The next day, the maids retired to their quarters, seeking rest after a long night. Amber stood guard outside Madam Nora's door, wiping it down with a towel, her anxiety palpable.
"It's morning already! Just say it!" she thought, increasing her effort to make her presence known.
"Who's there?" Madam Nora's voice cut through the stillness, icy and commanding.
"Good morning, Madam. It's me, Amber," she replied, her heart pounding like a war drum.
"Go to the basement; release the slave," Madam Nora ordered, her tone casual as if discussing the weather.
Those words were what Amber had longed to hear. She bolted to the basement, her heart racing with a mixture of hope and dread.
"Hazel, please be alive," she prayed, the horrifying thought of finding her friend's lifeless body tightening her chest. She quickened her pace, murmuring silent prayers.
Reaching the basement door, she pushed it open with urgency.
"Hazel!" she called out, her voice echoing in the dark.
"What? Who's there?" Hazel responded, her voice sharp with alertness.
Amber's eyes widened in disbelief as she took in the sight of Hazel, her clothes bloodied yet her skin healed and vibrant. She stepped closer, struggling to find the right words.
"How? How did you manage to free yourself? You look... different. More alive. What happened?" Amber asked, her gaze searching Hazel's face for answers.
"I don't know; I just did it," Hazel shrugged, a casualness that felt out of place given the circumstances. She gestured at the chains on the floor.
Amber's jaw dropped. "That chain must weigh over thirty pounds! You just... cut it? Are you sure you're a half-blood?" Her suspicion was clear, eyebrows arched high.
"That's what I am. Didn't I tell you?" Hazel replied, a mischievous smile creeping onto her lips. "But let's get out of here; it reeks of blood." Her disgust was evident as she wrinkled her nose.
They exited the basement, and Amber locked the door behind them. Hazel headed for a bath, while Amber finally allowed herself to relax, relieved to see her friend alive. Exhausted, she soon fell into a deep sleep.
After her bath, Hazel slipped into the clothes Amber had set aside for her. As she wandered into the slave quarters, she found everyone asleep, including Amber.
"Vampires really do sleep during the day," Hazel whispered to herself, observing them with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"This is the perfect time to explore this house," she thought, recalling the torment she had endured. A shiver ran down her spine. "And to avoid getting caught," she muttered as she crept through the dimly lit hallways.
"We meet again," she said, eyeing a gargoyle perched ominously on a pedestal. "In movies, creatures like this always lead to secret rooms." As her fingers traced its cool surface, she felt a button beneath one toe. Pressing it, a hidden passage swung open.
"Gotcha," she whispered, entering the dark corridor, alert for any traps.
Inside, she found a room draped in crystals that shimmered in the dim light. On a table lay a potion and an open book that looked distinctly like a spellbook. Leaning in closer, she read the inscription:
"Potion to neutralize the poison of half-bloods."
Hazel's eyes widened in disbelief. "She's so desperate for power that she's dabbling in forbidden magic!" she exclaimed under her breath, a mix of horror and indignation filling her.
"I can't stay here too long," she thought, turning to leave when a glint caught her eye—a set of keys hanging on a coat rack. She stepped closer, her heart racing at the thought of the front door.
"Could this be the key to the front door?" She plucked one from the bunch. "There's only one way to find out."
Carefully restoring everything to its original state, she left the room and closed it, sealing it with the gargoyle's foot. Hazel returned to her bed space and fell into a restless sleep.
---
By 4 p.m., the slaves began to stir, reporting for their duties.
Hazel caught Amber's eye and hurriedly pulled her into a secluded corner.
"Ow, you're hurting me! Where are you taking me?" Amber protested, rubbing her arm.
"Oh goodness, I'm so sorry!" Hazel exclaimed, immediately loosening her grip.
"What's going on?" Amber asked, her brow furrowing with concern.
"You won't believe it. I explored the house today and found Madam Nora's secret room," Hazel whispered, glancing around for any prying ears.
"What! You went into Madam's room? Are you trying to get us both killed?" Amber gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
"It's not about courting death," Hazel insisted, urgency creeping into her voice. "Madam Nora is planning something terrible! She's making a potion. I couldn't grasp everything, but I know it won't bode well for us."
"What? She wants to harm us?" Amber's eyes widened in alarm.
"Yes! I have to escape. I can't stay here; I refuse to die," Hazel declared, pulling out the front door key with a determined glint in her eye.
"Where did you get that?" Amber exclaimed, reaching for it in disbelief.
"The secret room. Will you come with me?" Hazel asked, hope shimmering in her voice.
"I'd love to escape with you, but I'm not as eager. I don't know what's out there, or if I can survive. Besides, someone needs to stay back to clear the way," Amber replied, forcing a smile despite the fear gnawing at her.
Hazel shook her head, her determination unyielding. "We can figure things out together. We have to survive; we owe it to ourselves!"
Amber's heart swelled at Hazel's words. "Hazel, don't worry about me. When the time is right, I'll find you. Just leave me clues, and I'll create a distraction for your escape," she promised, though a part of her felt heavy with doubt.
"I can't let her know I'm poisoned and won't survive out there," Amber thought, masking her fear with a smile.
"Alright. I'll leave you hints," Hazel promised, squeezing Amber's hand reassuringly.
"Okay, let's get back to work before Madam Nora sees us. She has eyes and ears everywhere," Amber said, tugging Hazel back toward the main area.
"Right," Hazel nodded, and together they moved back into the shadows of their grim reality, each step filled with newfound purpose and hope for freedom.