Chapter 2

Taylor regarded the woman who went back to sit at her deck with a degree of apprehension. While it was assuring that all this wasn't a dream, the reality that she signed a contract with her for a second life in servitude still dampened her joy down a notch as there was no telling what she has in store for her. If it just a mundane duty of housemaid then it's fine, but judging by the fantastic denizens she passed by during her journey up here, it started to get worrying.

It seems she couldn't conceal her nervousness as well as she thought as Shinki's motherly voice echoed inside her head after that "I wouldn't expect you to do all those right away, child. There's a reason I'm assigning Yumeko as your instructor after all."

Taylor looked at Shinki with wide eyes "You're inside my head, again…" she sounded terrified "Are you Mastering me?"

Yumeko who stood attention beside her narrowed her eyes at Taylor but didn't say anything while Shinki replied in motherly tone "If all I wanted was a slave, then I wouldn't bother resurrecting you, child. Sculpting a clay doll and turn it into a puppet or golem will do just fine."

The ruler of Pandemonium noticed that the nervousness and fear had yet to fade from Taylor's eyes, prompted her to shook her head "It's no good for you to be this paranoid, child. You'll make no friends with that attitude." pausing a bit, she continued "And please think carefully, if I already dominated your will, why are we still having this conversation?"

Taylor visibly relaxed at that statement though her eyes still showed sign of wariness, that's what Shinki expected after she gleamed all of Taylor's memories during the resurrection process; Anyone who experienced what Taylor had in her last few years of previous life would come out like this more often than not.

Drumming her fingers on her desk, Shinki had Taylor's attention on her before speaking "First thing first, allow me to repeat what the contract entails; you've been resurrected as my Shikigami – A 'Familiar' if you want a very simplified term in your tongue – but let me assure you that you're anything but just a Familiar you know from your Earth Bet's fantasy fictions."

Taylor nodded and let Shinki continued "Anyway, while you have to serve me as part of the contract, I believe that you should familiarize yourself with this realm and train under Yumeko's tutelage first."

Yumeko curtsied at her master's mention and assured Taylor once again "I'll make sure that you know everything, or at least, the basics of being a proper maid before this winter's end. While I never trained anyone before, I'll be doing my best to impart my knowledge to you." she paused, her golden eyes met Taylor's brown-green as she smiled slightly "Try our best together, for our mistress."

Taylor gulped before replied to the maid in a meek voice "I… guess so…"

Again, Shinki proved to know exactly what Taylor was nervous about, but instead of telling it directly, she decided to ask about it, surprising Taylor a bit "What's troubling you child?"

Looking at Shinki's silver eyes and her motherly feel, Taylor felt her nervousness slipped away. While the question of 'Was she trying to calm me down with some Master effect?' still lingered, Taylor decided to not care; considered how much power Shinki wielded to be capable of resurrecting the dead, she could've done much worse.

"I'm not sure if I'm offending you, Ma'am…"

"Call me Shinki," Shinki quickly replied "I don't mind. Just like how I keep telling Yumeko." the woman then sent a mocking glare at the aforementioned maid, who stood stoically and refuse to respond to the childish attempt from her mistress.

A glance at her senior then back to her new boss, Taylor decided to emulate her senior instead "If you say so, Ma'am."

That made Shinki shook her head in exasperation and dropped the subject "Well, I'll shelf that for the time being, getting off track as I am. Well, child, please continue."

Having permission, Taylor didn't beat around the bush and spoke "I'm not sure if I have the same definition of a servant as yours, or this world Ma'am. They look…" she paused, trying to sort out the right word before she settled for "…violent."

Shinki sighed and looked at Taylor with a confident smile "I can assure you that your duty will not involve fending off intruders or would-be assassin, child. Else I'd dressed you in something more appropriate for bodyguard, not maid."

"But if you want to learn how to fight or magic to aid you in various tasks ahead, then I have no problem teaching some for you during free time, Miss Hebert," Yumeko stated matter-of-factly which surprised Taylor a little but earned a glare from Shinki in response.

Yet Shinki didn't scold her maid, she simply confirmed it "Yes, as Yumeko has said; you can practice in your free time. I may be the goddess of Makai - a demonic realm – but I'm not harsh on my subjects, let alone my daughters."

Taylor blushed at her word and sputtered "d…daughters?"

"Yes, dear, daughters" Shinki repeated, nodded in Yumeko's direction, who looked like she was doing her best not to blush while still looking at her mistress at the same time "I gave birth to Yumeko, and you to some extent. So you're also a daughter in my eyes."

Taylor decided that she wouldn't try to understand that reasoning and focused on what Yumeko said earlier instead "Magic? Are you referring to Parahuman's power? Did that mean you made me a cape too, eh, Ma'am?"

A soft laugh came out of Shinki's lips before she shot Taylor's theory down by a simple question "Can this parahuman's power of your world ever replicable, passing down to others, child?"

Taylor's eyes widen at the implication and excitement eroded her mistrust a little bit if her voice was any indication "Are you saying that this 'Magic' is learnable by anyone? Without went through Trigger Event to get it?"

Although Taylor at this point didn't have much knowledge about 'Trigger Event' despite being a cape geek in her previous life, the posts and conversations in the online community she once dwelled painted some clues that it cannot be something good happened upon the parahuman in question.

"Most people can." Yumeko corrected from the side. Her arms crossed as she calmly explained with a voice that sounded like she was offended "If they have given the efforts in such endeavor. Unlike your parahuman thing…"

The maid materialized a short sword out of thin air. She grabbed it and twirled it expertly a few times while continuing to stare at Taylor "I did not have this ability since birth, I have to work for years to master it. Do you think you, who born from Milady, would be any different?"

Shinki nodded while smiling "As Yumeko said, my child. And while it's inevitable that some people will be more 'gifted' than others, they too will fell and left behind if they do not put some effort into learning and expanding their capabilities beyond what already theirs." She paused then spoke with conviction "I believe that you have it in you."

Taylor was speechless at the confidence Shinki put in her potential; She was nothing in a previous life, surely Shinki had already seen her memories. How could she said that she – the sophomore, lanky Taylor – could do better just because she reincarnated in the Demonic realm?

Shinki sighed and pressed her finger on her forehead "I don't even need to read your mind to know what you're thinking, Taylor." her silver eyes then bore through Taylor's brown as she lowered her hand and crossed her arms "I'll ask you this: Have you ever tried to be a maid before?" once Taylor shook her head – an obvious reaction that both sides know she would – she continued "Then why you preemptively said you can't do it?"

Taylor wasn't sure how to respond, allowing Yumeko to once again chimed in, her voice now tinged with annoyance "You human never born knowing the danger of fire. Never know how to talk the moment they exited their mother's womb. And are you going to repay Milady's kindness by refusing to uphold the bargain you made?"

"Enough, Yumeko." Shinki quickly put an end to her maid's tirade with a sharp glare then spoke calmly "Please wait outside, for now, Yumeko."

That made the maid recoiled, shame evident in her eyes "I'm sorry, Milady, I lose control of myself for a moment. Please, allow me to stay-."

Shinki realized what the other was thinking and quickly remedied the situation "I'm not angry at you, child. However, while I'd like you to stay and listen in, this's not the time. It's something 'personal' for her." she nodded at Taylor, who remained quiet during the argument "Perhaps in time, she may share it with you. I might add that she didn't intend to share it with me, but alas, Shikigami contract doesn't leave me with many choices but to know of it during the ritual."

The master and servant locked eyes, as if contesting each other's will. Before Yumeko bowed and then turned to leave with parting word bereft of venom unlike earlier "As you wish, Milady."

As she was walking toward the exit, Yumeko sends Taylor one apologetic glance before the door closed with a small thud with Taylor sitting still, unsure what she should do to her soon-to-be senior.

"Leave her be, child."

Shinki's voice reminded Taylor that she was still there. Turning around, Taylor found Shinki stood up and walked over to her from behind her desk "She is my first child, you see. Despite my best effort, I still spoiled her a little bit too much. And hardly see much of the world despite living for centuries."

Silver eyes that glanced over Taylor toward the door where Yumeko disappeared looked like she was reminiscing the past, as if she wasn't talking to Taylor at all if not for her dedicate hand gently pressed on the girl's shoulder, silently telling her to sit down.

"However, making her a maid of Pandemonium castle serving me is one thing that she has chosen out of her own free will you know?" Shinki continued softly "If I could, I would've resurrected you as a denizen of this realm, free to pursue whatever you wished. But alas, you're not born into this world and rule of the Heaven is strict and unforgiving; the dead have to go through the cycle of rebirth without fail, barring special circumstances. I hope that you'll forgive me for this."

Taylor looked down at her skirt, hands clenched the apron she was wearing before her resolve solidified and spoke up "I've chosen to live again, Ma'am…" she looked up at Shinki, who looked back with small sign of surprise in her silver eyes "Even if I thought it was a dream, but there's no denying that I had signed a contract with you out of my free will, out of my desire to live. So I'll serve you."

Shinki squeezed her shoulder a bit and whispered "Thank you" and then she walked toward one of the bookshelves and took out a newspaper and placed it on her desk, while Taylor was watching her "You should give Yumeko a chance, she can be… intense… as she takes her duty seriously and expects you to do the same – doing your best."

Taylor's eyes glued to the newspaper as she was trying to discern the date from it. But Shinki called her attention before she could've seen it "As for your doubt in your capability; the let me ask you this: From your memories shared with me due to Shikigami link between us, you'd have a lot of opportunities to transfer out of that sad excuse of an education institution – either home study or to another institution - yet you didn't until the very end, why?"

Taylor's breath hitched when Shinki mentioned her previous life; this isn't the question she expected and wasn't sure how it could relate to being good at her new job here. Regardless, that got her to ponders; recalling the reasons why she'd stayed there until her death?

The financial situation that cannot let her transfer out also rung hollow when there were many alternatives apart from transferring to expensive schools in the city or study aboard. Study at home and apply for the GED test is one of the simplest ways to do it and she could just get a job or something after that to help her dad years earlier too…

Worry about her dad? Sure, that was a valid reason, he could barely hold together since her mother's death, adding this bullying campaign to the mix wouldn't end well for two of them. He cannot win against the entire school staff and the most popular girl, a track star, and a slew of lackey combined.

Want her friend to come back to her sense? She found that it was a pipe dream that she used to justified staying initially, but ultimately, she realized too late that it was a lost cause.

But ultimately, as she thought it over, those weren't the true reason for her to stayed in Winslow…

She took a few minutes gathering her thought, before inhaled and replied to the woman looming over her in expectation "If I go away, then it's not only mean that they win, it also means they'll shift their target to others, make them suffer in my place…" she then sighed, tears threatened to fall from her eyes as her next words came out "But it was all meaningless now."

Shinki shook her head and slowly reached her hand out to touched Taylor's cheek. Taylor almost recoiled, but then let the woman gently wiped her tears away.

"it's not meaningless, my child" Shinki spoke as she withdrew her hand "this is just another proof that you have the determination, and drives to succeed in whatever goal you set yourself to."

Taylor realized that when Shinki said it that way, it made sense too, from a certain point of view. Letting out a bitter smile "You're expecting me to be as determined at a new job as in my previous life." It wasn't a question at all, indicated by her next words "I can do that at least."

Shinki nodded with approval in her eyes and tried to speak only for Taylor's stomach to growl in protest. The girl–turned–maid blushed and avoided eye contact with her now–officially–the master who chuckled in return "Oh, dear, I forgot that you have yet to mastering the art of 'abandon food' like Yumeko yet. And it seems we've converse for too long already. Very well…"

As if she has telepathic sense, the door flung opened and Yumeko strode into the room. Taylor also stood up as the maid took her position next to her, like servants awaiting commands from their master.

"Now, Yumeko, please be kind to her and get her something to eat." Shinki instructed jovially "You'll begin your new work starting tomorrow, Taylor. Yumeko will be your teacher for proper conduct and works that will entail. I'll personally teach you some magic if that's what you want, but only after you can do your jobs properly first and while you have free time, like I once offered Yumeko, okay?"

Taylor nodded, elicited a smile on Shinki's face as she clapped her hands and gestured toward the door "So, see you two later then, my children."

Yumeko took that as a sign to leave; she bowed her head, prompting Taylor to followed her bow and then leading her out of the office.

While traveling down the stair toward her new room, Yumeko's eyes glanced sideway toward Taylor who was trailing slightly behind and spoke up "I'm not sorry for saying those words to you by the way."

Taylor nodded mutedly without looking and let her senior continued as they descended downstairs "Just… don't say something like that before you try again, Taylor. I don't like people who preemptively excused themselves from hardship. No matter how justified it might be."

Taylor's temper flared up a little and snapped back "You don't even know what I've been through!"

"Yes, I don't." Yumeko spun on her heels and face Taylor, causing the latter to stopped walking and looked into her golden eyes "Most employers in the human world won't care either. All they wanted from you is that you do your job, your personal baggage is of little concern for them. I've been there a few times after all."

The two maids glared at each other, Taylor found herself unable to disagree with her senior. How could she when the example was right before her eyes every single day since her mother's death in the previous life? Her dad couldn't quit working at the Dock Worker Union else there will be no food on their table, so he has to work regardless of emotional turmoil inside his mind.

And now she found herself respecting Shinki even more.

Yumeko seems to know what Taylor was thinking and shook her out of her thought with another word "I won't pretend I understand your circumstances, Miss Hebert, I couldn't lie worth a damn, pardon my rudeness." she turned around and started walking at a brisker pace, forcing Taylor to widen her footsteps to keep up "But if you still think of yourself as worthless, then your performance will subconsciously drop to the level you think you are as well. You, who once been human, are better than that."

That statement got Taylor thinking for the rest of the trip until they reached their quarter on the ground floor. Yumeko produced a key and unlocked the door for them to go inside quietly.

The servant quarter was quite bare-basic; the first to greeted her sight was a small kitchen next to the entrance with everything Taylor expected for a kitchen except for a coal-fired stove replacing gas and electrical one and no refrigerator. Though Taylor suspected that the cupboard made of blue crystal cubes opposite of the stove was anything but normal judging from the cold mist surrounding it.

"That's where we store fresh ingredients." Yumeko said when she noticed where Taylor was staring "Though I haven't eaten much since mastered 'abandon food' magic. I always keep some just in case."

She then led Taylor inside; a bathroom coupled with a toilet located just past the kitchen area, and beyond it was a bedroom. A wooden bunk bed sat next to the glass window, mattresses, blankets, and pillows included and folded neatly. There's a reading desk with a crystal magic lamp sitting on the opposite side of the wall alongside a wardrobe.

At the sight of the bunk bed, Taylor couldn't help but asked Yumeko about it.

"At the time Milady created Pandemonium castle, she made this so I could invite friends to a sleepover if I so wished." Yumeko explained, her lip tugged up slightly "…now, the upper one is yours."

Taylor eyed the bunk which for Yumeko held fond memories of her past hesitantly before accepted "Thank you, Miss."

"Just call me Yumeko, we're now co-worker after all."

Hesitation slowly fades from Taylor's face replaced with a thankful smile, but Yumeko cut her off before she could properly thank her "Let's start with preparing a meal then. You know how to cook right?"

"Yes, Yumeko…" How could she not when her father being dead inside for the past couple of years, but then she realized that with the medieval level of access, the ingredients she has here may not be the same and quickly added "…But on second thought, I think I have to see what you have in storage first."

"That is understandable." Yumeko agreed "Let's this be the first lesson for you then. And a chance for me to know you a little better, if you don't mind sharing by the way."

And so, the two of them went to prepare their meal together. Though the story of Taylor's previous life may have to wait, overall, it was a good start; for friendship has to start somewhere after all.

'The stars are mesmerizing tonight…'

Unknown to Yumeko, Taylor who was cooking the latter's first meal since rebirth, or any inhabitants of Makai, the goddess of demon realm and its creator was now threading the surface of the fourth planet of the Solar System.

Silently hovering through the endless red dune of Mars, Shinki flew toward her favorite spot of sightseeing without any difficulty despite the lack of breathable air and gravity, an achievement that only existed in the fantasy of the mortal human that inhabited what dubbed the outside world by many in her realm as Earth.

Thanks to the lack of air currents and oceanic waves, the spot remains largely the same after millennium; an unassuming rocky hill covered in red sand.

She'd preferred the Lunar for this sightseeing though, but Lunarians were quite territorial and annoying to deal with, so she settled for Mars instead. A different type of scenery if anyone asked for her opinions.

Immigrants who took resident upon her world instead of Eastern Wonderland often brought dreaded stories of their power fading, or their existence outright disappeared, in the outside world, that it would affect all creatures of mortal's imagination that even Gods weren't spared, and warned of their kind to not wander into the mortal realm again. Hence the reason for massive immigration to Eastern Wonderland, and her Makai to a lesser extent for the past couple of centuries when humanity finally pushed past the Dark Age into embracing sciences and technology instead of believing in supernatural.

But little did they know; such concern couldn't apply to the Sages, the Miko and the Dragon who founded the Paradise of the East. After all, they have their duty to maintain the barrier between Wonderland and the mortal world, constantly exposing themselves to the dried up of belief of the mortal realm.

Shinki herself also not affected, but it was out of special circumstances surrounding her birth…

Something that she almost forgot, until now…

[Agreement…]

[Traject…]

[Error… Host cease function…]

[Reconstruction…]

[Error, reconstruction failed…]

[Relocation protocol initiate… Executing…]

Seemingly nonsense words were the last thing Taylor Hebert heard before her soul left her mortal body and ended up in her Makai. It held no meaning to the girl and she doubted that she'll care. But for Shinki, something behind those words means something else.

Reaching the hill, Shinki's red-clad feet touched the rocky ground without stirring the red sand. Her hands crossed at her back as she stood there and take in the sight of the blue diamond among the sea of darkness, pondering the meaning of it all.

'A coincidence perhaps?'

Spreading her arms wide, tendrils of light erupted from her back before solidifying into six bat-like wings with red lines running in various patterns over them.

Standing in her full glory, Shinki basked in the darkness of the void with her eyes looking toward the Earth, now but a small dot looking from where she was, contemplating what she learned.

'Not only accidental through alternate universes, but accidental time travel as well? Fate was such a fickle thing indeed, that even Gods couldn't predict it. Else they could've prevented their falls…'

A soundless chuckle escaped her lips, the red-clad ruler of Makai decided that this matter could wait; there was no hurry in solving this personal matter of hers yet. What matters more right now is her newest daughter – adopted daughter – but still her children nonetheless.

'Her trust issue needs some works.' Shinki thought sadly and shook her head 'Was it a product of living in the age which science clashed with miraculous power? Was this the Old Gods' intention when creating them? Was this another reason why I'm a failure in their eyes?'

Shinki's form then basked in a red glow and vanished without a trace saves for small footprints where she once stood.

Though the past was catching up with her, it did not excuse her from being a good mother to her children or governing her realm to her best abilities.

Author's Note: As this's AU, Shinki's and many characters' origin is somewhat changed, not that it matter much when she was never elaborated too much, as per most PC-98 characters.

Hint of her origin in this story is that her relationship with certain characters, or rather, his progenitors, is like Suigintou to other Rozen Maidens with some twists. Hope this won't spoil too much.