I'm Scared Of You.

9

I entered the car, wearing the gloves Salomon gave me and a blue dress.

The new drivers opened the door for us.
Salomon didn't wear a suit today.
He wore his pajamas, and was almost asleep.

I guess without Mrs. Morel around, he does as he pleases.
I wonder is she's her housekeeper, her assistant, or her nanny.
I'm useless to Salomon compared with Mrs. Morel.
I'm not a real wife.
Well. It's not like I want to be one.
I sat on the backsit of the black shining car and he sat besides me.
The sits had S.V braided in cursive.
My name is now... Margo Vernon.
Sounds awful.
How will my first kid name be?
Salomon? Erick? I don't know.
Salomon curled in a ball putting his head on my lap.
My heart started running.
"I hope you don't mind me.", he said closing his eyes. Face towards my stomach.
"Do as you please, Salomon.", I smiled.
He opened his eyes and turned his face to me.
A small grin emerged on him.
Whoa... He looks so handsome.
Margo, focus.
"One day, I'll take the offer, wife of mine."
I blushed as he turned his head towards my stomach again. He slowly trailed his skinny arms around my waist.
Hugging me.
He is hugging me.
Oh my.
I had a knot in my throat.
Please, please let me go.
I mean, it's normal. If you are scared of someone and that person hugs you.
You will want to cry!
And moreover if it's the first time he does-
He burried his head closer to my body.
"Hm...", he sighed.
But... This is so cute!
I wish I could enjoy this. Because it's very cute and it would be so lovely if it was with the person you love!
But. He isn't.
He is weird, complicated, and scary.
Just ignore him. Don't get flustered.
Oh, but what about when we arrive?
"Salomon-"
"What?", he sounded annoyed.
"I'm sorry to disturb you. But what if we make a stop or something... Should I wake you up?"
"You know the answer."
I bite my lip remembering the first time we meet. How he low key threatened me.
The trip back was long, it rained through more than the half of the drive.
I was tired, and my legs were hurting because of baby Salomon's head.
Why can't he just go in another car and sleep to his heart's content.
Mr and Mrs. Morel were waiting outside the house with umbrellas.
Fortunate enough, a thunder stroked near the house, Salomon jolted and woked up by himself, annoyed.
But I didn't care.
We ate oatmeal, like he wanted.
He later took Pheles to his bedroom.
And that's the last I saw of him in three days.

[Three days later]
I was in the garden, humming and twisting the stem of a white flower.
The sky, grey and chilling.
It was peaceful and I felt good.
Suddenly, a cold texture touched my leg.
I frowned and looked down to my right leg.
"A snake."
Was all I could say.
There was a long, thick vivid green snake trying to curl up on my leg.
My heart literally stopped.
I didn't want to make noise, for panic logic.
I stood still like a pole.
The door opened.
It was Mr. Morel.
"Hello.", he greeted while kneeling down. "Don't mind me... just doing some gardening...", he said.
"S-Snake...", I whispered.
"Snakes? They're everywhere. Have you seen the paintings around the house... He is all about the snakes. I personally don't like them. There's a few small statuses of snakes in this garden, but the grass has grown too much so... You can't see them. I'll fix that, haha."
"Mr. Morel. There's a snake on my leg.", I said loosing my patient.
He looked at me, concerned. And stood up on my way.
"Ah... Yeah... You are right."
"Of course I am! How about you fix this!", I whispered angry.
"I don't know... I'm scared of snakes like I said."
"What?!"
"You'll be fine... This is just the master's pet... Mefisto... He's always wondering around. Hi Mefisto. Welcome back haha."
"Get this snake out of my leg right now.", I said.
"Don't!", someone yelled. That someone being Salomon. "Don't touch Margo nor Mefisto. Just don't touch anything, please.", he almost begged.
"As you wish, little man.", he joked.
Salomon looked annoyed but ignored him.
He kneeled before me and took his black gloves off.
He carefully grabbed the snake.
"Where were you...? Papa missed you, he did, he did...", he said petting him.
I'm not even surprised by this.
And what's with those names... I'll name our kids that's a fact.
Kids...
Not anytime soon.
And I'm definitely not surprised by him treating his pets more humanly than me. His wife.
I just noticed how sweaty I was. And how dizzy I felt.
"Where you scared?", he half smiled. Amazed.
I shivered.
Why does he look so excited by it... ?
"Just one bit."
He sat on the ground before me, letting the snake travel around his arms and back.
"He is harmless... And I worked hard for him to adapt to humans. Well... Only myself."
"You have many pets..."
"Yes. I have like six owls..."
"Really?"
"Yes. But I let all my pets be free."
"That's good...", I said.
So you give freedom to your pets but not me. This man...
"I was very lonely...", he murmured.
For a moment I felt bad for him.
He locked himself in this place... Why? Why do you dislike interacting so much?
"I think I should make Mefisto adapt to you as well...", he said looking at me.
"Oh.", I nodded smiling, looking away.
"No... I don't want to share you nor my pets. Nevermind."
"Alright.", I smiled.
He changes his mind so fast.
"We are leaving in a week."
"I'll make sure to prepare my things.", I replied.
"... Do you not have questions about Loretta...?", he asked.
Is this an opportunity?
Should I be honest?
Ah... Well, I'll give it a go.
"Yes... To be honest."
"You may ask, Margo."
"Why is she like that?"
"I don't know."
"Oh..."
"End of the interview. "
"A-Ah alright."
"And don't worry about packing. Mrs. Morel will do it for you, my wife."
"Is that okay, I don't wan-"
"You don't like it?", he interrupted.
"Like what?", I asked.
"Having things get done for you."
"I just don't want to give her more work."
"I make easy simple questions because I like yes-no answers.", he stated.
"I'm sorry.", I said reflectively.
Stop acting dumb, Margo.
"Yes, I like it.", I said.
Know your place.... You are not a maid.
"I will change anything for you.", he said. "The employees, the house... Anything.", he said touching the snake not looking at me.
Yeah. Right.
"You just have to ask for it.", he added.
Liar.
"Can I have a car, then?"
"No. Anything else?"
I accidentally chuckled with irony.
He turned his head to me.
Oh...
"No. Nothing else. Everything is perfect."
"Everything...?"
"Yes."
"Even me?", he asked.
"Of course.", I replied. "Mostly you.", I smiled.
He did too.
I tensed.
"You love me, Margo?"
I almost chocked.
Answer. Hurry.
"I do."
His smile widened.
"My cute wife... Thinking she can fool me all the time... So. Cute."
I didn't even notice I was holding my breath.
I tried to relax.
"Why is it always a lie with you?"
I immediately regretted saying that.
Just be quiet!!
He stared at me.
"You've been very bratty lately... Talking back and everything..."
"I am so-"
"If you apologize all the time, your apologies will lost its meaning."
"..."
He let go of the snake.
He stood up and cleaned his pants, he sat in the bench with me.
I was nervous, I was caught lying... Again.
"Margo."
"Yes?"
"I'm your husband."
"Yes."
"We are legally married."
I nodded.
"You are wearing my ring around your finger. Your last name is Vernon. You are together with me. Wife and husband."
"I... I know that. Why are you-?"
"Because you hate me, don't you?", he smiled.
Those words hit me like a bullet hitting its prey.
"I- I- I don't."
"Listen...", his voice changed. "You feel like this is short term, right?"
I was speechless.
"Haha... You really do think this isn't going to last...  What? You are hoping for something to happen and get yoir way out of this marriage. Haha.", he laughed.
"Why are.... You... Laughing?", my voice cracked.
I was shaking.
"You tell me."