Problem [Part 2]

Father also did not find it as important for me to cook a proper meal as he always had money to buy. 

'What do I do?' I looked over my shoulder feeling even more pressured as the women all grabbed the dishes, some watching from afar and awaited mine. I opened each container, I only recognized basil and parsley as they were herbs and I often used them for medicine or in my tea, so I put them aside as they weren't needed but as for the others I was clueless. 

"Girl, it is time to serve." I heard someone call and knew it was directed towards me. "Others are waiting for their soup." 

I chose what to add based on scent, not knowing what else there was left to do. I simply choose which one smelt the best and which had a good texture, such as choosing the dry spices over the rough twigs. 

I smashed it finer with the knife and scraped it all into my palms. I dropped it into the pot and stirred it. 'That looks alright to me.' But I couldn't be certain. I lifted the bottle of salt and sprinkled quite a lot. 'Salt makes soup better, right?' 

I stirred it a few more times before I turned it off. I put on the gloves Cora left and lifted the pot by its handles. I followed behind the other woman down the corridor and into the dining room. 

The table was filled with people and food and lastly it was I suspected to provide soup to the empty bowls. Some either choose the boiled eggs and sausages while others preferred the soup. 

I placed the pot on the table and served the first man in front of me, putting two full spoons into his bowl. 

"Finally." He licked his lips, obviously triggered by my late coming. The man had a round stomach which took up the space from his legs and  touched the table. "Thought I would have to eat my hand off." He snickered and glared at me. 

I walked past him behind his chair just when he choked. The man spewed the soup out of his system and pounded on his chest as she coughed. 

'Oh, shit.' I immediately rushed to his side, left the pot on the table and placed my hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright, sir?" I asked, concerned but he slapped my hand away. 

"What nonsense is this?!" He screamed, wiping his mouth into his shirt, "Were you trying to kill me?! This must be a joke." He looked at me, "Is this what this is? Are you a mole trying to poison us?" He barked and I took a step back. 

I bowed my head, "Forgive me, sir. It is nothing like that—" I heard hurried footsteps running toward me and glanced to my side to see that it was Cora. 

 "Sorry I took longer than I thought I would. My friend was exhaustingly stubborn." She said to me and then turned to the table, "I heard a commotion. What's wrong, Daniel." She asked the man who continued to wipe his tongue. 

"This soup is disgusting. How dare you prepare this and further have the guts to put such nonsense in my bowl.."

"The food?" She looked behind me and folded her lip into her mouth, understanding instantly. However she did not try to conceal herself from the situation by saying that she was not involved with making the bad soup. "We apologize. It was a misunderstanding that will not happen again. As you know Lydia is a newcomer and felt very pressured." She explained, " I will get you another serving." 

Cora followed me to the corridor and chuckled nervously, brushing her palms with her eyes low, "Sorry I never intended to take so long."

I shook my head, "You couldn't have known that I am possibly the worst cook."

"Best way to describe yourself. Self aware, at least you admit it, though that does make that terrible salty and inedible thing you made any better." 

I turned and saw that it was Adam, his hands in his pants pocket with the same nonchalant look on his face." Looks like you're on cleaning duty from now on."

" Asshole, much?" I crossed my arms, "And what do you do despite walking around and being insulting. And why did you even try it?" 

Jason appeared behind Adam's shoulders and squeezed them, "Adam here isn't a morning person, plus he's got a love for food. Only food. Knowing that the entire source of food has to go to waste, a shame right. It's like being stabbed for Adam here." 

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine, you're not a good cook so what? I'm on my way to make myself some coffee, you want a cup?" 

"I think I really need that right now.  That's also the only thing I'm good at making to be honest. I think I can also make a good barbeque." I shrugged. Being as close to the forest I was at home, father took hunting rather seriously so on many occasions I was asked to prepare wild meat. 

"And with what seasonings?" Adam teased and I sighed.

"I know quite a lot of seasonings. Just not the ones here."

***

Well I guess I'm on cleaning duty now. Cora said she would teach me around the kitchen and on their spices as well. Hannah showed me the cleaning products as though I was clueless. "You do not need to explain to me what a sponge is." 

"Alright then just don't screw this up as you did with cooking earlier." 

I went straight into the cleaning, taking a sip on the coffee Jason made me. It was not how I usually have it, I personally have it black but Jason's was milky and bitterly sweet with sugar. Still I drank it. I began cleaning the small pedestal table, wiping it with the cloth when I heard the doors burst open abruptly. A wolf ran inside, heaving heavily and carrying the Alpha bloody on his back.