I've been busy lately, so sorry if I made you wait. Enjoy the reading chapter 6.
Previously
"if it is your own version of "I'm sorry for being a complete backstabber" well I don't accept it Katherine" with the same bitterness that she recognized from their conversation at the hospital, he said. "Then what should I do to earn your forgiveness" Katherine uttered the words with a desperate look. "Tell Elijah that you married him for his money and that you have been shagging me while you were dating him or kill yourself, you're free to choose" he spat before he buried his head into the pillow again. Katherine felt it was right time she exited the room before their conversation devolved into a shouting match and their little secret became no more secret. Choking in her tears, she left in hurry to get into her chamber before being notice.
Seventeen days, thirteen hours and twenty minutes went by like a month of Sundays. Hayley counted them along with the times she was scolded for standing too much in front of the wall clock like a convict waiting to be freed. Two weeks dragged on and she was still incapable of accustoming herself to her daily routines and the unjustifiable absence of caffeine in her life. Every day she would wake up at seven, take a shower and head to the backyard, where she fed the dog and watered the pins and firs alternately. For the rest of the day, she either stayed in her room punching the air and drooling over the smell of the patisserie that she would never taste, or do a few house chores with Lauren and fashionably fail in finishing half of them. She had so far broken one vase, two plates and many records in ruining things in less than two seconds, making Lauren fly in a rage.
Hayley hadn't run across her master ever since he returned from hospital, however she'd seen a few guests walking the hallway with sophisticated bouquets of roses, and from their dignified demeanor and formal attires, she could tell they were one of his blue-blooded friends, or maybe a bunch frenemies coming to check if he was still in the land of the living. But what bugged her the most was that he still hadn't taken any actions as regards her little act of disobedience, not that she was looking forwards to being punished but he couldn't have forgotten about it after all. She would wager her fake leather squeaky shoes that he must have been cooking up something for her, after all revenge is a meal best served cold and he sure looked like a man who always had something up his sleeve.
It was already midday and she had been digging holes in the garden like a restless rabbit for hours until her hands grew callous. The holes looked fine but they were always either too deep or too narrow for Lauren. Hayley grew sick and tired of the grouchy Martha who would stop at nothing to nitpick her work and call her useless every now and then. Nothing the handmaid did could please her, like throwing an operetta to a deaf audience, her efforts were utterly wasted. Hayley wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand and leaned on to reach for the discarded shovel.
"Hey bugs bunny" a familiar voice spoke from behind. She turned around, bringing her eyelids together to obstruct the path of the biting sunrays into her slimy eyes.
"Good morning Tyler" She said with a hand on the hip and the other shielding her eyes from the sun. Tyler was wearing grey overalls and holding with his gloved hands a heavy basket of red-skinned apples.
"Well that's a very deep hole" he enthused as usual with as he checked out the maid's work. Her mind, which she hated to call dirty but rather alert, couldn't overlook the sexual overtones of his words. It was almost inconceivable not to misinterpret his last statement as a conspicuously suggestive joke, because that crooked smile was the oxymoron of innocence. Every time he displayed that grin, she couldn't help taking it as a tacit flirtation. But that could be one of the fallout of being abused, ending up taking offense at most harmless words like a paranoiac.
"It's for the plants * Duh, it's not like I'm digging for oil*" her answer was plain and redundant, unable to conceal her growing discomfort his piercing eyes brought on her.
"For what is worth, you're doing a very bad job"
*at hiding my discomfort?*
Her eyes didn't leave the apples that were tauntingly begging her for a bite and he finally said the magic words.
"Have at it, they're clean and appetizing" he proposed politely as he placed the heavy basket on the wet grass.
"and what's the catch?" The handmaid replied with a jesting tone as she brought the shovel between her legs and rested her both elbows on the thick handle for support, suddenly feeling like chatting with him.
"Well, a nod, a head shake, or if today is my lucky I will probably get to see your smile, again you're not obligated" She laughed shyly and it was as if the sesame door opened for him.
"you do have teeth! And here I thought you never smile because you were toothless or something"
"No I only smile when I have a reason to smile" her voice regained its grim tone and he could sense the sadness effused from her look.
"Aren't you going to accept my offering?" with a clear-throat, he pointed to the basket.
"What if Lauren comes back, you know how sneaky she is"
"Then tell her you've stolen this crimson apple for her and I'm sure she will sweep it under the rug, it only takes a carefully picked up fruit to win these ladies" he handed her the apple and she finally took it.
"Well it takes more than an apple to win me Tyler" She said as she put the exquisite gem in her pocket.
"I just thought it will help you gain vigor, you need energy for what is coming" she threw him a puzzled look, failing to comprehend his words.
*What is coming? Is he talking about the pregnancy?*
"Are you burying someone? Still haven't turn up any skeletons?" his eyes settled on the poorly-dug holes again and her gaze pulled away to shake off the beads of sweat that bedewed her lids.
"I've been doing exactly what she said. I mean they're just holes! Does it take a genius to dig a hole?"
"Leave it to me, gardening is one of my peripheral interests"
"No I'll do it myself" Her back arched and she was going to proceed her task, but Tyler grabbed her arm, which he quickly freed lest she scare.
"Are you sure you're not too busy?" she held onto the shovel, her eyes pending for his answer, which she hoped was "no".
"Just go Bugs, I'll take care of it and make sure you throw the seeds out of the window" he winked at her and she felt the burden being taken off her shoulders.
"Thank you Tyler".
She took off her apron and sprinted back to the house, her long dark ponytail swinging at her back in a chirpy motion. Tyler watched her in awe as she disappeared between the naked firs.
"Now you're digging holes for her. All this in the desperate hope to see her little tight hole" Tyler was already rolling his eyes at Oliver's ill-tasted comment. He spun around and cocked his head sideway.
"What do you want Ollie? Still bitter after the last reshuffle, I can't believe you're the driver of the old mama now"
"Are you trying to be mean Tyler, because something tells me you had a hand in it" the blond driver crossed his toned arms against his chest, with a somewhat quizzical almost dubious air.
"Bitter and paranoid"
"I'm being serious!" his tone was a whole pitch higher, earning Tyler's full attention.
"And I told you many times and often that I have nothing to do with it. Rebekah woke up one day with a strong need to fire you, it just came out of the blue. I had to beg Lord Klaus to keep you around. I fought for you, you imbecile, and thankfully her brother is clearly abreast of her recurrent mood swings and decided to side with you. So you should consider yourself lucky that he didn't sack your whiny ass. I just don't understand why would you say something like this?"
"I don't know. Maybe your exculpatory attitude every time I bring on the subject"
"Piss off alright" he exasperatedly huffed as he walked past him. But Oliver had more to say.
"You had been her driver for 24 freaking hours when I was away then the next day she couldn't stand seeing my face. And you call me paranoid!"
"I'm ending this conversation" Tyler kept walking away as he waved his hand dismissively.
"Yeah. Keep dodging my questions like the real coward you are" he bawled at his back.
Hayley scuttled across the corridor, her eyes fluttering from right to left, fearing to be noticed, until she reached her room. Hurriedly, she proceeded forthwith to her closet and hid the apple in the inmost part of the drawer. Then it occurred to her that maybe Lauren would check the closet in her absence, because that was what she would always do, and thus decided to put it in a place that wouldn't cross anyone's mind. Under her bed.
Hayley crept down and no sooner had she placed the apple beside the farthest leg she heard a shrinking voice shouting her name, causing her to accidently bang her head against the roof of the bed. Could they have possibly found out about her fruit smuggling already? She stood up abruptly, her body spinning around in circle, eyes searching for a hidden camera somewhere, considering that these people had never valued privacy anyways.
"Hayley!" The Martha kept calling until the maid was standing in front of her.
"Yes Miss Lauren" she breathed out, wearing a blithe look.
"I've lost my voice calling for you, what was taking you so long?" she squalled angrily, her facial expression matching her displeased tone.
"I was in the garden then I…" she was going to improvise an alibi when the Martha cut her off mid-sentence "I saw you dashing into your room like a thief"
"It's because I was washing my han..ds" she stuttered the words.
*Snap!*
"Oh because you've already finished your work?" with a level look, almost impressed she exclaimed.
"Yes of course" Hayley was having a hard time evening out her breathing because she was ridiculously nervous.
"Okay. Now I forgot why I called you. Oh yes! It's time for a home pregnancy test" The Martha pulled out a pregnancy test kit from her pocket and place it on the counter. Hayley was already repulsed at the conception of being pregnant, the thought was too dour to process. She had always romanticized pregnancy, always fantasized about the belly cuddling, what she would look like in a maternity dress, how many gifts she would receive in her baby shower. Never had she expected to be a mother in such horrible circumstances, and now that her nightmares were about to come true, her fears quintupled.
"isn't it too early for that. What if I had my periods tomorrow?" she asked in a barely audible voice, fearing to be yelled at, or worse, beaten.
"It's never too early of course. Now take the test, you know what to do"
Hayley didn't move from her spot, maybe her legs went numb from panic or maybe she didn't simply know what to do. She'd never used a pregnancy test after all.
"oh don't gape at me like that, It's not rocket science. You will pee on the container under the sink, it's clean, then you dip the strip for 6 seconds into it, but be careful, do not dip too deep, and make sure it doesn't go past this bold line" she pointed to black line at the bottom of the strip "after that you give it back to me, understand?" The Martha instructed.
Hayley took the kit and nodded woodenly, feeling her anger churning within. With rigid steps, she staggered back to her room, sweat rolling down her slick nape. She wasn't in a rush, she could walk that corridor all day long and wouldn't even grow bored of taking two steps back after every step onward, for she wasn't looking forward to the end of it. No one is eager to meet their end.
She opened the door and her world turned upside down as her head banged headlong against the wall to sharply land on the floor. It was as if the time stood still for a few minutes then passed by in a wink right to the part where her burning cheek became one with the floor. Her skin shivered from contact with the cold steel floor and she could taste her own blood that hit her upper lip. A pair of toned legs walked slowly past her then stopped at her back. Someone slapped her so hard and she was still struggling to lift her head to see what her high-heeled abuser looked like.
"Get up skank" She recognized the voice, and she hated it already.
The maid lifted her head that was still dizzy by the blow, half propping her upper body on her elbows. A few drops of blood hit the floor and she realized it was oozing from her forehead. The brunette must have learnt about the apple, that was Hayley's first bet.
"I'm sorry Lady.. but" she blinked her eyes in the attempt of making her headache ebb away.
"I said get up!" Katherine yelled, causing Lauren to pace into the room.
"Oh lord, what did she do again?" the martha shrunk with horror.
" I can't believe you let it slip out Lauren. I thought I was living in a safe house where larceny is nearly impossible. Today she steals, tomorrow she kills" Katherine was seething with anger.
Hayley finally managed to stand up without passing out, which wasn't easy at all. She regretted having accepted that damned apple in the first place. Hadn't Tyler urged her to take it, she wouldn't be wiping the blood off her head now. Damn you Tylor. Now that she had to bite the bullet, what kind of punishment awaited her. Stoned to death with apples? Or hung upside down on an apple tree. The theme of the day was Apple anyways.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it" Hayley thought that an earnest apology would absolve her from her mistake. That might work with Satan himself, but not with Katherine.
"You didn't mean it! it is worth 12 000 dollars. Keeping it in your closet for 3 consecutive weeks can have only a one explanation and it is theft" Her words were all Latin to Hayley. the handmaid was genuinely oblivious to what the outraged brunette was referring to. Did she steal anything else a part from the apple?
"What did she take" the Martha asked. Katherine pulled out a cross pendant from her purse and held it up in the air.
"Klaus' pendant, I gave it to him for his 30th birthday last year. What does it do in the handmaid's closet? Noting that he's already told me that he'd lost it two weeks ago, conveniently timed with their first ceremony"
Hayley was at loss of words. How did she forget about the pendant? She didn't steal it of course but still couldn't think of a good lie to vindicate herself especially that the real story was a can of worm. She wasn't stupid enough to tell the truth, nevertheless denying was like walking to a dead end. They needed an answer, too bad her mind was running out of ideas after the heavy smack she'd received.
"I … I didn't steal it! He… he left it the last time he was in my room" the handmaid stammered, unable to formulate a consistent sentence.
"and like a good thief, you hid it in your closet. You could have handed it back to Lauren or to anyone in this house, it's not like we're living miles away!"
"I swear I was going to return it"
"Liar! You think you're going to get away with it, not under my nose!"
Their argument was momentarily interrupted by a ring at the door. Katherine's face broke into a smirk which sent a shiver down Hayley's spine.
"I think they're already here. Lauren! let them in"
Hayley felt her soul parting her body for a moment. Who are "they"? How did things escalated so quickly? She should do something, say something before it was too late.
The Martha was on her way to open the door when she bumped into Klaus' back.
"My goodness, I'm sorry Lord"
"It's okay. I'll open it, I was going out anyways" He saw something in the Martha's eyes, something he could equate with worry.
"Are you alright?" he asked, but she refrained from replying.
Klaus knew that something was going on but wasn't curious enough to dig into it. He was already late, Elijah had been blowing up his phone with texts. When he opened the door, he found himself face to face with two strong-built bodies standing behind an aunt. From their White uniforms and black hoods, he knew they were Eyes(1) just as well as he knew that having one of them at one's door meant that someone is in trouble.
"Good morning, how can I help you" Klaus said, putting a brave face like any normal Gayan citizen would do when speaking to an eye. Always act cool. Aunt Maggie was wearing her typical misleading broad smile that would almost trick anyone into believing she was a nice person.
"We received a complaint from Lady Katherine who was accusing your handmaid of stealing an expensive piece of jewelry. We're here to take care of it"
"Oh did she?" Somehow relieved that he was off the hook, Klaus turned around and saw his sister in law pacing towards him.
"Yes I was the one who called" she croaked the words angrily.
"Okay you can come in, we'll see into it" he gestured them to enter.
Esther and Rebekah were strolling down the stairs when they saw the two Eyes striding across the hallway. The two ladies exchanged a confounded look before they made their way to the hall.
"What is going on" Rebekah asked the Martha in undertones.
"Katherine found Lord Klaus' pendant in Hayley's room so she reported her to the maid center" she answered briefly.
"I can't believe she's a thief" Esther was already shocked by what she heard.
"Mom, we still don't know if it's true or not. It's Katherine's version of the story after all"
"Does it make any difference?" The mother croaked in a hushed voice.
"Oh come on, Of course it does, it's Katherine we're talking about. For all I know, she's such a big drama queen. I bet she put that pendant in her closet" Esther brows arched with speculation.
"Yes, she is a snake, but I hardly see why she would do something like this. Need I remind you that this maid will give her the baby she's ever wanted. Kicking her out in her first month doesn't make any sense to me"
Rebekah decided to bite her tongue for the good of all, knowing that any further explication would arise more questions that she wasn't ready to answer. Filling her mother on the shady relationship her half-brother and Katherine had was like opening the gate of hell on the entire family. Maybe it was best she kept her mouth shut.
"I don't know. Maybe you're right" she said.
As the door opened, the first signs of panic began to wash over Hayley's body in gradual waves. She wanted to scream, to hide, to jump out of the window or run for her life. It crossed her mind to feign fainting, or bang her head into the wall until she faints for real. But they were already there. Aunt Maggie, Klaus' biggest rival for the douch title, entered first, bringing Hayley to cringe at her sight. And here she thought she would never see her vile face again. Her fear multiplied when she saw the two strongly-built uniformed men walking abreast behind her like a couple of terrorists sent to blow up the place. But the knockout blow was the coming of the man she dreaded the most, the one that had been hunting her in her sleep and lurking in her mind for what it felt like forever. Her master was standing there, in his sinister grey suit and taunting air. She brought her hands against her belly, preparing herself for the next punch. The aunt pulled out what looked like an electric shocker from her leather bag, her face was spine-chillingly stoic, then took a few steps in a predacious pace. Hayley was silent but her mind was overdriven with an endless list of worst case scenarios none of which the outcome devoid of bloodshed.
"Could you remind me of the rule number 7 of code 12 Hayley?" the aunt was asking in a dangerously low tone, leaning on to meet the terrified maid's eyes.
Of course Hayley had no idea what rule number 7 was although she was beaten several times for disremembering these preposterous set of rules. Hayley reasoned that since she was accused of theft, the rule must be in relevance with that topic.
"Not to take what is not yours" Hayley was trying to outsmart herself. Her reply was answered by a chuckle and it offered her for a brief moment a sprinkling of hope.
"Wrong. It says to never give in to the demon within, only by doing so you shall meet your downfall" Hayley felt the aunt's clammy hands rested on her cheek. She glanced upward, feeling her heart rate pick up by the close proximity.
"Yes. Aunt Maggie" the pit in her stomach was growing up like an unstoppable snowball.
Katherine was beyond pissed off that she was denied the satisfaction of witnessing the handmaid's punishment and it bugged her that she couldn't even hear what they were saying. Her ear was pressed against the door, trying to suppress an angry grunt from escaping her mouth.
"What are you doing?" Rebekah snorted.
"SHHHHHHHH" Katherine pressed her finger against her lips.
"Did you just hush me?" the blond raised a brow at her.
"I'm trying to listen and you're making it impossible" she huffed.
Klaus had a grim view of what type of punishment the Eyes would opt for. He heard a lot of rumors about the sadistic methods they use. He of all people knew that she wasn't a thief. He also knew that only his testimony could prove her innocence and hence get her out of harm's way. Be that as it may, it didn't stop him from watching the scene like a bystander.
"Now tell me Hayley, why did you steal that pendant? Do you know what happens to thieves?" The Martha asked crankily as she positioned her shocker a few inches away from her chin. The maid felt an odd coldness in her tongue.
"I didn't stea…" Her tongue went numb and her vision got blurry as an electric discharge swept down her spine to the tip of her toes like a lightning and she found herself down on her knees, body trembling and teeth chattering violently.
"Do not lie to me" The Martha grunted at the kneeling maid.
"Alright this is enough" Klaus finally spoke. Three pair of eyes turned their gaze towards him. Hayley, still immobilized by the shock, her once honeyed skin went pale like old creased paper and she looked most dejected, but had somehow found the willpower to stand up.
"I left that pendant in her room" Klaus confessed, little did he know that his little revelation would bring him under the intense scrutiny of the two men standing before him. The Eyes' look shifted to a speculative stare. Hayley however was struggling to breathe as her body's temperature dropped dramatically and her feet went arctic-cold.
"But Lord, she should have given it back at least. Isn't what a well-behaved maid would do" Maggie argued.
"That's because I told her to keep it" he realized the prickly situation he got himself into the moment the words slipped out of his mouth. He forgot for a second that he wasn't any regular lord, unlike Elijah, his status as a noble was revoked in the wake of his father's death. He wasn't anymore the intimidating Mikaelson whose mere name bring the authorities to quack with fear, nor was he the famous magnate every businessmen in society wished to collaborate with. Should these Eyes think that the pendant was a gift from him to the maid, he would have to need Elijah's help to prove them wrong. And he hated asking for help, especially from his family members.
"Because it was broken and I asked her to fix it and to return it only when she finds a way to fix it. But clearly she wasn't successful. I wanted to test her abilities of taking care of precious things. This girl has never carried a child you know and I'm preparing her for the big day" The Aunt was seemingly impressed by Klaus' words, and so were the Eyes. Hayley however was completely dumbfound, fighting the urge to slap her face to make sure she wasn't having a dream. Did he just save her life?
"Well that's thoughtful. I think we have a misunderstanding here"
"I believe yes" Klaus answered with a restrained smile.
"So you are telling me that she's not a thief" one of the Eye finally spoke.
"Of course. But she's something else, let's say worse" his words piqued the interest of the Aunt whose face broke into a frown. Listening to his last words, Hayley felt a mini heart attack, she just couldn't understand the abrupt change in his discourse. Right when she thought she was going to reach the top of the well he decided to let go of the rope.
"Could you elaborate Lord"
"She's disobedient. The first ceremony was a challenge, she didn't behave, which made it very hard to finish the act" Hayley was infatuated by his betrayal, not that she trusted him anyways, but he fooled her to think that he was helping her, and it sucked.
No sooner had he finished his words than the aunt snapped her fingers together towards the Eyes "I believe it's time we remind this unruly maid of the rules. Nigel! Sebastian! Tie her"
Before Hayley could protest, the two men were bending over to reach for her feet but she waddled away, almost falling backwards. A rough hand grabbed her wrist and guided her to the bed, the root of her trauma and the key element of its continuity. She resisted with every fiber of her being as they tied her feet with a tight rope and handcuffed her hands behind her back until she was left completely powerless.
"Let me go no!" The maid begged with a wavering voice.
One of the Eye was holding a mysterious black instrument that looked like a big clipper and pointed it to her foot. Hayley, crippled by scare, let out a high-pitched outcry that was quickly smothered by another electric shock. Klaus was standing behind with his hands folded against his chest, acting like he didn't care. Although her screaming made it so hard to maintain indifference.
"Are you going to whip her?" he asked with offhand apprehension, failing to disguise his concern.
"No we're going to pull out her toenails as a reminder of her insubordination" The aunt replied impassively as if she were informing him of one of her daily activities. Scarcely had the words reached his ears when he flinched with a startled look.
Hayley was lying on the bed like a corpse, drowning in the epidemic anxiety that followed the Aunt's reply. At first she pursed her lips in anticipation, preparing herself mentally for the nail avulsion. But who was she kidding, this wasn't something she could ever handle with braveness. With what is left of energy in her, she strained her throat to scream but no audible sound came out. Her body, already yielding to fear, stiffened like a board and she finally gave up, knowing that her resistance was of no avail. If only she could jump up and beat the leaving out of everyone in this room. Shortly a ruthless hand clutched her ankles firmly, her tears were streaming down her face, brushing the hot spot under her ears and she swallowed, struggling to quench the dryness in her throat, before she closed her eyes.
(1) Eye: an Eye is an undercover agent who works for what the Gaya citizens call the parallel police. They get paid to spy on people, including landlords and most prominent figures in society, which make them the most dangerous agents in Gaya.
Oh don't give me that look. I need your reviews now.
