't explain it, but just as Asi felt more like herself the closer she was to the other side, Uloma felt herself in this cave where time had been trapped for generations. But she felt one with this being of malice, as well. 

“That is a simple way of putting things. Every Death works with time. When your sisters escort a being, creature, or entity, they pay their wages with the time they had spent in that life, or form to me.” 

“But my kind don’t have time to give.” 

Ekama reminded him. 

“You creatures that live outside of the law of time, as it is well known, still live under constraints. Time for you ebbs differently. Enwu leads you to the other side, and she pays me.” 

“Nothing to do with me, Uloma. I would like to cross now.” 

Eligwe called. He talked slowly as if he thought that if he spoke more slowly, she would understand. 

“Can you leave her alone?” 

Ekama snapped. But Uloma understood what he was saying. What he was trying to tell her. Ulo could see how defeated Asi looked; her shine was back, yet she looked beaten. 

“You are trying to keep us here. All these explanations, all these jabs, you want to keep us here. Let us through.” 

Uloma told him she was done with his tricks, and it showed in her voice. He was one with time, and so was she. Uloma thought he did not scare her. 

“Fine, you’ve got me. But how do you propose to cross? Your friends are beings without spirits; you, on the other hand, well...” 

His face-eating evil leer was back. 

“You serve my family.” 

Uloma protested. 

“Mutually. I serve, they service. They bring me wages in exchange, even your mother pays for my servitude. But you come here demanding, not respecting an age-old balance driven by mutuality.” 

Uloma saw now what terrified her friends about him. He was cunning, but he was wise, and he was ancient, and he was dangerous. He could subdue even Asiya; she was his mistress or soon would be when her training was over.  

“We did not bring any gifts. We have nothing to offer.” 

Uloma told him. 

“Oh, but you do. You can owe me, worry not, I always collect what I am owed.” 

His smile spread even wider if it was possible. Uloma almost shuddered, but she held herself together; he was one with time, and so was she, she reminded herself. She should fear him sensibly as the others did, but all she felt was wariness. 

“Don’t owe him Ulo.” 

Asiya warned her, snapping out of her subdued state. 

“Don’t.” 

Ekama agreed. Abali looked at her with his own eyes now; he could always tell when her mind was made. 

“You don’t understand what you are about to get yourself into.” 

Asiya told her, her eyes were almost pleading. Eligwe was watching her as if she were intriguing him again. 

“I owe you.” 

Ulo blurted before she could change her mind. 

“No.” 

She heard her sister gasp. But this was her battle, and already she had learned that she was the reason Asiya had been looking drained. She had to cross over; on the other side were all the answers. She had to believe it; she needed to. 

Odiye was smiling at her, his face lighting up like he had won whatever battle he had been waging.  

“What have you done?” 

Abali hissed, his eyes furious. She was unsure whether it was at her or Odiye, probably both. You cannot always save me, she thought at him.  

She looked over at Odiye expectantly. She had made the deal, and she was thinking, what now? Odiye’s glued eyes started to open slowly; they were huge and full when they opened all the way through. His eyes were not dark or brown, or even the usual unseeing grey; they were just a vacuum. Inside them, things swam around unnaturally. His eyes grew and widened, painfully enlarging and spreading until it was the cave's width. Uloma had kept herself from shuddering before; she did now, all over. 

“After you.” 

Eligwe said, coming over to them. She watched him, unsure what to do or how to respond. No one had told her the portal to the other side was through Odiye’s eyes, or maybe they had; she never did pay attention. 

“Hey.” 

Eligwe said, snapping her attention back to him. 

“Whatever they may tell you. This is your victory. He did not win, you did.” 

He told her. The cave was echoing with the force and sounds from places Uloma could only imagine; unless the others were listening particularly to him, they could not have heard him. 

“Come on.” 

Asi said, shaking her head in annoyance at Uloma. 

“Idiot girl.” 

She said to Uloma as she crossed over, stepping into the swimming iris. Uloma thought she caught a glint of approval on her sister’s face. She turned to Abali, who still looked livid at her, and offered her hand; he took it, but not before conveying his anger poignantly and pointedly. Ekama took her other hand. 

“Let’s do this.” 

She shouted over the deafening roaring noise.