8 Filthy kitchen

The massive window lighted the whole room, the daylight pressed onto her face. What a flashy morning. She grunted, arose squinter the morning star from her eyes. To her left, Ada stood like a mannequin in the corner of the room, few meters away from Lilith.

“Good morning, madam” she bowed. “We must get you dressed” she walked closer to her.

The dust was collected on the ends of Lilith’s fingertips, as she observed the handrail of the staircase. Flailing her now-dirty fingers, she went to the other side of the stair, away from the handrail.

Her golden brown gown touched the ground as she walked down the hundred steps of the stairs, carrying the heavy petticoat that Ada prepared for her, if she had not forgotten her suitcase, then she would not have been dressing in this troublesome gown.

By the end of the stair, she was greeted by the man, almost bald with white and silver hairs on his side head, his mustache is almost like Mackenzie’s, but less thick and it is grey.

“Good day, madam,” he bowed. “What would you like to do this morning?” he lifts his head, his eyes were almost shut, as if his eyelids were melting.

Perhaps she can ask for a hand for finding her suitcase but as Lilith’s eyes explored the mansion to where her eyes can reach from where she stood, she was overwhelmed by the mansion.

“Why don’t you take me on a tour in this… godly enormous house” she exaggerated.

He calmly laughed, “Of course, madam”

They walked, the hallways were three people wide at best, it was rather narrow for a mansion. Because of her wide petticoat, it took space for another person, making the hallway feel crampier.

She would have bumped onto his shoulders if he is not thin. Perhaps, there are many windows in the house, the sunshine serves as the source of light in the house. No wonder there are few lamps or lights in this mansion.

Without the windows, it would have probably been eerie dark here. Lilith observed the house as they walked through each place.

First, was the kitchen. Oh lord, what in the world have they been cooking here. The pots and other kitchen tools were a mess on the counter and the sink, Lilith could imagine some rats and other insects feasting and living in the pots.

Though she was horrified by the sight, her legs unconsciously walked over and rolled the kirtle to her elbow and started running the water.

“Madam, what are you doing?”

“I cannot overlook this sight. The kitchen is where our foods are being served from. It must be cleaned at all times” she reasoned while clogging the sink and washing the greasy pots, some are rusty.

It looks like it has not been touched for years.

“Understood” The man walked closer. Placing his cottoned glove on the dry counter away from the sink. They both washed the utensils and cleaned the pots. He offered Lilith a towel to dry her hands.

The door next to the kitchen has a strange carving on its surface. It piqued her interest, drawing closer to it—

“Madam!”

Startled, Lilith’s head turned to him.

“May we proceed on the next area?”

“Ah yes! I almost forgot” just like that, Lilith’s focus interest on the door, faded as they walked out.

The thumps of their shoes creaked on the wooden floor beneath their feet. May be because the Mansion is too huge, she felt as if she was alone, even though she is walking beside him.

Or perhaps because of the silence in the mansion that made her feel that way.

Lilith wanted to break the silence, “…name” she murmured.

“Madam?” he turned to look at Lilith.

“May I know your name?”

He took about few seconds before he responded, “Grahams”

Is that his surname? “Is that so?” Lilith walked a few steps ahead of him, “I’d like to thank you for helping me out earlier,

Mr. grahams” she looked back and smiled.

“It is my pleasure and sole duty to help out” he catches up to her pace.

They began to wander the wide space on the first floor, where the open area could be filled with at least fifty people. They went as well to the field outside, except no grass, but yellow and red crispy fallen leaves and bald trees. Ah, the smell of October.

Lilith’s gown matched the season outside, she could blend in the pile of leaves and not be noticed, except her hair that radiates the color of the night, can easily be found under the morning light. For a moment, she felt as if she belongs here, in this place, as if this has been her home for many years yet unfamiliar with the house structures.

Her heart felt as if she could dance on the dead leaves beneath her shoes and be flown away in the faint blow of wind. She tapped her shoes and booted some of the leaves away as she jubilantly sauntered.

Grahams remained behind her as she was enjoying herself under the daylight.

Lilith popped her bubble of joy and came back to reality, Ah Gerald, if only we could enjoy this together. Her melancholy thought made her stop fleeting her feet and began to walk indifferently to the mansion where Grahams stood.

“Would you like to continue in—”

“Sorry, I’ll have to head inside my room” she walked past him.

“Understood” following her inside the mansion and closed the door behind him.

A few steps on the stair, a loud thud welcomed her on her fourth step.

What was that?

It surely did not come from her step. She halted and observed for the sound.

Silence.

No echoes or vibration on the floor, perhaps she was imagining it. She continued, then another thud before she could even land her foot on the step. This time, she is sure she was not mistaken of what she heard. It sounded like its coming from kitchen hall.

Did something happen? Was it grahams? Perhaps Ada?

She rushed down from the stairs and headed to the kitchen.