Mother Knows Best(book 1)

Chapter 51

We are captives of our own identities, living in the prisons of our own creation.

Theodore Bagwell(Prison Break)

Present time

     Wright was becoming annoyed now.

                And it wasn't because of the usual high pitched screams he had expected, but because of the deep silence that invited itself into his realm of control. There were no screams of agony, no howling begs, no piercing sounds of defeat. Nothing but his own thoughts being brought to the surface. It was the seventh day of him switching with Judge Smoothers, and still, there was no luck in getting answers out of her. She owed him no confession and that was that.

               She should have been dead. Wright was sure enough that it was a powerful source keeping her heart beating. Something, perhaps magic he thought, that tugged air back into her lungs. Whatever that was, or is, keeping her life gave him the pleasure of torturing her more. He got up from the chair, his fingers tight around a torch and walked down the very broad hallway. He stopped in front of the room, his palm itching to cause torture as he grabbed the doorknob.

            His lips curled into a smirk at the view of her. Lilura Ihejirika. A blindfolded beauty of bosom and tush. Lilura still had a delicate and exquisite, sculpted face. Her cheeks were still a painted dark red, a blooming attraction against her skin. Her hair was still black curls, just not tucked into intricate braids. And although she was not in her dress, the one that peppered her shoulders and body with smooches, she was still gorgeous in the plain shabby gown they brought her. The thought and the sight, it all gave him an unwanted erection.

          Alongside, an unwanted attraction.

              Wright tucked the torch in its holder. It faintly lit the room as he made his way to her. He brought this hand to her face but she flinched not. He gently rubbed his thumb against her cheek but she made no sound.

               "Speak damn it," and with that, the blindfold was yanked from her face. Her eyes, oh, yes, those beautiful eyes of hers. The ones he hated so badly. They yanked him into the crashing waves of sand, beating upon him, and dug at his heart. They burned out his pride and weakened him. And that is why he hated them the most. But sadly, he loved how brown they were.

      She did not fear him. At least not as she did the first day.

                   "Are you scared of me? Do you wish to flee? Does freedom knock at your heart hastily? Tell me, dear. Does my very presence cause your soul to startle and jerk awake?" He mused, but surely, he knew the answer to them. She feared him not.

                 He sighed and stroked her black curls. They inch away from his fingers but he yanked them closer. He wanted to feel their coolness against his skin. He wanted to watch her lips part and heavy breaths and sweet sounds flow out. He wanted to---Stop!. Lilura inches away from his hand now, feeling his intentions stir differently.

                 "What is on your mind, Lilura? What keeps you alive? What fans the flame up more? What is the sole reason that your heart beats? Lilura, do tell me, what is keeping you alive," he asked quietly.

   Lilura glanced up. "My child. If you were a mother, you'd understand."

                  "Of course I don't, for you are only here because a rule is broken. Now, what was it? Murder? Stealing? Adultery? What is it that landed you here? Perhaps.. Sleeping with men? Witchcraft?"

            "I am no witch. I am more human than you."

                 "Says every woman in here. I suggest you start telling the truth. Not that it would matter, you are here to be judged accordingly. Speaking more might just land you out of here."

                "I fear you not. I fear this place not. For there's nothing you can do that hasn't already been done. And nothing you can do that will stir my soul to raise your pride."

         Wright parts his lips. "You irritate my soul."

       Lilura smirked. "For demons tremble at the thought of thy name."

         "Shut the hell up woman!"

              Wright took a step away, puffing out a heavy breath. "Enjoy your damn peace for now! When the king has made his orders on your fate clear...We will see who has the last laugh. It will be me and my inquirers! It will be me and the king. It will be me."

             She hummed doubtfully, saying nothing else. Her silence irked him. Her silence controlled his anger. Her silence controlled him. Wright forced out a laugh. "And there you go again! A mute at heart! What drives you to be so mad! A child you say? Do you take me for a fool! There must be something else! Your soul is too wild! There must be something else."

              "There is nothing else," she said. "My child is my only worry. He is the sole reason for my waking. He is the reason for the fire burning in my chest. He is the reason for my heart beating. He is the reason for the air sinking into my skin. He is the reason that I am alive and will continue to be. He is the reason.. .that causes me to be silent. I owe you no confession, to only my child, I owe confession. Call me all the beasts you know. Say curses and ills against my name. Do what you must to maintain your pride. Do you what you must in the name of the law. But one thing you can not do. Is take my child away from me. I swear to that."