Women Of Steel | ✔

V

There are three things the villagers of this kingdom are obsessed with, rumours, myths and theories. They have explanations for everything no matter how ridiculous those theories sound. They have theories about why the sky is blue, they have theories about the strange occurrences in the village. It is not surprising that they have a theory about their king; Tadenikawo - more specifically, his eyes.

Eyes that shines bright like the flickering gold light of candles, like precious stones. Once he fixes his gaze on you, it is hard not to fall at his feet and confess your sins, then beg for your life. Gold eyes that should make him look even more attractive makes him look even more scary and intimidating.

The villagers calls Tadenikawo the devil's reincarnate, some call him the devil himself. Rumour says that when the king was born, it rained for days and when it stopped the former queen; his mother died.

Some say his gold eyes are a result of the strange curse on the kingdom, they say he was not born with those eyes.

In this moment, as his eyes boring into mine with the most blank expression I have ever seen on a person, a look I cannot master - all I feel is this fear that threatens to bring me to my knees. I am leaning against the cold wall for dear life, I doubt if I can stand without the sturdy support of the wall.

Hit me, my own eyes scream at me, his blatant anger I can handle but not this stormy silence that draws me to him like a supernatural force. One thing that scares me the most about my wicked husband is not his abuse, it is the power he still holds over my head like chains.
As long as I will exist, dead or alive, he will still continue to control me. My decisions will always revolve around defying him. They will always revolve around trying not to become the monster he made me. Killing him will not take away his control, it is my greatness weakness and the reason I continue to loathe myself.

Tadenikawo raises his hand slowly in the air and I shut my eyes in a spur of the moment cowardly action. I brace myself for his attack but it never comes.

Shock, and some other strange emotion courses through me as his fingers caress my right cheek in an almost tender motion. I stiffen even more as his breath fans my face telling me that his face is right in front of mine.

"Oya mi." He speaks out softly, one could mistake his tone as one of love or adoration but I hear the simmering threat bubbling to the surface. His words are not  loving ones either.

I dare to open my eyes to meet his and I am taken aback by the tenderness and pity in them. Those emotions are enough to bring back the fight in me in full force.

I jerk away from him with hate twisting my face into something wicked - there is nothing beautiful about a vengeful woman, her heart and soul is black and her face is a permanent sneer.

"Punish me! Won't you?" I taunt. "Will you let this insolence slide? I have been learning to fight, maybe one day your head will be next - like you did to my mother."

My quivering voice betrays my bravado and in that blinking moment, I hate myself more than I hate him.

"Leave." He commands, gesturing to the door with a jerk of his head.

Fatigue seeps into my being and I resist the glaring urge to collapse on the inviting ground and cry myself to sleep.

Rather than succumb to the weakness, I nod and my legs carry me out, I don't break down until I reach the unfamiliar comfort of my room.

-----

Tadenikawo ignores me for the next days, I do not get invited to his throne room or to any official dinners. He does not bother me, neither does Kosoko.