"We would have a lot of fun," Chelsea promised as she picked up some extra cakes in the basket, Khalilah sat on one of the stools in the other corner, stuffing up her face with the macaron she made in the bakery.
Her raven black hair was held in a messy bun as she continuously munched on the snack.
"You are going to get fat," Linda muttered as she picked the last pink-colored macaron on the plate and ate it, she loved the way Khalilah pouted in disappointment. "Do you know how many calories they contain you have eaten close to fifty today."
"What does it matter if I get fat or not?" Khalilah asked as she jumped off the stool, they were done for the day and were now waiting for Robert to come and pick them up. "I would still be me."
"Uh… yes but men love their women to be in shape," Chelsea confirmed as she washed the remnant of the batter from her hands, under the running tap water. "Most men fall in love with what they see, being too fat would make them lose interest in you."
"Well, if someone can't love me for being myself, they are welcome to leave," Khalilah replied stubbornly and Linda burst into a mocking laughter, who would have thought Khalilah would make a fuss over a single piece of macaron? "I am going to eat whatever I want when I want to, I love macarons so much, especially the ones we made here and I plan to make them every day."
"All right, all right." Linda gave up first as she dried the moisture from her hands. "You're right, you should eat as much as you want, who knows the next time you would get to eat something you love again?" Something in what Linda said disturbed her a bit, what does she mean by the last of the statement? She wanted to ask if her grandmother had told her something related to going away but then she decided to overlook it as just a figure of speech.
"Let's go," Chelsea said as she picked up the clean baking pan and arranged them, the other ladies followed them out of the bakery, where they realized that Robert had been outside waiting in one of Mrs. Rose-Anne's cars.
"Hey, Robert."
"Hi…"
"Hello, Rob." They greeted accordingly as they got into the car, Khalilah chose to sit in the front all because she wanted to be close to Robert, and it seemed like the other girls noticed her attraction to the handsome young man. "Hello ladies," Robert said with a small smile as he ignited the engine, he regarded the other ladies from the rear mirror and greeted them with a small nod. "Madam Rosie, gave her permission but she had a curfew, sadly I have to take Khalilah back home by 7 pm."
"Oh, that should be enough time," Khalilah said with a small frown on her face, she suddenly felt uneasy about everything that was going on, why was everyone being overprotective of her? When she was with her mother too, she would always notice that her sister had more freedom than she did, she would most of the time miss out on something like a girl's night out and a class party.
Khalilah felt offended but she didn't worry much because she wasn't old enough, but now she is turning nineteen in sixteen days, why wouldn't they let her be an adult in peace? She is old enough to go out without being followed, she didn't mind being followed by Robert, but telling her to come home by 7 is missing out on the fun.
She hoped she could get some drinks and meet people who would attend the beach party at night, but like always just like a little girl she had to head back. "Are you okay?" Robert noticed just how silent Khalilah had been through the driver, which was unlike her, he had only met her for about a day and a few hours but he already knew just how talkative she was.
"Y-Yes, I am okay." She answered with a small smile on her face, and he threw a small juice carton on her lap, it fell with a soft thud against the material of her jean. "I thought you might like it?" Not once taking his eyes from the road, a small smile touched Khalilah's lips as she tore the straw from the carton.
Robert's grip tightened on the steering, as he felt sorry for the lad, she was young and innocent, she still didn't know what awaited her and it made him hurt on her behalf. He always believed in Madam Rosie's judgment, and if not anything, he hoped they could at least tell Khalilah what she was up against. At least to prepare herself and to be ready to face the challenges, Robert shook his head, his thoughts diffusing into the atmosphere, the ladies were discussing something and Khalilah was laughing; he was too occupied to listen to whatever they were discussing.
"You have to take care of her, she is our light and hope for freedom." Madam Rosie's instruction resounded in his ears, there has to be a sacrificial lamb so the whole family would be rid of King Olive, but then again, Reisha is just a little girl. Robert knew well, that they don't get to mess with these guys, they are not even human, they are something evil, wrong or right don't work on them.
In the same way, Mateo was killed right in front of their eyes, brutally, and even Joe, the real cause of Sir Joe's death wasn't a heart attack.
They killed him.
Robert couldn't help but wonder if Reisha would be okay, when everything happens will she continue to smile happily like this?
What if Lord Olive wants to use her as a breeder? Commonly, people like that employ mortal beings to breed them.
Terrible, there were a lot of terrible thoughts going through his mind at the moment… is there a way, this could be passed away from Khalilah?
"What are you thinking about?" He shifted slightly when he heard Khalilah's voice, and he had been so consumed in his thoughts that he didn't know when she got close to him. "Do you want to leave?"
"No, I am having fun." He lied, he didn't do well in public places, but it was a bit difficult to believe especially since he is a young man and he is expected to be enjoying his youthful phase. Robert was an indoor worm he liked to read while sipping his coffee.
"I am tired, I think I want to go home." She said she had been feeling a bit under the weather and the cold evening breeze affected her even more.
"Are you okay? You look quite pale." He asked noticing the lines of distress on her forehead, he got up from the rock and cupped her face in his hands, and she stared back at him with those golden eyes of hers, and for a moment Robert thought he was staring at the sun; he was bewitched by her.
"Yes, I am." She answered softly, she felt a small blush creep on her face, her face being caressed by Roberts's gentle fingers, she stepped back a bit and he pulled back.
He had been carried away by her bewitching beauty, he needed to be more careful or he could lose his life for putting his hands on something that belonged to Lord Olive. It would be a miracle if he wasn't watching them right now.
"Let's go home," He offered and she nodded her head. "I hope you have bid your farewell to Chelsea and Linda."
Khalilah nodded.
She had been feeling a bit conscious, it was as though she was being watched, it was rather unsettling, she didn't like it, and it left a sour taste in her mouth. The beach was crowded and she was sure people would watch her but this was different, it was chilling and she felt herself tremble.
She was unable to ignore it either, it felt as though if she didn't move, she would be grabbed out of nothingness, the hairs on her skin were standing erect and goose bumps peeled across her skin; she was in panic mode but nothing was coming for her… even still she was restless.
Robert noticed she was trembling so he took off his jacket and wrapped it around her slender frame, a frown creased his forehead as he worried she might get sick and Granny Rosie would have his head for that.
"I should have never brought you here." He said as he got the door for her.
"I am not a child anymore, I came here on my own accord, and you shouldn't blame yourself." She said as she plucked in the seatbelt and waited for him to come in. "Perhaps I am not sick, I just need a bit of rest, and I—"
She trailed off when her eyes were met by a figure in the shadows, but in less than a second, it was gone, almost as though she had imagined it herself.
'What the hell was that?' she thought to herself.