Arc 0 - Chapter 10

Isabel and Eve were sitting at the back of a black car driving through a bumpy road in the forest. They were on their way to the 'White Stone Castle', a castle in the far north of country C that Heaven's Order group owned since their rise to power. 

Both girls had a fabricated story they needed to remember. Isabel took the identity of a failing college student who needed a high-paying job to return her student loans and Eve was an orphan girl whom a rich man in her hometown tried to possess, she ran away and tried to find a job that could support her.

Everything was set in place - their fake birth certificate, fake ID, and fake school register record. They just needed to remember the crucial parts.

Eve looked outside the window, her eyes widened at the sight before her.

Once the trees cleared and stopped filling the road, the girls could see the massive structure that was separated from them by a lake. A white castle stood there, a green mountain at its back.

The castle had white walls with dark grey roofs, and the massive buildings with the gloomy atmosphere of the start of autumn gave an eerie yet relaxing feeling.

Likewise, Isabel was shocked by the sight before her. She, unlike Eve, never saw such an impressive place. Perhaps on TV or in a tourist attraction, but to think people lived in such a place, even her wealthiest clients would not dare think about such a price.

Eve calmed herself as the car circled the lake and reached the castle's territory. She already thought she saw riches beyond compare with her sister and Nathan, but this reminded her that there are truly giants beyond giants in this world.

The car passed the front garden where trees already showed signs of fall; the red, orange, and yellow leaves were crushed beneath the car wheels.

The car finally parked next to a row of similar ones, the driver gentlemanly opened the car door and helped the young ladies out with their luggage.

Eve smiled and thanked him quietly.

The middle-aged driver did not speak and only escorted them to the front door; there stood a middle-aged woman dressed in a long and modest black dress, her hard face had a natural expression yet her fierce eyes made it seem as if she was glaring at them.

Isabel and Eve bowed before the woman, the lady nodded at them, turned her back, and went back inside in quick steps. The two girls quickly followed her.

"Welcome to White Stone Castle, My name is Ms. Harriet and I am the head maid of this household. Your work and needs are my responsibility - if there are any problems or questions you will direct them toward the maid I assigned to teach you, and in case of emergency - toward me. Never directly interact with the masters and guests of this household unless spoken to, is that clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

Ms. Harriet's eyes scanned the two women in silence, her eyes lingering on Eve's form much longer.

Isabel and Eve took the chance to scan the surroundings - their subtle acting made them look like two young women in awe.

The welcoming hall of the castle was gloomier than Eve imagined. The walls were dark brown and the floor and ceiling were lighter in color, their marble so spotlessly clean you could see your own reflection clearer than water. Two rounded staircases were in front of them - going upstairs to the second floor that had a balcony-like structure over the first one - people could observe you going your way while leaning on the decorated black metal fence.

The lights were warm-toned yet dim, and the huge chandelier dangled from the round ceiling that pictured paintings from heaven, Unlike the former impressive ceiling Eve saw; which had paintings of baby angels with blue sky and white clouds, this one was a beautifully eerie stained glass.

The pictures depicted angelic beings slaughtering some humans while sheltering others, the sheltered humans kneeled before the angelic begins with bloody backsides.

Eve took her eyes off the gruesome glass painting and looked behind Ms. Harriet, where two statues were placed just behind the opening of the staircases - it gave the illusion of the stairs making a protective barrier around the statues.

The two statues were a blindfolded angel with long hair and six impressive wings standing behind an expressionless child, one hand was on the shoulders of the child and the other was covered by the child's small back.

On each side of the first floor were two doors aside from the main exit, Ms. Harriet took the two girls through the second door to their left, she explained that this was the maid's living quarters.

A small and simple hallway led to stairs that took them underground, there they saw a a bare hall with many doors on each side with numbers on them, Ms. Harriet took them through a few turns and finally opened a door with the number '56' on.

Inside the room was a much younger maid who bowed respectfully in front of Ms. Harriet, she greeted them with a respectful yet cheerful smile, her eyes widened a bit when she saw Eve, but her professionalism made her adapt quickly and greet them politely.

"This is Laura, she will be the maid responsible for the both of you. In the first few months, she will sleep here with you both to supervise you."

The room had 3 single beds and 3 small closets, and an inside door led to a small bathroom.

Laura bowed respectfully to the headmaid. "Ms. Harriet, I can take it from here. You must be busy."

Ms. Harriet nodded her head, her tight bun didn't move an inch. She gave one last hard look at the two new maids, her eyes lingering on Eve, and walked out of the door with rigid steps.

Laura smiled cheerfully once again. "Follow me."

She showed the two women the staff resting place, where books, TV, and a few computers could be of entertainment. Next to it was their own simple yet large kitchen with rows of long tables.

After that, Laura finally took them to the first floor again.

The rest of the doors on the first floor opened into small hallways that led to a few different rooms.

One was for the main kitchen, the atmosphere there was lighter and warmer than the rest of the house. It had many stations for cooking and storing food; a large freezer room, a pantry, many aisles, ovens (both electric and fire), and small cabinets.

There was even a station for food presentation.

A large window next to a door showed the vegetable and herb garden behind the kitchen, it was a nice and relaxing view to cook with.

Next to the kitchen was the dining room, it had the same dark atmosphere as the rest of the house yet the large glass walls that reflected the lake gave the room a more breathable feeling.

Everything here was completely different than the staff dining room; the expensive paintings and artwork, the dark polished wood that the chairs and table were made of, and the magnificent view all pointed to luxury.

Yet it was a very tasteful luxury, Eve found it very pleasing to the eye.

The two rooms afterward were a large living room with a split. On one side was a more carefree living room with a humongous TV and many comfortable and modern couches, a few more modern pieces of artwork... a younger and fresher aura.

On the other side was a room with more shades of black and deep red, a large fireplace with more rigid sitting places, an enormous variety of books to read from, and several stuffed animal heads on the walls.

Laura took them to see offices, the ballroom, and more extravagance on the first floor.

The tour of the first floor was over and Laura took both of the girl's tired feet to another sightseeing - only of the outside.

A large pool area, a tennis court, several flower gardens, the herb and vegetable garden behind the kitchen, an outside-built sauna and greenhouse, and a gate that leads to a path to the mountain.

But the most important place they must go to was the staff storage room- it was so big that it was used as storage for all the cleaning and gardening supplies while also being the laundry room.

Thankfully it was next to the vegetable and herb garden where the kitchen exit was, so they didn't have to walk much every time they needed to clean.

Both girls were exhausted, panting slightly in their steps. Laura, however, still had that cheerful expression on her face.

The women entered the house through the kitchen exit and came back to the welcoming hall.

Just as the two girls thought it was coming to an end, Laura turned around with an eye-squinting smile. "Now, to the second floor, and later we will go over the rules of the house."

Isabel suppressed the urge to groan and looked down at her shoes, Eve looked Laura in the eyes and nodded.

'+2 Charm Points' Laura started to climb the stairs with light steps.

Eve was baffled at her senior's cheapness, and it was her first few points since coming here! It seemed that the people here had a certain resistance to beauty.

Well, it was fine, she had many more weapons in her.

As they climbed the chairs, Eve took a look back at the interesting statue, finally seeing the doings of the other hidden hand of the angel.

A sense of dread filled Eve at the realistic depicture of the hand burying itself deep into the child's torn back.

Laura made a noticeably smaller tour of the second floor; since it consisted of private rooms, guest rooms, and bathrooms, she only showed the unoccupied ones. She explained that there is a certain time limit and schedule for cleaning the personal rooms before the residents come back - thus it must be done by skillful maids.

Isabel noticed an elevator that she didn't see downstairs. "Is this elevator for the third floor only? Are we going there next?"

Laura stopped in her tracks, the smile on her lips visibly tightened. "Never approach there, don't put steps near that elevator - there are already people responsible for the elevator and third floor."

Isabel had a feeling she found something. "Why not?"

Eve suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. She knew what Isabel was thinking and how utterly idiotic it was. If it was truly a secret or a place that was somehow important, it wouldn't be so visible to even the eyes of new servants.

The most logical answer was that the third floor must be occupied by someone whom they must not disturb or offend, most likely the master of the house.

The cheerful look on Laura's face became a bit dangerous. "Servants must not ask too many questions, lest they get their tongues fed to the hounds."

Isabel thought back on to the training grounds they couldn't visit outside and those loud barks she heard, she shuddered and nodded hard.

Laura clapped her hands. "Let's go to the staff dining room for our weekly meeting; we will distribute chores, go over the rules, and assign your roles." 

The weekly meeting was attended by all staff and lectured by the head maid - Ms. Harriet and the housekeeper and head butler - Mr. Halls.

The rules were simple; don't disturb the residents of the house, don't speak to them unless spoken to, if there are any questions or troubles go to your assigned senior, and stick to your role.

Isabel and Eve had one day to settle down in their rooms, Laura helped the girls and filled their closets with their own uniforms.

Every staff uniform was different according to their assigned role, if you work outside - you will be wearing a simple white shirt, black pants, and comfortable boots. 

If you work inside- you will be wearing a nice and comfortable pants\skirt suit, a white button-up shirt and low-heeled shoes.

New staff get the short end of the stick and work outside for a few months.

Isabel and Eve were not professional gardeners so they did cleaning work outside - for their first day, the assignment was to clean the pool area that got constantly dirty from autumn leaves.

The pool itself stretched to impressive length and had a self-cleaning system - but every autumn the pipes get stuck with the huge amount of leaves; Laura taught the two girls how to clean the muddy pipes.

It was hard work, not only do you have to open up the whole system and scrape the mud, dirt, and overwhelming amount of leaves there, but you also needed to wash it clean and carry heavy buckets of dirt to the trash.

Isabel screamed and cried out when her gloved hand discovered a dead bird.

Laura smiled awkwardly while saying comfort words to the frightened woman, appearing like a gentle older sister appeasing the young.

Yet Eve noticed the slight twitch of her brow. 

Their first day was filled with hard work and sweating in the chilly weather of autumn. When the day finally ended and they could rest in their beds, Eve noticed Isabel trembling inside of her quilt, trying to muffle her cries.

The previous high-end hooker was never subjugated to such rough treatment, the worst thing she experienced at her previous job was if her client was unsightly.

Eve closed her eyes when she fell asleep and opened them once again inside of the system space.

The bathroom door opened harshly, revealing the two devils relaxing inside with a hot steam.

"Welcome back, honey," Lilith smirked. "How was your day at work?"

Eve didn't answer, she opened a drawer that revealed a cream tube and generously applied it to her fair hands. 

"My poor baby," Lilith wiped her nonexistent tears. "Such rough work will leave you with the hands of a man working in the coal mines."

Satan sighed deeply and covered his eyes with a hot towel. "Then she needs to get better assignments." His small body relaxed with the heat. "Although I doubt it will happen soon with such a rigid place."

Eve sighed and continued to message her hands.

Two months passed quietly. Eve and Isabel kept on working on exhausting chores, since these two months people barely came into the residence- not to mention lived in it, and their spying job had no progress. Perhaps it was for the best, they were new and easily suspectable- since Isabel had nothing to report to their superiors the others had no reason to suspect them to be anything other than normal maids.

Eve did not make any progress either; she had no special mission nor did she get lots of points. The only person in this conservative house who gave her the sightless of Charm Points was Laura, and that was too ranged from 5 to 10 points after she performed exceptionally well.

Her only source of steady income of points was from Isabel when they were in the showers together and the former hooker notices Eve's smooth and pale skin in contracts to her rough one from hard work, it was almost as easy to milk Poison Points from her as it was from Theresa back in the day.

One day, amidst all the boredom- something interesting finally happened.

Some of the residents of the house came back.

All the servants gathered outside, despite the cold snow falling on their heads, near the entrance gate and bowed respectfully to 10 burly men who came out of a few cars.

Eve was in a similar position once before, only that now she serves the men in black suits and not the other way around.

The male servants took their suitcases into their private rooms while Ms. Harriet and Mr. Halls welcomed them back.

The men with cold expressions on their faces passed the long line of servants who still bowed their heads to them.

One of the younger ones, although still as big as the others, glanced to the side and stopped in his tracks.

Isabel's body tensed as the intimidating man neared her.

To her relief and slight disappointment, the guy did not spare her a glance and instead raised the chin of the woman next to her.

The young man's eyes widened in complete shock, his dry lips could not close.

Eve's shining grey eyes shyly looked up at the buzz-cut young man who did not take his eyes nor hands off of her. She pressed her reddish lips together in nervousness and greeted him; "Welcome back."

The man who was stunned by the beautiful face and figure in front of him had a euphoric experience in listening to this soft angelic voice.

'+100 Charm Points'

"Igor!"

The young man with the buzz cut lowered his hand and head before another black-suit-dressed man who seemed to have the highest authority. 

He was a middle-aged man with a large physique, his gray hair was slicked back and his beard was well-maintained. His icy blue eyes made the youngster named 'Igor' tremble. "You know well the rules of this house," The man's voice was menacing enough to make all the other tough-looking guys look down as well. "Go get your punishment from Dima, and apologize for your rude behavior."

Igor apologized to Eve in a low voice which she hurriedly accepted in fear. 

Once this was solved, the men finally entered the warm house and took off their coats.

Ms. Harriet took the coat of the man who berated Igor.

Eve's eyes looked at him briefly before she looked down once again, she and the newer servants were still in a line and bowing their heads.

They must all be bored out of their minds, except for Eve who looked down at a blue screen.

~

Name: Michael Heavens

Age: 41

Occupation: One of the "Seraphim" of the Heaven's Order group.

Danger Level: SSS

Danger Level To Host: SSS

Titles: "God's Right Hand"

Powers: NR

Skills: Martial Arts (Master), Politics (High), Weapon Mastery (Master), Torturing (High), Marketing (High), Math (High), Cooking (low), Hound Training (High), Business (High)

Likes: Wife, Family, Training, Dogs, Math Equations, ???, ???

Dislikes: Unserious Recruits, Wife's distress, Romance-Comedy Movies, ???, ???

Role: NR

~

Eve did not dare to raise back her gaze, she did not think she had ever met such a dangerous person.

Although it could be said that he and Nathan were similar in ways; the aura of absolute suppression and dominance this man exudes could not even compare to Nathan's cheap imitation of his uncle.

The owners of the castle were finally at home, and this was Isabel's and Eve's chance to serve them and get useful information.

At least that's what Isabel thought, Eve was more excited about the new mission she expected to come soon.

A week passed as the masters of the house settled in, they were not noisy at all and kept to themselves. The only noise you could hear from them was in their training sessions when they circled the estate in their morning runs and beat each other up in their training rooms.

Of course, they also had important meetings in the offices, but no servant was allowed to even step foot in the hallway when this happened- so they could not hear a thing.

Eve herself barely served them, and the only one who could have the slightest interest in her was still recuperating in his room from his punishment.

So she opted to wait until an opportunity showed itself to her.

And showed it had.

"Ahh!" The maid who went up the mountain screamed in pain as the male servants helped her sit down.

The estate doctor checked her and began treating her. 

All the awakened servants who rose from their beds gathered around her.

Laura left Eve's and Isabel's side and went to discuss what happened with Ms. Harriet. 

This maid was in charge of cleaning the church which was up the mountain. For some reason, the rules were very strict that cleaning the church could only be done at night, even though the young maid had a bright flashlight that helped her see the way - she stumbled and rolled down the mountain.

Her foot was broken and her arms and back were badly scratched.

Eve approached her superiors and shyly asked for her fellow coworker's health and if she could take her place.

When asked why by Ms.Harriet with a doubtful look, Eve explained she comes from a religious orphanage and grew up in a church, thus she wanted to see and care for the church.

Since the job was not very popular amongst the servants of the estate due to its danger and difficulty, the maid who got injured was a religious person herself - thus she wanted to care for the church, Ms.Harriet allowed Eve to take on the job. She even appointed a meeting with Eve, herself, and the butler next week to brief her on how to take care of the old church.

When Isabel questioned Eve why would she take such a chore and not focus on their peeping mission, Eve replied that the old building might have some secrets hidden.

Eve had to hold back her laugh from the disdain in Isabel's expression.

She truly believed that she was a naive little girl.

After the long lecture from her superiors, Eve acting as an obedient and meek maid managed to get the bare of Charm Points, and- she finally got permission to go up to the old church.

She needed no cleaning supplies since they were stationed at the church, and she only needed to go up and clean once a week- on a Saturday night.

Eve wrapped herself in a thick coat with matches in her pocket, put on snow boots, lit up the flashlight, and went up the snowy mountain with her two companions.

The way to the old church was dark and cold. When the flashlight lit up the trees; the shadows they created looked like hiding monsters; similar to an old movie about a princess running away from her evil stepmother.

Eve sighed with relief when she reached the old church. Although it was called that way since it was a very old building, the small church looked well taken care of.

Eve did exactly as Ms.Harreit told her to do- she went into the maintenance room and lit the indoor warming system while also taking out the cleaning supplies. She put the supplies on the floor, hung her coat as it started to get warmer, and took off her clumsy boots. 

She came inside into the main hall and lit the lights; the old church was very well taken care of with rows of clean warm-brown benches, a brown and black organ, stained glass windows, and an altar.

For Eve who spent the majority of her early childhood in churches, she was used to seeing empty altars that only had a few offerings where ceremonies were held. But this church was different.

On the altar was a statue of a young boy who lay with his arms crossed.

As Eve approached the heartwrenching statue, she noticed that the boy's features were extremely detailed- it felt as if he was created by a clear image of someone. He had a peaceful expression; as if he just went to sleep in his bed, waiting for his mother to wake him with a morning kiss.

When Eve looked down at the engravings on the altar, she realized that this was no altar.

This was a young boy's grave.

'We will not forget the death of our young.'

Samael Heaven's\ XX51 - XX59

This boy died more than 300 years ago at the age of 8.

It was most likely his death that caused the revolution by the Heaven's family against the corrupted child-slaving government.

For some reason, Eve felt extremely sad and tired.

She realized that no matter the time or place - children will always be susceptible to hurt and suffering. 

Not even God could save them.

Eve brought her delicate hand to her flushed and tearful face, kissed it as if she gave the first kiss to a newborn, and laid her hand gently on the statue's forehead.

When she turned around to finally start her work, she nearly fell in place from the eyes that intensely watched her.

Due to the high benches, Eve did not notice the figure of a young man lying on the first bench and watching her.

Her heartbeat slammed inside her ribcage. The young man's features made it seem as if Samael woke up from his eternal rest a decade ago, grew up like all the other children, and came to visit his old bed.

Perhaps he was one of God's angels. God himself revived him to let him live the life he should have had.

The slender and beautiful hand of the angelic man crept inside his loose white shirt drawing out a bloodied pocket knife.

'Ah,' Eve realized. 'This is not God's beloved child.'

This is a fallen Angel.