The Register

Chapter 23

I walked back to my room with Hannah after dinner, smiling throughout.
When we wore our pajamas, we settled down to learn.
We occasionally looked at each other and just laughed. We both knew what we were thinking about.

I told Hannah all about the black rose after studies.

"Even the strange girl I've been talking to you about gave me one"I revealed as I showed her a black rose from the vase.
"Woahh"

"I've only heard of the black rose a few times. It was about the-"

"Aristoque Metic?"I continued but she shook her head in denial.

"No, it's the Ch'iyara Castillo"

"What's that one too?"I asked not quite understanding what she meant.

"I don't know. Ask your parents. I'm pretty sure they know." she shrugged as she crawled under the sheets.

"Can I sleep by you?"
"Of course "I smiled.

After a while, I got up to go to my parent's room. I checked the time and it was already 10:30. They must be sleeping by now but I still went. Reaching my parent's room, I knocked on the door...
A slight 'come in was all I needed to hear to enter.

"Good evening" I greeted quickly.
"Evening" They looked like they had just woken up.

Without wasting time, I explained everything that happened in school to them. I could see even through their semi-conscious state that they were listening.
"Mummy please do you know the history of this house?"I asked.

"No, er hmm Adwoa(she called by another name), we just inherited from our parents," she told.

"Of course, there has to be some secret or hint they gave"I shook my head in disbelief.

"Adwoa go to sleep. You will go to school tomorrow "my dad stated going back to bed. I looked at Mother with pleading eyes but she just gave a simple smile and with that, she said.

"Go and don't disturb me."
For some reason, I stared long at her knowing full well she was now awakened.

Why couldn't she answer me? Maybe she wanted to sleep?
Anyways-
Wait! I could ask a few questions from Aunty Jasmine.

I closed the door to my parent's room and made for the staircase leaving my confused mom who thought I wouldn't give up asking her that easily.
I rushed downstairs, my feet making loud noises on the staircase.
When I reached the aunts' quarters, I searched for Aunty Jasmine.
I didn't know how to search there but what I knew was everyone had their names pasted on the door, not big though.

I somehow managed to find Aunty Jasmine's room but when I proceeded to knock, I heard a voice.

"You know, humans were our sources of food before all these different foods came about?"
I turned my head to look at the person.
She stood tall and high, enough to intimidate someone but not me.

Why?
Because I already knew she was a witch.
"Why are you here?"

"The history of the Aristoque Metic or Ch'iyara whatever"I simply answered.

"Ohh" she wowed sarcastically as if mocking me.

"I came here for the history of the house, "I said almost rolling my eyes.

"And?" she brought her head closer to hear me.

"And-"

"Listen here kid, it is not my own to tell.
Your mother or father will tell you when the time is right. "She cut off quite rudely.

When the time is right?

"You are such a coward. Things happen in front of you but you can't notice, no actually you don't notice and I hate you for that"

I blinked my eyes repeatedly, processing what she just said. Does she hate me?
I scoffed.

"How can I know something if I haven't been informed about it? Huh?"I questioned irritatingly.

"You don't expect me to have some kind of supernatural powers to notice things easily. All I know is that things are going smoothly. And if they are not going smoothly in your world, don't come here saying things I've never heard of"I lost it and forgot myself for once. It was after I had finished my speech did I realize I had crossed the line.

I opened my mouth to take my words back but I realized I was flying. I looked at her in shock but it was short-lived because my back hit hard against the wall.
I groaned in pain as tears filled my eyes.

"Don't be saying such things you naive little idiot. You have no idea what happened to me" she yelled.
I noticed the darkness in her eyes and for the first time, I felt scared. As I tremblingly got up, I made a run for it.
She didn't stop me. She just looked at me as I ran as fast as I could back to my room.

I held my chest as I panted in my room. Hannah was fast asleep but I couldn't sleep.
My eyes were wide when I took a cold shower, my sweat getting washed away by the cold water. I felt cold and hot at the same time.

When I got out of the shower, I checked the time and it was 11:56
How much time did I spend there??
The hell!
Aunty Jasmine's face kept appearing in my head and I shivered when I pictured how dark her eyes were. I was so scared.

When I dressed, I got into the bed, I held tightly onto Hannah's hand fearing that Aunty Jasmine will appear any moment to hurt me again. This was worse than the Horror movies I watched. My back still hurt and I knew it was Aunty Jasmine's doing.
Sweat dripped down my forehead despite the air-conditioned room.

I couldn't sleep a wink the whole night. I kept thinking about the whole Aristoque Metic or Ch'iyara Castillo. I was so confused but I knew I couldn't close my eyes even if I wanted to, cause I feared that if I did, Aunty Jasmine would come for me.

Lame right? I don't care! I was just so scared.