Chapter Ten:
The Buddy System.
I have been here for a week, and it sucked. I'm just gonna come right out and say it. No sugar coating here. My schedule was pretty uninformed; I ate breakfast with Lillian at five, explored a different wing or floor of the castle, ate lunch at nine-thirty by myself (Lillian had chores), watched some TV, and then ate dinner with Fredrik at ten am as commanded, and lastly went to bed at two. At first Lillian had stayed in my room watching over me as Fredrik ordered, but after some groveling Fredrik relented to stationing a guard outside my door; I can't sleep with someone watching me. It was all INCREDIBLY boring. And I have had enough of it. It was eight-ten and I was done with life, so I went out to seek some entertainment.
I flopped on the bed, comforter fluttering about me. I blew my hair out of my face and exhaled loudly. What to do, What to do? There was some thudding and I knew that the guard was still standing at my door, I swear he never moves. You know I've never actually talked to him. Lillian says he's nice. I think that she has a teeny crush on the guy. Well as her friend I must approve the match. I sat up quickly and ran to the bathroom to check the mirror. My small heart shape face with large doe brown eyes greeted me. I added some more powder to conceal the stubborn zits and red spots. I brushed my hair and smoothed my blouse. Lillian fulfilled her promise and had delivered clothing for me to wear. All carefully selected and approved by the master. Most of it was dresses, skirt, and blouses; Fredrik said that ladies do not wear pants. Gosh, I hate that man. Anyway today I was dressed in a pale pink tulle skirt and classical long sleeved black blouse with a high turtleneck and black, thick, high heeled ankle booties. I looked cute, no shame in bragging.
Lillian said, and I quote, 'ten/ten would bang.' Friends are great aren't they? Wouldn't know only had two. With my inspection done I went to interrogate, I mean talk to the mystery man. Tiptoeing softly, I reached the large wooden door that had tiny iron bars running along the length of it. Creaking the door open, I peeked out to spot the guard standing on my left. I smirked and whispered not so discreetly.
"Hey kid, wanna buy some drugs?" It came out all raspy and deep, I was trying to sound like a druggie. I've never met one, so I have no idea how they speak. Not taking his eyes off the end of the hall, the man mumbled back.
"Wachcha selling?" His voice was average and American, okay well he looked like a Mexican. Sweet, a guy I can talk too!
"Cannabis. You buyin'?" I giggled, his eyes flicked over to me and then back to their steely gaze.
"I don't think drug dealers know what the technical term for weed is. And ,more importantly, I don't think I'm supposed to speak to you." I chuckled loudly and punched his arm, drawing the attention of the far guard down the hall. His back went straight and he stopped laughing.
"Sorry Sir, just talking about drugs here, carry on." I called, saluting, with my face firm. The older gentleman nodded back and smiled at me. The boy beside me caste a surprised look.
"How did you get Major Akens to smile." He questioned.
"Oh him, yeah he's really nice. I got lost on the way from dinner with Satan and he took me back to my room." I replied, he snorted at the Satan bit. "So, sir, what'cha name?"
"Amais, Amais Camisa. Please to met you." He tipped his hat. (Pronunciation: ah-mee-us)
"Emily Atwell, and like most people here you already know that." I angrily pouted. "So Amais huh?" He groaned and sagged his shoulders.
"Ugh don't remind me." Amais mumbled.
"Hey it's not that bad. it is unique and it means love in Latin." I tried to cheer him up.
"What? How do you know that?" I shrugged my shoulders.
"I know it from a book I read awhile back." I picked at my nails indefinitely.
"And what book would have the name Amais in it?" He scoffed.
"The name became known via the hero of the mega-popular 1855 Charles Kingsley's novel, Westward Ho!, Captain Sir Amyas Leigh." I rattled off absently. Amais gaped.
"You've read that novel!"
"Of course. I like to read a lot." I admitted.
"My ma read that when she was pregnant with me so boom! There was my name." It was quiet for a bit after that, us both losing in our own thoughts.
"I'm bored." I whined, drawing out the O.
"Well I don't care." Replied Amais, drawing out the A.
"Ugh, entertain me." I commanded. He smirked and shrugged his shoulders.
"And how am I supposed to help that?" He probed
"Come in my room and talk to me." I answered. Amais shuddered and shook his brown hair quickly.
"No male person may enter the Mistress' room unaccompanied by the Master by order of.." Amais rattled off monotonically, I cut him off.
"The boss, I know." I nagged, then it hit me.
"Give me a min." I called over my shoulder racing back into my chambers. I grabbed three pillows and a deck of cards and then sprinted back to the hallway. Groaning, I dropped the items with a thud. Amias raised an eyebrow.
"What's this?" He gestured to the pile. I grinned evilly.
This is how you are going to entertain me." I sassed smugly. He looked confused. "Ugh uncultured swine, we sit on da pillows and play ERS duh." I laid out the objects in a oval and flopped ungracefully on the light blue checkered one. Crossing my legs to the side and smoothing out the tulle. Patting the pink cushion, I motioned for Amias to sit down. He complied.
"Why are there three pillows Emily?" He questioned. I sighed and answered.
"It's nice that you don't call me Mistress or anything like that, and I'm invitin' Jonathan over idiot."
"Who?" Amais asked dumbly. I rolled my eyes and pointed down the hall.
"Major Jonathan Akens, you don't even know your own head officer's name. Some gentlemen you are." I nagged. "Hey! John come over here and play with us." I called, waving for the man to me. He compiled also. Wow these guards are so lax, it's crazy. Shuffling the deck I distributed the cards evenly. Amais went first, as he was the person to the left. He placed a card face up in the middle, it was a five of clubs. It was three turns before someone put a face card down. I slapped it first. Dang these boys can hit. We played four more rounds. Amias and I slapping out twice. I felt a small disturbance, Oh crap!
"Get up! Get up he's coming!" I snapped, the boys rushed into action, Major Akens moving swiftly down the hall to his position and Amais helping me chunk the pillows and cards into my room, I followed suit. Sprinting to the bedroom, I threw myself onto the bed, covers bouncing over me. I overestimated my leap so I slid right over the edge. Crashing to the floor harshly, my shoulder taking most of the damage. Gosh that hurt, I cradled the wound and tried to stand up. Sharp footfalls alerted me to the approaching Cursed One. There was a small rapping on my door and I knew Fredrik was here. Because of Fredrik's undead status I could 'feel' his soul. It was the same with Ben. Oh, there he was again, filling up my brain with images of him. I think of him often, same with my family, they replaced each other. I miss him so much that it made my heart ache. I guess the expression' absence makes the heart grow fonder' is true. I shut off those thoughts quickly, no need to dwell on the past. Especially when you will never see it again.
"C-come in." I called, trying to keep the pain out: emotionally and physically. The door opened and Fredrik's scent floated in. Some type of expense man perfume; after finding out that I had allergies to the stuff he outlawed it, I caught gallons of it being thrown out. I tried to stop it, but I was too late.
"Emily?" Fredrik summand me, steeling up my expression, I called for him from the french doors in my bedroom the lead to the balcony. Lillian and I sit out there sometime, weather permitting, and just savor the feel of the wind on our faces. It reminds me of the home I grew up in. Going on float trips and hiking expeditions with my grandfather. All the boys in my family did or still do Boy Scouts. Lexi and I tried to Mulan the float trip once because only boys could go, but we were found out at the last minute. My sister and I were the first girls born into our family, my mother was so nervous when she found out that we were girls. She bet my father hundred bucks to tell his dad the news. And it turns out that he was more excited when we were born then his own sons. True story. I know all the skills that the Boys Scouts do, but I just look cuter doin' it. I swallowed the lump in my throat and called again when he didn't hear me.
Fredrik's brown slicked back locks peeked around the corner, never have I been so glad to be wearing long sleeves. I could feel a swollen bump forming there, another tiny prick was felt against my mental walls. It was sharper than he last, but still did not break them. Leave me be Ben, please. He had an irritated look on his face.
"You are late to dinner Emmaline, it is ten-fifteen." He snapped. I blushed, great lost track of time.
"I'm sorry Fredrik, I was tryin' to look nice for you and I must've lost track of time." I gushed, nice save Em. My pathetic plea soothed Fredrik, his eyes going back to their cool blue.
"It is forgiven, I now have an excuse to escort a lovely lady to dinner." He bragged, I flinched when he grazed my hurt limb, grabbing my elbow and swaggered away, me following dutifully. We passed Amias standing rigidly against the stone. Fredrik's grip on me increased in pressure, he was showing that I was his. I cast an annoyed look over my shoulder to Amais, who barely stifled a laugh. I was led through the halls and into the dining room. The chambers were large with tall ceilings, the walls painted a white with a grand chandelier and huge ornate black oak fireplace that was lit. It's warm glow making the long brown wood table's lacquer shine. As usual the table was already dressed. The plates a fine china with beautiful cream with gold accents to show off Fredrik's wealth. I sat to the left of the head high back chair, then it went Fredrik in the master's spot, then his most trusted adviser Abner Gossen. Fredrik pulled back my chair and placed me in it, and then pushing it back into place. He did the same to his own seat.
"I apologize that I am late, the Mistress was fiddling with her looks again." Fredrik bragged, ugh he's making me seem vain. Abner glanced over at me and smirked, I don't like him; he always looks at my breasts. That is if I had any, he'd look at 'em. Abner Gossen was a middle aged man around forty-five, who couldn't keep it in his pants. He has a mate by the name of Lina Hearling. Sweetest gal you'll ever meet, and she's mated to that pig. I found her weeping in a hallway on my third day here, apparently, she found Abner in bed with a maid. Poor girl, I, being a good Samaritan, took her back to my room and Lina, Lillian, and I watched Hallmark movies and ate ice cream all the rest of the night. We are buddies now.
"I completely understand Lord Fredrik, my Lina just takes ages to get ready. Not that it would help her." He boomed, Fredrik and the rest of the table of council members joined in. Lina who was sitting next Abner on his left, wiped away her tears. I mouthed 'my room at twelve.' and she nodded.
"I can not comprehend why My Emily would spend so much time in the bathroom, she is already beautiful." Fredrik gushed, ugh you think pretty words will make me fall in love with you, you are sorely mistaken. The rest of the dinner went as it normally did, the men laughing and talking politics, the poor women quiet by threat of abuse. Fredrik didn't come out right and say he'd hit me, but it was implied. I tapped Fredrik's arm, his head turned back toward me, smile faltering a bit.
"Yes." He spoke deathly low, I gulped
"Fredrik, I don't feel so well, may I be excused please?" I whimpered for effect. Fredrik frowned placed a hand over my forehead; channeling all the heat in my body using my powers, my temperature went up. He gasped and caressed my cheek.
"My sweet you are burning up!" Whoops guess I put a little too much umph in it. Placing my hand over his, I smile falsely.
"It is nothing a good rest couldn't cure sweetheart." Throwing in a pet name for good measure. I winked at Lina and she grinned, hazel eyes shining.
"My Darling is feeling unwell tonight, so for her health she will be leaving early. And if you excuse me gentleman I will escort her back." Fredrik up and the others followed suit, bowing their heads in submission. I got to my feet also, grabbing the crook of Fredrik's arm. Tilting my head down, I spoke shyly the the men.
"I'm so sorry to cut the wonderful evening short. There will be no need to take me back Fredrik, you stay with your friends; a maid will assist me darlin'." Fredrik smiled and kissed my cheek.
"Very well, My Darling is so independent isn't she? I will see to you later my sweet." Fredrik gushed, only I could hear the underlying threat in his voice. I was in for it tonight.
Fredrik snapped his fingers and a grey haired maid stepped up and curtsied.
"Take Emmaline to her chambers and see that her fever recedes." He demanded and the maid only nodded and went to my side. Once we were out of the room I asked the maid's name was.
"It is Diogo Picarra, Madam." She rasped.
"None of this Madam crap, ya can call me Emily. Lillian Evans, Amias Camisa, and Major Akens does it." I told her. She smiled softly and nodded. "Thank you for taking me back to my room Miss Picarra, and if it's not to much of a bother could you take some first aid medicine to my chambers later. I don't think I'll survive the night without it." I feigned indifference, but inside I was crapping myself in fear. Diogo looked startled and shook her head yes fiercely.
"Thank you greatly." I replied. We reached my door and I put on a stone face. Amais gazed at me surprised by my change in mood from when he last saw me. "The master will be visiting shortly, let him in when he does." I commanded in a dead tone.
"Emily?" Amais questioned, I ignored him and slammed the oak door. Sliding down I placed my head in my hands and sobbed. My wails echoed about the empty room. I composed myself and walked to stand by the bed, to await my destruction If I die, it will not be cowering in fear.
A/N 'Ello peoples, thank you for putting up with my story this long. :) I have been informed that I spelled Chanukah wrong, whoops. So in honor of my promise I will blend potato chips. Please don't hate me Jewish people, I'm sorry): The next chapter will have a trigger warring so beware, and don't submit yourself to something you are not comfortable with. It will be marked clearly, I do care about my readers. Without you I have no point in my writing. Have a good day, and feel with me the hatred for Fredrik, I hate that man maybe more than Emily does. And she wants to Sparta kick him off a cliff
AAAAnDdD tell me about any spelling mistakes and I'll just like shave my eyebrows in morning for my English schooling.- Love Maybird!