Chapter 10:
I wandered into the kitchen and saw a blond haired man in a chef's outfit holding a flamethrower. I watched as he pulled the trigger and immediately, the food went up in flames in his face. His hair poofed out and he looked angry. Turning to me, his face suddenly lit up.
"So you're the guest! Great to meetcha!" he said energetically shaking my hand. "I'm Bardroy, but e'ryone here calls me Baldo."
I pried my hand out of his iron grip and said,"I'm Lexi Cross. Um… are you the chef?"
"Yeah. But right now—"
Sebastian walked in then and cut him off. "Bardroy! What have I told you about the flamethrower? Its not for meals!" Sebastian sighed and then said, "Ill clean up here. You need to leave." I looked from Baldo to Sebastian then back. Baldo hung his head and trudged out the door. Now it was just me and Sebastian. He seemed to have not realized that I was standing in the room, because when he saw me, he nodded slowly. "And where are you supposed to be?"
"Um… nowhere. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I came in to get breakfast…"
He shook his head and ignored my statement.
"You will no doubt need a uniform, am I correct?"
"Yes…."
"Come with me."
He led me out of the kitchen, all the while looking at a pocket watch and muttering about how he barely had time enough for all the work that needed to be done and how human days were so short. I was a little confused as to why he was not referring to himself as human as with the rest of us, but said nothing.
"You do know the way to your room I assume?" he asked inquisitively.
"Yes, would you prefer me to go wait there for you?" I replied.
He looked a little taken aback by my statement. I guess that he wasn't used to people knowing what he was going to say. I couldn't help it. I have a secret that no one knows. I can almost hear people's thoughts. I feel them. When someone is about to yell at me, I know it because I am able to FEEL the anger radiating off of them. If they're happy, the same. Some how, I can interpret their thoughts. I'm never wrong. I parted ways with him and walked back to my room and sat on the bed. I lay back on the super plush duvet and closed my eyes, my life passing before my eyes in flashes. Some were too fast to comprehend. They came, but always left before I could delve into them.
~Flash~
"Sissy! Come play with me!"
"Quiet Xavier! I'm busy. Can't you see that?"
"But…"
"No. go have Maria play with you."
~Flash~
Mum cries as we lay my little brother into his tiny grave. Dead at five. Much too young, I thought. He would've been quite pretty little corpse at thirteen. Wait! What?!
~Flash~
I eavesdrop on my parents in fathers study.
"Hanna, I think we need to tell her," said my father.
"Honey, I think we need to wait," answered my mother, "she is only thirteen. Wouldn't that be terrifying for her?"
"Hanna, I don't know how much longer we are going to be around, and if she doesn't know, then she will never be able to find… him."
"You are right, as always," conceded mother.
~Flash~
"Emma? Darling, come here. Your father and I need to talk to you about something very important."
I sat down across from them on the daybed.
"Emma, you're not… our biological child."
~Flash~
I opened my eyes found that I was gulping for air. That was the first time in five years that I had remembered anything about my past. Or wanted to for that matter. I sat up and found that I was staring at Sebastian. He had a pair of overalls, some boots, a long sleeved white shirt and a hat draped over his arm. I scooted off the bed and took them gently from him. I tried to undo the back of my dress but I couldn't reach that far behind me.
"Um… Sebastian," I started, turning red, "Could you…"
He walked to me and undid the clasps quickly then stepped back to where he had been standing. I shrugged it off and put on the overalls, then the white shirt, careful not to turn my back to him for fear of him seeing the scars there. I pulled on the boots which were quite comfortable, then walked to the mirror. I swiftly braided my hair and shoved the cap on my head, then admired myself. I looked like a boy. A stable boy. I turned to Sebastian who had already gotten the door and was apparently waiting for me. We left and he took me back to the stables where the two horses were already waiting for their grooming.