OJUJU: THE VILLAGE OF FORBIDDEN LOVE - EPISODE 2 (AMISHA'S REBELLION)
Amisha located her father in the crowd who like other villagers were bent down on their knees pretending to be happy with the process. She never grew up to know her mother as she passed on while birthing her, hence Amisha had no siblings.
"Father, I don't think I can take it anymore," Amisha said with her voice shaking with emotions
Her father Adazi, looked at her and said
"What do you mean, Amisha? I hope you are not talking about the s@crifices?"
Amisha nodded.
"Yes, Father. I just can't understand why Ojuju demands such brutal s@crifices. It's like...it's like our god doesn't care about us." Amisha stammered to say
"Amisha please keep quiet. You know you are my only child. Do not allow anyone hear you say such blasphemous words. we can't question the ways of Ojuju. We have to follow the traditions." Adazi said
"But why?. Why do we have to follow traditions that involve demising of innocent people?" Amisha asked
Her father looked around nervously.
"Amisha, be careful what you say. The priestess has ears everywhere." He said
Priestess Asakwe stood tall, her eyes scanning the crowd with an unnerving intensity. The air was thick with the smell of bl**d and smoke from the s@crifice, and the villagers' cheers and chants filled the air. But amidst the fervor, Asakwe's gaze locked onto someone who didn't share the same enthusiasm.
Abomination!" Priestess Asakwe suddenly shouted causing fear into the heart of the villagers.
"Someone here has violated the code and conduct of this process thereby rendering it useless, making Ojuju angry" Princess Asakwe said
"Who is that?" Asakwe's voice cut through the celebrations
"I sense a spirit of discontent among you. Who dares to question the will of Ojuju?"
The villagers exchanged nervous glances with their faces full with fear. They knew the consequences of incurring Asakwe's wrath, and no one dared to speak out against her. The silence was oppressive and heavy with the weight of unspoken terror.
As Asakwe's eyes scanned the crowd, her anger continued to rise.
"I asked who that person is!" she shouted as her voice echoed through the village.
The villagers out of fear for her, had their heads bowed in submission. No one dared to meet Asakwe's gaze or speak out against her. The only sound was the distant rustling of leaves and the heavy breathing of the crowd.
"Fine. If you won't tell me, then Ojuju will. The s@crifice has been rejected. We will have to repeat the ritual in seven suns."
There were lots of whispers spreading through the crowd as the villagers knew what this meant - another innocent lives would be taken, and the cycle of agony would continue.
"Let this be a warning to all of you. Ojuju demands absolute devotion. Any sign of weakness or doubt will be punished severely." Priestess Asakwe said
"There would be no need for another round of bl**d wastage. The person you are looking for is me. I wonder why Ojuju did not reveal that to you" Amisha said boldly
Adazi, her father tried to stop her but it was too late as the priestess already heard and saw her
Priestess Asakwe came close to Amisha surprised at how young the person who had just spoken was.
As she approached Amisha, her gazes were piercing.
"You seem not happy, right?" she asked in a voice dripping with menace
The villagers feared for Amisha's life. Amisha's dad Adazi quickly stepped forward, bowing low.
"Please, Priestess Asakwe, forgive us," Amisha' dad begged.
"My daughter is happy, it's just that she has a health defect that makes her look sad sometimes." He said
"Is that so?" Priestess Asakwe asked Amisha
"You just took the lives of seven innocent people. Seven of our own people including the king's first son and heir to the throne and now you look for another opportunity to take another seven lives? What do you gain by wasting the lives of your own people all in the name of some silly Ojuju deity?" Amisha asked
The villagers gasped in shock. No one in the over one thousand years of the village existence had ever done what Amisha was doing now. They knew the consequences of speaking out against the priestess, and Amisha's boldness was unprecedented.
"Let her be. Her health condition is really affecting her. What is your name?" Priestess Asakwe asked Amisha's father
"Adazi great priestess" He replied
"Ensure to treat your daughter's ailments properly. This would not be condoned next time" Priestess Asakwe said and turned to head back
"I am not sick and you know it or is the great Asakwe now scared of the truth. A truth from a seventeen years old?" Amisha asked
"Stop this Amisha please" Adazi her father begged her
Priestess Asakwe's face twisted in rage as she turned towards them
"Seize her! And Place her on the large iron table used for s@crifice!. She shall be used to appease Ojuju immediately" Princess Asakwe said
The guards moved towards Amisha, their hands grasping for her. But as they approached, Amisha raised her hand unknowingly, and suddenly, a bolt of thunder struck, k*ll*ng the four guards instantly as they fell to the ground, lifeless.
The villagers opened their mouths in shock, their eyes wide with amazement. Amisha herself was stunned, unsure of what had just happened.
Priestess Asakwe's face had shock written all over it as she took a step back
"What...what just happened?" She asked herself
" I think it's clear that Ojuju is not pleased with me sacrificing her" Priestess Asakwe said to herself
The priestess felt a little defeated but refused to admit it.
"You think you're protected by some sort of power?. We'll see about that. You will be s@crificed, and Ojuju will be appeased." The priestess said to Amisha and quickly went into her inner chamber
Priestess Asakwe stormed into her inner chamber with her face in rage and disappointment. She fell face down before the Ojuju deity and cried
"Why did you let me down, Ojuju?. Why did you allow that child to mock me in front of everyone? I thought I was your faithful servant, and yet you seem to favor this young girl over me." She asked
The Ojuju deity instanly spoke to her in a loud, booming voice that shook the chamber.
"Amisha is a gifted child, Asakwe. She will be the next priestess of Ojuju after you."
Asakwe's eyes opened in shock.
"What? How can this be? I've served Ojuju faithfully for so many years, and yet you're taking away my power and giving it to this young girl?"
Ojuju's voice continued, "I am not taking your powers. You will be my priestess till the day you pass away. Amisha will take over from you and so you must groom her in my ways. Amisha will be the greatest priestess that ever lived. Her story has been foretold from time past, and even she herself is unaware of the kind of power she possesses. She is a reincarnate of my greatest ever priestess that lived 800 years ago. That is why I refused to strike her even when she bl@sphemed against me as she is mine."
"But how can someone who shows such pity and compassion serve Ojuju and carry out s@crifices that she so much detests? It doesn't make sense." Asakwe said
Ojuju's voice replied, "When the time comes, everything will fall into place. Amisha's heart will be revealed, and she will fulfill her destiny. Go out and announce to everyone in the village that Amisha will be the next priestess of Ojuju. She is a reincarnate of the greatest priestess of Ojuju that ever lived, and she has come back this time with more powers."
"Why must it be Amisha?. Why can't it be who I choose to continue to serve Ojuju after me?" She asked
Ojuju's voice replied, "Your time is coming to an end, Asakwe. Amisha's time is now. You must travel the way of your ancestors soon and allow her to fulfill her destiny."
Asakwe nodded slowly, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she would have to give way to Amisha's power and authority soon. With a heavy heart, she emerged from her chamber and announced Ojuju's words to the villagers.
"Amisha, daughter of Adazi, has been chosen by Ojuju to be the next priestess and that was why the guards were struck down for daring to touch a priestess which She is. She is a reincarnate of the greatest priestess of Ojuju that ever lived, and she has come back this time with even more powers." Asakwe said with sadness
The whole village was turned upside down as this revelation poured. Even Amisha was filled with a mix of emotions. She knew that no matter her decision, her life from that moment would never be the same again
Asakwe's eyes met Amisha's and for a moment, they locked gazes in a silent understanding.
"This doesn't make sense to me" Amisha said
"Look I don't like you and left for me, you would have been gone by now but Ojuju is supreme and I must bow to his decisions. You have been chosen by Ojuju to serve as the next priestess. You will be responsible for carrying out the will of Ojuju and guiding the village according to Ojuju's laws and traditions." Asakwe said
"And why would I want to serve a bl**d tasty demon possessed deity who only craves the lives of innocent villagers it ought to be protecting?" Amisha asked
Do you think Amisha would go on to serve Ojuju and become the very thing she detested?