Aliona bent over the sand in the garden, uprooting the weeds while listening to the chatter from the kids. Her upturned lips and bright green eyes showed she was enjoying her time in the garden, she looked at the sky, seeing the dark sky gradually giving way for the sun as it slowly made its way high up, she returned her attention to the weeds and the children.
Her heart tugged while looking at the children's silly play, she wished to have a child of her own soon. Being the only child, she had always longed for a sibling to play with. Her parents had been strict about playing with the servants' children, she sometimes sneaked to play with them before the arrival of her governess even though it wasn't usually for long.
Promising herself to never stop her children from playing with whoever they want or look down on others, she fervently hoped to have plenty children. Being a child of vampire, a pureblood at that, it was difficult to make friends with lower vampires who were always carefree and loyal, unlike her fellow offsprings of pureblood who were only friends with her because of her parents' power and wealth.
She got bored of being in their company because all they talked about was their looks and their parents' wealth, as she got older, she started avoiding them whenever they were in same room.
She'll never forget the day she decided she would rather lock herself in her room doing nothing than be in the company of her mates.
It was when she clocked a century, since vampire age is different from human, she was just ten years old in human age, their head-servant had a girl who was the same age as hers, surprisingly, they were birthday mate. She found out few days before her birthday party when they were playing together in their secret tent; a place she always sneaks to before her governess arrives.
"Will you have a cake to celebrate your birthday too?" She innocently asked.
She watched her shook her head, lowering her head in sadness "no, we don't have enough to buy a cake and mother doesn't have time to bake one for me. She said she will be too busy preparing for your party."
Little Aliona felt guilty, she decided to surprise her friend by gifting her a cake. She begged her parents to allow her have two cakes for her birthday and they obliged. With pure joy, she made her way out of her parents' bedchamber to meet her friend for a secret play and tell her about the birthday cake, unaware she was being followed by a curious pair of eyes.
Out of breath as a result of running to deliver the good news, the head-servant's daughter looked at the little mistress and friend, "are you running because you don't want your governess to see you?"
"No, although she will be here soon but I wanted to tell you that you will be having a cake for your tenth birthday" waving her hands in excitement, Ali pulled her friend on her feet, swing their arms sideways as she playfully pushed and pulled her body towards hers.
Surprised by the announcement, "how?"
"I told my mother I wanted two cakes, so when I get it, I'll give you one while I take the other" feeling accomplished for being able to grant her friend's wish, the two girls jumped and hugged each other, oblivious of a third pair of eyes, watching them with disgust.
Young May who had come visiting stumbled upon a shocking scene, seeing the two girls playing, she backed away, unable to stomach the pure show of shame Aliona was displaying. It cringed her heart that Aliona had stooped so low as to be in a close proximity with a servant not to talk of hugging and playing with one. It infuriated her that she could flash her smiles and show her teeth to a mere servant, while acting all high and mighty whenever she was in their midst. She decided to tell her friends and come up with a way to punish her for deceit and the servant for her rudeness in befriending a pureblood.
The lowly servant needs to be shown her place, she thought. Lifting her gown and angry at how soiled the lace at the edge of her beautiful orange gown had become because she followed that brat to the dratted garden, she made her way to the house.
When May entered Aliona's house, the first thing she saw was the angry look on the governess who must have been waiting for her ward and a satisfied smile settled on May's face when she saw the same looked, mirrored on Aliona's parents. The governess spotted May first and wanted to ask about Ali but the deadly glare she directed at her made her think twice, how dare she think she could question her.
May's disapproving look swiftly changed when Ali's father turned to her," May dear, do you know where Aliona is?"
She shook her and answered, "no" she walked, pretending to exit the house before turning back to face him again. "I'm not sure but I think I saw someone who looked like her running towards the abandoned building, holding hands with a girl who looks like a maid."
To make it believable, she nervously smiled and waved it away, "I'm sure she wasn't the one though but the girl I saw was wearing a blue gown with white trimmings at the waist, she wouldn't be the one, would she?"
Aliona's father turned to one of the servants who happened to be Ali's lady in waiting, "wasn't that the cloth she wore this morning?" wanting to confirm even though he had also seen her that morning.
"yes, milord."
Too angry to say another word, he strode out and made his way to the abandoned building, with a triumph smile on her lips, May didn't wait to witness the result of tattling on her friend, not wanting Aliona to discover she knew about her friendship with the lowly servant, she climbed the footstool and entered the carriage to head home.