The Wine

The main door flew open. Even though the woman opening it hadn't been forceful judging by her movements, it was heavy enough to send a loud bang through the whole manor.

Mariana Kinley, clothed in a sleek gray dress, straw blonde hair flowing freely, stepped into the room like a swan sliding across a pond. It could not be anyone else. The woman had the posture and the presence of someone with both old and new money. She sported the slightest of all smiles, as if she was scared that her somewhat mature age would cause wrinkles if she exhibited a full-blown emotion on her face.

"I was told there was a dressmaker offering her works," she said.

Her voice was like glass. Smooth, yet uninviting.

Serenica hated herself for thinking that Kinley was quite an attractive woman.

"Yes, dearest Miss, I have heard rumors you don't have anyone besides Mr. Swordly," Helen said, not losing her composure one bit.

Serenica was quite amazed by her friend.

"Swordly is good at what he does, but he has such egregious ideas," Kinley said. "Why don't you and your servant come to have something a little better than that tea? I never let my staff waste good leaves on guests who might bring nothing of value."

Helen glanced at Serenica.

Serenica glanced right back.

"Oh, you are too kind, Miss," Helen said.

"Helen, wasn't it? And this woman is Molly? Come with me."

Serenica could only imagine what Kinley was like with her other guests, but both of the current ones being women probably helped. There was no saying for sure, but Mariana Kinley seemed like the type of lady who secretly hated all male beings. Serenica had half expected to see a severed penis on the wall. Such distasteful people Kinley employed.

Pouring wine for herself and Helen, the royally composed businesswoman said:"It is awful when no one understands you. Eastern sensibility is unheard of here. Even though you two look stylish in a rather conventionally Neulian way, you do still look stylish. I can appreciate that."

"One needs to blend in to make one's way," Helen sighed.

For a moment, Kinley stopped, goblet in hand. "Does your servant drink?"

"She drinks," Helen replied.

Serenica swallowed a chuckle.

Kinley poured her some wine.

A lightning, a piece of radiating wisdom ran through Serenica. Kinley was pouring her wine. She was treating her as an equal. Not as a servant, as a Raelian, but as an equal.

Something about that was very scary. If this woman was capable of arranging murders, most of which were committed in Raelian witch communities, while she still considered Serenica and her folk to be equal, there was no telling what else she could do. It was far worse than being left with a dry mouth. This woman was a snake, not a swan.

As these thoughts crossed Serenica's mind, her eyes met with the silvery gaze of their host.

For a moment, Kinley did look like a serpent.

"Swordly has ideas. I don't want a dressmaker with ideas," she said and took a sip. "Heavens, this is better than I remembered. I shouldn't have wasted it on you two, but I can't exactly pour good wine back into the bottle, can I?"

"I will cherish this experience," Helen said.

"How about Molly? Have you treated her well enough that she knows what a good wine is?"

Serenica didn't feel like she'd been treated well. She felt like she was being brainwashed, and it made the wine taste like pure vinegar, no delightful notes whatsoever.

Still, it was probably a quality drink. Kinley would have known.

"My mistress is nothing short of perfect in both reward and discipline," Serenica said, suddenly not remembering to speak shortly, brutishly. The booze had gotten to her head.

"She's very verbal," Kinley said, looking like the thought amused her.

"You don't know the half of it, Miss," Helen said and shot a murderous glare at Serenica.

"While you're still in good spirits, I would like you to take my measurements," Kinley said. "You have designed those clothes of yours by yourself, haven't you?"

"This is my most modest creation, the only eye-catcher is the pattern –"

Helen's modesty was cut short by Kinley's right hand. Swiftly, it rose to command, and absolute silence followed.

"It is a marvelous outfit. You will take my measurements. They're most likely still the same, but it's good to be exact. Molly can hold our goblets."