All of the young woman's attention was focused on Damien. She didn't waste a glance on Pip standing beside him. Rosaline gave a shrill laugh and batted Damien on the shoulder."My, my. You and your long walks in the woods. It's so daring!" She purred. She led him to sit on a long bench in the far corner of the room, latching herself onto Damien's arm. Pip followed and stood beside them. He found that it would be odd to sit down with them.
After all, he was their servant now.
Pip felt his heart falter. His face turned a dull red from this awkward situation. He felt uncomfortable standing there while they sit and chat. But not having anything better to do, he listened in on their conversation. Then, a wave of horror came over Pip.
'She's...flirting with him!' Pip realized when he noticed how Rosaline bats her long lashes and touches Damien's arm. 'Dear god, she's his cousin! Has she no shame?'
"Oh look, you even brought our new servant to us!" Rosaline continued, finally noticing Pip. Her blue eyes looked Pip over until their eyes met. Blue met brown as they made first eye contact. Finally being able to take in her full beauty, Pip thought that she must be the only colored thing in the whole mansion. He couldn't help compare himself to her and the rest of the lavished house. He must look like a common street beggar compared to her. He felt his face heat up more.
"See, Rosaline. I told ya he was cute!" Said Jacob, coming to stand next to Pip and tugged on the blonds shirt sleeve."Why, he's almost as pretty as you, Rosaline!" Pip's face darkened impossibly more at what he assumed was a compliment. He's often been told that he looked like a lady but he never thought he would be compared to such a lovely young woman such as Rosaline. He thought that he should be flattered.
Rosaline frowned in disgust at the both of them. "Don't be silly, you stupid little boy!" She snapped. She seemed to be offended."Why don't you be useful and take this filthy boy up to his room so he could freshen up. I'm almost ashamed to have him as a servant when he looks like that!" She sneered and pointed up the stairs.
Pip's brow furrowed at the blond girl. 'She has no right treating me like that!' He thought as Jacob escorted him up the stairs. But he knew he was wrong. Rosaline could treat him however she pleased. Pip was nothing but a slave in Black Rose Manor.
"Wait," Damien called to Pip, getting up from the bench. "Father said I should escort you to your room." Pip, who was mid way up the stairs, smiled. He was glad that Damien is defending him by obeying his father and going against Rosaline. He really didn't want her to get away with insulting him like that. And maybe getting Damien's attention off her was the way to get back at her.
Anger flashed over Rosaline's face. She shot Pip an icy glare. Then her face softened as she smiled innocently up at Damien."Now Damien, even Jacob could handle such a simple task. Taking someone to their room couldn't be that hard. Could it?"
"Well-"
"And Jacob doesn't mind, right?" Her face hardened when she looked up at Jacob on the stairs. He gulped and nodded frantically. Rosaline smiled once again. "See? come, let us talk some more." She urged him back into his seat beside her. Damien seemed to ponder for a minute before finally giving in to her with a sigh. Pip watched the two of them, so close together. Rosaline was shamelessly pushing herself against her cousin.
It was sickening.
The second floor of the house appeared even gloomier then the first. Pip didn't think that was even possible. Black Rose Manor felt like more of a tomb then a mansion.
"And this is my room," Jacob said as they passed the first door of the long corridor. He was giving Pip a full tour of the mansion before bringing him to his room. Jacob seemed to like playing tour guide. He froze outside the next door and turned to Pip. His mouth, that was usually set in a wide smile, was twisted into a worried frown. "This is Rosaline's room. No ones aloud in there,okay?"
He made it absolutely clear to Pip that Rosaline's room was strictly off limits. Pip wondered what that woman did to make Jacob so afraid of her. A strange feeling in his stomach told him that he didn't want to find out. They quickly scurried passed Rosaline's bedroom and continued their tour.
At the far end of the hall Jacob threw open a door. "And this is your room!"
Reluctantly, Pip walked through the doorway into the shabby little room. It was low so he had to duck his head to step inside. He looked around. 'It's not a room,' Pip thought. 'It's a prison cell.'
The room was small and narrow and it held little furniture. Only a narrow bed with a thin quilt and a small night table. A basin and pitcher sat in the corner. A small window gave the only light. This would be Pip's bedroom and only place of refuge from now on.
Jacob sat on the bed and told Pip stories while he used the basin and pitcher to clean himself. The water was icy on his hands. He splashed some water on his face and hair to wash the dirt and leaves off. Then he used a rag to dry himself. Pip attempted to comb his hair out with his fingers.
He felt a bit better as he stood up from kneeling on the floor. He felt fresh and slightly cleaner. Not as fresh and clean as the Thorn family but clean enough to look presentable.
Just then a knock came from the door. A few seconds afterword Damien stepped in. He held his head with his hand so his hat wouldn't fall off while he ducked to get through the doorway. He was much taller then Pip so it was more difficult for him to get inside. "Sorry about Rosaline," He apologized to Pip about his cousin."I know she can be a bit..."
"Insulting! Mean, crude-"
"That's enough, Jacob." Damien scolded his younger brother. Jacob pouted and crossed his arms.
"You know it's true..." He mumbled under his breath.
Damien sighed and dismissed his brother, saying that their father wished to have a word with him. Jacob jumped down from the raggedy old bed, waved bye to Pip and left the room. Damien and Pip were now alone. Damien waited until Jacobs soft foot steps faded away before speaking.
"You don't remember me do you, Pip?" He asked. A sly smirk that even Pip could see broke out on his face. The blond tilted his head.
"What do you mean, Damien?" Pip asked, puzzled. He was sure that he has never seen Damien before this morning. The Thorn's were almost never seen in town. They were not welcome there. Pip racked his brain and sorted through his memories to recall if they have met before. He could not think of any.
Then Damien removed his hat and Pip remembered instantly the last time he saw those bright red eyes. "Your...your the man from the ally. You raped me!" Damien grinned at Pip's realization. Pip now knew why those sharp teeth unsettled him before. He couldn't believe that he didn't already notice it. That smile, that hat and even Damien's long coat! This was the face of his rapist!