A Lapse in Judgment
"Argh! This stupid thing is broken again!"
I was sweeping the floor in the upper hall when I heard Daniela's lament. Several THWACKS! kept exiting the parlor.
"Stop hitting it, moron! You'll make it worse!" Bela protested.
"Oh, so that means you have a better idea?" Daniela snapped.
"Why don't we just get someone to fix it?" Cassandra suggested before yawning.
At this point, I found myself standing just outside the door. I caught a glimpse of the object causing the sisters' discontent; it was a record player they frequently danced and sang to when they couldn't find anything else to do.
"Ah, right on cue!" Bela said.
My eyes snapped to the three mistresses, the broom still tight in my hand. They were all staring at me as grins spread across their mouths.
"Oh… excuse me, my ladies." I gave a small bow.
"Is there something you want, Lipa? If you wanted to hear music today, I'm afraid that's on the fritz," Cassandra sighed as she waved her shawl back and forth while lying on the couch.
"I… heard that you were having some troubles. I might be able to help," I offered.
They stared at me, leaning closer.
"Really? Do you know what's wrong with it?" Bela asked.
"No. But if you give me some time, I might be able to fix it."
The sisters turned to one another, paying no more heed to me. They hunched together and began whispering, occasionally sneaking a glance in my direction. I stood still in case I was given an order. Finally, they turned back to me, giggling.
"Oh, Lipa! You're a saint!" Daniela cooed.
"But don't take too long with it. We're sooooo bored," Cassandra said.
I took a step into the room and set my broom against the wall. Daniela stepped aside to sit on the couch next to Bela which invoked a small argument about personal space.
I had never fixed a record player before; truth be told, before this incident, I didn't even know how they worked. But if I could quell the sisters' boredom and prevent a further temper tantrum, I was willing to give it a shot. I flipped the device on, trying to see if it would at least start. No good. The turntable wasn't spinning the record at all. Was it a deficiency in the power supply? It should only operate on a single motor… I flipped the apparatus over and pulled out the screwdriver I kept tucked in my apron. I could feel the sisters leaning closer to me as I lifted the cover. The inside of the machine was…
I almost let out a laugh but tamed myself to just a smirk. There was a motor attached on the right, which presumably made the record spin. I unscrewed it from its place and double checked the device was off. So yes, Heisenberg, I did learn my lesson. The outside of the motor seemed fine, so I had to dissect it further. Inside the small metal casing were a series of washers and gears. Bingo. The gears were in poor shape, unable to turn when I rubbed my finger along their grooves. I hurried from the parlor to grab my cleaning supplies and promptly returned. The sisters had gathered around the record player in my absence, staring in bewilderment at my deconstruction. With my brush and degreaser, I wiped all the gears to get them back to a purer color. Satisfied with my work, I reassembled the machine before turning it right side up to test my handiwork.
*Click*…
A moment later, the record began to spin. The jazz music that spilled out accompanied the girls' dropped jaws. I stifled another laugh as I beamed with pride. "It's all just wires and screws" indeed.
"How did you do that?" Bela asked.
"I thought you were a saddler," Daniela added, squinting at the record as it spun.
"I thought you'd just broken it further… Who taught you that?" Cassandra mused.
As I reveled in my accomplishment, I let my guard down. My relationship with the daughters was better than most servants, so surely my words held no consequence so long as Lady Dimitrescu wasn't around, right? So, I indulged their questions.
"Actually, I worked for Lord Heisenberg before coming here. He taught me a lot about machines and their inner workings."
The girls went silent. The only sound was that of the melancholy music filling the room. Their expressions seemed to drop to align with the saxophone's low notes. They huddled together again, covering their mouths as they whispered to each other. This time around, their intentions seemed sinister. They stole glares at me before standing all at once.
"Well… thanks for the help, Lipa," Bela said as her lips turned into a dark smile.
"We're in your debt for giving us such wonderful entertainment," Daniela added.
"Bye bye," Cassandra waved.
The daughters softly cackled as they glided out of the room. I stayed glued to the floor, petrified, as the jazz continued playing on… and on…
What felt like eternity wound down to just a few short minutes.
"Lipa! Come here, now!"
I jumped at the sound of Lady Dimitrescu's yell as it echoed through the halls. What a fool I was… I thought by pleasing her daughters I would please her. But whatever I said must've outweighed my helpful act.
My hands shook as I ventured to the staircase. The doors to the Lady's private lounge were open. Daniela poked her head into the hall and bolted back inside when she saw me. "Here she comes, here she comes!" she hissed to the others.
I regretted every stair, every placement of my foot. Surely it would be better to just jump out the window and save myself the trouble. I prayed to whatever entity would hear me that I wouldn't end up as a tortured soul screaming in the dungeons.
I took a shallow breath as I reached the lounge's threshold. Lady Dimitrescu's back was facing me as she sat on the couch in front of the fireplace. She took a drag from her pipe as her daughters snickered at me. I bowed.
"You called for me, my lady?"
"Yes. We have an important matter to discuss." Lady Dimitrescu snapped her fingers and pointed in front of her. I obediently moved to the spot.
The lady crossed her legs, placing her unoccupied hand on her knee as she glowered at me.
"My daughters have informed me that you were in my little brother's employ before you arrived here."
It was strange to hear her refer to Heisenberg that way. Not once had he mentioned her (or any of his siblings).
"Yes," I responded.
"And how did that happen?" Her tone was one of disappointment, as if I had failed to live up to her expectations.
There was no point in lying. Surely, she could smell deceit a country away. But I knew she wouldn't like the truth either. I gulped.
"I… I don't know."
"Don't be coy with me, child!" she scowled, "It's a simple question with a simple answer."
"Forgive me, my lady," I said hurriedly, "I'm not trying to trick you; it's true. Lord Heisenberg just… showed up at my house one day. My mother instructed me to go with him and that was the end of it."
She studied me for a moment while I stood still as a scarecrow. She finally broke the silence.
"And how long did you work for him?"
"A year."
Her face twisted as if she had picked up a moldy fruit. She pursed her lips as she picked up the glass of wine sitting beside her. She swirled it in her hand before taking a sip.
"That's all I wanted. Leave," she commanded.
"Yes, ma'am." I bowed to her before skittering out of the room. The daughters watched me leave. I didn't dare look them in the eye. There was nothing left for me to do. But I just couldn't understand. Lady Dimitrescu was upset with me... Why? I had done everything she asked. I'd only made minor mistakes. In fact, I fixed a piece of her broken equipment. Shouldn't she have thanked me? Why was my previous job such a big deal? If it had something to do with Heisenberg, then she could take it up with him. There was no reason for me to be involved. At least, that's what I hoped.
I finished my tasks for the day, trying to take my mind off my fate. It was getting late. I hadn't heard anything since my interrogation. As I went around the halls, ensuring all the windows were locked, voices echoed out of the lady's chambers. Unable to quell my anxiety, I crept towards the door.
"Mother, please. I really like this one! She's so much fun!" Bela said.
"You have to reconsider!" Cassandra concurred.
"I know how you feel, girls. I've grown quite fond of her myself. But I cannot allow someone who's been in contact with that riff raff to stay in my home. Thankfully, the chambermaid reaffirmed Lipa's purity when I questioned her." I heard the lady growl as her heels struck the ground. "He's the reason I wasn't able to acquire her in the first place! He took her from me! Well, I won't let him humiliate me again. I won't lose!" Lady Dimitrescu sighed. "What a pity. But we'll have to up the timetable. She'll be drained tomorrow. That should be enough to fill the next bottle."
I took a shaky step back from the door. The chastity test… the questions… becoming the lady's personal assistant… the servants that showed up at my house… It was all connected. The rumors were all true. This was all a ploy. I wasn't sent to Castle Dimitrescu to be a maid; I was sent to be food.
I have to get out of here! I have to get out of here! My mind kept screaming as I scurried away. The hallways enclosed around me, suffocating my thoughts. There were a million ways out of the castle, but few led back to the village. And even if I did manage to get back, Lady Dimitrescu would just send servants out to catch me. Through all my knowledge of the castle, I couldn't come up with a single solution where I came out alive. But if she was going to kill me, she would have to take me kicking and screaming.
There was no time for despair or doubt; I had to trust my instincts, which told me that the door I entered when I first arrived was my best bet. If I could even just get deep enough into the village to hide and contact Heisenberg… That's right, I left my radio at home. I'd have to head straight there. But they would know where to find me. I'd have to be quick about it and pray that Heisenberg made it in time.
But would he even respond? Would he care? The man only spoke to me when he was bored or needed something. No… I couldn't depend on him to save me. And yet I had to. Who had the power and leverage to keep Lady Dimitrescu off my back? I cursed under my breath. I really would have to stake my life on that bastard.
Luckily, I had no belongings to collect before I left. I would take off then and there before anyone ever knew. If their plan was to get me the next day, then they wouldn't be looking for me that night. That was my plan. All I had to do was make it to the door.
Winding down the hallways, I found my way back to the side door on the ground floor. The lock fought against me as I tried to turn it.
"C'mon, c'mon," I urged. I wouldn't die like that. I refused to die like that: slowly, painfully, surrounded by women I was foolish enough to trust. No… anything but that!
The latch finally gave, releasing the door. Yes!
As I grasped the handle, a fly landed on my hand before biting me.
"Ah!" My hand recoiled from the door. Stupid flies… Why did Lady Dimitrescu insist that we couldn't kill them? More and more swarmed around me, blocking my way.
"Wait! You can't leave!" Cassandra cried. But… from where?
The flies continued to circle, grouping together to take shape. They looked like… a human leg… then a torso, then hands… they were…
Before I knew it, the three daughters were standing in front me, the last of the flies drifting to the ends of their veils.
"How… how…?" I stuttered. As if cannibalism wasn't bad enough, the three young women I served turned out to be… flies.
"I know you overheard our conversation with Mother," Bela said, "and I get why you want to go. But you can't!"
"She's right! You've made things so much fun here! We want to be there with you when you die!" Daniela added.
That… That was their idea of support? Of kindness? They wouldn't fight against their mother's plan to brutally murder me, but they would hold my hand as I died? What a joke. What a sick, twisted joke.
"No. No! I'm not dying here! Not like that!" I yelled.
"Mother said it won't be that bad! She said she'll make it quick for you!" Bela said.
"I don't care! I don't want to be somebody else's food! I… I just wanna see my mother again!"
That's right… my wish. That was my real reason for living. It was just a few months ago that I had renewed it. Any chance, any sliver of hope that allowed me to continue to strive towards that wish was enough for me. I would hold it in my hand and cling to it forever.
The girls gave each other a pitying look. I didn't think I had a prayer. Surely these girls wouldn't betray their mother who they adored more than anything. But everyone is capable of surprises.
"OK… we won't stop you," Daniela said.
"…What?"
"Your mother must be worried sick. You shouldn't keep her waiting," Bela added.
I just gaped at them, waiting for the punchline.
"But please, before you go… Take this." Cassandra stepped towards me. Reluctantly, I stayed still. She pulled a necklace out of her pocket and held it out to me.
It was gorgeous. A rose gold chain held a pendant shaped like a curvy triangle encrusted with diamonds on its edges. In the middle of the triangle hung a diamond stone cut in the shape of a flower. I gently took it from Cassandra's hand, delicately laying it in my palm to look at it closer.
"Thank… thank you…" I said, still not convinced it wasn't some sort of trap.
"Thank you for everything." Daniela.
"We'll miss you." Bela.
"Please, don't forget about us." Cassandra.
The three girls stepped to the side, opening the way for me once again. I managed a small smile and gave them one last bow before I tucked the necklace into my apron.
"It was a pleasure serving you."
With that, I hurried to the door and threw it open before running down the hall. Once I reached the end, I was able to breathe. They hadn't stabbed me in the back on the way and showed no signs of following me. They were genuine. My heart sank. How could I have been so cruel? But I couldn't focus on that. I had to keep moving. No doubt Lady Dimitrescu wouldn't be as forgiving. If the girls were willing to go against their mother… I understood more than anyone what that meant. I wouldn't let their sacrifice go to waste.
I opened the next door. The natural light assaulted my eyes. I blinked a few times as I shielded my face from the sky. I ran forward. There was no time to wait. Lady Dimitrescu would soon learn of my absence. I would just have to rush down the path, through the village, and back home. It's not that far, I told myself. I just can't look back. Others would stare at me and wonder why I was running away from the castle as a servant of the house. They might even raise an alarm to avoid getting punished. But that wouldn't matter if I could just reach−
An engine roared. The sound stopped me in my tracks. I had heard it before… No, I had worked on it before. How had he…?
A few seconds later, the motorcycle came into view with Heisenberg as its rider. My first instinct was to run up and cling to him for dear life. But my dignity held me back.
"Heisenberg?!" I yelled over the engine.
Heisenberg stepped off the bike. "About fucking time."
"What?"
"What did I tell you? I told you to keep your head low! Was that too complicated for your thick skull?!"
"I had no choice! If I hadn't come here, they would've taken my mother instead!"
"And you didn't stop to think about what that meant? Why do you think I told you to stick to the path I gave you? I sure as hell didn't do it for my health!"
I was fuming. Who was this man to question my decisions? If he was so furious, why was he even there? But I didn't dare say that aloud. Don't bite the hand that rescues you.
He stared at me for a moment. Whatever he saw there, the fear, the adrenaline, the worry, made him soften only slightly. He sighed as he turned back to the bike.
"Come on. We're going home."
Thank god, I thought. I was sure I would cry when I saw that factory again, its metal smokestacks welcoming me like a pair of sentries. Daria would be there too… Yes, I would ride Daria as soon as I got back. Surely, she had gotten lonely in my absence. Heisenberg could hardly be considered suitable company for anyone, let alone a horse.
Heisenberg got back on the machine and waited for me to follow. I sat behind him, my back straight as a board.
"You might wanna hang on," he suggested.
To what? Him? It was our fastest exit, but I was regretting how much I relied on that man. Part of me wanted to risk going on foot rather than try my luck on a metal death trap.
"Don't be shy."
Easy for him to say. I wrapped my arms tightly around him. "Please don't let me die, please don't let me die…" I muttered into his back.
He laughed before revving the engine. I started to regret my decision. Becoming Lady Dimitrescu's next drink didn't sound so bad compared to hearing Heisenberg's condescending tone. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth.
"You insolent…"
My eyes snapped open. Lady Dimitrescu moved down the path, glaring at Heisenberg. Maybe there was a god and they had read my mind. I take it back; I take it back! I wasn't being serious! I prayed desperately.
"How dare you! You took her from me once and I won't let you do it again!" she hissed.
Heisenberg rose. "She works for me, not you. I'm sure you can find some other poor broad to take her place."
"Not anymore she doesn't! She's been in my castle these past months!"
"That's right, throw a hissy fit! It's the only thing you're good at!"
"You self-righteous, thieving man thing! The only reason you want her is to get under my skin!"
"Well, it worked, didn't it?"
"Give her back to me!"
"Quit whining and accept that you've lost for once!"
She bared her teeth as she scowled. "Fine. If you won't let me have all of her…"
She raised her right hand. From each of her fingers, claws unsheathed like pristine swords. In a flash, they lashed out, meeting their mark...
It didn't register at first. I thought she aimed for Heisenberg. But he was staring at me. A moment later, I noticed. My left arm… was gone. Blood spurted out of the wound as the pain started to set in. My vision started to blur. All I remember next was a torrent of metal rising around me. As a barrier now stood between me and my assailant, I heard Lady Dimitrescu scream while more metal continued to fly. Was this all a nightmare? If I closed my eyes, would I wake up back in the castle, or in the factory, or at home? I could only wonder as my senses went dark.