Seraphina hummed herself a little tune as she walked down the hall to occupy her mind; she wouldn't want the Master to tap into her mind and find out that she'd defy orders after all. Her mind kept going back to the young girl at the end of the hall. She'd looked so scared, which was understandable. But she was braver that Seraphina thought; if Seraphine was in her shoes, she was sure she'll break down in a sobbing mess.
"Seraphina," as a low voice speaking out from her left. She paused, dreading to turn her head. She took a deep breath, turned her head, and peaked into the gloomy room directly beside her; it was cast entirely in darkness. There were dark shadows in the room that outlined the furniture; they all had jagged sharps. Even though the hallway was full of light, it failed to penetrate this room's darkness.
It was impossible to know where he was.
The maid grumbled inwardly. She hated this room, she hated the darkness, the coldness, and the silence that came with it. Why does Master prefer to dwell in this particular room? For some sort of eerie effect?
Seraphine stopped humming and put on her best fake smile. "Yes, master." She stepped into the room, her legs going slightly numb. "I've delivered the food Chef Bouche made for the girl."
"Good," came his low voice.
Silence.
"Please come back there tonight to collect the dishes and to bring her dinner. Make sure she's still alive," he said a few minutes later. He gave a flick of his wrist, signaling the maid that she was dismissed.
"Yes, master."
As she walked away, Seraphina tried to recall what exactly made her master the way he is today. She can't remember much; every time she dwelled into that part of her memories, a sharp pain would arch through her whole body and make her crimple. Headaches and nausea would be inflicted on her for weeks, but even so, she was expected to do her duties at the Treesworth Manor. She'll have to answer to him if she doesn't.
Seraphine shuddered when her head began to hurt.
In the kitchen, Bouche and Elara were at the sink, cleaning the dishes from this morning. Earlier, the master's associates came over for a little luncheon; they were there to converse about Earth and the threats against Luna. The head of the house never showed up; instead, he was away in that room of his.
"Oh, my stars you are alive!" Elara exclaimed as Seraphina put on a pair of gloves to help with the dishes, her head still aching a bit from earlier. She went over to where the other woman stood and took that sponge from her. She then automatically pick up a dirty plate and began to scrub it clean.
A man with a chef's hat and a lumberjack beard nodded in agreement as he dried off a cup, said in a thick German accent, "We thought you were mauled to death; we heard a loud bang. How is the girl, Sera?"
Seraphina saw the young girl on the other side of the bed, trying to sink into the floor. "Doing well, frightened of course but I know she can make it through whatever crosses her path." She looked back at the memory. The poor girl was as white as the sheets, her fingers bone white as it was clutching onto the bed. But her eyes showed a fierceness and a defiance that had shocked Seraphina.
Elara's eyes widen and she motioned for her friend to be quiet. "Sera!" she whispered-shouted, "You know you can't talk like that! What if the master hears?"
The chef gave a chuckle and picked up another wet cup. "Elara is right you know. Remember Viktor?" Seraphina cringed inwardly, handing the plate to Elara to wash out the soap. "Don't remind me. That was such a tragic day." Bouche shrugged. "I'm just saying, that could happen to you if you keep don't keep your mouth shut. And that's a shame, I quite like that mouth of yours." Bouche gave Seraphina a sly smirk.
A blush creeping up Elara's face, she splashed some water in the cook's face. "Oh please, get a room!"
Seraphina's eyes landed on her friend; Elara doesn't know it yet but Sera knew she has a crush on Bouche. It was quite obvious; even the targeted man knows about Elara's feelings. It was just fun to tease the poor girl. The three servants worked in silence for the remainder of the dishes because the master doesn't like it when his workers converse with themselves.
When dinner came, Seraphina brought food to her master's new toy as instructed. The room was in more of a mess than before. This time, the bed was flipped over, the mattress was leaning against the other bed, broken pieces of glass were scattered about.
And the girl was out of sight.
Seraphina stopped dead in her tracks. What is she going to do? What is she going to tell the master?
Sera let out a scream and ducked as the tray she was carrying that afternoon came hurtling towards her face; the current tray in her hands slipping from her fingers, splattering the food on the floor.
Rushed footsteps came from behind her.
"Sera!" it was Elara. "I was cleaning the windows when I heard something clatter. Why did you scream? Is somethin-" She stopped short when she saw the scene before Seraphina. "Sweet stars, what happened in here?" Comprehension came into her eyes when the young girl came to view from behind the flipped bed frame, blood dripping from her hands. A large piece of glass was in her hands; warm, red blood dripping down her fingers and onto the floor. She had the glass pointed downwards; she reminded Sera of a weak girl trying to lift up a heavy sword.
Seraphina was beginning to feel sick again; the sight of blood was too much for her.
"Whoa, there. Hey, hey, hi," Elara said to the girl, in that gentle voice she always uses to a difficult child or when she's trying to persuade a person. Elara inched forward slowly, her hands outstretched to show that she was harmless. The young girl backed away, but nevertheless, she bent her knees a little like she was going to attack at any moment, the chains at her feet scraping against the floor. A scowl was on her face, the blood flowing down her fingertips gushed a little bit faster.
Sera glanced at Elara uncertainly.
Elara, like most servants, doesn't have full control of her gift, but her control was better than most. Behind the master's back, Elara would practice and strengthen her mind ever so often with the help of Sera or Bouche. Over the years she'd gotten better but Sera wasn't sure if she could use it on the girl; after all, she was willing to be under Elara's control.
The girl certainly was not.
Sera could see the beads of sweat on Elara's forehead and nose. "It's ok. Really." The maid took another hesitant step forward; the girl just bent her knees more. Elara inhaled deeply. "I'm really sorry for this, Miss. But, I don't see any other way." She made the mistake of closing her eyes for concentration. The moment the young girl saw that she had an advantage, she sprang forward. Fortunately, the chain was too short for her. She let out a loud gasp as the chains tugged on her leg, making her fall face forward into a pile of tiny broken glass. Elara took a staggering step backward, her eyes wide with fear. Seraphina came up to the fallen girl quickly, despite the fact that second before she was threatening them.
"Elara! Get Nurse!" Elara, frightened out of her mind, took off and ran down the hall.
Seraphina turned her attention to the poor girl in front of her. "Oh, sweetie. Come on, let me help you up." The girl didn't fight back when Seraphina lifted her up and turned her over to inspect her face. Turns out she was unconscious.
The sight almost made the older woman throw up then and there. Blood ran down the girl's left cheek, tiny pieces of glass protruding from the soft flesh. Before any more damage could be done; the glass was warm and slick in her cold hands.
Seraphina didn't attempt to remove any of the glass in case she should push them further in the girl's cheek. Until Nurse come, Seraphina helped the girl by cleaning the area around her and by placing her apron against the girl's wrists to stop the bleeding.
What would the master think? Surely they would be severely punished for causing such a mess and harm done to the girl?
Her mind was going in circles.
"Nurse is here!" shouted Elara behind her. A lady in a pristine white doctor's coat followed Elara as they ran down the hall, a first aid kit in her hands. Bouche was also following close behind them.
The nurse knelt down beside Seraphina and grimaced. "His Master won't like this one bit. Sera, please hold her face still." The girl's eyes were beginning to flutter open. Sera watched as the nurse opened her kit and pulled out a pair of tweezer while holding the girl's face steady in her lap, her left cheek exposed.
"Remember Sera, hold her still. El, hold her arms; Bouche, take her legs."
When Nurse pulled out the first shard of glass from the girl's face, her eyes flew open and she began to thrash around. A warble escaped the girl's lips.
Seraphina cursed softly, struggling to keep the girl's face straight. "Elara, do something!" Bouche shouted. Elara kept shaking her head, murmuring to herself "I can't I can't" over and over again. After the accident earlier, Sera knew why Elara is so reluctant to use her gift.
Finally, after a few stressful minutes, the girl seems to settle down, either from fatigue or knowing that these people were trying to help her, they don't know.
"Does anybody else know about this?"
"No," the nurse said, carefully taking out another piece of glass. "I'm pretty sure. There was Mrs. Jasmine, but I doubt she'd heard. The kids were a being quite a handful."
Silence fell over the crew after that. The girl's breathing slowed, and after a while she closed her eyes, seeming like she's asleep.
"We need to move her... Or keep her somewhere until this room is cleaned up," Bouche announced.
"I can house her," Seraphina spoke up. "Master assigned her to be, she's my responsibility. I'll accept her and the consequences."
"Are you sure?"
Sera nodded.
"Hmm okay, then it's settled. Hey, girl, wake up." Bouche gave one of the girl's legs a light smack; she sprang upright instantly, clarity soon clear in her eyes.
"Whoa there, sweetie," the nurse said, holding a cloth to the girl's cheek, "you're still bleeding."
"Sera, go ahead and move the girl. We'll stay here and clean up."
Sera left to find the key to the girl's shackles; when she came back, she found the girl sitting quietly in a corner if the room, the space relatively clean. She approached the girl slowly, showing her the key in her hand. "Hey, I'm just going to unchain you ok? You'll be living in my room for the time being. Does that sound ok?"
The girl just narrowed her eyes, but she brought out her ankles anyway, her eyes never straying from the tiny rusted key in the maid's hand.