12. Ironically, A Puppet
1864 Words
Rosabella-
The water makes me shiver as I quickly settle in deep up to my neck and cover myself with my shivering hands. Though I know I'm in the water, it still feels like I'm captivated by something strong and solid. I can't even move with ease in the water. The same substance that is known to take the shape of whatever you throw at it.
Ma turns around and dips her hand in the water that sends a bolt of lightning through my body.
"Huh!" I gasp holding myself tight before she chants something.
"A YAM RAM MAM KHAM DRUM DU" She chants and I frown at her while shivering.
"A YAM RAM MAM KHAM DRUM DU" She continues while I feel the water tightening its hold around me only to let me go free.
I take a deep breathe when suddenly the air around me swirls around me tightening me in its hold. I suddenly feel squeezed by the wind in a closed room.
"A YAM RAM MAM KHAM DRUM DU"
"Stop!" I try to scream but the air swirling around me speeds up and I see a victorious sign in her eyes before the air sets me free and I finally breathe. I see the disappointment in her eyes but she nonetheless continues chanting.
"A YAM RAM MAM KHAM DRUM DU"
The next second I see the fire of all the mashaals blazing intensely and the beam of fire emerges from each one of them and surrounds me, making me feel the pain of burning alive.
I scream ducking in the water completely but I can still feel the burning pain.
"STOP!" I yell at the woman in front of me who had claimed to help me just a few minutes ago. She has said that she wants me to find my true self and is now torturing me. I feel tears streaming down my face. I see her motioning someone to stop from her palm and look behind me.
My gaze meets Dargan's. My mind plays a trick and shows me a little fear and confusion in his eyes that seem floating along with his figure because of the fire.
"A YAM RAM MAM KHAM DRUM DU" I hear her chant before again the fire releases me and I take a breath of relief. I see the determination in her eyes and a confused look in Dargan's eyes.
Does he care? But then of course, how can he go against his mother?
"A YAM RAM MAM KHAM DRUM DU" She continues chanting and I feel gripped with the very plants I had thought were beautiful. I feel the prickles scratching my upper body still hot because of the fire, my breathing still not normal because of the wind that squeezed me, and my lower body is limp because of the water pressure I had experienced.
"Please, stop. I need no help..." I cry out the pain and once again I'm freed from the torture. The grown-up stems untangle themselves from around my body and I try to get myself together.
"This is impossible." I hear her say while I sob clutching myself. I don't have enough energy to even move. It's like I have experienced hell in what I had thought was heaven.
"This is impossible. I need to try again." She says and for some reason, involuntarily, I look at Dargan with horror-filled eyes. It's as if I still believe that he would help me.
"Ma, it's enough... for today," Dargan says to my relief and horror as well.
What does he mean, it's enough for today? Do I need to come back here and suffer again?
"And Nature can never be wrong in recognizing its own element." She says thinking.
"I'm taking her back, Ma," Dargan says looking at her. She comes out of her daze and stares at him for a few seconds before squinting her eyes.
"Protective." She states.
"Cautious." He answers and they go back and forth.
"Feared."
"Concerned."
"More than that."
"Nothing more." He says.
"A lot more." She says.
"Caring and anxious." She says to herself and almost immediately he answers her like a scared and confused child.
"About you." He says and she meets her gaze.
She tried to hint at his feelings towards me and he made them clear. The only person he cares about is her.
"I'll take her back." He says before turning his back to me.
"Get dressed." He says with the intention to get out of the room but Ma stops him.
"She can barely hold herself in the water. Take her with yourself." She says and moves out of the room leaving the both of us.
I try to think of all the bad things I've ever done in my life but none of them could be a reason why the Goddess would leave me alone in the man's presence.
He starts stepping forward and I turn my head back to the front while clutching myself tighter.
"Can you come out?" He asks surprisingly gently.
I look back at him kneeling down on the ground.
"Turn around," I say and he does.
"You are certain you don't want any help climbing out?" He asks me.
"I don't want it from you anyways," I say through gritted teeth.
I struggle to reach the end of the pool. I place my palms on the solid surface and try to pull myself up but fail miserably.
"Ah!" I cry out in pain and sink back into the water. Suddenly two hands come under my shoulders and grab me. Dargan pulls me out of the water like taking a child in his arms.
He holds me to him with one hand holding my thighs and the other holding my back such as I seem to be sitting sideways. I bring my one thigh over the other to hide my nakedness and cover my breast with one hand.
"Leave me," I say but he sits on the floor with me on his lap.
"Stay. You can dress up when you have enough energy." He says and hugs me to himself. I sigh in his warmth despite the anger I feel towards him. This is what I need right now. He is what I need right now.
I stay there in his arms with my face in his chest as I try my best to hide. I think overall the things and come to the conclusion that being with him is better than being with his mother.
"Are you gonna bring me here tomorrow again?" I ask him and he starts making circles on my back. I still don't get it how am I comfortable sitting naked in his arms though.
"No." He answers in his usual tone.
"Are you ever gonna bring me here?" I'm in the state where you know the answer would displease you but still can't help yourself from knowing it.
"Depends." He says.
"Was this because you think I had an affair before marrying you? Is this some kind of punishment?" I ask trying to make the closest logic of what just happened today.
"No. You didn't have any man in your life before marrying me, right?" He rather asks.
"I don't like repeating myself," I say and feel his hold tighten around me but I think he sympathizes over me.
"I'll take that as a, 'No.'" He says.
"Would it matter if I did have someone?" I ask him.
"I didn't think it would."
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing."
"Well, I'm ready to get dressed," I say feeling my limbs back alright.
Dargan simply releases me from his hold as if expecting me to stand up naked in front of him.
I huff at his stupidity and raise my head up to look at him. I see him snapping his eyes from my breasts quickly to me. I squint my eyes at him making him frown and cover his eyes with my palm. His hands stand at attention but he doesn't push me back.
"Let me just get up, and don't you dare turn around," I whisper to him while looking at his lips.
"Are you ever going to get up?" He asks pulling me to him. I fall on his thighs again but get out of my daze.
Silly, Rose!
"Don't try to be smart with me," I say and his perfect lips lift up in a smirk.
"I don't need to try, and now better get dressed if you don't want me to lend a hand." He says without letting me retort back.
I stare at him frowning before finally stepping behind him and unveiling his eyes. I caress his temple before completely taking my hand off him and pull my underwear in place. I quickly get my gown over my head and approach him.
"Tie my strings." I reluctantly ask for his help. He turns around before getting up and coming behind me.
"Is that a command?" He asks.
"Well, you undid them," I say.
"Of course, who else can?" I roll my eyes at his claim.
"Well, Nina can," I say as soon as he pulls the strings tight.
"Whatever." He says and to my surprise kisses the crook of my neck. My breath gets hitched in my throat.
"These need to be hidden." He says running his hands up and down on my arms which are bare yet covered with scratches of the prickles.
"Hmm..." I just hum and he rubs his nose in the crook of my neck. We stand there for a minute, not wanting to stop this.
Just a second more. My mind chants.
"I suppose you were about to leave." I open my eyes with a jolt and find Ma standing at the entrance beside us.
Dargan lifts his head and smoothes his hand over my dress strings while replying to her.
"We are leaving." He says and removes his long coat. He places it on my shoulders before looking back to his mother.
"The people can't see the marks on her hands." He explains to her while I frown again.
This giant man is like a puppet to her. Couldn't she see I was hurt? He didn't need to explain his action to her.
Ma doesn't reply and walks to the other side of the room. Dargan goes to touch her feet one last time before holding my hand and dragging me out along with him.
"I'd like to go out and meet the people," I say while we make our way out and back to the wall.
Dargan pulls out the silver chain again and places his palm on the wall.
There is something to do with this chain.
"I'll arrange it. You can go in the evening." He says as a part of the wall gets away from the path and my eyes twinkle seeing the open sky.
How I missed the light!
My eyes catch something more important. I see Eleanor pacing back and forth at a little distance.
"How are your relations with your, sister?" I ask Dargan before realizing that Eleanor could hear us.
Damn! Now she is looking at me.
- Writer
