Salsa left the Queen with her eyes filled with tears. She didn't understand why she was crying. Tears wasn't something she was used to shedding, certainly not because of anyone. Truth be told she has never cared enough for someone to shed tears because of them.
Does that mean she cares for the Queen.
Her answer would have been a yes if Salsa understood the feelings wroth upon her by the Queen. She was so confused by the signals sent out by the Queen toward her that she feels like her head is about to explode.
One moment the Queen acts as if she cares, the next she is acting like the bloody winter.
All Salsa wanted to do right now was get away. From the Queen and these confusing feelings. She needed space to think, a place were her thoughts could be heard be heard.
But where?
If she ever tries to leave the palace without permission it will be dimmed that she was trying to run away and the punishment will be swift, and the palace grounds weren't conversant enough for her to find a hiding place.
The last time she tried to explore that hadn't ended well.
" Ah!!! " Salsa let out a loud squeak when a hand from nowhere dragged her behind a huge array of flowers. She tried to free herself from her captor's grip but she was held strongly and her mouth covered.
" Stop screaming, it is me, " a familiar voice barked at her.
Salsa calmed down after she recognized her captor.
Sure that she wasn't going to make a sound, her captor released her. Salsa turned to meet the furious gaze of Mei.
The other servant was glaring at her like she wanted to murder her whole. Salsa swallowed against her dried throat wondering what she has done now to piss the servant off. She still doesn't know why the other girl doesn't like her.
" Mei is something wrong? " she squeaked out in a low nervous tone when the girl didn't say anything and just stared at her with a murderous look.
" You told on me! " Mei hissed through her teeth closing the gap between them. She was still smarting from the dress down she got from Sally all because this stupid girl tattled on her.
Salsa pulled back from the advancing terror that was the servant, a nervous look on her face.
" W...hat are you t..talking about? " she stammered.
Mei's fist tightened at her side. The girl's fake innocent act was getting on her nerves. She knows her kind. Act all innocent and pure but underneath they are scheming little bitches who will do anything to climb to the top and if the girl thinks she was going to take her place with the Queen she has another thing coming.
" Listen you slut, I don't care what kind of a witch you are but I want you to stay away from the Queen. She doesn't need your kind around her. You are trouble and if you don't stay away you are going to take the Queen down with you. Is that what you want?! "
Salsa eyes clouded with intense fear. She tried to speak but she couldn't because the girl was holding her by the throat. She flayed her hands around trying to pull herself free but the girl was supposedly too strong for someone her size and built.
Salsa was getting scared out of her mind. The look in Mei's eyes. It looks like the girl is ready to kill her.
Where are the guards when you need one, Salsa wondered struggling.
" Mei! What are you doing?! " Another familiar voice screamed behind them.
A load of air rushed into Salsa's oxygen deprived lungs as she was quickly released. She bent to her waist wheezing through her nose, coughing as she tried to catch her breath, deaf to the heated argument going on few feet away from her.
The fact that she was nearly killed made her heart pound so fast in her chest that she felt faint. The other servant was crazy and it will do her good to stay away from the girl and the Queen in general. She doesn't want trouble.
After she collected herself she raised herself up and then started off into the darkness leaving Sally and Mei to continue their argument in her honor. She didn't care what the other servants were saying all she wanted was to get away. Far away from the crazy servant.
" Salsa! Salsa hold on! " Sally screamed after her, running to catch up. She couldn't believe what she just saw. She was confused whether to tell the Queen about this or not.
Mei stood watching the other servants walk away, a look of guilt, terror and anger in her eyes. She knew that she has messed up and if the girl decides to tell the Queen what she has done, the Queen might have her punished or worse killed.
She fisted her hands into her dress wondering what she was thinking. She didn't want to acknowledge the reason she was mad at the girl. No she will not say it out loud. Maybe she will be lucky neither Sally nor the girl will say anything. Leaving her fate to the Gods Mei walked away heading toward the Queen's chambers. It was time for the Queen's bath, since Sally is busy chasing after the girl she might as well go and get things ready.
Sally caught up with Salsa in the middle of the central courtyard.
" Hey! " she pulled her to a stop.
Salsa stopped but she didn't turn to face the other servant. She kept her eyes to the ground, doing her very best to keep her tears inside. She was hurting and just wants to be alone but she didn't want to be rude to Sally. She was the only one who has treated her kindly here. The only one who has shown her true kindness without asking anything in return. The Queen is only being kind because she wants something from her. What? Salsa cannot answer.
" Are you alright? " Sally asked when Salsa wouldn't look at her.
Salsa raised her face to give Sally a look. What kind of a question is that? her eyes asked the other servant.
Sally felt stupid for her question. Of course the girl wasn't alright, she just had her life nearly choked out of her. She knew her friend didn't like the girl but she didn't know she was crazy enough to attempt to harm her.
" I am sorry, " she said in a low voice not knowing how to make up for what Mei did.
A slight tearful smile appeared on Salsa's face as she looked up again at Sally. It wasn't her fault and so she shouldn't apologize.
" You are not the one that tried to kill me, " she tried to joke but it fell flat between them. Neither of them found any humor in what Mei has done.
" Are you going to tell the Queen? " Sally asked a little scared of the girl's answer. If Salsa decides to tell the Queen what happened her friend is going to be in a lot of trouble.
Salsa looked down again. She wanted to tell the Queen what happened but is scared that the Queen might not believe her. The Queen has known the other servant long before they met and even though Sally has treated her kindly who is to say that she will collaborate her story.
" You can't tell the Queen, " Sally pleaded immediately when Salsa remained quiet.
A ball of fury struck Salsa's heart like lightning and she looked up sharply at the other servant, her green eyes filled with anger.
" She tried to kill me! " she hissed through a clenched teeth, staring at the other servant with her eyes filled with tears and betrayal. She can't believe Sally was standing with Mei, but what had she expected. They have been friends long before she came around.
Sally looked at her helplessly, not knowing how to plead her case. " I know what she did was wrong, but if you tell the Queen she will punish her and if the King hears about it he will certainly kill her. No one can lay hands on the King's slaves without his permission or the Queen's. "
" That will serve her right, " Salsa snapped. She tried to tell herself that she didn't care what happens to Mei but a little part of her knows that her conscience wouldn't be able to bear it should something happen to the girl because of her.
" I know you don't mean that, " Sally said in low soft voice. The girl in front was kind hearted and good and that is why it baffles her that her friend doesn't like her.
Salsa looked away not saying anything.
" I know that what Mei did to you was wrong and that you have every right to tell the Queen, so I am not going to stop you. Do whatever you feel is right. "
Salsa kept quiet not saying a word as her tears fell silently down her face.
Unable to bear the girl's grief anymore Sally pulled her into her arms to console her.
Salsa turned within her arms and buried her face into her neck as she wept bitterly. Crying all her feelings out.
Sally knew that the Queen was waiting for them but she couldn't hurry the girl, not in the face of her pain. She will take responsibility should the Queen inquire why they were late.
After a while Salsa pulled back and used the back of her hand to clean her face.
" Thank you, " she said to Sally in a shy tone.
Sally smiled softly at her. " You are welcome, " She reached out to wipe her eyes better. " Better? " she asked staring into Salsa's eyes.
Not really, but Salsa nodded.
" Good, then we have to hurry to the Queen's chambers she is waiting for us. "
Salsa immediately buckled at the mention of the Queen. She didn't want to see the gorgeous Queen not with her emotions so raw and she still remembers the way she was dismissed few hours ago like she was nothing. No she didn't want to see the Queen.
" C...can I not go? " she enquired in a slightly shy tone not looking at the other servant.
Sally gave a puzzled look. " No, when the Queen summons you go, " she said as if the girl should know that.
Salsa's heart lurched forcefully against her throat. " The Queen sent for me?! " she asked sounding surprised.
Sally gave her a look wondering at her surprised tone. " Why did you think I came looking for you? "
Salsa was immediately filled with confused feelings. She didn't know whether to be glad that the Queen's wants her or be wry that it might be another ploy from her afterward she will be cast aside like she is nothing again. She didn't know if she could take the Queen toying with her again.
Sally watched the girl wondering what was going through her mind. Look we have to go right now or the Queen is going to be furious with us and you don't want her angry at you, she cautioned.
Salsa nodded. She has seen what the Queen can do when she is pissed and certainly do not want to have that furious brown eyes directed at her.
" Let's go, " she told the other girl and the two of them hurried off.
The arrived at the Queen's building to see several servants leaving with buckets in their hands. They hurried toward the inner chambers and when they walked in they found the Queen with her back to them being undressed for her bath by Mei.
The other servant was the first to see them and when her eyes locked on Salsa they immediately grew nervous.
Salsa held her gaze refusing to look away. She was enjoying the fear in her eyes as she wondered if she was going to tell the Queen. Salsa wasn't, not because she was scared of the girl but because she didn't want the girl's punishment on her conscience.
" What is the matter Mei? " The Queen asked when the servant remained still in her action.
Before the girl could answer, the Queen became aware of the other servants. She turned to face them.
Salsa's heart started beating fast in her chest when she felt the Queen's eyes on her. The burning in her lower abdomen started again. She couldn't meet the Queen's eyes so she kept her gaze to the ground.
Onyx took in her blonde servant for few seconds wondering how she was going to keep away from the blonde. Even now all she wanted was to go to her and take her in her arms.
She blinked back her desire and turned to face the other servant with her.
" What kept you Sally? " She asked with a little glare at the servant.
Mei stiffened and tensed as she waited for Sally's response.
" Eh...I got a bit lost while tracking this one down, " she chuckled deprecatedly with an awkward pull of her hair strand.
The Queen gave her a look like she didn't believe her but decided to let it go.
Mei let out a breath of relief. She looked up toward Salsa wanting to make sure that the girl wasn't going to say anything contrary.
Salsa glared at Mei when she felt her look in her direction and then looked away quickly when she felt the Queen look in her direction.
After Mei was done she stepped back from the Queen leaving her in her underwear.
The Queen turned to address her servants.
" You may leave. "
The three of them bowed their heads and began to retreat.
" Not you, " she said to Salsa.
Their hearts immediately sank to their stomach. Has the Queen noticed something they all wondered in fear.
Mei looked fearfully at Sally before turning to give Salsa a pleading look.
Salsa was not concerned by the other servant's fears she has more important things to worry about. Like being alone with the Queen.