Mistress

Piotr

Piotr made himself comfortable on the sofa opposite to the small , eligantly designed counter that worked as the reception of the hotel.

He said in a strange expressionless face.

"I know you have not forgotten the massive scene that Christmas, at this very place. Mother could not understand and till date she can not or rather will not understand .. why was this property yours."

"She allowed you to stay to own the property uncontested, the lawyers supported you, our family lawyers , saying that the property was transferred many years ago. They forgot to mention that the property was transferred the year I was born. "

"She was unconvinced of your side of the story and the totally professional contact that you claimed to have. You father was his mentor , tutor, coach and this was his payment as he never received one, despite promises. But we know don't we that your contact, ifwe can call it that with father was anything but business. "

The lady stood up ,"We have heard this before Sir.. Piotr. Contest the property if you want , hate me if you want but you will destroy yourself with this hatred. You are no able son of your father , yet you are his only son. In here we remember that many years ago your family was a caring Lord . A rare breed, protecting the people from war and travails of life. You , your grandfather were not like that. But your father was. Do not and I repeat do not give wrong definitions to an innocent friendship? Do not forget the saying of what will bring doom to your family. "

He smiled cruelly. " But I am an obedient son! How can I not do what my father wanted todo, take care of his mistress ? You were his mistress .. his mistress for life. From the time he was a young boy here till the time he had his heart attack , yes..you were his mistress. Now with the increase in interest in father's life, post his book of inventions was published without his pen name everyone wants to know more. They want to know where did he invent. Here.. right here under the loving eyes of you my Lady? So you will better keep quiet on whatever I want to do or not do with your little college goer or rare beauty. "

The lady shook her head and said, "Do your worst. I will get the girl out of the motel , immediately as she comes back from the town fete, and tell her to never return? "

He did not move from his place but said in dark tone, "Do not forget your on daughter is sixteen. You keep her far away in a hostel but ofcourse I know the details. I may make a visit too? Afterall, it is said she has unusual grey eyes, one she got from being born on a grey day I guess? " As his grey eyes twinkled and his lips curled, the lady crossed herself and went indoors.

She knew Piotr would be lounging in the sofa like a king. Every year this was his hunting ground. But every year he was always accompanied by his partners with whom he had some decandent time before disappearing for a year. Every year on twenty sixth of December. She called it the days of the devil.

She had regretted many foolishness in her life. But the momentary relations she had with Peter, PIotr's father, was not one of them. It was somethings that happen in life , somethings that have no rhyme or reason. Else why would a suppressed love of years get expressed, burst forth one night , a cold dark night of December. By the next year Peter was no more. Never knowing that along with the boy whom he feared as an incarnation of devil, he had a daughter who was possibly an incarnation of angels. But then whatever happens are ultimately for the good. She was glad that other than Piotr , no one guessed . Or even if they did , they have never approached her.

Piotr as everyone called him since his birth relaxed on the sofa. He was happy that he had the little fight. Tomorrow he will chase the little bird. Today he will see if Leigh needed some attention before sending her away. His wife , the boring and timid Madeline , was unhappy that he always left on twenty fifth. He could not care less. The omen that the lady spoke of was a funny one. It was inscribed in their ancient papers of the house from the times that they were lords and ladies, "The weakest shall bring our destruction. "

Through the years it was interpreted in many ways. Even when his father died , he knew that his father had been researching on ways to extend his life. He would not be surprised if the heart attack was a result of a self experiment. May be this house was also written over for the fear of the unknown after his own father died under started circumstances. He believed no myth but he knew for a fact, that his grandfather had declined to pay many trusted employees fair wages and rather wanted to pay them by giving them small bits of land. Problem came when these people realised that these were barren land, stony and infertile. It was almost impossible to build a house let alone a small cultivation that they had hoped for. It was his grand father's way of consolidating fertile and useful land and not paying taxes for vacant and barren land. Paying his tutor with a house may just have been a way to manage the others as this man was leading them to the legal battles.

If that was the case then his father was smart. But he, was his father's and grand father's son. He was smarter. He knew omens were untrue, but was good to be sure. It was the working of a brilliant mind that wrote the note forcing their family to be conscious landowners . Anyways he married the daughter of the man who cheated his mother in business and in life . Anything can not be kinder than that. He even forgave the man and his mother. Well , he was just twenty six but he had read the omen early in his teens , not just the first line but the complete verse and after that multiple times he had visited the lines. Now was not the time to be afraid of the omen but to use the way described to break it. The ancient papers read ..

"The weakest shall bring our destruction.

Protect the weak to reach your destination.

The strongest is but a myth.

Find your life , find you grit.

The fallen will be mighty

In service, in love.

You will need no omen

To walk again ,

Free of binding,

After your fall.