CLAIRE
1232 Words
INANNA'S P.O.V
Today is my fourth day here. My mind is blank as I lay on the hay bed, with my hands on my hips, staring at the dirty ceiling. I have not moved from this room. All I do is eat, bath, eat, sleep then repeat the process the next day. It's a bit boring because I don't have any beads to make anything with, neither do I have a book to read to occupy my time.
My mind goes to a conversation I had with Mama a few weeks before her death.
FLASHBACK
Mama and I are seated on the bed in my small room, with different colors of pearls, sea shells and all kinds of shapes of beads in front of us.
The beads at Mama's shop has all been sold so we are making more to sell. This time we are making new ones with new designs and colors. But I'm sure we'll have to get more beads and pearls for the next batch of jewelries.
I have a book mama gave to me by my side that I read when I get tired or bored of making the same type of jewelry over and over again. But, I can't stop and leave Mama to do it alone. It's the only source of income in this household.
I like to read but I don't have access to a lot of books, only the two Mama got me on my birthday, with a months worth money from the shop. She got me one titled DREAM BOOK, it's mainly sci-fi and romance . The second one is EUPHORIC BLOOD.
"Mama, you said that my birth father died in a battle with the rogues. How was he like?" I ask her out of curiosity and the need to know more about him. I have been yearning to ask her, but I didn't know if it'll be alright with her.
"Hmm.. your papa was very sweet and attentive, we lived in a small town at the border of the Eoth. He was a warrior for the kingdom. You look just like him, but the only difference is your skin colour." She says.
"He was very happy when he found out that I was pregnant with you. He would buy anything I desired, even if it meant getting up at dawn to buy the kind of food I was craving. That was two months before the attack. When I was two months pregnant; halfway into the pregnancy. He would bring me my favorite flower each time he came home." Mama says with a smile and a longing I have never seen in her blue eyes, and puts the beads down to give me her full attention.
I smiled at her, intrigued at how amazing my father was and thinking just how lucky she was to have him. How could Fate take such an amazing man from her only to replace him with an abusive asshole.
"How did you know he was you mate?" I asked.
She smiles and clasps my cheeks in her palm. Her blue eyes glistening with oncoming tears.
"All you have to do is look the person in the eye and you'll know. You will feel the burning desire to be with him, you'll lose your breath just hearing his voice." she says with wide excited eyes"it's impossible to try to resist, because no matter how much you try, you'll be drawn to him so much that, being without him will feel like death. Plus, meeting him will set your heat in motion too."
"What's heat?" I ask.
I love that mama tells me things. I love that she doesn't shy away from conversations like this.
"It's that time of the year when your body is prepared to receive sperms from your mate. You'll feel like you are burning up from the inside. And you'll be overcome with the desire to touch and mate your soulmate." She explains cheerfully.
It sounds like it will be an awfully painful experience. So why is she cheerful?
"Do you think my mate will want me, since I have no beast?" I ask, feeling ashamed of my inadequacy.
"He'll want and love you no matter what." she says and kisses my cheeks.
" I promise." she whispers.
END OF FLASHBACK
But I no longer think that is possible, neither do I want a male in my life. Now that I think of it, I couldn't get to bring the books Mama gave to me along. I hope Papa doesn't throw them away.
I turn to look at the door when I hear it open. A girl about my age walks in. She is of a short build, with blue eyes and short blond hair. She looks healthy, with fats at the right places. She's not too fat or too slim, just in-between. I stare at her blankly as she comes to stand beside my bed, with one hand on her waist and the other beside her.
"Hi I'm Claire. And you are ?" She asks with a smile, giving me a hopeful look. But I just ignore her question and keep staring at her blankly.
"Anyways, Leo said there's a new girl here, when we were having lunch. He said you've not left your room since you got here..." I tune her out when she keeps on blabbering things that is of no concern to me. This is the first time in 2 years that I'm getting annoyed. She sounds too happy for a slave.
"Hey, are you listening to me. Anyways, I thought to take you out. Not like out of this place, we all know that's not possible. Just want to show you around this building." She talks like her life depends on it. I just turn my head to the side and keep staring at her.
She's terribly annoying. Can't she see when she's not wanted?! I'll leave her to do what she wants. She'll leave when she's done. It's none of my business after all. She takes hold of my hands and I think, 'why the hell is she touching me?'.
She's trying too hard to engage in a conversation with me. She Yanks me off the bed, then pulls me towards the door.
"Now, let's get going" She exclaims in excitement.
There is no need for me to fight her, she'll still get what she wants. Willingly or by force. I learnt that the hard way. I'll let her do what she wants, she'll leave me be when she's done.
It was the same with papa. When I fought him it only got worse. The beatings got worse. The insults got worse. Those were the moments in time, that I yearned for Mama the most.
That I yearned for her hugs, her kisses. Her encouragements and her love. The moments I unbearably missed her the most, were the times I layed on my bed making beaded jewelry alone. With only memories of her for company.
When I'm reading the books she gave me, I would miss the little conversations we used to have. I would miss when I would complain to her about a book characters actions, that caused things to go haywire.
I learnt the hard way to let them do what they want. They will stop when they get tired. So that's what I do, I let Claire have her way.
- Writer
