Meet the Lugards

Feverton, a town founded during the colonial days, is a sort of relic of those far-gone days. Named by the white explorer, William Lugard, the town was known by another name before the coming of the white men. Ilu Emo(Strange town.) Hundreds of stories existed about the strange occurrences in the town and even stranger stories existed about the strange people who lived there, which made people stay away. Over time, most of these stories became lost in the past, as the people of the colonized lands lost most of what made them who they were. But the truth, just like the sun, the moon, and the stars never remain hidden for long.

My name is Lanrey Lugard, yes I am a descendant of the white man who gave the strange name to this strange town. He did so after he almost died of malaria fever as many other white men did during the early days of colonialism. The people of the town nursed him back to health and he decided to settle in this beautiful place. He got married to a black woman and gave birth to children and so it goes. We had been away from my hometown, me and my family for a long time, a very long time. And as much as we loved this place, when we left, I thought it would be forever.

Arriving back to Feverton was as I expected, strange. Everything and everyone we knew was gone. Places changed, and people died.

"This does not feel like home anymore," my older brother murmured.

"Well, what did you expect, Tobi? It has been a very long time since we left," I replied.

"Since we were evicted, you mean?" my younger brother said in his normal gruff, no-nonsense way.

"It was a long and different time, Jidey. They're better now," I replied.

"No, that's where you're wrong, they are not! A lifetime of traveling, and I tell you these humans are just as barbaric and bloodthirsty as the ones who came before them," Jidey argued.

"Speaking of blood... I am famished," Sheyi interrupted what was about to be a full-fledged argument between me and my two brothers. My brothers disliked humans and I put it like that because I do not want to use the word hate. Sheyi, our dear younger sister didn't care about anything as long as she was having fun.

"There will be no feeding on humans, Sheyi! We are better than that," I turned back towards her, in the back seat of the car, where she sat and was ignoring the conversation we were having before.

"Speak for yourself, brother! I will do as I like."

"You shall not do anything that would put this family in trouble! Stop acting like a child!"

"She is technically a kid, Lanrey," Tobi smiled.

"Help me out here, Tobi. She's got to start being cautious. Humans don't like things they can't explain, and what they do not like, they destroy. This is Feverton! We are not alone, there are those with the knowledge and means to hurt us here, don't give them a reason to."

"What the hell are we doing back here then?" Sheyi blurted!

"This is our home, little sister! This is where we're from. And Badmus wants us home, he says it's very important."

"Oh, so we are back here after leaving fifty years ago, vowing never to return. And we are here for no other reason than to meet a human relative of ours whom we've not even spoken to since we left?" Sheyi asked jokingly.

"Well, forever is just too long a time for our kind. It was time for us to come back anyway," I replied her, smiling brightly.

"What are you smiling like a little girl for?" Tobi asked.

"I'm happy, dear brother! I am very happy to be back."

"You never really left this place, brother. You just never could," Tobi said.

I rolled down the car window, letting in the breeze. The feeling of the cold air against my face, mixed with the smell of trees, plants, and even the animals almost made me scream out in satisfaction. My heightened senses felt like they were kicking in for the first time. Unlike the cities, I've lived in, my senses felt free. I was not being deafened by the excessive noise of city life, nor was I being choked by the smells of sweat, and smokes coming from all the machines. Everything in Feverton was natural and alive and I could hear them all as the car traveled the road, sandwiched by nature on both sides. From the chirping of the birds and crickets to the barking of dogs, bellows of bulls, bleating of goats, croaking of frogs to the hissing of snakes. I could also hear the dance of the trees, as they moved to the tone of the wind. It was all wonderful, it reminded me of my earlier days. When I and my siblings, my whole family was innocent and at peace. Before the thirst, the deaths, and troubles that now follow us wherever we go. Those days were long gone and innocence is something lost to every one of us.

The car slowed down to a halt in front of the manor. It looked so different and yet the same. It looks modern but the image of this haunted place still brought back memories, and most of them were not good. The old large sign that says Lugaard Manor was not changed, it was repainted over the years, but never changed. I stepped out of the car, stared straight at the old sign, and smiled.

"Do you remember when grandfather had that ugly piece of shit made," Tobi said loudly as he approached behind me.

"It was when Jidey was just born. Damn, he was so fucking happy!" I replied.

"Are we gonna trade childhood stories or go in, brothers? Let's get this shit over and return to our lives, please," Jidey interrupted.

"Oh, somebody doesn't like us talking about when he was just a little toddler," I laughed.

"He was just as angry too, it was like he came out of the womb angry at the world," Tobi joined in the laughter as we all walked slowly to the large gates of the manor.

The place looked deserted, and gloomy. The trees had dried up except the giant baobab tree that stood in the middle of the land before the building was even constructed. I tried looking in through the gates but it was so dark that I could not see anything.

"That's strange," I whispered.

"What is?" Tobi asked.

"I can't see into the manor, it is almost as if I am being blocked by something."

"Yeah, me too!" the others all chorused.

"The building has been warded against the supernatural."

"This keeps getting better," Sheyi shouted angrily.

"Hmmm, why would Badmus have the house warded? It does not make sense," Tobi whispered, he started pacing to and fro, as he did whenever he pondered about something. What usually followed was a tantrum, I need to do something quickly.

"Calm down, brother. Before you think about doing something crazy like breaking the gates down, might I remind you of the fact that there is a bell that we can ring?" I tried to make him see reason and it worked. My siblings were all very angry people, Tobi seemed like the reasonable out of the three but... Let's just say that looks can be deceiving.

I walked slowly to the bell and rang it a couple of times before a voice answered through the machine. "Who is it, and what do you want?" the voice said.

"It is Lanrey Lugard you speak to, who are you?" I replied.

"I am very sorry Mr. Lugard, we were not expecting you until tomorrow. I'll be down in a moment."

"Very good. Hurry up before my siblings get angrier than they already are, will you?"

After a moment of waiting, the gates opened and a man came out to meet us. He looked like he was in his early fifties, patches of grey hair starting to form on his bearded face and the side of his head. He looked familiar but I had never met him before.

"Welcome home, lady and gentlemen. I am sorry for keeping you out here in the cold," he said in a gentle voice.

"Errrm thanks. Who are you though?" I asked, staring at him with a puzzled face.

"Oh, I am Baroka Lugard. I take care of this place in my father's stead."

"Oh, you're Badmus's son? Why didn't he tell me anything about you?"

"We were not very close up until very recently. He got sick and needed help running the manor, so he reached out to me."

"Do you know who we are?" Tobi asked him.

Oh, yes, I do. You're the original Lugard family. And this is your home," he smiled.

"Why has your father summoned us back here, human?" Jidey asked nattily.

"You must be the youngest brother, Jidey, I heard you have got a resentment for humans," Baroka replied and continued walking towards the main house.

"Just answer the fucking question, human!" Jidey screeched and Baroka stopped in front of the large doors of the house.

"I don't want to be here anymore than you do, and I do not like you either. I had a life before being called back here and believe me...I would very much like to get back to it! Now, will you come in and hear why my father has brought you here from him or stay out here in the fucking cold, Mr. Lugard? I do not fear you."

"Oh, but you should be very afraid of me," Jidey dashed towards him, his fangs already out. He grabbed and pushed him to the doors, pinning him down.

"Stop this madness at once, Jidey!" I screamed.

"I will not," Jidey replied as he was ready to bite into Baroka's neck. I rush and shoved him away from helpless Baroka. Jidey stumbled severally before stopping and rushing back.

"His blood is full of vervain, you idiot! He is family," I screamed at him.