I went to the garden and sat there. I wanted solitude. I wanted to be alone to think and re think. There were lights lit up in the garden. It reminded me of Christmas in the orphanage. Lucia had everything that we didn't have. She was quite a wealthy woman. I looked at the mansion from outside and it was terribly huge. I wondered if she got all she had the same way she had told me. I heard footsteps behind and as my way, I didn't turn to check.
"I don't understand why you don't turn to check who's creeping behind you Felicity." He came and stood infront of me.
"Nobody can attack me from the back. I know the enemy's footsteps too." He was Peter's brother. They had the same smile and stared in the same way.
"That means that you've been through hard stuffs back there."
"Yeah...and maybe I am still going through them. Some shit just never stop Adrian."
His eyes nearly dropped out at the mention of his name.
"I see you and your step father are much of friends than it appears. I saw you together and you look great than the step whatever."
"Don't step onto lose electric wires Adrian." I walked away. Peter being my step father was something I didn't want to imagine. I had plans to look for my own father anyway. I wasn't going to let him be. I was much angry with him than Lucia and if had a chance, I'd gladly shoot him dead. I went to the kitchen. We had one house help and she was one of a kind. She was a woman who had big heart. I always had the idea that she knew my mother better. I tapped on the table to get her attention. She swiftly turned giving me a broad smile. She stopped with whatever she was doing and came to me. She rubbed my cheeks with the back of her hand. She kissed my forehead then led me to the mid table in silence.
"What's your favourite darling? "
"What have you made me?" I smiled back at her. She brought me a cake engraved with my name.
"This is my way of spoiling you darling. In you I see many daughters I never had and I thank God your mother listened to us."
"I was headed there..,"she handed me a knife then sat beside me.
"For how long have you been working for Lucia?" I sliced the cake.
"like forever darling because I was first working for your grandma Anna. When she became pregnant with you I had to come and help her."
"So you were you here when she gave me away?." She grinned as her face lit up in shame. She rose and walked to the sink. It was clear that she didn't want to talk about it but I was going to make her talk.
"Camilla ...just tell me."
"That's past dear...it's good if you let it pass too".
"then tell me what you mean by your glad Lucia listened to you. My mother tried to tell me something about it but we got distracted."
"The one to tell you about it is Anna. All I know is that you are beautiful ,lovely and I love you."
She came close."I will understand you when nobody wants to get you. I will be there for you when nobody is there....I promise you."
Her words were sincere.I hugged her. How was it possible that Lucia gave me away while she was surrounded by sweet people like her mother and Camilla?. It was as if they never existed before. The party went on and late in the evening everybody left. Anna called for me in the library. It was obvious that we were going to have a long discussion. I was prepared for the worst.
"Good evening grandma..."I walked in. On the table were cards. The back cover of the cards were black with blood drawings.
"Good evening darling...please have a seat."She shuffled the cards and played with them the way her kinds did. She divided them into two Portions and placed them before me. She leaned on the table and stared right into my eyes as if she was looking for something.
"Go ahead and choose a portion."
"..I will not until you tell me why and if you are some kind of future teller and I also feel like am about to make a deal with a devil. What's all these for?"
"You are daring and strong. Stronger than my daughter and that's evident. You are a tigress."
"Grandma be clear please."I had no time for her praises.
"Your life has been one of the hardest ones.I pressured Lucia to get you out of wherever you were before you were handed back to us in a casket."
"Isn't that interesting grandma?, that you knew about pathetic life I lived but you chose to hide yourself?. " Anger stirred in me. Anna watched me as if I was a movie...her silence was driving me crazy and it got the worst of me.
"Miss Anna answer my question!." I stood up. I didn't have the patience of flogging a dead animal. I was never good in playing the I'll catch you sooner than you think hunny games.
"Felicity sit down." She commanded.
"I am so out of here Miss Anna."
I pushed the seat and turned to leave when she held my hand.
"This is much serious than your inner feeling or anger. This is not just about your life but also of Bruna."
