The Mystics Of Valenthia

22. Frames Of Past

"THIS. IS. ANNOYING. AS. HELL!"

Nova was in a terribly bad mood as she screamed and scrubbed the table with soapy sponge.

"Do you know that it ruins a perfect manicure?" She practically yelled as we all listened to her ranting quietly.

"You care about a stupid manicure? Seriously Nova? A MANICURE?" Bex shot back.

"Well, I don't know about you Bex but I do! Who doesn't care about a manicure? Oh yeah, I forgot. A person like you wouldn't!"

"What do you mean by 'a person like me wouldn't?' "

"Oh, you know exactly what I mean!"

Nova smacked the sponge at Bex's face. Bex screamed and tried shoving the mop in Nova's mouth. Nova shrieked and that is how the cat fight started. I dropped my cloth and ran towards Nova and grabbed her by her waist while I saw Eva doing the same with Bex.

"Stop it, both of you! Is this how two mature girls behave?" Eva said in a best described as motherly tone.

"Who said we are mature?" Nova snapped.

"That is enough, Nova. Just...just get back to work," I said wearily.

I walked back to the half scrubbed window panes. I had other things in mind rather than care about a stupid squabble. Like who was Scylla really? Why did she want me? How was Carter able to make her disappear? Why is Carter avoiding my gaze? Oh yes, in case I did not mention before, he is totally avoiding me.

"Carter, just stop messing around with this damn table! Go, help Renna with the windows!" Nova ordered Carter.

Note to self: Nova should never be asked to do household chores.

Carter dropped his sponge and opened his mouth to protest.

"JUST GO!"

He sighed as he made his way (deliberately slowly) towards me. I moved aside and handed him a sponge. He took it wordlessly and started scrubbing with force.

"Who is Scylla?" I asked without a preamble.

"Shut up and scrub."

"And why did she want me?" I continued, not reacting to his mean reply.

Rigorous scrubbing.

"What did you do that she disappear? You seemed drained," I prodded further.

A swear word and more rigorous scrubbing.

"Are you going to answer me?" I asked impatiently.

He stopped scrubbing and looked at me. "It is best if I don't," he said.

"Why not? I have the right to know! A monster who looks worse than the beast from Beauty and the Beast shows up and expresses its desire to kidnap me or whatever and I don't know why!" I yelled.

The others cast curious glances at us but I ignored them.

Carter's eyes bore into mine for a long time before he said, "Do me favour, Carrot. Stay away from me. Don't even show up at a radius of thousand kms if possible."

With that, he walked away from me and towards Lena who batted her eyelashes disgustingly.

Tears stung my eyes as I stared at my reflection on the now clear glass pane. What was really happening? Why am I not happy after discovering who I really am? I always wanted answers, didn't I? So why am I not satisfied now? What is really wrong?

I jolted back to reality as I became aware of the silence which did not exist a minute back. I slowly turned to find everyone staring at me. I raised my eyebrows questioningly when my eyes fell on Griselda. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and sighed.