Chapter 4

Ever since that day, Maliya had become part of the family. Marianne and James, the old couple, had taken quite a liking to her, though their children did not. Both the older brother Lucas and his younger sister Lilith seemed furious of her presence.

Lucas didn't blatantly show his hatred. However, his silence towards Maliya was enough for her to think that he actually hated her.

In the morning,when his parents call him for breakfast and he saw Maliya sitting on the same table, he will say that he's full and go back to his room. However, when he sensed that all of them had finished, he will it by himself and gobble up the foods as though he was really hungry.

Maliya saw this with her two eyes as she get some water to drink in the kitchen. When their eyes met, she casually avoided it and pretended to not see anything. But she couldn't hide her expression as the corner of her lips lifted. With her mocking face, she hurriedly left the room as she saw Lucas' dark expression.

But it was less than Lilith's. She felt it. Lilith was always angry of her. She always looked at her with a dark expression. It was as if she had really hated her ever since their first meeting.

Her dislike was visible when one day, while Maliya was walking in the back garden, she hit her with a stone.

"Go away!" she shouted. Maliya's eyes became wide as she carefully touched her forehead where the stone had landed.

"You don't belong here!" she added. Slowly, Maliya felt something warm dripping down her face. There was a chill in her feeling and suddenly she felt nauseated. Her head was starting to spin again as she remembered her mother's last words.

"You're a monster~ter~ter" she again felt the sharp pain in her head as she tried to hold it still. Her breath became deeper, there seemed to be thousands of daggers stabbed all over her.

In the distance, she saw Lilith and Lucas. Though her vision was blurred, it seemed like they were arguing over something based on their raised voices.

" What have you done, Lith?" Lucas shouted with an angry voice as he firmly gripped Lilith's right hand.

"Are out of your mind?" he added, as Maliya's vision darkened.

"I-Im s-sorry. I-I didn't m-mean i-it L-lucas." she answered stuttering as she tried to avoid Lucas eyes.

"I j-just throw t-the stone jokingly and d-didn't intend to h-harm h-er but she's just so wea--" . However, her words were cut when Lucas run hastily towards Maliya.

" Maliya! Damn it!" Lucas cursed as she tried to wake her up. However, Maliya's face was pale and she clearly struggled on breathing. He became franctic.

" Lilith ! Call mother, now!" Lilith, who was taken by the situation ran as fast as she could to ask for her mother's help.

...

Ever since that day, Maliya sensed that Lilith became different towards her. She became considerate enough to help her in cleaning her room. Even her attitude became soft and welcoming.

"Liya, i brought your food here, please it already before it turns cold". Lilith said as she put the tray to the side table clattering a little. Maliya, who just woke up, looked at Lilith curiously. But the little girl lowered her gaze and looked at her feet instead as if guilty of something she had done.

"I'm really sorry, Liya." She said as she constantly rubbed the back of her hand. Maliya soon noticed the burns in the hand of the kid.

"Wait, Lilith? Did you cook this?" Maliya asked in amusement. She knew that Lilith did it for her but Marianne had forbidden her to cook since she's still a child who can't do it properly.

"Next time don't do it okay?" she told her slowly as Lilith's eyes fogged with tears.

"Come here, it's okay. Just don't do it again" she said as she motioned the child to walk towards her. The child obediently follows and so she gave her a pat in the head.

"Hmmm, it's tasty! Good job Lilith!" as she tried to make the child smile again. Though the food tasted different, Maliya was really happy that she and Lilith were able to become friends.

Maliya laughed happily. Now, there's only one problem left. It's Lucas.