Chapter 2

Work

I woke up early the next day, just as the sun was breaking into the day. It was honestly the best night's sleep I had ever had. I was reluctant to get up, but I knew that I had to do my job, after this great opportunity. Dressed in my new brown uniform, I padded down the stairs, enjoying the feel of cool, smooth stone under my blistered feet. I walked into the parlour, to find that he was already there, writing at the large wooden desk. "Ah," He said, looking up as I entered the room. He didn't exactly smile, but it wasn't the hardened stare he had given me yesterday. "I have considered," He started, looking down at the sheet of paper again, dropping the inky feather beside it. "And decided upon all your tasks, all your rights, and your rules." He sighed, looking up, forming a prism out of his fingers under his chin. "While you work for me, I will not only provide you with a life, I will send the money you earn back to your family. Also, as long as you are useful, and remain obedient, I will tutor you, so you may add to your uses to me." I blinked, surprised, but nodded. "You are to work through the house every day; you will wash and polish the rooms and corridors of the three levels, one per day. On Thursday, you will wash and change bedding, wash used clothing. Fridays, I'm afraid, are market days. After I gain your trust, you will leave alone for the town Friday mornings to purchase supplies. Until then, we will go together in the car. Saturdays and Sundays are your time. As your time here progresses, we will use that time to teach you academic skills required to do other jobs." He paused, waiting for a response.

I looked at him, and nodded, rather pleased with the information. It didn't seem to be the merciless amount of work I'd expected.

"As the house can go a while unattended, you will be granted days off, within reason, of course-"

"That won't be necessary," I interrupted, unable to believe how easy he was making my job. Too easy, I couldn't take the charity.

His eyes flashed, "Are you saying you want me to give you more work?" He asked, restraint vibrating in his voice, only allowing a tiny rumble of thunder to escape his words.

"I…" I didn't know the correct answer to that. Either I would be telling him how to do his job, or I would appear lazy.

He sighed in frustration, "You will be granted days off, if required. As you may or may not know, I am a social person, and occasionally, I will have guests." I wondered whether he meant the lady from last night when he said 'guests'. "Mostly, business guests. I will also hold several formal events, which, respectably, you will often attend.

"And for this, all I ask in return is that you do not steal, you do not arrange for others to steal, you do not deceive me, and you do not disclose any information I do not wish you to, for example, I understand you met Marie last night…?" His voice took on an unusual tone, not quite embarrassment, but like there was something different going on than what I thought. Nonetheless, I nodded in agreement. "Right. I do not wish you to tell anyone about that, or any other people you will encounter living here."

"Who am I to say hired me?" I asked cautiously. I had only ever referred to him as my boss, or my master.

"You tell them that you are hired by the man you work for," He smiled silkily, deliberately awkward. I remained silent, wondering whether to push it further. "Alas, that's never good enough. I would have thought your family would have told you more about me? No? I am Alexis Lochet."

I bowed quickly, awkwardly. "Mr. Lochet. I'm Imshi… just, Imshi." I said, blushing. It was easier to say I had one name, rather than say that my real Father had died years before my Mother's husband appeared.

He laughed, "Yes, I know, I know," He smiled at me, a proper smile, which oddly enough, worried me. "At formal parties, and in front of guests, you won't mind me introducing you as Imshi Lochet, my daughter?" He didn't really ask, it was more of a statement. I shook my head quickly. I didn't mind, if it meant I kept my job. I was just worried – why me? And why such kindness?

He smiled, and looked back at his writing, dismissing me silently. "But… can I just ask you a few questions…?" I said hesitantly, still fearing being cast away. He raised his eyebrows and blinked at me a couple of times. "I just wanted to know… why? You've been ever so kind, and I appreciate it, more than I can convey to you, but I can't imagine why… why me? How did you ever manage to find me, and decide on me, and contact Mother and Father and-"

"You underestimate my links. You see, unofficially, the town below, the people in the town, belong to me. If I wanted your younger, half brother Luc to come here and become my stable hand, I could have him here by tomorrow. Your Mother specifically – and 'Father', of course – have close connections with me. I saw they were struggling, and I decided I could do with having another person around, someone I can trust, as I progress into old age. So, your being here isn't just because my house needs looking after." And again, I was dismissed. "Go look around. If you see anything you don't understand, don't touch it. Come and ask." He said, leaving me to wonder what exactly he meant. I walked out of the room, deciding where to go.

The kitchen was full of technology I could only wish to afford. I had seen them before, in the shop Mother worked, before I had received Mr. Lochet's offer. A stove, oven, grill, a fridge and freezer. At home, we had a fridge and an oven, the basics for our basic living. I didn't understand quite how they worked, so I left them well alone. Except the fridge. I had a peek inside, just to see what he liked to eat. It was surprisingly empty. I thought he would have plenty of things, snacks and meals, for whenever a whim caught him. The freezer was basically empty too. Fruits and chocolates littered the units in the kitchen; apples and bananas, things I'd seen before, but there were a few I couldn't name, yellow and green exotic fruits that didn't look like fruits at all.

I'd had chocolates before, but never so fancy as these. They looked like the chocolatier had made them specifically for Mr. Lochet. I didn't dare touch them. Leaving the kitchen behind, I wandered into the next room. And stumbled upon technology I'd never seen before. A large, square black screen rested upon a small cabinet. Shiny and luminescent, it looked like I could squeeze through it into the stars. Metals and plastics littered the room, buttons strewn on them with ease. I picked up a stick of plastic, and inspected the buttons. A big red button sat at the top, with a circle-with-a-line-through-it symbol. I'd seen it before, on the cookery machines at the café, and recognized it as the 'on' switch. Impulsively, I pressed the button, and the large black screen burst into life. People moved within the screen, and music blasted around the room like an alarm. I then realized what it was: a television, I'd heard one of Mother's friends talk about them. It was so sharp, it seemed like there were actually people living in the box. Mesmerised, I backed away to the plush chocolate chairs, and sat down. Sinking into the cushions, I watched and listened. It depicted two people, a man and a woman. They were arguing. Suddenly, my mind felt blank, and I shook my head quickly, breaking my transfixion on the screen. I stood up, and switched it off again. There were still plenty of things in the room I didn't understand, but none were as consuming as the television. I walked out of the room, more confident in my right to explore.

Upstairs was my bedroom and bathroom, as well as a cupboard next to my room. I peeked inside, and found the big sister to the wardrobe in my room. The cupboard was more of a room, and clothes lived in it. Bars were nailed on the walls, with hangers everywhere. Mirrors were at the end of the long room, and a table, covered in small, colourful things. I walked up to the table, and found it was makeup, hairclips, various accessories. Curiously, I picked up a small cylinder, and twisted, revealing a dark cherry lipstick. The temptation to put it on was high, so I twisted the colourful stick away, and stepped lightly out the room. The clothing I passed by was a wide variety, from modern clothes; t-shirts and trousers, to archaic dresses in styles I could only wish to own. Dashingly, I wondered who these dresses could have belonged to. Surely, it wasn't Marie, the lady I'd met last night…? Perhaps I'd been wrong in my assumptions.

I stepped out of the cupboard, or dressing room, it seemed, and bumped right into Marie. "Sorry, cherie!" She purred, stopping in the hallway. She had the same crimson dress on, but her makeup was toned down… slightly. Her lips were still dark red, and her face was coated in a foundation. The only major change was her neck. There was a large, blotchy purple mark, like a bruise. Once again, I was embarrassed seeing her. It was obvious what it was. She caught me staring. "Oh! I'm not bleeding?" She asked, pressing two fingers to it, before removing them and checking. "He's getting forgetful in his old age," She chuckled. "I wouldn't be surprised if he forgot to seal the punctures," She smiled, fingering the mark lightly. Punctures?

Hesitantly, I asked, "What do you mean?" I wasn't exactly sure I wanted to know, though I was certain wounds weren't customary.

Her smile froze, and her eyes widened. "You're not his… You're not Master Alexis's… Oh, mon dieu!" She exclaimed, biting her lip nervously. Suddenly, I could hear footsteps race up the stairs, and Mr. Lochet appeared before us, his expression piqued. "I-I… You didn't tell me!" Marie hissed, going on the offensive instantly. I looked between them stupidly, noticing Mr. Lochet's eyes go dark and icy, like caverns.

"I was to inform you?" He asked stonily.

"Well," She huffed. "I wasn't to know, so it's of no fault of mine," She grumbled, though her eyes looked guilty, expecting punishment. I glanced back to my boss, wondering what it was that made Marie so afraid, when she was clearly right. And more importantly, what did he not want me to know?

"Marie… I'm afraid, though I care for you greatly, you have exceeded your welcome here." He said blankly.

"I was just leaving," She said, retaining dignity. Despite her words, she didn't move. She just stood there, her fingers like feathers over the purple mark on her neck. And that was when I noticed she was bleeding. As she bent her wrist, it put pressure on two little holes, just over the artery. Blood seeped out furiously. Both Mr. Lochet and I suddenly focused on the wounds, and then Marie, too, noticed. Her eyes widened, and she glanced between us with wide eyes. A moments silence passed. And then she smiled, wiped her fingers across the bleeding wound, and smudged it on Mr. Lochet's pale cheek as she walked away.

The two of us stood there silently, not sure what had happened. Just as I gained the courage to ask him what she meant, he turned and stalked away.

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