CHAPTER SEVEN: MEMORIES

CAMILLA'S POV

I woke up with a splitting headache. The sound of Baron's angry voice resounding in the mansion. I had gotten used to it already.

It had been a month, a month if living in this God forsaken house. Day by day I lose the will to continue, the will to love. The only thing keeping me going was my mother.

Was she even alive?

That thought lingered in my head.

I got up reluctantly and went to the door to try and hear what was going on.

“Useless! You all are useless to me!”. He screamed.

“I gave you one job, one job and you screwed it up. Are you all dumb?!”. He screamed again.

It seemed like he was reprimanding the staff. Was it the guards or the cook?

Frankly I didn't care. I was just thinking of how I would go about my day without getting screamed at by him. I'd just wait till he got out of the house before leaving my room.

I sat on the floor. The screaming went on and on and then silence. I heard a door slam.

He was gone. Probably went to work. Where did he work anyways?

I got up and went out. I had a lot of tasks to complete. I started with his laundry. In hindsight I didn't really do as much work as the other maids. I was just here to be tortured by Baron if I didn't do what he wanted.

It was all so draining.

I missed how life was when my mother was still healthy. I checked the time. It was almost 1pm. By this time in my house my mother would've taken me out for ice-cream. And anytime I got a headache. She'd prepare a want bath for me and her signature chicken soup.

~~~

“Does it still hurt, princess?”. My mom asked in her tender and calming voice. She picked me up and placed me on the counter, massaging my left ankle softly.

I sprained it while running in our garden.

“Yes mommy”. I said in between sobs, wiping the tears on my eyes and cheeks.

My mother smiled softly and hummed sweetly. Her voice eased my pain and her soft touch made me forget about everything.

“There you go,”. She said as she put a bandage on the small cut. “Next time please be more careful. We don't want you getting any more injuries now, do we?”. She asked.

“No”. I said quietly while shaking my head from side to side.

“Come on. Let me make your favourite cookies”. She said as she extended her arms to carry me.

I leapt into her open arms from the kitchen counter. They were the only place I truly felt safe. She carried me to the living room and turned on one of my favourite shows while she made her way into the kitchen to get the cookies ready.

Everything felt…good and peaceful. I could hear her sweet humming from the kitchen as the delicious scent of freshly baked cookies hit my nostrils.

She came into the living room with a huge bowl filled with cookies. She set them on the table and just as I was about to reach for one of them she held my hand.

“What did I say about washing your hands before eating cookies?”. I bit my lip and immediately went to the sink to wash it.

My mom had always cautioned me about that. I didn't see anything wrong with it though, I just did it so she wouldn't be mad.

I came back to the living room and practically dove into the cookies. My mom watched and giggled softly.

She sat beside me and we chatted for hours. Time flew so fast and it started getting dark. I helped her carry the bowl to the kitchen. I saw her looking outside and then at the clock. She had a disappointed look on her face. I recognised that face. My dad hadn't come home and she was getting worried and a bit angry.

I hugged her from behind.

“Are you mad at daddy?” She turned and picked me up.

“No my love. I'm just worried”. She said with a forced smile.

Whenever my father came home that late it would often result in a fight. I was only 11 and yet I understood the dynamics of things that went on in the house.

I remembered the day me and mom went to the amusement park and what happened after. The bruise, along with other bruises were still on her. I felt so angry and helpless. We used to be so happy, at least that was what I thought. Maybe it was all just an illusion that was painted.

I heard the sound of my father's car pulling up in the driveway. My mother's face changed immediately. She picked me up and carried me to my room. My mother never got tired of babying me.

She tucked me in for bed.

“Mom, it's just 7pm. It's not my bedtime yet”. I said quietly.

She sighed and smiled softly.

“Today you're sleeping early my love.”. She said as she ran her hands through my hair.

I gulped.

I knew why she had taken me to my room. My dad was home late. That meant there would be another screaming match. She didn't want me to be a part of that.

Would he hit her again?

I frowned.

“Mummy. Why do you still love daddy even if he hits and hurts you?”.

My mom looked shocked.

“You'll understand when you're older baby”. She smiled and kissed my forehead. “I'll see you in the morning”.

I gripped her hands with my fingers. My eyes begged her not to go. Not to face my father. Not to leave me.

“Everything will be okay my love”. She smiled. I slowly loosened my grip on her hand and she left my room.

A few minutes later I heard screaming. I covered my ears and cried. I just wanted peace. I wanted my mom to be safe. Why did my dad change?

~~~

That bastard.

I hated myself for not being able to do anything then. But what could I do? I was young, I was just a child.

Tsk

And now that I was older and could do something, I was stuck here. In this big mansion as a slave slave to Baron.

I heard the main door shut loudly. He was back.

Speak of the devil