Bonded

Chapter Three Myth

We walk closely knitted, well I stayed very close to her not leaving any space between us afraid of getting lost in the maze like building. We went through a flight of stairs going deeper underground. Torch hangs from the wall illuminating the dark place. We pass guard and other servant watching us curiously and whispering among themselves. Taking bends and turn we reach a wooden door, Ebere opens it and steps aside. I walk into the room, a small single beds lays by the wall with a small cupboard by the side. There's a reading table by the left with a candle on top. A wardrobe stands irregularly by the wall. Looking down at my shirt, is the only cloth I have and is not even mine.

"There's a uniform inside with other necessities" she speaks as if reading my thoughts. I nod slowly a little overwhelmed.

"Lunch would start soon, there's a bathroom at that corner." She points out.

This place is better than the former I thought.

"I'll come later to take you"

Facing her I Smiled at her words feeling grateful, her oval shape face lifts up in a smile.

Once am left alone, I think over the conversation I had with the supposed Alpha it leaves me wary and guarded. I don't know what to make of it, I try to fit all the puzzle into one place, if he was the one that dressed me it means he also saved me but how and why?

I can't remember much after passing out from the Wolder brutal attacks however the wounds on my body also makes my head spin, it is also healed. Only a faint scars and rough raw skin I can feel tracing with my fingertips my shoulder and upper arm, it doesn't make sense nothing seems to make sense. One minute am begin punished and the next am here with no clue. But still am grateful at least I have job. Sighing out I push the thoughts away.

Removing the shirt from my body leaving me naked and folding it gently on the bed I place it inside the wardrobe. Looking inside I bring out a plain brown pinafore dress with a button at the back, the fabric feel rough, it had an odd pocket by the side, this must be the uniform. I reached for other items another set of uniform are inside with some casual attires a floral blue shirt catches my eye and a black jeans, pants and bra are inside and I'm left wondering if they provide all this items for new servants . Trying the towel on my chest and carrying the toiletry bag I head straight for the bathroom. Is a tiny space with a tap and a bucket and a toilet. Placing the toiletry bag on the sink, I on the tap allowing it to fill the bucket. Removing my towel I hang it on the door handle, taking a bowl filed with water I allow the cold the water to sooth my skin, I haven't bathed in days.

Once am done, i step out from the watery floor, the cold cement floor brings shivers down my spine, taking a the towel my the side, I tie it securely. Moving to the mirror upfront, my dark shallow eyes reflects back, my lips scraped and dried, prominent bones highlight themselves. Turning back, I lower the towel leaving a exposed back, long angry scares runs down my entire back, using the tips of my fingers, I touch the one at my shoulder, it doesn't throbbed and feels dries and soft. My thoughts are turning and I'm left wondering how long was I passed out. The knocking of the door makes me jumps.

'Who's that's? I cry out.

'Is Ebere'

"Am coming" I return back.

Walking out from the bathroom, I move towards the door.

"Ain't you ready?" Ebere questions once she's inside.

Nodding my head, she sighs softly.

She waits for to finish, taking out the blue floral shirt and black jeans, I scratch my loosed braid. Straighting my cloth.

She looks at me with her side eyes.

'Are you ready' she ask rolling her eyes.

'mm' I return as my reply

***

Chatter and laughter filled the air as we neared the dinning area. Little candle lights the room as they are sited on a long copper coloured table.Their eyes walked there way towards us as we approach, the noise dieing down, i look away oblivious to they unblinking stare. The space is tight as we sit between two girls, Ebere greets them cheerful, I murmur a small greeting.

"What's your name"? Turning side ways the girls beside turns facing me, her round shaped faces stares at me in question.

"Vivian"I respond

"Joy" she says smiling at me, I return the gesture.

Food are placed on our plate, one after the other, the smell of rice and stew whisk through the dinning hall

The hitting of utensils on plate rapidly as they ate.

I take a spoonful feeling the blunt stare of a person across from me.

"Are you his ashawo?" a voice sounded

I look up from my plate meeting her cynical eyes, dark lips forming into a smirk as she eyed me.

"Aisha" an older woman calls out, her name in a warning tone, her eyes narrowing.

"I'm just asking" she says defensively.

"At least she has a label" Ebere buts in coming into my defense or something like that.

I refrain the urge to say I'm nobody ashawo.

The girl name Aisha laughs loudly, the room quieten down. Shifting on my sit I continued to eat confused.

"I just want the gist" her voice goes low at the end.

"She was upstairs for weeks don't you wonder what happened" she turns towards Ebere addressing her.

"That's the Alpha business, not ours" the finality in Ebere tone makes the girl Aisha rise her hand in mocking surrender.

Lunch goes slowly, I sit there processing what just happened and I'm once more filled with millions of questions.

Ebere shows me around the mansion, she tells me that I shall be working among the cleaning staff. I nod absent-minded, my thoughts going back to they conversation.

"Don't mind Aisha she's just jealous" her voice cuts me out from my thought.

"I'm just...." I sigh

"I'm just so confused" I confess

She doesn't respond to my statement for a while.

Looking around suspiciously, she drags me to a excluded area behind a pillar.

"I was there when the Alpha brought you in and took you upstairs, you were there for weeks"

My eyes snapped to hers.

" You were covered with bruise and blood" she continued slowly

"What's happened"? She asks

I don't speak for a while.

"Is a long story" I breathed out, she doesn't prey further and only nods her head.

"Why do you call him Alpha?" I found myself asking. Something that has been bothering me for a long time.

'What does this Alpha name even mean' it didn't sound igbo or yoruba.

She looks around suspiciously, peeking her head out from the hideout she turns left and right. Once satisfied she looks at me.

"A myth" she whispered

"Myth?" I repeated bewildered.

"Yeah more like a legend" she pause for a while then she begins to speak.

"Centuries ago before the creation of man. The moon and the earth were one living in perfect harmony. Then man was created by Yahweh placed incharge over every living, breathing being on earth. He dominated and ruled.

The moon was a female deity called Luna worshipped by humans. Once every lunar eclipse a praise sacrifice is performed in her honour, she comes down to earth along with her two beautiful daughters. The eldest daughter Crescent fell in love with Chukwuma an Ozo title holder Nze na orzoh before the colonial administration. Chukwuma was a wealthy and respected during his time. Although her mother Luna was distrust over the matter, she allowed her daughter to marry the human. They wedded on a full moon. Years passed and it was later discovered by Crescent that he was unfaithful, she saw him entangled with another woman in bed, a maid in the palace. Chukwuma begged and pleaded feverishly that he have fallen in love with the maid but the goddess blinded with rage. In her wrath she laid a curse not only on him but his entire generation to become a hybrid beast. But it wasn't enough for Crescent, she placed another curse on both of them to search restless on earth for they second half an equal that would forever complete their soul. A soulmate bond was formed with forced there were separated. When Chukwuma for the first time transformed into a four legged beast, the society casted him out along with his family, calling it witchery, an abomination. They were chased into the forest condemned by there people. Some call them the "cursed beast" while others call them the beast of the forest "werewolf".

"But that doesn't explain why you call him Alpha" I say slowly once she's done with her story.

She looks at me, like the answer is so obvious.

"Alpha is a term for werewolf meaning the head of the pack"

"Do you believe in the myth?" my voice lanced with skepticism.

"I don't know what to believe anymore in this mansion" she says with a shrug.

We walk around the mansion once more.

She highlights the rules that governed the mansion.

Servant are not allowed to leave the mansion without any proper notice to the Alpha.

No lurking around after nightfall, all servant are to retire to bed after dinner.

Male and female workers are prohibited from having any relationship inside the mansion. ( Punishable offense).

Do your work and stay out from trouble. She says concluding.

"How long have you been working here"

I ask curiously.

"Mm well I'm not sure, my mom brought me here when I was little but I think 20 years now"

"Most of the servant here were slave"

She continues saying, scratching her cornrow.

Slave are often collected from different village those without a home or a family. They are usually brought in the market. They are the lowest rack and people wealth influence chief or kings treat them with no respect.

Nodding my head, we move towards the servant quarters when we are done. I say a quick bye to Ebere as she trolls off.

Entering the tiny space, I collapsing on the worn-out bed, it made a whining sound. Looking up at the ceiling, a brown stain maps at the center.

I closed my eyes, I try to fall asleep but Ebere voice comes to my head recalling the myth. Somehow her voice whisper in my head repeating the story over again. Shaking my head, I try to forget the wayward tale.