Elena

The sound of footsteps rose, voices grew louder and louder. I tightened the laces on my corset, and headed out of the room. Some of the girls rushed up to me, telling me the news breathlessly. I played my part, a soft distress. I widened my eyes and forced tears to drop down my cheeks. The girls comforted me, padding my back and wiping my tears away. We arrived outside and joined the large crowd surrounding Charles' body.

The men looked at me, they stepped back for me to see the corpse. I covered my face on Caroline's shoulder.

"Hey, weren't you the wench who was with Charles?"

I opened my eyes. It's the red head talking. I lifted my head slowly, still letting my tears talk for themselves. But I could see the red head is not convinced.

"Sir, I was with him. But I left the room with my friend Bonnie, and then suddenly," choking back tears, "...I-I sa-saw him waving a lighted torch and he drove himself mad till he leaned against the balcony and fell backwards. I had no idea he was that drunk. I really ha-ad no idea."

Caroline wrapped an arm around me, in comfort. The red head wanted to ask further questions. But instead, he turned back to the burned corpse and sobbed a few tears for the loss of his dear friend. I'm glad I killed this one. Who knows how many other girls he would have hurt and tortured? Even though the red head was also an acceptation for my meal, I at least saved a restless, terrifying night from the girls.

Caroline rubbed my shoulders gently. "Girls, we should go back inside. This scene is to drastic for any of us to stand. Come along."

The girls turned back as Caroline led me back inside. But before I made it at the door, I saw a glimpse of Bonnie standing on the roof. I gave her a wink, she nodded. When all the girls got inside, the time came now.

Caroline let me sit down on the furniture. She picked a wine glass and poured the wine. "You should take some wine to relief yourself. You must had been in a terrible shock, I know I-"

BOOM! BOOM! The girls screamed. The shouting of men aroused. The girls rushed out of the door. Their eyes widened by the sight, the main room where Charles fell is on fire.

~ When the catastrophe was taken care of, the girls went to bed. Bonnie and I shared the bed together.

"The fire was way too late. What took you so long?"

Bonnie placed a finger on her lip. "These walls are thin, watch your mouth...I had to wait a certain time. It seemed perfect to crush that red head at that moment when he started to cry. I'm never letting that man touch me again."

"Don't worry. If he comes back, I'll kill him for you," I rubbed my stomach, "my stomach finally stopped growling."

Bonnie nodded. But I could see the worry in her eyes. "But only for tonight. You can't feed tomorrow. Remember that we have a visitor tomorrow morning."

I frowned. "A visitor? Who is it?"

"I hear he is the king's servant, but his high trust from the king adds his reputation as his right hand man. The king arranged a grand hunt for a feast tomorrow. But he would want some entertainment, which is where we must take our part. His servant will choose a few of us by examining each of us in the morning."

I sighed. "I never courted with higher class before. And I like to keep it that way. I'll make sure I won't make a good impression tomorrow, I'm already tired of being near men. Also, I won't be able to kill them either."

"Just don't say a word, and wear properly if you don't want to satisfy his eye. Good night." She blew the candle and turned over.

I laid my palms on the back of my head. "Bonnie, what's the servant's name?"

"I don't seem to remember...Wait, now I do. His name is Alaric Saltzman. Odd name, don't you think."

"Very unfamiliar. Well, good night."

~ The next morning, as planned the girls immediately took all the time they had to get ready. Others pushed each others' hips as they powdered their faces and dabbed their lips with a dark color of red or pink. The closet is empty, all the dresses and head piece hats were piled on the floor. The girls tried one dress after the other, keep complimenting endlessly about which dresses are the best. Fortunately, Bonnie and I woke up early and prepared first. Bonnie did me a favor today; she chose a plain white laced dress for me, with a simple head piece hat that matched.

Caroline tightened Viki's corset. Viki looked at herself with a mirror and pinched her cheeks to brighten them. Caroline looked at Bonnie and me. "You girls are already ready?"

The two of us nodded. Caroline brushed her hair to the side. "Well, get something to eat. Our visitor will arrive within an hour."

Bonnie reached for the bowl of fruit and took an apple. I wasn't hungry...Well, not hungry for fruit, I mean...

Caroline finally tied the laces on the back of Viki's corset. "There. You are all finished. Now put the dress on."

Viki shook her head. "No. My waist needs to look tinier. Now come on, pull the laces tighter."

Caroline sighed. "No, Viki you look beautiful. Your waist is about nineteen inches by now. Just wear your dress."

Viki sighed. "Oh well, fine."

~ After the girls were all dressed, we waited outside and stood in a straight line. The girls were full of excitement, including Caroline.

Viki whispered to Caroline. "I wish I could go. It will be such a thrill to be with the nobles. Maybe I might get the chance with the king."

The girls giggled. "With that tiny waist, you can get any man." One girl said. "I heard the king is young and pleasingly handsome." The other girl said. "I hope he likes the color red. I wore this dress very special for him." Viki said.

I wanted to block my ears to silence their jabbering. But Bonnie took my hand to calm me. "Hey, you never know if one of those eligible men can be the cure."

"I hope not. Then it won't be easy to kill, a person's death with high reputation will lead to a fuss with the law and long investigation."

Finally, our visitor arrived. Alaric Saltzman did not look like a servant. He was tall, and his broad shoulders shows his age to be about two to thirty, his clothes is embroidered with such finery; with gold, green and a slight red as a dim candlelight. I could feel some of the girls blush and curve a smile. I don't blame that, other than his reputation he is quite handsome.

He walked slowly across the line, examining each of us. He gave a few girls a nod, and took a closer look at their hair and dress. When he passed half of us, he already chose four girls and Caroline was one of them. I'm the last. Saltzman passed quickly and stopped at Bonnie. He took a bit of the lock of her hair, and rubbed them with his fingertips. He shook his head.

"I can't have a colored girl at the feast. I don't understand how you are welcomed here, either."

I tightened my fist. But Bonnie grabbed my wrist. "Well sir, the contract I signed had no requirement of my race. I beg your pardon of the difference of my coal black skin, comparing with your milk powered ones. Yet, I am a person and aren't the two of us on the same status. Me, a court lady. You, just a low class servant."

I smiled. Without warning, Saltzman slapped her hard on the face. I crouched my back, and reached one of my hands to my stockings. My hands found the handle of the knife and instantly removed it from its sheath. With a quick move, I placed the blade on his throat. If it was nightfall, and there was no one here except me and Bonnie, I will gladly be happy to eat a good meal. However, since it's the complete opposite, I must be ready for my next convincing words to save myself from the guards who are coming this way.

"How could you slap such a girl? Aren't you the king's slave too, Alaric Saltzman? You dress in those fine rich clothes, but they don't cover your reputation. You are just a servant; you are beneath the wealthy as us. We girls are called a whore and disgraceful people, but we do not do it for pleasure, we do it to survive this cold, wretched society."

Saltzman spat at my face. Furious, I wrapped one of my arms around his neck, and stroke the handle of my blade on his ribs. As he fell down on his knees, I wrapped both arms around his neck and still kept the blade close to his throat. The guards surrounded us, but they didn't attack.

I gripped his neck. "Look closely, Saltzman, you see what we are? The court ladies. The soldiers. You. Me. The nobles are beneath us. Regardless of your loyalty, trust, and effort there is no chance for you to go any higher. You are born to be a low class. You were accepted to work for the king. Ha! Congratulations. But that is the only offer you will ever get, there will be no further title to your name, and your salary won't even dare increase neither. Now you stand up and apologize to that girl you just insulted. That way you could get a better taste of the reality that she is an equal as us and you."

Saltzman did not stand up right away, neither did I drop the knife. But he stood up. The girls looked at me with wide eyes, even the soldiers. He did not say anything to Bonnie but inside me I could feel the vague tears falling down his face. I returned the knife back to its sheath. I thought after that he will push me and beat me, or order the soldiers to take me away. Instead, he didn't do any of those things, and remained silent for a moment.

I straightened my skirt and stood back next to Bonnie. "I guess you don't accept me to attend the feast. That is completely fine with me. I hope you have a fantastic day, and also learned a lesson. Goodbye." I took Bonnie's hand and turned around to head back inside.

"Wait! I also choose you, jo-join the other girls here." He announced.

I froze. This is not what I want at all. Bonnie squeezed my hand. "Be careful and watch your hunger," she slipped something out that was hidden in her right breast, "this is a sack of herbs. Use it just in case anybody gets hurt, the hunt will be very fierce and brutal. Since its your first time, I wish you well."

I took the small sack and hid it in my bosoms. "Its not my first time. But that is not what I am disappointed about. Bonnie you know very well that my reputation is well-known to the middle class, I won't be surprised if my title as the "Virgin Whore" will be familiar to the guests back at the feast."

Bonnie placed her hands on my shoulders and turned me around. "You must go. You hurt Saltzman enough. And don't worry about your reputation, its your hunger that you should be worried about."

I nodded. "Alright. Goodbye, my friend."