A HINT OF TRUTH

Adding fainting to my to-do list sounds like a brilliant idea because right now I am having the best times of my life. Mothers tend to be more caring when their children are sick, I have noticed that.

Let's look at when I had my first chickenpox at the age of six, saying I was treated like a princess is the actual statement. No school was the best decision my mum ever made I will be eternally grateful for that it meant no assignment, no cafeteria annoying food, no work just all sleep, rest, and food in excess supply. I just had to cry if I needed her attention but the sickness was bad and I prayed to be healed even though the bonuses to the sickness were good. Lilian couldn't visit me because her mother was afraid of me inflicting her with my sickness.

I knew Victoria was up to no good when I saw her with chickenpox a few days before I contacted it, I had no idea chickenpox was communicable. Once I was dumb, now I am wise.

Right now even though I wasn't sick my mum stayed true to her words and pampered me not Carol the cat. Carol is a white Turkish Van with a shade of brown on her forehead, a cutie, and a meanie all in one. I despise her because she broke mum's favorite vase and guess who faced the penalty, me. Anyway, I am in my bedroom dismantling mountains of vanilla ice cream with Pringles by my side while watching series of comedies on youtube.

My ringing tone, "Believer" by Imagine Dragons starts playing from my iPhone 8. Checking the caller ID, it was Lilian.

"The number you're calling is not available at the moment, please try again later thank you", I said faking the customer care voice.

"And here I am thinking my best friend is on her death bed not knowing she is very much alive to even joke", Lilian replied. I can imagine her rolling her eyes right now.

"LOL, how was school? Did I miss anything?", I ranted

"The savior of your breath is here and gossiping machine", Lilian said gradually.

Seconds passed away and she still hasn't said anything, I had to even check if the call has been disconnected. Suddenly, she screamed.

"Austin asked me out"

"Wow, I'm so happy for you. I knew this term wouldn't be terrible at least now you have someone to live for"

"Are you happy because I now have a boyfriend or just for Austin?", Lilian questioned

"Of course, it's because you now have a boyfriend. Austin doesn't deserve you at all but as long as you are happy I am happy", I answered honestly.

"Remind me why you dislike him again", she said laughing.

"He hangs around with that douche bag. That's enough reason if you ask me, he better not break your heart, or else I will be breaking something else too", I said as my temper slightly increased. I don't like anyone related, associated, and connected with Daniel Grayson. I knew he was avoiding me today because he didn't even call to know if his project partner is still breathing or not.

"That's why you will always be my bestie, I love you so much", Lilian said. I could hear her stifling a cry.

"I love you too my lily in the garden", I said sincerely. Lilian is the only person who has been with me for a very long time. Christian who was also a good friend of our ditched us because his girlfriend thought we would steal him away from her, forever. Such insecurity.

"Gotta go prepare for this date, I hope we go to the city mall", Lilian concluded

"Say hi to your wonderful mother and annoying brother", I snorted at the last word. Lilian's mother is a wonderful baker and also a famous wedding planner. Her cakes are to die for but her brother David is a prying agent. He loves to put his mouth in places that don't concern him. I remember when he lied to our parents telling them that we had started having sex. Our heads almost left our bodies. Our parents have a way of disciplining us and when they are done, whatsoever demon possessed you will manually disappear.

Disconnecting the call, I continued watching comedies on youtube. Soon I forgot about the unexpected meeting with a demon or Daniel's weird attitude. All that could be heard was my laughter as the day drifted away slowly.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

The war had been fought and victory has been concluded. It calls for no celebration, no smiling nor laughing. Houses were been burnt, streets have been set ablaze. Captives are been tormented, killed, or burnt but none escaped.

The cry of a baby aroused and could be heard miles away.

"Kill it"

"Bring it to us"

"Kill it"

Voices shouted in unison as the baby was sought.

An innocent baby covered in white and laid upon a red mattress was found to be the source of the cries.

"Kill it"

The voices repeated

"It's a girl", the beholder of the baby said.

"What should we do to it?"

"It", another voice shouted in anger. "She is a human being and should be treated as one"

"She is still innocent and knows nothing of what just occurred, he who holds it will keep it", the voice continued.

"As for now she is one of ours", the voice said as the hand of the baby was held and slightly cut for blood to flow.

"It is sealed",

I woke up to the blinding light from the sun passing through my window and boring straight into my eyes. My dear vampires, I understand your misery. Stretching my body I got up from the bed and went to the bathroom. Staring at the image in the mirror, I mentally slapped myself.

And this, my beloved brethren is the reason why I must not forget to braid my natural hair before sleeping because it shrinks and now it will take me minutes to detangle. My life.

After hours of hibernating in the bathroom, I came out refreshed. New Testament. My hair now braided into two pigtails were rocked with an outfit that would say 'thumbs up for trying not to look homeless on this yellow oversized hoodie with black skinny jeans. I have never been more proud.

Heading to the kitchen, the smell of fried Irish potatoes with egg sauce seasoned the air. Our house caretaker, Naomi was back from her trip to the village.

"Good morning Nana", I greeted. Nana was what I called her when I was a child, Naomi was so hard to pronounce. I have known her since forever. Met her in the house and still seeing her. Nana is not your regular petite and fat-looking housekeeper. For someone who has aged a little, she looked good. Dark pixie cut, caramel-skinned with sharp green eyes on her oval face. Loves wearing leather boots with classy vibes. I love her so much.

"Morning Ella, how was your night?" She asked.

I couldn't tell her about my nightmares, so I settled with 'fine'.

I made a cup of tea for myself, it was one of the easy things I could do without fear of calling the fire department the next minute. Pouring cocoa powder in a cup with lots of milk and adding the minimum amount of water was how I liked my tea. Thick and rich. Mum is probably still at work or snoring somewhere in the house.

Deciding on my activities for the weekend which comprised of completing my assignments, studying my physics textbook on anything relating to dimensions in time and space traveling, and giving my clothes to Naomi for laundry.

Oh, I almost forgot, I need to call Lilian concerning the welfare of her date, I just hope she didn't do anything stupid. Anyway, that's why I am her best friend, emotionally equipped to clean up her mess.

Hours have passed and I am still at my desk sitting on the same site with the same posture studying, the only difference was that the headache has switched gears. Well, I was done with my assignment but I had to reason a lot on mathematics. Have you ever made a calculation and the answer you are getting is not even close to what you ought to get? Yep, that was what I just faced.

Taking in a deep, I went to my bathroom and searched the medicine cabinet for paracetamol tablets. Swallowing just two tablets, I slumped on my bed and welcomed the invasion of sleep.

"Ella"

I felt a hand shaking me

"Huh", I mumbled

"Dinner is ready, come downstairs", Nana said before leaving my room.

"Do me a favor and call your mum also", she added

"Sure", I said fully opening my eyes while making an effort to get up from the bed.

Walking to my mum's room like the living corpse I was, still feeling like I didn't sleep to my full potential. Entering the spacious room painted white with a perfect view of the neighborhood, I love this room. The yellow-flowered bedsheet on the king-sized bed gave the room a summer feeling. Mum wasn't in there so I decided to check her office in the house.

Papers scattered all over the office, the books once piled on the desk were now kissing the floor with some of their pages turned. The flower vase also faced the same fate. The whole room was thoroughly shaken. Mum still wasn't here. What is going on?. I was about to leave the room before a certain paper caught my eyes.

ADOPTION REFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE

"Who is mum planning on adopting?"

Checking the name of the child brought nothing but sadness to my heart. Today concluded the answer to the question I had always been asking myself. Why am I different?

Growing up I noticed the way mum distanced me from other children, I was hurt that I had nobody to play with. I don't know what changed in her but she let Lilian stay. I never visited my family members, now I know why because I had no family. After every vacation, my classmates during the break will talk about where they visited, their families and boost about who had the best holiday but I never went on any vacation, I never met my cousins or grandmother or aunt. Now I know why. At least I wasn't maltreated since I am not her biological daughter but was she disappointed in me not to take me to see her family. I never even knew my father, mum told me he died when I was born. I wonder if it was true or another facade of a lie.

I didn't even know when the tears started rolling down. I felt heartbroken, used, dejected. It was like my heart is being trampled upon by horses. I shouldn't be surprised since Zarka warned me about the truth but I was too blind and naive.

Wait so I am a witch.

Now I felt hopeless. If my dreams and visions are true, I have no family.

The tears kept pouring harder and harder like a storm. I wanted to stop crying but I felt betrayed by my eyes.

I have never felt so weak. I heard the door creaking and felt someone's presence in the room with me but I couldn't even look straight at the figure.

The figure enveloped me with a hug and kissed me on my forehead.

"I am so sorry baby", the voice said. It was mum at least she raised me.

"It pained me in my heart when I think of what I kept from you, I wish I could take it all back", she continued while running her hands through my scalp. "I know how you feel but I promise you that I never lied about any other thing. I love you though I didn't birth you, I still do"

Hearing 'I love you' coming from her mouth made the tears drop faster and harder. I cried and screamed into her chest. I hugged her as if she would leave me any moment.

"I love you too Mummy", I cried out sincerely from my heart.

Drying my tears with my hoodie, I faced her and said

"Promise me you will tell me everything"

"I promise", mum replied as she joined her pinky finger with mine.

It is sealed.

"Why could you not tell me", I asked.

"I was ordered not ", she couldn't even look at me in the eyes. She felt guilty and I felt sad for initially being angry with her.

"By who", I asked hastily wanting to know the evil mastermind behind my misery.

"Sebastian Grayson"

"Daniel's father? ", I questioned in confusion but she nodded in affirmation. The pounding headache from crying wasn't helping me in reasoning. Since when did Sebastian Grayson start dictating what happens in my life? What is our connection with him?.

"There's a lot we need to discuss but first we should eat", mum said as she stood giving me a hand. I nodded as we left the scattered room and heart behind and entered into the next phase of my life.