As I left my offspring’s to mourn their dead, I couldn’t help but felt some empathy towards them. They had been harshly shown life and the vanity that was its garment.
I wandered on after I had dealt with the insignificant warriors who failed to realize their leaders were dead and they were outmatched, for even in my weakened state, they were of no match for me.
There was pandemonium everywhere as the inhabitants of my accursed prison ran helter skelter, the chaos fed strength into my limbs as I wandered on in my search for the exit. At every turn these stubborn mortal warriors would ambush me with their annoying weapons from afar, cowards sons of cowards all of them, for all their persistent none dared to confront me in personal combat.
I beheld my surroundings as I walked, i marveled at the strength of power, wielded by the chubby little one, the might of Orisha Oko the earth god himself, she had pulled up the entire building from its hidden solitude under the earth, I laughed as I imagined the look of surprise on the faces of the mortals up above as they saw a building rise from the earth unto their midst.
At last, I was left alone, the warriors having fled as common sense seemed to have prevailed and I waded on amidst the mortals as they scurried about like ownerless fowls, their annoying wails had my teeth gritting so hard I wanted to stamp them flat unter my foot but the call of the sun drew me on and I did not want to spend another moment longer in the rat hole that had been my prison.
Finally free of the building, with a burst of joyous laughter I hailed the godesss Imọlẹ, and the sun itself; footstool of eledumare. I groaned in pleasure as I bath in the sunlight, familiar magical energy flowed into my limbs and the first thing I did with the divine magic was rid myself of the rooster wings at my shoulder, I closed my eyes, savoring the pleasure as my essence fed and heightened, it was time to take on to my birthright. It was time to repossess my lost powers.
The elements I was master over forsook me during my incarceration, not because I was cut off from imọlẹ the source of life but mainly due to disuse, after all they were elemental spirits and they needed to be wielded, not trapped down with me in perpetual darkness.
Long have they gone without a master, feral they would be and they would surely resist my summon but my will shall not be denied for I am their lord and they must bend to my will.
Only Iná the fiery spirit stayed true all through my captivity, and the fire element burned hot in my belly as I reached out to its siblings.
At first, they prowled nearer out of curiosity, their feral minds vaguely recognize the one they once called master.
“I know you," Ará, the spirit of lightening crooned.
“Could it be?" The wind sprites wailed, "has our master returned?"
“Yes, I have my pets, you will attend me as you once had." I answered.
But instead the lightening spirit prowled closer, seeking weakness. “Once I called you lord and did your bidden, then you were strong, an Iroko among trees but now you are weak, now a cassava stapling calls.’’
Stung at the insult, I sent my will coiling like a python at the element, seizing it before it could react.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
“Hold your peace Ara thou traitor for have you not also fallen far? Outside of my employ, you who once sends kings flying under their beds in terror, no mortal dares wander outdoor when you roam, for even in the safely of their huts they are still not safe. Now they have taken all that from you, rendered you toothless for they built rods that controlled and muzzled you, bind you into their machines and devices, perchance you have forgotten how mighty you once were as I wielded you, perhaps Arira has forgotten."
Then I knew I had it for the element ceased in its struggling to ponder as it's siblings circled us.
"Join with your master once more, all of you and the world will learn to fear you once again."
"Who are you to talk of glory days long gone, you who had been caged by the same mortals." Ìjì, the spirit of storms wailed. "For I remember, once I raged through lands and seas unchecked, then we served one who knows not his mother’s true name, for when she died, she was buried in the land of her birth, away from the son she bore. And when he was of age, he sent slaves to his mother’s land to acquire her name, that he may honor the woman who had borne one so great, but only one slave succeeded in acquiring her name."
‘‘What is that woman called, from whose loins the mighty Iroko was brought forth?’’
"I am the mighty Iroko, lord husband of the tempest Oya, I am Jakuta the stone hurler, earth shaker, Olu Kòso the avenger, Shango the son of Toro whom she bore for Oranmiyan the lava tempered one. The lady of sands and spears, her name is Toro, princess of Tapa, daughter of Elempe and the apple of his eye.
"Join with me once more, my will is undeniable for you have been too long without purpose, now I shall give you one for my vengeance is inevitable."
“We see your rage and it is full, we hear and we obey and once more we join with you." the elements chanted in unison, "embrace us for we come.’’
The roar from painful ecstasy mixed with the claps of thunder and the wailing gathering storm escaped from my mouth as the element merged with me, their eager invasion forced me to my knees. The lingering pain felt like years then subsided as peals of aftershock raced through me and I was whole again
At last, i opened my eyes.
I had gathered quite an audience during my mental clash of will with my powers, a crowd of gaping mortals surrounded the mammoth sized institute building. They held tools up that flashed lights and ignoring the uniformed men trying to hold them back from the gaping hole from which the institute and I rose from. flying machines with whirling blades darted up above held my fascination until one of the uniformed men’s call drew away my gaze.
His voice was loud as he barks from a horned object he held in his hand, he was speaking the language of the institute, asking me who I was and ordering me to get on my knees.
“I am Shango, I roared, standing tall so they can beheld me and bask in my divinity. You stand before an Orisha mortals. Perhaps if you’ve forgotten the god, you recognize the man, I am an Alaafin of imperial Oyo and you will bow in homage.”
The man mumbled into a device hanging at his shoulder, the winds stole a few words to my ears.
“Some half naked drug addict claiming to be the king of Oyo or some escaped lunatic from a nearby mental home."
some people near him laughed. My blood blazed, eyes flashing, a mortal has insulted for the last time, Mugabe’s death has done nothing to pacify me and this worm calling me a madman broke the dam, they have forgotten me, they must surely be reminded, I summoned bands of air as I rose up above them.
“Yes, gape now mortals, as you all witness the presence of Arabambi." I growled.
They instead 'ooh’ed' and 'aah’ed', their flat shaped metal devices clicking and flashing vigorously. Confused at their reaction for instead of the fear and the homage I was expecting, they were fascinated, clapping as if I was performing for their pleasure.
My last remaining self-restraint snapped and I unleashed my anger with abandon. With a mighty roar an inferno sprang forth from my mouth and nearby buildings were set ablaze, the earth trembled at my rage and the clouds darkened and the sky wept, then pandemonium broke out as the mob screamed in terror as they struggled to get away from me.
Now things are starting to make sense.