"At dawn, the flowering sun
Pries through curtains drawn
And melancholy departs
A nomad withouth home"
~Harpreet M. Dayal~
ANTONIO MURRAY was having a hard time of his life, easing the worries of his wife, daughters and concubines for their never-ending questions of the girl.
"Papa! Why couldn't we see her?!" Annette - his 23 years old, first daughter from his wife - demanded from him.
"It is best if you do not see her, Annette. I wont risk everyone here if she happens to be sick."
He reasoned for his daughters to stop from pestering him to see the girl -- her name he barely remembers.
"Dear, if she was sick then why did you bring her here? Won't she spread the disease?" His wife - Mistress Anabelle Murray asked in concern.
"Dear wife -" Antonio sighed. "Everything is under my control."
"But Papa! We want to see Aurora! We thought she died together with her mother! But you never said, she survived, and you are hiding her from us!" Marianne -his 19 years old sixth daughter from his second concubine, Lady Elizabeth -insisted from him.
"Was she your special girl now? Do you love her now more than you love us?!" Amanda - his 22 years old, second daughter from his wife.
"Or maybe, she was his new favorite now! Isn't she papa?" Matilde - his 22 years old third daughter from his first concubine, Lady Marissa.
"Oh honey! Is that true?!" Lady Marissa asked him in disbelief.
"And here we thought, you do not care about her." Lady Elizabeth added.
Antonio sighed frustratedly. He was getting tired listening to their useless concern and just by looking at his daughters huddled together with their own mother in the sofa, facing his table. He leaned back and massaged his temple. When his wife attempted to come to his side, he ordered her to sit down.
He can barely tolerate the head ached of the combined jealousy of his daughters, now he does not want another tension from his wife and concubines.
"Listen everyone. This matter about the girl will never be mention again, understood? I refrain everyone from talking about the girl. If you disobeyed, you will not receive your monthly allowance. I will freeze your bank accounts and you will to be confine in your room for a whole month, are we clear?"
"Yes papa. "
"Yes dear. / Yes honey / Of course darling."
"I've heard you will to send her to Lord Vander Mondragon." a voice at the entrance of the door said. They all looked at who and saw that it was his 21 years old son - Anton-from Marissa.
"YOU DID WHAT-?! PAPA!"
Again, for the second time around. Antonio Murray massaged his aching temple to the thundering shriek of his daughters.
Didn't he just said that the talk of the girl is now forbidden?
Antonio glared at his smirking son, but the insolent man just shrugs his shoulder and went to sit beside his mother.
Antonio looked at his daughters and met their sharp gaze, demanding for answers.
He gave a look to his son before sighing. Here comes another hellish interrogation for him.
"Yes, I did." Antonio started.
"But why papa?! I am your prettiest daughter! Why do you send that bastard ugly girl?!" Maribeth -his 20 years old fifth daughter from Elizabeth - exclaimed to him.
He cringed at the deafening sound. He was about to answer but was cut short by one of his daughter, again.
"But I am your favorite!" Amanda overclaimed.
"Even though you are the prettiest and you are the most favored daughter, I AM the eldest so therefore, I MUST BE the one you send to Lord Vander Mondragon." Annette
"No! I disagree! I am the second to the youngest and most suitable for Lord Vander. I MUST BE the one to send for him!" Marianne said while pointing her finger at herself.
"No!" His other daughters chorused. They all stand up and started creating havoc in the middle of his office, clawing each other's hair and pushing one another.
Antonio stand up and slammed his hands on his table. "SILENCE!" he shouted in anger, startling his daughters on their mid-attack to each other. They looked at him questioningly.
"SIT.DOWN!" Antonio commanded sharply. They instantly untangle themselves to each other and straighten their embroiled appearance and dress. He was glaring at them as they took their previous sit beside their mothers.
"Pray tell, why do you want to be sent to Lord Mondragon. You do know that he will only going to make you his concubine if that ever happen." He said word by word trying to put a sense on their clouded mind.
"Papa, weve heard from our friends that Lord Mondragon is a very popular man." Matilde
"He is very handsome" Annette
"And is very rich." Maribeth
"And a good lover" Marianne
"That made him unreachable to every girl's dream." Amanda
"He could be compared to a knight in shining armor. "Analisa -- his 21 years old third daughter from his wife - spoke for the very first time since they have arrived. The usual bored look in her eyes was now replaced by sparkling, dreamy eyes.
Antonio's brow raised as he heard their smitten words to the evil Lord. His daughters seem to fancy the man.
"Ignorant Fools!" he commented at them causing them to stare at him in disbelief.
"Lord Vander is no shining armor." If only he could tell that the man is a monster and a heartless killer. Surely, they will think their selves stupid for liking such evil man. But he could not for if they find out, they will question everything from him. It is better for them if they dont know the dark side he put himself in.
"How do you say so papa?" Amanda asked him curiously.
"Because I know the man personally. And it is not good if you involve your-precious-selves to him. He's a bad man. Girls are only toys for him. And I can say that you have no future with him, so I suggest you forget about the man."
"That- I agree." Anton
"But papa, you can't judge him being a bad man just because he was enjoying himself as a man. I am not those girls. And I can assure you papa, if you send me to him - I will make him fall in love with me. I swear to you papa, I will be his First ever wife." Marianne
"That- I did not agree." Marlon - his 21 years old second son from Lady Elizabeth -- interjected as he entered his office and went to sit beside his little sister, Marianne. The girl glared at him, but he just messed her hair in return.
"Stop it!" Marlon laughed at his sister's annoyance.
"I think its time that girls retire to your room. We have a man's talk pertaining about our business dealings. Anabelle, Marissa and Elizabeth go and lead your daughters from their designated rooms."
Before they went to leave, his daughters kissed him goodnight first on his both cheeks while his wife and concubine kiss him on the lips.
After dismissing his whole family save for his sons, Antonio was now sharing a drink to his two trusted men. Anton and Marlon
"Father, what will we do if he ever found out about your deception?" Marlon asked him in concerned.
"He will not, son. Do not worry for he will never know that the worst will what he gets, and the best will be remain here." He assured his sons arrogantly.
"But Father, how can you be so sure? What if the girl opens her mouth to him?" Anton added.
He looked at both slumped in the now deserted sofa. "Do you not have a faith on me? Do you think I will let her speak? The girl is too scared of me, for her to talk to Mondragon."
The men nodded, assured by his words. Father, the man is too powerful. Aren't you afraid if he retaliates?"
"He will not, Anton. So long as he does not know. Mondragon is a careless man when it comes to women. As long as there is a hole for him to fuck, he will not care for the girl."
"But isn't she too weak and small, Father? What if he wonders? What if he noticed?" Marlon said after he drink the alcohol in his glass.
"She was to stay here in a whole month. Surely, she can gain some weight to fattened up her small body. Also, I have sent someone there to watch him and the girl."
"You did, Father? No wonder you seem appeased to the matter." Marlon unbelievingly said while offering his glass for a cheer.
"Aye. Do you think of me stupid, son? I will not let the girl that easy. I have yet to see the success of my newest poison drug. Until then - she was still in my grasp and in my watch. "
"Father, how will you know the effectiveness of this poison if Doctor Stanley will not study her?" Anton
"Like what I have said Anton - if ever you have not been listening on our discussion- I send someone to watch the girl. That someone will be the one to study the girl." Antonio answered sharply to his sheepishly smiling son while scratching the back of his neck - like a scolded child would do in front of his annoyed father.
"How long will it take Father?" Marlon
"Long enough before the girl could talk."
"Then what about the antidote father? " Anton
"I have not made one."