25

" No it's not Son. I just thought you had more thinking brain box than your mother." He joked.

" Don't you dare Father, don't you dare speak ill of my precious mother." He became furious, so clouded by anger.

" We both know a fight is the most silliest option right now. The Reds definitely has the backing of the Blooders, we don't stand a chance against them." He told him, hoping he would reason with him.

" Ohhh! You are indeed right Father. Then how? How shall we get the victory we deserve."

Alama at times admired his Father's wisdom.

" A Flu, Alama. Let's spread a flu across the human kind and their lands. The Reds will be blamed for it, you sure know how much the Blood king hates his people lacking food. The flu would cause the humans not to be able to work and this will anger the King. The King sure hates war and blood of his people, we will make them start a war." He explained.

" Ohhh thank you Father. What would I do without you?." He said and hugged his Father.

" Nothing My Son, absolute nothing." He said.

Nobody could do anything without his approval because they lacked the wisdom he had, all thanks to someone special, someone he met ages ago.

" Have this water." She had said, the young lady all dressed in a white flowing gown, decorated with the most beautiful flowers he had ever seen.

" Thank you.' He had said and gulped down the water. ' But I never said that I thirst." He had added.

" I know you Palaba and I know you thirst for power, you thirst for wisdom, you thirst for the knowledge to rule your people." She had said in a shaky voice, her eyes all white.

" Yes I do but how do you know of this?." He asked and watched her laugh mockingly.

" I know everything Palaba, everything.' She replied then plucked some leaves he hadn't noticed was there. ' Have this, it will show you your way back home." She handed few pieces of the red rose to him.

" And how is it supposed to My...?." He asked not knowing her name.

" You will know with time." She replied, ignoring that he had indirectly asked for her name.

" And what may I call you?." He asked directly.

" Hahaha.' She laughed for a while, ' You have no need to bother about that for I go by so many names." She replied.

" And may I know one?." He had pressed further.

" Shush Son.' She commanded, her eyes turning red from anger. ' You never question the spirits." She replied.

" I'm sorry." He pleaded and watched her eye turn back to its' original colour.

" Go on Son, go and never return." She had said and he had left without looking back.

What a very weird story?.

He told himself.

He sometimes wished he knew her name or knew a way to get back there. Maybe just maybe he would have paid a visit to thank the spirits.

" I heard you and Alama arguing, is everything okay?.'' The Queen asked, tapping him on the shoulder as he was deep in thought.

" What?." He questioned the moment he noticed that she was staring down at him.

" I heard Alama and your Lord so I thought to come over and see if all is fine." She said, sounding worried. The Father and Son were known to have anger issues and each believed they were always right.

" And what does it look like?." He asked rudely.

" I don't understand My Lord." She replied innocently.

" Then don't. Did you get any message from the farmers?." He asked.

" No My Lord, I was busy." She replied shakily, knowing it might provoke him.

" Busy? Busy doing what? Eavesdropping on the conversation with my Son or what?." He attacked.

" No My Lord, I.....actually....I....Sorry My Lord." She stammered.

" Leave my room now and tell everyone, I am not meant to be disturbed." He said and waved her off.

Queen Maggie did as instructed and the guards closed the massive door behind her.

These days she wondered what really was going on with her husband. He stayed in the room all alone all day and barely said a word to her.

This wasn't the man she married.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tarafita! Tarafita! Tarafita!.

A silent voice called out and he got up only to see her Master asleep.

Who was calling out to her? What or who was Tarafita? Why her?.

She wondered and laid back in her space. She knew she had no reason to disturb herself since she had never heard of the name.

Tarafita!.

It called out again.

" Master, did you call me?." She said and tapped him but he wouldn't respond.

He is asleep Annabel.

The tiny voice said.

It could probably be an illusion from the effect of the pills she took earlier than day.

She told herself and laid back, closing her eyes.

" Wake up Number 6." It was Number 5 calling out to her.

" Hummmm.' She hummed and sat up. ' What kiddo?." She asked. That was the first time he would come in to call her.

Where could the others be?.

" The others ask that you come down." He said.

" Why?." She asked, wide awake. Her Master was nowhere in sight.

Did something terrible happen? Did someone die? Oh no!.

She thought and crawled downstairs with him shutting the door behind her. She met Number 2 and the other pets in the hallway.

Who died? If the pets didn't then was it Master or worse still Mackie?.

She thought halfway scared to death.

" You called for me Mamito." She said and moved closer to her, her heart beating so fast, she could feel it threatening to jump out of her flesh.

" Yes my child, how are you feeling now?." She asked.

" Better Mamito." She replied.

" Thank heavens you are okay, we were so worried.

" I am better now Mamito, you don't have to be."

" But you haven't being down for weeks and we just thought, heavens bless our soul, that something had happened to you." Number 1 said.

" I am sorry about that and thank you guys for caring so much about me." She replied and hugged them.

" We want you to know that we love you okay." Number 3 said and they had laughed.

" I know you do and I love you all." She replied smiling and relieved to know no one died.

" The Masters are out, what about we spend some quality time together?." Number 2 said.

" Okay Mamito." She replied and walked with them towards the Kitchen.

" Can I ask you something Child ad I want you to be sincere with me?." Number 2 asked.

" Of course Mamito." She replied and they both took some steps back letting the others walk in the front.

" Does he hurt you?." She asked worried.

" Who, Mamito?." She wondered.

" Your Master, Master Alac." She replied, scared he did dreadful things to her.

" No he doesn't, Mamito."

" Are you sure Annabel? You can surely confide in me." Number 2 was worried she would try to hide her pains.

" I know I can, believe me Mother but he has changed." Annabel saw Number 2 as her mother because she has shown more concern and care for her like a mother would.

" I am happy to hear that child and stay happy always." She said a d joined the others in the front.

Her heart broke. How was she supposed to be happy? In a full moon and half time, Mackie would belong to someone else forever.

You will be fine Anny, you will.

The tiny voice said and Annabel smiled.

Just what she needed to hear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" Get dressed Anny." Alac said as soon as he got into the room.

" Why Master?." She asked.

These days the relationship between them had gotten better and he treated her more better than before, it pleased her.

At least one thing was going her way.

She thought.

" Today is ' Treat your pet good day.' Anny." He said and smiled at her. He sure had lots of things planned, he was going to sweep her off her feet. He couldn't understand why he was going lengths to see her smile but at least it's worth it.

Annabel looked at him for a while and wondered what side of the bed he had woken up on, beaming and smiling like a little shy child.

" Get dressed Anny." He said again.

" Okay Master." She replied and crawled into the bathroom, wondering what plans he had for her.

They were on the road in some minutes and he said nothing through the ride, making Annabel wonder what he was thinking about.

" Here we are." He said then stopped the car, parking beside the huge rock.

" Where are we, Master?." She asked.

The place looked deserted and empty, all she could see were rocks, huge big ones.

" You will find out soon Anny and can we drop the whole Master talk for today?." He said.

" O....okay Alac." She replied sternly.

" Now that's better Anny.' He joked then smiled. ' Follow me and by that I mean walk."

He got down from the vehicle and Anny tagged along. They walked some minutes off the road into a bushed path and she finally saw it.

The large waters moving back and forth.

The waves blowing towards them.

Now that explained why he wasn't over dressed.

She thought.

The view of the water was so beautiful and large that she dreaded diving into it. As much as she adored the sight of water,she feared swimming in it.

" Wait right here." Alac said and disappeared into the thick flowers and appearing minutes later.

" I have to blindfold you." He said and brought out a cloth.

" But why?." She asked scared and curious.

" So you don't spoil the surprise. Trust me Anny, u won't kill you." He teased.

Mentioning it made her fear him the more but she was willing to give it a trial.

" Or you don't trust me." He asked sadly. He couldn't believe the pet he treated so well had no trust in him, a pet he went extra miles for. The thought made him feel like a monster.

No I don't!.

She screamed inside her head.

" Of course I do, Master." She lied, trying to hide her fear.

" Can i?." He asked smiling.

" Of course Master." She replied.

He brought it close and blindfolded her.

" Hold my hand Anny.' He said as held her palms in his. ' Let's go." He screamed happily, surprised by how childish he acted around her.

Here goes death Anny.

She told herself.

Come on Anny, he is not that cruel.

The tiny voice said.

And how would you know that?.

She replied.

Well because I do.

It said.

She followed him carefully as he directed her, barely saying anything else to one another. She had her heart in her mouth, scared he would do something evil to her. They had spent close to give minutes if not more treading the path only he knew of and Annabel was starting to get restless.

" Here we are." He said happily.

" Finally." She said and heaved a sigh of relief while awaiting the surprise.

" Are you ready Anny, for the surprise." He asked. Of all the pets he had come in contact with, he treated Annabel well the most.

" Of course I am." She replied curiously.

" Here goes nothing." He said and took of the blindfold.