Slumber Two

And so, the pair met in secret for a few weeks. Onyx keeping Bijou's Aunts from finding out. It was hard to keep them from seeing what happened sometimes. Especially when Bijou couldn't be subtle to save her life. Then again, she never really learned to be. But despite this, they managed to see each other. Bijou and Tamifa. Both exploring the forest for things to scavenge. Things to just toy with and possibly sell in town, in disguise of course. After all, they didn't want people to find out about what they were up to. And so far, it worked out nicely.

Until the day Bijou was caught.

Bijou had been careless that day, she came home very late. Much later than she should have. Her aunts were surrounding the door when she got back. Afua was the nearest to the door. When she and Onyx came into the room, she asked,"Where were you, young lady?"

"In the forest, Aunt Afua. Just myself and Onyx.",she said. A slight frown came on her face as she watched them. They usually weren't this suspicious of her. Nor did they question her behavior. So, this made her a bit nervous as Afua asked,"No, where were you really?"

"I was in the-""Stop lying to us, Bijou. We've heard that you've been in town with a strange girl.",said Sethunya. A cold shiver of fear went down her spine as she backed up. Who could have told them? Who could of told her aunts? She tried to think of whom could have done this. Names running through her mind as she tried to think of who could have done this. That's when she noticed that Onyx wasn't looking at her. His glowing eyes staring down at the floor as if he was feeling completely guilty. Her stomach twisted in knots as she realized who had ratted her out. Onyx told them. He told them that she had become friends with a stranger. That she'd done explicitly what they had instructed not to do. Bijou bit her lip hard as she looked at them. They looked at each other. A sad look on their faces as Afua said,"I see. We were hoping it wouldn't come to this. But you've given us no choice, Bijou."

"What do you mean?",Bijou asked, her voice shaking. Afua walked up to her with a brochure. It was a boarding school that was at least a country away that she'd been afraid of. One that she'd heard them mention in passing. That it'd be safe for Bijou to be in and that someone wouldn't get to her. Taking it, she started shaking as Zina came up to her. Wrapped her arms around her gently and said,"I'm sorry, dear. But it's for the best for you, you can't just go around with strangers."

Then she started crying as she tried to push away from her. No, this wouldn't be right. She wanted to be with Tamifa and spend time with her. How could Onyx betray her like this? It wasn't fair. Now she wouldn't ever see the girl she came to love ever again. And she started sobbing quietly as she asked,"Can...can I at least be able to tell my friend goodbye?"

"I'm afraid not, we need you to start packing tonight. You'll be leaving right away in the morning.",Sethunya said. Of course she couldn't. Why did she believe she even could? When Zina let go of her, she walked to her room and did as instructed. Her heart heavy with grief, she tried to not think of Tamifa. Or how she smiled at her when they were together. And she'd never hear the lovely sound of her voice. But at the same time,s he was angry at herself. If she'd only listened to her aunts, she wouldn't be leaving them. If she'd listened to them and did as they told her, she'd be staying. Instead, she just had to willingly disobey and do whatever she pleased.

Her feelings were a mess, and she put her clothes in her suitcase. Then started using small tricks she'd learned from her aunts to pack the other items. When she was halfway finished, Onyx came in. His guilt was obvious as he tried to apologize to her. Instead, he just kept stammering,"I...I know that you're mad at me..I just thought-thought..."

"Onyx, leave me alone. I can't even stand to look at you right now. Go away.",she ordered him. Her voice was quivering but she remained strong and didn't dare face him. It was hard to not want to turn around to talk to him. Or see his face. Guessing it dropped when he sighed, she bit her lip again as the door shut. She knew he wasn't doing this to be cruel to her. Or that he was trying to be mean to her. That he was doing as he was programmed to do. Protect her and do what he felt was best for her. But right now, she just felt too betrayed to care about this. And she finished using her magic to pack. When she was finished her room looked so empty.

It seemed like she never even existed.

Or that she even mattered. Bijou went out into the living room. Gave her Aunts goodnight hugs and kisses. Then she went to do her bedtime rituals. Which was to wash her own face, brush her teeth. Then she took a quick shower, got into her pajamas and went to bed. She lay there under the covers for hours. Crying quietly about how she just wanted to stay there, she pressed her face into the pillow. It wasn't fair. And her aunts knew it. They were overreacting to her finally getting a friend to talk to. Her finally having someone to hang out with. They never gave her a reason for why she couldn't make friends.

She knew it was dangerous to talk to people her aunts didn't know. But sending her to a boarding school seemed extreme. Her eyes shut slowly as she started drifting off. This wasn't fair, she wished she could make them understand. That she needed to be treated like the age she was. Not like a child. If only she could make them see that she was growing up.

If only, if only.