I rode into a new city, a fairly familiar one because I've heard about it during a geography class in school. The town with a lot of mills. It's a very good town, one I feel I can survive in. I wished I had concentrated more during geography classes but I just wasn't a good student and I hated the teacher. He taunts a lot and I believed he despised me too. If I'd listened, I would have known the name of this town at least.
**
I felt my stomach churn loudly as the smell of baked cake filled my nostrils. Then, I realised how hungry I was. It's six days since I left my house--or a place I use to call home and till date I live on stolen items. My gifts helped a lot when it comes to reading the thoughts of my victims to the extent that I felt it was meant for stealing and nothing else. And My asthma, I've been at my worst in the last few days that I've used up all the puffs in my little inhaler. I threw it into a river angrily some days ago. Despite all these, I had only one thing on my mind "I'm going to the white empire and nothing can stop me, I'd rather die on my way than die on a spot on the street.
But come to think of it, where exactly is the white empire? How am I going to get there without life?
Yes for now, I'm just existing not living. I'm not a thief but then I need to eat to at least exist.
I traced the smell of the cake. It was coming from a little cottage by the street. There was only one way I could get the cake. I will have to go into the house. It would be the most foolish risk I would take for a piece of cake but something in me craved more for the cake than I ever imagined. I kicked off the wooden window of the kitchen and jumped into it stealthily .
Five years from now, I would never have believed that I could do something so cautiously. The last six days on the street has had its effect on me.
The kitchen was a small room with cupboards and cooking utensils hanging on the walls. I found the oven at a corner of the room. I opened it slowly and i found my prey. My stomach churned at the sight of it.
Freshly baked cupcakes. Hmmm...
I picked out one and ate silently, enjoying the tasty goodness of every bite. Really it's been a very long time since I ate good food.
I got lost in the moment that I didn't notice when someone walked in.
"What the..." A voice came from behind. A feminine voice.
I was shocked to the bones. I've finally been caught stealing. What would become of me? I'll be dead at last.
Before I could utter a word, I was dragged roughly into a room-- a living room. I tried to struggle but she was stronger. She slapped me hard on my face. I felt my left cheek go numb. Thoughts like "I'll live in the juvenile home for the rest of my life" or "I'll be hanged in public for stealing" or "she'll kill me if she wanted" flooded my mind.
The woman tied my hands with a rope and pushed me onto the tiled floor. I felt another excruciating pain at my rib region that I believed it was cracked.
There's more pain to come. I told myself.
She slumped into her cushion chair, seething silently.
" You thief!" She gasped "you're a child!"
I felt my heart crush within me. I'm a child and I'm a thief. I've lost my childhood dignity. I've failed my own values. I felt broken, defeated.
She threw the remains of the rope across the room. She was trying to calm down but that didn't help me.
I still felt I was going to die or I wanted to die. She just said I'm a thief, she should slay me if she wants. Life isn't worth living anyway.
After sometime that looked like she was never going to speak. I heard her voice, beautiful, stylish and more feminine.
"Who are you, little girl?"
I was stunned by her words.
'Who am I?' I'm a thief, that's who I am. Why ask me? I fixed my gaze at the cold tile floor beneath me. I had no answer for her.
"Speak!" She yelled.
"I...uh...I..." i stammered. All these came to me as a shock that I had no idea what to say.
"Katrienair "
My name, that's all I know for now.
"Katrienair? "The woman said. " Who are your parents?"
Another question I can't answer and I can't say I don't know because I'll look like a real thief. The man I have always looked up to as my father confessed he wasn't and Reba's dead, of course she too was not my mother. The ghost druid said I have parents and he knows them but I don't know if they even exist in planet earth.
"No parents, they're dead " I said. More of a lie though.
"Oh" she said."your guardian? Where do you live?"
"No one, no home" I responded.
I never wanted her pity. All I wanted now was justification of the crime I just committed. I wanted her to know that I was never a thief, i just had to eat.
Sylvia's face turned pale. She felt guilty about what she had done.
A hungry child. She thought. I can't blame her. she's just a destitute who needs to live.
She walked up to me, loosened the rope around my wrist and placed me on the cushion. She sat by my side, staring into me.
Right now I craved to know what she was thinking but of course my fears didn't allow me. My crime would be doubled if she discovers my gift. I'll be put to death for being a witch.
She's beautiful. Sylvia thought. My dream child, her golden hair is just as perfect. I wish she was my child. Seems like I'm going to be a mother soon.
"How old are you?" She asked
"Fourteen"
Since I'm fourteen, does she still thinks I'm a child?
She smiled." You're hungry?"
I nodded my head in shame.
She offered me two cup cakes. I hesitated. "Take them and eat"
I was amused, few moments ago she was so fierce at me. And now she's offering me the cake I came to steal.
I ate them quietly anyways. Nothing that change the fact that I was hungry and I needed food. It will be a stupid decision to reject it.
As soon as I was done , she held my hands in hers. I felt warm, but dead scared.
What is happening?! I screamed in my head.
"Katrienair" she said looking straight into my eye."From now on, this is your home. you'll live with me, okay?"
What?! I thought. Me? No! I don't belong here. I'm a thief, a destitute. I shouldn't live in a house. I'm just alive for a damn quest. I came here to steal her cake. What the hell?! Like my thoughts were having a serious argument within me. I felt numb. All I wanted at that moment was to give up and die. This is too overwhelming! She, a stranger, just asked me to live with her. Does she know who I am? How will she feel if she discovers...? What if...? There's no way I can survive in a house by the way. My past, those unanswered questions will not let me be. And she's a stranger, I can't be very sure of safety. I don't know who she is. I was lost in my own thought that I didn't notice that she was still waiting for my response until I felt her hands upon my shoulder, followed by her meek, caring and loving voice. "Katrienair ?" She said. " Are you okay ?" of course, I'm not. And stop
Six Sylvia's POV I stood gazing into this young girl. I felt the burning urge to sweep her off her feet into my arms. She's just the girl of my dreams. I wish she could see this herself. My mother curse me. Decades ago, she cursed me even at the point of her death. It is a very long story I never wanted to remember again but this damsel got them back to me. *** My mum was a witch. Even as her only child, she never loved me. I guess it was because of her dedication to her coven "The black elites" . She was the vice president then and I was initiated by birth. I lived all my life as a prisoner in this cottage, my mother's home. She never allowed me any rights and she never smiled at me. I believed she despised me but that never bothered me. Until one day, the president of our coven died, according to the norm the vice president takes over or die. And I knew what was going to happen if my mum takes over the post. I'll have to die. I'll get killed
After a long bath, I found some clothes on my bed. Clearly, she dropped it there. Or maybe a maid, that's if she has one. My emotions were mixed up in some way I can't explain. It's really hard to take it all in . That I, Katty will live in a royal cottage for the rest of my life as a child to this lovely woman. I feel blessed but I just can't believe all this yet. And I'm bothered, extremely bothered. I shouldn't be, right? But I am.I have a purpose for my existence. I have a quest. Will I abandon it for luxury?I should. It's not a big deal if i do. But my guts, if only they could allow me think straight.I brush my hair and tied it into a knot. It wasn't perfect but I didn't care though I use to.When i was done dressing, I rushed down the stairs. Following the sweet scent of seasoned bacon, I found her at the dinning table, waiting for me I guess.Her smile made my heart melt.Oh my, my mother. I thought. I wish she was my mother.
The rest of my nights were hunted. I had dreams I couldn't discern. Like I have a (new) mother that always amaze me. I just can't understand her. She frightens me sometimes. Sylvia is always there whenever I need help. Even without speaking, she knows what I want. It's scary, and I'm beginning to believe that she reads my thought. It's okay if she has like my gift (and that nearly impossible cause my type of breed is rare) but I just can't live with it. I feel insecure, very insecure because I can't get to her thoughts even with my gift. It's ridiculous.I've spent a few days in her home, supposedly mine, and truly I've had the best of comfort, but I just feel unfulfilled ( i abandoned my purpose). Besides, I don't trust Sylvia, I wish I could but of course I'm this curious girl with fantasies.***I heard a crack on my door and Sylvia walked in. I tried to shake off my thoughts before she got to my bed. It's morning already, she brought me sandwich and coffee (mo
She didn't wait for more questions though I had more of them she gave me a peck and left.After breakfast that morning, I went to the library. There's a compartment in the library that interests me. That same compartment, Sylvia has warned me never to go there but of course I was curious, so I unlocked the door and walked in.It has mostly ancient books, most of which has spells. I read them just like any other book. Besides, reading them gives me a sense of strength. I believe they're not fables. They can come handy in real life situations, so I memorized some. It's strange but interesting. By the way, reading is a new art I've learnt while living here. Katty's never been the reading type.During the past few days, I've spent most of my time here, and sometimes I wonder why Sylvia has instructed me not to go in. Well, today I'm not going there to read. I'm on a miss
I have always dreaded the first day at school. There were big things like meeting new friends (I don't intend to have any), the new teachers, learning new hallways (my best). And there were small things like getting a new locker. It's a private school, so I believe I'll have my locker ready (I should). But more than anything, I hate the stares. I hate being the centre of attraction, but I guess that will never change about me. It's who I am. I'm beautiful, no doubt. My golden hair, one of a kind, then my eyes. I know I'm different, but I'm not exactly sure how. This school looks different, Sylvia has always chosen the perfect things for me and this is one of them. I stood outside my new school in a freezy march morning wondering. Why me? I was just in sweater and leggings and I felt I didn't belong here. It's way too orderly out here. From the look of thin
The rest of the morning was a blur and I was hungry by the time I reached the cafeteria. I got my food from the vendor without any stress and sat at an isolated table at the back of the room. The truth is that I feel nervous. Being in the midst of these big kids, though I'm not short also but I'm just fourteen. I just can't help but feel younger. Like i do not belong here. I fixed my ear pods to my ear, trying hard to concentrate. I barely ate, a vague feeling of first-day nausea was still within me. I always expected school to be like this, even worse. I closed my eyes , tried to change my line of thought. I thought of my new home, Sylvia and her perfection, my nausea worsened. Her perfectionism is so overwhelming. I breathed deeply, willing myself to focus on something, anything good in my life. “Newbie ” I jumped.
The closing bell rang, I packed my bags and walked out of the class, trying to be unnoticeable. The truth is that I'm in a hurry to leave. I just can't wait to get home. As soon as I got outside the school, I felt surrounded. A group of girls, chatting and laughing, blocked my way. They were jeering at me, no doubt. I guess I'm used to that already. I wish I knew what they wanted but whatever it is, I'm not ready for it. I need to leave this place. I got tired of finding a way out so I stood there, in a posing stature, hands folded. I glared at each of them. “ she's the new girl ” One of the girls said. She had a twitched nose and her short curly hair gave her a funny look. The other four girls giggled at each other.