Deviant Fixation

by Valencia Carmelita

  "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to!" She throws her arms around me again, I nearly stagger backwards under her weight. When we pull apart shortly, I allow her into the room.

  "Why is he so cruel ?" I can't help but ask, hoping she would have an answer which all others failed to provide.

  "He was just born this way! Some people are born evil!" She exclaims, drawing her hands into fists as her brows furrowed in anger.

  I stare at her with perplexity. "Then why are you with him ?"

  She snaps her gaze to mine and sternly answers. " Hello? Isn't it obvious already? He's part of a Mafia and he won't let me go!"

  "So what will you do ?" I query, overlooking her sudden rigid stance.

  " I plan to escape the next few days!" She divulges with a disturbing smile before it quickly vanishes. "I know of some people who can harbor me safe."

  I gape at her in amazement. " Really ? Who are they?"

  "shhhh." She whispers while placing an index finger against my lips. I blink awkwardly at her.

  Without lifting her finger from my lip, she continues in a hushed tone. "I can't tell you unless you want in.."

  "Is that why you're here ?" I inquire in sudden suspicion.

  She nods with a small smile. " yes, I'm here to help you out as well. He absolutely hates your guts. I worry over your well being unlike his inconsiderate sisters."

  I continue studying her dubiously. " How do I know you're telling the truth?"

  "You're right! How would you know I'm telling you the truth!" She arises to her feet from my bed and aims me a disappointed look. " I mean how many others in this household have told you the truth anyway ? Rachael? Katherine? Bevervly? Those three are placing you in danger while smiling in your face. But what do I know, right ? I mean after all that I have revealed to you right now, I'm still considered a liar by you. Goodnight !"

  She begins stomping away towards the door. Holding the door open, she turns around and concludes.

  She had a valid point, everyone in this manor was concealing details from me in regards to why the demon mistreats me. But how can I easily trust her when she's also mistreated me along with him.

  "Wait!" I halt her midstep . "You can't blame me for not believing you-I mean I just don't get why you're offering to help me ...what's in it for you?"

  She provides me a downtrodden look. " Just forget about it Sanam, I only thought to benefit you as a fellow womankind..yet you're right I don't blame you for disbelief in me. I've been a bįtch to you on account of Vladimir. But please don't share with anyone else of what I've revealed to you, just swear you won't tell anyone!"

  "I..I swear I won't tell anyone." I utter in further perplexity.

  "Thank you.." She offers me a wistful smile. " I want to escape without any hindrance, so I'm hoping you keep to your promise. Have a goodnight."

  She departs, leaving me in complete bewilderment over her revelation.

  I couldn't help but feel torn between wanting to press her on about this escape plan or whether if she was completely disingenuous.

  But why would she want to help me out ?

  All the other points she brought up had an ounce of truth to them. Rachael, Katie, Bev and everyone else did conceal details concerning this other enemy Mafia. Rachael hid the fact that she really can't offer me any safety especially when it came to her demonic brother.

  Grigori was partially the one to confirm this only after I stumbled upon those resume sheets. Otherwise I would have remained enshrouded in ignorance until the day arrived when Vladimir decided to murder me. And now here was Ilona, the demons very own girlfriend revealing small details of the sinister occurrences behind closed doors in the Nielsen manor.

  I felt terrible for her having to be subjected to such a cruel monster as a boyfriend. Albeit, I believed her declaration about his cruelty against her, I still couldn't trust her enough to involve myself in whatever escape plan she devised.

  Sometime later I end up falling into a restless sleep and dream again about shadowy figures.

  ◆◆◆

  "You've been cooped up in this bedroom for two days straight!" Rachael exclaims as soon as I open the door. " Please get outside and soak up some sun later, have fun and relax will you?"

  Three days have passed since the encounter with Grigori. I've been remaining in the security of the guest room except when I dined with the servants in the servants quarter.

  "I just don't feel like it.." I reply glumly. I glance at the time, 5:40am.

  How can I relax, knowing that I can't escape your enemies even after I have left your residence ? And if I don't leave, your demonic brother will murder me instead.

  "Oh come on, tell me what's bothering you ? Is it the upcoming court case on Friday ?" She inquires sternly.

  Oh great ...I forgot about the litigation I filed against my father. Not only was my life in complete peril, but chances of moving back in with baba were fully shattered beyond repair. He must have read the mailed court summons by now. He's probably wishing death on me every hour since.

  "No, it's not that. I just don't feel like being out." I emphasize bitterly without meeting Rachael's gaze.

  "Well Ilona invited you to lunch at her place for vegetarian cuisine this afternoon." Rachael exclaims. "She said she was sorry for her initial disparaging treatment towards you..now it's upto you if you want to forgive her."

  My brows knit in confusion. Wasn't she supposed to escape by now ?

  "Why is she inviting me for lunch?" I ask.

  Rachael shrugs nonchalantly."Dunno..she said its an offering of a truce..but it's up to you if you want to attend. I can't accompany you since I'm too busy this evening. I personally think you should go instead of remaining within these four corners all day."

  " Won't your brother mind ?" I acridly bring up the obvious. "Since he hates me."

  She shakes her head in decline. "No, Vladimir has gone on a business trip today and won't be back till a few days from Grig and Beverly's wedding."

  "Oh.." I state.

  Thank you Allah for warding away that demon temporarily. I offer a quick inward gratitude.

  She chuckles while placing her hands on her hips. "Is this what it's all about ? He can't harm you since he knows you'll be leaving when you turn 19. So you have nothing to worry about. Relax, alright ?"

  I suppress the urge to scoff and roll my eyes. Right....but then your enemies will spare no chance in killing me...

  When she departs, I ponder over what Ilona said about her and Katie. She was right, Rachael does seem inconsiderate when it came to my safety. Rachael should have told me right from the beginning that she was incapable of providing security.

  Perhaps I should reconsider Ilona's offer of escape.

  I decided I should attend this lunch and ask her about her escape plans. I just couldn't accept defeat this easily, there had to be a way out.

  ◆◆◆

  "I'm so glad you decided to show up!" Ilona enthusiastically flutters her artificial eyelashes at me. "Now we can truly be best of friends!"

  I stare at her awkwardly.

  Doesn't friendship take some time ?

  We are currently occupying the dining area of her manor. Albeit she lives in opulence, her manor was diminutive in comparison to the Nielsens. Unlike the warm Mediterranean setting of the Nielsens, hers is ultra modern and lacking warmth.

  "I thought you would have escaped already" I remind her, while absently picking at the vegetarian pasta dish with my fork.

  She points to the food on my plate. "But you haven't even eaten anything! Eat first and then we can discuss our escape plan."

  In all fairness not only did I lack an appetite but I enacted caution over tasting the food at her place.

  What if she's poisoned it or something ?

  I still couldn't bring myself to trust her fully. At the last minute when Duffield dropped me off infront of the Vlodov residence, I had a sudden change of mind. But by then it was too late to retreat as Ilona was already p
resent to greet me at the gates.

  "You think I've poisoned the food." She comments tersely, her mouth forming into a scowl. My face gave away my inner thoughts and cautioned skepticism.

  I can only but nod truthfully in agreement. She rolls her eyes and arises from her seat with a huff of apparent disappointment. Walking over, she takes a clean fork and gathers some morsel of food from my plate then shoves it in her mouth. Chewing on it while smugly peering directly into my eyes, before returning to her seat across from me.

  I heave a sigh of relief. " Look, you can't blame me and besides I'm not hungry. I've been nothing but depressed lately over my situation and need a way out to safety."

  Right then, one of her maids enters carrying a platter precariously with a large bowl set upon it.

  " oh yes! Pudding time!!" Ilona claps her hands together in excitement while evading my remark. "you should try our banana pudding, it's nothing but the best!"

  Is this woman serious ? Why is she ignoring me everytime I bring up her escape plan?

  The maid seems to be struggling with the platter, she comes to a pause near me at the table. Her eyes are nervously glued to Ilona's smirking face.

  Then abruptly, the unthinkable occurs. I didn't have the time to register when and how the bowl and platter tips over in the maids hands.

  Huge globs of pudding spills rapidly over my cardigan and skirt. I let out a startling shriek and vault up from my seat.

  I stare at the maid confoundingly of what she's just done. Ilona shoots up from her seat and rushes at my side. " oh my goodness gracious!"

  "I-I'm so s-sorry !!" The maid stammers. " it just um it just slipped from my h-hands and I -"

  "Don't just stand there now !!!" Ilona cuts her off in apparent anger. "Go grab some towels you clumsy good for nothing bįtch!!"

  A couple of minutes later, after vehemently scrubbing at my completely soaked clothes, I place the towel in the pile of already soiled ones on the table.

  "These stupid bįtches my mother has hired are low class, I swear !" Ilona complains, while the maids scurry in carrying more fresh towels for me.

  "It's alright, please don't refer to them as such." I assure her for the third time. " we all make mistakes."

  "You know what? I have a better idea." She encases a hand on my shoulder while looking me in the eyes. " How about I get you something fresh to wear while I have your current clothes washed and dried? It won't take long."

  I consider over her offer. The pudding had soaked all the way through my cardigan and into my blouse and bra.

  I couldn't sit in Duffield's limo without staining the limo seats. And I sure didn't want to carry around pudding stench.

  "Alright.." I begin undecidedly. "But I can only wear an ankle length skirt and a full sleeved high neckline blouse.."

  "Oh no problem about the clothes at all!" She eagerly states while steering me out of the dining area. " you can change in my bathroom!"

  Some minutes later, I step out of her bathroom clad in clothes she lent me from her wardrobe. Since she is super model tall, her clothes fit baggily on me and the skirt flowed over my shoes. So I had to constantly bunch it up by one hand when I lifted a foot to walk. Otherwise I would have tripped.

  " Your clothes will be ready in 20 minutes by the dryer!" She smirks while patting my arm. " come lets get downstairs for some tea, shall we ?"

  "But will you not discuss over the escape plan ?" I openly frown at her.

  "Oh you!" She rolls her eyes before gripping me firmly by the arm and dragging me out of her room. " you worry too much, we will get to that but let's have some tea first !"

  I stare at the back of her head in complete exasperation as she leads me down the foyer steps. I couldn't decipher why she was behaving so unusually chipper. Where did all that melancholy disappear to of the day before when she revealed about her demonic boyfriends cruelty towards her.

  We stop mid flight down the stairs when ahead we spot a regally dressed woman in her early 60's skimming through her smartphone.

  "Oh, mother you're home quite early!" Ilona addresses her.

  The woman glances up and I see the striking semblance she has to her daughter. Her piercing green grey eyes dart from Ilona to me in a shrewd manner.

  "Who is this, Ilona?" She inquires in an equally shrill voice matching her face. A voice I sensed I heard somewhere before.

  why does her voice sound so familiar yet I haven't met or seen her before ?

  "Oh just a friend! Actually she's leaving now!" Ilona explains hurriedly while pulling me down along the remainder of the stairs.

  "I am ?" I question in complete puzzlement. She tugs me past her mother.

  "Shh! Yes you are !" Ilona scowls at me while leading me towards the open entrance of the manor.

  "What? Why?" I furrow my brows.

  What is going on ???

  "No time to explain right now." She heaves a sigh and gives me a shove out of her home. "Call Duffield on your phone to pick you up. Bye now!"

  "Wait!" I halt her from closing the door. " what about my clothes ?"

  She rolls her eyes and utters. " I'll return them to you tomorrow, now toodles! LEAVE."

  With that final statement, she slams the double doors closed a few inches from my face. I stand there glaring.

  How rude of her!

  ◆◆◆

  The next day, a knock ensues on my bedroom door early in the morning. I glance at the clock, it's 7:02am.

  I figured it couldn't be Rachael or Katie since they had left for work and school an hour ago as they normally do every week day. Nor would it be Mrs.Agnelli, who's busy preparing breakfast for everyone else at this time along with Lorna. Anya awakens at 8am and starts maid duties around 8:30am.

  "Who is it?" I cautiously ask.

  "Your best friend, ofcourse!" Ilona screeches.

  I open the door and she immediately saunters in. "I'm so sorry about yesterday, my mother was home for some urgent matter."

  "It's okay." I answer with an uncertain nod while noticing a shopping bag in her hand.

  "Here, take your clothes all nice and clean!" She pulls my garb out of the bag and hands them to me. I vocalize my gratitude and hand her back her clothes she lent me yesterday.

  "You know ?" She begins thoughtfully, cupping her chin with one hand. "I really like how you dress. All modest and that piece of cloth on your head, I just really like it."

  I can't help but smile. "Thanks."

  "Oh how I wished I dressed like you do! I just really love it!" She rephrases while tossing her long brown hair behind her melodramatically. " You're so freaking modest, it's cute. I love it!"

  "Um.thanks.." I restate now awkwardly.

  " I wanna try out a headscarf, can I try on one of yours? I wanna see how I'd look in one." She continues babbling, while flopping down on my bed and peering at me expectantly.

  "Oh ..sure..why not." I stare at her dubiously before turning around and heading for my dresser drawer full of hijabs.

  Why is she suddenly interested in the way I dress ?