"Shannon, do you think Kanon likes me?"
"I doooo~nnt knooowww"
Jessica and her best friend, and faithful servant to the household for ten years, Shannon, were sitting on Jessica's bed. The two had formed a bond of friendship over the last ten years, and they both now consider themselves best friends. Shannon hasn't met anyone else near her age and gender since she was six, and bonding immediately with Jessica was understandable. Jessica also hadn't been best friends with many people before, and her personality may scare a few people away.
"Ehh? Why the tone? You know something don't you!? Tell me!"
Of course Jessica figured Shannon knew something, even she could tell Kanon probably did like her just with the way Shannon said "I don't know", but it was always fun to keep a conversation up. Kanon had been working at the house for a few years himself, and just like with Shannon, Jessica made a bond with him, even if Kanon didn't give off the vibe of wanting one. Kanon was the silent type, kind of angst-y looking, but Jessica just thought he was contemplating a lot of things. He, like Shannon, was an orphan, and it's a pretty common of a situation for an Orphan to grow up depressed.
"Oooh, look at the time. I just have to go and clean the kitchen. Natsuhi requested me and Kanon to do it soon."
Shannon, who clearly was avoiding the subject, dashed out of the room in a hurry, leaving Jessica alone. All Jessica wanted to know was if her affections were returned! Shannon and she always have this conversation, and Shannon always avoids the answer. Jessica always approaches the subject the same way, by easing it in by bringing up George. George and Shannon had been seeing each other for awhile, and Jessica even played match-maker a little by spurring Shannon into going after George. They both shared a mutual love, but the only problem was George's mother, who would never let the two get anywhere if she ever found it.
Jessica let out a sigh, and got up off her bed. Her room was large, big enough for an entire battle to take place! There was a closet full of dresses, a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and a huge bed big enough for three people. She didn't really care about the size of the room; in fact she would've preferred a smaller one than a huge, boring one. She would toss everything aside to get a smaller room, well everything but the inhaler in her drawer.
Jessica was born with weak bronchi, and frequently suffers from asthma attacks. At times they can get so bad; she thinks she'll die because of an asthma attack. This would happen, if she didn't have her inhaler though. Her asthma usually gets to her at the worst possible times, when she cries. Jessica doesn't cry often, she tries not to. But when she does, it's always followed by an attack. Maybe it was the fear of dying from crying that made her try her hardest not to.
The loneliness of the room drove her out into the hallway. Outside in the hallway was one of the servants, Kumasawa Chiyo, and elderly short lady. She was always doing her best for her age, and still had an aura of youthfulness about her. She was always the first one to crack a joke, usually about mackerel. She also had a trademark laugh, ohohoho, which she could make sound incredibly creepy during the right moment.
"Ohohoho, Good morning, Lady Jessica. I've prepared some coffee sweetened with mackerel for a good wake-up call"
"..I think I'm good."
Jessica avoided that coffee like the plague, it might've been a joke, but it wouldn't be that surprising of a thing for Kumasawa to flavor coffee with fish. Mackerel is the end-all cure for everything, at least to her. Mackerel is the secret to everything, bigger breasts, eternal youth, and whatever else Kumasawa can decide it does. She was one of the people that kept the house interesting at least; some of the other servants just aren't lively enough to keep Jessica entertained.
"Ohohoho, well I must excuse myself, I have to go to the mainland to get some last-minute shopping done."
Jessica liked to take every opportunity to get off this island that she could, and a prime chance to get off just presented itself. Rokkenjima is a cage, you might be able to get back out, but you always get pulled back in. If it wasn't for her parents, she would leave as soon as possible. But this house was where the next head had to stay, so Jessica and her possible future husband will remain here. It was a saddening ordeal, but staying on this island meant she could be with her best friend and Kanon, and it would also be a sad thing to leave them behind.
"Kumasawa, can I come with you?"
"Ohohoho, are you sure your mother will allow it?"
That's right, her mother, Natsuhi. A strict mom, who only tries to raise her daughter well, Jessica had her fair share of trouble getting along with her because of this. Through all of the arguing they have, they both have a little glimmer of love for the other. It was hard not to have love for the women who gave birth to you, as much as some people tried to hate them. Jessica let out a frustrated sigh, which sounded a bit like yelling.
"I'll go tell her then…"
Jessica set off down the hallway, and Kumasawa stood watching her while thinking to herself. Kumasawa has a lot of habits, and watching people is one of the worst. She does learn her fair share of hidden secrets maybe she could even hold it against people? She wouldn't gain much even if she did this though, so that's why she never did.
Going up and down the hallways, Jessica eventually came across her mother. Even though she was looking for her, Jessica didn't expect to find her so soon, and it startled her a little.
"Oh, mom… I was just going down to the harbor to go meet with Kumasawa. I'm going with her to the mainland to get some shopping done… okay?" Jessica phrased it in a way to make it sound like a question, when it was more of an assertion
"…Kumasawa can get the shopping done herself. Go back to your room and change your clothes, the guests will be arriving soon."
Jessica didn't want to raise a fight, and she walked back to her room. Her plan wasn't to go back to her room however, her mom wouldn't notice if she was or wasn't at home. She walked the direction to her room to throw her mom off; it'd be suspicious to go the opposite direction. After she was out of sight from Natsuhi, Jessica turned to go outside. She climbed down a flight of stairs, and walked into the room that held the portrait of Beatrice. Her attention was always drawn to Beatrice each time she walked past it, this time was no exception. Jessica walked towards the painting, and when she was in reading distance, she read what was under the portrait.
My beloved hometown, the Sweetfish River running through it.
You, who seek the Golden Land, follow its path downstream and seek the key.
If you follow the river downstream, you will find a village.
In the village, look for the shore the two will tell you of.
There sleeps the key to the Golden Land.
He who lays hand upon the key shall travel under the rules below.
At the first twilight, you shall lift up as sacrifice the six chosen by the key.
At the second twilight, those who remain shall tear apart the two who are close.
At the third twilight, those who remain shall praise my honorable name on high.
At the fourth twilight, gouge the head and kill.
At the fifth twilight, gouge the chest and kill.
At the sixth twilight, gouge the stomach and kill.
At the seventh twilight, gouge the knee and kill.
At the eighth twilight, gouge the leg and kill.
At the ninth twilight, the witch shall be revived and none shall be left alive.
At the tenth twilight, the journey shall end and you should reach the village of gold.
The witch will praise the wise, and should bestow four treasures.
One shall be, all the gold from the Golden Land.
One shall be, the resurrection of the souls of all the dead.
One shall be, even the resurrection of the lost love.
One shall be, to put the witch to sleep for all time.
Sleep peacefully, my most beloved witch, Beatrice.
The epitaph always made Jessica shudder, particularly the lines bout the 'twilights'. No one in this house knows what it means, but many of the family members think it leads the way to the hidden gold. The portrait had been put up the year before last, around the same time Kinzo locked himself up in his room. Since that time, Jessica hasn't seen her grand-father, but with this portrait, she's constantly reminded of him.
"Ohohoho, We best get a move on Lady Jessica."
Kumasawa suddenly appeared from the front garden, probably doing her usual 'spying' on people. Jessica wanted to talk with Kumasawa about Beatrice, but the two were in a rush. They walked through the rose garden, and Gohda was in their attending to something.
"Have a safe trip, milady."
"Ya, ya, I will! Later."
Jessica gave a little wave to Gohda, who then bowed in return. The two went down the long flight of steps to the beach, and arrived at the dock. The boat wasn't there.
"Ohohoho, looks like we're actually a little early, I called for the boat about 15 minutes ago. They're a little slow today."
After Kumasawa's statement, the boat came into their line of sight. The boat was coming from a dark collection of clouds, and you could tell rain was approaching. The boat docked at the little harbor, and Jessica started climbing on. The sound of footsteps was resonating in the area, and then Jessica heard her mother's voice, calling Kumasawa down. Jessica instantly ducked, but it was to no avail. Her mother had already seen her. Kumasawa stepped off the boat, and Jessica overheard some of their conversation.
"Kumasawa, I just heard that Ange will be attending this meeting after all…. While you're out shopping, please pick up some extra food…"
"Ohohoho, is little Ange feeling better?"
Then, Natsuhi whispered something, but Jessica couldn't hear it. Kumasawa came back up to the boat, and walked towards the captain who was sitting in front of the steer. The boat then took off, and Kumasawa then came back outside. The mainland was about 15 minutes away, and they were moving towards an onslaught of clouds.
"Kumasawa, do you think I should buy my mom something?"
Kumasawa let out a little smile and said "Why yes, I do think it would be a kind gesture. If you can't think of anything, a mackerel is always a good gift."
The boat continued towards the clouds, and Jessica thought up gifts she could buy for her mom. Her mother always loved tea, and the store certainly had that. But there's also various other things the store could sell that her mother might like. Anything would be fine; Natsuhi would be delighted to get a gift from her daughter in any situation. Jessica wanted to get the best she could, and her thinking of what to get continued.