20 Amashumi amabili

"Where are we going, Nik?" Lissa asked me.

She was obviously confused but I didn't have time to explain anything to her yet. I needed to keep my eyes on the path as I drove on the muddy terrain. Thank the Gods for off-road lizard cars.

I would have love to get out of the territory as soon as possible- the portals would have been the best option, speed-wise. But they would have traced us immediately and I can't risk them finding out where we were going.

"Nikky… we obviously trust you but where are you going rushing off to? Why did we evacuate so fast?" Sam asked, popping his head in between Lissa and my seats.

I tried to take the most confusing route I could think of to get to Merlin's compound. He was trying to keep out of the public eyes and definitely out of the royal eye. He was the person to help me out of this. He knew how to make people disappeared and I had two ghosts who needed to disappear as soon as possible.

We reached the lake, driving on the edge of the mountain. Both my Nøkkensons were stared at the lake longingly. I placed my hand on top of Lissa's and gave it a soft squeeze. She gave me a sad smile and then went back to looking out the window.

I reached the river back and then reversed into a tree.

"Nikky… Nikky. Nikky!" Sammy screamed at me in panic and tried to reach for the handbrake. I laughed at his panicked expression. I stopped the car and then put it in full gear and raced the car towards the water before either of the twins could stop me. I caught a glimpse of Lissa's shocked expression and Sam's high-pitched scream was enough to tell him how he felt about our drowning. I just laughed and put my foot down harder on the pedal.

As soon as the car was fully immersed in the water, a blue light came from the soil and a transparent gel-like substance wrapped around us. I loved this part. Merlin was a sucking genius. I watched as the water moved away from us in a vacuum before we started to be absorbed into the opening in the soil.

Once we were on the ground again, the gel dissolved, and the car was able to open again. The ceiling was layered with multiple reinforced metals. I loved watching the puzzle lock of the ceiling overhead along the length of the lake.

I turned back excitedly to look at the Nøkkensons to share in the extraordinary experience we had. Instead of the excitement, I hoped to see, I was met with a death glare from Lissa and a full punch in the shoulder from Samuel. What?

Rolling my eyes, I drove onto wards the entrance. The car was scanned as we approached, and the door opened up automatically. I loved the inside of his place. I remember his first base as a technological paradise. Merlin was (will always be) a genius in my eyes and he taught me most of what I know about technology and ancient weaponry.

I climbed out of the car and helped the twins get out as well, I carry both of our duffle bags because of their dazed expression. I couldn't blame them for their state of awe.

"Oké, Nik, what is this place. Why are we here?" Lissa asked. I smiled at her and nodded towards to the door.

"This place belongs to an old friend of mine. He can help us," I replied. I stepped forward and allowed the scanner to read my eye. The doors opened and out of the dimly lit passageway. He is dishevelled and leaning on his cane and he walked forward.

Way to sell the old man act, Merlin. He stood in front of us and breathed unnecessarily heavy as he studied the twins. Then he turned to me and raised his bushy eyebrow at me. I smirked at him and shrugged. This made him scoff and push me out of the way before stumbling over to the skeptical twin. Sammy stiffens and fidgets under the grey-haired man's scrutiny. His sister looks even more uncomfortable when the man's attention falls on her. She glared at me when I can't contain my laughter anymore.

"Stooop, Merlin, you're creeping out my family," I whined.

He hums and then looked at me again. Staring hard at the uncomfortable twins, he motions them to enter his "house". They looked to me and finally accept the invitation when I nod at them. We watch them walk further into the compound before turning back to each other. He practically danced with giddiness.

"Ghosts! Real ghosts! For me?" he asked. I chuckled at his childish antics.

"They are my family, Merlin. You gotta find your own," I said. He growls but then smirks at me. I knew he was conscribing a mental questionnaire to ask them. Who was I to deny an old man his curiosities? I chuckled at him and we walked into the house with our arms wrapped around each other's shoulders.

In a moment of seriousness, I turned to him and said, "I need your help, Merlin."

"You're fighting for ghosts now, Susu?" he teased. I put my hand on his shoulder and brought his attention to me.

"There are people who want to hurt my family and I need your help to protect them," I said. His eyes widened in excitement.

"Are you finally ready?" he asked. He was bouncing on his toes like a springbok in the autumn.

I sighed, nodding my head. I knew I was going to get a lot of shit for what I was about to do. But after what I heard; I was less concerned about what everyone else wanted me to do. I had responsibilities, yes. But I had no intention of sacrificing my family to do it.

I needed to do something that would ensure that no African child would hurt them again but what I had planned would not be earning a favours form my ancestors. But I'm am Orisha – they would be beyond idiotic to stand against me. When this was over, they would not only be forced to stand down against my family, they would even be motivated to take arms up against anyone who threatened to harm them.

"So, we are really going to do it" he pipped up, skipping towards the other two. I bit my cheek and followed him up into his under water living room. The walls were reinforced transparent metal. The water outside the faux glass was murky and with few fish outside it but I knew better than to disregard the exciting view. By nightfall, the lake would be alive with mystical creatures. I honestly couldn't wait to see Lissa's cute smile when she saw the mer-people.

"So, what are we all doing here?" Sammy's foot entered his mouth. I shared a look with Lissa. She wanted to face palm herself, but she wouldn't out of respect for the person ogling them both the way a child might an uneaten koeksister.

I looked at the excited Merlin and nodded my head as he motioned for everyone to take a seat. Lissa was seated beside me, but I couldn't resist pulling her securely into my lap, kissing her cheek when she rolled her eyes. She was still annoying at her near-death experience and being kept in the dark, but I would get her on my side again.

Sammy was curious as always and I watched him fight the urge to look around the room at the various gadgets that looked like they were designed for the grown body to gawk at. He was uncomfortable because of not knowing why he was here but I knew he was also really enjoying the sights around him.

I would let him have his fun later as soon as he got the run down of his new destiny.

"So, I need you two to understand that you guys are the most important people in my life, present company excluded," I said, sparing my mentor a soft smile. He waved me off, blushing.

Lifting Lissa to place her beside me, I stood up and looked at both of them dead in the eye before announcing, " I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and ensure that you have a happy life. So that's why we are here. Merlin here is my mentor, and he is going to help me turn both of you into Orishas."

I waited for them to freak out but they both remained silent. I was prepared to reason with them and convince them of my methods, but I was not prepared for silence. I just wanted to make sure they knew they would also be my priority. Melissa walked up to me and kissed me passionately. That was a good sign.

Sammy on the other hand looked like he won the secret to life. He nodded rapidly and jumped up rushing to me and lifting both me and his sister into the air, spinning us around in the air. I looked over at an equally satisficed Merlin.

This was not the reaction I expected. But I wasn't complaining. We would surely go to hell for this, but it was worth the torment to keep my family safe!