Captured (A Modern Medusa Story)

CHAPTER 37: PHOEBE💙

It felt like the dead of night when my eyelids flickered open. But the moment I heard my nanny's voice from outside the door, I knew it wasn't.

And no, I didn't need to touch the other side of my bed to know it's empty.

I didn't expect Averista to stay. I had an intuition that it would be too much for her to handle, despite my fervent desire to wake up next to her. Besides, her mother had an early shift this morning. So she had to leave, right?

I disregarded the slight twinge of disappointment lurking in my mind and sat upright.

"Phebes?" The door creaked open and I could hear Miss Halima step in.

Then it hit me — I was stark naked under the covers.

"Hey," I managed to greet, unsure of what to say as I clutched the sheets over my bare chest and tried to pretend like I wasn't hazy.

Goodness, I had never been so depleted, both mentally and physically. This was the first time and as much as I wanted to curse Averista for it, she wasn't here.

"Morning dear," Miss Halima placed something on the table, probably my breakfast. "It's a rare sight to see you sleeping in. Feeling okay?"

"I'm fine." I nodded. "Just fatigued."

I dragged the sheets with me as I moved to put my feet on the floor. Then I panicked, thinking my last night clothes may be strewn about the floor and that any disarray might give away the fact that something actually happened.

"Looks neat in here, by the way. Did you, perhaps, get up early to clean?" She chuckled a little and her inquiry made my vexation dissipate. "Is that why you're tired?"

I held back a tiny smile at the thought of Averista.

"No. I–" I had no idea what to say. "I . . ."

"God–did you go out drinking again?" Miss Halima tried to hide the worry in her voice when she asked that, but I could pick it up quite well.

"No!" It was worse and better than drinking. "Don't worry, I didn't–"

"Was it Noreen? Did she make you do something that drained you out?"

No, but your daughter did.

"I swear to god if she did I'm gonna–" she continued, her voice growing angry.

"No–I wasn't with her," I prompted. "And I'm fine. Don't fret about it, it's just mild exhaustion. Probably happens to everyone once in a while."

Just like that, she was left to shrug it off, and I was glad.

Miss Halima lapsed into silence for a brief moment. I could sense her intense gaze on me, and I felt nervous and trapped. Could she read between the lines? I understood she was being the mother I never had, but what was I supposed to do? She was restless on the lookout for me. Constantly putting her blood, sweat, and tears into protecting me from any kind of danger and even from insignificant annoyances. When the real danger I was in was actually her very own daughter.

"Okay then," she let out when she was done staring. "Let me run you a bath, alright?"

I agreed to her idea with a smile and a nod, but I simply wanted her attention away from me a bit. I was afraid the deeper her eyes burnt on me, the closer she would get to uncover my underlying sins.

                                   * * *

My heels click-clacked across the tiled floor as I briskly walked on the corridor, cane in hand.

I made my way down the familiar wooden staircase, trying hard to be discreet but my movements echoed all around.
It all felt like a rendezvous, except that it wasn't. Just a herpetologist going out to her not-so-secret laboratory to pet her creepy monsters.

I navigated myself through the door, knowing my way around too well.

Like the hundred times I had been down in the damn lab, the cold air stung my skin deep. Goosebumps began to form on my arms and thighs, reminding me that my purple blouse was sleeveless and my plaid skirt too short.

The place was empty. Just like I expected. Papa had errands to run outside of the house today, and this was the perfect time for me to stay in my favourite space alone.

I set aside my cane, then reached for the lab coats on the stand by the entrance until I felt the one with the badge which had 'Dr. Phoebe' embossed on it in braille. I smiled, grabbing it and pulling it around my shoulders. It covered my bare arms and its hem fell an inch below my skirt, but it didn't provide me with the warmth that I pretended not to need.
For a second, I missed Papa's presence only because he wasn't here to compliment me whenever I wore one of these. He always said it looked too good on me, like it did on my mother. Born and predestined scientists, that's what he called us. It was one of the very few times he had talked of my mother positively.

"Hey Martin," I greeted one of the green tree pythons close by. The iron rods of its cage froze my fingers cold when I grazed over it. I was replied with a loud hiss as I trotted past it and through the door that led to the food chamber.

I grabbed two frozen rodents from the icebox and laid them on the counter to thaw.
One for Martin and the other for his twin.
Another hiss reached my ears and I grinned.

"Give it a few minutes and your lunch would be ready, you starved little beasts," I called out in a singing tone.

I should learn to be scared of the things, like Papa once advised. But no. I loved them. And as much as I fancied to keep these savage pets 'aggressive' as per Papa's orders, I couldn't help but feed them when I knew I shouldn't. This was one of those times.

There was nothing to be scared of. Not when I couldn't see them. Though I most likely wouldn't be scared even if I had the ability to see them. It was like being in love . . . you get blinded, and you're stupidly unaware of their flaws or how quick they can turn lethal. How they can poison you in the blink of an eye. How they have you wrapped around their finger.

It wasn't until I was feeding them did it come to mind that I was actually breeding deadly monsters. Malevolent varmints that could sabotage people.

And I raised them like my own children. All for the sake of my dangerous pursuit. All because I wholeheartedly enjoyed it. It was a genuine attraction. Moreover, the only thing that gave me a sense of purpose.

And today I was even feeling extra avid at it. Maybe because I was yet to incarcerate one more beautiful creature . . . one more monster for my father to check off from his list.

One more pearl, a queen gemstone, to add to this divine collection. One with a crown of snakes. One that I loved the most.

Averista.