Chapter two

"Noemi! Noemi!" Someone shook her awake. "There's a meeting in ten minutes. The new master wants to see us." She tried to shake the arm nudging her awake as she desperately tried to cling to the dream she was having. Instead of leaving her alone, the nudge became more forceful. "Noemi! Master Mario Bellucci requested a meeting with the servants in ten minutes!"

At the mention of that name, Noemi stood up with speed, her gaze searching the room. "Mario? Where?"

"What is wrong with you?" It was Cornell sitting on her bunk bed, frowning at her. "He's not here. He requested a meeting. Get dressed."

Noemi groaned when Cornell slipped off her mattress and walked to his bed. He had on a black pants, but was shirtless. Everyone in the room seemed to have bathed, except her. She didn't always sleep in, but she had good reason to after last night. In a few minutes, she had taken her bath and changed into her outfit of the day.

Moments before the start of the meeting, Amelia and Jennifer found her. "You are the only one who looks good," Jennifer said. "My head is pounding."

"Is it true that the new Master caught us partying last night?" Amelia asked, whispering even when she was certain that he couldn't hear. "Was he upset?"

Noemi shrugged. "I can't tell. He just told us to keep our voice down."

"I cannot wait to meet him."

When it was time, we all trickled into the large office for the meeting. Underneath the morning sunlight, Mario Bellucci looked even more gorgeous than before. The rays of the sun casted a strand of gold on his jet back hair, causing his eyes to appear bluer than normal. His gaze roamed the group of twelve servants in his office one after the other. Noemi tried to get into his view, but was disappointed when he spared her only a one-second glance without an iota of recognition.

Finally, he said, "So who is in charge?"

When no one said anything at first, Cornell stepped forward. "No one, sir. We all have our separate duties."

"Hmm." Mario nodded, his eyes bearing down on Cornell. "Now you're in charge."

Cornell looked shocked for a moment before recovering and bowing before Mario. "Thank you, sir. It's an honor."

"No, it's not." Mario Bellucci shook his head. "It's a cross." He paused. "It's a crown of thorns around your head."

"I-I understand, sir." The regret in Cornell's voice was loud and clear.

"The master is dead, so let's drink, let's party," Mario's voice was deep and sinister. "Let's blast the roof off with stupid music, and let's steal expensive wine from the cellar."

They all gasped at the narration of their offense. Said out loud like this, it seemed truly crazy. But none of them had realized it the day before. They were all truly happy to be free and had acted out that excitement.

"Even when there's no Bellucci present, this house must not be disrespected." With every word that left his mouth, his voice hardened. Noemi felt Amelia's arm around her as the girl sought solace from her. Noemi understood her fear. "I should send you all to the guillotine and have your head dismantled for your gross disrespect to the Bellucci name."

They all started to beg, but Mario raised one finger to quell their cries. "Where there is no law, there is no sin," he said. "But now there's a law. The madness that happened yesterday must never happen again."

"Yes sir!" They nodded, their hearts filling with relief. "Yes sir!"

"What's your name?" Mario turned his attention to Cornell.

"Cornell, sir."

"Work must continue in this house as usual. I want weekly and monthly reports. If there's a problem, I'll have you to blame."

"Yes sir. I won't disappoint you."

Mario's answering smile was chilling. "It's for your own good. Now get out."

***

"Oh my God, he's so handsome," Jennifer whispered as they returned to their quarters. "Oh God, I want to taste him."

Noemi coughed, earning a glance from her friends. "Are you alright?" Amelia ran a comforting hand across her back.

"I'm alright." Noemi nodded. "Just tired. I can feel a headache coming on."

"It's that man!" Amelia frowned. "I don't know why Jennifer finds him attractive, he's so scary."

"He's scary hot," Jennifer countered. "Duh."

Laughing, the girls reached the quarter, trying to go back into their rooms, when Cornell called for everyone's attention. "Please, can you all spare me a few minutes of your time?"

Groaning, Noemi returned to the reception. She was hoping she would be able to catch a few minutes of rest before she had to resume work. Nevertheless, they all gathered in the room and sat, waiting for Cornell to speak. He was standing in front of them, his hands clasped behind him, assuming an air of importance. Noemi wanted to laugh at how one mantle of responsibility was already changing her friend.

"So, as you heard, I'm now in charge of all of you," Cornell said. "So I want to implore everyone of us to work together to achieve positive results because I don't want to suffer for the crimes of any of you. Please."

"Can you get to the point?" Fezco rolled his eyes. Noemi glared at the back of Fezco's head. She had never really liked him.

Cornell narrowed his eyes in Fezco's direction, but didn't say anything else. "We will continue our arrangements as before," he continued. "Noemi, Jennifer, Lucia and Frodo, you'll continue serving Master Mario like you did with his father. I'll relieve myself of any work because now I'm in charge, but—"

Some of the servants began to protest, but Cornell paid them no mind. "You will do as I say. If you have a problem with that, then take it up with Master Mario who made me Head. If that's all, you can all go back to your rooms and rest for a few minutes until it's time to work. You may leave."