DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to the Almighty, who has blessed me with the incredible ability to write and speak on behalf of others and myself. I am grateful for the gift of crafting imagery that captivates the minds of readers.

To my beloved students of Wise Gate International Schools,

Your attentive ears and warm hearts have been the inspiration behind my stories. Your positive reviews have been a guiding light, encouraging me to write this book. I am especially grateful to my literature students, whose enthusiasm pushed me to explore the world of storytelling more. A heartfelt thanks to my teachers, especially the English educators, who taught me the art of playing with words and instilled in me a deep love for literature.

Lastly, I dedicate this book to myself. I acknowledge the challenges and moments of writer's block I faced along the way. Despite the difficulties, I persevered and brought this book into existence. This dedication is a testament to the passion and determination that fueled its creation.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

1 Happiness and Echoes of loss 2 Beneath the veil of destiny

3 Unveiling shadows: A dark Revelation

4 Ravenous revelation: The enchantress's dilemma

5 The unveiling confessions of Uche

6 The fall of the enchantress: unveiling secrets Page 31

7 The lost days of Taiwo

8 Unearthing Journey: Memories of Kehinde

9 The reunion: A blissful loss

INTRODUCTION

In a world where enduring friendships defy the test of time, Anthony and Uche's bond remained unbreakable.

Despite their diverging educational paths, they remained inseparable. Anthony found love in Angela, a woman of unmatched beauty and intellect. Their union sparked intrigue and raised questions about the compatibility of a modern woman with a man who embodied a different era. However, as their journey unfolds, Angela's life takes an unexpected turn, leading her down a path of loss, hatred, and a newfound spiritual power that transforms her into a fearless goddess.

As Angela faces profound challenges and experiences the loss of something dear to her, her once gentle spirit is consumed by rage and revenge. In her newfound power, she becomes a force to be reckoned with, tormenting the world and leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. What will become of Angela as she embraces her newfound abilities? Will she succumb to her dark desires or find a way to reclaim her humanity?

Prepare to embark on a gripping tale that explores the depths of faith, power, love, loss, lust and the transformative power of anger. Join Angela on a journey that will captivate readers and leave them yearning for more.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to acknowledge myself for the dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment that brought this book to life. From overcoming obstacles to embracing moments of inspiration, this journey stands as a testament to my determination as a writer. May this acknowledgment inspire others to pursue their creative endeavors with self-belief and tenacity.

In acknowledging myself, I recognize the strength and resilience it took to navigate the highs and lows of the creative process. I celebrate the moments of inspiration that led to the birth of ideas and the unwavering dedication to see them through to fruition.

To my past self, I express gratitude for not giving up, for pushing through the moments of self-doubt and for embracing the challenges as opportunities for growth. The completion of this book stands as a testament to my own determination, passion, and unwavering belief in my abilities as a writer.

CHAPTER 1

HAPPINESS AND ECHOES OF LOSS

"You better stop shouting, there's no work outside o!"

Uche warned; after witnessing Anthony screaming his lungs out while matching towards the end of the pitch. The Army officer took offense at Uche's statement and asked him to repeat it, Uche did; and was given a very tight slap on his face. Uche held his instantly swollen cheeks and said: "But you know when we're done with this 'NYSC' thing, there's real y no job outside, you slapped me because I spoke the truth."

"Are you talking back at me? Don't worry, I'll clear your doubt. Sit down there, you bloody civilian!" The army officer angrily responded. Sweat trickled down Uche's skin after several punishments, and when Anthony noticed this, he pleaded with the officer to forgive and let Uche go. Anthony and Uche had been best friends even before they got admission; they had been childhood friends that shared the same ambition and goal. The dichotomy between the university and polytechnic didn't get in between their friendship as they were extremely close to each other in their year of service. Uche studied Law in the University of Lagos, and Anthony studied Mass Communication alongside Law

& Ethics at Yaba College of Technology.

When they were done with their service and awarded certificates, Anthony got married to the love of his life, Angela. Angela was the talk of the town back in school days; she had a perfectly shaped figure, an enticing fine-textured skin color, and an adorable smile. Her eyes were a deep brown, and her naturally long curly hair was a sight to behold. She was blessed with a soft, oily pink lip and freckles underneath it. She was a perfect representation of beauty with brains, tall with a firm posture. Anthony, on the other hand, was an old man according to his friends. He had a fine mustache he wouldn't shave off for years; without this mustache, Anthony was incomplete and unrecognizable.

The mustache wouldn't grow; it was as if it begged Anthony not to grow more than that. Anthony loved wearing baggy jeans with vintage t-shirts or hoodies, then placing a big cigarette or fake smoke on his mouth even if he wasn't smoking them; it was fashion to him. The dressing was complete with a timberland shoe, and even more complete with his modern girl next to him, Angela.

Their wedding sparked a lot of reactions from everyone who knew them, especially some of their male classmates who thought it was a forced union and questioned why a modern woman would choose a man whose behavior relates to the 90s. Nevertheless, many girls would have loved to be in Angela's spot, as Anthony was intelligent, handsome, successful, and ambitious. Uche, a close friend of Anthony, contributed greatly to the wedding and was emotional on the day, as he was already missing his friend. Anthony reminded him that they would always be together and advised him to look for his own "Angela".

On a Friday, Angela called Anthony, and though she wasn't very specific, Anthony knew it had something to do with her pregnancy. He hurried home to take his wife to the hospital, and on their way, Angela bit and pinched him, reminding him that she had told him to take it easy on her those days, but he hadn't listened. When they finally reached the hospital, a few nurses assisted Anthony in putting his wife on a stretcher and pushing her to the labor room.

Anthony didn't leave her side, instead he held her hand and said: "My love, look at how beautiful you look even in pregnancy. Remember how I used to wear your clothes and dance in front of you? I'll do much more than that after you bear this child. I promise you'll be the husband and I'll be the wife. Look at how glowing your skin is; the Lord must have created you at night when other angels were sleeping so they wouldn't be jealous of your beauty. I pray it's a girl so another man will be as lucky as I am. I love you so much."

Angela smiled into the labor room, confident she had found the right man. She gave birth to a set of identical twins, as expected by Anthony, and they were both females.

He was overjoyed to see two smaller female versions of his wife and spoiled her with many gifts. They were named Taiwo Precious Aladeseso and Kehinde Princess Aladeseso.

Anthony was a total simp for his wife during this time; even his father called to ask if she wasn't using some sort of spel on him, as everyone was suspicious of Angela. But Anthony reminded his father that he did the same for his mother too, exhibiting these traits from his father.

Years later, Anthony had gotten gifts for his wife and kids; he was eager to get home to see his beautiful family. He called his wife and said, "Prepare my favorite meal, I'm coming home soon. Tell the kids to go have fun somewhere." As soon as Anthony finished this statement, he ran into a container and was tragically crushed. He died instantly, and his body was found the next day. Everyone was present at the funeral, and Angela was grief-stricken, unable to let go of his body.

Tragedy struck the once happy home of Angela as curses and blames reigned down on her. The family who once respected her now called her a witch and threatened to take away her properties and her daughters. Despite the family’s attempts to take everything away from her, Angela remained strong and focused. Anthony's junior brother kept attacking Angela spiritually, but she won the battle with her prayers and gained custody of her children.

It had been over a year since Anthony's death and Angela was still numb inside, empty and full of pain. Taiwo convinced her mother to attend church that day so they could pray that such bad things wouldn't happen to them again. On their way there, Angela stared at Anthony's picture and kept murmuring: "I'm sorry, I really am, I'm so sorry my love; if only you were here, if only you waited for me to show you how much I love you. I couldn't help you, you always told me you love me; I never told you back. But I always loved you more than you can imagine, please forgive me."

Taiwo took the picture away from her mum after noticing her grief and promised her mum that today would be different. She said she would pray to God and sing for her mum so she could be happy again. She also reminded her mum that her father wouldn't be happy seeing his wife sad.

When they got to church, the pastor gave Taiwo the microphone and instructed her to sing as the church loves Taiwo's voice. Taiwo sang and the congregation rejoiced and danced at the melodious voice of Taiwo, the song worked magic. Angela was happy, and she danced as well. At exactly 10:30, Taiwo suddenly fell ill and passed away on the alter.

Her heart had been beating irregularly since she began singing, and the pastors prayed and anointed her with oil, but it was all to no avail. Angela rushed to the alter and raised curses.

It was later discovered that Taiwo had suffered a cardiac arrest which caused her to fall and die instantly.