Chapter 3: Wrath

We were already inside a room surrounded by rippled velvet curtains. There was a big disk-shaped cushion embroidered with black roses and sheer white fabrics draped from the wall to the sides of the bed. “Did you just say I’m your fiance?” I tried to confirm. He laid me down at the edge of the couch. I was still waiting for his response but he kept himself busy looking for something in the drawer of the bedside table.

“Aren’t you going to answer me? You’re just bluffing right?” I smiled scornfully. He remained silent as he closed the drawer and paced towards me with a small chest on his hands. He dropped one of his knees and was about to open the chest. What is he doing… is he going to propose now?

“Wait! How can you ask someone you just met to marry you? Marrying is the most important decision we ever make in our life. You should think about it carefully or you’ll regret it in the end. So don’t rush, okay? I can help you get enlightened, let’s talk about this, hmm?” I was hoping I’ll be able to outwit him. I’m just 19 and I haven’t been in love yet. I don’t want to be with just any stranger, especially in a place where I don’t really belong. But it seemed like he was not listening. He continued opening the wooden chest.

“I said — ”  I halted when I saw what was inside the box. They were just some kind of bandages and ointments in small round cans. What have I been thinking? I bit my lower lip in embarrassment. I wanted to slam my head with the wall and pull all of my hair out. 

“You should’ve said that to that old bat. Stop pretending to be against it, I know how madly you wanted to marry me. You even threatened the queen if she opposed it.” He sneered and gazed at me. His eyes were full of remorse and I felt a sudden impulse to sympathize with him. Our eyes were locked for a few moments then he averted towards my wounded foot. “Why are your eyes like that…” He whispered as he dabbed a white cloth on my wound. He paused and stared back at me, “Why do you seem different today?”

“Do I really look like her? The fiance you are talking about?” I asked placidly. His forehead wizened to that question. “What are you talking about? You look exactly like you… except for the way your eyes are gleaming right now. They used to be dead.” He suddenly shook his head and grabbed a handful of his hair then he glared at me. He stood and threw the chest on the floor. All the stuff spilled and scattered on the carpet.

“W-what’s wrong?” I fretted. I tried to stand but my body felt heavy so I fell on the floor.

“Were you trying to cast a spell on me?” He snarled.

“What?”

“Stop acting like you’re innocent! Enough with your tricks I’m already sick of it! Get off this train and go home before I could think of killing you.” His face was turning red and veins on his temples were coming out. He was furious as he left the room. 

What did this girl do that made him miserably mad like that? Is she existing inside me right now? My chest tightened so I tried to take deep breaths. What really happened here?

I felt a sudden sting in my head and everything around me started whirling. My body fell on the warm carpet and my vision became blurry. 

I didn't know how long I had been unconscious. I was awakened by something furry rubbing my face. It was warm and comforting. I slowly opened my eyes. I saw a faint figure of a cat sitting beside me, but it was so big and orangey. I rubbed my eyes and peered again. My eyeballs almost popped out when I realized that the cat sitting beside me was actually a tiger. I got up and moved away but the tiger tried to get nearer.

“Your pet is already here. Get lost now.” The guy who seemed to be my fiance was standing at the entrance with his arms crossed. His eyes were colder than earlier. “Don’t tell me you’re also going to act like you don’t own this cat.” He added. The tiger went before me and roared at him like it was scolding him. I suddenly feel at ease. The tiger turned to me and lowered its body like it’s telling me to ride on its back. I slowly reached my hand and stroked its fur. I smiled in awe, patting its head gently. I decided to get on its back though my foot was still aching. I was surprised to see that my wound was already bandaged. I turned to thank him but he had already left. His behavior is confusing me. Doesn’t he really care about this girl? Or is he just pretending not to?

The tiger started to stretch and lowered its body facing the curtained wall. Is it planning to run through it? And I was right. I closed my eyes tightly when it initiated a jump. Is there a door behind those curtains? I hope so or we’ll crash on the train’s hard walls. I waited for the collision but it just felt windy all of the sudden. When I opened my eyes, we were already outside of the train running behind it. I was amazed with the beauty of the greenery and the bracing air. I tightly hugged the tiger which was thrice my size. The warmth of its body was consoling my troubled spirit. This is the kind of peace I’d wanted to have in my entire life.

We stopped in front of a house made of burnt clay bricks. There were beautiful creepers on the walls with colorful flowers. I felt a nostalgic aura from watching the house. It's like I've been in this place before, but I couldn’t recall clearly. I climbed off from the tiger and held onto the rough surface of the wall to support my body.

"So... this is my mother's house you say?" I asked, disquieting. I heard the tiger growling softly and I found it amusing. I’ll definitely bring this cat with me once I get home, but I don’t even have a clue on how I can get back to my real world. I was saddened by that thought.

A sudden clank of the wooden door grabbed my attention. The door creaked open and a woman in fifties came out to greet me. She was wearing a long moss colored dress. The gray strands on her hair were peeking out from the white wimple she was wearing. Her eyes brightened as soon as she saw me. She started touching my face gently like she's searching for something on my cheeks. She looked so worried and hugged me tightly. I don't recognize her as well but she seemed kind. She finally let go and she cupped my face with her rough hands.

"Where were you?" She fretted.

"Are you my mother?"

She was dazed. "What are you talking about? Ofcourse I am your mother!" Her brows were furrowed. I was worried she might get disappointed once she found out that I am not her real daughter. But she needs to know it at once. I don’t want to pretend to be someone I am not.

I took a deep breath before I spoke cautiously, "I'm sorry if this girl made you worry, but… but I am a different person. I don’t know where she is right now but she is not me. I came from another world.” I explained sedately, hoping she’ll listen and try to understand me.

A hard slap flickered swiftly. I felt my left cheek numb, then it slowly began to feel burned. When I turned to face her, the affectionating facade she had a moment ago suddenly changed. All I could see was flame in her eyes. “Are you doing this to avoid getting married to Caius? Do you want to get killed? Have you ever considered the wrath of Dubheasa when you thought about disobeying her??” She yelled furiously while pointing at me. Her teeth were clenching and her eyes were almost popping out her eye socket. 

I stroke my burning cheeks with my trembling hands. So this girl didn’t really want to get married… It was out of command. How much has she been suffering? Teardrops run through my cheeks. I am not her but my heart was throbbing in pain. This girl was being misunderstood by her fiance and her mother has put too much pressure on this marriage. Who is this Dubheasa? I might need to lecture her!

I began to think back to where I first appeared… It was in the middle of the railroad. The long haired guy even assumed that I was trying to kill myself. Maybe he was right, this girl was really trying to get herself crushed with the train. I feel so sorry for this girl. She had enough, it has to stop.

“I don’t know how I am going to make you believe that I am not your real daughter, but I am more concerned about how you might have been treating your daughter. The way you pressured her to get married to someone she doesn’t like? I guess she has been suffering silently. No wonder she tried to kill herself last night.” I weaved, as I wiped the tears drenched on my pale skin. 

“You fool! When did you learn to talk back to me?! ”I was dazed when her eyes suddenly turned into a blind red orb. I stepped back, but my wound ached so I lost balance and fell. Gladly, the tiger caught me with its body.

“W-what are you?” I asked sternly. My body was tense due to the unexpected conversion. 

“Enough Nemiah! Stop acting already!” She was rebuked. 

She raised her right hand and spread her fingers. She turned onto the clay pot planted with white roses and it suddenly elevated from the ground. She turned back to me and the pot winged towards me. There’s no way I’ll be able to dodge that. I panicked as I watched it dashing towards me but it turned into dust before it could even reach me. I was overwhelmed with the unanticipated events. I never thought this old woman could be a witch. If only I had known it earlier, I shouldn’t have provoked her. How am I going to get through this?