IN AGES they say, that in order to get rich then you have to dig a pot of gold. My father did! He had not only dug a pot of gold but bullion of gold plus tons of gem stones composed of rubies, amethysts, sapphires, emeralds and mostly diamonds.
CHAPTER I
THERE was a great roaring of thunder and then blitzkrieg strike of lightning. Every time the lightning bolts it sent panicked down my spine. The surface of the earth shook and the darkness side of the night was overpowered by flashes of lightning. Then the avalanche of rain poured down, as if Mother Nature was vomiting her ravage to mankind. The surroundings were all covered with darkness. A tall man in his 40’s was holding and wrapping me with his leather jacket. He was soaked with rain however I couldn’t see his green eyes flinched with terror. I could only see so much love in his eyes and telling me I’ll be fine. The only thing I did not understand why he had to give me to another family. I was only three then. I knew he was my father. I later on understand the complexity when I reached the age of 18. My father was protecting me from the evil wrath of August. When my father gave me to this family, he shed tears and kissed me on the forehead and told me, “You’ll be safe.” He placed a golden necklace with an angel pendant in my neck, a precious gift from Zar. Before he handed me down to this family which became my second home, he gave instructions to Khail for my protection. It was in angelic language that two of them could only understand. Then my father left like the speed of light. When I blinked my eyes he was gone. I don’t know when I will be seeing him again. It left a samurai sword in my heart in my young age.
Khail became my surrogate father. I called him dad. Khail had three sons namely Mikhail, Darwin and Stephen. Khail’s wife died of car accident. She was driving home at 60kph from an errand when her car was overrun by a 10 wheeler truck. Her body was crushed inside the car. The Rescue and Medical Team tried to revive her through life sustaining support while she was transported to the hospital. Unfortunately, she was declared death on arrival. The idiot driver was slapped with a case of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and was sentenced to reclusion perpetua beyond reasonable doubt. However one day after the driver served his verdict he was found dead in his prison cell. The driver’s death was a mystery. The cause of the death was unknown. The driver was sleeping when Khail appeared in his dream. Khail took his spirit and imprisoned him inside the bottle. That was the eternal punishment imposed by Khail. Khail buried the bottle underground. The death of Khail’s wife left a big blow to him and to his sons. It took him over the years to mend the wound in his heart. Being married to human woman was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to him since they were thrown down to earth by their creator. It was a fulfillment that could not be defined in simple terms. Begetting creatures of his own out of a mortal woman was more than a life in heaven albeit life could be eternal happiness there. He had accepted the punishment for joining war against God. Like Zhar, he feared God but greed, deceit and superiority had lead to his downfall.
When John handed me down to Khail, he accepted me with an open arms and introduced me to his sons. For couple of days, I feel alienated and imprisoned myself inside the room. Part of my body was terribly missing him. The loneliness could not be surmounted by any material things. The room was painted with baby pink color suited for my age. I was surrounded with stuff toys from Barbie Dolls and Kermit the Frog, my favorite cartoon characters. There was beige sofa set. A TV was attached to the wall facing the bed. There were two cabinets to store my dresses, shoes and underwear. Next to my bed was a small bedside table with my picture on it. No picture of John could be seen anywhere which made me more perplexed. I was like this for a month. I felt so strange and lethargic to the situation. From time or another, Khail’s sons would visit me in my room, performed funny tricks to entertain me but I was nonchalant. I would shout to them; “Leave me alone I want my dad.” Of I would throw pillows on them. They would go out with their square faces. No tricks could ever appease my mood. I missed the touch and the embrace of John. I could still remember his stories about the Ugly Duckling how it turned to be a beautiful swan, about the war in heaven and the fallen angels.
One cold morning, while looking at the window I saw a white kitten on a tree. The fur was so thick. The whiskers were too long. His eyes were emblazoned with fear. He was afraid to go down from the tree. His paws were too small to hold-on to the thick bark of the tree. We were staring at each other. He was transmitting a message to me to help him get down from the tree. I shivered to the thought that he would fall down and die. My impulse was to immediately went downstairs. I ran fast the stairs to the rescue of the cat. The tree was tall for me to climb. I have never seen a ladder either. My heart beats so fast..going around in circle where to find Khail or his sons. I went upstairs again yelling, calling the name of Khail. No one answered me. I was exhausted. Nobody seemed to be at home. I went to a verandah and I happened to see Khail talking to a figure but at instant he was gone. All I saw was a shadowy figure of a man. I wiped my eyes and blinked but Khail was talking to no one. I looked at him quizzically then asked him he could get the kitten for me. We went downtairs. Khail climbed the tree flawlessly, as if he was flying, grabbed the kitten and gave it to me.
“Here’s the cat Abigail,” said Khail.
“Thank you, can I keep this?” I asked
“Yes you may,” answered Khail.
In the absence of my father, I poured my love to the kitten. Without my knowledge he was a soldier sent to guard me. The reason why he was on the tree was that he was watching me. He could transform to any forms. I called him “Mojo”. He was charming cat.
Part of the scheme to hide my identity was to change my first name and last name. My first reaction was, “No way. I don’t like my name change at all.” I locked up again myself in my sanctuary. I refused to have any communication with Khail. I felt that he betrayed me. Not anyone could just change my name. Not anyone. Only Mojo was my companion. He was a very uxorious cat. To vent my frustrations about what was happening with my life, I often spoke with the tom cat as if he was the only thing in life who could better understand me.
“Mojo, that is unreasonable for them to change my name,” I said. I was amazed when the cat nodded his head in agreement. He seemed like to understand every word I said.
“Oh really you understand me,” I mused. Then he started to touch me with his feet and wag his tail. He licked my hands with his tongue. I was tickled and laughed so loud. We played hide and seek. We watched TV. I talked to him so many things that I remembered about my father until I was tired and sleep. When I was sleeping, Mojo slipped out of the room and transform to his angelic form. He told Khail that it was okay to talk the matter to me. I don’t behave like a nutter anymore.
Khail was always been a proverbial cool dealing with my childish tantrums. The next day, he saw me outside under the tree so upset.
“Abigail, what is bothering you?” Khail asked.
“Mojo climbed the tree again and doesn’t know how to get down," I uttered.
Don’t worry, I’ll get the cat for you,” said Khail
Up he climbed swiftly the tree. No he was not climbing. I could sense that he was flying up the tree. He grabbed the cat and gave it to me. Mojo licked my face. Childish as I am, I giggled..
Khail then took the opportunity to explain to me again why it was a necessity to conceal my identity. He instilled to my young mind that, that was my father’s plan that I need to comply. I was frenzied but I succumbed. Without being legally adopted, Khail registered me in the Local Registry as Therah Smith. Smith was the surname adopted by Khail when he married, Cassandra. My true name is Abigail Joseph, the only begotten child of John Joseph.
To be continued....
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