Chapter 40

Stepping out of the car Maria Hall heaved a deep sigh of relief.

Finally home!, she thought staring at her small apartment.

She paid the cab driver his money and waved as he drove off. She caught herself waving and shook her head as she placed her hand on her forehead. She has really been doing some weird stuffs today, she thought.

“I really need to get some rest, the stress of the day is beginning to get to me”, she muttered.

Maria Hall walked down to her house, from the little fence to the passage way, then to her door. Scurrying for the keys in her bag, she heard her phone ring.

Brrrr! Brrrrr!

“Not now” she hissed as she took out the phone to search her purse properly for the key.

Brrrr! Brrrrr!...

She checked the caller ID, seeing it read unknown, she knew who was calling. What does he want this time. Isn't he tired of calling. After all, he had said he dislikes speaking with her and was only trying to manage her.

Oh well… It's all for the money, she reminded herself.

“So what? So what if money is concerned! I'm tired of being ordered around. Today, has been the worse. This night I won't let myself be stressed. I'm no body's servant. I would sleep the stress of today off and wake up tomorrow as my usual self. Not what they've made me in one day”. Maria Hall was now talking to her self. She kept fuming on and on like someone who was beginning to lose it.

In annoyance, she turned on Airplane mode on her device's setting and the incessant ringing stopped abruptly.

“Phew! Finally, some peace and quiet” she muttered heaving another sigh of relief.

Maria Hall finally saw the keys. She placed it in the key holes and turned left, right, left and right. Soon, it unlocked.


She went in to meet the lights turned off. She found this strange as she has never turned off the lights before, especially the parlour lights. She preferred leaving the lights on. She racked her brain trying to recall if she had mistakenly switched it off while rushing out of the house that morning. Unable to recollect, she decided to worry less about the lights being off and just switch it on. After all, it's not like she's living there with someone. She laughed at this thought.

Scratching her head, she plunged forward in the dark, her hands searching for the wall and the switch.

She reached at what seemed like a hand and screamed in fright.

“Ahhhhhh!!!”

A snap of the finger and the lights came on.

“Hello, Maria Montgomery, I have been waiting for you” the voice bore with it dark and hidden intentions.

Maria Hall whose eyes had been shut tight in fright from the shock she had just received, could barely tell who was speaking. She wasn't expecting any visitors. Especially with her doors and fence locked.

“Wh… who are… are… yo…youu?” Maria Hall stuttered.

" I do not have a name”, came the cold reply.

Maria Hall soon had another question but could barely speak “Wh…wh… what are you doing in… in… my…”

“Save it!”, she replied curtly, cutting Maria Hall off. She stared intensly at Maria Hall before turning her gaze to the window wondering if she had made the right decision.

Maria Hall opened her eyes slowly hoping it was just a day dream but screamed again when she saw this huge, fat woman sitting on her dining table with her legs crossed. She had nails as long as pencils, the tips of her nails were sharp and pointed, like that of a knife. Her teeths were yellowish green. Her brows really bushy. She was dressed in pure black and brought with her some kind of aura, only, hers came with fear.

Maria Hall screamed again and made for the door but it was locked. She didn't lock it when she came in and without the help of a soothsayer, she could tell that the woman did.

Maria Hall decided to stand and face whatever she was but before she could do anything, she stood observing and studying every bit of this weirdly shaped woman. Then, she noticed something, like a stick.

She gasped. It's a tail! She screamed inwardly as cold shivers ran down her spine.

The woman was now smiling hysterically at her as she wagged her tail. Not until then did Maria Hall realize how uneven her dentitions were. Maria Hall couldn't understand what it was with her and meeting strange people today.

“Okay… Now that you are done observing my looks let's get down to business” She jumped down from the dining table without warning, giving Maria Hall a scare.

“You have been speaking about me to some Jasmine girl and I have been listening. Today,...” She paused as she moved towards Maria Hall, lurching closer with each word.
“… I decided to come pay you a visit. So, you can watch the way you keep summoning me” she added with a straight face.

In a flash she turned and twitched her head like she had forgotten something. In what seemed like barely a second, she turned to face Maria Hall.

“Forgive me I forgot to take this off”, she said looking at Maria Hall, a grin playing on her lips.


Maria Hall could barely tell what this woman was up to. She didn't even know why she was at her home of all places. She wondered if the person she was working for had sent her but shook her head, thinking otherwise. “What is it with me?” She questioned silently

All I really wanted was some peace and quiet, she thought.

The woman took two steps backward and a purse appeared on her waist, she took out some content and dropped on the ground. Immediately, some white substance emiited from the ground and filled the house.

Maria Hall unaware that she wasn't supposed to have inhaled it, mistakenly did and began choking.
The woman only stood there watching while trying to get out of something.

Maria Hall's vision soon became blurred and was slowly turning red. She could feel life sapping our of her and wondered if she was going to die just like that while this woman watched.

Being satisfied with the show, she snapped her hands and the white substance disappeared and before Maria Hall's eyes, she saw the woman transform into something much beautiful; a light skinned tall, brunette haired lady with a petite body standing in front of her.

She gasped at the sight of this beautiful creature. No one would have ever believed that such a beauty could come out from such a woman.

“I love to make a good first impression”, she said with a straight face.

“I don't want to ever be taken for granted", she added, every note hinting a warning.

Behind this pretty looking lady, the old wicked soul still lives, Maria Hall thought.

Maria Hall's curiosity piqued. “What are you?” she questioned before she could even control the words from getting out.

“Call me whatever you like” she replied.

Maria Hall had more questions.“So, if I call you a witch, you…”

“I haven't come here to exchange pleasantries with you nor for you to question my existence!” she shot back as she turned to look at Maria Hall, her eyes burning with anger.

What is it with these strange beings and anger? She thought.

Eyeing Maria Hall in disbelief. “I am here on a mission”, she paused. “...and I need your services".

"Huh?” Maria Hall asked absent minded. That means more work for her. She wasn't sure she wants to be under another hot tempered, egoistic and cruel boss.

Although, she needed more money, she thought.

Looking at the lady. “What is your offer?" She asked, her brow raised in expectation.

The lady turned to look at her and smiled broadly. ”Let the games begin" she announced, laughing hysterically.

Maria Hall was confused at first but after a while, she joined her new master. Both laughing hysterically.