The Forbidden Blood

The village of Armeth has always known two truths. survivors and Hameho was a mistake. While Uhuru walked in praise of her mom and was admired by the village elders, Hameho lived in her shadows and the cold eyes pop of the woman she called her mother. Lady Tito did not hide her scorn, It was in the way she called her name in a very harsh tone. “Hameho” where is that girl? Hameho entered Her voice lost all warmth when she spoke to her Eldest daughter, the neighbors whispered but no one dared intervene. Lady Tito's words carry weight in the village so no one tries to question her behavior towards Hameho. Hameho spent her years believing she was a defect in her own home and the entire village. “It will be Hameho’s eighteenth birthday soon I am so worried” Lady Tito moved from one edge to another edge of her room, her eyes red like blood and her hair turning gray strands by strands as she kept thinking “Mom let’s make special tofu for Hameho and celebrate her” Uhuru walked in eating grapes she got from the basket outside “How long have you been standing there?” Lady Tito asked while her face frowned “Standing where?” Oh! outside your door? I just came in”. “By the way mom, what’s up with Hameho eighteenth birthday?” As Uhuru asked she went through her mothers belongings “What are you doing there?” Lady Tito asked aggressively. “Mom calm down, you never speak to me like this before, what's happening?” Uhuru asked with tears “Leave my room and stop acting spoilt” Lady Tito pushed Uhuru out. Hameho saw all this while making fire for dinner but didn't say a word to Uhuru or her mom. “I better be fast before mom gets to me, if Uhuru is crying, I will bleed when it’s my turn” Hameho hurriedly blew the fire “Hameho” be fast we need dinner before it gets darker “Ok mom” “Uhuru get the axe out and tear that dry wood for Hameho, this won't be enough” lady Tito yelled. “Mom keeps acting weird ever since the calendar keeps drawing your eighteenth birthday closer” “No one cares about my birthday so why would she even be bothered? It must be something else eating her up.” “Or it might be you eating her up Hameho”. “Stop it Uhuru” “Okay okay okay” Uhuru got the axe and the first hit on the wood bounced while she staggers “Mom, this axe weighs more than I do. What makes you think I can do this?” “But when you fill your plate with food it doesn’t weighs more than you do” Hameho said while giggling, Lady Tito walked past without saying anything to Uhuru but when she got to where Hameho was she looked at her in fear, hate, anger, worry and somehow love. “Mom, do you want something?” Hameho asked nervously, I even made the soup just as you showed me, you will love it.” Hameho be quiet, by the way the soup smells horrible. I didn't teach you to make horrible soup. “Mom you haven’t tasted it yet” “I don’t think I need to taste it before knowing it would taste bad” “Mom Hameho has made this same soup since you taught her how to cook you have never complained about the smell or taste before now” “Uhuru, I did not ask for your opinion”. Hameho was already used to this treatment but never for once was her food rejected. She has loved to cook for the family since it was the only way she could care and show she’s good at something to gain her mothers love at least. “Uhuru, where do you think mom is going to?” “I don’t know Hameho maybe you should ask her” “This is not the time to play Uhuru you know she would never give me answers when she is happy talk more of that mood she’s in” As the girls continued their day, they ate, played and slept for a while but when they woke up there was still no sign of their mother coming home. “It’s evening and mom is not home” Uhuru muffled those words “It’s dark mom isn’t home yet where could she have gone to?” Hameho asked while looking for her sister Huru…. Uhuru come inside it’s getting dark “I’m coming Meho, wait I see lamp I think it’s mom” “It’s mom Hameho” “Ok Uhuru” Because of the constant pressure and tension from her mom Hameho had cold feet as she heard her mom was approaching the house but she behaved calm but as Lady Tito greeted her neighbors and Hameho heard her voice her heartbeat race faster her hands became cold and the fear in her stomach started something that felt like fire burning in her stomach “What’s happening, why am I feeling this way?” The veins in her hands were turning blue and she could perceive a strange scent like someone wearing perfumes was standing close to her. As she was trying to figure out what was happening everything in the room started floating like it was being controlled by a supernatural force. She was still trying to control her mind when she heard “Hameho bring my food” As she heard Lady Tito’s voice she snapped back while everything that was floating dropped on the floor like a heavy weight. Lady Tito rushed in and her eyes widened with fear. “What happened here Hameho? Why does it look…..” She hadn’t finished her sentence when her eyes went to the shattered clay pot on the floor the soup Hameho had prepared so carefully had spilled. “ Mom, can you smell it too?” “Smell what ?” “It doesn’t smell like soup anymore.” Hameho whispered as she tried to cover her hands and hide the blue veins showing under her skin but the more she grabbed her garment the blue veins like thread started growing up to her neck veins like a tree sprouting up. It wasn’t burning anymore, rather Hameho started to feel comfortable. it started to feel like something was waking up in her that has been asleep for eighteen years. Lady Tito screamed you are not eighteen yet. it is not supposed to happen. “ what is not supposed to happen?” Uhuru asked while running into the house as she heard her mom screaming “Mom it’s three months until she turns eighteen.” But then the playful air in Uhuru was completely gone. “Hameho your skin” “What's happening to your skin? “Mom, what’s wrong with her?” Lady Tito didn’t say a word to Uhuru She walked with fear and tears in her eyes Eighteen years lady Tito breath heavily The elders said the mark will show on the eve of the eighteenth night, “ I tried my best” “I tried to starve the blood out of you”, I was cold towards you”, “I told myself if I push harder the blood will never spike and you will remain in your shell” “I told myself I would protect you with my life”. “ What do I do now?” Lady Tito rushed to grab a knife with a red pearl beaded on it “I will cut out your veins and let the blue blood gush out” “Mom drop the knife” as Uhuru rushed to grab her mom but but lady Tito was stronger than a fifteen year old grip “Hameho run” Uhuru still struggling to stand up after being shoved to the ground by her mom “Run outside Hameho” “Shut up uhuru she’s not like you she doesn’t have same blood like you” “So you know the blood I carry mom? tell me who I am Hameho said calmly, almost begging to know.