Splendour couldn't shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
The images from the dream replayed in her head like a broken film Alfred by the stream, the red marks, that deep voice whispering, "One must break… or one must bleed."
By morning, she couldn't keep it to herself anymore.
She called Naomi.
"Babe, are you okay? You sound weak," Naomi said as soon as she picked up.
Splendour took a shaky breath. "Naomi… something happened last night. I,I had a dream. A strange one."
"What kind of dream?"
"The same thing Enisa told me about—only worse," she said, her voice trembling. "I saw Alfred… and the covenant marks were glowing. Someone said a vow can't sleep forever."
There was a long silence on the line. Then Naomi's voice came back, stern and sharp.
"Splendour, I told you that thing wasn't right! I told you blood isn't something to joke with!"
"Naomi, please"
"No, listen to me!" Naomi cut in, her tone heavy with anger and fear. "You might think it's love, but the spirit world doesn't play with words like forever. Blood seals things that prayers can barely undo!"
Splendour's eyes stung. "So what do I do now?"
"Pray," Naomi said firmly. "Fast if you can. Ask God for mercy. And please don't keep things from your parents if it gets worse."
Splendour stayed quiet for a while. Her heart was heavy. "Naomi, I'm scared."
"I know," Naomi sighed. "But fear won't help you. You started it with love; now you need faith to break free."
After the call ended, Splendour sat on her bed, staring at her phone screen until the contact name blurred.
Then, as if drawn by habit, she dialed another number — Alfred's.
He answered on the second ring, his deep voice warm and calm.
"Hey, my heart. You sound tense. What's wrong?"
She told him everything — about Enisa's dream, her own dream, Naomi's warning. Every word.
But instead of worry, Alfred chuckled softly on the other end.
"My love, you're just overthinking again. It's probably because you miss me too much."
"Alfred, I'm serious"
"I know, I know," he said, still smiling. "But baby, blood or no blood, nothing evil will come near us. We're bound by love, not by fear."