12 Alice in the Basement

[Shelly's POV]

"Good mornin' sleepyhead." said an ever-so-smiling Mikheala in front of my face, before leaning backwards and lining up with the other witch apprentices.

I groaned and tried to feel my neck by bending to the left and right. Thankfully, my neck remained intact. I had a feeling that a blade had sliced me from behind, only to find out that nothing like that actually happened. I looked around my surrounding, expecting to see the pastel blue walls of my bedroom, yet to my horror, there was only light coming from a single lightbulb to my right.

"Where are we?" I asked before gulping.

"The mansion's basement, Master Shelly." responded Maid Lhea.

"Why are we here?" I ask Lhea to quench my curiosity.

Maid Hori was the one who gave me an answer, although it was more of another informative statement, "to run a f-few sessions with you Miss Shelly."

There were no windows, but instead there were mirrors that crowned the room. My eyes were drawn upward toward a colorful bunch of papers piled inside a narrow ceramic vase, it carries an air of serenity to it. I squinted my eyes to see more of what the room has to offer. There were comfy chairs, a vanity mirror, a large book shelf, a wardrobe and skulls?! I almost screamed when I notice the skulls, but Maid Yona or Hato quickly removed my fear by coincidentally heading to it only to show that it was simply a candle holder. It was the sort of place one tends to murder someone, soon to feel cradled by the earth, under the cold soil to rot.

What a dark thought coming from me, this is not what I wanted. I tried standing up only to realize that I can't feel my legs, and it seems like it has gotten numb for who knows why.

"At least Master still has it." giggled Mikheala or Maid Miki.

"Please remain seated Master Shelly." added Maid Lhea

After attempting to stand up thrice, I gave up and waited for blood to circulate down my legs, "Is this still a part of our classes as apprentices of magic and stuff?"

"N-Not anymore, but apprenticeship will continue for the next following days, or until M-Miss Yurara wanted." explained Maid Hori before shyly inching behind Lhea.

She's still as adorable as ever! I won't ever get enough of this shy Horikawa. Cute Maid Hori aside, I still have to get answers from this other older maids. I have prepared my set of questions, and I needed to be careful knowing that they are not normal beings, that they are capable of using magic and knocking me out of they wish to do- wait a minute... Knock me out?

I began to glare.

I immediately got reactions from Maid Lhea, Maid Hori and Maid Miki. It seems like to it would be difficult to see any other expressions from Maid Yona other than being stone-cold, aloof and angry.

"W-what's wrong?" mumbled Horikawa.

"Don't yah worry Hori-san, I mean Hori, I'll handle Master Shelly." grinned Miki.

Handle me? Am I some kind of raging beast? I only glared, I didn't even say anything yet.

"You suddenly fainted-" before Miki could finish, Hato also known as Maid Yona interrupted her.

"Everything is a lie." said Maid Yona.

Her simple phrase caused the others to flinch, but still remained silent, and I admit that made me curious too. I gave Mikheala a please-proceed-look, in which she responded with a tongue click.

"What do you mean?" I asked in utter confusion.

Maid Miki chuckled before, starting to grow her rainbow crystal vine wings that sounded like wind chimes while unfolding, with crystals shimmering like faded neon bulbs I felt like I can live my life staring at it. It was mesmerizing to look at, it was even more mesmerizing than Horikawa's ice creations or the rose that Miki summoned earlier.

"I can only say this once, because no matter how hard we try to hide this rebellion, Yurara will find out sooner or later. Master Shelly, everything that comes out of that witch's mouth is a lie." as Yona was talking or explaining, Mikheala's vine wings began creeping nearer to me and I was prepared to faint - are they setting the mood or something? This is turning into a horror scene!

"I am aware that my aunt is quite the liar, but to what extent should I not believe her?" I questioned while leaning backwards.

"By a margin of- ooff!" Maid Miki was unable to finish her sentence, when Maid Lhea grabbed her collar from behind, pulling her away from me.

Mikheala was quick to leap back to her feet as she exclaims, "need not worry Miss Shelly. Under our care, you would no longer need to worry about the crazy woman!"

I understood the part that Aunt Yurara seemed to have a loose bolt in the head, after all, all my life she has been treating me unpredictably - sometimes like a princess, and sometimes like a slave. It was so repetitive that I actually got used to it, no problem. I began to ponder about this warning, cupping my chin in the process and proceeding to sway my legs under the table.

[Lhea's POV]

First of all, one might wonder why instead of the bedroom, we brought Master Shelly to our basement. Well, the answer to that is to keep Master Shelly safe. Along the way, we had a change of plans and came to the conclusion that Yurara would come looking for Shelly right after the apprentice-bonding sessions, we need to confuse her a bit.

"H-hey let me go!" Maid Miki continue to struggle and free herself from the way I was holding her up.

Yona already went and spilled a quarter of what was keeping the witch Yurara behaved, and us alive. Although, I could see that Maid Yona and I shared the same sentiment with Mikheala when it comes to telling Shelly the truth, others most likely not. Yona, what are you planning? Is it better than mine?

I returned my gaze back to Shelly, noticing that she already regained the power to move her leg muscles, she'll probably realize that she would need that later. I could see that she was in deep thought, and I would be lying if I say that I am not curious at all. I only placed Mikheala down after giving her a certain look, it was proven to be effective since not only did she shut her mouth, she had also unfolded her crystal vine wings.

"Tell me, Hato," began Shelly, as she lifts her gaze to meet the eyes of this aloof brown-haired maid, "why would Yurara lie to me about 'everything'?"

That question, I can't help myself but to want to give Shelly the answer, but my curse activated and all I could do is smile. It's all up to Maid Yona or Maid Mikheala now. One might wonder why Horikawa seemed to be less involved when it comes to information sharing, but unfortunately only Horikawa holds the answer to that and she hadn't told us either. So despite the fact that we are all working in this mansion and under Yurara, I do not completely trust Maid Horikawa.

"Because, she doesn't want anyone to learn about her secret pole dancing techniques." stated Maid Yona.

Silence engulfed the basement.

"A-amazing." it was Maid Hori's child-like voice that broke the silence, her eyes sparkling like never before.

"Are yah really serious about that Yona? Earlier, yah mentioned you do pole-dancin' and now Yurara too? Pfft- everyday we learn somethin' new..." came Maid Miki's reactions as she burst into hysterics.

The news seemed to have left Master Shelly flabbergasted, and Maid Yona looked like she had no plans taking back what she said. A few seconds later, Yona faced the wall as a cloud of visible frustration surrounds her.

"Is that true Maid Lhea?" asked Shelly, as she turns her head to ask for affirmation.

My eyes widened, but I can't open my mouth so I simply shook my head while smiling. I hope that they were able to understand that.

A giggle followed coming from Mikheala, "pfft- even Lhea seems like she didn't expect that either! She finds it hilarious I bet!"

No, I do not. Okay, maybe a little of both, but that was not my point!

"From what I can infer from your statements and actions, it was as if something is preventing Maid Yona and Maid Lhea from telling the truth," remarked Shelly with a serious expression, "that or maybe I'm just overanalyzing." she added with a shy smile.

How can she be so... so smart? There was joy in my heart, or perhaps excitement. I felt giddy that I had to turn around and hide my expression from everyone in the room. My whole body is shaking, and I have to control myself or else.

[Shelly's POV]

Why is everyone starting to face the walls without proper context? I was so into this mystery solving that only now, I have realized that I can finally move my legs and feet. I stood up and stretch for a few seconds.

"Exactly."

"Not at all."

Maid Miki and Maid Yona answered and chorus. I raised a brow and waited for them to make themselves clear to me.

"I meant, you're... right." Yona finally spoke after a five-second struggle to finish her sentence, at the same time, she also massage her jaws during her answer.

"Yona, I know you're the serious type, but girl you're seriously takin' it to the next level with those confusin' statements." stated Mikheala while folding her arms in front of her chest.

"Miki, Miki..." I began, calling out this yellow-haired girl's attention, I proceeded when she responded with an expecting expression, "this is only my guess, but I think Yona has problems with her speech? I noticed that when she is able to speak her mind, her expression and attitude makes her sentences have sense - especially when she frowns hehe."

I looked at them to check if they are listening to me, and surprisingly all eyes were on me, so I took it as a signal to proceed, "but when it doesn't, she looks very upset right after. Miki, I think you should look more into her facial expressions rather than what she talks about."

Another wave of silence.

"That was very sweet of you, Master Shelly." commented Maid Lhea.

Meanwhile, Mikheala was still speechless.

"L-Lhea, Miki and Yona, I think it's time for Miss Shelly to head to her bedroom before Yurara returns and find her still missing the second time." spoke Horikawa, stepping towards a particular yellow-rimmed mirror, placing her palm on its surface.

"Ah jeez! How could we forgot about that?" said Maid Miki nervously.

Mikheala grabbed my wrist and gently pulls me to stand in front of the mirror, my golden-yellow hair cascades up to my shoulder, and it was the first time that I was able to clearly see how I look like. What can I say except-

"See yah tomorrow! Ciao!" shouts Miki, and right after that I was pushed into the mirror.

I was terrified, I'm falling endlessly!