Pain of the Whispers

Chapter 17

           Our first instinct is to hold our breathes and cover each other's mouth with our hands. 

          Both of our hearts were racing, my chest tightened with pure fear. 

       Red and I both look at each other in utter shock. Slow and steady but bold footsteps come down the staircase, which only I can hear. Another set of heavy sounding footsteps followed, coming from the front door. Confusion traces my brows, Red still has fear across his face as he can't hear the other set of footsteps and his wounds are unbearable almost. I force down the big knot in my throat and take a deep breathe. I'm quick with my hands and on my feet as I continue to clean his wound as I listen in on what's happening outside the bathroom and in front of the front door. I tie the belt Mother usually whips me with around Red's upper knee. To keep the pressure on the wound I press a dark royal blue cloth towel on his wound, which Red does not appreciate. Both sets of footsteps stop when they are close by each other. 

        When I stop the bleeding on the wound, I slowly dip a cloth in the medicine I poured on his wound. I hear Mother's voice raise as she says. "She's asleep up in the attic." I give Red a warning look to keep quiet, as I slightly wipe his wound with the cloth. Slowly but surely, I get his wound completely wiped. The other voice sounds strident, but at a taut level as they speak as if they were nervous about something. "I shall not meet bout' this little girl again, you know how dangerous it is for me?" Mother sputtered back with a little bit of anger in her voice, as she tried to sound serene. "Don't speak of such nonsense, I have this whole village at the very beck of my hand. They all sum brain washed drones, the very least they could do is dagger a trained guard such as you." The voice sounds like an older man, a very scratchily voiced older man. "I'm not speaking of such idiotic people; I'm speaking of the founder witches!" I wrap the wound in clean wraps as I hear an ear widening slap, it echoed throughout the castle. Me and Red both look at each other as I kept on listening. Red knew I would tell him later on what was being said. Mother hissed at the older man. "You don't raise your voice in this castle, especially at me." I hear the older man rub his cheek, as his callused hands rub against his skin. The older man says quietly. "My apologies, ma lady." Mother growls. "That founder witches haven't found us for nine years now, what makes you think they just pop up out of the blue and take her away?" The old man defends his assumption. "If what you told me is true, she will get stronger and stronger. She will turn against you one day and find out the truth. She will rebel against you and might even take a dagger to your heart at night. The founder witches are getting closer and closer each day. I'm not saying your magic is weak, but with five of the most powerful witches against you is not an equal fight. It's nearly impossible if you didn't have the girl to drain for the spell." Mother acquired. "She will do no such things to me, just today she broke down in fear of hurting me." The old man hissed in frustration. "You're pushing your luck, mark my words." Mother was dismissive about his words. "You're just some old worry wart, I have her under control. Besides that, what I called you here for was to make sure Hades and the Devil stay off our track." The old man crackled with laughter. "You're speaking insanity! If they get involved, we both will be goners. You're lucky the queen and king aren't close to finding the other girl. You should be kissing at my feet for that!" It was Mother's turn to crackle with laughter. "You're lucky I haven't cut off your head for the little misshape you had a month ago. The old hag almost was on our trail." Mother and the old man continued to bicker back and forth, as I finish up with Red and putting everything away. 

          But something Mother says catches my ear. Mother says to the man. "She will be the blood thirsty, murderous, solider that she was born to be, mark my words it will happen." 

               My eyes are wide as I stare at Red, what was Mother going to do to me soon?