Vivian tidied up the room mentally scolding herself for letting her emotions get the best of her. She shouldn't make Olive and the others suspicious of her. She had to maintain her cover. She mustn't disappoint Father.
She concentrated on her duties and left the room doing her best to ignore Olive. She made her way to the kitchen but stood in her tracks as she heard muffled voices.
"Oh, that's dreadful." She could make out Susan's panic-stricken voice. Though she was trying hard to speak in a low tone, her worry was evident.
"Yes it is, and it appears to have gotten worse by the day. We live in such terrible times..." It was a man's voice but Vivian couldn't discern if it was James or Jeffrey.
"Is anything the matter?" Vivian walked in hoping to get more information and not wanting to be caught eavesdropping on them
"Oh it's nothing." Susan smiled, a weak smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Knowing that Ms. Wells wouldn't take it lightly if she was caught tattling, she lied.
Vivian frowned. "If it makes you worry then it has to be important, but if you refuse to speak of it then it is alright." She went to the back upset that they still didn't trust her.
She met Olive spreading the last of the sheets she had washed out to dry. She hummed an unfamiliar tone while she worked. She soon stopped when she heard someone call out to her.
"Olive, it seems something troubles the mind of everyone here. Have any idea what it is ?" Vivian hoped Olive would know. She needed to satisfy her curiosity.
"Not just them, but everyone that lives on this land is worried." Olive replied, turning to look at her.
"Why? What happened ?"
"It seems people have gone missing again."
"People, missing ?" Vivian said softly, clenching her fists. "It is no doubt one of those dreaded creatures. They must be behind this!" She spat.
"Really? You seem so sure, they are responsible for this. Did you see them? How can you so easily blame them ?"
"I don't need to see anything to be sure of what I'm saying. No one's safe as long as those beasts are sharing this earth with us." She said not realizing Olive was now only a foot away from her. She hadn't even seen her move. Her gaze made Vivian take a step back.
"Wishing death on living beings, how cruel. You shouldn't say things like that, Vivian." She shook her head, speaking calmly. Still, it was enough to make Vivian's skin crawl. "You're so quick to pass the blame. Don't forget, humans can be monsters too." She said and left.
Vivian then took in a deep breath. She didn't realize she had stopped breathing when Olive stood so close to her. Was she that scared of her? At one point, she thought she saw anger in Olive, but it then got shadowed by another emotion she didn't understand. Now feeling unsafe, she hurriedly went back into the inn. She didn't want to become the next missing person.
Days went on in the inn, and as usual, people trod carefully. Susan would constantly worry for Olive, who usually went out to get water early in the morning. Every time she saw Olive return safely, she felt relieved. At first Olive was annoyed by her behaviour, her constantly searching her body for wounds, asking if anything happened, and acting like she was going to war when she leaves.
"You can be very dramatic, you know." Olive said to her, thumping her head a little. "You don't have to worry about me." Though she wouldn't admit it, Susan's actions warmed her heart just a tiny bit. Her lips curved into a slight smile while she spoke. But it faded immediately, turning into a frown. She looked like she had been reminded of something. Almost hurriedly, she walked away from Susan.
Susan seeing her smile, even if it was for a split second, smiled as well.
"I didn't know someone could smile after talking to her. I see you two have a good relationship." Vivian spoke from behind.
"I have known Olive for a long time and as I said, she's nice once you get to know her." Susan replied. "I do have a question for you ?" Susan said turning around to see her.
"What do you want to ask ?"
"Just why are you always finding time to talk ?" She raised a brow. "Go clean, attend to customers or something. I can't handle two Olives." She said pushing Vivian inside. "You two never do anything until I force you to."
"Stop pushing me, I'll go." Vivian said and Susan stopped. "You also have to do something. You've been standing here biting your nails ever since Olive went to get water. So, you're coming with me."
"Hey, I've been busy with the rooms." Susan stated. Vivian grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in. Only for both of them to find Ms. Wells.
"Vivian, come with me." She spoke and walked off. Immediately letting go of Susan, she followed behind.
"Your father is here to see you." Ms. Wells said as she walked up the stairs. Vivian's eyes widened. Has it been four months already? What would she do? What would she say? She had found out nothing staying here. "He is in the reserved room." She said. Looking back, she gave Vivian a brief glance before walking off in the direction of her office.
'Whatever it was they were after, I hope they've gotten it now.' She said to herself.
Vivian proceeded to the regulars' room. Walking in, she found every member of the purgatory in the room. There was an extra person with them.
"Greetings, everyone." She lowered her head in respect.
"Vivian, how have you been ?" Bethany, the only other female in the group, asked.
"I've been well." She answered.
"Good. Now, about the mission. What have you found out ?" Francis spoke this time. He had always been one to go straight to the point.
"I apologize, but I have been unable to find out anything. There's nothing peculiar about Susan. Like any other person, she seems normal. There is another that works here that I am suspicious of. She goes by the name, Olive. I have a feeling we might have been keeping an eye on the wrong person." Vivian stated her intuition.
"I see. This Olive character, what makes you suspicious of her ?"
"Her attitude towards the people; she seems to not care about anyone at all. Earlier today, I said something about the death of those dreaded night creatures, I swear I saw anger in her eyes. The way she calls us humans, like she's not one of us, are my reasons for being suspicious."
"This is not what we hoped to hear." Michael said, clearly disappointed.
"Once again, I deeply apologize."
"It's okay." Francis said. "For our suspect to work in an inn without being noticed by the people, you wouldn't expect them to be careless. Keep an eye on both women, Vivian. You have no exact evidence Olive is the one. You could be wrong and Susan is actually whom we should be after. I need you to watch both women closely. You remember Nicolas, right?" He pointed at the young man who stood behind him. He was the extra person with them.
Susan nodded. She had seen him different times talking with Francis, her father, and had spoken only once to him.
"He would come here every two weeks. Whatever you find out, tell to him and he'll report back to me." He stated. "What's that?" He asked, a blend of worry and anger was evident on his face as he looked at the scar on her arm.
Looking down at her arm, she thought of what to say. "It's n-nothing. I accidentally cut myself with the knife while helping in the kitchen." She lied.
She couldn't bring herself to say the truth. More than the abducting part, she was ashamed she lost a sparring match with a man who had been holding back because he didn't want her hurt.
"How did you give yourself such a cut? Are you telling the truth ?" He asked again, not believing her.
But, she insisted she had just cut herself and he had nothing to worry about. He still didn't believe her, but if she said she was fine, he would leave it be.
"Okay then. This meeting is over." He said. She gave a slight inclination of the head and left.
Francis then went over to Ms. Wells in her office.
"It looks like you'll have to accommodate her for while longer." He spoke, sitting comfortably on the chair on the other side of the table.
"Why is that? Haven't you gotten what you wanted ?" She asked. She was hoping she didn't have to deal with this again and Vivian would leave.
"I'm afraid not. It is a rather hard fish to catch, you see." Francis replied.
Sighing she asked, "how long does she have to stay here ?"
"It depends on when the said fish would make a mistake and how fast she is at bringing it in." He answered.
First, 'something special', now, a 'fish'. Wells was getting annoyed. "Francis, I do hope you don't plan on causing harm."
"Oh ? not at all. In fact, what I want will do nothing but good." He spoke and stood up. "I'll take my leave now. Do take care of Vivian." He said and left.
*******
"There's not many people here today." Susan noted, stretching her arms.
"Lest I forget, Ms. Wells has ordered we both go get some groceries, Olive. We're almost out." Jeffrey spoke urging her to go with him.
Vivian then walked in.
'I can't disappoint them again. I have to take this more seriously.' She thought as she stared at the two ladies who seemed comfortable where they sat.
"Come on, the carriage is ready." He stretched his arm forth to help her get to her feet. She stood up, not taking his hand and they both walked off.
"Hey Vivian, are you okay? You look tensed." Susan said noticing the look on her face.
"I am fine." She gave a wry smile and sat where Olive was. "You're not running around working. That's a first."
"There's nothing to do, for now. Taking a little rest wouldn't be bad." Susan replied.
*******
'I keep getting one problem after the other.' Ms. Wells rested her head on her hand. Slowly, she lifted her face and stared at the man who sat in the opposite direction observing her with cunning eyes.
"Thomas, I have informed Harris and I have told you countless times already and I shall say it again. The woman you want, I can not give you. No matter how much you pay, she is off-limits."
Soon after Francis had left, Thomas walked in. He had visited different times already; trying to get Ms. Wells to give Vivian to him. Trying to abduct her didn't work, if he tried again and was caught, there is a high chance he would be accused of the missing persons. He wanted to play it safe.
Furious at her statement, he hit the table with his fist. "Caroline, whatever it is you want, name it and I shall provide it. All I ask for is this lady!"
"My answer is still the same. I don't need anything from you. You and Harris keep thinking you can get whatever you want. Not everything you put a price on."
"She is a woman like every other, of course she has a price!"
"You are nothing but a scum. How can you speak of women that way ?!" She yelled and stood up, furious as well. "I will take this nonsense no more. You and Harris both can go to depths of hell or heaven, bring whatever you can, my answer is the same!" She snarled. "If anything should happen to Vivian as well, you both would not go free, I promise you."
Staring at each other fiercely, Thomas stood to his full height and turned to leave.
"You will regret this."