A VISIT FROM THE DEVIL

”Lucian! What in the world is taking you this long? If you don come out now,then I and Johnny will definitely leave without you. Lora barked, stamping her feet angrily.

”Just a second,mother.Im almost ready.Just go to the car,and I will join you and Johnny right away. Lucians voice echoed from his room,upstairs.

”Just hurry up,okay. I don have all day. I don know why its taking you this long to get ready.I give you five minutes,to meet us at the car. Lora hissed before exiting the living room.

Lucian sighed deeply,as he stared at his sweaty and frightened reflection in the huge mirror,that hung perfectly on his bathroom wall.He drafted cold water into his hands,and washed his face roughly,whilst staring at the mirror.He swirled his head from side to side,and the familiar pain jolted in. He let out a moan,and ran his hands through his brown hair.Lucian jerked out of thought,and punched the mirror,leaving five crack marks. ”This dream again ” This dream again ” Lucian yelped, and Abruptly threw all the soap,shampoos and different moisturizers on the shelf,slightly above his mirror to the tiled floor. ”Why this dream again? Lucian asked rhetorically. He heaved a deep Sigh,and glanced at his reflection in the mirror,then picked up a small towel, before exiting the bathroom abruptly.

Immediately Lucian walked into his room,he sauntered to where his huge,six doored wardrobe was,and opened it hastily.Without searching through,he pulled out a white shirt,and black sweat pant,and flung them on the bed. Bending down slightly,he reached for his black Crocs,and flunged it on the bed also.After hastily wearing the entire selected outfit,he brought out a comb and brush from his bed side locker. He dressed his long,thick,brown hair and massed it into a bun. He glanced at the mirror and nodded in affirmation,before saundering out of his room. He wore a look that has been familiar on his face for close to a month now,and went straight down stairs.He walked slowly out of the main entrance door,into a black honking Bentley at the garage. Ignoring the angry glances being casted at him by his mother and Johnny,his younger brother,Lucian opened the back seat of the car, and bounced his butt on the car seat, immediately fastening his seat belt afterwards.

”So this is the outfit that took you two hours, to get into? Whats so special or difficult in what you
e wearing,that you had to waste our time? I really don understand what exactly is going on with you lately.Lora frowned, while driving the car slowly out of the compound.

”Im sorry mum! I just….You won understand! Lucian blurted and turned his gaze outside the window.

”Understand what? Understand that youve drastically changed or what?? What is going on with you,that you feel your own mother wouldn understand? Lucian youve changed so much.Talk to me, whats going on? Lora queried whilst driving carefully,and trying to maintain eye contact with Lucian through the rare view mirror.

”Hmmmmm.What can I tell you mother? You might think that Im crazy or losing my mind, if I tell you whats bothering me. I still don understand,and can figure out what I have been experiencing,so Im sure that you won also. Mother,you would recommend a psychiatrist for me,if I dare mention to you, whats going on,just like Johnny did the last time I told him.

Lora glared at Johnny with a stoic face,and Johnny,who sat besides her,bowed his head immediately.She swirled her head backwards,and caught a glance of lucians moping face. Lora swirled back her head almost immediately to focus on the road.

”Why don you try telling me! I might be of help,and I promise not to think of you as crazy. I really don like the new you. You always look sad and unhappy,and I honestly hate it. Just the other day,you screamed out of your sleep.I am getting worried,son.Lora said with concerned present in her face.

A moment of silence filled the air,making the atmosphere tensed.From the look on Lucians face,one could tell he was battling with his thoughts.He seemed confused,and bewildered.After a moment of plain silence, Lucian won over his thoughts and decided to speak up.

”I have been having this scary nightmares lately! Lucian started. Its not a nightmare,but at the same time its a nightmare.Lucian paused for a while trying to examine Loras expression through the mirror,to ascertain if she was listening.When he was convinced that she was,he continued. I have this nightmare everytime I close my eyes. I can sleep in peace,it doesn only happen at night,but whichever time of the day,I chose to sleep. Everytime I close my eyes,I have a dream, where I see my self having some sort of exotic eighteenth birthday party,with cakes, candles and balloons. The venue of the birthday wasn familiar to me at all. Grandma,Grandpa,Jennine,you,Johnny,uncle Xander and Celia,were all present.All of us joined together in cutting my cake and opening my present,when all of a sudden a distraughtful wind swirled pass,causing the atmosphere to become very cold. Out of nowhere, a very gigantic man,about eight feet tall,wearing only a graphite black pant,and an oddly scary mask,concealing his eyes,nose,and lips appears. The mask had a black horn attached to the middle. Immediately the weird looking Man with his huge chest appears,we all start running,and trying to seek refuge.Suddenly he starts laughing maniacally,and with the snapping of both of his fingers,blood starts gushing out of everyone of you, and everyone drops dead at the spot,right in front of my eyes. I remember holding you and Johnny in the pool of your blood whilst wailing.Then the man comes up to were I was seating on the floor, wailing besides you and Johnny,and says, ”You have come of age Leon,and your people need you! Your eighteenth birthday is near,and you have to find the key and redeem your people ”! Those were his exact words Everytime he visits in my dream.I recall getting up immediately,and asking him who he was,and why he killed my entire family. He reciprocated my question with another maniac laughter,and turns away immediately. As soon as his back faced me,I tried hitting him with a bottle,but it passed through him.He turns to me and says,is that all you got Leon? I angrily thundered at him, that my name wasn Leon,but Lucian. At that point he always grips my throat and tries to choke me,leaving his sharp finger marks on my throat. I eventually fall on the ground, gasping for breathe,and then he says ”See you formally on your eighteenth birthday ” and then he suddenly vanishes. After waking up from that dream,I usually see the marks on my neck for a few seconds before it vanishes. My neck usually hurts for about thirty minutes after I wake up from the worrisome dream. Mum,I know this sounds disbelieving,but I swear it usually happens.Lucian explained with tears streaming down his fair skin.

Lora immediately halted the car at the side of the road.She looked at Johnny,who only scoffed in return. Lora alighted immediately,and moved to the back seat where Lucian was seated.She held both his hands,and stared intensely into his eyes.

”Oh my world! So youve been going through all this trauma alone,without telling anyone? What kind of a horrifying nightmare is this? This is deeper,than it meets the eyes. We need to get help as soon as possible. You should have told me sooner son. Why did you think that I wouldn believe you? You are my son, and I know you,not to make things up. We will have to go out of town tomorrow. We need to visit your grandpa at once. Im sure he would know what this dream is all about. Im so sorry son! Im sorry you had to go through all this. I promise you,nothing will happen to you.

”Mum,you don know how happy I am right now.I wanted to tell you long ago,but I was scared. I was scared that you would think I was crazy,and needed to see a psychiatrist. When the torment became worst,I resulted to telling Johnny and Jennine,who in return shrugged me,and said I was seeing things. Im just happy now,that at least someone believes me. I tried searching for solutions online,but I wasn getting any. Mum,I really need to get answers and solution. Am I going bananas? Why am I having this insane nightmare coherently? I just don understand anything. I feel like Im losing my mind. Lucian sobbed,helding on to his mother tightly.

Lora gripped his chin slightly,and beemed him a faint smile.She didn realize the amount of tears pouring down her eyes until Lucian wiped them off with the back of his palm.Lora gave Lucian a tight hug,and patted his back comfortingly.She wiped off his tears,and jerked his face to hers.She stared at him again,and beemed another faint smile to him.

”You
e not going crazy okay! Im sure your grandfather will have the answers.Don trouble your mind again.Mummy believes you,and she will protect you from the monsters terrorising you.For how long has this been going on?

”Quite a while now. I started having the dream ever since we returned from the Caribbean. Mum,do you think a demon or some sort of ghost possessed me over there? Lucian inquired with fear visible in his eyes.

”Its possible son! Infact anything is possible.Just bare it in mind that we will get to the bottom of this,okay! Lora responded.

”Im sorry bro! Im sorry that I didn believe you.Please forgive me.The low voice of Johnny played from the front seat.

”Its okay bro. Its not your fault. I mean,I sound a little bit crazy. Im just glad that I will soon be getting help.

”Thank you bro! I think we should just head back home.We need to start packing,since we would be going to Grandpas house tomorrow.Johnny suggested.

”Start packing? We ain staying for too long are we? We both have schools on Monday,and we can afford not to attend,not with exams fast approaching.Lucian protested.

”Lucian honey,your grandpa lives very far from here,and it would take us approximately six hours to get to his house. If we go there tomorrow, being Saturday,we won be able to come back on Sunday.We would have to come back on Monday. You and Johnny would have to miss school this once. I will also have to make an excuse for not coming to work on Monday. You can take a book or two along,so you don miss out on reading. What do you guys think??

”Its okay mum! Can wait to see Grandpa!! Johnny and Lucian replied in unison.

Lora called Eddie and explained to him,why she had to cancel their outing.She lied to him that Johnny had a brief stomach ache,and she had to bring him to the hospital. Eddie was Loras personal guard, from way back,when she was still a teenager. They parted ways after she got married,and had to dispose of him. They recently bummed into each other at the market,and decided to have a little get together,with her family and his. They were headed to the ”CENTRAL GARDEN ” to meet up with Eddie and his family, before Lucian made a shocking revelation to his mum.She had to turn the vehicle around,and head back home.

It was already 5:30pm when Lora,Johnny and Lucian walked into their luxurious mansion.Johnny and Lucian paved their way pass their spacious living room,that was perfectly painted in Ash,white and brown respectively.It was extensively decorated,and the furnitures were simple,yet beautiful and expensive.They both walked pass the living room, and headed straight to the giant stair case that led to their bedroom. Lora on the other hand went straight to the kitchen,which was on the left side of the living room.She sluggishly dived into the kitchen,opened the fridge,and brought out a chilled bottle of water.She poured the content of the bottle into a glass,and gulped down every drop of it from the glass.She released a deep breathe afterwards,and headed to the microwave.Lora microwaved the bowl of spaghetti and meatballs,and dished it into three plates on the dinning.She called out to her sons,who were upstairs in their room,from downstairs,and ordered them to come downstairs and join her for dinner right away. They came running down the stairs afterwards,and the trio had their supper in silence. Johnny cleared the dishes after they were all done eating,whilst Lora retired to her bedroom.Lucian went straight to the living room after his meal.He bounced and rested his entire body on the sofa,with the remote in one hand. Immediately Johnny was done with the dishes,he joined Lucian in the living room.It was almost 8:pm already,and their favourite series was about to be aired. Johnny sat on the sofa opposite Lucians,and mounted all his gaze and attentiveness on the television set.Lucian adjusted his body on the sofa immediately the movie came on. His attention was on the movie,before his phone started ringing.He grouched at the hearing of his ring tone.Who could be calling him at this hour,when he is about to watch his favourite tv series? Lucian took the phone out of his pocket,and the name ”Jennine ” greeted his eyes. Lucian had called Jennine earlier on,but unfortunately she didn pick up. He quickly excused himself,and went straight outside to pickup her call. He swiped pick,immediately he arrived outside.

”Good evening prince ” Jennine greeted!

”Huh! You just called to tease me,didn you? You know what,from now on,if you ever refer to me as a prince,I will call you a princess! How about that? Lucian responded rolling his eyes,as the soothing wind tossed his hair a bit.

”Hahahaha! Well I have no problem with being called a princess obviously,so i will be very thrilled if you do. I was having supper with my family earlier when you called,so I had to miss your call. So whats up? What are your plans for the weekend?

”Thats the main reason I called Jennine. Mum would be taking,I and Johnny to see Grandpa tommorow. We might have to miss school on Monday too.I just called to plead with you,to make an extra note of whatever would be taught for the day,for me,if you don mind.

”Wow! Is everything okay? Is King Reginald ill or something? You don need to worry,I will make an extra note for you!

”No! Grandpa is hail and hearty.We all just miss him a lot,expecially mum,so we decided to visit him at the palace tomorrow. We will be back by Monday! I will have to call you back tomorrow,Im really missing out on the finale of ”Walking Orange ”, just by talking to you right now. I need to go inside,and join my brother.Good night Jennine,and Thank you!

”Okay! Good night prince! My regards to Johnny and Mum.

Without waiting for a response,Jennine hung up immediately.

”Im sorry,I had to lie to you. You would have called me crazy again,if I tell you the main reason,we are visiting the palace ” Lucian blurted,immediately the call disconnected.

Lora tossed around in bed,as she was unable to sleep.Everything Lucian had told her earlier played in her brain, making her more scared and confused. What could be wrong with her son? and why did such outrageous nightmares kept repeating itself? Lucians eighteenth birthday was in two months,and the thought of that got her worried even more.Her heartbeat increased and her mind drifted to her father, King Reginald ll. He is a very strict king,a perfectionist and an imperfect father,who ruled the kingdom greatly,to the enjoyment of his subjects.He was still mad at her,and hasn forgiven her for marrying a commoner,instead of Prince Louis, her betrothed. Eighteen years ago,her father had banished her from the kingdom for getting pregnant for a commoner. He never forgave her,and never allowed her stepped foot into the palace,untill two years ago. He forbade her mother, ”Queen Zarah ” from seeing or communicating with her. The only reason she was allowed into the palace two years ago,for the first time in eighteen years,was because her husband Left her and ran away from the city,with a richer woman.Her father felt it was the right time to mock her,so he summoned her to the palace and mocked her uncontrollably.After that encounter,he ordered that his grand children,Johnny and Lucian be brought to the palace to visit him regularly. Surprisingly her father had a soft spot for Johnny and Lucian. He only cared about her children and not her. Whenever they visited the palace,he would taunt and mock her. He would remind her of the stupid decision she made,and how he was right about commoners. Well,its not like he was wrong afterall. Cicerio proved what her father always said about commoners right. He always said commoners are not to be trusted,that they were just around us to steal and hurt us. I guess cicerio thought that after getting me pregnant,the king would oblige to our wedding,then afterwards he could abscond with my money and jewelries,or maybe gain Powers and connection through me. Im happy father proved him wrong,by chasing me out of the palace with nothing. I guess when he couldn take it anymore, and felt that father would never forgive and take me back,then he decided to leave me,for a richer woman. Curse the day I met and fell in love with cicerio. Lora finally dozed off,after the thought of how her father would treat her tommorow,wared off her mind.