Okay! I got a lot of hits on this story and I had some inspiration to write the next chapter sooner than I thought I could get it out. I have two more days of school left so I will be able to update a lot this summer. Not much going on this summer, so that's a good thing. Anyway there was a bit of confusion of the boy with the apple. His name was Daniel. He was also seen in the back gardens. Also! There is not a Bolton family. The family Gabriella is the maid of is the Meissen's. Which also is my maternal name. It is Pronounced Mice-En. If you have a question by all means ask. I'm sorry for the confusion. Now again, Gabriella is NOT working for the Bolton's. Troy is the only Bolton on the grounds. I do not remember if I put in the fact that his father was a soldier in Mussolini's Army? He was a Fascist Dictator in Italy and was also "close" to Hitler. Troy is sort of a contact for Mussolini and Hitler. I should have put that in there and I apologize. Now, here is the next chapter!
"You have gone completely bonkers!" Meissen said turning harshly to Ludwig. "He is to stay with us! That was the plan from the start."
"He is needed in the Rhineland!" Ludwig was pacing in front of the large floor to ceiling windows. His hat discarded onto the side table near the arm chair he previously sat. Sweat causing his blonde hair to look almost brown against his neck. "Hitler himself has issued all SS officers not currently employed as protection be placed in the Rhineland. Much to my knowledge officer Bolton is indeed not employed by the Meissen family."
With a pointed look another officer looked at the still silent Troy. Gabriella could see in the way he plucked at the small frays of the armchairs material, that he was thinking. Taking a deep breath he spoke, "But I am not an SS officer, I am a Primo Seniore. A lieutenant-Colonel. I have no reason to be leaving." Troy announced. "I am not part of the Nazi army or am I part of Hitler's platoon. I will not sacrifice my life from a battle we have already lost. Am I correct?"
The newly shocked General stared at the Black shirt. "You will not speak of the Fuhrer in that manner!"
"Of him I spoke no ill will. I was merely stating that your previous explanation is invalid." Troy said leaning his elbow on the armrest of the chair, his chin rested against his thumb as it pointed to his throat. His pointer finger stretched across his face to the corner of his eye and his middle finger curled around his upper lip like a mustache. His expression taunting. Gabriella suppressed a giggle and Troy glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, a small smile graced her face.
"You there! What are you chucking about?" The SS officer near the door spoke harshly.
Breathing became hard, disabling her to speak. "I-Nu-Nothing Sir." She glanced at the two familiar faces and found panic in their faces.
The officer pushed off of the wall and advanced, the steady click of his polished boots causing her heartbeat to quicken. An all too familiar feeling of a hand coming in contact forced her head to the right. Her hand instantly reached for her cheek, but to no avail. The officer pushed her against the book shelf, her back hitting the wood harshly. Troy stood but did not stop them, his eyes full of conflict. His brows twitching forward in worry. He went to stop the officer but Meissen beat him to the point.
"That's enough, she is still needed here." The officer pulled away, his hand coming up to grasp her ass. She squeaked and glanced at the General. His eyes full of fire. She shrank against the bookcase and let her toes curl. He gaze focused on the floor.
"Everything is done here, I will be back in due time." The general snatched up his hat and stormed out of the parlor. Held breaths were released as the sound of an engine started and the gates creaked open. No one spoke until the clunk of them snapping back into place reached their ears.
"Bolton! What were you thinking?" Meissen said glaring at the young man. Troy shifted and his feet shuffled against the green carpet.
"I am not part of this army!" Troy shouted causing Gabriella to jump along with the Commandant. "I will not fight for him! He is insane!"
"You know I see you as my own son Troy, but I cannot let you talk like that. I know where you are coming from. I am trying my best to keep you safe! Your father sent you to me for a reason! Mussolini has fallen, The United States have entered the war! It will be over soon son!" Troy glared and threw the Nazi band as the alcohol shelf causing whiskey to shatter on the floor. Gabriella rushed to clean it up, Falling to her knees small pieces of crystal cutting into them. Her small hands grasping at the still slippery shards of crystal. Two more pairs of hands began to pick up the shards as well. She gasped when Troy picked up the still in tacked stopper (not entirely sure what they call the corks?). He glanced at her then back to the mess.
She sat in the door way plucking the crystal from her knees when she felt a cool hand land on her arm. Jumping, she quickly pulled her pant leg down and slouched.
"I meant not to scare you." Troy said in a whisper, His squatting position still making him taller than her. His uniform loose and his jacket hung open. His hair askew, Sticking up from him running his fingers through the too long hair.
"Is there something you wish me to do?" Her German getting jumbled causing her to stutter due to his close proximity. She could feel his breath on her ear.
"No but I wish to help you." He stood jumping down the three steps to the grass. He sat on the last two steps leaning against the coble stone.
They sat quiet for a minute as Troy tried very gently to remove the small pieces of crystal. The silence comfortable, as she felt his cool right hand massage her ankle. As if to say sorry for the pain he had caused her. The sound of their breathing gently and even caused her to grow tired. Once he was done he looked up into her eyes. She stared, her heartbeat's pace quickened. He smiled at her and she felt her panic start to set in. "Finished." He muttered glance at the snoring dog under a tree. The German Shepard, if he knew someone was staring at him, lifted his large black and brown head and stared at the pair. Becoming bored he placed his head back down and drifted back to sleep. The cold dusk air reached their skin. Goosebumps rose on Gabriella's skin and she shuttered.
"I must be going." She stated not looking at him. "The guards will be disappointed."
"I could always walk you. They would not do anything to you know." Troy said standing up and buttoning his jacket. The Nazi band firmly placed on his right arm.
She shook her head. "That will not be necessary. You should sleep."
"I will not hurt you." She winced and turned, walking away she could hear him run after her. "I promise."
"Don't promise me something you cannot keep." She stared at the ground. He voice shook with her shivering.
"How do you know I will not keep it?" Troy asked trying to keep up with her, His untied boots causing him to stumble. He hopped, tying them successfully.
"I do not." She glanced at his feet. The once polished feet now had a glaze of mud forming on the edges.
"Where are your shoes? Surly these men give you shoes." His voice spooking her further, concern laced inside the velvet sound.
"They did, I do not have a pair as of now. Other people found a much more useful occupation." She looked up at the wire that spread from the main building in the camps. There perched in front of her bunk house were her shoes. Dangling from the wire, they taunted her with the memory of slight freedom of needing them.
"Well then." He stated following her gaze. "I shall be getting back now."
She nodded and watched as he walked away. His retreating back slouched in and his hands tucked into his sleeves. Sighing she turned to her bunkhouse. Girls were staring at her and she winced. They were never going to speak to her after seeing her talk to an officer. Their frightened eyes cast a dazed look at her and she gasped. It was till now that she never noticed their soulless stares, the hollowness of their faces. She wanted to scream, they looked like they were already dead.
Week after week their eyes started to get worse. Each time Troy would walk her back due to late dinners or late night parties. Last night he had given her shoes. Yes, they weren't women's shoes but they were the best he could provide for her without other officers becoming suspicious. They were too large for her feet so she stuffed old rags from the main house into them and wrapped her feet in order to make them fit better.
She woke up the next morning to sirens, people running around trying to find family members. Jumping down she ran to the end of the muddy bunk house. Men and women hollered and screamed. SS officers ran pushing people over, some falling cursing at men and women. A loud explosion shook the bunk house causing her to squeal. She sprinted out of the small door way and ran for the main square dodging people and officers as she stumbled forward. He shoes preventing her from being light on her feet. Once she reached the square she bent over, heaving. The foul stench of melted flesh and burnt bodies causing her empty stomach to clench. The sound of a plane roared over her head and her eyes followed it. Gunshots in the distance made her heart pound. They were coming from the main grounds.