Chapter 68: Chapter 68

Chapter 66: The disaster

"YOU'RE A WITCH!"

"How could you be so heartless, what has he ever done to—" The woman stuttered as the tears overwhelmed her ability to speak. Her legs gave in as she felt to the dusty compound not far from their baroque porch.

"Mama please.."

"No Kifah leave me.." The women cried rolling on the gravel yard in front of the Cunningham mansion. She did not care for her clothing or the dirty, she did not care because none of it would bring her son back to life. She felt so much anger, if she was to die today, she would gladly. Waking up to her son laying cold had to be the most horrifying thing she had ever experienced in her entire existence of living. In her entirety life of being a slave, she had seen a lot, ill treated and unjustified from an early age... but none could compare to losing her son. She only had one person to blame and it was Mrs Cunningham the witch, who had poisoned her son. Kabangu had always been a healthy boy, was never one to fall sick out of the blue... she was the only person to blame and Kifah's mother did not care for the consequences, she wanted to burn that three story house to the ground. She wanted to burn the whole plantation of sugar cane, she did not care for living. She could could not think properly. She could not fathom this nightmare.

"Mama please... don't embarrass us." Faith whispered trying to pull her mother up and away from the Cunningham Mansion.

"Get out you witch, I am waiting for you..!" Faith's mother yelled.

By now, she had created an audience, everyone wanted to know, what was the cause of all the noise. There was whispering all about. There was truly no way one could deal with trauma or grief.

"No no Kifah, Kabangu said her soup was the last meal he had... only for him to not wake up this morning? She is the only person to blame. She killed my son, get out you witch! I AM WAITING FOR YOU!"

"Mama stop it!" Faith hissed, not liking the eyes that were on her. Furthermore her mother rolled herself on the ground, helplessly crying. Her head wrap came off from her grieving tantrum. Faith was embarrassed for her mother, her hair was a mess... uncombed. She tried to put her mother's head wrap back on but the furious woman grabbed it and threw it to the ground. With red stricken eyes, she yelled more more ridicules and slander at the empty porch. After hearing the ruckus outside, Mrs Cunningham had wrapped her morning gown and headed out to see what was going on. The housekeepers had advised her not to go to out, she was frail and old even though she tried to look her best and maintain her youth. She was not capable of fighting Faith's mother. The woman was known not to take nonsense at the commune. She was always one for a good fight.

"Your brother passed away, how can you tell me to stop it? Kifah, you have a heart of stone?!"

"...mama...this...is...embarrassing...stop.."

Faith's Mother continued to take stones and aiming them at the windows. This caught the attention of Merri. She could not sleep with the havoc she was hearing from outside. Some people from the commune tried to calm the woman down but she was not having any of it.

"Master Austin...?!" One of the housekeepers knocked cautiously on Merrigold's door. They did not want to upset him knowing how he could be but they had to. Mrs Cunningham hugged the sleeves of her long gown, afraid. She drank her tea and tried to calm down even with her windows being broken. It alarmed her. Outside two men from the commune held Faith's mother from causing more destruction.

"Tell them to leave..." Austin whispered in Merri's ear. She did not like the feeling of him being this close so close his lips touched her neck.

"...no please go..." she told him.

"...no..."

"It sounds serious... please go."

Austin forgot this bed was not big enough for the both of them, rolling to the other side, still sleepy... it landed him on the hard tiled floor. He cursed almost immediately, Merrigold was pleased with seeing him in pain. She took the opportunity to take up the space, cuddling up to her blankets. She hid a smile as Austin groaned... at the pain.

"Come in..." He told them.

They did, a little flabbergasted to see him close to naked in only his undergarments. Austin stood up looking for his article of clothing, hissing some incoherent complaints. He pulled his pants up, for a moment it left the two girls stuttering... forgetting their words. Austin was buckling his belt when he looked up and smiled at Merrigold then looked at two girls who stood intimidated by not only his towering height but his intimidating aura. Merrigold looked aside when he looked at her.

"What's the matter?" He asked them now buttoning his shirt.

"...Faith's mother..."

"Did what?"

"...her son passed last night, she said Madam killed him."

Merrigold felt pitiful, she wanted to stand up to go give her condolences but she couldn't. She was hiding her bump under the blankets, she needed to wait for everyone to leave before she hid under another big coat. It was becoming a struggle. A painful struggle trying to hide it. It caused her so much distress, not only had her breasts became bigger and sensitive so did her cheeks. She felt she looked horrid, she remembered how Faith had said she knew she'd be having a son because her nose had grown bigger. Merrigold was not sure if it applied to all women better yet herself. She did not want to wonder a lot about Austin's unborn child. At times she felt tempted to show him, knowing he'd go bullocks and kill the child. It seemed like something he would likely do. Thinking about it scared her to death. He had so many personalities, they switched from time to time. Merrigold did not trust him and his sudden niceness. Soon enough he'd get fed up and treat her accordingly, dehumanizing her for the mere sake of it.

"Why my mother?" He asked, heading out of the room. The two girls giggled following behind him. They found the mere thought of being in Austin's presence a privilege. Their fear and intimidation for him somewhat excited the teens. It did not help that he was strictly appealing, they loved to hate him.

"She served them soup... yesterday afternoon."

"Oh Austin, good that you're up. Did you see her, accusing me of murder... I'm appalled!" Mrs Cunningham muttered.

"Are you alright?"

"She broke the windows but I stayed away. I'm alright. I'm shocked that she would make such accusations..."

"Let me go have a word with her? Alright?"

"Don't hurt her, I understand she is in pain for the loss of her son." Mrs Cunningham added.

Austin sighed. "What if she had hurt you or Merrigold with her outburst. People die, no one lives forever. She should get over herself. I'm already aggravated that I had to leave my bed for this bloody nonsense..."

"But Merrigold is alright and so am I. Do not hurt the poor lady, do not handle this with angry...Lionel."

Merrigold, felt annoyed with the name as she entered the lavish Georgian living room. She felt a bit queasy but tried to keep it down. When Austin's eyes met hers, he seemingly calmed down. His only thoughts were, Merri would not be impressed if he handled this violently. He wanted to prove to her that he was changing for the better, he could not exactly do that if he treated everyone else horridly. Especially people that she saw as equals, family and home.

"You're right, Mother. Let me simply have a word and try and solve this accordingly."

"Good!" Mrs Cunningham said giving him a smile.

"Morning Mrs Cunningham." Merrigold greeted. The woman was quick to come hug her. Austin's mother felt it, the bump that collided between them as they hugged. It made itself present. Leaving space in between the hug. Not saying a word, she smiled and gave Merrigold a knowing smile.

"Morning dear, slept well?"

She nodded, even though she meant to say 'no, your son took up all the space and breathed down my neck the entire night.' she decided against saying much.

Merrigold felt awkward, Austin was watching in awe. He loved his mother so much and to see that his mother approved of the woman he claimed to love made him delighted. It brought him at ease. Snapping out of it, he did a sneak peak before opening the door. Faith's mother had grown tired, Austin managed to get her to sit down and drink water. He told her how sorry he was for her loss. The thought of wanting to impress Merrigold made him handle the situation better. Faith was on the verge of panic as Austin asked more questions. She kept trying to intervene and trying to get her mother to go home. Austin had told the other people from the commune to return to work. Faith was sweating bullets.

"Thank you sir, but I think it's best my mother goes to rest..."

"No, I want to help... maybe find the cause of your brother's death. It could be a plague that could later affect everyone else and needs to be resolved right this minute."

"You're right Master!" Faith's mother whispered drinking her water. There was some sort of aura that changed the way she acted in the presence of a white man.

Austin's mother then came out, with a cup of tea and cookies as if part of piece offering. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

Faith's mother immediately broke into tears refusing to accept the treats. "W-what—" she couldn't speak. "W-what did you do to my son?"

"Mama please..." Faith whispered pretending to comfort her mother.

"They were playing and I had an extra pot of soup that I had made for my daughter in law— I mean Merri the soup I had made for Merri. I thought I was being kind..."

"You killed him, just say it!"

"I did not cook the soup, Faith did. They are their sister's soup."

As all eyes went on Faith.

"I-i did cook the soup." She replied lowly. "It was meant for Merri, I swear mama I did not mean to hurt Kabangu." Faith cried. Her mother left distort, she stared at her daughter appalled.

"What do you mean it was meant for Merri?" Austin asked with his voice gruff.

"...you said I must cook soup for Merri, I did." Faith replied, furthermore scared stiff she failed to lie. "Merri is the one who deserved to die not my brother. This is your fault Madam, you killed my brother!"

Faith's mother was quick to strike her daughter's cheek. Disgusted, of all things she had never taught her daughter to kill, maybe steal here and there but not kill. Mrs Cunningham was appalled, no words came out. Hearing a muffled cry, Merrigold ran out, heading straight for her brother's comfort. Austin ran after her, she was shaking with tears. "It's all my fault, someone died because of me??!" She cried, Austin held her against his shoulder. Crying, she felt responsible. She did not know what she had ever done to Faith but the unsettling feeling was an innocent boy had died and Merrigold's existence was the cause of it. Merri did not want to be here anymore, she did not want to live. She had caused more pain and misery than any good. She felt responsible... the guilt outweighed any other emotion. Austin told her it wasn't but nothing could ease her guilt. News travelled around the plantation and soon, Thomas had heard of what Faith had done. Before anything could be done, Faith disappeared with no intention of returning. She knew leaving was what was best. She cried for her brother and asked for his forgiveness. She knew wherever she was headed it would no be easy. She was willing to even stay at the Gallagher's plot of death. Anywhere but here. Anywhere but with her disappointed mother and hatred from her people, the punishment that awaited her from Master Austin revenging his lover's pain. She wished she had lied better, she thought of the different words she could have said but it was already done.