After idly walking around the manor, I came across the pond again and this time I took along some breadcrumbs. I just sat there peacefully watching them swim to my side of the water. It was simply calming. That's when I heard two girls coming over. It was the girl from my first day here. She was with someone else who looked like… Daizy from afar.
They came closer and I confirmed it was indeed Daizy.
"Oh… what a surprise to see you here," Daizy said, with a smile, which I considered awkward…
"You know her?" The other girl asked.
"Yeah, she's new here" Daizy said, still looking at me.
"Talia, Raven…Raven, Talia" she introduced and I smiled at them getting a little anxious.
"Can we join you?" Talia asked and I noticed the change of mood on Daisy's face
"Uh..if you want to," I said, sharing some of the crumbs with them.
"So not be so direct but are you really a slave?" Talia asked, making me hesitate.
"Y..yes," I said, fiddling with the crumbs in my hands.
"It must have been hard…" she said again as she released some of the crumbs into the water, and a dry smile escaped my lips.
"Well no need to worry, you've got us now. Stick with us and you'll be fine" Talia said and I smiled, happy I wouldn't be alone after all.
"Okay, we've got work now. Come on Talia" Daizy said and Talia's face turned sour.
"Don't remind me…" she said grumpily getting up.
"wanna join us? I mean it's better than being here alone" she said.
"Sure" I liked my alone time but it would be nice to mingle once in a while. I put the remaining crumbs into the water and joined them.
As we walked quietly towards the building, I felt a hand pull me back.
"Just to be clear… you didn't see anything that day all right?" She said, her face turning serious.
"Okay…" I said and her frown curved into a smile as she patted my shoulder walking ahead.
I couldn't care less if she's meeting with the captain but why do it secretly? Anyway, I'd like to stay out of anyone's business. I thought as I caught up with them.
We got in and found that many people were moving around the manor. They weren't maids or guards, they were just random people, moving around with what looked like camping bags.
"Aww…I hope I get selected for the clan gathering this year," Talia said.
"I know right…It would be fun with you around," Daizy said.
"...at least you won't be alone, Raven's gonna be there"
I lifted my head, not getting what they were chatting about.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Oh, I thought you knew. It's the clan gathering in two days. You're the master's slav..maid, so you get to go" Talia said.
"I'm the captain's maid so it's guaranteed. As for others, it only depends on if they're chosen to serve the meals and help out" Daizy said.
"And I heard this year is gonna be a three-day festival," Talia said, pouting as though she would cry.
"There there, Tally," Daizy teased.
"Slave girl," I heard and I turned to see the captain. I learned he was the captain when I gave him the scroll.
I noticed Talia and Daizy bowing and I did so too.
"Sir Alex demands your presence in his chamber," He said and I bit my lip looking at both Daizy and Talia and back at the captain who seemed to be smiling.
I walked ahead of him, making my way towards the master's room.
"Have fun," The captain said, chuckling to himself as he took a different corridor towards the east. My heart suddenly beating in my chest, threatening to jump out.
I arrived at the door to my master's bedroom and I met two guards standing there.
One of them went in and came out after a while.
"go in…" He said moving out of the way.
I found a lady putting on a red robe as she walked out, her hair looking messy. As she walked past me, I recalled her face. She was the one I bumped into the other day with the grey dress and leather belt.
"Come here" He suddenly said, his voice startling me.
After he finished his fun with Karen, his throat soon began to itch as he yearned for a sumptuous meal after having consumed so much energy. He sent Cole to get her and after a while, he heard a knock on the door. Taking out a bottle of booze from the shelf, he poured himself some, noticing the girl walk in as timidly as always and he observed her every move, down to her shaky breath and very uneasy thumping heartbeat.
"Come here," he said, drinking from the booze in his hand.
She slowly approached him looking scared which almost made him reconsider but the thirst was too much to bear.
"Give me your hand," he said, taking out the knife from the bedside table drawer.
"Master?"
"Do you want me to repeat myself?" He asked and she immediately stretched both her hands towards him.
"Just one," he said, taking one hand as he stared at her intently.
Without hesitation, he drew the knife across her palm and the metallic scent of blood filled the air. She hissed in pain and it surprised him because he expected a high-pitched scream... She moved back trying to get her hand away from him…
"Don't move…" he whispered, staring into her odd-coloured eyes, and she obeyed despite the brutality of the act. His gaze never wavered from hers as the blood trickled into the waiting cup on the table. He wondered how one could have such distinctive eyes.
He inhaled as the sweet scent of her blood dripped into the cup on the table. He patiently waited till the cup was full before handing her the cloth on the table.
With trembling hands, she accepted the cloth, pressing it to her injured palm as the man turned his attention to the cup. With a deliberate slowness that seemed to stretch time itself, he brought the vessel to his lips and took a sip, his eyes fluttering shut in a moment of ecstasy.
The room fell into an eerie cold stillness as he savoured the taste of her blood, a haunting smile playing at the corners of his lips. At that moment, she felt a sense of profound unease wash over her, a gut-wrenching realization dawning in her mind.
Her master's actions surprised her to her bones. She lifted her eyes to see him drinking from the cup and fear engulfed her.
As he set the cup down with a satisfied sigh, she knew that she stood in the presence of a nightmare from which there would be no awakening.