"My Lady, gift has come for you in the mail." I opened a small, green box, to find a golden ring, with a marvelous blue gem in the center.

"A rather large stone," I replied.

" I noticed that as well." I stared at Jasper, for it seemed he wasn't telling me all he knew about this mysterious gift. Jasper is one of my few remaining servants. My estate had six including Jasper, with hair of ginger and brown eyes. He was apprenticed by our old butler, Fredrick. He was in his late sixties when young fourteen year old Jasper had arrived at the manner. I don't remember all too well of his arrival, considering I was but eight months old. However, my parents did tell me the tragic story of the abused child whom ran away from home, in search of a new life. As I grew older, Jasper became more of a friend, rather than a servant, although, I don't think I quite understood that concept, yet.

There was also Penny, the maid. She had orange hair and green eyes. She always seemed so cheerful, so optimistic of every little thing. I remember that her mother had been our previous maid, and so Penny decided to follow in her footsteps. Mrs. Winston died from illness, leaving sixteen year old Penny to take her position. She always seemed so close to Edwin, the chef. Edwin had light, Blue-like hair and pale, milky eyes. His best dish was a secret chowder, witch soon became my favorite meal. He never seemed to stray far from the kitchen, witch confused me, until I was five. I saw him in the hall, with a rather unusual cane. I accidentally got in his way, and he fell to the floor. As my parents ran down the hall to helped him up, they told me of how he had been born blind.

The other two servants were twins, Mortise and Thomas. They both had light brown hair and dark blue eyes. Mortise was the gardener and Thomas was the gem polisher. Despite the huge difference in their jobs and tasks, I swear that no siblings could ever be as close as those two were. They were always seen together down the hallways, holding hands. At supper they sat next to each other, but they sat so close that not a single hair could find its way between the two. I came to appreciate and even care for all my servants, no ,my friends.

Then, one day when I was eight, only a month before my birthday, where we all were to fly out around the world to collect rare gems for our business, and for me to see the world, just as I always wished for, every birthday, it happened. I was fast asleep, tucked away in sweet dreams, to be awaken by blood curtailing screams. I jumped out of bed and dashed down the hall, as fast as I could. I checked my parents room, but they weren't there. I checked everybody's room, no one was there! As I trotted down yet another hallway, I saw a dim light coming from our parlor, where all the records of our exports, imports, inventory, and life records were stored. When I peeked a look in to the room, I fell hard to my knees, eyes wide open with shock, tears flowing out. Laded on the floor were all of the people I cared so much about; Penny, Mortise, Thomas, Edwin, Fredrick, and Jasper. They were all splayed over the room, laying and drenched in pools of their own blood. They were ripped open, and covered in bullet holes. Then in the middle of the room lay my dear parents. They had a pointed railings from our outside gates pierced through their heads and cores like spears. As it appeared, the same posts were through them both. "No, NO! Mummy, Daddy, please wake up!" Even though I knew they were to never stand again, to hug me and kiss me, to tell me stories and play with me like they always did, I just wanted to hear the comfort of their harmonic voices one last time.

"L-l-ucy," I turned my head to see a lesser damaged Jasper coughing and speaking with all his might to me. "Please, call a doctor and the police. There is a hidden button for both there purposes hidden under your father's desk." I ran to the dark red wood desk centered in the back of the room and crawled beneath it. Once I saw the little red buttons, I hit them both, and in no time, police swarmed the house, along with an ambulance and three doctors, one of which was a surgeon. The doctors stitched and sterilized Jasper before placing him on a stretcher and taking him away.

"Doctors, will Jasper be alright?" Hot tears ran down my face as I looked expectedly at the men in the white coats.

"We promise to do our best," replied one of the doctors, whom did his best to put on a reassuring smile. Then they carried him out and away in the ambulance. I sat in the back right corner, uncontrollably sobbing as pictures were snapped of my friends and parents. Then about two hours latter, a policeman came up to me and covered my eyes while another covered my ears. I may not have seen it, but I could still hear the teeth grinding sound of the railings being pulled out of my parents. The police stepped away, leaving me to see all of the ones so dear to me, forever lost, being covered in a white cloth. I wanted so desperately to run over to my parents and hug them, but their bodies were closely guarded by at least five police men, as they were carried away, with all my other friends. As they all left, one officer, by my guess, the chief, came to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and said

"We'll leave the funeral dates to you, ok?" I shook my head, and like that, he left. Leaving me all alone in a giant manner, stained by blood, sorrow, murder, and a shattered me.

In starred longingly into a photo of my parent and me, in the background were all my old friends. "After my return you never did allow any other help to be hired.

"No, it just wouldn't feel right." It amazed me it was always as if Jasper could read my mind. Drawing my attention to the aluminous ring inside the small green box I smirked and said, "Return to sender. I hate getting gifts from strangers, mail or otherwise. You never know their intension, however, in my case its usually plots to take over my family business."

"Yes, Rosenerro Jewelry emporium is a rather large company, expanded to four other countries worldwide, and in the process of expanding. it's a no brainier why others would be so rash to take it over."

"Indeed, that is why I must find a way as soon as possible to become the head of my family. If only I weren't a lady."

"That's right, after the funeral you were but just nine, and they gave you five years so-"

"I have but one year left." Japer shook his head in agreement.

"My lady, its time to retire for the evening, shall I bring you a drink before you rest?"

"That would be lovely." I stood out of the desk chair and receded to my room. After I changed in to my night gown I slipped into bed and took a moment to my self, starring at the ceiling, letting voices from the past drift into my head. I then rang the bell labeled bedroom, and in no time jasper arrived with a hot beverage on his usual silver rose incrusted tray.

"I thought instead of tea, you'd prefer hot milk, to soothe you into rest for tonight."

"As always, reading my mind deeper than myself," I said with a smile. After finishing my milk, I closed my eyes, and slowly drifted into my world of sweet dreams.