Dethroned episode 23 – 24

DETHRONED
Episode 23
By AMAH’S HEART

Nene and I are still standing directly facing each other.
And from Nene’s facial expression, i could tell that she is anxiously awaiting my reply to her earlier question.

By now, there is tranquility and we were the only ones present at the village square.
From all indications, the villagers practically left us alone in other to hide somewhere else for safety sake.

I cleared my throat after several minutes of silence and with renewed confidence, I gave a reply with my eyes unblinkingly focused on Nene

” I can never agree to such sélfish and insensitive terms and conditions… I also promise you Nene that nothing will happen to my people because I will fīght for them even if it means putting my life on the line” I said each word with boldness because I truly meant it.

” Really…? Okay then Priestess… I will think about accepting the challenge because I truly admire your confidence Priestess Rana” Nene replied in sarcasm as she bursted out laughing hysterically

I stood there unmoved by her sarcastic words or laughter.

“…so in actual sense you are implying that you value your position as a Priestess more than your people… such that you don’t want to step down and hand over your crown to me…?” Nene further inquired whilst smirking widely.

Nene’s smirk followed by her body language and demeanor seem to be very suspicious.

My instincts tells me that she already expected my initial answer to be in the negative but decided to still ask me questions for clarity sake.

It gets me wondering what more she is having up her sleeves.

” Nene I have never really wanted this crown so I wouldn’t have had an issue with stepping down for you… but as you already know I was chosen by the gods so only them or the collective efforts of the people can take me down from my seat. It’s not necessarily backed up by my might or what I want” I explained shrugging my shoulders

When there was no actual response from Nene, I continued nevertheless

” …besides even if I was to be granted such advantage of stepping down at my own will… I will still not do that because you lack numerous leadership traits which makes you unfit to take over my position.. that’s the truth” I said sighing deeply. I was feeling exhausted already

The smirk on Nene’s face gradually disappeared and it was replaced with anger and resentment.

” How dare you tell me that I am unfit to be a Priestess! How dare you utter such arrant nonsense!… Now you see what I mean when I stated earlier that your Land keeps saying demeaning things hence underestimating my community and its people!” Nene thundered with ánger clearly shown on her face.

I looked at Nene as I shook my head in commiseration and I spoke out softly with all sincerity of hearts

” That’s not true Nene… your people are my people too and I love them enough not to make me disrespect them… Moreover there’s nothing really fascinating about the crown you are craving for.. there’s nothing there!”

” You’re saying this simply because you are an ungrateful maiden! Rana you are opportune to be sitting as the Priestess of three great Lands… yet your stupidity made you mess it up for love!” Nene blurted out staring at me in disdain

I heaved in sådness as my emotions were being triggered by Nene’s last statement. I truly feel like a sinner!

” Nene you have no right to judge me that way… you don’t know how I sometimes wish I could actually switch places with ordinary maidens like you… that way I’ll be able to get married and build a family with the man after my heart. I always wished I had the freedom to do many things without restrictions” I slowly said dreamingly

Nene looked at me in amusement and begun divulging confusing words that later left me in utmost shock

” Quit daydreaming about a married man my dear Priestess Rana. It’s quite unfortunate that your love was unrequited because my Eze wasn’t and can never be yours.. ever, ever!” Nene thundered and smirked upon seeing the shock that appeared on my face

” What do you mean by married man..? who are you referring to as your Eze…?” I quizzed in confusion and Nene bursted out laughing before replying me.

” Well I guess it’s about time I reveal the last surprise… Rana I do hope you are prepared to handle the nice surprise I have for you..?!” Nene asked rhetorically as she gradually stopped laughing.

” What exactly are you driving at Nene…?” I asked looking at Nene without flinching and she did same.

I sighed in fear. There’s no doubt that I was beginning to feel scared at whatever surprise Nene has in store for me so I listened with apt attention.

” My name is actually Nene Dede… the ‘U’ alphabet I attached at the beginning of my surname was merely to shift your focus from suspicion… Let’s say I was actually saving this last surprise for when you will least expect it because it will make it much more fun” Nene said mockingly with her eyes focused on me

The silence that later followed after Nene’s name revelation was deafening.

With each passing seconds, everything was becoming more and more difficult to understand or comprehend.

I didn’t even know what to think or how to respond to the new twist of events.
And as I stood there in silence, my mind was pondering on a whole lot of things.

Dede..? Isn’t that my Eze’s surname…? Are they siblings or married couples or it’s merely a name coincidence…?

Oh the gods.. I hope it isn’t what I am beginning to think?

Already, my fragile heart was pounding in fear of what my mind was saying yet I still didn’t want to believe it at all.

‘No! it better not be true please’. I prayed in my heart although my mind was still telling me that my prayers was needless.

Several frightening thoughts were threatening to burst my heart open and I literally pushed away those thoughts as hard as I could.

But what if what I am thinking actually turns out to be true..?

I shook my head vigorously because I honestly don’t know how I will be able to handle such a great betrayal.

No it can’t be true! certainly not! I uttered inaudibly as I paid deaf ears to what my mind keeps trying to tell me,
Instead I inwardly kept trying to convince myself that it is a coincidence.

Nene’s eyes soon shifted its focus from my face to looking behind me.

A smile involuntarily escaped her lips as her eyes became so intensely focused behind my back that I begun suspecting that there’s surely someone behind me.

” Why don’t you turn behind you to see the surprise I have for you Rana..” Nene requested with a smile on her face.

My mind begun racing faster than usual. I inhaled and exhaled deeply before I slowly turned.

My eyes flickered with series of untold emotions and gradually my heart fell at the sight of whom I saw behind me.

Read – Witches lust 4 episode 117

DETHRONED
Episode 24
By AMAH’S HEART

” E.. Ez… Eze… are you the surprise Nene has for me..?” I asked stammering whilst staring at Eze with my eyes widened in actual surprise and bewilderment.

what is Eze doing here? or is it a mistake? I thought to myself as I turned round again to furiously look at Nene.

” …Nene what sort of a childish game is this…? why is Eze here…? Wait a minute! don’t tell me you blackmailed him to come here and save me…?” I asked with my ánger slowly rising and Nene bursted out laughing like a maniac

” Why would I need to blackmail a man who is already my aide in bringing about your downfall…? that’s where it would have become childish…don’t you think so Rana…?” Nene rhetorically queried as soon as she stopped laughing

” Eze is your aide…? Nene what exactly do you mean by that..?”

” You’re so dumb Rana! I guessed that is why you were easily blinded and then fooled all in the pretext of love… anyways aide simply means that Eze and I are partners in crime!”

I was dumbfounded upon hearing that from Nene and I am already getting very scåred that what she is saying about Eze betraying me might be true.

Five minutes slowly passed but I am still lost for words to reply her. I just stood there quietly staring at Nene.

” I suppose you don’t have anything to say right…?” Nene asked smirking and I simply nodded in affirmation.

I listened with apt attention as Nene continued regardless of my seemingly quiet countenance

“…anyways let me do a proper introduction… Priestess Rana.. I’ll love you to meet my lovely husband Eze Dede whom of course you tried stealing from me” Nene revealed dramatically stretching forth her hands towards Eze.

As I heard those words of introduction, I staggered backwards in shock and Nene bursted out laughing again.

Wait! did I actually hear her correctly. Eze is Nene’s husband… when.. how..?” I mentally queried myself but I couldn’t get any actual answers to my queries

I turned to look at Eze hoping to at least have him deny the allegations but he was silent with his head bent low probably out of shame.

Inasmuch as I didn’t want to believe Nene’s words but I had to reconsider my stance of trust because Eze’s body language spoke volumes.

It is hard to admit this but it is seeming like my fear of being betrayed is gradually turning into my reality. So with my heart torn apart, I moved my gaze back to Nene to clarify everything

” What do you mean by your husband…? how is it possible that Eze is your husband…? how…” I asked as my voice cracked terribly in a way that I could not even complete my sentence

Eze was still standing there without uttering a word as Nene kept smirking in fulfilment and then looked at me amusingly as though I was a clown.

” It seems you are forgetting that your supposed lover did his apprenticeship at my community, the Land of Zada… Well that’s where we met two years ago and got married but sadly without the fruit of the womb” Nene replied shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly.

” Oh no! Please Eze tell me this isn’t true…?.. go on and tell me she is lying…? Eze why aren’t you saying something in defense…?” I asked shifting my gaze to look at a quiet looking Eze.

Eze lifted his head to look at me but he could barely meet my eyes. I could clearly see the guilt reflected in those eyes.

Eze still said nothing to defend himself against Nene’s allegations. His persistent silence undeniably means that what Nene said is actually the truth!

Oh no! I’m finished! this must be a bad dream. I wish someone would wake me up from this daymare please! It can’t be!

” You’re lying Nene! I don’t believe you… I’m very sure you are saying this to make me suffer emotionally!” I exclaimed still unable to accept what she said earlier, even though the truth was glaringly staring at me in the face.

I walked closer towards Eze until I was standing directly facing him.
Then I asked with my tears filled eyes

” Eze tell me this is a prank and is not true at all..? Could it be that she blackmail you into this…?” I asked looking at Eze who repeatedly kept avoiding eye contact with me.

I was hoping that Eze will deny it to at least make me feel better but my hopes was dashed at the words that came as a response from him

” All Nene said is true so I am actually not blackmailed as you think… Nene here is my wife and we’ve been working together to bring you down so that she would take over your position as the new Priestess. I’m sorry Rana but that’s the pure truth!” Eze finally admitted to me and I was greatly astonished!

Tears cascaded my eyes at the realization of the obvious truth that Eze whom I loved so much with everything in me is truly a close aide to my enemy.

Now everything is slowly adding up!; first, the encounter at the bush after many years of not meeting each other.
Second, the sudden vigor to win my heart.
Third, the thoughtlessness over my pain. Then his selfish requests and inquisitiveness over my powers etc.

I became a crying mess as I kept wondering where exactly I went wrong and what exactly I did to deserve such a painfully planned betrayal from a man.

With tears in my eyes, I looked defiantly at Eze as though I was seeing a stranger because that is who he is to me now.

” Buu.. but why Eze…? I loved you with all of my heart without leaving anything out. I gave you my virginity, made several sacrifices and compromises for your sake even at the expense of my safety… I risked my crown for you!… yet this betrayal is how you choose to repay me..?” I asked with a shaky voice as my emotional state was in shambles.

” I’m sorry Rana but that’s life for everyone… it’s unfair and we don’t usually get what we deserve. You don’t have to worry though as Nene and I will try to ensure that your death is painless as possible… Plus the fact that we will take good care of your crown for you since you never truly wanted it in the first instance!” Eze uttered without fear. he is now looking at me directly in the eye whilst Nene was unusually quiet.

Oh! hearing those hurtful words added with the betrayal from Eze really broke me into a million pieces!

I feel like my heart is scattering into several miles and my world is crumbling before my eyes yet I had no emotional strength to rebuild it.

I cried out loud as I broke down emotionally and all the confidence I thought I built up before coming to face Nene was lost in the mud.

Honestly, I feel traumatized and deeply scarred. And this scar is much more deeper than the scars I sustained at my back after the whípping procedure.
The several painful cane I took for Eze can’t be compared to the pain I felt at this moment.

” Yes Rana.. my husband is right. We will surely take good care of your crown when I ascend the throne as the new Priestess… we’ll also grant you the honor of making your death as painless as possible!” Nene said making me abruptly turn to look at her whilst involuntarily turning my back to Eze.

I saw Nene coming close to me with a stone-like object in her right hand. Her eyes was focused on my stomach with a evïl smirk and hateful glint in her eye.

I was scared for my unborn child. Nene was almost close to where I stood backing Eze when I tried running away but I felt a tight grip on my neck.

The grip on my neck was so tight that I could barely breathe properly!

Obviously Eze was strangling me from behind and he was also trying to keep me in place for Nene to carry out whatever dëvilish plot she had in mind.

Seeing the turn of events, my heart begun racing very fast hoping that it isn’t what I am thinking!

‘Oh the gods, please let it not be what I am thinking ..please save me this once!

“Kind and merciful gods, all I ask is just this once, save me from the claws of my enemies.. please, don’t turn your back on my plea, rescue me for I am helpless..” I silently prayed.

Tbc