Chapter 6: Palace Shadows

Recently, people from Chief’s house dey hang around our compound.

Dem dey use corner eye watch, park car for junction, sometimes send driver buy recharge card for Mama Kemi shop. I dey fear, but I no let Chinonso see am.

Mama Kemi notice, sharply pull her head back. "Shey na because Chinonso offend one big man last time, dem wan trouble you and your pikin?"

Her worry dey real. For dis our city, rumor fit fly pass mosquito. Once Chief house dey notice you, trouble fit dey near.

I no understand too. That night, Chief Musa talk clear, and even though Musa Junior look me with hate, e no suppose reach to dey disturb us.

I dey wonder if na trap, or if dem wan test my loyalty again. My mind no rest.

As I dey fear, I lock door well for night, dey carry Chinonso go and come back from school myself.

I even change road, avoid main junction. My spirit no gree settle.

First, two maidservants from Chief’s house come gently. "Since heir see you, e dey sick, dey call your name anyhow. Madam say make you come house visit."

Their wrapper neat, earring dey shine, but I sabi the tension for their face. As dem dey talk, dem dey look around, like say fear dey pursue them.

Musa Junior no dey ever call me mama—how e go miss me? Just to think of the princess, fine for face like Chief Musa but cold for heart, dey make me shiver.

Her beauty fit deceive stranger, but I sabi the steel wey dey her heart. That woman dey smile for outside, but her word fit break rock.

When I first enter Chief’s house, Princess of Umuola see me as enemy. After I born Musa Junior, dem lock me for corner house four years, she try kill me more than once, both open and hide.

Dem put poison for my tea once. Another time, dem set my sewing room on fire, but God save me. If no be prayer, I for no dey here.

If no be the old nurse for gate, I for no know how I take die.

The woman dey wise, e teach me how to lay low, how to hide for market when wahala start.

I no wan near Chief’s house at all, I tell the maids, "Una get plenty doctor for house. Me, I no reach to near the heir."

My heart dey beat as I talk am. I try sound bold, but fear dey under my skin.

For days, the maids dey come, I dey answer same way.

Sometimes, dem go drop wrapper, small food, as if na bribe. I no collect.

Finally, one night, the maids come knock, their body dey shake.

I see say their eye red, dem no sleep well. Something serious dey ground.

"Madam, abeg come. The heir no dey take medicine, e don get fever for two days. Na your own pikin o."

I no sabi wetin to say. The matter heavy. Their voice dey crack—e no be acting.

How strange. I no be magician. With all their power, Chief Musa and the princess fit force pikin drink medicine.

But I dey reason say maybe na spirit matter. Sometimes, pikin dey reject care if e feel pain for heart.

I wan refuse, but the maid look Chinonso, wey the noise don wake, e come out dey rub eye, her voice change.

As she look my pikin, her own eye water small. "Madam, abeg, for all pikin sake. If dem vex, na your house dem go first find."

"Since you sabi say you no fit fight Chief’s house, you no fear say if anything happen to heir, dem go blame some people?"

The threat subtle but real. I rub my chest, look Chinonso face. My mind dey heavy.

My heart just tight.

Fear grip me as I think the worst. I remember all the story of women wey dem punish for another person wahala.

I no fit risk Chinonso life.

No matter how I try brave, na my pikin I dey think first.

I think small, nod for maid. "Wait."

I go inside, pack wrapper, pray with Chinonso. I kiss im forehead, whisper, "No cry. I go come back."

I carry Chinonso go neighbor house, wake Mama Kemi, beg her make she help look after Chinonso.

She grumble first, but as she see my eye, she gree. "Go, e go dey safe."

Mama Kemi, still dey sleep, see the big car outside, fear catch her, she gree fast, no ask anything.

She hold Chinonso hand, cover am with two wrapper. "I go dey here. Go."

Before I go, I talk to Chinonso, wey hold my cloth, e no gree. I tell am gently, "Mama go come back tomorrow."

I bend down, talk for im ear, "You be my light. Stay strong for me."

Chinonso just look me, disappointment full im face, dey watch as I waka go for the street light.

The street lamp pale, breeze dey blow, but my back dey straight as I waka. For mind, I dey pray make God hold my hand.