Natasha stormed into her room and locked the door behind, furiously throwing the scarf on the floor as she stood in front of the mirror with her gaze fixed on her reflection.
" Damn it!! Gosh–I regret not killing you along with your bastard mother, Gisella. I so curse the day you were born–Argh!!!!" She yelled, thumping the items in front of the dressing mirror to the floor. Her breath rose and fell with rapid speed, a wolfish gaze lingered in her eyes.
" No matter what it takes, Gisel– I'll surely accomplish my mission. I'll make sure I take your whole family along with me if it's the last thing I do " She cursed.
Natasha swiftly pulled out the drawer and picked out some charms. She instinctively lighted the candles, arranged them in a circle form, and sat in the middle, chanting and calling on dead spirits.
Suddenly, the door slammed open with Gisella storming in. Natasha was immersed in what she was doing that she didn't realize when she trod in. She shouted which drew Natasha's attention as she off the candles.
" Enough with this rubbish, Nat– You have no right to do as you please in my house." Her voice echoed. Natasha spontaneously jerked to her feet with the slacked jaw.
" What is the meaning of this, Gisel?– How dare you to invade my privacy." She exclaimed.
" I'll do even worse if you try this nonsense again, Nat." Gisel barked. Natasha furiously inched closer.
" Bastard, what right do you have to tell me what to do. I'll so teach you not to intrude in my business, ever again" She lifted a hand about to slap her but Gisel automatically stopped her hand midway in the air.
" Hold it right there, woman." She exclaimed. "Point of correction, the bastard over here is you– Natasha" She added and Natasha gasped.
"And for your information, everything that goes on in here matters to me– You've enjoyed enough grace period ever since you came and today marks the end. I'm no longer the reflection of what you think, Nat...I'm the reflection of my inner self. Gisella is now back to take care of everything and I won't allow you to hurt or harm any of my loved ones ever again like you did to my father, Gina, and Desmond. I'm glad I was able to save Desmond on time–This house is mine and I warn you to stay out of my way and be prepared for the worst if you dare not."
Natasha stared at her, bemused as she strolled off towards the door. She instinctively gazed back at Nat with a mischievous smile; just when she got to the door.
" Remember, I see everything you plan to do before it happens so think twice before you attempt anything, Nat, or let me say, mum." She smiled and sauntered out of the room. Natasha instinctively slouched into a chair by the mirror, perplexed.
" She had the gust to talk to me like that? When did she suddenly become brave and outspoken? I need to march up to my game now else she's gonna make all my effort go in vain."
***************
It was already night and dinner had already been served. Lizzy trod out of the kitchen with a tray towards Gisella's room while Agnes played around with Lola.
" Get the dining table ready for Mrs. Natasha before she gets here– You know how she acts...." She went on but Agnes suddenly cut in.
" Is okay, bossy–Stop the nagging, I'm already done with it" She stated. Lizzy shrugged with twisted lips.
" Whatever, I'm going up to Gisella's room– I'll pass by Nat's room and inform her to come down for dinner." She informed. Lizzy hurried up the stairs while Agnes continued with Natasha's dinner.
GISELLA'S ROOM
Gisella sat on the bed with her father's portrait. She stared down at the portrait with tears in her eyes and a faint smile.
" I wish you were here to see how brave and gorgeous your baby had grown into, dad." She giggled with teary eyes. " I know it's your long-awaited wish you never lived to see– I miss those moments you use to come into my room and share your worries and problems with me even though I was so little to understand anything. Our fun and happy moments together" She sobbed.
" I miss them all–I'm so sorry I couldn't save you, daddy, I'm so sorry." She broke down in tears.
"But I promise you one thing, dad" She sniffed. " I'll never rest until I make sure she pays for everything " She instinctively hugged the portrait and sobbed.
" Is okay, Gisella– you can't keep crying over a spoilt milk." A voice called from behind. She swiftly turned and saw Lizzy approaching from the entrance with a tray in her hands.
" Oh, Aunty, you're here." She stuttered as she swiftly brushed off the tears and forced a smile. "I didn't know when you walked in."
Lizzy smiled and gently dropped down the tray on the table next to the bed.
" Is alright, Gisella– I just came to serve you dinner." She answered as she settled next to her. Gisella hugged her with a broad smile.
" There is no need for this, Aunty." She stuttered and Lizzy chortled.
" Just look how beautiful you look when you wear that beautiful smile, honey–" She commented with a smile. " Keep smiling like this, okay?"
Gisella bobbed her head in response, with her bright gaze fixed on Lizzy. " Thank you so much, aunty. You've always been there for me ever since dad and Gina passed on– You're my guardian angel."
" Enough with the flatter, Gisella" muttered Lizzy with a smile as she drew the tray closer.
" Now, have something...it's getting late"
" No need, aunty. I'll like to join Natasha downstairs for dinner henceforth.
Lizzy gazed at her bemused with her jaw slightly dropped. "Are you serious about this, Gisella?" She queried.
" Yeah, why are you looking at me as if you've seen a walking corpse?" Gisel stuttered with a furrowed brow. Lizzy chuckled.
" Funny–" She laughed. "Actually, since childhood, you've always liked to be alone in your room after school. You never liked joining the family downstairs for dinner so what happened? What suddenly changed?" She asked.
Gisella inched closer and held her hand, smiling.
" That was then, Lizzy." She sighed. "Things had changed now and you're going to see more of me nowadays. " She explained. "Come on, let go downstairs for dinner, I'm famished."
Without hesitation, she jerked to her feet and trod off.
Lizzy gazed at her back puzzled.
" Oh my God– What's going on? Is this the Gisella I know? She's a changed person now" She scoffed. " Unbelievable"
" Lizzy! – Ain't you coming?" Gisel called from the corridor. " What are you still doing in there?" She shouted.
" Oh, I'm coming, was picking up the tray" She exclaimed and dashed.