Chapter 20

Melina was in the washroom, cleaning her hair still wondering how she got into the quarter without anyone seeing her which was strange unless the place was not being guarded when she passed when unexpectedly, she heard voices in the room from inside.

"OMG! I hope I will be chosen tomorrow to serve at the funeral. I heard Ms Carlos say that not all the maids will be present in the castle on Saturday and some will be taken to that former horrible quarter." She snorted.

"Oh...yes, some should. Like that prostitute who goes around at midnight, sleeping with all the servants. She's so shameless, she could go there and start seducing the wealthy men. So why not take away toxic people like her from the layer?" The second maid, Nikita pointed.

Melina, on the other hand, who wasn't aware of the funeral celebration that would take place was trying to pick some information to put the dots together. What were they talking about?

'Funeral..? She knew of only one person who had died and wasn't buried yet. Did that mean the King would be buried on Saturday? Then that would mean a lot of people will be attending that day.

'And aunt Paloma? Would she be there?' So many thoughts started flushing through her head at the same time. She wanted a chance to see if she could meet aunt Paloma again. At least, she could talk to her...and about her parents. Maybe presently that she was out of the castle, she might have information concerning her parents.

Now that Princess Alice had brought up the issue, she thought of it. Why was it that most of the time, since she was young, she always heard her fellow mates talk about how good or hectic life was with their parents before they were sent here as little children...but she couldn't even remember what her parents looked like or any random memories of them. It baffled her.

But since she was hearing that some maids might not be present and there will only be chosen ones, she started to feel confused about what to do. Was there a way she will be eligible to qualify to serve that day? she wondered.

She continued listening to their little conversation even though she was aware she was being insulted by them. She was used to it now anyway. After they finished talking over the funeral, she waited for a while to see if they will leave the room so she could come out but they only continued their discussion. How would she leave this place now?

Gathering some courage, she opened the toilet door to see the two handmaidens stand up immediately, looking abruptly caught off guard. They didn't expect anyone to be in there since they didn't hear noises. But it was not only that. Her wounds had been cared for and the last time they remembered, they made sure to have hidden the medicine boxes in the room. Did she find them? But how?

"You...so you hid all the while in the toilet listening to our conversation, right?" Her tormentor, Nikita asked her. However, Melina just gazed at the two people before her and attempted to leave the room to avoid further trouble but Nikita blocked her way.

"And where do you think you're going, huh?" She challenged her, moving forward to obstruct her way.

Melina was in no mood to fight or get beaten up today...at least, not in this condition, she thought.

"I have something to do downstairs. Kindly excuse me." She clarified and tried to pass but the two were looking for a fight.

"What do you have to do, downstairs Mel? It's already late at night or are you planning to sleep around even in this horrible state of yours?" She let out in a mocking expression.

"Nikita I don't have time for any drama of yours today so you can please stop bothering me and leave my way." She didn't have the strength to fight with anyone today and even if she did, she knew she wouldn't win.

"Fine then. You can pass but you would have to get through me first before you leave this room."

Melina sighed. She knew this was going to happen or rather, this was what Nikita wanted. Peacefully, she turned around back to where she came from earlier but Nikita pulled her by the collar of her dress and threw her to the other side where the exit door was located. Though she was hurting from the fall, she didn't waste time standing up from the floor and attempting to pull the door handle when the other girl ran to her and pulled her legs away to drag her to Nikita's side.

The other maid, Leanna was just like a pawn used by Nikita. She wasn't the only one. Even other maids did follow Nikita like puppets but this one was more foolish, she said to herself while staring at the girl.

"Let me go!" She shouted but Leanna came to cover her mouth. If she screamed again and someone found out what was happening in the room and somehow it got to the court, Ms Carlos would kill them.

"Close that mouth of yours, you little swine or else I'll kill you!"

"Stop!!" Melina still struggled with the two of them but was too weak to fight them off since they had now pinned her to the floor.  Nikita used her hand to hit the exact spot where Melina had been Injured. She winced but her voice could barely even be heard by her.

"Please stop!" She continued to plead but they turned deaf ears to her.

As they were pulling and yanking her from different angles while the other girl pressed her head on the floor, a small long jar that was fixed on their table fell on the floor and Melina quickly used the opportunity to pick it up and slam it against Nikita's head who now knocked down. Before the other girl could realize it, Melina had opened the door sharply and zoomed out of the room.

The two stood up among themselves in an attempt to chase her before she could get to the passageways but it was too late. She ran off so fast.

"BANG!" Nikita banged her hand on the table with anger.

"You had enough opportunities to get to her but you wasted it!" She now vented her anger on Leanna.

"What do you mean?! I tried my best!"

"Quiet!..." The two continued to argue in their room.

Meanwhile, Melina had run down the stairs so fast without halting in fear that they were probably still chasing her. She got to a corner and quickly went to hide behind the pillar when she heard familiar voices. As they came nearer, she positioned herself in a manner that she was well covered by the pillar and could not be seen by the guards. Slowly, she peeped out and saw the two discussing with each other while looking around to find prey but she wouldn't be their scapegoat this time, she told herself.

When she could no longer hear their voices again and was sure they were far away, she stopped hiding and started heaving for air. She had held her breath all the while they were passing through so they wouldn't turn alert and search for where the noise came from but now they were gone, after her long run through the rungs, her legs were now aching and she was running out of breath.

She had now gained her breath and wanted to leave this place as quick as possible before the palace guards will get her. As gentle and delicate as possible, she ran out of her hiding position and came to her usual pool in the backyard. She sat on the stone that usually covered her back because of its tall carving that she always admired with the cool breeze from the night blowing her from different directions which soothed her already hot body. This was her regular spot in the castle at twilight until that Prince Leon started coming in here, she sighed looking hampered.

Then suddenly, she thought back to. This was where he stayed. What if he was here?! She looked around her cautiously to make sure her guess wasn't right. She still tried to listen to sounds around her to be sure there was no slight movement or noise and there was none.

What if he might appear here again today since it was just turning night? Where would she stay? She asked herself. If he saw her in this place again even after numerous warnings, he might see her as a threat or even report her to Ms Carlos. Every time she heard that name, she always shivered.

She doubted the Prince wouldn't show up tonight in this pool so she thought of changing her location.

She remembered this evening after they finished cleaning the grounds in the whole castle and Ms Carlos ordered them to go to the woods to throw away the dirt. She had seen the small forest as a lonely and serene place to rest without dangerous animals in there. More specifically, it looked comfortable to lay one's head. Not wanting to waste any more time here and get caught, she sneaked to the back of the pool where she usually used as her exit so she wouldn't get caught since the front exit was more exposed.

She bent down at the other side where a pillar hid her. She was feeling weak and tired but since she was now used to it, it wasn't much of a burden to her any longer. She had learned to bear whatever discomfort came her way. After passing through different corners, she finally entered the woods. It was lonely as she predicted.

She looked around to make sure no one was there and when she was sure, she started looking for a place to lay her head. She saw a smooth plank that had been compiled together. Then she gathered some leaves to place on the plank's upper surface.

She sat on it sighing heavily. She was extremely exhausted. She had not eaten anything since the morning and now she was thirsty after the long run. She looked all over to catch a glimpse of any water or food but she knew she was just wasting her time. She was suffocating. She just had to sleep like this and wake up early the next morning. Maybe she would find water near the kitchen.

"You again." She heard someone's voice and shrieked as she jumped away from the arranged wood that was now scattered.

"What are you doing here?" Leon asked her. He had been sitting there the whole time watching her display while she couldn't see him.

Melina's heart was beating speedily as she looked at him confused about how he got here...plus he was inside the forest which meant that he must have been here before her.

"Can't you speak?" He asked. The place was very dark and gloomy so it was hard to see.

He pulled the wooden candle he had brought and lit it up to see her face. It was indeed her. Why was she so stubborn?

He looked deeper into her face and noticed something on the sides of her head like a bandage that was now red as if soaked in blood and his eyes narrowed.

"Why are you here?" He questioned with thorough suspicion that made her want to be swallowed by the ground right now.

"I...was..." She tried to look for excuses but there was none.

"And...what happened to your head?"

Huh? Was it the bandage? She wondered and stretched her hand to touch that same spot where the Princess had covered up but to her surprise, it was wet. She brought her hand forward to see what had happened to it and noticed blood on her hand. Then as if remembering something, her eyes widened.

Nikita had used her hand to punch her right there and now, it was bleeding...this time, even worse, she deduced as she looked in the direction where the Prince had pointed the candle towards. There was blood in almost every place.

"Hello..?" Leon tried to call her attention but she was already dizzy, her face turned pale and before he could comprehend, she blacked out...