Today was odd. Very odd.
We had gone to serve the Lords in the morning, and true to her word, Becca had gone to Lord Fashire's wing to deliver food to his pet while I went ahead to deliver the food cart to the other Lords' wings. As luck would have it, two of the Lords were absent, granting me a reprieve from their imposing presence. Instead, I found myself in the company of their pets. They seemed well off, which brought a welcome relief for me not to be in the presence of the other Lords.
And well… the ones who were around, fortunately, didn't give me much attention, while Lady Gremlin was nice, as always. Once I was done, I left the Lords' wings, and I waited and waited, and waited for Becca. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly and concern gnawed at my core. She too was taking quite a long time in there, and I wondered if it was similar to what I had experienced yesterday.
Then again, I doubted that was the case since she had served him a few times in the past.
Finally, Becca emerged from Lord Fashire's wing, but her countenance was anything but reassuring. Her face was drained of colour, a stark contrast to her usual vibrancy. I couldn't help but stand there, rooted to the spot, perplexed by her appearance.
"Becca, are you all right?" I inquired, my voice laden with concern.
Startled, her eyes swiftly searched mine before she slightly relaxed when she realised it was just me. And with a feeble attempt at a smile, her quivering lips betrayed her true state.
My brows furrowed as I approached her, scared. "You don't have to do that. It's obvious that you look…"
Her response was to cover her mouth and shake her head slowly, pain etched in her expression. I stopped and clamped my mouth shut. She burst past me. Bewildered and worried, I pushed the cart and rushed after her, struggling to keep pace with her obvious urgency.
Becca's usually enthusiastic gait had transformed into an anxious stride, as if she sought to escape the very atmosphere of the Lords' wings. We had barely distanced ourselves from their domain when I couldn't bear the suspense any longer.
"Becca, what happened in there? Is something wrong?" I implored, desperation seeping into my voice.
She squeezed her eyes shut, and when she met my gaze, her expression spoke volumes of the pain she carried. With a shake of her head, she whispered, "I don't want to speak of it. I'm truly sorry, Hiln."
Relinquishing her food tray onto my cart, Becca gently nudged it from my grasp, her actions laden with a silent plea for understanding.
I found myself standing alone in the dimly lit hallway as she disappeared into the kitchen, my chest heavy with fear and guilt. It was because of me she had to go serve him, but what had happened in there? I had assumed she would be fine since she had served the other Lords on previous occasions, but it seemed my assumption had been gravely mistaken.
Minutes ticked by, and Becca remained hidden within the confines of the kitchen. My determination to apologize and offer solace grew stronger, for I had unknowingly subjected her to a situation that had left her so distraught. Yet, a nagging doubt took root within me.
What if nothing had happened to her? What if she had witnessed something disturbing, instead? The memory of the young boy I had glimpsed in the Lord's chamber the previous day surged to the forefront of my mind, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Did I even have the right to ask her for anything? Maybe it would be unpleasant to have her tell me the details or even recount what she didn't want to divulge.
At the end of the day, it seemed vampires weren't that much different from humans. They were just powerful in aspects we humans couldn't fathom. They had different ways of living. The lower vampires didn't take that much blood the way the higher lords did, and they had emotions the same way we humans had them.
I couldn't help but surmise that Lord Fashire had unleashed something horrific upon that innocent boy while Becca was still in there. Perhaps the prolonged duration of her absence was due to her diligent efforts to clean up the aftermath of his actions.
I shivered.
'Oh, lords!' What kind of situation had I placed Becca in? It tortured me to see her cheerful demeanour dwindling so much. Was there anything I could do to bring it back? Rubbing my neck nervously, I made my way into the kitchen. Becca was the only one in there. Inside, she diligently placed the used plates in the sink, leaving them for Tori and May to wash when they returned to their posts.
"I—Are you really alright?" I spoke up, hovering at the entrance. "I am so sorry, Becca. I should never have agreed to let you go in there… especially on your own. That was selfish of me."
"Stop." Becca glanced up at me, pausing her task. Straightening her posture, she let out a heavy sigh. "It's alright, Hiln. It's not really about that—maybe I… hmm…" she trailed off, contemplating her words before continuing, "You know. We can discuss this another time." She looked back down. "Just not now."
I nodded, understanding the weight of her unspoken request. I didn't need to push any further or disturb her.
"Should I wait for you?" I motioned outside the kitchen, offering her a chance to regroup.
Becca nodded, her gaze still downcast. I leaned against the wall, patiently waiting for her to finish emptying the dishes into the sinks and clear the cart. Once she had washed her hands, we departed the kitchen, enveloped in a blanket of silence. Throughout our walk, I couldn't help but steal glances at her, yet she kept her gaze fixed firmly upon the ground, her steps slow and laden with the weight of whatever had transpired.
No matter how many times she reassured me that she was fine, I couldn't shake the horrible feeling I had. Suddenly, a thought struck me, halting me in my tracks and startling Becca. Urging her to wait, I swiftly made my way to Matadre's office. Without bothering to knock, I pushed the door open to find her inside, engrossed in her work.
"Excuse me," I greeted, my voice tinged with anxiety. "Sorry for barging in like this."
Matadre glanced up from her papers, offering a small smile in my direction before returning to her writing. After a few moments, she lifted her gaze once more, focusing on me. "Is there something I can assist you with, Hiln?"
"Yes." I rubbed my wrist, raw from nervous anticipation. I gathered my courage and spoke, "I was wondering… Since we have no further tasks after serving the Lords this morning, would it be permissible for Becca and I to venture into town?"
Matadre hummed thoughtfully, propping her elbows on the table and resting her chin on her clasped hands. Her eyes studied me intently before a decision formed. "Very well, Hiln. However, do not tarry for too long."
I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and with newfound energy, I hurriedly left the office. Becca stood against the wall with a despondent expression etched upon her face. Acting on impulse, I grasped her shoulders a bit too firmly, causing her to startle and raise her hands defensively. Regret flooded my senses. I shouldn't have done that.
"What is it?" she questioned, her wide eyes filled with surprise.
Releasing my grip, my lips formed an apologetic smile. "I sought Matadre's permission. Would you like to escape this place for a while?"
Becca paused, her expression slowly shifting to one of understanding as the idea dawned on her. A glimmer of hope sparked within her eyes for a fleeting moment, and my smile widened in response. Perhaps this was a step in the right direction. Her lips curved into a small smile of affirmation, and my heart soared.
"Very well." I gestured towards her door. "You can go and prepare. I will do the same, and then we can go out."
"Where are we going?" she asked me.
"Just the nearby village," I replied. "We can indulge in some candies and cupcakes. Perhaps visit that bakery you like." I beamed at her, pleased with my impromptu plan. An outing, no matter how simple, would offer respite from the stifling atmosphere of the manor.
Becca let out a small laugh, followed by a genuine smile. It lasted for a few seconds, but it was a pleasant start. Becca retreated to her room, and I left for my own. Swiftly changing my clothes and discarding my servant uniform, I neatly folded it on the bed before selecting a simple dress for the occasion. Emerging from my room, I headed towards Becca's door, gently knocking.
When no response came, I hesitated momentarily before deciding to enter. Sounds of water splashing emanated from the bath chamber, and I settled on her bed.
'Maybe she must be washing herself.' A brief mental imagery of her wiping up some blood intruded my thoughts and I grimaced, banishing it. Becca must have been horrified. Did that mean I would have to see another dead body soon?
After a few minutes, Becca emerged, her face etched with weariness, yet she appeared far better than before.