Ashes to Cinders
Chapter Five: Moral Values.
NONE of the characters reflect my opinion on any topic that may or may not offend you- the reader!
Uber Special Dedication So Nicole and I have decided to dedicate this chapter to our health teacher. Let calls her Mrs. D. :D looks like worthless hours of health weren't so worthless.
Another Uber special dedication: Thank you to- Lady Zarobiti and Thai Libre for the awesome chapter ideas! :D and Nicole, for as always, telling me my writing sux and that this is how we can fix it :D
XoxOxoX
"You are kidding me, right?" I asked Adam pointing at the straw mattress that I supposed to sleep on. I mean c'mon, I hate Mildew(Mildred snicker) but at least I have, I don't know a MATRESS? In her house! Not straw. I eyed it with distaste.
A cockroach crawled out from a corner of the pile of straw I was supposed to sleep on. It headed toward the pile of firewood next to my bed. Before it made it to the first twig, a rat the size of my forearm (I mean it too! This thing must have been the Godzilla of rat world! King Godzilla!) came out from behind the pile and grabbed it. I could swear the cockroach was screaming... I'm right there with ya buddy... As the rat began to decapitate it and pull the life less, headless body back to King Godzilla's chamber.
The only thing I could manage was, "Wow..." Adam laughed.
"Are you a girl or something?" he asked me, with an eyebrow raised. I laughed and then pointed at the mattress and screamed a very high pitch girly scream as I hugged my arms around Adam and pull one leg up like all the women do when they see a mouse or something. (Why do you guys do that? I mean c'mon! okay, I'm doing it, but it is a joke!) Adam clamed his hands over his ears. I stopped and looked at him smugly still hugging him.
"Voice still cracking?" he asked, twisting his pinkie in his ear.
What Nicole sees in him, I will never know. Ya know what, I think hanging out with so many girls is staring to take a toll on me! I mean c'mon! I am asking what Nicole sees in a guy! And now I'm hugging one... HELP!!
"Nah, but-" I turned around, released Adam, and screamed... like a guy.
"What the-?" edam turned around and screamed too.(I'm not alone!)
In the door way were two people dressed in black shirts, pants, and boots, and of course gloves. They were holding up kitchen knives. And on their heads were black tights with eye holes and mouth hole slit into them. They grinned and swiftly advanced on us.
"Holy shit!" I cried out.
"Damn." Adam breathed. Could you think of a better curse to come up with at a time like this?
The figures started to laugh, no they started to giggle. Wait, what? I walked up to one of them and pulled of the tights. Nicole looked at me with a malicious little grin on her evil little vicious face. I growled as Mel took off her stockings.
"Hello, boys-er-I mean gals." said Mel, with a slight bow. I curtsied politely and held out my hand.
"Sirs." I batted my lashes and turned my head to the side and puckered up my lips.
"Ladies." they bowed again, grandly. Adam watched our exchange with an amused grin. Finally, after all of the role switching Nic(hehe, gave her a nick-name! Take that evil malicious monkey! Hey Nicole? PUT THAT KNIFE DOWN! Oh good! Thank y- oh shit! She has a CHAINSAW!! Ruunnnn!!) ran over to Adam and gave him a hug, and then they continued to suck face to put it in your terms. (Haha... Suck face... Hear that one Nic?... Nic's a guy's name... haha...I am sooooo good... haha...Phewwww... OMG OMG OMG!! SHES COMMIN AT ME AND THE CHAINSAW IS NOW ON!!)
I turned around to see Mel watching them with a look like jealousy on her face. Why is she jealous? Unless….oh hell no! she better not or there will be hell to pay!! Bring it on suck face boy! Ya I got it! What you got that I don't got?! Ya, that's what I thought! Okay so now I have to admit, yes I do get jealous when I think Mel likes other guys, I know, but she's my friend and I don't want to see her get hurt! And that's it. Okay so moving on.
"Mel?" I asked her.
"Yeah?" she asked, turning back to me, and whipping a tear from her eye.
It melted me.
I swept her up in a hug, completely surprised when her arms wrapped around my waist and she buried her head in my chest. It should be awkward, but it wasn't it felt right… I quickly let her go and shook my head. My god I was having problems.
"Alright guys, we are gonna go before Katrina comes and locks us all in." said Nic(hehe, take that chain saw head!) dragging Mel out the door.
Adam sighed and laid down on one of the straw beds. (Which I swear I saw something scamper away…) I looked around.
"I-uh- have to go to the bathroom, cover for me? I can pick the lock." I said, walking out the door, not even hearing the answer. I followed the girls quietly. When they reached the girls rooms, they parted. That was odd.
I followed Melanie. Where was our little maid with pearls on her shoes going? She took the steps up to the upper levels, I followed her. But when she rounded the corner ahead of me I lost sight.
"Damn!" I muttered, looking around. Where the hell was I? I continued in the direction that I had last seen Mel walking in. and I walked on and on, until finally I dropped dead on a random couch, completely exhausted, and with my short attention span, frankly bored of getting no where. And the only though I had was: To the Banana king Chaaarlie!…..
XoxOxoX
I woke up to something hitting my face over and over.
"What?" I demanded.
"You're upstairs! It took us forever to find you!" someone hissed. I opened my eyes, Nicole was standing over me, hands on her hips. I jumped up, swaying form the sudden blood rushing to my head.
"Oh crap! Did anyone wake up yet?" she looked at me funny.
"Just Mel and I." she replied, pointing over to a shadowed figure. I raised an eyebrow.
"Mel, why are you hiding?" I quietly called over.
"I'm not!" she said.
"You are standing in the shadows." I pointed out.
"Oh C'MON!" Nicole said, draggin' my arm and puling me away from Mel.
"So what was with "when you sad and blue" or something, "Just put a banana in your ear. Put a banana in you favorite ear."? What drugs you been on?"
"OH, I slept talk?" I asked, blushing. Why was I even dreaming of Charlie the Unicorn? I forgot…
"Sit." commanded Nicole while she went about, pulling out different cooking items.
"Do you always make breakfast?" I asked her, awed.
"Just for us-the servants." she replied dryly.
"Every day?" I asked awed, that was lots of people!
"Yep. But hey, I didn't say it was good," she said with a grin.
"Alrighty then, sit, now." I commanded. Yay a perfect chance to impress-(coughs and clear throat) I mean- yay a perfect chance to show everyone that I'm not some free loader.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"SIT DOWN! RIGHT NOW!" I commanded, pointing to a chair.
"Make me..."
I walked over to her, looked her straight in the eye, and said, "Don't make me hurt you."
She smiled up to me. It was a wicked little smile that almost became a sneer. She looked down to my waist, back up to me, back at my waist (oh god...), pulled her leg back and yelled, "FOUR!" as she tapped... or more like HAMMERED! into the family jewels. I screamed like a girl and dropped to the ground in a fettle position.
Nic sat down. "No kids for you."
I looked up at her in the chair from the ground. "I hate you," I hissed through bared teeth.
"Do I look like I care?"
I pulled myself together and used a chair beside me to pull myself up. My knees were bent together as I hobbled about. Nic was laughing the whole time.
I went about puling out all of the ingredients I needed. I was making my specialty: Chocolate chip pancakes! I set about on my work.
Nic watched me in silence. (with an occasional laugh whenever she saw me grimace in pain-damn girl can kick!)
"How did you learn to cook?" she asked me.
"Eh, training?" I suggested.
"Sure, sure." (Death to Jacob Black!!)
"What ever, boil some water for me?" I asked, flipping pancakes and piling them up-putting them in an oven, and then pouring more.
"Yeah." she set about getting tea ready. And soon all of my pancake batter was gone.
"I'm gonna start to put this stuff out." I said. I set up everything and then sat back and waited. Everyone began to come gradually in twos and threes.
"Good job Nicole!" some one called. I smiled lazily. She deserved praise.
"But I-I d-"
"She didn't make enough." I cut in smoothly. She looked at me funny, but said nothing. I sat back and smiled. Good deeds felt good, bad deeds felt better or worse in my case. But I did not want to make psycho chick mad again!.
As I was walking into the kitchen I dumped flour on one of the maids. She glared and hurried off. That deed felt good. I laughed wickedly…good times, good times.
XoxOxoX
"So, why did you make breakfast?" Mel asked me as we walked along by a lake.
"I didn't." I protested.
"Yes you did, you have flour in your hair," she laughed. I growled. Damn.
"So where does our mysterious Ethan come from?" she asked me.
"That is- none of you business." I replied with a laugh, running ahead. Oooo yes, I am evil. She ran behind me to catch up
."No running." she panted.
"You sprinted." I pointed out.
"Your fault!" she glared.
I smiled innocently and took off my shirt. She watched me warily and then when I threw my shirt on the shores edge she looked at me dumbstruck."
What?" I asked. Proceeding to take off my pants-WHICH I HAD SHORTS ON UDER YOU SICK AND MIND POLUTED PERSON! MY GOD WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE POPULATION NOW AND DAYS? She looked away again blushing.
"I'm just going for a swim." I said, jumping in the lake.
"Ethan-you are mess up! Friggin' stripper!" she called out to me.
"Yeah, well at least now I don't need a bath, stinky!" I called back. She yelled at me and then quickly tore off her dress and ran into the water. I
laughed, but when she reached me she grabbed a fistful of my hair and plunged me under the water. I struggled to get up, but she held me down. Note to self- do not call a kitchen maid stinky, they do bad things to you… Nic must have taught her... she finally let me go, just as my lung were about to burst.
"My god!" I coughed. She patted my back with a little more force than necessary. I ducked under the water and swan quickly away, hugging the bottom. I turned and came up behind her, and grabbed her foot. I could heard her scream, even under the water. I came up for air and flipped my hair out of my eyes.
"I hate you!" she declared turning her back on me.
"Well I-"
"Ethan!" someone shouted from the shore. I swam over quickly.I recognized the man from Mildred's house.
"Shit" I muttered.
"What?" I hissed to him when I was close to the shore.
"Uh- Mildred wants you back, pronto, she's tearing up the house and is gonna make you clean it up."
"Thanks a lot Asshole." I hissed.
"Hey don't shoot the messenger!" he said running off. I climbed out of the lake and pulled on my cloths.
"Ethan?" Mel asked swimming to shore.
"I have to go." I replied, jerking on my shirt, cursing all the while.
"Why?"
"I just do, alright? Maybe I'll see you around, depends on how long my wound takes to heal." I muttered.
"What?" she asked horrified.
"Nothing." I muttered, running through the forest back to the servants courtyard. Mel tried to keep pace, but feel several times….Sometimes I hated my life…
XoxOxoX
Damn Mildred, always ruining my fun time! I rode back to the hell hole of a house, and when I arrived it looked like a tornado had torn trough.
"Great." I groaned. I waked through the door. Mildred was standing there, absolutely vivid. Like the girls yesterday. I had to stop my smile. It had really been like one big party- destined to end, better now than never right?
"Ethan," she started in a tone that if you didn't know her, you'd think that you'd get a big whoopin' cup of tea-not gonna happen! "Where have you been, dear? We have been so worried."
"What, that someone poisoned your food, and I wasn't around to test it?" I muttered. Damn whoever beat me to the punch!
"Where have you been." she repeated, not making it a question, damn.
"Castle."
"Why?"
"Because." one word answers are the best, they make sure you don't get in trouble.
"Why, don't make me repeat myself."
"You just did dip wad. But to answer your question asked twice. Well, see, I sorta had this friend over there who is good friends with the princess, and I was at the castle, trying to persuade my friend to get the princess to see Helga and Olga, but I got interrupted when she was 'bout to crack…" I trailed off, thank god I hadn't lost my lying skills…yet. Mildew's eye brows shot up- touching her hair line.
"Are you serious?" she asked me with an awed voice. I nodded my head.
"You spent the night there." no duh! "Did you sleep with your little friend, Ethan?" she asked me, her eyes glinting maliciously. I
looked at her in horror, sleep-with Mel? Hell no! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! NEVEEEEEEERRRRRRR!! Ever! Would I do that!! Ever!!
"What the fudge? No I didn't my god Mildred, I didn't have to resort to that!" I practically yelled. She smiled, perfectly happy that she seemed to rumple a few of my feathers.
"Hope you used protection. Just making sure." she said. And turned around.
"Any chores?" I asked her dumbstruck. She turned back around, and smiled kindly- what the fudgin' hell?
"Nope, just cook dinner fo us tonight, the food sucks when your not here." and she proceeded upstairs.
I watched her dumbstruck, what did she have planned, this was the first act of kindness I managed to get from her, now I was afraid. But first things first, I ran upstairs and burned my maids outfit. When that was done I rubbed my hands on my pants. What was she going to have me do tomorrow? I was petrified.
XoxOxoX
When I woke up the next morning I was completely and totally…pissed off to find my self in Moldy's house(Mildred m people, Mildred…) I
groaned but got up and changed into pants and a shirt-oh the joy! First time I have ever done that in this household!- and went to make breakfast.
Now you will never guess what I found on my bed when I went upstairs- the god Damned MAID'S OUTFIT!! I groaned but put it on, I swear to god someone was going to pay.
My revenge came in very subtle ways.
The horse bucking off Helga in a pile of horse poo.
Olga mysteriously disappearing in the house for a few hours, and being found in the attic.
Mildred coughing up her lunch…
the china was mysteriously broken when no one was around…
and now Mildred was missing a few emeralds.
I looked at the emerald ring in the palm of my hand(it isn't stealing, it is borrowing...without permission, and sorta kinda maybe pernament?)…it reminded me of Mel's eyes. I sighed, three days ago that fun had been.
Why was life so unfair? And to top it off, today was my birthday! And do you know what my present was? A mile long list of chores!! Life sucks!!
-ehh, roughly…two weeks later? Lets go with that-
There was a knock on the door. But of course-No one would FUDGIN' ANSWER THE DAMNED DOOR!! I ignored it, no way was I opening the door in my current state- maids outfit! By god help me if I do. But alas! The knocking continued. I growled several choice curses and fixed my short-guy hair- into something that I had seen at the castle with the maids and short hair. I smiled and opened the door. Peeking around it.
SHIT!
Melanie was standing in the door looking around uncertainly. She was wearing a blue dress and white apron, much different form what I usually saw her in, and yet, she was still covered in dirt-as usual, but then again, we both were always covered in dirt.
"Yes?" I squeaked, in what I hoped was a girlish voice. Her eyes found mine and she looked at me with uncertainty.
"Uh- is Ethan here?" she whispered, looking down self consciously.
"Just a minute!" I squeaked again and then shut the door.
"Olga!" I shouted with my normal voice. He came running down the stairs.
"Where's the fire Ethaleen?" he asked me.
"Shut it, keep her occupied, I whispered pointing to the door.
"One word about this maid outfit, or my status in this house- I'll make spinach for dinner, and that's all." I threaten.
He nodded his head and opened the door while I disappeared into the kitchen. I quickly changed into my pants and shirt ensemble and wet my hair. Shaking my head, water droplets covered a maid walking by. She glared at me and smacked my face. The maids in this house weren't as open to me as in the castle.
"Sorry, Becca!" I called after her, she gave me the finger.
"Touchy!" I shouted after her.
Sighing I walked out into the parlor.
"Oh hello!" I said with a smile. Olga grinned maliciously. "Oscar- go- now!" I commanded. Olga looked at me with a grateful expression, and then hatred, but got up and went anyway.
"What do I owe this surprise to?" I asked Mel, sitting across from her.
"Nothing, Bastard." she said, turning her back on me.
"Oh c'mon! Why is it every time we see each other we do name calling or you tackle me?" I whined. Her cheek lifted a fraction of an inch.
"Shut it." she replied coldly.
"Alright, now lets talk about it." I said touching the tips my fingers together.
"You said you'd be back soon. Everything is soooo boring!" she complained facing me.
"How does that make you feel?" I asked waving my hand, and using a shrinks voice.
"Bored."
"And how does that make you feel?"
"Angry."
"And how does that make you feel?"
"Like this." she punched me in the gut.
"Good one" I breathed.
"'How does that make you feel?'" she mimicked me, "Much, better, thank you doctor stupid." she said with a tiny laugh. I held up my thumb, still recovering from her punch, by god!
"So seriously, why are you here?" I asked her, after i had finally recovered.
"The princess is having a ball next month, I figured that you need manners practice." she replied, raising an eyebrow."You never told me that you owned this house." she said.
"I-I Do? Yes, yes I do." I said covering up my confusion quickly. She sighed, but then smiled brightly.
"So bring your brothers down and we'll start."
"Gimme a sec." I said, running upstairs.
I paused at the top-wait how did she know that I had brothers…? I shook my head and ran upstairs, to find them.
Helga and Olga were whispering together, tucked back in a little corner of Helga's room.
"Alright guys, listen up." I said. They both turned to look at me. "The princess's friend is here, she is going to make sure you two know what you are doing when you go to the ball, and she going to teach me cause apparently I have bad manners. So be nice to her and do not talk unless you have to." I said.
"got it?" they nodded their heads.
"Olga- your Oscar, Helga- your Harry, and I am Ethan, not Ethaleen. Got it?" they nodded their heads again.
"Now what do I NOT own?" I asked sweetly.
"A maid's out fit." they said in unison.
"What do I do at home?" I asked.
"You supervise the estate, cuz your oldest." they said again.
"Good, you guys do realize that I seriously am helping you out, shocker after all of the torture." they nodded their heads and then we proceeded downstairs.
"Hello." Mel aid politely. The both returned the greeted, I hid a laugh. This ought to be interesting…
XoxOxoX
"Harry, you're holding it wrong." Melanie repeated.
In my position against the wall I quietly snickered as she readjusted the silver ware.
"Tell you what guys- this really isn't that important, why don't we do dancing?" She suggested, just as Mildred entered the room.
"What is going on here?" she asked in her high pitched voice. I must say, she looked rather stupid…Two spirals of black hair were around her horns, making them well, hairy horns…hehe. She should really consider shaving those things. And of course, she was wearing a puke colored dress.
"I am just getting your sons ready for the ball." Mel replied straightening up a little bit and meeting Mildred in the eye.
I crossed my arms across my chest and watch the confrontation with amusement. Mildred looked at me.
"Ah, yes, you must be Ethan's girl." she said, that malicious glint in her eye.
"No. Where ever did you get that idea? Never mind, now we must really get going if you want you sons to even have a shot at getting the princess's hand." she cringed visibly, what's her problem?
"Oh quiet right." Mildred said, blinking and eyeing Melanie with distaste.
"Boys." Mel walked out with the Guys trailing behind her. I pushed off from the wall and followed.
Mildred caught my arm.
"What?"
"Aren't you going to her Highness' ball?" Mildred asked me with genuine curiosity.
"No." I lied.
"Why not?"
"Cause, I don't want to, duh!" I said.
"Your girlfriend is a pretty little child." Mildred said, abruptly
"Uh, yeah, I guess." I stuttered, Mildred is scary sometimes, but Nic takes the cake-looks around for crazy said person with chain saw.- phew!
"Are you sure that you two aren't up to anything?" she asked me. I flushed here we go again with the sex talks.
"NO" I said firmly.
"Uh-huh." was all she said, following me to the ball room in our house-I know weird right?
I leaned against the wall and watched with some amusement the guys trying to dance, and Mel's flustered face.Mildred walked by, when she was at the door she looked a Mel and then said loudly:
"Don't forget children, use protection, cause if you don't you'll get pregnant and die. Ta-at." she walked out.
Olga and Helga looked at each other in confusion.
Mel looked back at me and shrugged her shoulders, but she was a deep shade of red. I quirked an eye-brow at her she smiled lightly and then went back to instructing.
The door bell rang, and startled Helga and Olga so much that they fell on top of each other. Laughing I went to answer it.
I opened the door to see Nicole standing there tapping her foot impatiently.
"Where is she?" she asked shoving me aside.
"Well, Mildred is polishing her spork, Becca is probably think of how she can get back at me, and the other maids are probably outside, avoiding spork lady." I said, describing the average day in my life.
"Not them, stupid! Melanie!" Nicole exclaimed
"Dancing" I replied. I motioned for her to follow me to the ball room.
"There ya go." I said pointing to Mel. But Nicole didn't move.
"Mel!" she shouted from her spot. I cringed and she smirked. Damn Demon Child. Just because of her Nic-name too.. Haha, bad pun…
Mel spun around and absently secured a piece of lose hair back in her bun. I wondered what she looked like with her hair down…wait, I shouldn't be thinking these things…but ahhhh, they wont stop!! Mildew's sex talk is commin back up... ahhhhhhhh!! make it stop!! Suddenly Nic hit me upside the head. I shot her a thankful glance, she shrugged, or was it cringed?
"Yup?" Mel asked, when she reached us.
"We have a purple chief in the kitchen, looking for a shake." Nicole said. Mel paled visibly
"Shit." she muttered. "Alright, go get my horse?" she asked Nicole, Nic nodded and then walked out, making sure to give my shin a nice kick on the way out.
"Ow,ow!" I complained, gripping said hurt body part.
"Ooooops!" Nic yelled back to me as she exited swiftly. I could see her tail trailing behind her. It was hanging out of her dress.
"Tuck that in!" I yelled after her.
"Hey Ethan, I have to go." Mel said.
"Oh, alright." I tried to hide my disappointment, I though that'd I be rid of this hell hole!
"see you around." she called.
"Yeah, see you." I whispered. I turned my attention back to my step brothers.
"Ohhh!!" they sang, and shouted, "Ethan has a Giiirrrlll Friiieeennnddd!!"
"Yup, I have a friend that is a girl, yay for me!" I said.
"Now, which one of you bastard put to fudgin' maid costume on my bed this morning? Hmm?" I asked. They took one look at each other and then shot up the stairs, screaming.
"Twenty seconds!" I shouted, it was followed mby more screaming. I started to count as I wandered over to the window. I spotted Mel down the road, riding her horse, and looking back at the house I sighed. She should have taken me with her.
Twenty.
"Ready or not! Here I come!" I whispered and bolted up the stairs to find the boobs, that I call brothers…
XoxOxoX
A/N Okay! Another one down! So here are the dedications and such.
Thai Libre: suggested etiquette lessons.
Lady Zarobiti: lots of ideas! It took me awhile to pick the ones out that worked best. Mel going to Ethan's house is hers, Ethan opening the door in his maids costume is hers(originally Mel was supposed to see it…) the dude going to find Ethan was also hers! And that's it for now! So thank you guys so much for the help! :D
Also Nicole: thank you for putting words into my characters mouths! And I'm glad that I had you look over it! Her stuff was in bold italics thank you Nicole! :D
And thank you to every one who read this and those who have reviewed, and thank you silent readers! :D peace out my dears! I'll see(meteorically) this coming Wednesday!
Link for Charlie and the Banana King: http/watch?vb1RGt-a-XpY (idk if it work, just click it, if not copy and paste into ur url bar :D)
As always-if you have an ideas and any new character thoughts that pop up or something that you want to happen, lemme know and I'll prolly put it in! peace!