There was a dark aura admitting from Abioye’s office. Ayana and Ajani stood around the corner, looking down the long hallway to the closed door.

“So scary….”, Ajani whimpered as a shiver passed through him.

Ayana couldn’t help but to tap the wall with her nails once, twice, “What could have happened this time?”

It had been awhile since a darkness descended on Mi’ol because of one of the Death Children’s anger. All Death Children were linked to Mi’ol and could influence it via their moods.

It was why even Ayinde was there instead of doing his usual duty. Not that he could. Outside Mi’ol had gone into a lockdown with the sandstorm that was currently raging. It had been hours and it still had not abated. Even though Ayinde could row to the other side with his eyes closed he could not in this sandstorm that upsetted the river.

It has been a long time since such a thing has happened. Ayinde had been a young child and the twins were not even born when all three of his older half siblings had almost wrecked Mi’ol with their anger after the Death King’s decree. Ayinde remembered how calm Baba was during that time. He didn’t bat an eye and said they’ll get over it eventually. Ayinde distinctly remembered feeling as though Mi’ol would disappear at that time. However this time was a mere joke in Ayinde’s eyes. It was nowhere near the level of destruction as the last time. Probably because only Abioye was the one raging.

Ayinde was distinctly surprised that he hadn’t seen Amondi since this started but on reflection let’s be real, who was he kidding? Amondi was probably somewhere enjoying the view. Ayinde shook his head to himself as he heard his sister ask, “So, who's going to brave this?”

Ayana looked at Ajani who probably looked back at Ayinde. It took awhile for Ayinde to realize it was quiet and he snapped back to himself. He saw the twins looking at him expectantly and finally heaved a long sigh.

Abioye didn’t look up when he heard the door open and close. Ayinde walked in and stood before the desk. He could see Abioye simmering as he sat drilling a hole into the desk. Ayinde swore he saw fumes smoking outwards from Abioye’s frame.

Ayinde would never admit that he was silent for a long time to gather his courage and not because he was calm. He knew that no matter what he said or where he started, Abioye was dangerous right now. Eventually he spoke:

“You are kicking up a sandstorm out there, you know? No one can work right now. What is wrong, Abioye?”

Abioye growled without looking up, “Get. Out.”

Ayinde lifted his chin and folded his arms, “I will not.”

Gold eyes flashing dangerously as Abioye looked up. Ayinde suppressed the shiver and spoke evenly, “You’ll feel better if you vent your anger….with words preferably.”

“Don’t tell me how to feel!” snapped Abioye, banging his hand on his desk.

“Did something happen to our future sister in law?”

Abioye clenched his fist, “There is not going to be a future sister in law!”

Ayinde cocked his head, “Why not? What has happened now? It must be bad if you are raging like this. Has she affected you this much?”

Abioye bared his teeth, “She had not...affected me….” he sneered.

“But something did happen? What is it?” Ayinde asked softly.

Ayinde was able to hold Abioye eyes, not looking away in the slightest. Such a thing finally yielded him a response, “She has a….what do you mortals call it, a date on Saturday of all days.”

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“Ahh….”

Abioye growled.

“So I suppose you have to trail her for the day?”

“I will do no such thing!” snapped Abioye.

Ayinde looked surprised, “But that is the day you have to go nurture her spirit!!”

“So what!”

Ayinde's mouth hung open once, “I thought that the two of you managed to make your peace with that. She cannot hang up her life every Saturday.”

“It’s her choice if she wants to go.”

“But if you don’t go she’ll eventually fade. Are you okay with that?!”

“It’s her choice!!” snapped Abioye. He growled as he began to rant, “She called me out, in her head today, that is not even Saturday, to tell me that she is going on a date with a mortal man. However, she’s all melodramatic enough to think that the contract would affect her changes with a mortal man.”

“And how does she think it would?”

“How would I know? She seemed to think I`m some secret she has to keep all her life and it would be hard to hide if she is trying to have a relationship or get married. She seems to think that this is cheating somehow.”

Ayinde nodded slowly, “I can see her fear. It’s quite valid. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it makes sense.”

There was silence for a while while Ayinde mulled over this as Abioye continued to stew over it. Ayinde thought it was quite strange that Abioye was this angry over this. He observed Abioye before asking, “Are you still going on Saturday?”

“I already told you no! I’m not trailing behind two mortals watching them develop together. It’s sickening. Besides it's not like she wants me to do that. She could just cancel the date or move it to another day but she’s choosing to be stubborn. ”

Ayinde blinked, “Brother….is it that fact that she has a date on Saturday or that she has one at all is bothering you?”

Ayinde swore he heard a tree snap outside as Abioye’s eyes blazed up at him again. He was impressed that Abioye had thrown something at him but that was beneath him. So Ayinde gathered his courage and pressed on making sure to keep his older brother’s gaze, “I have to wonder if you hate her as much as you wanted to....”

Yep, Ayinde heard something break outside as the raging storm seemed to kick it up a notch.

“Abioye, it’s understandable why you and your siblings hate humans. But I've watched you this past mortal year. You have softened towards Maliah.”

Abioye leaned forward then slowly, deliberately picking up a feathered pen, “I wonder how your wife will feel if I send you back in pieces.”

Ayinde had to remind himself that Abioye was tamer than Amondi or Alimayu. And as much Abioye wouldn’t admit it, he had changed over the years and at the end of the day was willing to listen to what Ayinde had to say.

“Abioye, you still hate humans, but I don’t think you hate Maliah as much as you want to. And now that she dares to go on a date with some lame mortal man, you don’t like that. For crying out loud, you even brought a microwave, you don't need to make tea in a mortal way!” Ayinde pointed to a corner of a room where a microwave and a bunch of tea sat.

“You got that from Maliah. Also, the two of you seemed to have gotten closer after Maliah’s scare with her mother. Rather you admit it or not, you’ve bonded with her more than this nurturing the spirit.”

Abioye’s feather pen snapped into two as he glared up at Ayinde.

Ayinde dared to point at Abioye, “What you feel is called jealousy.”

The 2nd Death Prince, 3rd child of the Death King snorted, “I do not feel such base human emotions.”

“Ahh, so you are aware of what it is then!”, Ayinde allowed himself a small smile, “Maliah Anderson grew on you. Like fungus. But I have to ask you to think about this: How would you feel knowing Maliah, as much as you do now, if she was fated to your older brother?”

Abioye’s eyes fluttered quickly at the thought. Maliah Anderson fated to Alimayu? He didn’t understand why he felt the back of his neck grow cold at the thought. His older brother could be cruel in ways that defined logic. Even in the beginning, although Abioye didn’t like the idea of the contract, he always pitted whoever would be fated to Alimayu. He wouldn't put it past his brother to actually try to kill his fated on the spot. Or as everyone kept saying just toss her into the River of Remembrance with his own hands. Even Abioye couldn’t bring himself to be that cruel.

More than that, he didn’t know what would happen if one of them tried to kill their fated with their own hand. Would that destroy the Death Children, making them disappear as if they never existed? Abioye never wanted to find out. It was good that Alimayu had shut himself up in the Spiral Room. Even their father never shut himself up in that room. Abioye often wondered why Alimayu tortured himself in that room. How could he be in the room where he had to constantly watch the souls be born, even if it was his duty assigned to him by the Death King? Seems to Abioye that would be a greater torment of his older brother.

But Maliah being fated to his older brother? Even Abioye couldn’t hate her that much.

Ayinde could see the change and emotions that filtered through Abioye’s eyes.

Finally Abioye sat back in her seat and said calmly, “I don’t need her!”

Ayinde shook his head softly, “No, but I have to wonder if you want her?”