Chapter eight

Chapter eight

"Speak!" He was getting agitated at her waste of time

"Th...The...The Lady's jewelry went missing and later found in Ursula's room! But I'm certain that Ursula didn't take it..." Tess narrated in defense

"Do you mean to tell me that my mother lied against a slave?" He questioned, Tess was frightened that she might have said too much

"Never Sir! I really don't know what happened..."

"It doesn't explain why she's in this state, does it?"

"N..N..No..." She stuttered

"Stop stuttering!" He almost yelled. He couldn't stand her fearsome star but he needed to know what exactly happened.

"Of course Sir!" He tried to vompose herself. Luckily sge found favor, he didn't hit her. There were rumours that the back of his hands were like that of a mustang and rod one hit."She was thrown into the dungeon for three days without food and water, when the chief brought her In, she was still unconscious!" Tess stopped from a successful narration. He glanced at ursula, he burned in fury but his next action could cost alot, he reasons. He turned to Tess again

"Has she seen a doctor?" He asked

"Of course not! The lady was against it but i am certain that she'd recover soon!" Tess assured

"Good! That's exactly what thieves get for stealing a handgul of fortune!" He said forcefully. Tess was confused about his reaction, he was neither in support or not in support.

"Leave us! Let no one come in!" He instructed

"Yes, Sir Xavier!" She ran out to finally breath the long lost air, staying around him made her suffocate, his eyes were terrifying yet his red cape and hood mae look like a insides

He stared at her intensely with a sudden sympathy and hope that she'd awake. He could see how pale and unhealthy she was, he certainly disliked hus mother's punishment yet confronting her would stir up a different thing. He sat beside her and the thoughts of her wouldn't vanquish, he was skeptical to hold her knuckles but he didn't regardless. He kissed her knuckles withiut a specifi reason, he rubbed her face softly tucking her behind her ear. He help but stare for her lips, he wanted her alive and not asleep or dead. He reached for her lips to revive her, he placed a tender yet domineering kiss on her lips.

She gasped for air with her eyes widely open before she finally breathed and turner to him who was sitting like statue

"Sir...Sir Xavier?" She called out calmly in shock, how was this possible, she thought inside. He refrained instantly acting quirky.

"Oh! Er! You are awake?! I was about to leave, i have got a lot of guest out there!" She stood up to leave then she held his wrist. Their gaze was fixated on each other for a few moments, she released after she had realized that she was forbidden to do that.

"I'm sorry, Sir Xavier!" She apologized immediately

"I want to see before bedtime, unfailingly!" He instructed with an unshaken frown on his face, she too got terrified. He walked out of the room. She held her forehead in distress, Tess walked in with some food and fruits as soon as she noticed that Xavier had gone out and totally out of sight. They embraced each other tightly and smiled, it seemed like a victory story for them both. Ursula hurriedly ate the food without a wastenog time while Tess smilef at her. After she had eatan to get satisfaction she stopped, she curious amazed quite amazed thst she had to ask.

"How did Sir Xavier come in, i was shocked to see him drop by! If Madam Marie sees me around him then I'd be a dead fellow!" She spoke almost whispering so that no one would hear.

"I have no idea as well! There's just something about him that feels different, his dark aura follows where ever he goes. I was terrified the moment i saw him walk in! Ugh!" She explained distress and sighed heavily afterwards

"I'm scared too! He...He...He's different Tess and i wonder why's he's come to see me even if he knows that i was accused of stealing from the lady!" Ursula exhaled too.

"That's true, i did not think about it!" Tess reasoned "Why's he even concerned about you Ursula? I mean...its aborminable. He's never surfaced around the slave quarters so why now, in your room, beside you?" Tess gave a teasing smile while Ursula shrugged away in guilt. She was not certain if there was something attached to his appearance.

"Stop it Tess, he's only fulfilling his duties...you know...as a man of valour, patrol!" She tried to be defensive

"At the slave quarters? The earlier you drift away the better you stand the chance to survival Ursula. I can't decide your life but i need you to be very careful around here. They are waiting for the slightest mistakes for us to get stuck in their web!" Tess pointed out wholeheartedly.

Ursula gave Tess's words an instant thought, she finally decided to be smart and accurate at every given time and to learn to condone their attitudes.

It was evening time,

Ursula was much stronger, she had to be strong. Tess had given her a cup of herbal tea that could refresh and strengthen her, since Tess was two years older; she treated Ursula as a sister and family. Ursula headed to the lady's Chamber as instructed, the guards allowed her pass as she knocked softly on the door. A maid opened the door then informed the lady about Ursula's arrival, she was permitted.

Mariah had returned from a little party at Lisa's and Fiona's.

Ursula bowed here head respectively while Mariah gave an intense and daunting stare.

"My lady, you sent for me!" Ursula began, she was ready to accept every insult.

"Did i? I don't send for a thief!" She drew closer taking off the hair pin on her head. She smiled at its sharp end, she rubbed it slowly staring at Ursula. "You see my dear, i was told that you almost died at the dungeon but i was dismayed!" Her faced formed a frown which got Ursula even more confused.

"Are you surprised? Yes i can see that!" Mariah laughed out wickedly and continued "The thing is i don't let my victims die easily, i make them suffer a lifetime!" She groaned in anger, Ursula became terrified again.

"Forgive me, my lady!"

"No darling! You can't be forgiven just yet my dear." She placed the pin around Ursula's neck almost piercing her skin, Ursula tried to stay calm but she was already shivering and this made Mariah contented. "I'll let you breathe fine for some time." She turned away facing the mirror. "You'd make i get my tea served every morning i rise and before i go back to bed, is that understood?"

"Yes my lady!"

"Get to work already! Leave before i get irritated."

Ursula scurried out before the situation turns worse.

She strode down the hallway as she bumped into Nicholas, he smiled broadly like he's been waiting for her.

"Oh chief! I didn't get the chance to show my appreciation, you saved my life!" Ursula stated

"I didn't, it just happened!"

"No, you saved me! Thank you so much, chief!"

"Nicholas!" He corrected, he didn't mind her calling him by his name. "I'll see you tomorrow, can i?"

"Of course, Ni...Nicholas! The lady has asked me to prepare some tea, i guess its my chance to make feel good!" She smiled faintly

"Yes uh...i know you didn't do it! Anyways, be careful!" He advised, he kissed her cheek swiftly then walked away. She was freezing in shock, she looked around but there was no sign of someone around. She headed tok thed kitchen.

Donna was in the kitchen supervising two servants who were scrubbing the floor as Ursula bumped in.

Donna turned to her instantly with a distasteful loom on her face. Ursula wondered why her actions remained stiffed.

"Greetings ma'am!" Ursula said

"Can you not see that there's something going on right here?"

"I can see ma'am but the lady has asked me to prepare some tea this instant!" Ursula explained politely

"Well you'd just have to wait."

"But ma'am?"

"You heard right, you thief!" Donna blurted angrily

"Yes ma'am!" Ursula said as she stood aside, she knew that there was another trouble surfacing and if the lady's tea gets delayed then she might really pierce her neck.

She waited patiently after some minutes, the servants laughed hysterically at Ursula passing insultive words at Ursula. She ignored them she prepared the tea as fast as she could.

She scurried to the Lady's chamber but it was too late because the lady was agitated.

"Forgive me, my lady!" Ursula apologized but it was pointless yet she did it regardless.

"Forgive you? How could keep me waiting? You gave you that gut?" Mariah yelled at her. Mariah took the cup of tea and poured on Ursula's body, she almost jumped. Mariah added a slap on her face as well. "I have given you some much lately and think its time to pay back the favor you devil!" She hit her again. Ursula's face fell to the ground trying so hard to hold her tears.

"My apologies my lady! I promise to do better at dawn."

"Get out of my presence you devil!" Mariah yelled back as Marie walked in abruptly.

"Mother? Why are you raging, did this urchin interfere again?" Marie asked

Ursula made an attempt to leave but Marie placed her foot as Ursula stumbled to the ground, Marie smirked while her mother sat on the bed to cool off her flames.

"That's exactly where you belong, below the earth! People like you don't learn, do they? You didn't prepare the team my mother asked, did you? The next time you disobey my mother then I'd tie you to the cart, drag your body on the rocky ground until you get horribly bruised, do you understand?"

"Ye..Yes Madam Marie!"

"Exactly! You should leave!"

Ursula nodded positively then walked away as fast as she could.

Ursula headed to the fountain outside the Mansion's building, she sat on the concrete beside the flowing water. It was dark and cold outside while she stared into the starry night, tears rolled down grom her eyes. The thought of her lonely mother and her best friend, Kim, bombarded her mind, it made her cry even more, wishing there was a way she could escape the mansion's security.

She had forgotten about Xavier's orders, a guard approached her abruptly.

"You thief, Sir Xavier has asked to see you...this instant!" He walked away without turning back, she remembered that he requested her presence earlier then she wiped her tears immediately as she ran to his chamber.

The guards who stood guarding restricted her entrance because he instructed them not to. It was a his usual order, once he enteres his chamber no one is allowed to disrupt, not even family except for his father and mother.

"He instructed me to come, it wasn't my decision!" She tried to explain as best as she could. The same guard who sent her interrupted affirming to her request. They opened the door as she walked in slowly.

She was scared yet she tried to be confident, she assumed that he mustn't see her cry otherwise he'd assume her to be a weak girl.

Xavier was no where to be found. The room was dimly lit with only candles, the window was open left ajar yet she couldn't find him.

"Sir Xavier?" She called out calmly

She turned around but the more the wind howled the more the candle lights died off