What happened to both your parents Seline?
The war, it was this war that took Father’s life, and my mother left us long ago, she went back to heaven. Mother said she would call me back when my mission is completed on earth, so I’m stuck here. What about you Esmeralda, why are you wandering here with no aim?
Esmeralda open are eyes wide, staring at Seline in a way that clearly state that is no polite way to talk to a stranger.
Selina caught up with the look, and held her ears muttering a soft sorry.
It’s okay Seline, but you know what? you are not wrong. It’s not like I have any aim or destination right now. My life just took a turn I was not ready for, in the process slamming me hard on the face.
I’ve always had the perfect life Selina, my parents shielded me from a lot of things for my own protection, and I repay them by throwing back all their love and care, shoving it down their throats. The disappointed look I saw on their faces still hunts me, I don’t have the courage in me to go back, talk less face them, let alone apologize for my mistake. The guilt is blinding me and I can feel it like a rope around my neck.
Esmeralda drags in back the liquid running out of her nose and use the palm of her hands to clean the ones that escaped.
I’m so sorry Selina, I’m so foolish, you just told me about your parents, and here I am rubbing mine on you. It was never my intention to make you feel bad.
That’s okay Mera, hope you don’t mind I call you that, Esmeralda is such a long name and it’s stressing my small tongue. Now back to what we were saying before, you don’t have to apologise, what are friends for if you can’t share your grieves with them?
Esmeralda could not hold back her laughter, and it ran out escaping her fingers on her lip.
Selina was perplexed and said with a fierce look on her face and her little hands perfectly placed on her waist, as she looks up trying to meet the eyes of Esmeralda.
Don’t you view me as a friend? Or you are too old to be friends with a big girl like me.
Esmeralda chuckled trying to surpress her laughter again. She has found one funny friend indeed.
Yes Seline you are my friend, and we would remain friends. The night is drawing near, I can’t add worrying them to the list of my guilt. It’s high time I go rectify my mistake instead of chickening out. Do you have a place to stay Seline?
Dummy, now I see why your parents shielded you, you are so forgetful. I just told you I go where the wind takes me, in other words, I don’t have a stable home.
Seline knowing what she just did took off running, and Esmeralda pretending to be angry follow her, trying to catch her. The two run around the forest hiding behind the trees, and soon they turn it to a game of hide and seek.
The day became night, and the moon came out to it’s right full stand, it was then the two new found friend knew it was time to return back. After much persuasion, Selina agreed to return back to the castle with Esmeralda, whose conscience could not let her leave the little kid all on her own in this cruel world, after knowing the joke fate has played on the little child, without any ounces of pity.
Passing through her parents room, she sneaks in Seline into her room. Flashes of the memory she had with Luna struck her immediately she step foot into the room. She has not been in this room in a long time, especially while been conscious.
Her memory showed her the blood, and head of Luna. The thought made her eyes spin and her stomach growl out of irritation. She places her hand on top her stomach trying to stop the bile from rising any further, but all her effort was in vain, as she couldn’t hold herself and it rushed out of her system like a wave.
She vomited blood and small particles of the bread she ate in the morning, but mostly blood. Selina stood unshaken, she watched Esmeralda like it’s a common and natural thing to do.
After a when Selina was sure Esmeralda had satisfied herself, she asked her where she could sleep seeing as there is only one fur available. Esmeralda shakenly point to fur signalling Seline to take it. After a while of standing alone, drowsiness took over, and she walks to the edge of the fur laying with the already asleep Seline.
Her parents who noticed her walk into the house came to check up on her when they suspected her to be asleep. Rosa and Mateo were both surprise to find a stranger in the room, but decide to question Esmeralda after the break of the day.
Rosa could not stand the stench from the blood, so she decided to clean it. She weeped bitterly for the fate of her daughter.
Mateo was so deep in thought, his head started questing his action, and guilt envelope him. A sign falls out of his lips, although not too loud to catch Rosa’s ear.
He did it for his family, he committed treason, betrayed their trust, especially his daughter. He his willing to take the betrayal to his grave. The goddess herself knows his hands were tied, the tears his wife sheds for Esmeralda every night pushed him to do it.
The agreement might end his life, if by mistake Vimdraolf gets to know of this, then even the goddess can’t help him from the vengeance of Vimdraolf.
He shakes at the touch of his wife, he gave an half smile trying to cover his track.
What’s on your mind, I’ve called more than three times with no reply. You got me worried.
Mateo opens his arm for his wife to come in.
Rosa, who won’t be worried in this condition that we are in? My mind was just running. Have you ever wondered what our life would look like if our daughter was not mated to Vimdraolf. If she was just an ordinary teenage girl, running around the village. How beautiful it would be if we didn’t have to live here, just sit and watch till the day our daughter dies.