Sour Candy | T. Drake ✔

[36] Other Side Of The Picture

It was a few minutes before training and Mona was suiting up when the door to her room turned open and the woman who used to look after her back when she was very young, stepped in. She was the one who had taken her to Talia the day Nyssa had been murdered.

"Aleama, I'm changing," Mona protested but the woman quickly locked the door behind her.

"Hurry up then. I've got to talk to you."

She quickly fixed her belt and laced up her shoes, facing the woman who was furtively glancing at the door as if expecting to be followed down there and dragged out.

"What happened, Aleama?"

She took her arms, making her look into her eyes, "listen to me very carefully. You know I care for you, don't you? And you know I would never ever want you to get hurt..."

"Of course, I know that but..."

"Don't interrupt, just listen," she seemed to be rather panicked, "I don't know what Mistress has been telling you but believe me when I say that don't trust her. Please don't trust her."

Mona looked at her as if horrified, "what are you talking about?"

"She does not mean you well, Mona. She killed your mother."

Her features hardened, "my mother who never accepted me... Yes, I know."

The woman shook her head as if distressed to hear that, "you do not understand... You are just a child and can't see what is being done to you."

Mona crossed her arms defiantly, "then why don't you tell me? What is being done to me that I am not aware of?"

"Mistress is just using you," she let out the words at last, bracing herself to be met with the little girl's wrath because she knew Mona respected and cared for Talia a lot and would never hear anyone insult her. "You can hit me if you want, but please don't think that I am lying..."

Mona stood still as she watched her with wide unbelieving eyes, "I don't believe you."

"Listen to me, please," she entreated, "right now you think that just because she spared you, she has started to care for you but that isn't true. I don't know what else she has been feeding in this naïve brain of yours but believe me, Mona, for the sake of God believe me because if you don't, you will end up just like your mother."

"Stop mentioning my mother! Stop..." She tried to cover her ears but the woman held her hands forcefully.

"No, listen to me," the woman was trying not to raise her voice but had to in order to get her to stay still. "Tell me, what has she told you that now you bow down to every will of hers, like some sort of puppet that she controls? Tell me, Mona."

"I won't..."

"You will have to. What lies has she fed into your brain?"

"Don't... Don't insult her," she was slightly trembling with rage, "don't insult my..."

"Your what?" The tone was challenging as she demanded, "what is she to you?"

"Ummi," the word escaped her and right next moment, realization dawned on her features, fear taking over shortly after because she had promised Talia not to tell it to anyone else. Yet Aleama had managed to get it out of her.

"Ummi?" She looked at her as if shocked but then laughed derisively, "really, Mona? I never thought that you could be so stupid. She is not your Ummi, in fact, she is the murderer of your Ummi."

"I said stop," tears were welling up in those wide blue eyes, "just let me go. I have to be there at training or else they will come looking for me and you will get me into trouble."

"If you really think of her as your Ummi then why are you so terrified of her? Shouldn't a mother be a place to seek comfort, a person to confide in, and to be loved by? Why is there fear in your eyes upon thinking of her instead of love if you do think of her as your Ummi?"

"Stop..."

"You will have to listen to me because I am telling you for your own benefit," Aleama resumed in a softer tone because seeing the girl cry hurt her, "I have looked after you since you were a newborn, I have nursed you and taken care of you for much longer than anyone else here. I only want you to not succumb to this lethal game Mistress is playing."

Mona refused to look at her as she kept her gaze glued to the floor but couldn't stop herself from hearing her out.

"She does not care for you, Mona. She is just using you for her own gain. And you think of her as Ummi but tell me has she ever done anything for you that a mother would do so? Has she ever even talked nicely to you? Sure she calls you darling but don't you hear the poison behind those words?"

Mona shook her head, "you know nothing... Nothing..."

"Neither do you. Tell me has she ever even asked if you ate well or slept well or if you are hurt from training or not? Tell me has she ever asked you anything regarding your betterment?"

Mona was silent at that, unwillingly pondering on those words.

Talia always used to ask her if she had trained well but never inquired her health or if she was doing okay.

"You see what I mean, don't you? You can see it too," Aleama stated, "but you are willingly turning a blind eye to it."

However, the door was knocked upon furiously and Aleama turned silent, fear spreading on her features.

"Mistress is waiting for you at training," Udit's voice reached them, "what is taking you so long?"

"Just coming," Mona replied, trying to steady her voice, "I am just coming."

"Be quick. We don't have all day."

They waited until the sound of his footsteps retreated then Aleama approached the door, eyes locking with Mona's terrified blue irises, "think about what I have told you and if you realize what is being done to you, come to me. I am the only one who can help you out."

Mona's features were tensed but she spoke up resolutely, "I don't need your help."

And before Aleama could leave, Mona left her room herself, hurrying to the training area, the back of her palm rubbing at her reddening eyes.

***