Page 10 of Hair, She Bears
“I assume he is like you,” Zenna replied, wrenching her arm out of Mother’s grasp.
“He’s worse. He’s developed quite a collection of women over his lifetime.” A sneer hovered on Mother’s lips. “Did he tell you he was engaged?”
3
“Engaged?” But he kissed her… twice! Numbness flooded her body. Her legs wobbling, she staggered to the sofa and dropped onto the cushion. The word buzzed around her head.
“Neglected to mention that, did he?” Mother strolled around the back of the sofa and stopped directly behind her. Locking eyes with her in the mirror, he clamped his hands on her shoulders, resting his bulk on her small frame. “Malik has never been one for honesty. Perhaps that is the reason he excels in this business.”
“He…”
“Are you defending my son? One hour with him and suddenly, you are his champion. I shall have to ask him his secret.” Mother’s grip tightened, digging into Zenna’s collarbones. “You didn’t have sex with him, did you?”
“No!” Zenna attempted to jerk free, but Mother’s iron grasp pinned her to the sofa.
Leaning down, he whispered in her ear. “Do you know what sex is?”
“I’ve read about it.”
Mother ripped her over the back of the sofa and slammed her against the wall, his fingers curled around her throat. Her feet swung above the floor, kicking madly as she clawed at his hand, gasping for oxygen.
“What have you been reading?” He lowered her just enough that her toes touched the cold stone.
“Only what you’ve brought me,” she replied, her voice hoarse. Her eyes slid to the right, indicating a small shelf with several worn books, rare presents from Mother.
“I will have to choose more carefully in the future.” Mother leaned forward, his body pressed against hers. “Were you intrigued? Would you like me to show you what sex feels like?”
She shook her head. “I don’t believe I would find the experience enjoyable.”
Mother snorted, released her, and vanished. She heard his voice in the courtyard below. “Next time, try not to land on your back.”
“Fuck you,” Malik replied, anguish accompanied his retort.
Mother’s snicker rose to Zenna’s window. She crept over and peered out. Malik lay immobile beneath the tower. Mother crouched beside him and extracted the vial from his pocket.
“I don’t want any more.”
“You need it.” Forcing the bottle between Malik’s teeth, Mother tapped the contents into Malik’s mouth. He choked on the powder, but Mother covered Malik’s mouth with his hand and rubbed his throat, forcing his son to swallow the drug.
“Disgusting,” Malik’s raspy voice announced once Mother removed his hand.
“And yet, now you can move.”
“I wouldn’t have needed it at all if you kept Zenna in a normal location.” Malik sat up, his hands moving over his limbs as if checking for broken bones.
“Zenna? Are we on a first-name basis with the chemist?”
“She’s a captive.”
“She’s a debtor.” Rising, Mother offered his hand to Malik, who smacked it away and struggled to his feet.
“And what happens when she pays off the debt? Do you let her go?”
“Always so concerned with the less fortunate.” Mother ruffled Malik’s hair. “Your mother had the same unbearable trait.”
“Is that why you killed her?” The hatred that flowed from Malik wound around the tower and crept in through the window.
“She betrayed us.” Mother’s hands clenched. “She was going to shut down the business, take you away from me, and send me to prison.”
