Bite Back

Part One: Set In Motion

“Ma mama ma ma,” the large woman sitting in front of Wyleen laughed. “What is it, child? You wanted to see me for something?” The woman put pastries into her mouth by the fistful, swallowing hard before speaking once more. “Have you come to beg for your freedom once more? My terms haven’t changed, dear. You can be a good girl and marry one of my sons, or take your chances with death on the roulette wheel. I feel like I am being more than reasonable with you and very patient with your indecision.

Wyleen looked down, away from Big Mom’s looming gaze. She was between a rock and a hard place; she knew her chances were slim with the roulette wheel, but who would want to marry her? Already turned down by other nobles her father had offered her to, she felt she was nothing more than an object to take up space. “Yes, ma’am, and I do appreciate your patience with me.” Taking a breath, Wyleen decided to bet towards the better odds in her situation, “I’ll be a bride to one of your sons, if-if they’ll have me.”

Big Mom smiled, “Well, isn’t that swell? I’ve been looking for a reason to have another tea party! You might just change my mind about you, girl,” Mama laughed.

Wyleen swallowed hard, biting her lip, and a sinking feeling overtook her. Her gaze was still to the floor, her eyes downcast, though her posture was poised as her mother had taught her. “And my father’s kingdom?”

“Not to worry, child. So long as your father holds up the rest of his end of the bargain, your former home will remain under my protection. Now, off with you, girl,” Big Mom waved her away, dismissing her.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Wyleen curtsied politely before turning to leave.

“This time next month, you can call me Mama, my dear.”

Whyleen was escorted back to her chambers by the Chess Peacekeepers, Mama’s laughing echoing behind her before the doors to Mama’s château closed behind her.

Big Mom looked down at her eldest son, “Peros?”

Perospero cut Mama off before she could finish her sentence, “Ugh, not lickety-likely, Mama. Respectfully, of course,” he glared up at her.

Mama frowned, “If I wanted your opinion, I would have asked for it. Now, gather your three younger brothers at once.”

“Oh, yes, Mama, I apologize. I will send word to the four of them lickety-split.”

“Good,” Mama sat back in her chair, licking her lips at the thought of wedding cake. “I can hardly wait for my cake!” She smiled to herself, practically squealing with delight.

Perospero cleared his throat before picking up the receiver of the transponder snail, impatiently waiting for his brother to pick up, “What is it, brother?” Daifuku answered.

“Daifuku, I have an urgent matter. Mama needs you back on the main island lickety-split.”

“Huh? What does Mama need me back on Whole Cake for? I was just there a few days ago; she couldn’t have told me then?”

Sighing, Perospero answered his younger brother, “I’m afraid I am to keep that information to my lickety-self. But I can tell you that the matter was a lickety-new development as of this morning.”

“Fine, tell Mama I will be there by day’s end,” Daifuku reluctantly answered.

“Make it lickety-quick, you know Mama doesn’t like waiting. And gather the other two while you’re lickety-at it!” Perospero ended the call abruptly before Daifuku could offer a reply.

“Well?” Big Mom asked as Perospero entered her chambers once more.

“Not to worry, Mama, my three younger brothers will be here lickety-split.” He answered, giving his mother a polite bow upon returning.

Big Mom grinned widely, “How wonderful. We’ll see which one of my boys will want to shack up with that little scamp we have running around here.”

“Why is she even here, Mama? Couldn’t you have just beheaded the little wench and lied to her father?” Perospero crossed his arms, tapping his upper arm with his fingers, seemingly impatient.

She heaved a sigh, “Unfortunately, that little rat comes from a kingdom that supplies us with sugar cane. I can’t have our main supplier of sugar displeased with us, now can I?”

“No, Mama,” Personero muttered.

“With her under my thumb, her father can’t possibly try to back out of our little deal. Not that he has much of a choice. Ma mama ma ma ha ha!” Big Mom laughed boisterously.

“Oh, Mama, you are lickety-wicked,” Perospero smirked up at his mother.

***

A small knock came from the door. “Come in,” Wyleen replied to the knock.

The door to Wyleen’s room opened slowly. “Miss Wyleen, you wanted to see me?”

She turned towards the direction of the voice, “Oh, Beatrice, come in, please.” Wyleen repositioned herself on the bed to sit, putting the book she was reading down on her nightstand.

“What can I do for you?”

“I need your help, please, Beatrice,” Wyleen begged the servant she had become close to in the time she had spent alone in the château.

Beatrice blinked a few times, taken slightly aback by Wyleen’s pleading. Though she had begged and pleaded with the servant before, the tone was different this time. Determined. “What is it?”

“I agreed to be the bride of one of the Charlotte sons, Bea. What am I getting myself into?”

Beatrice’s eyes widened. “Oh, Wylee, you didn’t.” She covered her mouth in shock.

“I’m trapped here either way…I need to ensure the safety of my kingdom. Or, my father’s kingdom, rather.”

“Did Mama say which son you would be marrying?”

Wyleen shook her head, “No, I would assume someone close to my age; does that narrow it down?”

Beatrice laughed, “No, not in the slightest. Mama has given birth every year for nearly the past 50 years. There are several sons and daughters, and I can only imagine there are at least a dozen sons within 7 years of your age.”

“Oh,” Wyleen’s face fell, the uncertainty growing larger than she could have imagined.

“Most of them are honorable men; I’m sure they will provide for you,” Beatrice tried to offer some reassurance.

“I don’t need to be taken care of,” she crossed her arms, frowning. After a moment of silent contemplation, Wyleen relaxed her face and spoke, “Is there anything I can do to make this as painless as possible? What do they like? How can I please them?”

Thinking, Beatrice looked off to rack her brain, “Well, I’m sure you’ve noticed Mama’s eating habits. Her sons also enjoy sweets. Do you know how to cook or bake at all?”

Wyleen swallowed, “Not well,” she admitted. “But, certainly in a month I could learn, right?”

“A month? Why just a month? Did Mama already plan the Tea Party?”

She nodded slowly, “Big Mom said next month.”

“Not giving you much grace, is she?”

“Please, Bea, you have to help me,” Wyleen held Beatrice’s arm helplessly.

“Alright,” Beatrice sighed. “You’ll have to get up early so I can sneak you in and out of the kitchen before Mama wakes up. I’ll talk to the head pastry chef; the early morning is the only time of day they make the pastries to have them done before Mama wakes up.”

“That’ll be perfect,” Wyleen nodded, “I’ll do whatever it takes.”