At the coven, Itoro and her colleague knelt before their queen but their heads bowed in silence. When queen asked about the one they had left behind, neither of them could find the right words.

"My queen, we were almost close then all of a sudden she started complaining of pain," Itoro finally spoke, her voice laced with guilt. "We tried using our magic on her, but it wasn’t working. I don’t understand—this has never happened before. Please, forgive me, my queen. It was all my fault. If I hadn’t brought my sister’s case to you, she might still be with us."

"Yes she's saying the truth," her colleague agreed solemnly and raised her head a little.

"What truth?!" the queen bellowed. "Why did you leave her? Are y'all not supposed to work together?!" Her voice echoed throughout the coven as she summoned flames upon her staff with her dark magic along.

A servant hesitated before stepping forward and bowing. With a nod, the queen granted him permission to proceed. Carefully, he carried a large, round tray piled high with humán hèarts—more than ten in number—and set it down before them. The queen picked the largest heart, took a bitè, and chewed slowly, savoring it. Then, with a flick of her hand, she instructed him to distribute the rest among those present. Only a handful of witchès and wizárds were in attendance; the others were likely away on assignments.

After finishing her meal, the queen made her decision. She instructed Itoro to leave for now that a lot is on her table that she should return in a month. Losing one of their own was something that she couldn't just let slide at that moment..

"For now, set this issue aside," the queen commanded. "Get close to your sister again. Earn her trust, just as before. If possible allow them to move the children from that very place." Itoro nodded in and then she brought her back to the real world through the mirror.

Back at the pastor oyem's house, they dragged the girl's lifeless body outside and prayed fervently for hours, anointing the entire house. Eventually, everyone went to sleep—except for the pastor. He remained awake, pacing around the compound, speaking in tongues until morning. He had already discerned that she was a wîtch who had came with evîl intentions, but her plans had failed to prevail.

Bamidele and her husband were contacted immediately, and upon hearing the shocking news, they rushed to the scene. They knelt down to thank God, with Bamidele breaking into tears. The atmosphere was tense—everyone present was in shock. Some used leaves to block her waist down to her laps to blur her irritáting view. Some flies were hovering around her. Some drove the flies, took pictures, while others simply observed in silence before leaving. Itoro somehow found her way there but she joined the crowd to spy from afar. She wore a brown hijab that she borrowed from someone on her face to avoid being recognized.

Everyone thought the witch had attacked the pastor because that’s what he wanted them to believe. They didn’t tell anyone what really happened since people were watching. The children stayed inside the whole time and were never seen. Only Bamidele, her husband and Itoro knew the truth.

Later on, pastor called his security team, who removed the body from the premises for disposal. Turning to Bamidele and her husband, he urged them to remain prayerful and advised them to extend the children's stay indefinitely.

"They didn't come for me," the pastor said solemnly, "they came for the children. Their names have been written in their book for elimination. To prevent this, you must allow them to remain in our care. You are free to visit—feed them, clothe them, do whatever you wish—but for their safety, this is where they need to be. In just a few days of staying here, their bodies are already adjusting, unlike before when they were tormented by these demónic forces."

SILENT BETRAYAL [9️⃣]
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They moved stealthily until they reached the official room where the two children were sleeping. But to their dismay, they found the pastor and his wife asleep as well, with the children nestled between them.

The three cats followed Itoro closely to the bed, just as she had instructed. Her plan was simple; sneak onto the bed, bîte the innocent twins, and return to the cóven.

As soon as Itoro landed on the bed, Pastor Oyem's wife jolted awake. It was as if something had whispered to her, warning that something strange was about to happen.

Itoro reacted quickly, leaping off the bed before she could be noticed. She and the other cats crouched in the shadows, observing as Mrs. Oyem sat up, scanning the room with her phone’s light. She saw nothing, but an unease settled over her. Unable to shake the feeling, she reached over and tapped her husband awake.

“Yes? I thought you were asleep. What is it, my love?” Mr. Oyem asked groggily.

She glanced around the room, her voice barely above a whisper as she muttered “Jesus” three times.

“I had a dream… Something spoke to me about these two children. I can’t explain it, but I don’t think they’re safe.”

"What kind of dream? What did the holy spirit ministered to you?"

While they spoke, the youngest of the three cats grew impatient. “Let’s just jump on them, bite them, and disappear. Time is going,” she urged in a hushed, insistent tone But Itoro remained firm. “No. We wait until they’re asleep. We have to follów orders. They're not like those ordinary people that we can just kîll and go. I requested for this. I brought everything to our queen. What I know is that; they're dyîng this nîght. And of course you know they can't survive my bite."

She fixed her gaze on the others and signaled with a flick of her tail. “The mission is simple: wait for them to sleep. We bite them, and we leave. Mission accomplished.”

While they waited in the shadows, Mr. Oyem and wife gently lifted the twins and carried them out of the room. He took them to jóin their other two children, gathering them all at the round table for a brief prayer. They left the door open, unaware that the cats were watching from the top of a cabinet pressed against the wall near the room. Moments later, the youngest cat suddenly let out a piercing scream. Itoro and the other woman frantically signaled for her to be quiet, but it was no use. She writhed on the cabinet, yowling in distress.
Desperate, they tried using their magic to suppress her pain, but it wasn’t working.

Pastor and his wife heard the sound of the cat and trailed it. Sensing danger, Itoro and her companion swiftly used their magic to vanish as they had done many times before But the younger cat couldn’t escape in time. As she desperately tried to flee, she leaped continuously on the high cabinet—only for her body to convulse violently. With a sickening thud, she tumbled to the floor.

Where a cat once lay, there was now a young lady—barely alive, completely náked, with strange smoke rising from her scôrched body.
Pastor Oyem and his wife froze in horror. Their hands trembled as they lifted their flashlights, their beams locking onto the eerie sight before them. At the coven, Itoro and her colleague both knelt down in the midst of their queen but..

SILENT BETRAYAL [8️⃣]
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As they tried to find their way in, the compound dog, which had been sleeping soundly, suddenly perked up and sighted them but they noticed and switched direction to hide as the dog erupted into loud, relentless barking.

To them, they were speaking like any normal humans, but to everyone else, they were meowing like ordinary cats. The dog's frantic barking startled the compound's gateman(Musa) awake. Musa immediately sensed that something was amiss— their dog wouldn't bark like that without reason.

Meanwhile, the three cats had successfully hidden themselves on the roof of the small generator room, waiting for the commotion to die down so they could continue their mission. Musa pointed his torch around, searched around the garage where pastor's two cars were parked and found nothing. He pet the dog till it remained calm and went back to his small room to sleep.

They carefully resumed their movement once the dog settled back into its sleeping position. Using the magic their queen had taught them, they slipped into the study room undetected. This was the pastor’s private space, where he often read, prepared sermons, and mentored his junior members. It was also where he frequently held prayers. The room was engulfed in darkness, but to them—thanks to their feline eyes—it was as clear as broad daylight. They left the room and entered another, only to find stacks of sacks filled with rice and other foodstuffs. Since the house was unfamiliar to them, they kept moving, relying on their usual tricks to navigate.

The mature cat, however, grew uneasy. Deep down, she knew what they were about to do was wrong. Her conscience weighed on her, making her feel weak. But Itoro told her, that they wouldn’t take long—once they found the children, all she had to do was bite them, and they would return to their queen. Not wanting to disobey Itoro, she reluctantly foll0wed. She knew the punishment that would await her if she disobeys. They moved stealthily until they reached the official room where the two children were sleeping. But to their dismay, they found the pastor and his wife asleep as well, with the children nestled between them.

SILENT BETRAYAL [7️⃣]
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Mr. Ayo told her they weren’t around and asked if there was a problem.

Itoro responded, carefully squeezing the back of her skirt with one hand. "No, nothing. I just wanted to check on them. I heard your children weren’t feeling well. You know you're my brother-in-law—anything that affects my sister affects me too. That’s why I’m here."

"I understand, but you know a lot is happening in the world. During these trying times, my wife and I decided to keep some matters private," Mr. Ayo replied, staring at her.

"Something like what? I might be able to help," Itoro said, her tone convincing. But Mr. Ayo remained firm.

"It's not to make you feel bad, but I wish I could share it with you. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss? You must have an important reason for coming here," he said, squeezing the small foam in his hand to release the water.

"These days, I'm careful about who comes to my house. If you were a total stranger or someone I barely recognized, I would have sent you back or told you I was busy. The only reason I'm talking to you is because you're related to my wife."

Itoro paused for a moment, then complimented his car. He nodded and said, "Thank you."

She studied him for a while, trying a few tactics she thought might get him to talk, but none worked. Realizing her efforts were futile, she reluctantly greeted him and walked away. Mr. Ayo never suspected her of anything. He felt guilty for not telling her the truth, but at some point, he reminded himself that he had no other choice. He couldn't risk speaking openly, knowing there were ears around, ready to spread news about his family for malicious purposes.

Few days later, Itoro called her sister on the phone very early in the morning and she picked up. Bamidele told her that her husband mentioned her visit. Bamidele asked about her health and she told her she was fine. She apologized for not calling on time, explaining that she had been too busy handling several things, including taking care of her kids.

The moment she mentioned the children, Itoro immediately asked about them. Overcome with emotion, her sister unintentionally revealed that they had been in the hands of their pastor.

"You mean they're staying with him?"

"Yes for now."

"But why. They're supposed to be in your care. You're their mother." She said, trying to talk her to change her mind.

"Sist you don't understand. It's a long story. I can't start explaining everything from how it all started. And please don't let anyone hear this thing I'm telling you. I trust you that's why I'm telling you."

"Sist you and I have been together for long. You know right now I'm the next person that cares so much about you after your husband. Your secret is safe with me. Trust me. My only prayer is for your children to get better. I always put you in my prayers everytime."

"Amen. Amen. Just in case you want anything feel free to visit. If it's something I can give you I wouldn't hesitate okay."

"No problem. Take care of yourself." He said and abruptly cut the call and ángrily threw her phone on top of the small mat in her front. She gathered all the necessary information about the pastor's house. During the night, she concealed herself and made her way to the coven to deliver the report.

Their queen listened carefully before saying, "Since the children are in the pastor's hands, the charm might not be working like it used to but that don't worry. Killing them is very easy. We've done things even beyond this m what is ordinary children that you should be scared of. I am the queen and no one can challenge me Eliminating them through the mirror won't be easy. You’ll have to reach them in person."

"Yes ma. Now that they're no longer in the house reaching out to them is now the problems." Itoro said while on her knees.

She then stretched out her staff, and Itoro revealed the location. The mirror showed them the pastor’s building, but it couldn’t show inside—only the exterior. They could see the parked cars, a dog sleeping in the corner, and various objects scattered around the compound, but not the children.

"You have to go there yourself," the queen instructed. "I will give you a camouflage, turning you into a cat. As a cat, you can maneuver your way inside. Once you get in, bite each of the children and return immediately. They won't be able to wake up from that sleep. You know what to do to make your way back here—I taught you." Itoro nodded. The queen then turned to two of their newest recruits and commanded them to accompany Itoro. One was a mature woman in her late 50s, and the other was a young lady of 25. They both knelt before the queen, who summoned them into the mirror with her. In an instant, the three of them landed outside the pastor’s compound, now disguised as three dark female cats. Moving the middled one, signaled them and they quickly climbed the fence and leaped inside the building.

SILENT BETRAYAL [6️⃣]

The children would cry. Sometimes they wouldn't eat. And it they manage to eat at times they'd vomit everything. When they suck breasts at times they'd vomit the water messing everywhere. Their mother knew they were going through hell. She knew the battle was far beyond what they could handle. Mr Ayo's business partner and a few that came to visit them in their house told them that they should involve their pastor in the case that he could miraculously heal them.

Fast-forward to when they took the children to church, their pastor, Mr. Oyem, prayed for them and advised the couple to keep the children out of the house for a week. He warned that the children should not sleep at home for seven nights but instead stay under his care, as witches were determined to take their lives by any means necessary.

Bamidele was deeply troubled. She lamented that she had never harmed anyone and wondered who could possibly wish such evil upon her children when her hands were clean. But the pastor reassured her that one does not need to offend witchès for them to strike. Trusting his words, she and her husband decided to follów his instructions, allowing the children to spend their nights at the pastor’s house for the time being.

The pastor also instructed them to be active in church services and participate in evangelism. Before they left, he gave them a final warning—to keep everything about the children's welfare strictly confidential, as prying eyes and ears were everywhere.

Two days after the arrangement began, the strange cries lessened, and the children finally started nursing properly without spitting out Bamidele’s brèast milk as they usually did. Since that was their only source of nourishment, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Each evening, after brèastfeeding them, she would leave them in the care of Mr. Oyem’s wife before she and her husband drove home. Meanwhile, Itoro and her crew noticed something unsettling—they could no longer access the children. Since the children had been moved to the pastor’s house, the mirror could no longer locate them. Instead, it only showed Bamidele and her husband sleeping as usual. All the rituals she often perform in her room at night were all halted.

Determined to find answers, Itoro decided to ask around about the children during the day, but most people had no idea what she was talking about. Four days after the children’s absence, on a Saturday afternoon, she arrived at Bamidele’s house. There, she found Bamidele’s husband washing his car, unaware that his wife had stepped out to visit a friend.

She greeted Ayo cheerfully, and he responded with a polite nod. She was only two years older than him. Glancing around, she casually asked about his wife and children. Ayo immediately stopped washing the car and turned fully to face her.

SILENT BETRAYAL [5️⃣]
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As she carefully tried to squeeze every last drop of liquid from the small bottle into their mouths, she suddenly heard approaching footsteps. Panic surged through her, and she hastily shoved everything into her bag, zipped it shut, and rushed outside. Just as she stepped out, adjusting her gown to appear as though she had just emerged from the bathroom, she unexpectedly ran into Bamidele on the walkway.

Bamidele muttered worriedly, "Your friend said he's leaving... I thought both of you came together. I even assumed you'd be done by now, sis. You took so long."

She quickly composed herself, speaking rapidly as if nothing had happened. "Oh, um, yes. Someone called me while I was in the bathroom, and we talked for a while. Are you done washing?"

"Not really. I also came to pick up some of my bra and underwear that I've left here for a while. Since I have the chance, it's best I just wash everything to avoid procrastination."

As they spoke, the children's cries suddenly erupted—from a soft cough to full-blown wailing. Their mother hurried over to the bed to pat them and even breastfeed them until their wailing reduced. Itoro later left, telling her sister to take her time and tend to the kids. Despite her still breastfeeding, she managed to give Itoro a warm hug before leaving.

Itoro felt relieved, having completed nearly 90% of what had brought her there. Every time she thought about her sister and the comfortable life she was living, a deep pang of envy and resentment gnawed at her. She called Chidi on her small tecno phone and he told her that he had left to attend to something else.

That same night, follõwing her queen’s instructions, she lit one of the red candles and let it burn down completely. She scattered some fetish stuffs around the small room she was living. She repeated the rituals for three consecutive nights. Once the task was completed, she returned to the coven to report to her queen that it had been done. The queen nodded in approval and told her to be patient, that the charm would soon begin to manifest in the children, just as planned.

Two weeks later, strange things began happening to the children. The eldest, Tommy, started bloating. At first, they assumed it was just trapped air and dismissed it as nothing serious. However, what initially seemed like a minor issue quickly escalated within days, fõrcing them to seek for an urgent solution. While the eldest Tommy was bloating, the other one grew alarmingly thin, resembling a child suffering from kwashiõrkor. Not like they weren't feeding them well.

Mr. Ayo, her husband, had to skip many important meetings and business trips just to focus on the children. Children that were not even up to two months old. Bamidele began crying and asking God for forgiveness if she had offended Him. She pleaded for His mercy and for healing over her children. She had no clue who to pass the blame on, considering the fact that her sister had left her place two weeks earlier. And random visitors whom she trust wouldn't think of harming her children.

Bamidele and her husband grew increasingly worried. They turned to intense prayers, but it seemed their efforts yielded no results. Desperate, they decided to take the children to the hospital. Doctors ran multiple tests, but the results showed nothing abnormal. They were unable to determine the cause of the children's condition. Meanwhile back at the coven at night, their queen and Itoro watched closely, monitoring the children’s suffering from their mirror, satisfied that their plan was unfolding as intended.

SILENT BETRAYAL [4️⃣]
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"Oh, they're sleeping, sis. As soon as I finished breastfeeding them, they dozed off. That's why I even have time to do some chores. The slightest thing upsets them, and they start crying—you know how children are."

Itoro glanced around awkwardly, scratching her head as she searched for the right words to convince her sister without sounding desperate.

"But can I at least see them? Even if it's just to say a prayer and bless them in my own way?"

"Sis, I would love that, but they're asleep. No visitors today so they have time to rest. My husband is not still around and I have things to do. If they're awake I won't really have time. I completely understand how you feel, trust me. Unless you'll be staying a bit longer? That way, you can see them when they wake up."

Itoro hesitated but eventually agreed to extend her stay. She hadn’t planned to stay long—her focus was on accomplishing her goal. Bamidele, who had been standing with them, excused herself and went back to washing the clothes. Before leaving, she told them to let her know if they needed anything.

She had a brief conversation with Chidi before standing up and stepping out to lîe to her sister that she needed to use the bathroom, exactly how she had planned. As someone that was filled with compassion, bamidele nodded and gave her permission.

Having visited the house a few times, she was already familiar with its layout. As she walked toward the bathroom with her bag in hand, she was carefully scanning the area. One of the room she saw was locked. Her eyes later caught sight of a slightly open room door. The curtains were neatly folded and hung on the curtain rod. Curious, Itoro carefully peeked inside and saw the twins lying side by side on the bed, facing the ceiling, their tiny hands resting on top of each other.

Itoro’s heart pounded violently in her chest. She knew that if her sister walked in and found her there, questions would follõw. Questions she wasn’t prepared to answer. Holding her breath, she carefully placed the bag on the bed, pulled down the curtain and left the door slightly ajar. She circled a wooden fetish cross, wrapped entirely in red, three times over their heads while muttering incantations, then blew a handful of ashes from the bag into the air.

She gazed around and noticed everywhere was quiet. Her hands trembled as she reached for the babies. One by one, she pried their tiny mouths open and they jolted awake in the process. Their innocent eyes locking onto hers. But they were too young to understand. Too young to question.

She continued.

With a steady but anxious hand, Itoro poured some of the dark liquid into her palm, then pressed her thumb against their lips, letting the substance drip into their mõuths, smiling evîly. It tasted like water to them—harmless, familiar. But Itoro knew better. What she held was far from ordinary. It was one of the disguised gift her queen had given her in the cõven. The children swallowed continuõusly. Their wide, unblinking eyes never leaving her face.

SILENT BETRAYAL [3️⃣]
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