Charmed, I'm Sure

Delilah and I had been in the house now for roughly a month. Every day was the same and that was the way we liked it. Every morning Delilah would get up extra early and start cooking the meals for the day and I would meet with Madam Pytha and get my assignments. Delilah and I did as we were instructed and only ever worked the bottom floor of the house, we never ventured upstairs. Harry visited a few times a week, when he wasn't running his business and occasionally the Dowager Countess's son Hans would emerge from his room, or his "cave" as Harry called it. Delilah and I saw the triplets once a day when they were getting things for the Dowager Countess and we would see the "forbidden" scullery maid in passing.

It was the first day of Fall when I went to join Delilah in the servants hall for breakfast. When I came in, Delilah was fixing plates for her and I, we always ate alone, and humming to herself. The sun was rising and the sky was a beautiful shade of orange, like it was mimicking Autumn.

"Are we always to eat alone?" I asked Delilah.

"It seems like no one in this house eats except for us and occasionally the triplets," she said.

"May I join you?" came a soft, angelic voice from the corner. Delilah and I turned to see the forbidden scullery maid standing in the doorway.

"Oh..." I looked at Delilah curiously.

"Please!" Delilah said, eagerly. Delilah had been fascinated with this girl since the first time we saw her a month ago.

"Are you hungry?" Delilah asked.

"No.." the girl said.

"Would you like to sit?" I asked, gesturing to the chair across from me.

The girl nodded, "Please, I would like nothing more." She sat and nervously looked around.

"Are you alright?" I asked her.

"Yes," she said and started picking at her apron. "It's just I... never get to see or speak to anyone. I'm not sure if I remember how."

"Why can't you speak to anyone?" Delilah asked, sitting down with our plates of food.

"Those witches- I'm sorry, I don't mean to speak ill of them. The heads of the house make sure that no one speaks to me. They severely punish those who do," she said.

Delilah and I exchanged nervous glances.

"Oh! Please don't be afraid! I won't tell anyone that you spoke to me, please!" she pleaded.

"It's okay, we won't tell. You can trust us," I said, placing a hand on hers. I pulled my hand back in shock because her skin was ice cold.

"You're freezing! Would you like some hot tea? Are you feeling alright?" I asked.

"I'm alright, thank you. Thank you for just allowing me to sit with you," she said.

"Who are you?" Delilah asked.

The girl looked around to see if anyone was watching or listening.

"Yana, my name is Yana," the scullery maid said.

"How long have you been working in the house, Yana?" I asked.

"I-I don't remember exactly. Many years now I am sure," Yana said.

"Where are you from?" I asked.

"I don't remember, it's been so long."

"You don't remember?" Delilah asked. "What about your family? Where are they from?"

Yana looked down at her lap and stayed silent.

"Do you remember your family?" I asked.

Yana shook her head and stood up.

"I must go before someone catches me. Thank you, thank you again," she said and quickly left the hall.

"What a strange girl. She's so pretty, shame she is an odd duck," Delilah said.

"Delilah!" I said in the girl's defense, "She's not odd, something just seems... off about her."

Delilah and I finished our meals in silence.

It was around noon when I made it in to do my dusting of the ballroom. I was dusting a vase when I felt a breeze behind me. I turned to find one of the doors to the back terrace open. I walked over to the door when I saw Harry standing in the empty courtyard. He smiled at me and turned around and walked off towards the dirty pond. I wasn't sure if he was playing a game or not, so I followed him.

"Lord Harry?" I called. "Did you leave the door open? Did you need something?"

He turned to me and smiled, he waved me to follow him and he started running off.

"Lord Harry!" I called after him.

I followed him through the dirt around the edge of the pond. He stopped finally and leaned against a large rock and laughed. I finally got to see what the grounds of the house looked like and they were very bleak. It was so much dead grass and dirt, it made the beautiful mansion look macabre in the distance.

"Don't look so gloomy, little flower," he said and I turned back to him.

"Has this place always been so barren?" I asked.

"Yes, except for that old tree on the hill," he said and pointed to a strangely shaped black tree. It looked very familiar.

"What sort of tree is that?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, I've never gone near it. It gives me the creeps," he said and laughed. "Miss Cassandra, will you walk with me?" he asked.

"Yes, of course," I nodded and he put his arm out for me to take. This is the first time I had been this close to him and he smelled wonderful, like fresh baked bread.

"I wanted to try to get you alone for a few moments. I've been trying for weeks."

"Oh, why?" I asked.

"I just want to know you and who you really are. You're quite the mystery to me and I am very taken in by a good bit of mystery."

"I always assumed I was easy to read," I said.

"No, not in the slightest. You're a woman with secrets," he said and we stopped in front of a blanket and meal set up. "Join me for lunch?" he asked and sat down.

"This is very kind of you. I just don't understand why you're doing this," I said.

"Cassandra- Miss Cassandra. You're a truly beautiful woman. One of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I need to know where this hidden jewel has been hiding. Who is she? Tell me about her," Harry said, opening a bottle of liquor.

"I have no secrets," I lied, "tell me what you want to know."

"Where did you come from?"

"I traveled for quite a while with Delilah. We went from town to town together," I said.

He sat up excitedly, "A woman who travels? You're beginning to be too good to be real. I am quite the traveler myself you know, I'm actually known for it."

Harry and I sat and laughed together for quite some time while we snacked on the food he had prepared. I don't remember how long we were sitting in the baron garden behind that rock, but I was quite startled when I heard my name being called.

"Cassandra!!" I heard Delilah call, "Cassandra! Where are you?"

"I've got to go," I said to Harry as I began to stand up. "I've been missing too long-"

"-Miss Cassandra!" Harry said, grabbing my hand. I turned to him to see his eyes looking up at me, they were soft and caring. "Miss Cassandra, I hope I did not waste your time today."

"Oh! Of course not, Lord Harry. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together today."

"Would you join me again?" he asked.

I blushed heavily.

"I- I would be delighted," I said.

"Good! Wonderful!" he said as I heard my name called again.

"I must go my Lord!" I said and bowed my head respectfully to him.

"Miss Cassandra!" he said. I turned back in a rush. "I hope you find me half as charming as I find you. Good day, Miss."

I smiled and ran off back towards the house.

When I got back inside of the ballroom, I resumed cleaning the stairs I was working on before Harry interrupted.

"Cass!" Delilah said, running by me. "Where were you? I was looking for you!" she said.

"I've been here," I said flatly, not looking at her.

"Cassandra, you're lying," she said.

"No, I've been here," I said, still not looking at her.

"I came in here and searched and you were not here. You're lying."

I sighed.

"You're right. Lord Harry asked me to join him for lunch. Please don't tell on me. Please don't be mad!" I said.

"Lord Harry? Cassandra, he's a nobleman. You're not catching feelings for him are you? You're not even supposed to be speaking to him."

"I am not! He is kind to me, only in friendship. I would-could never experience anything more, nor am I seeking it out."

"Be careful Cassandra, their kind can be dangerous for girls like us, don't let him take advantage of you," she said, looking very concerned.

Just then, Destiny walked into the ballroom with her black cloak on.

"Cassandra, come with me. We are going to market." She started heading to the main entryway. I squeezed Delilah's hand reassuringly and smiled.

"I'll be okay, I promise."