Only the good die young:
Ethia watched her maid, carry the food tray out the door. The servants' routine, was to pick-up, then drop-of the tray with used dishes in the hallway. Then they would go back, to the queen mother's room and bolt the door from the outside. Ethia's door was to remain locked, ever since the incident in the queen's quarters. She had since then, broken a clay bowl on a maids head, attempted to bite of the ear of another male servant and had ran up a tree twice while chanting about stolen inheritances.
She slipped out of her room, while the maid was dropping of the tray of used dishes. And as the oblivious worker locked the door, Ethia grinned wryly behind her and headed inconspicuously to the other side of the palace.
Ethia's timing was perfect. Why not? The monitors were determined, not to waver this time around. When she walked into Debeh's room, the aura of serenity almost overwhelmed her sense of hate and wickedness. As she got closer to where the beloved maid lay, Ethia noticed that she was smiling. There was even a knowing glint, in her eyes. That demeanor further unnerved and tormented the queen mother. She felt her resolve shaking, even as she placed the cloth over the patient's nose and clamped down.
There was no struggle from the victim. Ethia was looking into Debeh's smiling eyes, when the asphyxiation took effect and she breathed her last.
Clouds under my feet:
Debeh held the baby in her arms and cuddled it for a little while. Then she put it in the ethereal hands, that were out stretched before her and knelt down. "Thank you Lord. I know she is the safest with you. Whatever happens I know you will be faithful with my baby. Thank you for the time I had with her, thank You for the honor of being this useful."
The two beautiful, huge and winged creatures, arrived just in time. Then they held Debeh's hands on both sides, as all three of them walked into the bright and enveloping light....
Culled (with permission) from 'The MONITORS' a fiction (somewhat) by Chioma Onwudiwe/2015