Princess Ces'alena (Webster Fields)

by Mercedes Keyes

  “I forgot.” He mumbled low.

  “As I said, forget again, they’re fire cinders.” She threatened, one hand to her back, the other splayed on her large girth.

  “Yes mama. Can I go back to my turtle races now?”

  “Nooo. I want you to come in and wash your hands and face. I have your dinner ready and waiting for you.”

  "Oh nooo, I’m not hungry, I wanna go back to my turtle races, please!” He begged.

  “What - did - I say?”

  “Can I go get my turtle first?”

  “What then are you going to do with it?”

  “Put it in my pocket.”

  “Oh no - you are - not! Get in here and get washed up. Right now!”

  As he sat at the table picking over his lunch, sulking over not being allowed to rejoin the others, he leaned on his hand moping over his plate.

  “Young man, I want over half of that food gone.”

  “But I’m not hungry.” He whined.

  Lena ignored him. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Cora’s not feeling well today, so I’m going to have to go up and finish what she hasn’t in the bedrooms. I’ll be back after I change the sheets and air the rooms. Finish your food.”

  “Mama…Manny say you suppose to stay in the kitchen.” He reminded her, looking up from his plate. No matter how often Manny told him it was okay to call him dad, or father…he couldn’t for some reason bring himself to do it. He loved him, respected him, but it was hard for him to refer to him as his father.

  “I know, but no one is here to do it since Kayleen’s sitting with Mazie until she has the baby, and besides, Katherine’s restricted to her bed. She’ll never know I was up there.” She informed him leaving the room. Mike looked at the door a moment, sighed and turned back to picking at his food. Smiling, he pulled out his toy soldiers and began playing around his plate with them.

  She was in the last room and almost done when she heard Katherine calling from her bedroom. She stood beside the bed a moment listening to her call out. She snapped the sheet thinking it best to ignore her, and get done and back down stairs. But the bell kept ringing, plus she was calling so pitifully.

  “Cooor-raaa! I know you’re there. I can hear you moving around. Please, it will only take a moment, I need something urgently!” She called at the top of her voice. Lena stood with the sheet at her finger tips in indecision. Everything she felt inside said she should ignore her. But…what if? What if her need was indeed serious, who else would know of it? She shook her head and began tucking the sheet under the mattress, and went to the end tucking and centering it; to the other side…doing the same.

  “Coraaa! I’m dying, the pain is unbearable, please. You can go back to what you’re doing after you help me. But I really do need you this time!”

  She called again, sounding croakily frail and weak. With a basket at her side, Lena left the room entering the hall way. She considered calling Ferrus, but he was at the Hastings picking up some things Katherine’s mother had shipped to her, sending it through her sister.

  ‘God, I hate being in this predicament.’ The bell rang again. Taking a deep breath, Lena took her chances. ‘I’m here; I might as well help her.’

  Having made up her mind, she sat the basket down against the banister and wall, and went to her room. Katherine was lying back, propped against her pillows, as she heard someone enter, assuming it was Cora, “Please Cora, do be a good girl and get my medicine. My head is throbbing to no end. I feel I’m going to throw-up any moment now.”

  Lena hesitated a moment biting the inside of her lip; then asked softly, “Where is your medicine?” She hoped her voice didn’t betray her, as she noticed Katherine’s startling paleness. Thinking what she needed was to get out of that bed, and get some sun and fresh air. Unfortunately, as she thought that, Katherine made a face and turned her head looking right at her.

  “What are you doing in my room? Even more so, what are you doing out of the kitchen?” She demanded brusquely. Lena took a nervous breath and answered carefully. “Cora took sick. Kayleen’s aiding a birth. And Ferrus is on an errand for you; there were things that had to be done up here… -(she swallowed nervous)- where is your medicine? I’ll get it for.”

  “You think I would stoop to ask you to do anything for me? Get out of my room and get back to what you were doing. The sight of you makes me feel worse than I am.” She hissed acidly.

  Lena rolled her eyes, “Katherine please, I’m sorry you don’t feel well. I don’t mean to make you feel any worse; you look bad enough, all on your own.” Both gasped at her remark. Lena hadn’t meant it as an insult; she merely spoke her mind and it slipped out with what she was thinking.

  “You get out of my room!” Katherine screeched. “I will not sit here and be insulted by my husbands whore!” Lena sucked in and felt tears sting the back of her eyes. “Katherine, I apologize, I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”

  “I don’t care how you meant it! Just get out of my room! Where’s Ruby, get Ruby! She’ll get my medicine for me.”

  “Katherine, I’m here…I’m right here, just tell me where they are; I’ll get them.”

  “Did you hear what I said?! I don’t want you getting me anything!”

  Fed up with her, Lena fired back, “Well you shouldn’t be taking anything in your condition anyway! How can you simply lay there in bed? Get up, move around, go outside, breath some fresh air, that is all you need!”

  “How dare you speak to me that way!”

  “I’m only telling you what others should! You are sick because your body needs movement! Sun on your skin, clean air in your lungs!”

  “Who do you think you are?!” Katherine yelled to the top of her voice. “I’ll tell you who! My husband’s common harlot! As a lady of privilege I would not be caught dead out as you are! How dare you think I would flaunt my condition as would a slave!”

  Mike could now hear the yelling, and out of fear for his mother, jumped up and ran from the kitchen, down the hall taking the stairs quickly.

  “You have done it now! I refuse to put up with your high and mighty attitude a moment longer! You are nothing but a slave and should consider it a privilege that I even speak to you! And it is time you realized that!” She continued in heated anger. The humiliation of them both there, pregnant with her husbands children was more than she could bare and to see Lena further along; healthy, glowing, unbothered so it seemed by the pregnancy; as beautiful if not more so, mutilated her pride. “I want you out of my room!” She grated through clenched teeth, breathing deep and hard, boiling on the verge of explosion. She swung her legs over the side of the bed standing with her fist balled at her sides. The sight of Lena making her burn all the hotter as she took menacing steps towards her, her eyes blazing with pure hatred and contempt.

  “I want you out of my house!!”

  Lena grew frightened now, but was unwilling to turn her back at this stage, she started backing out of the room with Katherine following her unyielding.

  “Look Katherine.” Lena tried coaxing with her hand raised to calm her. “I’m leaving…okay, go back to your bed and I’ll leave. I’m sorry I ever entered the room. God knows I am. Please, calm down - go back to bed.”

  “No! I will not calm down! I don’t have to calm down, I will not make this easy on you! Look at you, so smug and secure – he is my husband! Mine! I want you out of my house! I want you out of my husband’s life! I want you out of my life! Out of our marriage!! I want you out of everything!! Do you hear me!! I hate you with every source of my life!!”

  Right then, Mike flew in, straight to the front of his mother to protect her as Katherine was in the heat of her tirade. The sight of him made it even worse as Katherine snapped, screaming with her head shaking and her hair flying as she did, “Aand take that filty little bastard of yours with you!!”

  Lena grabbed Mike’s shoulders turning him and quickly headed for the door. He ran off down the hall leading the way. Katherine followed raging a
ll the way, catching up to Lena, she began shoving her from behind; ranting - “Get out!! Get out!! Damn you! I want you gone from my life - out!!”

  Lena stumbled, almost falling, but regained her balance. Looking back the whole time, Mike saw it - and ran back between them. “You keep your hands off of my mama!!” It happened so fast, Lena barely had time to turn and get her son, “Mikey no!! Come on!” She shouted at him.

  Katherine, shocked and appalled that he should yell at her with such boldness, reared back and slapped him soundly across the face.

  Lena lost control; pulling Mike behind her, which wasn’t easy, because despite his stinging cheek, he would take many more before backing down when it came to her. Lena yanked so hard to move him it tore his shirt as she shouted at Katherine. “Hold it right there!! You stop now – because you have gone too far!!” Now their rage was almost matched, with Lena’s quite a few notches higher. Through grinding teeth and clear fury she warned. “You can hate me til the end of time Katherine. Wish me gone every day of your life! With me, do what you will! But - you do not touch my son! That one slap, was one too many. The next, will cost you more than you have to pay.” She promised walking closer to Katherine, her eyes shooting daggers.

  Even though she had to look up at Katherine, there was no fear in her, Katherine took note, swallowing nervously. “We can settle this now you and I-…”

  “Mama come on.” Mike pleased.

  “…- you think I fear you? Would you like to try me…because as mad as you think you are, it is not enough to keep me from knocking you on your delicately privileged ass. Whatever price I pay for it, I will pay gladly! My son, Manny’s son…will always be, he was here long before you were even a consideration. Come on, let us clear the air, why do you really think, you’re hear? Because he wanted - you? Save yourself all of this, we – I – was here first, and there is nothing you can do about it.” With clear disdain, she eyed Katherine up and down boldly.

  Katherine’s hatred for her simmered to such a level, it bordered on evil. She itched to slap the insolence from her face as she had her son’s. The facts however, were abundantly clear, she was protected by Manny, as was the child. She did not have the same fears as other slaves; there was no discipline to be found when she stepped out of line. Katherine knew, she was not beyond being attacked, on that plantation, she was out numbered, she could only wonder, would they all attack her? Even now, she stood staring her down, daring her to go one step further – due to the mistrust of them all, Katherine sucked it in.

  “Mama, please…let’s just go…please.” Mike pleaded at his mother’s side. “Yes, I think we had better.” This time, slowly, she turned as he held onto her hand pulling her towards the stairs.

  Unable to turn back and leave it, feeling humiliation to the highest degree, Katherine regained a thread of her dignity saying, “Yes, I think you’d better.” Once, more her anger resurfaced. They all reached the stairs, Lena taking them with her skirt in one hand, the other holding the banister while descending like the royal she felt in her heart she was; her son in front of her.

  With distance between them, Katherine felt a rise in her stamina, hating everything there was about Lena along with the audacity of her leaving with her head held high, shoulders square, that was an insult in itself.

  Katherine leaned over the top banister, calling down, so angry that tears were in her eyes, “Lena?!” Who stopped at the bottom looking up at her. “Hear what I say! Somehow, some way, I will be rid of you, know that I will!”

  Feeling her words unworthy of consideration, Lena looked away not wanting to argue further. Furious at being ignored, Katherine rushed down the top of the stairs, “Did you hear me?!!” She screamed again, holding onto her skirts as she made to descend. “I said -…ai-i-i-i-i-i-i-ie-e-e-eee!!!” Her bone chilling scream pierced the air as the sound of her body was heard rolling and bumping down the long broad stairway.

  Mike and Lena turned in time to see her twist and roll, her arms and legs tangled in the lengths of her gown as she fell. Horror and shock shot through Lena as panic set her heart to hammering, adrenaline ricocheting madly through her. “Oh my God!! Oh my God, nooooo!!” Lena screamed as Katherine’s body came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, twisted in an unnatural position; falling in her wake, with small taps to stop a few steps above her, one of Mikey’s toy soldiers.

  “Oh noooo, goooooo – run Mikey, get help noooow!!!” Lena screamed at him shaking. Mikey lit out in a mad dash, tears running down his face, wondering if this was all a nightmare. One that he prayed would soon end; knowing this would be one nightmare in his life, he would never forget.

  Lena felt bile rise to her throat, her pulse so rapid in her head, she felt faint. She couldn’t ever remember a time in her life when she felt so afraid. She ran to Katherine, swiping at the tears that blinded her. Kneeling beside her, Lena called her name, her voice trembling in a crying pant. “Katherine? Oh please, wake up!” She brushed the hair from her face gently. Katherine was lying on her back with her feet still up on the last few steps. Her left arm was bent awkwardly beneath her body and the right arm over her head, where a gash lay open and bleeding. Blood also drew a streamline from her mouth where she had bitten her tongue on the way down. Afraid to touch her, Lena rocked moaning, shaking and praying. “Oh God, please, please, please, please…help her God, please help her. I’m so sorry, so sorry – please don’t let this be happening!” She whimpered sick to the stomach.

  She sat back on her haunches not knowing what to do for her. She was afraid to move her. She stared down through blurred vision at the still form before her knowing this was going to bring about harsh consequences; unsure of how or in what way that would be, but she knew, a change was now going to come. Her peripheral picked up the toy that was Mike’s. Without thought, she stumbled over Katherine to grab it, and then stuffed it into her pocket. Going back to her knees, at that point, she heard the front door open.

  Morris and Manny were home, she heard them walking from the foyer, and heard them stop and gasp. She didn’t have to look up to know what scene registered in their minds.

  “Godalmighty, what have you done!!” Morris shouted.

  Lena turned with tears streaming down her face, both of the men a blur. “I’m sorry…I’m so sorry! We argued again, she came down the steps behind me, and fell.”

  “You lying little witch, you pushed her! Admit it! Damn you!!!”

  “Nooo, I didn’t…I swear to you I didn’t!!” She sobbed as Manny ignored his father rushing to Katherine. “Manny…please …I would never hurt her; I wouldn’t…not when she’s carrying your child…please bel-…”

  “Get away from her you lying-…” Morris charged forward to push Lena away, when Manny stood blocking him. “This is not the time!! She needs help – this isn’t helping her!!” He yelled; then turning from his father, he knelt beside Katherine.

  “This is my fault, I shouldn’t have gone up those stairs, it is my fault, I shouldn’t have argued with her, I’m so sorry…I’m so sorry.” Lena cried over and over. Manny was carefully straightening Katherine’s legs, gently pulling them flat to the floor, then ran his hands over her ribs up to the oddly bent arm; he knew it was broken. Taking a deep breath he carefully lifted her unconscious body, as Morris railed at him.

  “Now do you see!! She tried to kill you wife!! Your unborn child!!! When is it going to be enough for you too see Manny!?! When is it going to be enough!?!” He raged following up the stairs, Lena was trailing listening, crying with panic. They all quickly entered the bedroom and finally Manny gently laid her to the bed. They could hear loud pounding up the stairs just then; Mikey returned with Henry and Leon.

  “Boy – you get to town now! Fetch a doc back here now!!”

  “No! There’s no time! Get Ma’Nicey!” Lena cried out; she was too close to Morris, he turned and back handed her to the floor, his voice a roar as he shouted. “So she can finish her off you bitch!?”

  “Don’t hit my
mother, you leave her alone!!” Mike screamed; running to his mother’s side. Manny charged between them and his father.

  “That is the last time you’ll be doing that!?” Turning he picked a distraught Lena up. “Henry, take her to her cabin. Then you and Amos go for the physician. Mikey, you go with your mother son.” He then turned to Leon.

  “Go get Ma’Nicey! Hurry!”

  Turning back to his silent father, “I need you to leave this room.”

  “She tried to kill your wife. You heard her with your own ears!” Morris charged. “No! She said she was sorry…” Manny defended. “…Katherine followed her and fell.”

  “The hell she did! She pushed her!!”

  “Lena - would not - do such a thing! She would not hurt an unborn child for anyone, especially mine.”

  “What has she done to you? What kind of spell you under boy!?”

  “Get out of here! I need to see about my wife.”

  “She may have you fooled, but I’m not! She’s some evil kind of wicked! She wanted her to lose that baby, and maybe her life.”

  “Damn it father, I’ve heard enough! Please, this is not the time for it!! I need to see to Katherine!”

  “I knew the minute I laid eyes on her — she the devil’s own, them yellow eyes of hers say so!” Morris repeated over and over heading for the door; Manny grappled with thin patience not to lash out at his father; he slammed the door closing him out; turning he went back to his wife’s side.