Chapter 76 WIZARDRY 102

Sobrina entered her room and dialed Pastor Melvin's number, and to her amazement it actually rang.

"Hello Soby, how are you?", he questioned.

"I'm good, how come your phone rang this morning, did you unblock me?",

"Yes, briefly though, I tried calling you last night",

"My battery was probably down", she responded, while swallowing her annoyance. In fact, he sounded happy to hear from her.

"Sobrina give me back all the money I've spent on you over the years", he said as he chuckled, sounding as if he was joking.

"Is that why you called my younger brother?", Sobrina questioned. She'd decided not to talk about that matter since she heard it. She actually believed her mother was going crazy, and probably wasn't pleased that she was finally going to get married to a man she actually loved.

"I didn't call him. Not in recent times",

"Is that why you texted my father yesterday?",

"No, I haven't communicated with any member of your family, in over a year now", he responded.

"That's alright. Let me have your account number. How much was it? Just two thousand from time to time and a little more in other times. I might not be able to repay you completely, immediately, but I have a little money in my account right now. Even though I never knew that I was borrowing, I'll gradually refund you until you decide I've completed my debt". Sobrina responded, and he chuckled loudly.

"If you don't send that account number, please don't ever again ask me for your money back", Sobrina snapped. She was slightly annoyed by the turn of the conversation.

"Why did you ask me those questions?", he questioned, now audibly laughing.

"It's nothing to worry about. How are you?",

"I'm okay?",

"I've really missed you",

"Me too, Soby. Me too", he said, laughing very sweetly, and Sobrina smiled at her own end as well. The conversation was over. She thought it was one of their conversations, where they say things they couldn't directly voice to each other, in a backwards manner. In other to avoid too much emotional impact.

Few minutes after hanging up, the text bearing his account number didn't come, and Sobrina sent him a sweet message. "I loved the way you laughed. You sounded satisfied, and it spoke a lot in my mind. I love you", she texted.

But even though Pastor Melvin never sent his account number to Sobrina, he was very serious with his demands. He was actually laughing with satisfaction, thinking, "I have you exactly where I want you. By the time I'm done with you..."

Pastor Melvin was aware that it was Pastor Davies who was making those moves. He had decided to be saving some of Sobrina's numerous text messages to himself, and then chosen a few to edit and forward to Pastor Davies on weekly basis.

Pastor Melvin knew that Pastor Sheddy was also on Pastor Davies' neck, to make sure his sister settles down in marriage with him. All her junior sisters were already married, and marriage was the girl's present greatest problem.

But of course, it was all part of his plan. He was aware of Sobrina's terrible relationship with her parents and especially her mother. He had in fact, helped her patch their relationship many times over the years.

He had personally encouraged Pastor Davies - after giving him Sobrina's parent's contact, as he had done with her sister's - to attack her by attacking her parents.

"I must take back all I gave to you, Sobrina. Before I let you go. And that includes life itself", he had sworn to himself.

Pastor Melvin had decided to make sure that he didn't exit the relationship while Sobrina was still alive. He just couldn't bring himself to make peace with that. Had he not made a covenant with her many years ago, using a holy communion? Only death would do them part.

He couldn't also bear to see her happy at any time, with another man. Knowing about all they would be doing in the bedroom as a couple, another man with all that beauty? Never! "Since I can't have you, no one else will!", he swore. And what better way to see her dead, than to have her take her own life, after she discovers that he was actually getting married to someone else?

Home gradually became hell once again for Sobrina. But she persevered. She consoled herself that soon, all will be well again.

She refused to complain in texts to Pastor Melvin. She believed God, and never slacked in prayers.

Pastor Sheddy's sister - Miraya - had also returned from the University, and had waited for Pastor Melvin at home for a few months by now. Pastor Melvin had been making promises, and yet text messages of sweet communications between he and Sobrina kept arriving in his cell phone.

During prayer meeting one Saturday evening, Pastor Sheddy decided to begin acting.

"Sobrina come", he commanded from the pulpit. Sobrina had been busy praying at the back of the congregation. She ran towards him.

Pastor Sheddy held her hands, and began to speak in tongues, praying. Sobrina joined him as she was taught to do back in Gracedome.

"You are not getting married, Sobrina", he suddenly lamented, in a prophetic manner. "Your husband is not among the men presently in your life right now", he continued. "Trust God. He will give you a husband in the nearby future", he concluded, and let Sobrina go.

Sobrina was enraged, she controlled her annoyance and decided to teach him how prophesy is done.

Few minutes after she returned to where she'd been standing, an opportunity presented itself.

"Does anyone have any words of prophesy for us, before we conclude?", Pastor Sheddy questioned, as he always does. Sobrina raised her hand.

"Come forward sister Sobrina",

"This word has been resounding on my mind since we've been praying. There's someone struggling with a serious issue in our midst. Is there anyone like that here?", Sobrina questioned, and a sister raised her hand, looking very sad.

"I don't want to know what the problem is. The word says it is settled. You have prayed. The Spirit says, God's answer is yes and yes. You are delivered", Sobrina concluded. The lady seemed so relieved and happy when Sobrina was done talking, and Sobrina returned to her seat.

After the meeting, Sobrina called Pastor Sheddy - who'd been trying to avoid her, fully understanding that she was waiting to see him - aside. They took a seat outside the church building.

"Pastor sir, I want to inform you that the man who is to be my husband, is presently in my life", Sobrina said very amicably.

"Wow, who is he?",

"It's not my place to reveal that to you, sir",

"Why not?",

"I believe he'll come and see my pastor as he's supposed to, when he is ready sir",

"It is true, one can be wrong in prophesy. I admit that. I was probably wrong. So who's this man?", he questioned.

"I'm afraid, I can't tell you right now, sir",

"Sobrina who is this man?", Pastor Sheddy pressured.

"Well, we were in school together, we've dated for many years now",

"What's his name?",

"Pastor Melvin", Sobrina responded, deciding to damn the consequences.

"Hmmmm... I've heard a lot about him from my sister", he said while struggling to hide his emotions. "So it is true", he thought.