Reaver's Servants

Who's That Creepin'?

Spring was half-way over, and the servants seemed to be adjusting well to life around the manor. Things ran like clock-work, which is what Reaver liked to see. Occasionally, there were slip-ups, but nothing that couldn't be handled without a warning shot from the Dragonstomper, or a cracked of the whip. The whip he rarely had to use, which was good for him, as Reaver hated having to dig it out of his bottom dresser drawer. Reaver hadn't left the manor much since hiring the "Circus Rejects", as he had been calling them. He felt before their month trial period was up, he needed to keep a close eye on them himself. Not that he didn't trust Barry's judgment, but seeing as Barry was a little more relaxed with running things, Reaver felt it necessary to stay around his home.

Today, however, would be a day he wished he actually left the manor. Not just to avoid the mountain of paperwork that had accumulated on his desk. But he would have saved himself the headache, as well.

Scrip-scrip-scrip went Reaver's pen as it danced along the paperwork. He told his servants not to disturb him today, as factory paperwork seemed to pile up every second. He looked out the open window of his office and watched the beautiful spring day pass by. His hat off, Reaver smiled at the gentle breeze wafting through his hair. Keeping in tune with the music of the day, Reaver tried to keep his mind on his paperwork. Usually, he tricked Barry into doing it for him, but the Queen seemed to be on to them. "It was so much easier when Logan was king." He muttered, leaning back in his chair. "All he did was stuff anything I sent to him into a drawer."

Outside of his office, Reaver told Barry to keep an eye on things. "Keep the New Recruits out of trouble!" Were the specific instructions Reaver gave Barry. Easy enough, as the servants usually kept themselves busy and stayed out of Reaver's way. In reality, it was a pretty quiet day. Everyone (save for Barry and Miss Sarah) was out in the garden today, watching Gordon work on the plants.

"You'd think a big mansion like this would have more to clean." said Willa, who was sitting next to Rosie on a stone bench.

"Well, if you don't keep your voice down, Mr. Reaver will find something for us to do. Remember last time we complained about finishing too early?" warned Rosie, her hands in her lap.

"I didn't know he was going to make us clean the whole house again with our hands tied behind our backs." sulked Willa, rubbing her wrists.

Beryl giggled and leaned against the stone bench (she was sitting on the ground). "You have to admit, Mr. Reaver is creative." she giggled.

"Said the contortionist." mentioned Rosie again. Beryl shrugged with a nervous grin.

"Why are you girls out here, anyway?" asked Gordon, as he monkeyed his way down from a high trellis.

"Miss Sarah sent me out here to get apples. She's making apple pie tonight for dessert. Willa and Beryl are avoiding Mr. Hatch." said Rosie.

"Well, the apples on the tree near the garden gate are ripe. Go ahead and get a bushel before you have Miss Sarah mad at you too. I think there is a basket in the garden shed." Gordon pointed toward the garden gate and held his hedge clippers close by. Rosie nodded and walked toward the garden shed. "Why are you two avoiding Mr. Hatch?" asked Gordon.

"He's been chasing us all day. I think he wants someone to talk to, since Mr. Reaver is so busy." said Willa.

Rosie walked along the cobblestone path toward the garden shed, admiring the flowers. "Gordon did wonders for the garden." She said to herself, as she opened the garden shed. Searching the shed, Rosie could swear she heard footsteps behind her, and they sounded rushed. "Beryl? Willa?" she inquired behind her. Rosie shrugged, thinking it was a squirrel and bent over to pick up the basket.

Reaching the apples wasn't a problem for tall Rosie. The only problem she had while picking apples was the gnawing feeling that someone was watching her. Looking all around her, Rosie shrugged and picked up the basket. "I hope this is enough. I wonder how many she's making tonight?" she asked herself, as she walked toward the front door. Rosie stopped for a moment, her head hurting. Placing the basket down, Rosie leaned against the garden fence as her eyes began to glow. "Here comes…another one…" she said to herself. She opened her eyes wide and began to speak:

"Protect Reaver! Protect Reaver! She will come for him but will not succeed!"

Shaking her head as the prediction stopped, Rosie breathed heavily. "That one seemed oddly specific." she muttered, picking the basket back up.

Arriving at the front door, Rosie saw a young woman, dressed in a pink dress, standing by the door. She looked anxious. Rosie noted the girl had three buns in her hair and was wearing pink. She seemed to be trying to pick the lock on the door. "Almost got it…" she muttered, as the needle she had swirled around in the lock. Rosie set down the basket and walked closer. "In a matter of minutes, I'll be in and soon…" the young woman laughed maniacally.

"It's not locked." said Rosie, stepping toward the young woman. The girl spun around with a yelp. Rosie tapped her foot, arms crossed. "Do you have business with Mr. Reaver, or are you just a really bad thief?" Rosie asked, foot tapping getting faster and faster. The girl, still a bit panicked, smiled and rubbed the back of her head.

"Yes, well…you see…" was all the young woman said before she zoomed down the path toward the main gate. Rosie cocked an eyebrow and picked up the basket again. Questioning what she just saw, Rosie shrugged.

Closing the door behind her, she could hear her boss on the top floor, yelling angrily at his paperwork. "Why doesn't he just trick Barry into doing it?" she wondered to herself. Placing down the basket for a moment, Rosie walked back to the door to make sure it was locked. She then heard a gunshot from upstairs. Yeah, he should have made Barry do it she thought.

Rosie walked into the kitchen, where Barry was helping Miss Sarah make the pie crusts. Miss Sarah, with a smile always adorning her face, was nodding happily along to Barry's story.

"…which gave us a differential tax return of about thirty percent, which wasn't quite as cost effective as we were being led to believe; but still I think the major savings were well worth primary investment. And it was around that time I decided my future lay in accountancy." Barry finished, as he rolled the rolling pin on the dough.

"Wow. That certainly sounds impressive, Mr. Hatch." said Miss Sarah with a smile, as she stretched the dough into the pie tin. Barry blushed and continued flattening out the dough.

Rosie set the apples down and walked up to the table. "Something strange just happened." She commented, as she approached the two.

"And what has been normal since you all arrived?" asked Barry. "No offense, of course, Miss Sarah."

Miss Sarah nodded and picked a few apples from the basket. "I mean, some girl just tried to pick an unlocked door with a sewing needle. When I asked if she has business with Reaver, she ran off." said Rosie, taking an apple and biting into it.

Barry, somewhat panicked, just looked at Rosie nervously. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about it. Probably just someone trying to sell us something again. You know how forward girl scouts can be. Picking locks, tunneling under the house, they literally stop at nothing to sell us those awful cookies." Barry's nervous laugh and avoidance of the subject didn't get past Miss Sarah.

"She didn't look like any girl scout I've ever seen." Rosie grumbled, as she finished her apple and tossed it in a nearby trash can.

"Well, either way, Miss Rosie, just get back to your chores. Master Reaver might take a lunch break soon, if he doesn't toss his desk out the window from frustration. Don't want him to think you're slacking off, now do you?" Barry replied, somewhat nervous. Rosie nodded, somewhat confused, and left the kitchen.

Rosie walked into the foyer and up the stairs, passing by Reaver and bowing her head with a hello as she did. Reaver ignored Rosie and walked into the kitchen where Miss Sarah and Barry were peeling apples. Miss Sarah looked up and smiled. "Oh, hello Mr. Reaver; are you done with your paperwork already?" she asked.

Reaver didn't answer that question, but he did take an apple from the basket on the table. "Miss Sarah, I know I said I wanted chicken soup for lunch, but as my paperwork seems to have taken over my desk, I'll just have a sandwich. Have Barry send it up once it is done." He said, rubbing the apple on his vest. Miss Sarah nodded and went to find the bread.

"Hatch, I need you to have the desk lamp for my office replaced as soon as possible." said Reaver, as he and Barry left the kitchen.

"Alright, but what's wrong with the one you have?" Barry asked, as they arrived in the foyer.

Reaver, a little ticked off at all the questions today, just stared at Barry. "It has a bullet hole in it."

As the afternoon went on, Rosie found herself setting the laundry out on the clothesline in the garden. First went up Reaver's posh sheets, then his clothes. "Girl scout, nothing. I know what I saw." She kept muttering to herself. Rosie turned around when she heard scampering footsteps, only to find a cat staring up at her. "Oh, hello there, Kitty." She smiled, as she patted the cat on the head. "You might not want to stick around here long; my boss isn't very fond of animals, and Gordon will chase you with a garden hoe if he sees you nibbling on the plants."

The cat mewed softly as Rosie turned back to the laundry basket. It was gone. Rosie looked around frantically and then looked behind her. The cat was gone too. Rosie walked around the general area and found the basket, but it was empty. She then heard footsteps again. "Beryl…Willa…Gordon?" she called out, angrily. "This isn't funny, you guys. If Mr. Reaver finds out his laundry is missing and he punishes me…" she walked around a hedge to see the girl in pink again, fawning over the laundry.

"Hey!" yelled Rosie, as she ran toward the girl.

Grasping on to a shirt tightly, the girl made a run for it. Rosie found herself chasing the girl all over the garden. The girl knocked down anything she thought would block Rosie, but Rosie avoided everything with precise agility. The girl finally tripped over a bucket Gordon left out and fell. As Rosie closed in, the girl threw the shirt at Rosie; its wet fabric embraced Rosie's face. Gordon had just rounded a corner as Rosie was pulling the shirt off. "Rosie! What the hell have you done!?" he yelled, looking at the mess in the garden. "Look at all this! It will take me all day to clean this up!"

A shocked look on her face, Rosie pointed right in front of her. "It wasn't me! The Girl in Pink did this!"

Gordon looked where Rosie was pointing, but saw nothing. "Rosie, have you been huffing the cleaning products?" he asked, sounding semi-concerned.

"But…" Rosie looked all around, but only saw the devastation her chase had caused.

"What the hell is all that commotion?!" yelled a voice from the second story of the house. Looking up, Rosie and Gordon saw Reaver, with a very angry look on his face, staring down at them from his office window. "I specifically told everyone not to bother me or make a ruckus today." Reaver looked about the garden, seeing it a complete mess. "Rosie, why is my laundry strewn about the garden? And why does my garden look like a warzone?!" he inquired loudly.

Rosie didn't get a chance to defend herself when Reaver fired a warning shot from his gun in between her and Gordon. "I have no time for your excuses! When you're done redoing the laundry, help Gordon clean up this mess you made!" he shouted as he slammed his window shut. A bit angry but more disappointed in herself, Rosie gathered up the laundry and walked back inside. Gordon knew Rosie was a bit "off" in some areas, but he had known Rosie for years, and she certainly wasn't crazy.

After rewashing and hanging up the laundry to dry again, Rosie helped Gordon clean up the garden. Luckily, Gordon picked up most of it already, but it still took until about early evening to finish everything. As she placed a potted plant back on the garden cart, Rosie questioned everything that had happened in the course of one afternoon. "I know what I saw…" she kept muttering to herself, as she walked toward the clothesline. Placing the basket firmly down, Rosie started gathering the laundry back up. Folding each sheet and shirt properly, Rosie sighed and decided it might be best to let this one go.

Beryl found herself scrubbing windows outside the house when Rosie walked back inside, looking dejected. "I wonder what's eating her today…" Beryl asked herself, as she reached for a clean rag (with her foot). Beryl dipped the rag in the bucket of water and started washing another window. Beryl could hear scampering under her stepping ladder. "Oh, Willa, is that you?" she asked, not even looking away from the task. "Just put those extra rags by the bucket." Beryl got no answer.

Beryl looked under her and saw no one. "Hmm, she probably forgot the rags..." She assumed, dipping the rag back into the bucket of soapy water. Stepping to the tip top of the ladder, Beryl heard shuffling again below her. "Willa, you're too fast for your own good." She said, looking under herself. Beryl didn't see Willa, but she did see a little tabby cat with a pink ribbon on its neck.

"Oh, well hello there, you cute little thing!" Beryl cooed, as she stepped down from the stepping ladder. "You must belong to one of the noble children who live around here. Mr. Reaver doesn't care for pets much." Beryl bent over and patted the kitty cat on the head. "You look like you want someone to play with." Beryl reached into her pocket and took out a small key loop with four keys on it. She jingled them softly and the cat playfully pawed at them. Beryl put them back into her pocket and stood up. "Sorry, Mr. Kitty, I can't let you have these. These are the keys to the manor. Mr. Reaver likes having the doors locked so I need them to get back in. Mr. Hatch sometimes keeps the door unlocked, but he…"

Beryl found herself being tackled by the cat. Keys flying in the air, they were caught by the Girl in Pink. "Come on, let's go!" she shouted, as the cat leaped off Beryl and followed her. Beryl got up only to see the front doors slam.

Readjusting her glasses, Beryl stood up and sat on the step ladder. "I'm probably in a lot of trouble for this…"

The front doors slammed shut loudly; loud enough for Reaver to hear in his office. Loud enough for Reaver to snap his pen in half out of frustration. His paperwork half-way done, Reaver reached for another pen in his desk drawer. "I should have given them the day off, at least then I could have some peace and quiet." He muttered, as he filled a new pen.

Barry heard the front doors slam, even with the doors to the kitchen shut. "I wonder who's in such a hurry to come inside." asked Miss Sarah, taking the first apple pie out of the oven.

Barry's right eye twitched as he put down the apple he was peeling. "If you'll excuse me Miss Sarah, I have a last minute errand to take care of." said Barry, his tone semi-authoritative. Miss Sarah watched him leave the kitchen, his stride strong. With a blush, Miss Sarah waved to him as he left. Barry entered the foyer just as Beryl was coming inside. Looking disheveled, Beryl leaned against a nearby couch. "What in the hell happened to you?" asked Barry, helping Beryl sit down.

"Some cat with a pink bow attacked me and stole the keys you lent me." Beryl whined

Blinking softly, Barry made sure Beryl was alright before leaving the general area. "This has to end before she kills someone…" he muttered, as he went to the nearby cabinet.

Upstairs, in the hallway closet, Willa struggled to get free from her confinement. Someone snuck up behind her, ambushed, and tied her up with the rags she was to bring to Beryl. "Stay in there, Short Round." said the Girl in Pink, as she shut the closet door tightly. "Now, nothing stands between me and my Reaver!" she cackled. "Stay here and keep guard." She instructed to the cat as she tip-toed off.

"…I'm telling the truth, Miss Sarah!" the Girl in Pink heard Rosie trying to reason with Miss Sarah, who was busy concentrating on the tray she was carrying. She hid within the doorway of a nearby vacant room and listened closely.

"Rosie, I have never doubted your stories, but please let me get this to Mr. Reaver before he throws a conniption. He's had a rough day, and requested this coffee to be brought up immediately." The Girl in Pink smiled evilly, as she now saw her newest target. "After this, I have to start on dinner. Go wipe off the dining table before Mr. Reaver comes out."

Feeling defeated and questioning her sanity, Rosie walked away and left Miss Sarah to her duty. Thinking she heard sounds coming from a nearby closet, Rosie walked in that direction, but was stopped by Gordon. He held up a piece of pink fabric for her to see. "I pulled this off a thorn when I was repairing the rose bushes. You said something earlier about a girl in pink?" he asked, as Rosie took the fabric and examined it. It was a cheap fabric, obviously dyed and looked worn. "I am inclined to believe you now, Rosie." He said with his face red with anger. "Someone has been causing trouble around here all day, and letting you take the blame."

"You're a life saver, Miss Sarah!" said Reaver, jovially. Sipping the coffee happily, Reaver's mood became more relaxed. His mountain of paperwork was now a little stack. "I was worried I'd never dig myself out of this grave of papers." He chuckled, placing the cup down.

Miss Sarah bowed happily. "We were all a little worried about you, Mr. Reaver." She said softly.

"Oh, come now Miss Sarah, you shouldn't worry over me. Paperwork comes with owning factories. They simply don't run themselves. Not unlike this house." Reaver's "modesty" made Miss Sarah blush slightly.

"Before I go, Sir, what did you want for dinner?" she asked softly.

"I'm…in the mood for fish tonight." He said, with a devilish smile.

Miss Sarah smiled and bowed. "Does trout sound okay?" she asked.

"Sounds delightful." He answered, as she left the room. "Slowly reeling in…" he uttered to himself, taking another sip.

In the foyer, Barry was doing something by the cabinet when three of the servants approached him. He didn't seem too surprised by the angry looks on their faces as he watched Gordon step forward. "Mr. Hatch, we have a problem." said Gordon, holding up the fabric.

Barry sighed and turned to them. "I know, and I should have told you all earlier, but I didn't want to risk Reaver finding out." Barry instructed them toward a pillar, not wanting to be overheard. "If I am correct, the girl you all have been encountering all day is a young woman named Benjamina. She's Master Reaver's number one fan." He said, while leaning against a nearby pillar, arms folded.

"That's adorable." said Rosie, half-heartedly.

"It's adorable when she walks up and asks for an autograph. It's when she breaks into the manor to steal our trash she's violating the latest restraining order." Barry said, a bit angry. "Master Reaver had me get the newest restraining order after he found her stuck in his closet after trying to steal some of his…umm…unmentionables." Barry blushed and walked to the staircase. "Benjamina may seem harmless, but in in truth, she's dangerous. She'll do anything to get close to Reaver."

Barry pulled down the collar of his shirt and showed them a small scar near his hairline. "That's from the time she knocked me out and stole my uniform to get past the guards at a party Reaver was throwing."

Beryl shook nervously. "But I didn't see a girl, I just saw a cat." She mentioned.

"Ahh yes, her cute little kitty cat. With the cute little pink bow around its neck, right? She named it 'Reaver Jr.' despite it being female. Apparently, the little kitty-kitty is the newest member of the Reaver Fan Club." Barry sighed, looking over at the sound of at someone coming down the stairs.

Everyone hushed when they saw Miss Sarah walking down the stairs toward them. "Is something the matter?" she asked, as she approached them.

"Oh, nothing Miss Sarah. Just having a…what do you call it…a pow-wow before Master Reaver comes out for dinner. A pep-talk, if you will." Barry answered nervously.

"How lovely." She said, with a smile. "Well, dinner will be ready soon. Mr. Reaver only wanted trout tonight, so dinner won't take long." She continued her way to the kitchen.

As Miss Sarah disappeared into the kitchen, the four decided to split up. "Find Benjamina before she kills someone or breaks something. And whatever you do, don't let Master Reaver find out she's here!" Barry commanded as they split into different directions.

Finally done with all his paperwork, Reaver sighed happily and left his office. He didn't like how eerily quiet the house had become, but shrugged it off and made his way to the main part of the house. He could smell dinner being cooked and made his way to the kitchen. Reaver heard scurrying behind him and took a look but saw nothing. "Whoever is behind me better be cleaning something…" he muttered loudly.

Entering the kitchen, he heard Miss Sarah humming as she cooked. Tapping his walking stick on the floor three times, he got her attention. "Oh, Mr. Reaver! I just started on the trout; I just need to find the butter…" she said, as she scurried about the counter.

"Don't worry about buttering it, Miss Sarah. I need to watch my cholesterol anyway." He said with a devilish smile. "I was actually wondering if you would like to join me at the dinner table tonight, instead of sitting in the drafty kitchen with the other servants." He asked, with both hands on the top of his cane.

With a blush, Miss Sarah politely denied his request. "Thank you, Sir, but I have too much to do tonight. Maybe some other time." She walked over to the oven and opened it, checking on the trout she placed inside.

Reaver, somewhat unfamiliar with rejection, was about to say something else when he heard clamoring upstairs. "If you'll excuse me, Miss Sarah." He said, as he pulled his gun from his holster and walked away. Reaver went as far as the staircase and shot one shot into the doorway of the dining room. "I am giving whoever is making all that noise one warning shot. Do not make me come up there!" he shouted.

Dinnertime came around, and the table was still not set. Miss Sarah rushed to set Reaver's place and get his wine set out. "I wonder where everyone is." She wondered, with a worried expression.

"Wherever they are, they better be bloody busy with something to keep me waiting like this." shouted Reaver, as he walked into the dining hall.

Miss Sarah poured his wine as he graced behind her toward his seat. "Are you sure you wish to start without Mr. Hatch?" she asked, as she bent over to pour the wine. Miss Sarah thought she felt something pinch her behind as he walked past and blushed. Thinking she was mistaken (or at least hoping she was), Miss Sarah finished pouring the wine and placed the bottle down.

"If he wants to be late for dinner, he can eat in the kitchen with everyone else." said Reaver, as he sat down.

"I'll be right back with dinner, Mr. Reaver." She said softly with a bow. Reaver unfolded a napkin and placed it on his lap. Miss Sarah reappeared shortly after that with the main course in hand. "Here we are, Mr. Reaver. A delicious meal after a day climbing mountains of paperwork." She giggled, as she set the tray down and uncovered it. Reaver's stomach was growling. He didn't get a chance to finish his sandwich from lunch (he lost it after a stack of papers fell on it and couldn't find it afterward), so the steaming hot trout being placed before him made his mouth water.

Placing the napkin on her hand, Miss Sarah snapped her fingers and uncovered her hand, revealing a little plate with butter on it. "Just in case you change your mind." She smiled, placing the little plate beside Reaver's dish.

"Please stop doing that." muttered Reaver, as he picked up his knife and fork. Bowing softly, Miss Sarah left the dining hall to fetch the apple pies she made earlier. As he cut into his dinner, Reaver got the overwhelming feeling that he wasn't alone in the room. "Hatch, that had better be you." He announced, turning back to his dinner.

Miss Sarah walked back up with a tray of various side items and cutlery. She went back downstairs and came back up with a tray containing three apple pies. "Well, even if he is late, he can have some apple pie." She said softly, placing the pies on the table. She stood back up but didn't see the shadowy figure behind her, glaring evilly. Reaver raised an eyebrow as he put his fork to his lips. "Is something wrong, Sir?" she asked. Reaver's eye twitched as the figure was about to grab Miss Sarah.

"Miss Sarah! Watch out!" yelled Barry, from the doorway. Cocking a clockwork rifle, Barry shot just above Miss Sarah and missed both her and the figure. Diving down, Miss Sarah shielded herself with a tray as the chaos ensued. "Get her!" yelled Barry again, as the other servants chased the Girl in Pink all over the dining room. Gun shots rang throughout the dining hall as Barry and the others chased the girl around. Reaver sat still, not even acknowledging the chase or his dinner.

Rosie grabbed Reaver's knife and slashed at the girl, who screamed and jumped over the table. Beryl dove for the girl, but landed on a flower arrangement instead. She grabbed the vase the flowers were held in and threw it, almost clocking the girl in the head. The girl grabbed one of the side items and threw it at Gordon, who dodged each one and tried to grab her. "Nothing can come between our love!" the girl shouted, as she ran for Reaver, who still hadn't moved an inch.

Willa, who had finally been released from the hall closet, grabbed the girl from behind and lifted her up. "Gotcha!" she declared happily, only to get attacked by the cat.

Rounding past the table, Barry shot at the girl a few more times as Gordon threw cutlery in the same direction. Barry's rifle sounded off loudly as food and other objects flew about the dining hall. The commotion was so loud; the guard up the hill from the manor could hear it from his post.

Screaming bloody murder as the cat attached itself to her hair, Willa let go of the girl, who made another mad dash for Reaver. Rosie picked up an apple pie and threw it, but didn't know if it got the girl or not. She picked up another one and was about to toss it when a gong-like sound stopped everything. Miss Sarah had gotten up and smacked the girl in the face with the tray she was shielding herself with. She fell with a thud.

Reaver stood slowly, cutlery and bullet holes adorning his hat and apple pie sliding down his face. They didn't need him to wipe his face off to see how mad he was. "Everyone, straight line in front of me NOW!" he commanded, as everyone stood in attention in a straight line.

Wiping his face off with a handkerchief, Reaver took off his hat and placed it on the table. He looked the angriest at Barry, who was still holding the rifle. "Hatch, I didn't ask for much today, except a little peace and quiet while I finished up my paperwork. By no means is that a hard request, but somehow, everyone seemed to make it the most difficult thing imaginable! Now tell me, dearest Barry, why are you holding a rifle and why didn't you tell me Benjamina was here?!" he screamed. He didn't give Barry a chance to answer; he just smacked him on the back of the head.

"JUST LOOK AT THIS MESS!" he screamed, pointing to the chaos. Miss Sarah was already on the floor, picking up remnants of plates and other things. A loud knock on the front door could be heard by all. "Miss Sarah, get up and see who that is. I don't want you to hear what I am about to say." Miss Sarah nodded and left the dining hall.

Miss Sarah answered the door and found a guard standing in attention. "Evening, Ma'am. We heard quite a ruckus coming from over here, is everything alright?" he asked as he walked into the home. Miss Sarah didn't have a chance to answer when she heard Reaver yelling loudly. Miss Sarah blushed at some of the things said. "Wow, I haven't that kind of language since basic training." said the guard, blushing himself. Miss Sarah, joined by the guard, ran up to the dining hall, where everyone stood, amazed and shocked.

Reaver looked over and saw the guard. "Oh, hello Private Martin, I believe you know Benjamina." He said, pointing to the unconscious girl by the end of the dining table.

The guard nodded. "Ahh…I figured she was the cause of all this. Luckily, I got the cart parked out front."

Everyone saw Private Martin off as Benjamina regained consciousness and found herself in shackled. "My beloved Reaver! One day you will come for me!" she screamed as the cart left the estate.

"Not likely." Reaver muttered, as everyone shuffled back into the house. Still mad, Reaver looked down at his servants. He picked the small cat off Willa's head and gave it to Miss Sarah to hold. "I am not going to punish you all too severely, seeing as you were fighting to protect Me." said Reaver, with an air of pomposity about the statement. "However, the dining room is a mess, and my dinner is ruined. Miss Sarah, you may go to bed now, if you wish. The rest of you…START CLEANING NOW!" he yelled, stomping away. "Hatch! You're not off the hook for this! I want to see you in my office later when you're done helping them!" he yelled again, from the hallway. They could all hear his bedroom doors slam.

After hours of scrubbing and mopping and sweeping, the servants drudged their way to their bedrooms. The hour was late, and Barry sat at the end of the dining room table, trying to avoid going into Reaver's office. He knew he'd be getting the whip tonight and sighed softly. Not to mention he was hungry and dinner had to be mopped off the walls.

"Mr. Hatch?" chirped Miss Sarah, walking up to him, holding a pie and two plates. "Are you hungry? It's a little cold, but it was spared from the devastation of tonight's little 'escapade'." She placed the plates and the pie down.

"I am quite famished, Miss Sarah, but you don't have to stay up on my account." He said, with a blush. His growling stomach diminished his argument.

"Oh, I don't mind. I actually wanted to thank you." She said, sitting down next to Barry, and cutting a slice to put on a plate. "If you hadn't shot the rifle when you did, Benjamina would have grabbed me and done who knows what to me. I am very grateful." She said, as she cut a piece for herself.

Feeling a bit brave, despite having a crooked shot with a rifle, Barry puffed out his chest and smiled. "Oh, it was nothing, Miss Sarah. Anything to protect you…" he blushed softly, realizing what he just said. "…and everyone else, especially Master Reaver." He saved, and he picked up a fork.

With a blush, Miss Sarah nodded and cut into her piece with her fork. "I would have brought up some whipped cream, but the little bit I did make was used to fend of Benjamina." She giggled.

Barry felt very comfortable sitting and talking to Miss Sarah. She always had a smile on her face, no matter how chaotic things got around the manor. Barry smiled and looked up from his piece of cold pie at Miss Sarah, who smiled right back. "Oh, Miss Sarah, did I ever tell you about the time I…" his story off, Miss Sarah listened attentively, both of them happily eating their dessert.

Eating the slice of pie that didn't make it on his face, Reaver sat in his office, thumping his pen on his journal. The slice of pie was his dinner, but it was delicious, so he didn't mind. He filled the ink well and began writing:

"If being swamped by paperwork wasn't bad enough, I was nearly killed tonight by flying dinner apparatuses. My entire dinner had to be scrubbed off my beautiful walls. And why, my beloved journal? Because of Benjamina. Yes, I regret to say she is back and though flattering, her presence around here is not healthy for us; be it me, the servants, or her. Hopefully the guards will do something about her this time. How many times does one craved young woman have to break into my house before she's carted away for good?"

He refilled his pen and started writing again. He felt the cat rub against his leg and purr. "I must remember to return this cat to her parents, or whoever it is she lives with." He murmured.

"Though their actions were noble, I was forced to punish the servants for what happened tonight. I don't want them to think they can start food fights whenever they please. Ahh can't be too soft with them, now can I? I will have Barry in here soon to give him his punishment…and what of the lovely Miss Sarah, you ask? She was probably the only one not running around like a crazy person tonight. I must say, the pie she made is quite delicious…of course, I wouldn't mind having a nibble at her pie, if you catch my drift."

Reaver closed his journal just as Barry was walking in. "You…you wanted to see me, Master Reaver?" he asked, nervously. With a devilish grin and a skip in his step, Reaver reached under his desk and pulled out a whip. He slapped the whip handle on his gloved hand softly.

"Hatch, I'm not going to lie to you…you won't like this one bit…"

N'cha once again, everyone! Luna Peachie here, of course! Not going to lie, I had a bit of trouble writing this one. I don't know, I guess the idea sounded good in my head, but in the end, I felt like I kind of forced it. After editing, I was much happier, though. Ha-ha, always fun, with the editing. Stick around for my next installment; it's a real "howl" of a treat! (sorry)

Again, thank you everyone for your reviews. I appreciate them very much (they feed my soul lol just kidding). Keep reviewing and I'll keep the insanity going!

Reaver and Barry and Benjamina belong to Lionhead, of course.