Chapter Two

I looked around the Parris home in a state of disinterest. Nothing in the place was what I was used to. There were no computers lining the walls or fancy rugs on the floor. Though, the place did have a kind of homey feeling to it. I turned back to Abigail with a neutral expression in place as she gazed at me.

"'Tis a bit bigger than what I'm used to." I say quietly, looking around the house again.

Abigail seemed to sigh in relief at that and cleared her throat. "Angel, how old are you?"

"Sixteen ma'am," I replied absently. "Just turned today."

"You did?"

I turned to her and nodded, focusing on her reaction to my statement. She seemed shocked that I hadn't mentioned it sooner and I sighed. "I don't celebrate it much, I just mark it as another year."

Abigail nodded. "Well, do you need work, miss? How is your job?"

I shuddered 'involuntarily' and glared down at the floor. "My job is terrible, Miss Abby. They make me do horrible things for them."

Abigail audibly gulped and I slowly raised my eyes from the floor. "Elizabeth Proctor may need another maid to help around the house. Perhaps you could work with me?"

I looked her full in the face with a beaming smile coloring my features. "I would like that ma'am. I feel safe around you, Miss Abby." A light blush painted Abigail's features and I inwardly smirked at that. Yes, I'm good.

"Well," Abigail cleared her throat. "I will talk to Goody Proctor tomorrow morn and ask about a position for you. You may accompany me if you wish, but for now, make yourself at home. I must check my uncle to make sure his voice is healing."

I nodded and sat down in a chair to look around me. There weren't many photos hanging around the place, it looked pretty barren. There were only three or four photos hanging on the walls and they all pictured either Parris and Betty or Betty and Abigail. I turned in the chair so that my legs hung over one side and my shoulder blades rested against the other. I rolled my head to the side so that it was cradled against the chair back and I slowly began to relax.

I heard voices from upstairs and wondered if Parris was speaking. I hoped not because I would hate having to think of untrue answers to questions. At that moment, Parris, Abigail and Betty all came down the stairs and took seats around me. I rolled my head around to face Abby and saw her looking at me with intense, sea green eyes. I gave her a small smile as my own deep green eyes stared back.

The contact was broken when Parris cleared his throat and my eyes snapped to him. "Miss Angel," he began. "My niece tells me that you need a home and some work. Now you can imagine why I am wary to let that happen, can you not?"

"I can imagine many reasons, Mr. Parris." I murmured, staring into his face.

"Well, miss, all I need you to do is answer a few questions for me. Can you do that?"

"Yes sir." I sat up and looked at him expectantly.

After clearing his throat again, Parris began the questioning. "When were you born?"

"Sixteen years ago today, sir."

"And where did you live?"

"Up in Boston for some time."

"Where is your father?"

I looked down at the ground sadly as I replied, "I… I don't know, sir. I have not seen him in three years."

Parris' expression softened some at this and he nodded with a deep sigh. "Well, it would not do for a reverend to turn away someone who comes to him for help, so my child, I guess you can stay in my quarters. But be warned, my rules need be abided, understood?"

I nodded vigorously at this with a wide smile slowly spreading across my lips. "Thank you very much, Mr. Parris." I said softly. "You won't regret it, sir."

He gave me a tight-lipped smile in return and went back upstairs to his bedroom. Once he was gone, Betty gave me a confused look before hugging Abigail goodnight and going upstairs as well. As the little girl disappeared, Abigail scooted closer to me, bringing her chair next to mine.

"If I am not intruding, may I ask more about you, Angel?" I gave her a sidelong smile and slowly nodded. This girl sure didn't seem to be that foreign to affection among girls.

"Have you been through schooling?"

I cocked my head for a moment before nodding. "But only to a certain level, ma'am."

Abigail nodded thoughtfully. "Have you any friends?"

I ducked my head and glared at the floor. "No, Miss Abby. None of the other children's mothers wanted them around me because of my odd skin color."

"But whatever could be wrong with it?" Abigail inquired, her eyes roving the visible patches of skin.

"It be too light, miss. It not be healthy for one to be this light normally, but if my skin ain't this white then it means I be sick."

Abigail nodded and continued. "Are you in a commitment?"

This was part of the opening I needed. "My, ah, preference would stop me from having a commitment, Miss Abby. Most men are not up to my standards and those who are… don't prefer me."

Abigail raised an eyebrow at this, but I made a show of yawning widely and blinking at her. "Where shall I sleep, Miss Abby?"

Abigail's face dropped at this as her eyes grew round. "Uh, you can sleep… erm…" She looked around, finding that there was nowhere suitable for me to sleep.

"There be a guest room in these quarters?" I asked softly, to which Abigail gulped and shook her head.

"May I sleep with the fair maiden then?" I asked softly.

Abigail's eyes widened further at the suggestion and she looked around for any escape she could find. "I don't take up much room, Miss Abby. I can make myself as small as possible. Please, I'm just so tired."

Abigail took a deep breath and slowly nodded. "F-follow me, Miss Angel."

I nodded and followed her up the stairs to a medium sized room off to the left side of the hall. How appropriate; she's going to pull off being in Satan's grasp and she's on the lefthand side. I digress.

Abigail gave me a spare change of nightclothes and we curled into bed together. I was next to the wall, practically plastered to it as Abigail lay near the edge, nearly falling over. I had to wait for her to fall asleep first if I was executing my plan correctly. I waited a few hours into the night before her breathing finally began slowing down. Turning over, I saw her chest rising and falling evenly. I slowly took a breath and gently pulled her further onto the bed. Then, I carefully wrapped my limbs around hers, arranging them in the most provocative position I could without it looking too dirty. Then, I laid my head in the crook of her shoulder and fell asleep. I couldn't wait for the morning.

In the morning, a muffled gasp woke me up. From years of experience, I didn't show any outward signs of waking, keeping my breathing even and my eyes closed. I could feel Abigail squirming beneath me and let a small smile flit across my face before I began orchestrating my awakening. Moaning softly, I moved around a bit, turning my head over to the other side. Abigail froze, probably fearful I would wake up and so I murmured, "Mama." In a drowsy voice, slowly pulling back.

I blinked a few times to get my bearings and 'found' Abigail beneath me. I gasped loudly and my eyes went wide as I rolled over, tumbling onto the floor. I made sure to do it loud enough that it seemed it hurt, but soft enough that Parris wouldn't have any need to burst in and ruin my careful moment.

"You're not my mama." I said softly, a few tears drifting into my eyes.

"No, I don't believe I am." Abigail said in a timid voice.

"Then, what was I doing on you, Miss Abby?" I asked softly, pinning her with a suspicious stare.

"I don't know, Miss Angel. I woke up a little bit ago and found you in that position. Perhaps we moved during the night?"

I cocked my head. "I don't know about that; I'm not known for moving in my sleep, but I'll keep that in mind from now on."

I glanced at the window and raised an eyebrow. "Why you be awake at such a strange hour, Miss Abby? I usually don't have to awake until the sun reaches near the center."

"I have a lot of work to do over at the Proctor home." Abigail told me, slipping out of bed and heading over to the closet. "So I must be over early enough to get it all done."

I nodded and glanced at the window again. "They won't be expecting me for quite some time because I told them I was coming down to Salem. May I use some of your clothing, Miss Abby? I'd prefer not to look a sight when Goody Proctor sees me again."

Abigail nodded and went to her wardrobe, pulling a plain gown from it and handing it to me. I smiled in thanks and began to undress. I saw Abigail's eyes grow round and she quickly turned away to give me some privacy. I smirked as I slid the gown over my head. It hung off me slightly, but I just shrugged it into place. Abigail took an experimental peek back and turned with a sigh of relief.

"Shall we go now, Miss Abby?" I asked, watching her gather her bag.

"Indeed." She nodded and we left the house, heading down a road toward the Proctor home. The road was pretty deserted, which I guess was a good thing because I didn't want to be caught dead in this dress by anyone that I didn't have to. We made it to the house in a little over thirty minutes and Abigail knocked on the door. John Proctor opened the door and smiled warmly at Abigail, tipping his farming hat to her.

"Good morning, Miss Abigail. I was just about to head out to the farm. It seems Elizabeth has come down with a slight fever so please try to keep it down."

Abigail nodded. "Mr. John, I was wondering if perhaps I could have a friend help me clean the house. She won't cause no trouble sir."

John looked at me and I gazed up at him shyly through my eyelashes. "I don't know, Miss Abigail. She looks mighty pale and I don't need anymore sickness in my house."

"No sir, I'm perfectly healthy." I say softly, acting slightly intimidated by his stature. "I just be paler than other people."

John focused a suspicious gaze on me, but nodded all the same. "If anyone else in my house gets sick, I'm coming after you with my pitchfork." I gulped in 'fear' and nodded nervously.

"Come Miss Angel," Abigail called to me to avoid the awkward moment. "I'll show you what to do."

I nodded, but just before I entered the house, I looked deeply into John's eyes and narrowed my own dangerously, conveyng to him the unsaid threats that could happen if he got on my bad side. He shivered and I brightened myself as I followed Abigail into the house.

Abigail smiled at me as I approached and she held out an old straw broom for me to take. Slipping it into my hands, I looked at it in confusion and glanced at her. "Have you used a broom before, Angel?" Well, she didn't take long to chop off the 'Miss'. I shook my head and replied, "I usually have cloth and just swipe across the floor until the dirt is out of the building."

Abigail nodded. "Well, it would be the same with this, only you don't have to kneel. You can stand and just sweep it into a pile."

I watched as she demonstrated and nodded with a small smile. Gently taking the broom, I mimicked trying to sweep, but did it in a way that scattered the trash across the floor.

"No, here; let me show you." She placed her hands over mine and her chest pressed into my back as she moved my hands. I made my breathing become erratic until she moved away.

"Do you have it?" Abigail asked with a slight grin touching her lips. I nodded, slowing my breathing instantly, and began sweeping. I made it seem timid at first before I gained cnfidence and swept a bit faster.

"Good job, Angel." Abigail told me. "While you finish up in here, I'll wash the dirty dishes."

She moved off to a room that I presumed was the kitchen and I heard a splash as she began putting the dirty dishes into a bucket of water for cleaning. I continued sweeping, moving the dirt and trash into a pile before moving the pile off to the side. Them, I went into the other rooms, careful not to wake the young boys, and swept the trash and dirt out into the main room into the pile there.

When I was finished I went into the kitchen to tell Abigail I was finished. I found her kneeling next to a bucket full of newly cleaned water and scrubbing at plates and cups. She seemed really concentrated and this triggered another plan in my head. I leaned against th edoorframe and just watched Abigail work at the dishes. After another twenty minutes of working, Abigail set down her washcloth and wiped her brow, looking at the small pile of dishes left. I saw her sigh and let out a short giggle, as though I was trying to cover laughter. Abigail looked up and I gave her a smile, my eyes staring down at her.

"If you want, I could finish with the dishes." I offered, moving further forward.

"No, it's quite fine." She sighed, standing wearily. "Have you finished sweeping?"

"Yes, miss. The dirt is in a pile near the door."

"Use the pan to scoop it up and dump it in the waste bin."

I nodded and picked up a flat pan, beginning to sweep the dirt onto it before dropping it into the waste bin. I beat the dirt off the pan to make sure it was all in before setting both the broom and the pan near the waste bin. Turning around, I found Abigal staring at me speculatively.

"Angel?" she asked softly. "Have you ever been in a commitment before?"

I was slightly confused as to why she would ask this, but I rearranged my features into a somewhat fearful expression and straightened my back a bit to show that I had stiffened. "I-I h-have been in a com-mitment b-before, Miss Abby, b-but I would r-rather n-not t-talk about i-it." Abigail raised an eyebrow at me wonderingly, but I ducked my head to avoid her questioning eyes and stared down at the floor.

"Angel?" I slowly looked up to find her looking at me, comfortingly. "You do not have to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable, Miss. But, know that I will listen if you need an ear."

I nodded, my mind smiling mischievously. "Thank you, Miss Abby."

There you go guys, that's the second chapter. I know not many people read these stories, but hey, I read them so I write them. Review if you're reading this. I'd like feedback.