Chapter 7

If you lean in any further I will run this knife through your throat I threatened steering him dead in the eye.

Ace looked down at me surprised but didn't show any sign of fear. He took my hand with the knife and pressed further to his throat.

Come on and kill me and avenge your parents isn't this what you wanted?

I was taken aback, this man has a knife to his throat and tells the possessor to kill him his he was sane. I pressed the knife further which draws a little blood but I couldn't bring myself to go through with it what is wrong with you Caroline this is your chance to be done with it but why can't I kill him?

He grabs the knife out of my hand, you see pumpkin a person like you can hurt anyone not even a fly.

So where were we he said going back to lean down to kiss me, but before he could I pushed him off and ran out of the door, jerk.

 As I ran out of the room I ran into someone I looked up Oh, granny it's you I said as a sense of relief washed over me immediately she hugged me

 Oh my dear I heard what happened I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you I know I should have taken you along with me and right then and there I broke down after a while of granny consoling me she dressed back and started assessing me.

I see they have treated your wounds.

Are you hungry? I nod 

Well, let's go to the kitchen to get you something to eat.

Immediately as we enter the kitchen granny started to preparing or something, this reminds me of home and just like that, I feel like crying all over again.

Don't worry Caroline everything will be all right now I want you to tell me everything that happened, in detail.

 I told granny how it started and what happened after a while granny and I ate and talked a little about other things then we retired for the night.

As I pull open the door to the maids quarter I was met with a huge hug

 Caroline, I was so worried, are you okay? 

Yeah, I'm fine, I don't want to talk about it.

All right that's okay, come I would like you to meet some of my friends.

Everyone this is Caroline 

Hi, every girl in the room greeted me, they each came and introduce themselves to me. 

Well everyone it's nice to meet you all.

Caroline the girls and I are going to have a little chit-chat before bed do you want to join? 

No thanks, Rachel I'm a little tired from today's event I'll join you guys some other time good night everyone.

Right before I fell asleep I remember my friend Emma back home, oh I wish I could talk to her, but I can't these people here are really dangerous and I don't want her involved in this mess so she should think that I  am dead or if they found my parents bodies as yet or she or everyone else thought that my parents and I moved. I know she must be hurt right now but it's for her safety.

 Wake up Caroline, it's time we start our day Racheal it's too early 10 more minutes.

Racheal drag the sheet off me,

 Get up it's getting late 

Okay fine 

On our way, we came across Ava and her friends this girl is like air, everywhere I go she's there.

Look guys if it isn't cinderella and little friend 

What do you want Ava 

Nothing just me and my friends decided to take a walk around the mansion.

Out of all the places you choose to walk through the Maid quarter, is classic.

You have a sharp mouth on you but you won't have it on for later and she and her friends laugh as if it's an inside joke.

whatever, come on Racheal 

What was that all about 

Ava thinks I want her man 

Who Ace? 

Yes 

Well, do you?  No of course not he is not my type.

Come on you have to admit he's hot.

No, he's not

 Alright if you say so Rachel said with a knowing smirk on her face

 Whatever let's go to Mariann for our schedule for today. Fortunately, Ace is out for business today and didn't leave anything for me to do, but he did instruct Mariann to let me do regular chores until he sees otherwise. Here I thought I would have the day off.

Rachel and I are cleaning the library when the door immediately flew open guards came walking through two of them came up to me a starting dragging me. You come with us,

What's going on?

What did I do?

No one answered me but they kept aggressively pulling me.

 Oh, dear God was I going to get punished for what happened last night, imagine if I had killed him they would probably kill me on the spot.

They dragged me to what appeared to be the main hall, where everyone was present they threw me to the ground and then stand aside as if waiting for further instructions. With tears in my eyes I looked up at everyone, everybody was present except granny here I thought Ace was out on business, no he was here sitting comfortably and as well as his mother and Ava sitting there with sickening smirks on their face I bet they had something to do with this.

My mother said she can't find her necklace 

So what's that got to do with me?

She ordered for a search to be conducted this morning, while conducting a search in the maid's quarters the gold necklace was found under your pillow.

The whole room grasping

Ace then continued to say, she felt that you did it to get back at her for what happened yesterday, so I'm going to give you a chance to explain yourself.

 Great, it's not a week of me being here and I'm already accused of a million things that I didn't do, well the first one I did come oh come on it's not a crime.

I looked at everyone I started to feel myself crying Why?

 I don't know I'm an emotional chick so leave me alone I can't control it.

With teary eyes, I look up at Ace

 I didn't do it I don't even know how it got there or wear her room is.

She's lying ace's mother flew up shouting 

calm down Barbara it's not that deep, there's no need to overreact like that.

 Mother, please calm down, I can't take the shouting, it hurts my head.

 I bet the blonde maid over there who she's always with was involved.

Both of them should get 10 lashes for it.

No, no she didn't do anything I called out.

 I don't want Racheal to be drawn into their schemes.

I turned to look at the ace with a pleading look hoping he would believe me that I didn't do it. I looked into his eyes for any form of belief but all I saw was coldness.

So you're admitting to your crimes?

 I should have known this asshole wouldn't believe me. This time my tears began to flow harder but I wiped them away deciding not to show any weakness I looked at him with hatred and determination as I feel it flow through me.

No, but if it makes any of you feel any better I will take your 10 lashes.

 The whole room was shocked.

Please, Ace, don't do this if she says she didn't do it why won't you do further investigation to see if it's true?

What if Martha and Ava are lying that they found the necklace under Caroline's pillow, please consider Hunter's plead on my behalf.

Guards Ace called ignoring hunter's plea.

 Hunter, it's okay I said giving him a reassuring smile.

 Yes, sir, the four guards answered 

Ralph, I want you to administrate the lashes right here. Ace's mother and Ava both start smiling with satisfaction.

I looked to the side at Rachel but she ran out of the room I guess she couldn't bear to see me get punished.

 Immediately they started to whip me. I felt angry, frustrated, and bitter. I knew if I didn't take this punishment or even try to rebel.

I would be seen as even more guilty in everyone's eyes, but I couldn't help but feel like a victim.

As the lashing continued, I tried to focus on something else, anything else but the pain was too intense. I gritted my teeth and tried to hold back the tears. I wasn't going to allow them to have the pleasure to see me cry.

I feel humiliated and all that was on my mind was the many ways I was going to make all of them pay especially Ace.

 I should have run the knife through his throat when I had the chance, but wait,

 what have I in store for him he's going to beg me to have mercy on him.

What's going on here stop it this instant.

I looked up and saw granny with Rachel.

 Oh, so Rachel didn't run away but ran to call Granny relief washed over me, and just like that I collapsed to the floor I didn't have the energy to keep my body up.

Grandmother, she's getting punished for stealing.

 oh, shut up boy I know this young girl she would never do something like this.

 Granny Ava found her mother's necklace under her pillow.

 Boy, you know that Ava does not like any woman that comes within range of you and you know Martha is always up to no good, especially because she wants you to marry Ava so she will believe anything Ava says.

 Both Ava and Martha looked away shameful.

 Rachel yes ma'am

 Get help and take Caroline to my room and call the doctor immediately.

yes ma'am 

Right before I'm about to be carried out of the room I heard Grandy say.

Ace my boy I'm disappointed in you, of all people should know you should not act upon something with our concrete proof, and most of all you should have known you should never believe a word that comes out of that girl's mouth.

Remember what happened before and just like that I was taken out of the room and was out like light. What happened between Ace and Ava?