Craig William, the only child of his parents clocks 25 and begins to have nightmares. He soon realize that everyone he ever loves is doomed to death, including all the women he loves.
Patience is most needed
In this world oft hurrying near.
PATIENCE
Albrin Junior
Patience is most needed
Oft in this world hurrying near, The ruins of wear and tear
Washes away heeded calls.
Man's misery is become great;
O! Ye men of little faith, Forgoes God of mighty deeds, Bolts past time always there, In reality, runs from fear unknown.
PART ONE
"Every drop of tears has its meaning. There can be no fire without smoke"
PROLOGUE
Lagos state 2013
William Craig strode into the living room with heavy footsteps, and unwilling to shake away the remaining fragments of sleep lurking behind his azure eye. In between his dim lit eyes, he could see his parents watching a worship show on TV, he winced. He didn't believe in the spiritual neither in the traditional, rather, he was of logic and nothing more. He wasn't an atheist as he was often mistaken for, he knew and believed there was a God somewhere, he just didn't care who and where this God dwelt.
'Good morning mum, dad, ' he said laggy, almost drooling. He lets out an unmannered yawn, with all his strength he could muster. He sat down and both his parent gestured at him, they were engrossed in the worship. William sat and leaned his head back on the couch, more concerned about continuing his sleep. The program came to an end and his parent waved their hands to the heaven whispering something. He looked up and saw nothing but their asbestos ceiling glistering in its white petals. 'Morning son, ' his mum now answered him. His dad flashed a gaze of wonder, and William guessed he was wondering why his son was a sleepy head. He grinned at the thought of it. Joseph cleared his throat, followed by an abstruse silence. William knew his father was calculating his words and searching for the perfect opening line. 'Sit up son.'
William smiled, he knew his father. 'My son, what we have to say is important.'
'I've been thinking... I mean we've been thinking about us, ' his mother swiveled at her husband, swiftly correcting her words. 'As our son, you give us cause to be grateful to God, but, our minds are not at rest.'
William's dimmed eye widened. 'What about me give you no rest?'
'You are our only child, and we fear our joy be cut short if care is not taken. This world has grown evil, where a person's joy brings tears.' Joseph Craig, his father said nothing, but kept a fixed gaze at his son. He was studying every emotion in him. William's mind drifted to the rising sun. Its ray piercing through the sliding window into the room and from where he sat could see the sun lit but not with a good view as he always had most days. He remember been told that the early sun rays were vitamins and strengthens the bone's. William faced the sun. This was another of those natural vitamins he didn't want to miss, until his mum stood to stretch the Cotton's frill to the other end disrupting the rays. He shifted his attention back to his parent. 'Oh that!' exclaimed William with less enthusiasm, enveloping himself in the brown velvet upholstery. 'I thought we were done discussing this. For the thousand times I'm fine, nothing wrong will happen to me and your only joy won't be cut short, ' he grinned. 'By the way I go to church, and that is every protection I need. He hoped his unplanned speech had convinced his mum, but she didn't look it. 'That's the thing, Will, ' his mother called the shortened version of his name. 'We want to provide you with more powerful spiritual protection.'
William was addled. 'Does that mean God isn't strong enough to protect me?'
'It means two heads are better than one, ' his father blurted.
William frowned at the thought of it. They wouldn't agree to it but the meaning of their suggestion was obvious. Wasn't God's protection enough for men anymore? Why do people seek extra protection which appeared to be more burdensome? This thoughts have roamed longed in his head before now, he only just realized he never found an answer. He imagined what the proposed traditional protection would look like; bangles and chains cast at his feet and necklace to circle his neck. The irony of it all would be that he would have to protect the charms supposedly protecting him away from rain or water. It'd be hypocritical of him to wear church charms around his waist and still go to church on a Sunday, lifting his hands to praise God. He wondered how many people did such. 'There's nothing to be worried about, ' he reassured them both.
'This boy will not kill me, ' shouted his mother, throwing both hands into the air. 'I expected by now you'd have grown wise, ' his father scolded. 'You need to become a real man. Do you think the world is your friend? Nonsense, ' his father frowned and raked his fingers through his beard. 'Children of this generation never listen?'
'I don't even know why o! They act like they know but they don't.' Mrs. Bolu Craig exclaimed. 'Like it or not William, you will do it, you will do it, you won't kill me.' she reiterated angrily.
William wanted to tell his parents about Uz'-zah and the punishment that befell him for having helped God, but he couldn't. it was a biblical story well known to them and they both had a gaze that suggested their minds were made up. 'He doesn't know what the real world is, he's still a kid, ' Joseph said, hoping his words would bring calm to his wife. He then gestured William to leave. He was tired of repeating the same thing over and over again. Joseph Craig was a conservative man who believed that if people refused to learn from advice or otherwise, they'd be forced to learn from a bitter experience. What he failed to realize was that there were some experiences that one could not recover from. William left. 'Don't you think it's high time we tell him the truth, Bolu questioned. 'He's becoming of age, ' there was a noble plea in her voice. 'There are tides in the affairs of men, if taken at the flood leads to fortune. The time to tell him has not come, ' Joseph replied succinctly. 'This is no time for your nonsense proverbs or marbles or whatever you like to say. You better start talking sense before I lose my only son.' She retorted. 'He's my son too.'
'O! Now you know! Wait there.' she gestured then hissed her way out, calling her son's name.
***
The setting sun cast its shadow over the horizon of the three witches and its beauty reflected upon the plain white clouds, but none of these caught their eyes. They were more interested in the revelation they had just watched unfold through the calabash. Of the three sisters, Lightening was the most furious and shrewd, causing a tremor in the sky, a sudden growing violence in her eyes, but for the serene touch of her sisters, the sky would have exploded into a rage of misshapen tremors. 'They're trying to be smart. We should act now, ' Lightening rowed with calmness in her eyes but not her voice. 'Patience is a virtue, sister, ' said Rain lightly. 'Destiny can be delayed but never changed, or can it?' she asked intone. There was a revolving silence, Wind and Lightening in a mileage of thought. They agreed with her.
Naked Coin follows the travails of an Igbo family in the era of the Biafra War who lived in the then Midwestern Nigeria, Benin kingdom, and were nonetheless affected by the tribal strife and patriotic overzealousness surrounding the pre-war years and its antebellum. Ikenna’s family found wealth; they lost it all and would be driven to search for it again by all means. Ikenna found love before the war, he did foolish things for it and counts on love to see him through the horrid times as they ran from jungles to villages and back to jungles running away from war zones and deaths. In the end, deaths caught up with them, penury did too, love failed them, and an assumed brotherhood betrayed them. Ikenna and his family, or what is left of it must relearn to forge new survival paths around the same things that punished them; family, money and love
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?