(Episode 7)
Suddenly, Omodot shot Oto a fulminating look when she asked when they were having their first baby. He didn't like the question, it wasn't in his own agenda of marriage. Being the only child of her mother, she'd wanted to have plenty children around her.
"We will never talk about having a baby. Baby will come when the time comes." Omodot said boldly.
He talked like a god. He made promises to Oto and fulfilled them before she could remind them.
He lavished her with gifts and money. Surprised her often with expensive jeweleries of gold and diamonds.
She tried to recall what she knew of him, not very much. She was going crazy over him, like he'd charmed her and made her fall for him. It was so sudden, like the love stories she'd read in harlequin romance novels.
Apart from the fact that he was the kind of Man that would appeal women; he was tall, had a spare athletic build, and a face that was cute and bold. His bones were elegant, his smile disarming, and oddly romantic. But Oto sensed that there was a vaguely dangerous air around him, something in his dark glances that defied description. There was more to Omodot than met the eye. It made her wary, he was not the kind of man that would chose her, he was too good, Oto thought.
And on this weekend, he'd taken her for a special dinner at another five star hotel in town.
As soon as they stepped into the auditorium, filled with men in suits and women in colorful dinner wears, the piano went silent, there was a round of applause, then a man announced with all vigor of a town crier that supper was served In the dinning room. Oto and Omodot wandered themselves into the dinner room that was filled with various kinds of garnished intercontinental meals.
Omodot was struck by Oto's beauty. Her dark curls were threaded with green ribbons to match her gown. Her skin was flawless. Her eyes were her best feature, wide set and vividly brownish.
"what is this party for?" Oto asked, as she nestled close to Omodot. She was becoming uncomfortable with the atmosphere.
"You will know soon." Omodot replied calmly as he led the way to the food axis.
He dished some big sizes of oily meat into a flat plate and dished in some vegetable salad. "You should have a taste of this special meat too darling." He said to Oto. Oto picked up a tiny sandwich and popped into her mouth. "Try the meat." Omodot insisted. His eyes were alight with amusement. Oto maintained a stony silence as she dished two pieces of the oily meat into her own plate. She was wracking her brains for something to say, but all she could come up with were words of praises for the meat she was suddenly eating delightedly.
Then everyone stood to their feet when a Man with a familiar face walked in, followed by eight hefty men black leather suits. He was Omodot's pastor,
"Good evening Giants..." He said boldly.
"You are all welcome to the 2017 human feast..."
Oto's heart trembled as she paused chewing the meat in her mouth.
"Today, we officially initiate our sons wives', welcome beautiful women of Ane's Giants." His words were followed by a round of thunderously sound claps. Oto hurriedly took a piece of serviette and vomited the chewed meat in it.
"No need for that, just finish up the meat let's get out of here." Omodot said boldly, in spite of his smile, his expression hardened.
"What is this place, who are these people? Who are you?" Oto asked softly but fiercely.
"You shouldn't ask such stupid question. By now, you should know who I am, what did the master address us as?" His face cleared and he became his usual, urbane self.
His lightning changes of mood confused her. She wanted to ask him a lot of questions, but she was panicking. Her heart was beating fast. She stood up In the midst of the loud music, in the midst of the exciting merriment and walked hastily to the car park.
"You don't dare walk out on me Oty!" He yelled thunderously at her as he walked hastily toward her and pushed her to the wall.
"You're not whom I thought you were!" She tried pushing him off. "Tueh!" She spat on the floor, "I just ate a human being!" She cried out. Omodot held her firmly to the car park pillar, "You will tell no one of this, or else, you will die like my other wives."
In deep shock, she wanted to ask him of the other wives, but his long dark lashes veiled his expression and she knew the subject was now closed.
She was now aware of whom she was married to, it was made crystal clear to her, it wasn't something she had to pray about anymore.
"Those human meats we ate, are the bodies of loved ones of our members. They sacrifice some to Ane, and we eat some to celebrate Ane." He held her hands firmly, "You should be delighted, you are our member now, unlike my other wives, I won't sacrifice you. I love you too much, now you know my deepest secret."
"How man wives?" Oto asked weakly and vulnerably, like she was ready for the worst answer.
"you're my seventh wife." He replied casually.
She stood there, mute and cold. He held her hand and kept walking slowly to the dinner hall as they settled back on their seat.
The evening became more informal as guests finished eating and began to move from table to table to greet members.
"Meet my wife, she is now Ane's daughter. Her name is Otobasi." Omodot said to an old woman with an unsmiling face.
"May Ane make more money for you two." She said and walked away.
"That is Ane's intercessor. She is like a saint. One day, i too will be a saint of Ane" Omodot said proudly.
"What does it take?" Oto asked weakly.
"three thousand souls." He said.
Oto's legs weakened.
After five and a half months of marriage, she could no longer hide the brave smiles, and the false cheer.
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