"Oh right on time, our guests has arrived", She smiled and turned to walk out. She stopped on her tracks. "Remember anyone that tries to taint the Lord's name would also be tainted by their blood", with that she walked out with her head up high.
Jada released the breathe she didn't know she was holding, out. "Thanks to the heavens. This is the last dish, quickly pass the veggies to me", the head cook instructed.
Jada gave her the bowl of diced veggies.
"I have to change since I am to serve the guests". The head cook placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Please take care and be careful when you are there, no mistakes Jada", Jada nodded. The chef shared a little smile before continuing from where she stopped.
Jada quickly took a bath to remove the smell of cooking ingredients from her.
Brushing her curly hair, she tied it with a dark blue ribbon to match her blue eyes. She wore her second pair of black maid dress. She wore the little white apron along with it.
Checking her reflection, She smiled at her reflection. With the few wages she's earning, She'll gather enough coins so when she finally escapes She wouldn't worry about where to sleep and what to eat.
She walked out of the kitchen and joined the maids pulling food carts that contained the delicacies. They headed straight to the dining hall.
The guests were seated discussing amongst themselves.
Jada eyes trailed to the head to the table. "Green eyes?", She questioned.
As if hearing his name, Leo eyes met hers.
She quickly schooled her surprised expression.
Standing at a corner with a jar of blood. Her duty was to refill the vampires glasses.
She could tell it was blood from the smell of it. She tried holding in the urge to puke her lunch out.
"Milord, I never knew you had such rare beauty hidden all these while. Why don't you lend her to me for the night". A man old enough to father Jada laughed as she filled his empty glass with blood.
"She off limits, you can have the others but her". Leo replied without taking his attention from his meal.
So he is the Lord. Jada facepalmed herself inwardly. It was so dumb of her to ask the Lord of the mansion for a way out of the mansion.
How is she going to get out of this mess. She have to escape earlier than planned before he recognize her.
Standing for a while. She noticed that the Lord's glass was empty. The other maids were signaling her to attend to him.
She noticed she was the only one holding a jar of blood. Still, her feet refused to move.
She felt someone staring daggers straight at her. She turned to see Lacy giving her a dead glare. Scared by the sudden look she moved towards the Lord to fill his cup.
"At a moment, I thought you might grow wings and fly through the window", Leo said to only her hearing. Of course the vampires in the room heard him clearly.
The human guests and maids heard nothing.
"I am deeply sorry about the other day Milord", She bowed.
"I don't recall what you are talking about but I still don't trust you. Until I make things clear, I'd like you to stay low and don't do anything that would warrant your death". He said taking a sip from the glass of blood.
Jada gulped. *Such coldness!*
She stepped away, taking her previous position.
The old man kept giving her lustful gaze. She tried her best to ignore him. The discussion continued.
Leo cast a sideways glance at the caramel skinned girl with deep blue eyes and thick curly hair tied with a ribbon, highlighting her facial features.
There was something about her He couldn't pinpoint.
He has to watch her for a while.
If she exhibit signs of being a black mage, He'll rip her head off. His eyes darted to the chubby old man giving the maid a lustful gaze.
"Duke Armstrong", he called for his attention.
"Yes Lord Roden", He turned to him.
"I would like an alliance personally with you, Your lands are rich in growing grains",
"That I know, what do I get?",
"You will provide me with thirty thousand bags of fine grains yearly for a chest of gold", The greedy half vampire eyes sparkled at the price. With such amount of gold he would be one of the wealthiest merchants.
He smiled. "If Lord Roden May allow me to add another request".
"Sure Duke".
"The maid with the blue eyes... Give her to me and you'll not have to pay for the grains for this year". He smirked. Surely no one would refuse such an offer.
Jada eyes widen. Even when she wished she could go to the central empire to get married. She never wished to be sold off to a fat old man. She shivered.
"I can't do that Duke Armstrong. You could take another maid but her, I made myself clear earlier didn't I?",
"I see... then fine", He stood up.
"I have to take the night's rest, it was a long ride". He walked out.
Gesturing for a maid to follow him, which she did. She shivered as she walked behind him, Shortly the Lord excuse himself and walked out too. The guests stood up to leave.
The maids moved to clear the table. Leo walked down the dark halls which was partly lit with lanterns.
A shadow followed him in a distance. Leo halt feeling the presence. Throwing a glance over his shoulders. His face masked in a frown.
"I don't like being pranked on, Grey", An eerie chuckled echoed as he materialized.
Giving Leo a slight bow.
"I am sorry my lord, I thought it would be fun to mess with you for a while".
"And it almost cost your life, did you find anything about her ?", He turned to face him.
"I am sorry Milord, I checked all records that were unburnt from the fire. There was nothing about her. Her file was empty, like she never existed", Grey said.
For the first time in his life, he couldn't accomplish a given task. "Hump!", Leo continued walking.
Grey followed from behind. Ensuring he was more than five feet away.
The Lord was unpredictable. He might snap his head in a heartbeat.
Grey touched his neck with a thought of dying on his mind. Leo opened an old door that creaked loudly. Stepping into the dusty room.
"Do you want me to retrieve the gem Milord?", Grey voiced out.
"We don't want to scare the other guests, do we?", He asked with his back to him.
Grey bowed diligently. "Of course not Milord",
"We take back what is ours at the right time, after the treaty is signed". Leo said with a smirk on his face.
What stood before him was a portrait of a man with his wife and their two sons. One had a blonde hair with a grumpy look on his face and the other had a dark hair, he has a mischievous smirk on his face.
Leo smiled at a fond memory. It's time he payed a visit to his younger brother, Theo.
***
Jada found herself in a forest, lost in the woods. How did she end up getting here ?, she wondered. She remembered having dinner with Maya and Lisa in their room.
Shortly after that she fell asleep. Hearing a distance howl. She jerked her head. Looking backwards, The woods were pitch black. The cloud slowly revealed the bright full moon. Casting it rays on the woods.
Jada looked around. Her breathe hitched when she stepped on something. Looking down she was a dead body. Not any dead body, it was Kate's body. Staring up at her blankly with throat spilt open.
Her body wasn't the only dead body there. Jada saw familiar faces of the villagers and the ladies in jolly valley. All killed in the same pattern.
"It's all your fault, you failed to protect us when you promised you would", Kate voice rang. She watched as Kate stood up.
"A priceless soul... If we could switch fate, I'll still be alive", It said as if talking to itself. It reached it decaying hand in attempt to get hold of her.
Jada stomped backwards. This is a bad dream, She has to wake up.
The cold wind made her have goosebumps all over. This was real. She screamed inwardly.
The dead being seeing her actions appeared annoyed. It launched forward to grab her.