Children of the Shadows: Firmness of Purpose, page 1
Children of the Shadows:
Firmness of Purpose
C. C. Uzoh
Austin Macauley Publishers
Children of the Shadows:
Firmness of Purpose
About the Author
Dedication
Copyright Information ©
Acknowledgment
A Peace Warrior’s Rulebook
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Human Characters
Pneuma Characters
About the Author
C. C. Uzoh, M.D., is Nigerian-born British who originally hails from Southeastern Nigeria where he draws his knowledge of the rituals portrayed in this book.
The trilogy, which began in Children of the Shadows: Unearthing the Ritual and will conclude in Children of the Shadows: The Never-Ending Fear, is intended to raise awareness of this barbaric practice which, while illegal under the African Charter, is still being pursued in the 21st century.
Dr. Uzoh lives with his family in Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada.
Dedication
My inspiration comes first and foremost from Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith, and all the glory be to God in the highest.
I dedicate this book to all the children who hold a special place in my heart: Orla, Naeto, Ary, Adaorah, Lauren, Mimi, Urenna, Korinne, Kamsi, and Eli who were children at the time of writing this book, as well as all the children of the world. You are all capable of greatness.
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
–Ephesians 6:4
“It’s the greatest poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”
–Mother Teresa
“For our fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
–Ephesians 6:12
Copyright Information ©
C. C. Uzoh 2022
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.
Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Ordering Information
Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.
Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data
Uzoh, C. C.
Children of the Shadows: Firmness of Purpose
ISBN 9781645754619 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781645754626 (Hardback)
ISBN 9781645754633 (ePub e-book)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021923473
www.austinmacauley.com/us
First Published 2022
Austin Macauley Publishers LLC
40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor, Suite 3302
New York, NY 10005
USA
mail-usa@austinmacauley.com
+1 (646) 5125767
Acknowledgment
My overwhelming and never-ending gratitude continues to go to:
My parents, Engr. Ray aka Eseluenuego, and Mrs. Marie-Pauline aka The Original Mrs. P.
My children, Orla aka my princess, and Naeto aka Tha Naeto Boy.
My sister, Chinwe, and my brothers, Obi aka Obyno, Chez aka Obele Agu, Ik aka Irishman, and Chux aka Nwachinemelu.
For your unending and unconditional love, I love you all.
To my most cherished beta reader, Daniel O’Connell, you remain exceptional.
To Joseph Adams, Femi Akilo, M.D., Anthony Anani, M.D., Alecia Brown, Rev. Fr. Song Eugene Chianain, Adekunle Ishola, Tosin Jimoh, Abraham King, Nonye Ndekwu, M.D., Ugo Nwaomu, M.D., Chinedu Okeke, M.D., Margaret Olaniran, M.D., Bohdan Pich, M.D., and CY Tse, M.D., thank you for your friendship, love, support, and prayers.
To my editors, you did another terrific job!
Dear Reader
Thank you for your interest in Children of the Shadows: Firmness of Purpose. The book in front of you is the second installment of a trilogy that continues a didactic story that began in Unearthing the Ritual.
I hope you will enjoy this as much as you enjoyed reading Volume I.
With best regards and thank you,
C. C. Uzoh, M.D.
Author’s Note
Whilst the premise, as well as the low value that is placed on human life in the part of the world in which this book is set, are factual, references to all names of people, clans, villages, and majority of the events are fictional.
This book affirms life’s value and emphasizes its impermanence and fragility.
Diagram 1: Ground Floor: The Ikuku House
Diagram 2: Top Floor: The Ikuku House
If it still exists,
then it can happen to you
or someone you know.
A Peace Warrior’s Rulebook
Section One
Subsection
During a spiritual journey, before speaking, acknowledge to whom you speak by their full name and title.
Only at the discretion of the most venerable one, may an impromptu meeting take place.
The sole reason for an impromptu meeting alone may be discussed at such a meeting.
A minimum of two peace warriors are required to call for an impromptu meeting.
Names of non-peace warriors may not be mentioned during a spiritual journey.
Section Two
Subsection
The process of the ritual rubbing out of a non-peace warrior must not be watched by a non-peace warrior, so, better off carried out in a concealed shrine.
The process of the ritual rubbing out of a non-peace warrior must not be broken by a non-peace warrior, so, better off carried out in a concealed shrine.
The process of the ritual rubbing out of a non-peace warrior must not be countered by a non-peace warrior, so, better off carried out in a concealed shrine.
If the process of the ritual rubbing out of a non-peace warrior is unfinished, it may result in no benefit to the would-be peace warrior.
The process of the ritual rubbing out of a non-peace warrior must be done with the athame, and if carried out on a peace warrior’s behalf, the consequence to the peace warrior will be the same if the rubbing out was caused by a being begotten by the athame or the peace warrior is in full awareness of the rubbing out.
Section Three
Subsection
No peace warrior should have within their personal or social space any non-peace warrior with compunction/conscience.
No peace warrior should have within their personal or social space any non-peace warrior with an opposing spirit.
No peace warrior should have within their personal or social space any non-peace warrior with an opposing voice.
No peace warrior should have within their personal or social space any non-peace warrior with an opposing action.
If a peace warrior directly or indirectly rubs out a non-peace warrior for the purpose of wealth, strength, protection, vengeance, evil, or, as determined by the Evil One, for any other selfish reasons, the length of that peace warrior’s life will be reduced by the number of non-peace warrior’s lives that that peace warrior rubbed out.
Section Four
Subsection
A peace warrior is expected to keep their athame safe and out of a non-peace warrior’s sight. The process of its acquisition must be repeated to obtain a replacement.
A peace warrior is expected to maintain their Ikengá out of a non- peace warrior’s sight except that peace warrior is in the process of becoming a peace warrior.
It is a bad omen for a peace warrior’s raven to be seen by a non-peace warrior.
Section Five
Subsection
Disrespect for spiritual methods must attract punishment ranging from loss of all benefits to the rubbing out of that peace warrior’s most loved one or that peace warrior themselves.
The rubbing out of a peace warrior must be accomplished by fire or roasting under the sun and that of their most loved one must be by the peace warrior’s hands.
A peace warrior must exit the spiritual journey only when their candle burns down completely or just before the first light of day, whichever occurs first; there is no other way.
A peace warrior must walk humbly with their god otherwise they will be abandoned at their hour of most need.
Chapter 1
King Ajutu awakened with a start. All his egregious schemes had been askew—he’d realized through the venerable ones during his spiritual quest across Igboland.
He’d sought proof that the people he’d wanted killed were indeed dead. They’d simply informed him that there was no evidence that Odera, Obiageli, and I had passed on to the hereafter. They’d said no more than that since the three of us hadn’t, in any way, shape, or form, caused the ritual any suffering visible to man in the human world or to them in the netherworld.
Refusing to cater to his megrims and what they considered to be mere assumptions by him that their group would flounder, as their secret had been brought to the light, they’d told him that taking our lives was in all respects his choice, although their decision would change in his favor the moment either or both of Odera and I began to fight against the deathly conduct.
As a result, King Ajutu had run his candle down fast and exited from the journey.
With his forehead vein engorging, nostrils flaring, and chest heaving, the perfidious monarch looked to his right, through the gap in the ornate drapes and out the window on the west wall.
The darkness was pitch black.
There was the reflection of the glimmering night-light that stood at the corner on the room’s parallel side between his awe-inspiring grand dresser and the magnificent, handcrafted entrance-doors.
His hard and cold eyes flickered upward and leftward to the clock—it read 3:12.
Glancing over to his immediate right, the intervening space between him and Isioma was empty.
Grinding his teeth, he turned to the left to see Ijeoma and Adure. And all three maidens seemed to be deep in the arms of Morpheus.
“So, wherever Adaku has gone, she has gone alone and of her own accord, and has nothing to do with me…” he mused with a crisp tone, palming hard on his chest. “King Ajutu or her maker. The Queen of the Coast forbids them from doing anything alone unless at my behest, and it wasn’t my will for her to depart this room whilst I slept.”
Head cocked, he slowly shook it and flicked his gaze upward. Drawing a deep breath, he held it for a moment before puffing out in a slow manner. Pressing a fist to his mouth, he remained brooding, “If Adaku is lying with Namdi right now, I will be unforgiving. She must have assumed I wouldn’t wake up until close to six as usual, but she should have realized that the last two days have been anything but usual. For how long has their secret liaison been going on whilst I slept? Did she lie to me to protect him because of this? Why does she force my hand? Does he even realize that he is involved in a nowhere affair with her?”
Creeping out of bed while almost not disturbing the silence, he donned his velvety, blue, regal robe. Knotting its cummerbund, he strode without noise across the cozy room toward the door. Purposefully drawing in slow breaths, he remained soundless whilst exiting the room.
The door shut.
Isioma roused soon after. Stirring Ijeoma and Adure, they arose in no time.
“The king has gone after Adaku,” Isioma said. “She left not ten minutes before he awoke. I think she went to be with Namdi.”
“We did warn her against trying to fulfill her fantasies with these henchmen,” Adure said. “How do we help her though?”
Gazing at the dresser, Ijeoma said, “I will alert her,” springing out of the high-sitting, king-size featherbed.
“That’s wise of you—since he’s the only one who activates our stars, she’d realize that he’s now awake,” Adure said. “And it’s kind of you as well to help her despite her disregard for you yesterday.”
“That is bygone. Besides, we must have one another’s back regardless,” Ijeoma said, skipping across to the dresser and thumbing the gleaming star that was uppermost on the handle of the king’s Akupé; and, with this, she leapt back into the bed.
They all lay down and stared at the ceiling, breathing heavily, and waiting for events to unfold.
*******
With heavy breaths, King Ajutu swept down the two flights of stairs from his great chamber1 and strode onto the west passage that extended from the southwest section of the palace toward the staff living area on the ground floor of the three-storied northwest section.
Arriving at the northwest passage, he saw Adaku leaving the staff common lounge, and their gazes met. She was unfazed. His curiosity as to why she hadn’t reacted to the element of surprise that his being awake at that hour presented, fleeted. He gave her a black look as his eyes flashed.
“So, your frolicking with Namdi has evolved into sexual relations under my very nose?” he roared with an orotund voice.
“Your Majesty, it’s not what you think. I had a feeling that he’d checked out of the palace for good, and I came to confirm. I didn’t want to bother you—not that there was a way I could arouse you from sleep during these hours anyway,” Adaku replied whilst her face fell, and a look of terror moved fast across it as she recalled the king’s intent.
“Don’t you dare patronize me!” he stormed, stomping past her as she neared him, and headed straight into the lounge toward Namdi’s room.
“Open this door at once!” he coughed out with a dead-serious tone as he arrived at the door and planted his feet wide apart. With his chest thrusting out, he cracked his knuckles and glared at the door.
With feverish haste, Adaku dashed to the door and unlocked it. Turning the knob, King Ajutu flung the door open. The knob on the inside of the door hit the wall hard and dented it. A little amount of fine dust from paint and filler material fell to the floor.
Leaving Adaku just outside the doorway, he strode into the room, looking around. It looked unlived-in. The wardrobe was open and empty. The bed was stripped. The table was bare. Walking across the room, he opened the door to the en-suite. He gave it a look, but Namdi wasn’t there. He peeked behind the open door to no avail. Pulling the shower curtain aside, the shower was empty, too. Huffing out his irritation, he spun around, pounded his fist against the tiled wall and cracked a tile. He felt no pain.
