Chapter Duo

Weeks passed like a blur, sited on the wooden long chair, cheerful loud disorder voices fills the dinning room. Bringing a small spoon of beans into my mouth swallowing it quickly. I try to concentrate on Emmanuel, his grinning sheepishly, mouth moving from side to side but his words don't register in my brain. Feeling restless and antsy, preoccupied with a nagging thought that keeps me up at night, for three weeks have cleaned the empty space never once catching a glimpse of him. Huffing out an annoyed breath, I shove more food down my throat.

"Are u okay"? He interrogate.

I stop midway, swallowing loudly, his face scrunch in distress, I only manage to grin.

"You make it seem as if the food sweet" narrowing his full brows.

I only shrugged in response.

He doesn't comment any further and continues to speak ebulliently.

Together we walk down the familiar hallway, my shoulders are hunched back, glaring down at ever object. The foreign feeling of longing watches over me, it makes me more nervous, wishing and hoping for something have been denying myself of. Emmanuel strode close by as I stalk around brooding sorrowful. Upon reaching the wooden door, a bulky guard stands erect. He doesn't look our way till we are at close proximity.

" State your purpose" deep bass voice uttered out.

Sighing softly

"I clean here" I say

He looks at me with a pointed look, eyeing me up and down.

"Only Big-mummy cleans the Alpha's chambers". Came his prompt response.

Groaning out, I try to explain why am here, the door swings open a silhouette shadow peeps out, anticipation fills my stream, expecting cold brown orbs. A fair skinned man walks out, the guard immediately bows down in respect, I follow his league.

"You must be Vivian"

At the mention of my name, I snapped my head upward, he smiles charmingly. I could only manage to nod meekly.

He whispers softly to the guard, who only nod in response. He mentions for me to come in, turning back to Emmanuel his eyes are glued at the strangers back, tapping his shoulder, he snapped out from the trance. Saying a quick bye, he murmured incoherently and leaves.

The room is still the same, curtains are down, bed is made everything is in order.

"If you are looking for the Alpha, he isn't back"

Turning towards the voice, he watches me with a hidden agenda, gulping down a ball of saliva, I only manage to nod not having the courage to speak up.

"I'm kelechi" he introduced. Stepping away from the wall, he stalks closer, moving like a gazelle, his calculative eyes holds mine captive. Feeling uncomfortable, shrinking back into my toes, I look down.

Pointed animal pattern shoes come into view, black tailored pants with straight vertical lines.

Humming out gently he walks away leaving me perplexed.

When his gone from the front door, i look up to heaven at the white creamy ceiling.

My palm are rough harden from the days of labour, squatting down my back ached in protest. A dull familiar sting pitches my neck, moving it sideways, it makes a crack sound.

Looking out the window, the sun settles down slowly orange hue scatters around the fading blue sky. My thoughts are railing, staring searchingly into the horizon, an unknown rage fuels into my stream, a new born hunger wakes. That leaves me confused.

The kitchen is cloudy with smoke, heavy with the smell of spices and crayfish. Roasted fish smokes on the stove, the pounding of pestle on mortar, encircled by heavy breathing woman. I walk down the slippery floor, plates are arranged out ready to be served. Stirring the pot with a spoon, a delicious smell of Vegetable soup whisk through the busy room.

She turns, lines marked with age runs down her face, cheeks rising into a smile reveling gap teeth.

"Comes, taste this" bringing the spoon closer to lips, I savory the taste. Licking my lips, I tell her is delicious.

"I know" she boast out, her heavy breast lifting up in pride. Mama Anena cooks for the mansion as the head chief. Moving from the streaming pot, she begins to cut onions on the countertop.

"Are you done with your work?" She ask authoritatively.

"Yes ma" i murmured quickly.

"You should rest, than saying in this hot place"

"Am restless" I say.

Looking up from her task, she shakes her head incredulously. Murmuring something about children and old age.

Washing my hands in the sink, I join her, the process makes my eyes sting with tears. We walk in comfortable silence, Mama Anena is a middle aged woman, she has been like a guardian to me since I arrived here. We meet when I was helping Ebere out, when she was on kitchen duty. She's reversed and calm, her massive shape makes her intimidating but nevertheless she's kind without a fault.

"Is nwa m nwoke back?"( is my son back) she questions.

"No he isn't back" I respond lowly.

She hums and continues to cut distantly.

Mama Anena story begins when she was dropped off in the mansion. Her mother told her to wait at the doorstep and knock obediently she obeyed. Once the door opened Mama mother was gone.

"You look tired" she eyes me up and down a frown on her face.

Assuring her quickly I add " I'm okay"

"Don't worry, am almost done" her persistent reply leaves no room for argument. Left with no choice, warping my hands on a small towel, I walk out from the kitchen. Dragging my feet down stairs, going underground to servant quarter following mama instructions. Shining touch light illuminate the narrow walls. Rubbing the back of neck, a yawn escapes my lips, high pitch laughter and loud footstep approaches, walking from a distance Aisha and two other girls comes closer, for weeks there have decided to torment me.

When she spots me a mischievous smile forms her dark witch like lips.

Three pairs of eyes glare at my direction, mouth narrowing into a hard line. Aisha whisper into ones ears and a taunting laughter sounds out, all three of them begins to laugh mockingly, swaying there hips in confidence towards me.

"Ashawo" one whisper out at earshot. My hands are folded in tight fist. Snorting out, I try desperately to control myself knowing fully well I was outnumbered if a fight were to erupt.

There walk away giving me contemptuous look. There verbal abuse, leave me fuming, restraining myself from going back, I inhale deep. Through out the brisk walk, I'm thinking of an ungodly way to commit murder.