Bawdy Ballads

The lashes on my back stung as I ran fast up the trail from my home. My mom’s sorrowful voice was pleading with me to come back but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t live in that house with her new husband when he would take a lash to my flesh every time he got furious. Tears blinded my sight as I pushed my legs to go faster still. I’d just turned thirteen and the way he stared at me made my skin crawl. I’d never, ever go back there. I turned a bend in the trail and collided with a body falling backwards with a thud. My eyes shot up fearfully at the sight of an old hag dressed in black layers. Her gray hair was like a wild bird’s nest around her wrinkled face. “Auntie Yaga,” my mom gasped falling to her knees beside me fearfully. The old crone moved fast, capturing my wrist in a crushing grip jerking me to my feet. “My, my aren’t you in a hurry,” she hissed. The scent of rancid berries was on her breath. “Let me go,” I spat as I tried to jerk free of her grip. “Scarlet no,” my mom cried. “Please Auntie Yaga, she’s upset. Let me take her home.” “I don’t want to go back there, never, ever,” I cried as I struggled to wrench my wrist from her claw-like grasp. “Scarlet mind your tongue child,” my mom begged. “Such a disobedient little one,” Auntie Yaga spat as she jerked me forward. The movement caused my hood to fall away revealing me to her sharp stare. “Oh my,” she gasped, “hair the color of blood and such fierce green eyes. Aren’t you a rare pretty little wild rose? Yes . . . yes,” she murmured. I screamed as my wrist burnt beneath her touch. “You little rose will always obey those who command you. This is my blessing to you.” She dropped my wrist and I fell to my knees crying as I saw a rose bloom burnt into it. “Thank you Auntie Yaga,” my mom rambled as she pulled me close. “Scarlet let’s go home,” she ordered. My mind reeled furiously. No! I don’t want to ever go there. “Yes mama,” my lips betrayed me. I glared furiously at the crone who clapped with a yip of pleasure. “Keep that fight little Scarlet rose you will need it,” she snorted as she walked away. “Scarlet, why couldn’t you for once just obey,” my mom sobbed, “now look at what trouble you’ve caused, cursed by Baba Yaga.” I didn’t know that name, but I was furious with the old crone cursing me with this damn rose on my wrist that clearly forced me to obey. My mom got us to our feet as she swatted at her tears. “He hit me mama,” I muttered petulantly. “I know baby and I’m sorry for that, but I can’t lose you . . . so come back home,” she ordered. My feet moved to follow her despite my protesting mind. I had no will over my body and I hated it. As we approached the house I saw my stepfather waiting outside looking smug. “Looks like little Scarlet didn’t get away after all,” he snorted. “Come here.” My body moved to obey but my mother grabbed my shoulder roughly stopping me. She whispered in a low tone. “I am your mother; you are my blood. My orders override any other commands.” Her nails pierced my skin, and I winced as she drew blood. “Never obey your stepfather, which is my command sealed in blood.” I felt the compulsion to go to him stop as quickly as it came. I gave her a grateful teary-eyed nod. “I said come here you little whelp,” he barked. “Do not ever speak to my daughter like that,” my mother hissed as she marched toward him. “And if you ever lay a hand on her again I will end you.” The wind kicked up and her wild red hair blew loose from her hood. He fell back nodding fearfully at her. She glanced over her shoulder at me. “Go to your room.” “Yes mama,” I breathed. I took off on a run around the backside of the house to the stairs that led up to my room. I entered and locked the door before falling to my bed crying at how horrible my thirteenth birthday turned out to be.