These people standing in front of her were people she had known for many years of her life, in fact, there was even an addition.
A little boy of about a couple of months in her mother's arm.
"When we got the invitation we were surprised." Aniya said, barely able to contain the excitement, that glimmered in those big brown eyes of hers that screamed childlike innocence. Nothing much had really changed about her except that now, she was a mother.
"I am surprised to see you, mother and father. I didn't know you would come." Also, she wondered where Lytio's patents were. Were they not of more importance when the invitation was concerned? Or was Lytio the Village head now?
"Well we wanted to see how things were for you." The words pushed through her mother's teeth, the contempt in her eyes plained for all to see as she accessed her daughter.
She was doing well, better than she had thought. Was even pronounced as Future Queen. That waste of a child must be feeling pompous in her skin. She didn't deserve any good thing that came her way. Aniya would fit better as a Queen. Maybe she shouldn't have done anything to tamper with the choosing process that night but she was a mother and which mother would watch her own child been offered to the jaws of death.
This foolish child irked her.
Could she just die already?!
Why must she keep keep progressing in life when her very presence was the thing that ruined her life.
"It must be disappointing that I didn't come here and die, as you instructed me to. Don't you think, Mother?"
Her mother straightened up.
It was disappointing, really. So disappointing, she felt the urge to do it herself. The urge to whip her to submission as she usually did, the urge to watch her broken and curled up at one side of the floor. It was an unpleasant sight to see her without tears running down her cheeks, along with blood and cuts that short heels would create designing her face.
It was turtore to see that she was alright. She should have killed her while she had the chance. Why hadn't she done that though?
Although the scales at her collar bone seemed like something must have happened to her and as much as she hoped it was something miserable, Isa was still not satisfied.
It just didn't feel enough.
Uncertain about how much she could take and scared that she might lash out and get taken away by the guards, she hurriedly handed over her special grandson to Aniya.
"Come with me, Jasper, we need to step outside for a while." She said to her husband and turned away.
Belladonna watched her father immediately go after her mother like an obedient servant.
They still haven't changed too.
What a sorry sight.
"I never stopped believing in you." Aniya's voice brought her attention back to the people in front of her. "Even after you were gone."
"Of course." From the corner of her eyes, Belladonna caught Lytio shifting from one feet to another in discomfort but that man was none of her business. Her attention was on the little boy in her arms, as he reached for Aniya's silky black hair and tried to grab a fistful with his small hand.
"It's a blessing in disguise, you cannot deny. Now you are the future Queen and I am the Village Head's wife of Inaymi. Two Sisters. We have gone so far. Glorious. The Heads in different places that we are. Just one night of drastic change and the results are marvelous."
Ah, this crazy sister of hers.
Belladonna chuckled. Was this what she had once loved more than her life?
"Of course. Sleeping with your sister's ex-fiance, a day to their weeding does have marvelous result, like a wonderful baby boy being added to the family." Aniya's smile dwindled but Belladonna ignored that. Instead, she waved her fingers in the air, in front of the playing child, while she smiled at him and he smiled in return. "What is this beautiful boy's name?"
When Belladonna looked back at her, Aniya gave her a small smile.
"Arlo."
"Arlo. How beautiful. May I?"
Aniya nodded, the smile taking over her face becoming even wider as she handed her son to her sister.
"I am so glad he gets to meet his Aunt."
Belladonna didn't say anything to that, instead she tried her best to hold the baby, scared for some reason that if she moved too much, he might break.
He just looked so fragile and delicate. Like the most innocent thing in the world. She had the urge to protect this little one and she found her heart swayed by his cooing noises.
She must have been like this once. It hurt to think that her mother must have looked at her with hatred instead of love. She understood her reasons for hating her in the initials years of her birth but still, it hurt to know that it continued.
Punishing her for what she had no control over.
Belladonna was determined not to be like her mother, she wouldn't punish this little one for his parents wrongs.
It wasn't right.
Arlo spat-up curdled milk on Belladonna's dress and Lytio's hand dashed forward with an handkerchief, already helping her clean it away.
Belladonna took a quick step back, leaving his hand to hang in the air.
"Don't you ever touch me again." She glared at Lytio, the fact that he had even touched her, although not directly, made her sick to her stomach.
This man's audacity.
"I--I was trying to---" the words came out of his mouth and he blinked, looking up at her then down at the ground. "I am sorry. It won't happen again."
"This is for the baby." Aniya offered her a blue cotton handkerchief. Belladonna took it and cleaned away the spit-up as best as she could.
Uncomfortable with the uneasy tension, Aniya spoke up.
"Arlo looks a lot like his father, doesn't he?" Her hands brushed gently over her son's golden hair as she looked from Belladonna's face to his.
Belladonna nodded. "He does."
Lytio chuckled, "of course, he does. In fact, if you look from this direction," he tilted his head a little to the side,"we almost look like brothers."
Aniya cheeks reddened, and she played with her fingers, before placing it lazily on Lytio's arm.
"Stop saying that, Darling, people might misinterpret it."
"Misninterpret?" Lytio shrugged her hand off, before slipping his hand into his hair. "Misinterpret it to mean what? I'm just saying my son and I look so alike, we almost look like brothers." Then he playfully pinched Arlo's cheek, who gave him a toothless smile in response. "My little sweet golden boy."
Belladonna blinked, adjusting the baby in her arms.
Something didn't feel right between them. There was this heavy tension that seem to have settled in between them as a permanent residence. In fact, they seem to be walking around on broken glass around each other, but whatever problems they had, it was none of Belladonna's business, and Belladonna was good at minding her business.
"Lytio is the head of Inaymi's tribe now and my husband is doing so well at it."
"That is great."
"Considering our sudden loss of my father in law, my husband," she looked back at Lytio who wasn't looking at her, then she looked at Belladonna when she saw that he had no intention of returning or acknowledging her gaze, "has been nothing but a complete sweetheart to me and his little boy. He is a wonderful man."
"That is good." ...and unnecessary for her to know. "My condolences."
"It was suicide." Lytio said, folding his arms.
"Oh." That was strange. Lytio's father didn't seem like the type to just want to take his own life, she wondered what had happened.
"Don't worry about me." He said when he caught the way she had slipped into deep thoughts, misunderstanding that her concern was about him.
Belladonna arched him an eyebrow and Lytio cleared his throat awkwardly, looking around to see if there was anyone watching. When he spoke again, his voice was low.
"How have you been, Bell? I have been worried sick about you? Every day, I worry."
What was wrong with this stupid man?
"How are you getting treated in this place? Is the King threatening you to pretend to be alright?"
Aniya gasped. "Lyti--'
"Stay out of this, woman." He snapped at her, casting her a glare before turning back to Belladonna who was just too shocked at this absurd situation playing in front of her to say a word.
"I know he is a monster beneath that mask. Bell, if you need my help to get you out of here, just tell me. I can't sleep knowing that you are trapped in here with that beast of a king."
Belladonna saw red. What did he just say?!
Actions always spoke louder than words though, and her hand sweeping swiftly across his face had said everything she needed to say.
___
Happy Valentine's day. Three chapters today - my Val gift to you. Thank you all so much for your support. Have fun today.