Queen Bee

They walked into the mansion. This time they got into a decent room. Two medium size bed, a wardrobe and mirror stood at a corner. The room looked better than her previous room, Jada thought.

Lisa gesture her to sit on a bed. She opened the wardrobe and brought an old box out. She walked towards Jada. She placed the box on the bed before opening it, there were different bottles of ointment in the box.

Taking a piece of clothe, she dipped it into a bowl of cold water that was already present in the room. She used the wet cloth to clean the bloody bruise on Jada's face.

"Madam Mary is the housekeeper, she's a half breed vampire, not a pureblooded Vampire, but to think she possesses such strength scares me". Lisa lamented.

"Ouch", Jada whined as the the cold cloth came in contact with the bruise. The thunder rumbled again and the rain began dropping with heavy droplets.

"I can't believe vampires exist", She whispered.

"You better believe it now, there would be a lot of trouble if you don't avoid them, nothing good comes out being related to them", Lisa advised. Jada nodded. She has to lay low for a while before escaping from the bloodsuckers.

Lisa applied an ointment on the wound. "This would make it heal faster", Jada's tummy rumbled. She flushed embarrassed, she was so caught up in escaping that she forgot she haven't had anything in the past few days.

The door opened and Maya walked In with a bowl of steaming porridge. "Eat up, I know you would be hungry", She pushed the bowl into her hands.

"Maya where did you get the food", Lisa stared at her shocked. "A friend gave it to me", She chuckled playfully.

"Only the noble eat such high quality meal, I told you, Maya don't steal from the kitchen", Lisa looked worried.

Panicking and praying that the housekeeper would not come knocking at her door.

"Maya don't steal", Maya pout.

"Who's this friend, how can I thank him ?", Jada asked.

"It's a shy time. You don't have to worry, it's a token for helping Maya from trouble", Maya chuckled and ran out before her sister requests to see 'Her friend'. Strange girl, Jada thought.

Without thinking twice, she began eating. The meal tasted better than the meal at the institute. The expression on her face turned sour when she realize she wouldn't be having meals with Kate anymore.

She wished Kate was here to share her meal with. She bet she would be happy to taste such delicacy.

A lone tear fell from her eye, she believed Kate wouldn't like seeing her this way. She quickly wiped the tear drop.

Forcing herself to eat with her aching cheek. She finished her meal. Maya came in briefly to take the bowl with her.

"Lay on that bed while I and Maya would share this", Lisa said putting on her night dress.

Feeling her head getting heavier. She laid under the thin sheets. There was no fireplace.

Most fireplace were installed in noblemen and noblewomen rooms. Due to the heavy downpour, the thin sheets wasn't enough to keep the cold at bay.

Jada shivered under the sheets. The only candle in the room turned off with a light breeze. Lisa rushed to close the window in the dark.

"Good night Jada ", Maya whispered. She tried to smile but the bruise made her whine. "Do not disturb her Maya". Lisa scorned her...

****

Days passed turning into weeks. the period of heavy rainfalls just started days ago. Jada has been working as a maid in the mansion. She tired all she can to avoid much contact with the housekeeper. She never saw the handsome man she saw the other day.

She believed he fell prey for a vampire since she heard rumors of some missing maids.

Bloodsuckers she cursed under her breath.

They must have drank their blood dry. Poor handsome thing also fell prey She cried inwardly.

She'll have to burn incense for the poor departed souls, she thought. Nodding, she continued drying the sheets.

She didn't find much difficulty in adapting into the new environment because they were the basic work she did back in the institute.

The maids here were less hostile compared to the ladies in the institute but the maids here never interacted with her. Everyone was always working.

Madame Mary has been buzzing like a bee trying to find any mistakes in her duty, while Maya has been coming with different delicacy at night, claiming it was a gift for all of them from her 'friend'.

She also discovered that the mansion once belonged to a lady that ruled the south empire but she was killed few months ago, her position was taken over by her murderer. Such coldness, She shivered.

She was told that in secret, the maid that informed her told her any maid caught talking about the late lady was killed by the lord.

The lord was a merciless beast and bathe in the blood of young children the maid told her, She shivered again in the thought.

What a cold lord!

She prays she never crosses paths with him ever!

Picking the laundry basket, She walked to the kitchen to have launch. "What's the occasion", Jada asked the head chef who was her friend.

"We are having noble guests, a duke from the west and other noble men".

She said mixing a batter.

"What are you making?", Jada asked curiously.

"Blood cookie crunches", She said pouring a glass of blood in the mixture.

"Ewww".

"If the housekeeper hears you saying that, I cannot assure you launch and dinner, Jada.... your meal is on the cabinet, I kept it there from madame Mary's plying eyes". She said as she continued mixing the batter.

Jada nodded and walked to the cabinet. Opening it she saw a bowl of plain soup and not-so-fresh looking bread. This was the best meal the mansion gives it maids and servants.

Jada swore the meal served at the institute tastes much better.

Biting her lower lip, she took her meal to a corner of the kitchen to eat.

***

Jada assisted the head cook with chopping some veggies. They weren't allowed to taste any meal prepared for the nobles. They only had the privilege to spell it while it cooks.

The door flew open. Jada didn't have to turn to know who entered the kitchen. Lacy, madame Mary's only child.

She also work as a maid here but she was privileged enough not to carry out any duty at all. She's known as the queen bee because there were rumors that the Lord favors her.

"The lord is expecting some important visitors and as the daughter of the housekeeper, it is my duty to ensure there shall be no mistakes". She walked in swaying her hips.

"Anyone that would disgrace the household's name would be dealt with. Anyone that tries to seduce my man would also be dealt with. Poor maid whom I don't even care to know her name, never lived to tell her story, trying to poison the lord with a love potion. Ha! I think I'll make a request for all witches that are maids to be killed or thrown out", She eyed Jada who was busy cutting the veggies.

"Hey, girl with the brown complexion!", Lacy barked. Jada turn pointing her nose "Me?", "you'll be among the maids to serve the guests during dinner". A maid rushed in and whispered something in her ears.