ÀWÈLÉ: Hell Hath No Fury ☑️

•Twelve•

This chapter is dedicated to two people who encouraged me a lot this past week.
Tranquilcodifier, thank you for always encouraging me.
Melaninsetso, Your comments made my day. I love you guys. Thanks😁😊.

"The enemies we cannot kill.
We must caress"
- Unknown cos I'm too lazy to remember😊

The rain was making everyone miserable. Oh, it was good for the crops, alright. But no one liked the cold, it made the animals harder to hunt, and it made it harder for the hawkers. Omololá especially hated the rain. She wasn't a farmer, neither was she a hunter. But she liked to be able to walk around whenever she wanted. Today was especially important, hence her settling for being drenched in rain instead of missing her chance.
The time had come for Adéoba, the new king to choose a queen. A contest was going to be held where all virgins in the land would compete for the Prince's interest and the title of the queen. It was seldomly held as almost every prince was married to a maiden of their choice before their coronation. But Adéoba's case was different. Many girls were going to contest for the title, including Omololá. But she had the winning cards in her hands.

*Flashback *
Two years ago

Omololá peered constantly over her shoulder, scared that someone would discover where she was going. She shuddered with fear when she remembered what Aríyíké had told her. Who knew that the prince was that crazy about Àwèlé ? She had to warn Àdìo before that psychopath got to him. Who knew what the prince would do with the man?. She had begged Aríyíké to come with her, but the poor girl had been so terrified of the prince that she panicked and became hysterical at the idea of going against him. No matter, she would do it herself.
In the midst of her thoughts, Omololá had become oblivious to her surroundings and did not notice that she had crossed the border to Àdìo's town. By coincidence, after a rustle in the bushes, Àdìo emerged onto the road, some yards before her. As she opened her mouth to call to him, he suddenly stopped, his way being blocked by some men.
"The prince!"  Omololá muttered quietly to herself when she saw him emerge from the bushes. To her advantage, the men were so focused on Àdìo that no one noticed her. So she turned and hopped into the bushes by the road and stayed to see what would happen. Before her very own eyes, Àdìo was restrained, beaten and threatened.
She gasped and placed her palm over her mouth to muffle her screams as Adéoba stabbed Àdìo repeatedly. It was confirmed, the prince was stark, raving, mad. As the men began to clear the body, she slunk back and ran back to village as fast as she could.
Well, not fast enough that she did not see the prince with Àwèlé at the river. Because she had seen her friend die, she had searched for Àwèlé half heartedly and with a detached heart.
To be honest, she had always been jealous of Àwèlé. Everyone who walked with her became second best. Everyone loved her and thought she was the most beautiful girl in the village. But not anymore, the village's " best" was conveniently gone. Now it was time for her to take her place as the best.
*End of flashback*

Omololá stared down the guard in front of the palace. His bulky arms were crossed across his chest and a stupid smug smile was on his stupid  face.
He rolled his eyes and said with a condescending tone " You cannot see the prince right now. He is busy"
Omololá crossed her arms too,
"Well then, he shouldn't be too busy for the witness to a murder".
The guard's eyes narrowed and his hands dropped to his sides. Murder was a serious offence punishable only by death. No one, no one could get away with murder. Not even the king. If it was killing with a reason, it would attract a punishment apart from death. But murder, killing a person, taking a life intentionally and without proper reasons was an abomination.
"Wait here" the guard ordered, completely serious now, and went in to check on the prince. When he returned, he beckoned to her to enter. Then he led her to the massive building right in the middle of the compound . The palace stood tall, with engraved pillars and beautiful inscriptions on the walls. But she did not have time to gawk at the interiors, she was here for something very important. The guard led her to a room to the right of the throne room. It was used to conduct meetings that were not supposed to be stumbled upon. Omololá smirked as she saw Adéoba sitting and waiting for her. He waved the guard away and turned to face Omololá.
" What is this about?"
" It's about a murder, my king"
Adéoba's eyebrows furrowed. " How did it happen? Tell me what you know about it."
Omololá shifted in her seat." Well, it was about two years ago. I was on the way to the village where Àwèlé's lover lived" she paused as she saw Adéoba tense in his seat. But she continued when she saw him hide his reaction under a blank stare. "I saw Àdìo and wanted to call to him, but before I could , I saw some men come out of a bush and kill him. I was so scared so I ran away. But I decided to report it so that the murderers won't go scot free. "
Adéoba's shaky hands were clenched into fists on his laps.
"Were you alone when you saw this?"
Omololá decided to lie. " No, I was with some other people. "
"Let us not mince words. You saw me kill Àdìo didn't you ?."
"Yes, and I guessed that Àwèlé met the same fate at your hands"
Adéoba flew to his feet" she pushed me to it. She betrayed me! I loved her! But she chose another over me"
Omololá rose to her feet also, placing a hand on his chest.
"I would never do that to you. Àwèlé never deserved you"
Adéoba shifted away with a confused look on his face. " Where are you going with this?"
She laughed and Adéoba saw how pretty she was, almost like Àwèlé.
"I can keep my mouth shut about what I know. And I can keep the other mouths shut too. You won't need to kill anyone else and bring down Olódùmarè's wrath upon you."
Adéoba placed his arms around her. "Yes? But at what price?"
"Just a little one, marry me. Marry me and we can be the greatest rulers on this earth. Together."
Adéoba thought about this for a while. He couldn't afford to have more blood on his hands. It would bring the wrath of the gods in full force. Omololá was an enemy he couldn't kill, it was better to make her an ally.  So he smiled .

"Well then, long may you live, my queen."

A/n: whoop whoop! Chapter twelve baby!. All 1,245  words of it.
Didn't see that coming did you?
Turns out Omololá was a backstabbing, jealous bitch.( I may be ranting about something and / or someone else😊)
If you liked this chapter which I know you did.
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Ódàbò ( good bye)👋
- kingh😎