4. I curse you

The promisse

Next morning

Eight o'clock in the morning, Lussadra and Griao were in the living room, sitting on the chair, thinking about what they would do next. There was a sad look on Lussandra. She thought about expelling the Griao, staying with her daughters, but she had been taught since she was a child that marriage is the most sacred act in the world. That a single mother is a shame for society and the family, that honor was above all. That no matter the evil that Kataleya suffered, no one could know, as the little girl would be forever tainted with the risk of never getting married. Griao was next to Lussandra, he wanted to touch her but she moved away,

“ When our daughter was being raped, where were you to defend her?

“ Well, I... I didn't listen, as you saw I was drunk.

“ So drunk that when you heard her cries for help..."

“ Lussandra..."

“ I don't want Kucaia here anymore, she'll never come here again"

“ What does Kucaia have to do with this?"

"All! I'm not an idiot Griao, if you betray me I can tolerate it and I'll ignore it, but if you betray our daughter, no!"

.......

At this moment, Maarifa arrives at the house because she had left early and wanted to hear from the Footman what he had done. She looks at her parents who are sitting on the chair.

- Where were you?

“ With Laciano

“ I can't believe you went to this wretch

“ I needed to hear from him, hear his version. “ Marifa took a deep breath with her head held high. “ He apologized! He still wants to marry me

“ Do you still think about marrying him after all? He raped your sister. _ Lussandra couldn't believe what she heard.

“ Ah mom, everyone knows that after she was born everything turned upside down! _ Marifa stated angrily.

- Do not say that! Is she your sister!

“She's a sorceress! She must have bewitched her father's friends and my fiancé!

Lussandra, without thinking, threw her hand in Maarifa's face, only realizing what she had done when she saw her on the ground.

“ She is an eight-year-old girl who was raped!

“ But Lussandra, looking better, perhaps it would be better to hand Maarifa over to the Lackey! Our family already has a reputation “ Abelar commented.

Lussandra was silent.

“ I'm going to marry Lacaio by hook or by crook! I love the Footman and I know he regrets it. _ Marifa stated, putting her hand on her chest. The girl only thought about getting married, not caring about her sister's feelings about the criminal that the Footman was.

In her room, Badirinwa could hear the argument and one thing she was sure of, her house was no longer her home. It was as if she was in a place that didn't belong to her, she only had hate, fear, revenge and anger in her heart. She remembered everything her mother had said, the girl believed in karma... she believed in punishment and curses, since many said she was a witch and daughter of the devil, she decided to act as such. She looked at her hands, which stained her family with shame and forever the mark of her eyes would be fixed on her, unless she cut off her hands. She let her anger prevail, her girlish heart fed on hate and she closed her eyes for ten seconds and when she opened them her gift was reborn.

“With my hands I condemn all men who taste my flesh to death. Every second of mine will be your pity, every tear of mine will be your pain, every memory of that night will be your anguish and my smile will be your death.”

The little girl felt her body cold, feeling that her request would be answered. She left the room, walking along the bed, coming across her mother, without saying a word she walked towards the door.

“Daughter, where are you going? “ Lussandra said, following

“ In the backyard of the house...

“You shouldn't go out, it could be dangerous! It's not good for people to see you like this...

“ There is nothing more dangerous than this house. “ Kataleya walked out the door, hurting the feelings of her mother who was no more hurt and stained with shame than her.

The words said by Kataleya hurt her mother.

Kataleya stayed in the backyard, sitting on the ground drawing a sailing boat, as if one day she could get on the boat and cross the oceans. As she was drawing she saw a white lady dressed in black, with long gray hair that reached her ankles, with tattoos on her arms and face. The bracelets and beaded necklace caught more attention. The lady had a fixed look, but the little girl didn't allow herself to be intimidated by staring at her and approached the lady.

“ Why are you looking at me?

“ Why did you come to me?

Kataleya didn't respond.

“ My name is Maná...And your name

The little girl didn't respond and stared at her.

“ I feel a strong energy in you!

“ What do you know about me?

“ No more than you know about yourself

“ How would I know?

“ You’re just sorry, you don’t want to see…

- I don't understand...

“Come with me child, follow me…

“ I have to ask my breast to leave...

Mana smiled and looked at the door of the house, making the little girl look sad as she also saw her mother looking at the two of them. Lussandra knew who Maná was, she knew that one day she would come to meet her daughter, that's why she didn't interfere. Sorceresses meet and unite. Kataleya looked at her mother and knew that she had her consent to follow Maná, at the risk of never seeing her again.

Kataleya followed Maná, walking together through the woods, until they arrived at a huge house made of wood and red sand, you could see some vines outside. They spent a few seconds looking at the house, Maná looked at the little girl to see if she felt comfortable. She went ahead and opened the door, letting Kataleya go through, leaving her free to enter. It was a different house, with shells on the furniture and floor, lamps decorated with bird feathers, scattered throughout the hallways.

Kataleya looked around the house, seeing other women and children, who were staring at her.

- Who are they? What a different place! “ Kataleya was surprised, she had never been to a place like it.

“ It's different because we are different! We have a gift that no one else has.

“ They are, witches… Why did you bring me here?

“ Because here, where you will one day stay...

Kataleya looked around and soon began to cry in fear, disgust at what had happened. She was confused and didn't understand.

Kataleya shook her head.

“NN-I'm not a witch!

“ See this as a gift! “ Said Maná, taking and sampling the palms of the little girl’s hands.

“ I want to go home! “ Kataleya walked away scared. “ I want my mother.

“ Calm down Kataleya, no one will hurt you! I will accompany you to the place where I found you.

So Maná and Kataleya returned to the village, going to the house. Kataleya soon entered the house, seeing her father threatening her mother. Abelar had picked up a stick, intending to hit Lussandra, but Kataleya stood in front of her mother defending her.

Abelar was surprised, he didn't expect this attitude. For a moment he stopped and put his stick down, he seemed to be scared, there was an agony in his chest that he had never felt, he could see a dark look on the girl, a black sky. Kataleya seeing that her father put down his wooden stick, walked away and went to her room, had become a shy and confrontational child. Abelar for the first time felt afraid of an eight-year-old girl.

- That look! Did you see that look?” Abelar looked thoughtful and distressed.

“ What look? “ Lussandra didn't understand Abelar's shock.

“ From Kataleya!

“ She's just a girl, still in pain after everything she's been through...

“ No, that look is not normal, she... “ Abelar stopped, scared. “ She was threatening me, she looked like an evil girl.

Abelar, seeing his daughter's eyes, realized that he had changed. Never in his life was he afraid of his daughters, but with Badirinwa it was different. his heart accelerated with fear and anguish, as if hell were calling him.