Beyond Immortality

CHAPTER NINE

You would be a fool to think that things had turned out fine as I did.

"Seems like you had a good visit," Mother says over supper admiring the shawl I got her.

"I did although they cho-" I stopped when it dawned on me that something was wrong with her face. She had her hair down a behavior so rare. Her hair was always held up and covered under a head wrap. Since I got back home she had been trying to avoid direct conversations with me. When she finally did I traced the marks of wickedness plastered all over her face. The sickening sight brought tears to my eyes. These were marks of cowardice.

"Ronan?" I uttered concerned.

"it's nothing." She says. I know this is an attempt to make me avoid quarrels with Ronan. I was indirectly told to brush it off. All the while I was back in Oriondoth, he spawned evil. It ran hotter than the core of the earth itself. He turned his back on mother completely. Treating her like a slave. The mindset of him turning a new leaf replayed in my head mocking me for coming up with such obnoxious thoughts.

Hazardous, was when he brought in a woman into the house. She was vicious taking after Ronan. Creena who took sides with him most of the time had curled inside a shell. Ronan was unpredictable no one knew who he would turn to take out his anger on. Clotilda, his wife, as he addressed, poisoned his mind no doubt. They led disgraceful lives. Drinking, brawls, and theft are included. How they still roamed the village undetected bewildering? I was lonely back in the village after Mundric had left for his sister's wedding.

I often went to their house to assist his mother with chores wherever an opportunity arose. It was better than staying nestled in the right hand of the devil. Drea had offered mother shelter after I told her what went on in my house. Mother was quick to turn it down stating that she couldn't abandon her husband's house.

Getting home from the stream when a shrieking scream greeted me from inside the house. Without second thoughts I dropped the bucket spilling the water as I rushed into the house. There he was towering over mother beating her up like a donkey. The entire place was turned upside down pots broken, tables disarranged from their usual spot.

I swung into action immediately. My hands tugged his shoulder unceremoniously aimed at pulling him away. Ronan, however, was stronger as preceded as he did not make so much of an effort as he rammed me effortlessly. I lost my balance twisting my leg. My temple slammed against the table. I cupped my head as the pain divaricated through every cell in me. Seeing nothing but darkness accompanied by stars. I shuddered trying to focus as the voice of Ronan filled the dreaded air as he howled affronts to mother.

"Ronan stop please," I begged. My pleas fell on deaf ears. He continued on and on. If I didn't do anything he was going to kill her. So instead I gathered myself up ran to mother and laid above her so he could hit me instead. Kick! Blow! My entire body ached. My irk burnt. There was this emotion buried in me that was forcing its way out of me.

My teeth rattled together, my rheumy eyes shutting involuntarily as I received the blows in place of mother. Every man has his breaking point this became mine. My hands reached for a broken piece of pot on the ground. Speedily, I straightened up using it as a weapon against Ronan's face. The small piece breaks further as soon as it connects with his head. I watch him stagger.

"How dare you put your filthy hands on mother?" I scolded in rage

"Taliyah, S..S..Stop," mother shuddered.

"no mother. I have had it with his insolence." The confident projection of my fury at Ronan took me aback. All my life I lived in terror because of him yet here I was courageously taking charge of a situation. Ronan wipes traces of blood off his face. He bores his eyes at me threateningly.