Behind Closed Doors

Destiny gave me a black cloak to wear that matched hers as we headed out of the house. Destiny walked so fast and with purpose as we walked away from the house. I had realized that this was the first time I had left the house since Delilah and I got our positions with the staff.

"Miss Cassandra, I will need you to pick up the following list once we get to the marketplace," Destiny said and handed me a short paper list of items. The list was strange, it seemed to be a strange list of herbs and medicinals.

"Is someone sick?" I asked Destiny.

"No, just essentials that we must keep stocked," Destiny said.

"Oh, I see. These are very good items for medicinals and healing," I said.

"Do you work with herbs often?" she asked even though I could tell she didn't really care.

"I've always been good with plants and herbs. I used to help my mother tend the most beautiful garden," I said.

"I'm sure," she responded shortly.

I could tell she did not want to speak anymore, so we finished our walk in silence.

The marketplace today was much busier than it was last time I was here. There were people talking with each other and shopping. As we navigated, the people in the marketplace stopped and froze. They saw Destiny and wouldn't even look at her. They would glance at me and quickly look away.

"Alright, be quick Miss Cassandra. I'll meet you back here, and speak to no one," she said and headed off into the crowd.

I watched her walk away and took a moment to take in my surroundings. I walked through a few aisles until I found a row of plants. I started to pick through some of the items on my list as I felt a strange feeling overcome me.

"Hello," a male voice said from behind me. I tried to ignore them as I picked out some bundles of lavender.

"Miss?" he said and moved around to the other side of the flowers in front of me.

I looked up at him and recognized him as the man who grabbed me last time I was here.

"Uhh, me?" I asked.

"Yes," he said and looked around to see if anyone was looking. "Aren't you the new maid at the Dawnlyn House?" he asked.

I nodded and moved to the next group of flowers I needed.

"Are you well? Didn't you have a friend with you? Is she well?" he asked.

"All is well," I said, as I smiled softly and moved away from him.

"Are you quite sure, miss?" he asked me.

"I'm sorry," I began, "but who are you and what is your concern?"

"My name is Pierre," he said.

"Well Pierre, what is your concern with my friend and I?"

"I've been stuck in the town for quite some time and I've just...seen...things before."

"You've...seen...things?" I said sarcastically.

"I have, Miss!" he said firmly. "I can't explain it, but I've seen things happen here because of that house and it's master."

"But you cannot explain those things?" I asked.

"Please Miss, I'm not trying to scare you or play some game. Something strange stops me from telling you, but you need to leave this place. You're too good for this town and that house."

"Sir!" I said, making eye contact with him. "You do not know me. I do not know what your concern is with me or this town or that house but please know I feel quite safe. If you're unsafe you should consider relocating."

"I can't! No one can!"

I stopped and looked at him.

"What do you mean?" I asked. "What do you mean no one can?"

He started looking around as if someone was after him.

"Please Miss, just trust me. You're not supposed to be here. You need to try to leave. That house has-it has secrets, dark secrets. Please consider my words, and be safe," he said. I turned and picked some violets and he was gone.

I had collected all of my items on my list and started heading back to my meeting spot with Destiny when I saw a small shop selling seeds. I had taken some of the money I earned and got myself enough seeds to start a garden. When Destiny met with me she was smiling.

"Are you ready, Miss Cassandra?" she asked, sweetly. I was very confused by her change in temperament.

I nodded.

As we walked away, I noticed that Destiny was humming to herself and had empty hands.

"Did you need something from the market as well?" I asked.

"I got everything I needed," she said.

We got back to the house as Harry was leaving with a piece of bread in his mouth.

"Lord Harry?" I asked as he walked by me. He turned and smiled, Destiny stopped and scowled.

"Yes, My Lady?" He asked happily.

"Do you have a moment to spare?" I whispered so Destiny could not hear me.

"Cassandra," Destiny said.

"I have nothing but moments for you." he said and took my basket of flowers from me. "Shall we?" he said and motioned me to follow him around the back of the house to the servants entrance.

"Do you need my service any further, Miss Destiny?" I asked.

She shook her head, "No, but this inappropriate behavior will not go unnoticed," she said with a fire in her eyes and walked back inside.

I went to catch up with Harry.

"What can I do for you, Miss Cassandra?" he asked me.

"Lord Harry," I said as I stood in front of him to prevent him from walking. "I met a man in the marketplace."

Harry's eyebrows flinched and his face became upset.

"I am suddenly overcome by jealousy it seems," he said, confused by the emotions he was feeling.

"Oh Lord Harry, you've nothing to fear. You're my true friend here, but this boy was different."

"Somehow, that didn't make me feel better," he said with a smirk.

"Be serious, Lord Harry! He said some strange things to me."

"What did he say?" He became concerned.

"He said that I wasn't safe here at the house and that- well it sounds quite strange really, but he said no one can leave this town?" I asked.

Harry laughed. "Miss Cassandra, I can assure you that you are safe and I can assure you that I myself leave this town quite frequently. This man was just trying to scare you."

"You're right, he was just strange."

"Did he mention his name?" he asked.

"Pierre, that's all I know. He did something else strange to me last time I we-" He cut me off.

"Pierre?" he asked.

I nodded and confirmed.

"I must go, Miss Cassandra. There is urgent business I need to attend to. I'll see you soon," he said and handed me back the flowers. He ran down the side of the house and out of my view.

I walked back into the servants quarters and saw Delilah preparing supper.

"How was it?" she asked, smiling. I made sure no one was around before I sat down and told her everything.

That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I woke up with a strange feeling in my chest. I got out of my bed and decided that I would go to the kitchen and get myself a drink. As I walked out of the room I shared with Delilah, that weird feeling I had changed. It started to feel like a pull. Instead of going down the stairs to the servants hall, I walked into the main house. I opened the door and the room was dark, no candles, just moonlight. I started down the hallway when I saw one of the wall sconces light. I jumped back in fear because there was no one around to light the candle in the sconce. I felt propelled forward by the pulling feeling, so I walked over to the sconce just to look at the light. When I reached up to touch it, one further down the hall lit as well. I stood still and looked around for anyone.

"Hello? Is someone there?" I called, no one answered.

I walked to the second sconce and a third further down lit. I realized in that moment that these lights were leading me somewhere and the pulling feeling I had assured me that I needed to follow.

I followed the lights to the main foyer, from there they led me up the stairs. I silently walked up the stairs. The house was silent until I got closer to the next floor. I noticed a small, beautiful humming come from the left side of the hallway. I looked down and saw that all of the doors that Harry showed me were closed. At the top of the stairs, I noticed the lights were not lit. I turned and headed towards the music. As soon as I took a few steps left, I heard the fire light behind me, on the right side of the stairs. I knew I needed to go right. I walked past the dining room and past the bath hall. The door to the guest room was closed and the double doors at the end were shut. I heard a clicking noise, like a lock being turned. I looked down the hall as the two wall candles lit next to the door that Harry had said was forbidden. My stomach lurched forward and I followed it to the door. The humming noise seemed to be getting louder. I approached the door and saw that the lock that had kept it closed was open. I grabbed the door handle and opened it.

The room was pitch black except for something underneath a cloth. I walked into the room and immediately felt like I was going to freeze. This room was very cold, it felt like a snow storm in the winter. I started to feel light headed, like I might faint. The room started to spin and I started to hear voices whispering. I put my hand on the edge of the cloth when I felt someone yank me back out of the room.

I fell down in the hallway and saw Yana close and lock the door. I stood up and started to feel less dizzy.

"What were you thinking!?" she asked. "You cannot be here, you cannot be in there!" she said frantically.

"Yana, I'm sorry I don't know what overcame me, I-" I stopped and looked at the version of Yana that was in front of me. This was not the girl in the maid dress, this girl had beautiful curls sitting on her shoulders, and a very ethereal tone to her skin. She was dressed in strange, ancient looking robes.

"Yana, what are you wearing?" I closed my eyes tight and shook my head. When I reopened my eyes, she was dressed in her normal clothes.

"I'm wearing my uniform, Miss, you should lie down," she said.

"You're right, I will. I'm sorry."

"Now, go back to your room and stay there. No late night adventures. I'll never tell that I saw you here and you must not say anything either, it would only mean trouble."

"I won't, I promise."

"Good night, Miss," she said and left me alone in the hallway.

I stood there for some time trying to understand what happened, but there was no hope. I turned and immediately tripped backwards when I saw her at the top of the stairs looking out the large window.

"Hello, child," she said in a very soft, low voice. The woman wore a floor length, black veil that covered her whole body. I could see the silhouette of a beautiful dress and woman underneath it. There was a tiara on her head that held her veil in place. She looked like a bride dressed for a funeral.