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The Uber pulled up in front of Dhahabu Apartments just as the driver's phone chimed with a notification.
He glanced at it and smiled. "Payment received, miss."
"Okay, thanks for the ride," Anita replied, slipping her phone into her pocket.
"My pleasure. Have a nice evening," the driver added warmly, glancing back with a contented smile.
Anita and Edward opened their doors in sync and stepped out, shutting them behind.
Their backpacks on their backs.
With shopping bags also in hand, Anita leaned slightly toward the driver's window.
"You too, sir," she said courteously.
Edward rounded the back of the car and joined her on the sidewalk. As they walked toward the building, the Uber quietly pulled away, disappearing into the soft hush of the evening.
The street was tranquil, as always—only a few people strolled by, each wrapped in their own pace. Across the road stood the main gate of Ngong's Flora Estate, its paths busy with the comings and goings of cars and pedestrians.
The sky was dipped in golden hues. The sun hovered just above the horizon, spilling amber light that bathed the buildings in soft brilliance.
They entered the apartment building, nodding greetings to the receptionist as they passed. Then they stepped into the elevator.
"So…" Anita began hesitantly, glancing sideways at Edward. "Is it okay if I ask what exactly you need my mom's help with?"
Edward offered a soft smile. "It's about my parents."
Anita's eyes widened with concern. "What about them? Did something happen?"
Ding.
The elevator reached the third floor.
They stepped out.
Edward chuckled at her panic. "No, no. Nothing happened. I just want to understand the origin of my… powers."
Anita blinked, stunned. "Oh. Wow. I hadn't even thought of that, Edu," she admitted, clearly surprised.
They reached the apartment door. Edward took the bags from her hands so she could unlock it.
Just as Anita reached for the knob, key in hand, the door slowly creaked open by itself.
They both stared.
No one was there.
Peering cautiously into the apartment from the threshold, they found no visible movement, no silhouette lurking behind the door.
Edward shot a puzzled look at Anita—only to find her staring down at the floor with a flat expression.
Realization dawned on her face.
She rolled her eyes and strode in without hesitation.
"Ha. Ha. So funny, Jesse," she called sarcastically, walking down the hallway toward the living room. She shut the door behind them—a detail Edward had completely overlooked in his fright.
"Jesse?" Edward echoed, still recovering.
"Yeah. He's been dying to pull this exact stunt on you and Mdachi," she said with a shrug. "His idea of fun."
Edward finally exhaled and loosened up.
They reached the living room. It was neat, quiet—deceptively peaceful.
Anita went to fetch her mother, while Edward placed all the bags on the couch. He stretched, trying to shake off the stiffness from the car ride.
But the moment he turned to walk around the sofa, his heart nearly leapt out of his chest.
"JESUS!" he gasped, clutching his chest.
There, just ahead of him, was Jesse.
He wasn't standing. He was floating—suspended mid-air in a meditative posture, legs crossed, palms resting upward.
A silvery, mist-like aura shimmered around him, flickering softly.
His eyes, which glowed with the same silver hue, locked intensely on Edward.
The effect was both majestic and unnerving. Edward stood frozen in place, overwhelmed by the surreal image before him.
Then, just in time, Anita and her mother walked into the room.
The two boys didn't notice their entry.
Edward remained frozen, still clutching his chest. Jesse continued to float serenely, silver eyes fixed on him, the glowing mist still swirling around his form.
Neither Anita nor Jenevive looked remotely surprised.
Jenevive gave a long-suffering sigh, her face saying: Here we go again.
Anita tilted her head, squinting at her brother like a mother fox catching her cub with stolen eggs.
"Jesse!" she snapped, her tone a weary cocktail of scolding, irritation, and disappointment.
At once, both boys turned their heads toward her—Edward in stunned relief, Jesse with mock innocence.
A mischievous grin curled Jesse's lips.
The glow in his eyes faded. The mist dissolved into the air. He uncrossed his legs and descended gracefully—right foot first, then the left.
Edward finally dropped his hand from his chest, shooting Jesse a look that matched Jenevive's—Are you serious right now?
"What?" Jesse asked innocently, hands clasped behind his back as he swayed slightly from side to side, like a guilty child caught red-handed.
Anita rolled her eyes and let out a long, "Ugh."
Typical Jesse.
Jenevive stepped in to cut the awkwardness. "So, Edward," she said, her voice calm but warm, "I hear you're seeking my help?"
"Yes, Mama Anita," Edward answered, jerking out of the odd situation.
"Come, sit," she gestured gracefully toward the dining table.
Edward walked over.
Anita shot one last glare at Jesse—who was now standing there with a falsely innocent expression—before turning to grab a bag from the couch.
She picked up the one with the cake and placed it gently on the table before disappearing into the kitchen.
Edward settled into the head seat of the grand dining table, its carved wood and woven detail exuding African culture and heritage.
Why is every chair in this house so ridiculously comfortable? he wondered. Lavish, but not too much—just right.
Still, he felt awkward sitting at the head. But Jenevive herself had motioned for him to do so.
"No worries," she had smiled. "Make yourself comfortable."
She now took the seat to his immediate right. Jesse followed and flopped into the chair beside his mother.
Anita returned with plates, forks, and a butter knife. She dished out the vanilla cake—fluffy with thick layers of hard icing—and set a plate in front of each person, neatly placing their forks beside them.
Jesse immediately dug in, dramatically savoring each bite as if it were the last dessert on Earth.
Anita joined them, sitting to Edward's left.
"So, Edward," Jenevive began as her fork sank into the soft cake, "what's bothering you?"
"Well," Edward started, lifting his fork, "yesterday after getting home, it hit me—I don't even know where my powers came from. I mean, for your kids, it's obvious. You're the source. But me? Who's mine?" His voice dropped with uncertainty. His eyes lowered, face clouded with worry.
Jenevive paused, then swallowed her bite.
Edward took a mouthful of cake. Mmm. As expected—perfect. Anita really did know how to lift his mood.
"I knew you'd come to ask that," Jenevive said, interlacing her fingers and resting her chin on them as she met Edward's eyes.
"You did?" Anita blinked in surprise, mid-bite.
"Yes, baby," Jenevive replied, glancing at her daughter. "It was just a matter of time. He's lived a normal life until now. You don't just have these kinds of gifts without a source. Not unless you're one of the rare few—and this isn't that."
Anita pursed her lips, nodding slowly as realization settled.
Edward had paused, fork hovering above his plate.
"So... can you help me figure out where they came from?" he asked, a note of desperation in his voice.
Edward placed the fork back onto the table.
Jenevive turned back to him. "I sure can."
Edward's eyes brightened. "Really? Can we do it now? Isn't there, like, a spell or something?"
"I don't think there is," she replied. "And even if there was, I don't know it. But… there's another way."
"What way?" Edward asked, leaning forward eagerly.
Jenevive's eyes narrowed slightly. "Mchawi Majani."
Edward blinked. "Mchawi... what?"
"Mchawi Majani," she repeated. "They're leaves from a certain tree—let's just say... the tree and witches aren't exactly friends."
Edward frowned. "I'm not sure I follow."
"They suppress magical abilities," she clarified. "Completely cancel a witch or warlock's strength. Even the strongest feel drained, weak. The less powerful ones? They collapse."
Anita leaned in, clearly invested now.
Jesse, meanwhile, continued eating, unfazed.
"So… you're saying I should give this to my parents? To test which one of them is magical?" Edward asked, brows furrowed.
"Exactly," Jenevive said, nodding. "It won't hurt them. It just disables their magic temporarily. A few hours at most. So, you will determine who's the one by identifying: who becomes suddenly, and overwhelmingly weak."
Edward released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His shoulders relaxed.
Jesse set his fork down, satisfied. Bits of cake clung to the corners of his mouth, but he didn't care.
"The best method," Jenevive added, "is ingestion."
Edward and Anita immediately recoiled.
"Ingestion?" they echoed in disgust.
They turned to look at each other, then at Jenevive in unison.
She laughed. "Not the leaves themselves! I mean, you can if you want, but it's more common to boil or wash them and use the water. Still minty. Very herbal. Quite nice, actually, when just eaten."
They both relaxed.
"Can I find them in the forest?" Edward asked, gesturing toward the window, beyond which, the vast stretch of Ngong Forest, stood still and majestic behind the estate.
Jenevive shook her head. "Highly unlikely. They're incredibly rare. But don't worry. I'll find some for you."
"Thank you, Mama Anita. Thank you so much," Edward smiled. "You're the best."
"Oh, hush," she chuckled, waving him off. "You flatterer."
Her phone chimed.
She checked it and stood up. "By tomorrow, I'll have them." With her cake in hand, she walked off toward her room.
Edward watched her go. "Your mom is a blessing. I don't know what I'd do without her."
Anita gave a quiet smile, her eyes still fixed down the corridor. "Yeah... she is."
Jesse sat back, belly full, tapping it contentedly. He stared blankly out the window, saying nothing.
Edward turned slightly. "So… Anita…"
She paused, her fork hovering above the cake.
"Why don't you use your powers?" he asked gently.
Anita froze.
Jesse's head snapped toward Edward, his expression unreadable, lips pressed together.
Edward immediately sensed her discomfort. "You know what? Never mind. That was rude. I'm sorry."
Anita slowly set her fork down. "I'm sorry too. It's just… a long story. All I can say is—I don't like using them. I hope you understand."
She kept her eyes lowered.
Edward reached out and placed his hand on hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. "It's okay. You don't owe me an explanation. Tell me when you're ready. If you ever want to."
Anita looked up at him, eyes glistening. "Thank you, Edward."
He smiled warmly. "What are friends for?"
Leaning back to his seat, he turned to Jesse, who was had been observing them quietly.
"Hey, man," Edward added, chuckling. "You really have some diabolical and twisted ideas for a scare, you know."
Edward shook his head, laughing at the memory of how terrified he'd been.
Jesse just grinned like a gremlin—completely unapologetic.
He then nodded with smug satisfaction. "Yeah. I got you there. You almost shrank out of existence."
Anita squinted at her brother, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
Jesse caught the look with a side glance.
Edward noticed them both, smiling quietly.
How cute they are, he thought. Too bad I don't have siblings.
"So," he blurted out, "can you teach me how you did that?"
The siblings blinked in surprise.
Jesse recovered first, grinning ear to ear. He wiped off the cake crumbs to ascertain seriousness then responded. "Of course, man! Wait here—I'll be right back."
He jumped out of his chair and bolted into the corridor, disappearing from sight.
Anita, still frozen with a forkful of cake halfway to her mouth, slowly lowered it. "Are you sure, Edu?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Edward turned to her and gave a confident nod, though an anxious smile lingered on his face. "Yeah. I am. I need to start learning how to use what I've got anyway, right?"
Anita gave a small nod. "Yeah. You're right."
She resumed eating as Jesse returned, a large, leather-bound book in his hands. He placed it before Edward and slid into the seat their mother had vacated earlier.
"There," Jesse announced proudly. "I learned that levitation spell from this. And there's so much more in here."
Edward gently pushed his barely-touched cake aside and pulled the book toward him.
The grimoire was magnificent—its thick black leather cover embossed with unfamiliar symbols, the edges worn with time. It smelled faintly of herbs and something older… ancient.
The pages were filled with strange symbols and archaic text. Some of it Edward could read but not understand; others were in languages he didn't even recognize. There were illustrations—mystic diagrams, creatures, objects that seemed to shimmer slightly as he turned the pages.
"Wow…" Edward murmured in awe. "Astounding. I didn't even know a book like this existed."
He suddenly froze, his eyes locked on the pages before him. The wonder in his face faded into something serious. He looked up at the siblings, who were watching him curiously.
"I need to start learning as soon as possible," he said firmly. "Remember, my memory was erased. What if the person responsible finds out and wipes it again? My supernatural memories were the ones erased, right? So what's stopping them from doing it again?"
Anita, now finished with her cake, grew serious, nodding slowly.
Jesse did too. "You've got a point."
"We don't even know what this person wants from me," Edward continued, brows furrowed in frustration. "But… wait!" He suddenly stiffened, staring straight ahead. "What if… what if the wolf is connected to the one who erased my memories? Huh? What if they're working together?"
His face darkened.
"What if that person wiped my memory to cover up the murder of Hallington—because I saw the werewolf that killed him?"
Anita's eyes widened.
"What?!" Jesse exclaimed, his face contorting in confusion and alarm. "Murder? Hallington? What are you talking about?!"
Edward remained still, his gaze distant, haunted by the memory fragments clawing at the edge of his mind.
Anita stepped in to explain. "Mr. Hallington was a friend of Edward's. He lived in the estate. Last Saturday morning, they found him dead in his house. Mauled. His chest had huge claw marks across it. The police have no clue what did it."
She glanced at Edward.
"What they don't know is that it was a werewolf," she continued. "And honestly? I don't even think they could guess. I mean, all the forest animals are kept in their area. And no creature—at least none we know—could've done that."
"Oh my god," Jesse whispered, stunned. "My heartfelt condolences, Edward. But... are you sure it was a werewolf?"
"Completely," Edward replied firmly. "I saw the wolf. Friday night. Same night Hallington was killed. And then… my memory of the wolf was wiped. But I still have flashes. Glimpses. That can't be a coincidence. There's something bigger going on here."
Jesse leaned forward. "But wait… if you saw the wolf… how are you still alive?"
Anita turned toward Edward as well, her eyes wide.
They waited.
Edward furrowed his brow in thought. "I don't know... Maybe if I still had my memories, I would. But we don't know what this witch and werewolf want. Or how they're playing this."
"And we have no way of tracking them," Jesse added. "No leads."
"Stop right there, young man," Anita cut in, voice firm. "There's no we. You are not getting involved in this."
Jesse glared at her, his cheeks puffing in frustration. But he didn't argue. He knew she wasn't just being bossy—she was protecting him. And their mom would probably take her side anyway.
Anita met his stare, calm and unbothered.
Edward, oblivious to their silent sibling duel, stared down at the table, sifting through the clutter of his mind.
Then—click.
"I have a suspicion," he announced, breaking their standoff.
The siblings turned to him. "Who?" they asked in unison.
"Madam Beatrice," Edward replied. "I'm not sure. It's just a feeling."
Anita leaned in, attentive now. "Why do you say that?"
"Because," Edward said, tapping the grimoire in front of him, "I saw her with a book just like this earlier today. In class. I'm pretty sure it was a grimoire."
Jesse raised a brow. "Okay. Then… you guys should look into it."
Anita shot him a flat look and smirked. "We will, small bro," she teased.
Noticing Jesse's spirit dimming after being excluded, Edward quickly cut in.
"Hey, buddy, you can still teach me some magic," he said with an encouraging grin.
Jesse's eyes lit up. "Yeah. You're right. Wanna try some magic now?"
"You bet I do!" Edward responded, practically bouncing in his seat.
Jesse pulled the grimoire toward him, flipped to a specific page, then slid the book back in front of Edward.
"Here," he said, tapping the aged parchment. "This one's a basic spell."
Edward leaned in. The words were readable, but their meaning slipped past him like water through fingers.
Anita sat quietly, watching the two with careful interest.
"What's it for?" Edward asked.
"Lifting an object. It's like telekinesis," Jesse explained. "You just chant the words and focus your energy on something nearby—something light. Try the fork."
Edward nodded and glanced around. He spotted the fork lying next to his plate.
He picked it up and placed it gently on the grimoire's open page. Then, hovering his hands above it, he read the incantation aloud.
Anita and Jesse watched silently.
Nothing happened.
Edward tried again, this time with more force in his voice. His face already a desperate frown.
Still nothing.
He tried one final time, his hand tense, fingers clawed, arm trembling slightly with effort.
Nothing.
Frustrated and deflated, Edward let his arms drop. His shoulders slumped.
"Maybe I don't really have powers…" he mumbled.
"Hey, don't say that," Jesse said quickly, trying to encourage him.
"It's not working!" Edward snapped, his voice cracking with frustration. "What's the point?!"
But almost as soon as the words left his mouth, regret followed. "I'm sorry," he said, eyes dropping to the book.
Jesse softened. "It's okay," he said gently. "Magic's hard. Even for me."
Anita added her voice to the support. "Yes, Edward. It's not easy. But giving up won't help you. You've come too far."
"Hey," Jesse said, placing a comforting hand on Edward's shoulder. "Take a deep breath. Clear your mind. Then focus on the fork. Believe in yourself."
He withdrew his hand.
Edward closed his eyes. Slowly inhaled. Then exhaled. His body relaxed.
With his hands poised again, he whispered the words—this time with calm certainty. He had already committed them to memory.
When he opened his eyes, cautiously, almost afraid to hope—
The fork was floating above the book.
Edward gasped, and his head buzzed briefly out of excitement.
"Oh my god. Am doing it," he whispered in disbelief.
The fork hovered gently, bathed in a swirl of glowing blue particles. But then—he noticed something else. His hands. They were also covered in the same glowing specks.
The siblings stared at him in stunned silence.
Edward's awe gave way to panic. He'd never seen anything like that—not from his own body.
He abruptly jerked his hands back.
The fork clattered onto the book.
The glow vanished.
"Amazing!" Jesse exclaimed, leaning forward. "You did it! And your essence is blue!"
Anita stared at Edward, her eyes shining. Amused, intrigued, and deeply impressed.
Edward's breath was shallow, his heartbeat racing. "Essence?" he asked, still trying to steady himself.
"Yeah," Jesse explained. "Mine and Mom's are silver. Anita's is purple. Yours… yours is blue. I've never heard of a blue essence before."
"Really?" Edward blinked, still wrapping his mind around it.
"Yep," Anita said warmly. "You're special, Edward."
"You really are," Jesse added with a nod.
Edward exhaled, still a little dazed. "I guess I am."
He turned to Jesse with gratitude. "Thanks, man. I couldn't have done that without you. Both of you," he said, turning to Anita.
"You're welcome," they chimed in unison.
Edward chuckled. "Now, let me enjoy this delicious cake my best friend got me as a celebration goodie."
He reached for his fork again—but then paused.
"Oh! Can I borrow the grimoire?" he asked, eyes flicking between the two siblings.
"Yeah. Siku moja ama mbili haitadhuru," Jesse replied casually.
Edward smirked and turned to Anita. "A day or two won't do any harm," he translated cheekily.
Anita raised an unimpressed brow. "Edward, I also take Kiswahili classes," she said flatly.
Edward raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, princess."
All three burst into laughter.
Edward grabed his fork, closed the grimoire, set it aside, and pulled his plate closer.
Jesse, left with nothing else to do or say, wandered into the living room, feeling proud of himself. He dropped himself onto the sofa, and started scrolling through his tablet that had been sitting on a nearby shelf.
Anita took out her phone and quietly scrolled through it, waiting for Edward to finish so she could clear the table and wash the dishes. All the while secretly stealing glances at Edward-who was gleefully tucking down the cake, fresh with excitement-with an amazed look on her enchantingly beautiful face.
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