PEN MASTER 010 SETH

BLOODLINES OF LAGOS

"... and with a landslide victory, Senator Joshua Adenuga secures the presidential ticket for APC." the radio announcer's voice rings out, filling my sleek black Mercedes Benz.

I adjust the volume, letting the announcer's words fade into the background hum of the engine.

Just like that, Dotun would soon be a president's son, I can't help but feel proud of him. Senator Adenuga has already lost the primary elections thrice, it is about time.

My eyes follow the curve of the road, taking in the lush greenery of the Ikoyi Golf Course. The warm Lagos sun casts a golden glow on the city, and for a moment I drive in silence, until my phone beeps, signifying a text message.

"Have you arrived dear? Don't forget to greet Vivianne for me, take care!"

I chuckle at my mom's text. She has been trying, unsuccessfully, to play cupid between me and Viv. I'm about to send a reply when my eyes land on a child standing in the middle of the road.

What the...?

I quickly skid to the right , before screeching to a stop, cursing under my breath. My heart beats wildly in my chest. I rest my head back against the seat, shutting my eyes. When I open my eyes there's no one there.

I blink rapidly, peering intently at the road ahead.

This can't be happening, not today...

With shaky hands I reach for my bottle of Xanax, pour a few tablets in my palm and down it with water, before I set the car back in motion.

In no time , I'm pulling over to the Adenuga's Guesthouse, nestled in the heart of Banana Island.

The sleek, modern architecture blends seamlessly into the lush surroundings, with floor-to-ceiling windows that seem to disappear into the tropical foliage.

Stepping out of my car, I inhale a deep breath of the salty island air, and walk towards the entrance. The sound of laughter and chatter carries through the open windows. Seems like everyone is here already. I glance at my wristwatch - 4pm.

Before I can knock, the door swings open to reveal Vivianne's bright smile. "Delani!" she exclaims, flinging her arms around me in a warm hug. I envelop her in a brief squeeze, inhaling the sweet scent of her perfume.

Too feminine.

"Hey, Viv," I say, releasing her.

As I step inside, the group's collective greeting envelops me. "Delani's here!" Amanda chirps, waving from the plush sofa. "I thought we'll soon start paying to see you." Kene raises his glass in a silent toast, while Nadia offers a gracious smile.

Dotun, resplendent in his tailored attire, hands me a glass of chilled orange juice. "Welcome, man," he says, clapping me on the back. "Amanda, you should know how Delani is by now. What do they call them again? Introvert kini extrovert." They all laugh, and it pulls a smile out of me.

My gaze sweeps the room, deliberately avoiding a certain someone even though I can feel his heated gaze warming my skin. I move past him, and settle down on the sofa, nestling in-between the six children of the most infamous families in Nigeria.

Oladotun Adenuga, only child to Senator Joshua Adenuga, current presidential candidate and wealthy tycoon.

Then there's Kenechukwu Obi, son of General Emmanuel Obi, former military officer and security consultant. Although most of his family's status comes from his mother, Senator Ngene Obi, politician and chairperson of the defense committee.

Chimamanda Egerton, just like Dotun, is the only daughter to a renowned neurosurgeon and top researcher in the country, and not forgetting my mother's favorite, Vivianne Nwosu, whose parents bask in oil money.

Of course, we also have royalty among us - Nadia bint Ahmed, first daughter of Alhaji Ahmed and Princess Fatima Al-Rashid, member of the Saudi Royal family. Nadia and her two sisters are half Nigerian, half Arabian.

Lastly, there's Anthony Okoye, first son to one of the founders of Ajayi and Okoye Industries. His father is partners with mine. His mom died a long time ago, leaving Mr. Okoye with three sons to raise.

My eyes dart towards Tony, my Tony, his expression neutral, but his eyes betray a hint of longing. I look away, the guilt warring within me.

Tony and I have been best friends since secondary school, and just like us, Viv and Kene have also been childhood friends for years, even though these days they rarely get along.

Nadia and Dotun became close two years back and started dating. We all thought their relationship would blow up owing to Dotun's womanizing history, but they ended up getting engaged and here we are, hosting a farewell party as they await relocation.

"We'll miss you guys so much." Viv says, stretching her hand towards Nadia's. "Can't you guys just stay here, and go for vacations only?" She pouts.

"We'll stay in touch." Nadia reassures her.

"So this is the last time we'll all be in this house together?" Kene muses.

A feeling of nostalgia settles deep in me. I remember the first time we spent a weekend here... "I remember the first time we spent a weekend here, Kene wouldn't stop bragging about how much bigger his father's house was." Tony pipes in. I flinch slightly.

It's like he can read my mind.

Against my wishes, my eyes travel to Tony, and I let myself take him in. He's leaning against the plush sofa, his bright smile illuminating the room. His sleek, low-cut Afro glistening in the light, while his trimmed beard accentuates his sharp jawline. He is godlike.

"Yes, I know I was wrong." Kene grumbles, with a sheepish grin. Everyone laughs, recalling the epic game of hide and seek that followed.

"I have an idea." Amanda says, her eyes lighting up like she's just had a brilliant idea. "Why don't we play hide and seek one last time? Like the first time?"

"No, please. We're almost thirty." Kene rebuts but Dotun and Nadia are already nodding in agreement.

Dotun slaps his shoulder playfully. "You and forming old man every time. Life is too short, try and have fun."

I muse over it a bit. It could be fun. "Let's do it. A farewell to the couple." I throw a smile their way, and Dotun gives me a 'chop knuckle.'

Soon, everyone else agrees and Kene has no choice but to oblige. "Fine, but this time we'll choose someone else to seek. I know how big the house is, I don learn." He grumbles.

"We could spin a bottle to choose?" Nadia offers. She stands up, "I'm reheating some pizza in the oven. Let's grab some before we start."

Kene gives her a playful frown. "Your homemade samosa is what brought me here o,"

Dotun laughs at this. "We gave the cooks the weekend off so we had to order. Bear with us."

Amanda, Nadia and Viv head towards the kitchen, while Dotun and Kene continue their conversation. I stand up stiffly, stretching my legs, and head to the toilet.

When I'm done relieving myself, I step out, and feel his presence before I spot him. I should have known he'd follow me. Tony is leaning against the wall, his eyes fixed intently on me. I try to brush past him, but he grabs my arm. "Delani," he whispers, his voice low and husky.

My heart skips a beat. I avoid eye contact, but Tony's grip holds firm. "Can we talk?"

I shake my head, pulling my arm free. "There's nothing to talk about." I hurry back to the group, desperate to escape the conversation.

When we finish the steaming pizzas and chilled drinks, we gather at the dining table for the game. "Since you guys humiliated me the first time, let me be the one to spin the bottle ." Kene declares with a coy look.

"It's that one we'll see you. Didn't you just say it's a childish game?" Viv quips back.

Kene glares at her, but grabs the empty sprite bottle on the table. The look he shoots her way makes it obvious he wishes the bottle will land on her. "Okay, one, two, go!" Kene yells as he spins the bottle. The bottle twirls, its trajectory unpredictable, until it finally stops.

Pointing directly at me.

Kene grins and looks at me. "Oya, Delani. It's your turn."

A shiver runs down my spine. Being the seeker means I'll be all alone in this massive guesthouse. The darkness outside seems to press in, making my skin prickle.

Unconsciously my eyes gravitate to Tony's, and his worried look mirrors mine. His eyes seem to ask, "will you be okay?" I don't let mine answer. Instead, I brave a smile. "What are you people waiting for? I'll only count to 60."

The group's laughter fades away as they scatter to find hiding spots. "Better reach 60, Delani!" Viv calls out, her voice echoing through the grand foyer. Plopping myself down on the plush sofa, I pull out my phone to pass the time. Instagram loads, and I mindlessly scroll through my feed. When I check the time, one minute has passed.

"Ready or not, here I come!" I shout, pocketing my phone.

I start with the lavish living areas, searching the cream-colored marble floors, where the crystal chandeliers refract light. I peer behind velvet drapes, check the wet bar, and even behind the bookshelves.

Why did I have to be the seeker?

A noise suddenly jolts me. It came from the kitchen. Someone is in there. I take slow steps towards the vast kitchen area, barely breathing as I tiptoe past the counter.

"Found you!" I call. My eyes fall on Amanda, laying face down on the floor, unmoving. I chuckle. "Is this hiding?" I tease, approaching her.

Still, she doesn't move. Ahn ahn, "I've caught you, Amanda. You're supposed to stand up and join me in seeking the rest." I kick her lightly on the shoulders.

Silence.

Crouching to the floor, I turn her over, and my smile freezes. Amanda's eyes stare blankly, her skin pale; a crimson stain spreads from her chest, where a brutal slash has torn through her blouse. I recoil in horror.

Jesus Christ!

Her body seems contorted, as if she tried to crawl away from the pain. Her once-vibrant dress now clings to her, soggy with blood. My mind reels. This can't be real. No, I'm seeing things.

This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't -

The sound of my head hitting the edge of the kitchen counter resonates through me. I hit it again, willing the image before me to disappear, but Amanda's lifeless body stays where it is.

Panic sets in. I scramble to my feet, frantically calling out for my friends. "Guys! Guys, come out!" My voice echoes through the guesthouse. At first, there's silence. They might think I'm just trying to trick them.

"Guys! Come out! It's not a joke!" My voice breaks.

Tony's the first to respond. "Delani?" I can't see him yet, but I know he's close.

"I'm in the kitchen, please." I manage to say, my eyes fixed on Amanda's body.
Tony pokes his head into the kitchen door, "What happened?"

"Aman- Amanda." my voice cracks, and I hit my face. "It's Amanda." I voice out. His eyes don't leave me as he walks towards where I'm still crouched on the floor.

"What happened to-" his expression transforms from curiosity to horror. "Oh God..." He stumbles backward, his eyes wide. "Is that blood?" He questions.

"Everyone, come out!" He shouts, his voice laced with urgency.

I hear footsteps approaching. "What's happening?" Viv asks. She's the first to reach the kitchen.

"This is not how I found you people o," Kene appears right beside her. I know the exact moment Viv spots Amanda's body because she lets out a blood curling scream, and scrambles back.

Kene's expression mirrors mine. "What is this?" He inquires, but my mind is too frazzled to say anything.

"What's with all the shouting?" Dotun walks in next, but Nadia sees Amanda before him.

Nadia's hand flies over her mouth, her eyes widen in shock, but no words come out as she presses herself to Dotun. It must be Nadia leaning into Dotun that makes him peer at Amanda's body.

"Kilo sele?" He's the first to crouch down beside me and touch Amanda's body.

"She's... dead?" His words come out more like a question than a statement. The room falls silent, except for our ragged breathing. We stand frozen, unable to process the brutality before us.

************************

"Wait, I don't understand. You heard a noise in the kitchen, and found her dead? Just like that?" Dotun asks.

I nod for the umpteenth time, trying to stop my trembling hands.

We all sit in silence in the living room and I will my mind to stop replaying the lifeless image of Amanda. My head hangs down, panic clawing up my throat, but I can't exactly reach for my pills now.

From the corner of my eye, I can see Dotun peering at us, one by one. I don't blame him, the last thing anyone would want is a dead body and a murderer on the loose in their dad's guest house.

The silence stretches on with the intermediate sniffles of a sobbing Viv. Finally, Nadia breaks it. "We need to call the police." She reaches for her phone.

Kene stops her. "And tell them what? They'll think one of us did it."

She shakes her hand out of his hold. "Our friend just died, Kene. We need to do something."

"He's right baby. The police will find a way to pin this on us instead." Dotun pipes in. I glance his way. I could imagine news like this getting out. Senator Adenuga would never win the Presidency election if that happens.

"What if one of us takes the blame?" Vivianne suggests, her eyes dart between the five of us. "Our parents can handle it. We can go abroad for a while until it blows over."

My eyes widen a fraction. Most people would consider this an absurd idea, but it's how most things work around here. The last time we'd been caught with marijuana, Dotun had taken the fall for it, and his dad covered it up. Since then it's become a norm, and anytime we meet up, something needs to be covered up.

Dotun shakes his head. "This isn't some drugs, Viv. Besides, I can't take the fall, Dad's running for presidency. The scandal would ruin him." It's obvious he's speaking for himself and Nadia. A murder charge would ruin their engagement.

My eyes dart to Tony as he speaks up. "My dad's closing a major deal. I can't jeopardize it."

Vivianne's eyes dart around the room. "I can't either. My family's already at odds with Chimamanda's." I subconsciously nod at this. Amanda and Viv's family have never met eye to eye. I'm not sure the exact cause of their dispute, but it's never affected their friendship.

Viv's gaze lands on Kene. "You could take the blame, Kene." She gives him a knowing look. "You've... done it before..."

His face darkens. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You got away with beating that boy to death in boarding school, you can do it again." Vivianne's words hang in the air like a challenge.

A vein pops in Kene's forehead. "Mba, no!" He deadpans.

She folds her hand over her chest. "Eh, why? For all we know, you could be the murderer." She spits out. An unfair assumption to make in this situation, but anxiety makes people reckless.

Kene raises his hands at her, but Tony intercepts, grasping his wrist. "Guy, stop it."

Kene shoots a dark look at him. "Who is this one? You think I'm Delani that you can bend over whenever you want to. I'm a real man -"

The sound of fist connecting with face cracks through the tension, sending Kene tumbling to the ground. He springs up, his face twisted in rage, and I know things are about to get worse so I bolt up and grab Tony's hand. "None of this is helping." I drag him away, before he can pull out of my hold.

"You need to calm down, you know how Kene is." I urge, my hands still holding his.

His chest heaves, his eyes blazing. "I don't like the way he spoke about you. So what if he's angry?" I intertwine our hands. Our gazes lock, the tension between us palpable.

"Delani." He whispers, his hands reaching to cup my face.

I shake my head, "We should probably go back. Dotun would have calmed him down by now."

"No, I -" We're interrupted by a sharp scream piercing the night air. We rush out of the room together, and the sight we meet isn't one I would have expected in my wildest dreams.

Vivianne's lifeless body lies on the marble floor, her head twisted at an unnatural angle. A crimson smear stretches from her temple to the wall, where her skull looks cracked against the surface. Her eyes, once bright and vibrant, now stare blankly, rolled back into her head. Blood pools around her, a dark, glossy lake that seems to spread by the second.

Nadia's hand covers her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears. Kene's face is ashen, his eyes wide with fear, while Dotun's expression is frozen.

Tony drops to his knees beside Vivianne, his hands hovering over her body as if unsure where to touch. "Viv... no, no, no," he whispers, his voice cracking.

I stand frozen, my mind reeling. The scene before me is surreal, a nightmare that refuses to end. Amanda's lifeless body still lies in the kitchen, and now Vivianne... What is going on?

Tony's voice cuts through the stunned silence. "What happened?"

The three of them exchange nervous glances, until Dotun speaks up, his voice measured. "They were arguing..." His eyes flicker, a fleeting hesitation. "Then Kene lost control and pushed her to the wall." Tony's gaze flitters to Kene, his expressions transforming from shock to anger.

Kene's eyes dart wildly, his face pale. "I didn't mean to!" He protests, his voice trembling. "It was an accident!"

"You killed her!" Tony thunders. He's visibly shaking as he stalks towards Kene who shrinks back.

Dotun stops him in his tracks. He's eerily calm, in control. "You guys should chill before we end up helping out the murderer." Of course, Dotun is used to seeing death. He helps his dad get rid of people occasionally, but the death of two of our friends?

"Guys?" Nadia calls out carefully. We all turn to her. "I don't know how we didn't think of this before, but this house has CCTV cameras. We can check them."

"Only my dad uses those." Dotun replies.

Nadia raises a brow at this. "This is a life and death situation, Dotun. Your dad will have to understand." I notice how pale her face looks.

"Nadia, are you okay?" I ask, and she shakes her head, trembling lightly.

"I don't feel too good. I think-" She doubles over, and throws up, a distasteful looking liquid splashing onto the otherwise pristine floors. "I'm sorry."

Dotun wraps his arms around her. "It's okay, sweetie. You should sit down here while we check the CCTV footage."

She shakes herself out of his hold. "No, I'll come." He looks like he might argue, but she quickly adds. "Besides, as long as we don't know the killer, it'll be dangerous for any of us to be alone."

Kene is still trembling behind us. "What do I do?"

Nadia levels him with a glare. "Turn yourself in. You murdered our friend, Kene." Her voice breaks at the end.

Kene's panic returns, his eyes pleading. "It was an accident! She pushed me to the wall." Yet, she's the one whose brains are splattered on the wall.

My anger boils over. "Just stop it!" My hands are shaking as I speak. "There might be a killer among us, but you're no better. You killed Vivianne! Maybe it's high time you start paying for your crimes."

His face contorts with rage, his hand darting into a nearby drawer. Before we can understand what he's trying to do, he produces a sleek black pistol, pointing it directly at me.

"I won't pay for anything!" Kene snarls, his finger trembling on the trigger. "If you guys won't cover for me, then I'll get rid of all of you."

The entitled brute!

"You want to explain how six of us just disappeared, Kene? You've never been smart, have you?" I spit back at him. I'm crazy, that's the only explanation for this, and in mere seconds I'll be lying beside Vivianne.

"Kene, drop the gun!" Tony begs.
Nadia's voice is shrill. "Stop, Kene!"

Dotun's eyes are wide, fixed on the pistol. Kene's gaze remains fixed on me, his finger tightening around the trigger. "You think you're so much better than me, Delani?" He barks.

Then everything starts to happen in slow motion. Tony lunges at Kene, grabbing his wrist. The two struggle for control of the gun, their bodies locked together. The gun wavers, pointing wildly around the room. Kene's face twists, his teeth bared. The struggle intensifies, the gun shaking violently.

Suddenly, the pistol erupts in a deafening blast.

The silence is oppressive, until Tony steps back, revealing Kene's bloody stomach. His eyes staring accusingly at me, his blood pooling on the floor. The four of us exchange uneasy glances, before Nadia's voice cuts through the tension as a single tear slides down her cheeks.

"We should check the CCTV room."

We file into the security room, our faces illuminated by the bank of monitors. Dotun sets to work, rewinding footages.

"Wait... pause." Nadia gasps. Dotun's hands falter but he pauses the video. That's when I finally see what Nadia saw.

The screen reveals Dotun and Amanda huddled together in an empty room. He looms over her. Amanda pushes him away, her voice firm. "We need to end this. I deserve better than being your filthy secret."

Dotun's face contorts in desperation. "I love you. You know I'm marrying Nadia because my dad needs all the support he can get for the election."

Amanda scowls. "I don't care. You're going to be a married man soon. God forbid, I'll be your side chick."

Another gasp escapes Nadia as she watches her fiancée grip Amanda's face painfully. "I see. All this is about Tony abi? You think I don't know you have eyes for him? Don't kid yourself. He'll never want you. Not when you're a woman."

Rage contorts Amanda's usually beautiful features until she almost appears unrecognizable. She pulls herself free of Dotun. "I'll rather pine after him than spend another second with you."

Dotun puts it off, and turns to face Nadia, a desperate look on his face. "Baby-"

She flinches when his hand comes close. "How could you?" she whispers, her voice trembling.

"I'm sorry, Nadia. I didn't love her. It's you I love." Tony and I watch in silence. If there wasn't a killer on the loose, I'd have considered giving them some privacy.

"Did you kill her? " Nadia asks.

My eyes fly over to Dotun. He has a motive. Of course, he could be the killer.

Tony intervenes, "I understand this is very devastating for you, Nadia. But we're already close to finding out. Why don't we continue watching?" He says, skipping to the footage of Chimamanda's murder.

All our eyes return to the CCTV footage, even Nadia's teary ones, but the cameras go dark, disabled before the crime.

Shit.

"It wasn't me!" Dotun protests, before we can say anything.

Nadia levels him, "First you cheat on me, your fiancée. Then you murder your mistress, our friend Dotun. What more do you want? Because you damn well know we're the only two people here that knew about the CCTV."

His face crumbles. Deep down, he knows that no matter what he says, we won't believe him. "I said I didn't do it! Why can't you believe me?" Suddenly, he produces Kene's pistol, pointing it at us.

This is madness.

"Dotun, calm down!" Tony urges. But Dotun's eyes are wild, unhinged. "Hand me the pistol. You know you don't want to do this." Tony takes slow steps towards him.

"You don't believe me. All of you just want to bail on me. Tag me a murderer, and you, Nadia? How did you want me to not cheat on you when you won't even let me touch you! I'm a man!" He yells.

Nadia takes a disbelieving step back, and raises her voice. "You're a lying cheat, and once this is over, we are over!"

"No," He mutters, and in a shocking move, pulls the trigger.

No

No

No

Nadia falls to the ground. Dotun's face twists in horror, like he's just realized what he's done. "Nadia... Baby? Please wake up." He drops to the ground. "I'm sorry."

"What have you done?" I ask, as I apply pressure on Nadia's wound. "Please, stay with us, please." I whisper to myself. The blood flows freely, escaping from my hands and spilling to the floor.

Dotun turns the gun towards us. "I didn't mean to, you guys know I didn't mean to." He sounds insane.

Tony nods to him. "We know that, but please drop the gun, Dotun." He urges him, but Dotun shakes his head. Before Tony can stop him, a second shot echoes through the room and Dotun falls to the floor too.

God...

I jump away from his body, the shock numbing my sense of feeling. This isn't the farewell party I expected. Turning to Tony, I ask. "Did you believe him?"

His expression is grim, but he doesn't answer. We're the only ones left, and still we don't know who the original killer is. Something in my mind wants me to believe Dotun. I take a deep breath and turn back to the CCTV monitors. Scrolling through the footage, I stop at the footage before Chimamanda's death.

My eyes widen when I spot Tony emerging from a closet, followed closely by Amanda. Tony is uneasy beside me. As we watch, Chimamanda tries to stop Tony from walking away, but he pushes her away.

"Delani..." Tony reaches out, but I recoil. His eyes plead innocence. "Listen it's not what you think "

My world spins. Tony's words hang in the air, tainted by the footage I just saw. "Why were you both in the closet?" My voice comes out firm as the image of Amanda's lifeless body replays in my head.

His face falls. "She was trying to convince me to marry her."

I gulp. "Why?"

There's a murderer lurking, and maybe he's even right in this room with me, but somehow his answer is the most important thing to me.

Things with Tony have always been like this. The man I fell in love with despite living in a place that celebrates killing people like us. Many times I've prayed to God - desperately begged him to take this away. To make me incapable of loving a man like myself, but I got nothing.

Love shouldn't hurt this much.

"Why, Tony?" I repeat.

He drops his head. "She was pregnant." His words are like a hammer to my soul.

"What?"

"Delani, you have to believe me. I was drunk. I wanted someone to talk to because my parents were mounting a lot of pressure on me ..."

I cut him off, "You could have talked to me." It comes out quiet. Weak, I hate it.

'Delani, be a man!' How many times have I heard that statement. Men are not weak.

He nods. "I didn't want to bother you. I knew how badly you wanted to leave the country and come out, but I can't just leave everything, and I knew you wouldn't understand. I swear I didn't even know anything happened between us."

He steps closer.

I step back.

"You expect me to believe that?"

Tony's never been like me. I know he loves me, just as I love him. He loves me because it's me, Adelani Ajayi, because he can't imagine loving anyone else. If I was a woman, Tony wouldn't love me any less, and that's what makes us so different.

"Delani, please." He's still inching closer to me when I notice it - a flicker of movement on the CCTV screen.

Someone else is in the house.

My eyes lock onto the shadow, my heart skipping a beat. Tony is oblivious to the new threat. I raise a hand, silencing him. "Look," I whisper, pointing to the screen. His eyes follow mine, and his face pales when he spots the shadowed figure in the camera, moving in the house.

"He's coming this way." Tony whispers, confirming my fears.

He springs into action, rushing to grab the gun. But as he checks it, his face falls. "No bullets."

Suddenly, the figure disappears from the camera and we exchange worried glances.

"Where -"

I'm cut off by the banging on the door. Despair swallows me whole, and makes it hard to breathe.

"Delani?" It's a female voice, and she knows my name?

"Delani!" The voice sounds hollow in my ears, like it's coming from afar. I gasp as my head jolts up, to find myself somewhere else.

Amanda's concerned face is pressed to my window, as she knocks my car door. "Delani, are you okay? You've been sitting here for ages."

Amanda? Isn't she...?

My eyes take in my surroundings. I'm in my car, holding my pill container. There's no Tony, and when I look down, I don't see Dotun and Nadia's lifeless bodies.

I shake my head and toss two pills into my mouth without any water, letting out a tired sigh.

Schizophrenia is a bitch!