Tanwa

     I winced in pain when I felt the hot slap land on my cheek, I could see those stars again and my eyes started playing tricks on me again.

I try to open my eyes to see the person that interrupted my slumber.
And after a while of mumbling something that seemed like I was sleep talking, I came back to reality, realising that I was standing in front of the number one person I'm scared of.

I fear her than the devil, maybe she's Lucifer's mother.
Someone chuckled as I rubbed my cheek and eyes, and I knew it was  Gabriel her youngest son.

That boy hates me so much, I felt like stretching so bad but I dare not, she and her children watched me, amazed by the whole scenario.

It was Saturday and earlier today they went shopping, I couldn't follow... Why?

I'm not her daughter, I'm just a village girl turned slave, no one would suspect she's my aunty.

After regaining my balance and becoming fully aware that I'm standing in front of the person I hate most, I stared at the tiled floor.

"So I kept pressing the horn for you to come and carry the bags, but you were here busy dreaming about your mother in heaven."

I'm used to her talking about my mother, you might be wondering , are they not sisters?
Well they are sisters who had this  conflict back in their teenage years.

Step sisters and one was given much love than the other, sometimes I don't blame her, my grandma discrimated and she always showered my mom with all the love that was supposed to be shared amongst them.

So that's why she treats me like this, anytime she stares at me, she sees that her sister's face that she despises of.

Then there is one reason why she forced me to come here a few months ago... So she can make my life a living hell, it's her way of making grandma and my mom pay .

But what fault do I have in all this?

"No... I did... I was...emm" And then I received another slap, this one made me dumb founded, as I stared down like an imbecile holding my cheeks and looking like a lost goat.

Did I not think before making words come out?

"What's burning?" Gloria asked, immediately I looked up staring at Gloria, my eyes widely open.

I'm so dead right now!

"I smell it too." Georgia said as she followed behind her mom, walking towards the kitchen where the burning smell was coming from.

I already started shaking, sweating like a Christmas goat.
What do I say?

I asked myself, tears already approaching my eyes, I glanced at them and I could see my aunty moving towards me with the pot of burnt beans.
She was not smiling at all, and I knew from there that I'm doomed.

"What is this!?, You dare cook burnt offering for my family. Do you want to burn down the house?!" She asked yelling at the top of her voice.
You'll actually think she swallowed a microphone.

I couldn't say anything, that only upsets her and she sees it as me talking back rather than me defending myself.

I winced in pain when she gripped onto my hair, pulling me  by my hair and dragging me like she's dragging a bag of rice.

Her long fingers scratching my face after burrowing into my skin, leaving four deep scratch marks.

Gradually loosing my balance I begged and I could tell it only made her feel powerful. Soon I fell down holding my bleeding face.

She started kicking me and at some point stepping on my stomach like she wanted me to die by lynching.

I know I'm going to die, this is just to much.

Still I thanked God she was wearing one of her daughters snickers, I would have gone unconscious if it was heels she was wearing.

At a point I started moving back, trying to get back on my feet but it was not possible.

She pulled my hair again and when I tried to resist she gave me a hard blow on my nose.

My nose bled instantly, and I was starting to see blury images, my eyes were watery and I stopped resisting as she continued to hit me.

Ripping my clothes a bit and revealing my cleavages. As if that was not enough she asked one of her children to get a cane or belt.

She wants me to stop dreaming of my mother because soon I'll be meeting with her.

You know my offence?, I burnt our dinner.

How could I sleep off?

'Wash all the bathrooms and toilets, sweep the compound, sweep all the rooms in the house, clean the furnitures and cook beans, I would return soon and I want it to be done well because my husband is returning from his business trip.' That's what she said to me at exactly two pm today.

I did everything, and even before that I had done other chores like preparing breakfast and lunch, washing her childrens clothes and making her children's hair.

So this is why I got tired and slept off unintentionally, and to be woken up by torture.

This is what happens everytime especially when her husband is not around, the man was  nicer and he treated me well, and he is someone  I have only known for less than a year.

"Now go back to that kitchen and cook beans..." she uttered before glancing at her watch, one could hear her breath, or maybe it was me struggling for oxygen.
She wiped me with the belt her son gave to her, making me cry out in pain.

I cursed the day I was born, I cursed my mom for leaving me in this wicked world, I cursed my dad for denying me, I cursed my grandma for sending me here, I cursed my aunty for mistreating me.

"It's already six, that food must be ready before seven thirty when my husband will be back from work, see I don't want to know how you'll do it oo." she said wiping me again, this one painful than the first, I screamed this time then she wiped me again for the third one telling me to hold my lips and I quickly did as she said.

"Bastard!, this food that you burnt is what you'll eat till tomorrow!" She screamed in my face, before walking towards the stairs.

She hissed one more time and I tried crawling to the kitchen as fast as I can.

"Bring my bag inside." She uttered not even sparing me a glance. Well I thank God she didn't, she really hates my face and I know it.

"Yes ma." I shuddered, my voice was shaking and face bleeding, my stomach hurt the most, it was as if she pressed my intestines together, my back will surely have a long mark because that is where her devilish belt landed on.

While I wanted to grab the bag, Georgia picked it, before tossing the bag to her older sister, and when I begged them to give me the bag they told me to come get it.

"Please Gloria." I begged, Gloria and I are same age, Georgia is younger then Gabriel.

"Come and take, come and take." Gabriel said, I moved closer to him to try and collect it but before I could he threw it back to Georgia.

I moved towards Georgia begging her to please give me the bag, all they wanted was their mom to come and beat me again.
And I have to cook before seven thirty.

"Gloria please." I begged, tears falling with blood from my nose, I still couldn't see very well.

"Come get it." She said smiling, we were the same height and I could easily fight her to get it, but I really don't want another round of beating.

At some point I held my head and started crying seriously, why are they like this?

"Village girl, see breast." Gabriel said laughing.

I suddenly stopped running and stared at my ripped top, it was exposing my cleavage.
I hated him for what he just said and I felt like placing that slap right on his face.

I moved closer to him then he threw the bag to one of his sisters, I still continued to move closer to him angrily. Did I mention that my breathing had increased.

I looked like a monster ready to pounce on him, a predator ready to deal with his prey.

"Leave him alone!" Gloria yelled pushing me away as she stood in front of her brother.

"Mummy the village girl want to beat me!" Gabriel shouted, he was used to calling me village girl or orphan girl.

I turned around trying to control my anger, frustration was killing me, bleeeding, crying and breathing heavily all at the same time.

I bent down to pick the bag that was already on the floor, I moved away from them and towards the stairs.
God what did I do to deserve this?

I just thank God that Lucifer's mother did not hear that.
I moved sluggishly up the stairs cleaning my face and nose.

It was as if my nose was broken, and my stomach was not letting me walk well.

"Mummy is Daddy not coming home tonight?" Gloria asked her mom as they all sat down in the living room, catching up with their favorite Zeeworld series.

I was busy washing plate and clearing the dishes, they have all eaten and I also ate the brunt beans.

There are rules in this house like, Don't seat with us on the dinning, don't watch television, don't dish your food before my kids, Don't enter any room without knocking, don't use the washing machine it doesn't wash the clothes well... And so on.

I'm sick of it and I just want to go back to the village, I'm not her slave.

I actually thought of eloping and going back to the village, but I don't know the way, I have never been here and I know the people her are full of evil.

"Let me call him, Tanwa bring me my phone." My aunty said I quickly rinsed the soap off my hand and rushed to get her phone from where she usually charged it.

Then I gave It to her bending slightly, did I tell you of how my heart starts racing whenever I'm around her?

Immediately I turned back to continue my washing, after that I'm free for the day.

"Hello dear." Lucifer's mother spoke, and I assumed the person she called already replied to that when she asked again.

"Aren't you coming today?, the kids are dying to see you." She uttered, she was sounding like some sweetheart, you'll actually think she was kindhearted with the way she spoke to her husband.

"What do you mean you lodged at an hotel?, why can't you take a cab home?!" She asked already yelling at her husband, I knew her face won't be smiling right now.

I deeped my hand into a soapy water in front of me and continued with the dishes, minding my business as I listened to her conversation over the phone.
That's not minding your business, is it?

"But we would have gone to church then." She complained sounding a bit dissapointed and sad.

"Okay then till tomorrow." She replied before ending the call, I turned back to see her reaction.

"He said he is not coming, but after church service tomorrow, he will already be back from the hotel were he is staying." Lucifer's mother announced to her children that were already asking questions before she ended the call. They all grumbled and I'm guessing there is a frown on their faces by now.

"Why is he staying at an hotel can't he come home straight?" Gabriel asked.

"Well the aeroplane is not going to drop him at home, it's already eight o clock and it's a two hours drive from the airport, and you know how our Lagos traffic is, He said he is tired sef." Lucifer's mother explained to her children that kept arguing.

I sighed and thanked the Lord that I was done with the dishes, I was heading towards my room when my aunt called me back.

"Did you not hear that my husband is not coming, go and clear the food on the dinning." she said, I grumbled internally and did as she ordered immediately.

After that I walked into my room and landed on my bed, I took my bath and applied spirit on my wounds, changed my clothes and turned of the lights.

I was almost drifting off when Lucifer's mother screamed my name again.
I answered immediately running out of bed.
Only God knows why she's calling me again!

I know that was kinda boring, next chapters would be better.

Vote and comment please, also share.

What do you think about Tanwa's aunt (Lucifer's mother) ?

Also would you do if you are in Tanwa's shoes?

Thank y'all

Zainab 💋💋