Janjaweed

Chapter Two

“Mother! Mabel!” Marissa called as she still sat on the floor. Her whole body was paralyzed with fear. What was her mother doing?

“Take this knife” Adrianna handed over the knife to Mabel. Mabel looked in shock as she did not understand what was going on. What was the Queen doing?

“My Queen” Mabel shrieked as her hand trembled. She could not collect the knife. What was she going to use it for?

“Take the knife from me this very minute” The queen made a stern face.

“Mother, what are you doing? What is going on?” Marissa questioned as she stood up in a swift motion.

“Do not come near me” The Queen ordered Marissa as she placed the knife to her neck. Mabel and Marissa gasped.

What was all this drama for and where exactly was the King?

Mabel looked at Marissa in confusion as she did not know what to do. Marissa nodded and instructed her to take the knife. With trembling hands, she collected the knife from the Queen.

“Kill me” Queen Adrianna instructed as soon as Mabel collected the knife.

What?

“What!” Marissa and Mabel stared at her, startled.

“Yes. You have taken my daughter from me so why don’t you just kill me? Kill me and make me a woman of the past”

“Mother, what are you saying? What is this? What is the matter with you?” Marissa questioned, trying to understand the whole situation as she wondered how and when she was thrown into the oblivion of her world. Had something happened that she was not aware of?

“My…my--- Queen, what are you saying? I have not taken your daughter from you” Mabel’s petite face curved into a perfect description of fear.

“You have!” She yelled. "Marisa listens to only you and does your wish only. She does not listen to me or the King. What have we done to you that you are determined to destroy our family?

“My Queen, I do not understand a bit of what you are saying. I had not instructed Marissa not to come for dinner. On the contrary, I was trying to persuade her to come for dinner.

The royal family has treated me well and I would never do anything bad to betray you, His highness and Marissa, I..”

“Princess Marissa…” The Queen corrected as she directed a dead stare at Mabel.

Marissa was not having it. Of course, she knew her mother never liked Mabel for reasons she had no idea of. Marissa had tried to get answers from her mother but her mother had always found a lame excuse to give. Sometimes, she could claim she had a dream where Mabel tried to kill Marissa.

None of it made sense to Marissa and she could not help but wonder why the one-sided hatred and feud intensified.

The drama was too much. Why was her mother overreacting? Why was she making a mountain out of a molehill?

“Mother, it is okay. She can call me Marissa after all she is my mother too” Marissa tried to calm her angry mother but contrary to her intentions, it only became worse.

“It is not okay and she is NOT your mother!” With each word, Adrianna’s tone became harsher, enveloped in anger. Marissa gasped in shock. Why was her mother acting that way?

“I would never do anything to hurt you or the King or Princess Marissa” Mabel sighed.

“Good. Then make her come for dinner or I would feed your head to the vultures by morning” The

Queen gave Mabel a stern look as she walked out without glancing at Marissa.

“What on earth is wrong with mother? Why is she being extra rude tonight?” Marissa questioned as she furrowed her brows, ensuring to shut her door after her mother left.

Mabel sat back as she reflected. Adrianna never liked her. It was not her fault though as she might also not like the woman she was if she was in Adrianna’s shoe due to what was between them but what could she do? It was nature that made things like they turned out to be.

She never meant for it to turn out that way and the King has his own share of blame, if not all. Why then was Adrianna taking out the anger on her or was it fear? The fear she could…..

“Please, do not take mother’s word to heart. You know she acts this way around you and I do not know if you have ever offended her but I am very sorry.

I promise I would have dinner but you sure know she would do nothing even if I don’t eat but to make you happy and be peaceful at heart, I will have the dinner” Marissa’s sonorous voice cut through Mabel’s mental visit to the past.

“I would be so glad if you could have your food” Mabel faked a smile as she hugged Marissa.

Queen Adrianna was a woman, loved by all and sundry. Not only was she beautiful in the face, but she also had a beautiful heart. She was very benevolent and caring and sweet but could change to anything when her daughter is involved.

Of course, carrying a baby for nine full months is not a joke to be laughed at. No mother who had gone through that stage would want to play with the safety of their children and Adrianna was no exception.

With Mabel, Marissa humbly walked to the dining room to have her dinner. Her mind was unsettled.

On one hand, was her suitors’ dilemma she was in and on the other hand, her mother’s hatred seemed to intensify daily for Mabel.

Poor Mabel!

The King concentrated on his meal and was half done when Marissa, as well as Mabel, arrived. Queen Adrianna smiled as she began to eat.

“Sit with me and let’s eat together” Marissa requested as she looked up to Mabel who stood behind her like she was her bodyguard.

The middle-aged woman who would be the same age as the Queen, if not older, never got tired of watching Marissa. She was always at her beck and call.

“No!” The Queen yelled, calling everyone’s attention, including the King that had pretended not to hear them.

“She cannot join us.” The Queen objected.

“Because she is just a maid and nothing more. She is not superior nor is she better than the other maids hence she would eat when the other maids eat and would not sit with us at this table. What is wrong with you, Marissa?” The queen dropped her spoon as she focused on Marissa.

“No, the question should be what is wrong with you, mother? What has Mabel done to you that you despise her so much?”

“I…I…” She stammered.

“If Mabel does not join me to eat on this table, then I will not eat anything” Marissa stood her ground.

“Marissa, it is fine. I would eat when the other maids want to have their dinner, after all, I am not superior to them” Mabel whispered, audibly though.

“Very well then, I…”

“Do not try to threaten her, mother because if anything happens to her, I will kill myself” The King’s eyes widened in shock as she looked at her.

Suddenly, the Queen burst into tears.

“Did she ask you to say this? Mabel has taken my daughter from me” The Queen faked tears.

“Come on, mother” Marissa stood up and walked towards her mother as she placed her hand on her shoulder. “I am sorry mother if I hurt you or have offended you by my statement. Mabel has not taken me away from you.

You are my mother and I love you so much. You are irreplaceable and no one can take you away from me” She embraced her mother.

“Are you sure?” the Queen questioned.

“Of course, mother. I love you so much but please, let Mabel eat with me. She has been with me since I was little and she is just like a mother to me”

The Queen looked at Mabel with disdain but she had to accept her for her daughter’s happiness.

“Alright, fine” The Queen granted her request. Marissa quickly pulled out a chair for Mabel to sit on as she was super excited.

Marissa was happy, at least, for that moment as she ate with the people whom she cherished the most. Her father, her mother, and the woman who was like her mother.

Marissa could not help but notice the sad expression on her mother’s face but the look she could not ignore was the occasional short stares her father passed at Mabel. It was not one-sided. Each time, she noticed unspoken words in their eyes, Mabel, most especially.

She could not explain what it was but one thing was sure, it was not good. It was scary.

What was going on?