MAY THE RACE BEGIN

I cock an eyebrow. Well, I am just giving her a small, valuable lesson because this situation is taking a toll on her. "Oh, no! I don't make mistakes. Are you hurt?" I mock.


"Watch you..."

"No, you," I point a finger to her disgusting face, making her shut up and take a step back from me. "Know your exact place in this castle because that will determine how long you are going to last here, Gracia. My patience with you is running really thin." I drop my finger.

"You have grown some very dangerous horns, young lady, and they are not going to work well for you. You gotta cut them if..."


"If what, Gracia? Keep your useless, empty threats to yourself since that is what you are good at—yapping, yapping, and yapping! A pathetic, empty vessel is what you are! I am tired of your cheap, empty threats!"

The witches ensured to wreck my peace and freedom. I can't remember the last time I ate food downstairs because I evaded them like the plaque to thwart discord and unwarranted endless barkings. I stay here in my room, and my nanny Aisha, has been kind enough to bring all our meals upstairs and everything else I need. But for how long can I bear being a prisoner in my home? How long does it take to grieve, because I feel like this pain will sting forever?


Somewhere in the middle of the yard, I spot the senior witch muttering something on her phone. This has become so dubious. She doesn't know, but I watch her from this room, and I can't reckon how many times I have seen her make these weird calls. That spot has become her favorite, and she makes these bizarre calls when no one is around. Again, I ask myself, What is their game? But yet again, I just can't wrap my finger around it, but I will.

She finishes her business and dashes in the direction of the castle entrance while I stroll back to bed, where my friends are dumbfoundedly staring at me. I didn't notice them waking up.

"Sorry if I woke you guys up," I apologize, and I recline on my bed.

"You saw her again?" Grace asks, referring to that witch.

"Yeah," I respond flatly.

"Do you still think she is up to something? Maybe it really is nothing. I mean, she hasn't made any moves yet." Rose says.

"Not yet, Rose, but my skepticism tells me that she is up to something shady. Why make all those calls in hiding if she is not concealing anything? And that's not all. A lot of things, especially from the day my father fell ill, aren't adding up." I respond.

"Well then, Ellie? Are you going to wait until she strikes? That's risky because you have no idea where exactly she will hit." Sherry says.

"I think it's time," I mumble, alarming them all.

"T.i.m.e. for what?" Grace speaks.

"To find out what she is up to. I hired a private detective when I returned from Mombasa to look into her records. Unfortunately, things happened so fast that I haven't had time to do a follow-up. But it's time now!" I explain.

I don't know how long it takes to mourn, particularly in my case. I also don't know if I will ever recoup from this great loss, but I know that the time for slumber is up. I gotta do something, or else these witches will crash me like a vagabond. I have to fight for and protect what is left of my family—the Riccaford legacy!

"Wow! That was a nice move, but you have to be extremely careful. Gracia doesn't seem like someone who would take any fight seated down and with folded arms." Rose says.

"I will be, but before anything, I need you guys to get out of here," I say.

"What?" They all ask together, and I understand the confusion, but this is for the best.

I can't get them tangled in this web because I know it's going to be a formidable road. Something tells me that this is deep, and I don't want to drown anyone. No one!

"You don't expect us to leave you all alone here, Ellie, because I won't!" Grace speaks.

"Listen, guys. I am not tossing you aside. I will need your help, but you can't help me when you are in here. It's too dangerous for us to stick together like this." I explain.

"But, Ellie, come on! It's more dangerous if you remain here all alone." Sherry emphasizes.

"I am not alone. Have you guys forgotten that I have a battalion of personal security guards right outside this door?"

"Yes, all thanks to Damian, and you know he too won't consent to this insanity you are formulating, Ellie! Come on! The guy is moving heaven and earth to keep you safe, and you still want to expose yourself to more danger? He will be pissed off!" Grace states.

I know. I get it! She is right. But Damian will also understand that this is for their own safety.

"I will handle Damian, and guys, I won't go running into danger! I will be careful!"

"What if..."

"No what ifs, Sherry! This is the right thing to do. And Grace, I think the shop needs you now. You've been gone for too long." I state.

"I know we can't change your mind, but please promise me that nothing bad will happen to you and that you will make all your plans known to Damian. He is the only one who can protect you, Ellie." Grace says

The look in her eyes, huh? It seems like she has murdered me a hundred times in her head. "I see. I will make you eat your words very, very soon." She fired back.

"Good...Luck! Meanwhile," I turn to the servants, "nobody leaves! Take your bags back to your quarters and resume your respectfully designated posts! These are orders from the one and only queen of this castle! From now on, you all take orders from no one but me, Miss Riccaford! Is that clear?"

"YES, BOSS!"

Oooh, I love the echoes of that chorus and how it reduces these two witches to nothing but the shameless pesky intruders that they are.

As the servants joyously carry their bags back to their quarters, I boldly rack before these two witches, a good picture of three raging lionesses portrayed by our postures.

Well, Gracia! You have just awakened the lioness. I am going to chase you up to the deepest holes where all your secrets are buried, and I am going to dig them up one by one and slap them on your faces in broad daylight for the world to see. May the race begin!