"He used to call me a witch, you know," Karina whispered as she wrapped her slender arms around my shoulder.
I gasped and eyed her suspiciously, "are you?"
"Of course not!" She exclaimed, grabbing her belly as she laughed hysterically.
"If I had that kind of power, I won't be rotting away in this farm," she sighed, her disappointment quite obvious in her voice.
"There's nothing out there, I promise," I said as I rubbed her shoulder.
"Stop chit chatting and get to work!" Nadia yelled as she shoved a basket of dirty clothes into my arms.
I bowed and scurried out of our tiny room, dragging the heavy basket with Karina following closely behind.
She led the way to a small river just a few yards away from the farm. The river ran through the forest and had the clearest water I had ever seen.
The sensation of the cold water against my bruised palm felt very soothing and I was tempted to dive in for a swim but the large laundry pile waiting to be attended to held me back.
With Karina's help, we went through the laundry pile faster than I had anticipated.
Nadia had a specific taste for detailed layered dresses that weighed several pounds and it didn't take long for one of her large party dresses to float away.
Karina had been tending to the clothe, trying to separate its several layers but with her few seconds of distraction, the frock of the dress floated with the current.
Before I could stop her, she jumped into the water and swam after the clothe.
"Be careful!" I yelled after her, hoping she would be back before the current increased.
Karina was a strong swimmer and it didn't take her long to return with the clothe tightly secured in her hand.
"My mother's favourite dress," she exhaled as she crawled out of the water. "It got caught on a branch and ripped a little," she said, drawing my attention to the small tear at the hem.
"Do you think she would notice?" Karina sighed, fiddling with the fabric.
"I don't know," I muttered, my mind in confusion of what to focus on; Nadia's damaged dress or Karina's wet hair and dress.
The water made her hair much more curlier and the locs rested on her chest, covering a part of her cleavage.
The wet dress had made her body visible under the thin silk dress she had on. It clung tightly to her body, revealing every curve and crevice on her body.
"Marcella!" She snapped as soon as she noticed my eyes.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I murmured, red with embarrassment.
"I was asking if you enjoyed looking at me," she giggled playfully, wringing out the water from her hair.
"I'm sorry, it wasn't on purpose. I was carried away," I retorted.
She moved closer to me, taking slow seductive steps as she pulled her dress over her head.
"I think you're attracted to me, Marcella," she said in a seductive tone that stirred something within me.
"I..I don't think this is right," I stammered, completely overwhelmed by her gorgeous body.
She was a few inches away from me, her exposed breast, poking at my chest and our lips a breath apart.
"I've seen how you look at me," she purred, bringing her face to mine.
My breath got caught in my throat and the beating of my heart was fast enough to trigger an earthquake.
A literal goddess was naked in front of me, giving me the opportunity to see the most vulnerable parts of her but despite the pool in my underwear, I couldn't bring myself to touch her.
What I felt for her was different; strong and with the need to be around her all the time.
I had never felt love, I couldn't figure if what I felt for her was love or lust.
Regardless, I cared about her so much and I didn't want to put her in harms way.
If I have into my urges, my tormentor would find a way to make sure she died before my eyes.
"We should head home," I said coldly as I shifted away from her and picked up the clean laundry.
Her face was a mix of disappointment, anger and hurt. She covered her body with a scarf and began walking home without uttering a word to me.
She kept the silence till we arrived at the cottage.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," she said softly.
"I-" I tried to reply but she turned around and walked away before I could say anything.
We spent the rest of the evening in silence, staying at far away from each other as possible. It hurt my heart but this was what I had to do to keep her safe and a part of me wished that she could understand that this was for her own good.
~
The bright light of the lanterns reflected on the polished hardwood floors of Nadia and her husband's bedroom.
I and Karina were on our knees in the middle of the room while her parents stood above us.
"We shouldn't have let her stay, she has now corrupted our daughter," Nadia whispered to her husband.
"Quit your whining, woman!" Her husband barked as he eyed us from above.
Nadia cleared her throat and turned to us, wearing a fake smile like her husband's reaction had not affected her.
"Why didn't you just leave it for the slave?" She yelled at Karina who mouthed a low 'sorry' and looked away.
"I warned you never to touch anything that belonged to me, didn't I?" Nadia asked as she pulled Karina's ear.
Karina winced and tried to pull of her mother's arm but that only earned her a deafening slap on the cheek.
I gasped as Aldermot's large palm left a bright red print on Karina's face.
She cried out in pain as she nursed her cheek.
"Be quiet!" He yelled as he raised his hand to hit her again.
"It was me," I screamed on top of my lungs.
"I did it, I ripped the dress," I lied.
"Marcella, no!" Karina whispered.
"Karina lied. I did it, I should be punished," I continued..
Nadia was red with anger as her eyes moved from karina to me.
"I should have left you on the streets to die!" Lord Aldermot yelled as he hit me on the head with his cane, knocking me into the infinite darkness of unconsciousness.