My Queen, My Terror

CHAPTER 2

I got home and met Zeph in the living room, watching TV with a bowl of popcorn in her hands.

"Anything from dad?" I asked her while getting a bottle of cold water from the refrigerator.

"Nothing. That guy really is a handful" she said, more nonchalantly than before. She'd get all moody, the Zephyr I know.

Dad is Leopold. He left home three years ago when I was 20, saying he'll be back soon. A week became two, a month became six and a year is now three. Funny fact that I wonder about is why he never contacts us back here,especially after changing our last names all of a sudden.

I sighed and dragged myself up the stairs after ensuring Zephyr was okay and fell on my bed, exhausted. As my mind drifted into dream world,Roxanne's face came to mind. I sat up slowly and pieced her together in my mind as I brought my painting tools together; her long, wavy, dark hair, pointed nose, bright confident eyes, warm and welcoming smile, cherry red lips, fearless walking step and the white coat she held. I duplicated her on the board before me and I just stared at it for a while, before peeling it off, disposing it, cleaned myself up and had a nap.

My phone rang, interrupting my handsome rest. With enough energy in my hand clenched around my phone, a good amount to c***k it at least, I answered the call and it was a lady that heard about me and said I should make a very good painting of her boyfriend. I asked her to send his picture to me and upon looking at it, bro was old enough to father the voice I heard and someone else older than she is, if my ears are correct by the way.

She said I'll be paid based on how good the job is, but she gave me $5,000 to start and I'll get my main wage according to how well I play the game. It was Monday and she said she needed it by the weekend, for his birthday. I told her I could deliver by Wednesday, but she said a day before was preferable, being Friday and the deal was done.

Dad left a good sum of money, but painting is a way I express myself and other people's minds. Earning my own coins also gives me delight, knowing I'll be grounded and not living of my father's work when I start my own family.

I went downstairs and found Zeph fast asleep. I carried her to her room and placed her chair beside her bed also before I went to the kitchen to get myself a glass of cold orange juice to begin my work. I told Leo, the AI assistant to turn my music off when he notices that Zephyr wants to do anything, especially handle the stairs, without my help. I begun and was completely locked in until I placed what was on my phone screen on the board. I decided to get it framed specially which I was able to work out by Wednesday afternoon and finally, delivery day had come.

I drove down to the location sent to me and a good number of people were there, moving things around this palace looking structure. It was evening and she told me to just stay by the gate so no one would have a hint of what she did for him.

She walked up to me and I can confess that if this girl is older than Zephyr, it'll be one f*****g year. I really wanted to shut up but I had to ask her age as we took a route into the building that no one else was taking at that moment.

"Um, excuse me miss, how old are you?"

"I'll be seventeen tomorrow, which is the same day as my sunshine, I'm just so excited" she said with extremely happy smiles

"Oh congratulations, ma'am. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead and a happy birthday in advance" I said, trying hard to hide my real thoughts.

"Thanks a lot. I sent you $15,000. I really love your work. It's enchanting, I really can say it is"

I thanked her and got on my way, but as I was about to leave, a car passed me into the compound and the driver looked a lot like Roxanne. I wanted to wait till the driver alighted but I was signalled by the security men to leave immediately. I brushed it off and left the premises.

I returned home and went to Zephyr's room. She was in her rocking chair and knitting something,while humming a song to herself. I picked the guitar hung on the wall and started playing. We both sang some songs together, mostly some that our mom sang before she left, which was really heart warming for that moment. She dropped what she was knitting and asked that she be placed in her bed, which I did and lay opposite her,holding her hand.

"Hey Sylv, do you think I'll be better?" she asked me with tears in her eyes, which broke me also. I can't stand her crying and I still don't understand how it works.

"You'll be fine, you will be better and I'm not killing your hopes but, even if you don't get out of that chair, I will ensure my best to remove the trauma it has placed in your mind. I'll protect you and I already am, if you've noticed and you can call me out if I'm not protecting you enough,you know" I said and sniffled, wiping tears from her eyes.

"You're doing more than I expected Sylv, and I will forever be grateful" she said and hugged me tightly, enough time for me to wipe my eyes and ask her

"So where would you like to go next?"

"Ice cream! Oh my God, I miss going out for ice cream" she said excitedly

"Oh, I thought you were going to say bathroom, it's a place I can afford actually" I said teasingly, to warm the room a bit.

"Go to sleep, Sylv. Get away from my room" she said, feigning anger

"Of course your majesty" I said and got up from her bed as she chuckled slightly

I stood at the door and watched her for a few seconds

"Stalker by the door" she called out

"Sleeping snow white, except you're awake and your hair is brown" I responded teasingly again

"I love you"

"Geez, I wish I do, but I'm not your prince" I said with a yawn and I knew she would kill me at this rate if someone handed her a knife

"I love you too, bunny, now go to sleep, we've got a bathroom outing tomorrow" I said before I turned off the light and skeetered to my room.