Chapter Twenty-Four-A Heavenly.

The red cushioned sofa dipped as Eligwe groggily stirred. He opened his eyes and looked around him. Uloma followed his gaze. They were in a small room that served as a storage space. Abandoned artifacts floated overhead above them. The Tree was crawling with Cosmics preparing to leave their realm for a journey, so this small closet space was the best Emenike could do.  

This was not the occasional escape into a neighbouring realm. The atmosphere was not sombre, though. Excitement wafted from everyone. The expectation of what might await them on this journey was palpable. Eligwe’s eyes finally settled on her, and she smiled and walked over to him. He tried to sit up, but she reached him first and tried to dissuade him from the action. 

“You must listen to her. A Heavenly being, doing something as stupid as conducting the darkness of the cosmos. Are you insane?” 

Emenike of Healing and Repairs walked into the room, the wooden door swinging closed behind him with a bang as he moved in a flurried manner towards Eligwe. Eligwe bristled and scowled. 

“I am fine.” 

“You are now, because we sapped out all the gooey darkness that was slushing inside you. You are light, what business do you have messing about with darkness?” 

Emenike helped Eligwe sit up. He moved a finger in front of Eligwe’s eyes and looked deeply into them. 

“We got the last of the darkness out, thank Death. Seriously, what were you thinking?” 

He asked again, pausing like he expected an answer this time. Uloma, hanging on the edge of the bed, looked down, but she could feel Eligwe’s eyes on her. Her heart raced, worried that he would say it was her; he had done it to save her. Emenike tapped Uloma on her head. 

“It was you then. I should have known, you know, we cannot foretell the actions of Cosmics, especially yours, but true to your nature as a cosmic, you think it is a reason to do all the wrong things.” 

Uloma hung her head in shame, but Emenike tapped her head again. This time, it felt like a wrap, and she winced more from the action than anything. Emenike wagged his finger at her, and she glared at him. 

“And you, you are not her guard dog, or her puppy for that matter, stop following her around like you are lovesick.” 

Emenike was already at the door as he spoke, but Uloma wanted the ground to open in that moment and swallow her whole, but try as she might, she could not remember the chant for opening the ground. The room fell silent in the absence of Emenike’s bustling presence. She wondered why Eligwe was not talking. He never knew how to shut up around her. Seconds passed, and he still hadn't spoken. 

“Say something.” 

She whispered to the floor, the red rug did not answer her, but Eligwe did. He chuckled, and her head snapped up. His eyes were on her. 

“You know I like it when I make you uncomfortable.” 

“I am not uncomfortable.” 

How do you shift from gratitude to annoyance with someone who saved you? He looked pale and weak, lying there propped on the sofa, his right hand lay splayed over his abdomen, like it had fallen there for no reason at all. Just over an hour ago, he had held his abdomen, screaming and writhing in pain, as Emenike pulled cosmic strings out of him. How something so beautiful as cosmic strings could turn dark and fatal was incredible, Uloma had found herself thinking as her heart broke for Eligwe. She knew that he would not remember because Emenike had put him in a slumber. 

“You watch me like you are trying to keep from crying. Where is my glare, my scowl? Come on, I did not risk my life to have you forget your manners.” 

Uloma shook her head. 

“You are impossible.” 

She laughed, he chuckled, and winked at her. 

“Much better, ahh.” 

He said and winced. Uloma was by his side again in a heartbeat, leaning over him. He laughed at her, his eyes gleaming with mischief. She punched his arm without thinking. 

“ahh.” 

He chuckled. 

“Now that is more like it.” 

“You wanted to be punched?” 

“No. But I wanted to wipe that pity off your face.” 

“Well then, you succeeded. I don’t pity you now.” 

“That’s all I ask.” 

His eyes were filled with mischief, but they were soft against the dark lighting of the room. His voice was a whisper, his breath tickled her cheek. She knew she was too close to his face, but she did not want to move. Without meaning to, her hand rose to his cheek, and he leaned into her palm and kissed it. It felt like being tickled by a butterfly. The butterfly travelled into her stomach and multiplied. 

“I like when your eyes have fire in them, the pity doused those fiery eyes, and we could not have that.” 

Uloma’s eyes traveled to his lips. They were a shade of light brown that sometimes resembled the sun-stained sky late in the dry season. The rosebud-pale pink made you want to taste his lips. She wanted to taste his smile as well. He leaned into her, as if their bodies were not already too close, her chest pressed against his, as he kissed her. He smelled of sweat and spells, and his lips tasted of the honey and herbs that had been fed to him when he was unconscious.  

The door flung open, and Uloma jerked away from Eligwe. Ogba strutted into the room, Ekama in his wake, and Abali walked beside her. 

“The slumberer awakens.” 

Ogba’s voice boomed through the room. Uloma shook her head at how loud he was being. Did he not remember how confined the space was? They had all been here when Emenike worked to revive Eligwe. They did not need to, but to ‘expedite’ the healing, as Ogba had insisted, they all lent their abilities. They had sat with her afterwards, while he slept. They left only an hour ago, when they were sure he would recover fully. 

“Get your lazy ass out of that bed. Everyone is waiting for you to lead us to the promised land.” 

Ekama told him, she sat beside him on the bed, justling him. Uloma could see how hard Eligwe was working not to wince. She wanted to ask Ekama to leave him alone, but they were Cosmics. This was what they did. Eligwe was going to be fine, and they were going to mess with him. 

“I think he may be trying to get out of opening up the portals through the Heavens. Fat chance, we will not let you get out of your responsibility.” 

Uloma did not see Asi come into the room, but she was now standing beside Abali, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but in the small closet. 

“I am not trying to do anything except be left alone.” 

Eligwe answered her. A look passed between her sister and him, and Uloma felt something sink into her stomach. These two have managed to form a connection that she is no longer very comfortable with. Asi, in her way, could relate to Eligwe in a way she could not. Eligwe sat up straighter on the bed. The effort drew colour away from his face, the corner of his mouth spasmed in strain, but it was gone in a second. Realisation dawned on her, Eligwe did not want Asi to see him looking weak, and just like that, Uloma understood the sinking feeling. She could see it in Abali’s eyes, those eyes that he kept averted from her. 

“He has the strength now to ask us to go away, when he isn’t moaning Uloma’s name.” 

Ogba’s voice was playful, his handsome face contorted in amusement. Ekama chuckled, but Uloma was more concerned about Abali’s reaction. He looked physically pained. 

“What are you on about?” 

Eligwe was saying. 

“You mean you don’t remember moaning Uloma’s name? Her hand must still be tomato red where your grip held on to her.” 

“No, you are lying.” 

Eligwe laughed. He looked unsure for a second and laughed again, shaking his head with certainty. 

“There is no way you are not messing with me.” 

“Uloma, Uloma, Uloma. Don’t leave me, please. Uloma.” 

Ogba moaned, mimicking Eligwe. Everyone was laughing, everyone but Abali. Eligwe’s eyes widened in embarrassment. He looked over at Uloma, and she saw on his face that he hoped she would tell him they were lying. She shook her head apologetically. 

“Sorry.” 

She mouthed and shrugged. Eligwe covered his face with his palms. 

“What did Emenike call him again?” 

Asi asked, pretending not to remember, Ekama pinched the back of Eligwe’s palm, and he was still holding them to his face. 

“You mean the lovesick puppy one?” 

Ekama answered, and the room erupted again in laughter. 

“I see that you can all laugh again. An hour ago, you all looked like wet rags, moping around. Don’t mind that, if you can laugh, you can join the others at the briefing. Go, the bunch of you.” 

Emenike was back; his small height made it difficult to see him at first. He pushed his way towards the front of the room, and he had Orlus with him this time. They fluttered all over Emenike. Their fussing over him was uncomfortable as usual. 

“All of you leave, we have some work to do to get ready. You are leaving at noon tomorrow, we need him in a better shape and form than he is in now.” 

“What are you all waiting for? Get out.” 

An Orlu shouted. He found Uloma and narrowed his eyes at her. 

“You, we heard you hurt our Igwe.” 

They fluttered their wings in unison, creating a tiny windstorm in her direction. 

“Down, boys, he will turn on you if you touch her.” 

Ogba barked, they listened to him, his eyes for a second were those of a dragon, a sliver of black surrounded by golden speckles. 

“Lucky, the dragon prince is here to save you.” 

An Orlu told her, watching her with open hatred. 

“Enough, all of you. If you are not Eligwe or Orlu, I don’t want to see you in this room.” 

Uloma tried to argue with Emenike, but he was not having it. 

“I will be fine.” 

Eligwe told her. His head were occupied by Orlus, who were petting his hair down, smoothing out his forehead, running hands through his hair. Uloma rolled her eyes at them.  

“I would hug you, but they might sting me.” 

She told him, and he smiled at her. 

“I am certain that they will. I will see you later?” 

She eyed the Orlus, who returned her look with one of their own. She nodded at Eligwe, reluctantly leaving the room with her friends and sister.