Bloody Shackles

Chapter 3: We Shout

This chapter is inspired by the song We Shout by t.A.T.u. Also there is a picture of Emily on the right. 

Ellianna’s POV

            I glanced at the young maid that stood before me, with her bouncy blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her eyes were as blue as the rushing waters of an ocean. As she folded her arms across her broom and leaned on it, she caught my eye. Giving me a toothy grin she pushed off the broom and held out her hand.

            “I’m Emily. What’s your name?”

            I took her hand and awkwardly shook it.

            “E-Ellianna.”

            “That’s pretty,” she cooed. Her gaze turned to my other hand, which was throbbing and swelled.

            “Yikes,” she hissed, guiding me out of the room, “we need that looked at. While I put my broom away, I’ll get you to see Abby, she’ll fix you up.”

            “Who is Abby?” I wondered as Emily led up a steep staircase.

            “She’s the head cook here, but she’s also a nurse. Don’t worry. Your hand will be good as new when she’d done with you.”

            We had reached the top of the stairs. What lay before us was a long hallway with many doorways and corridors. It had high ceilings with elaborate designs and light fixtures. I gasped.

            “Here we are!” Emily exclaimed. “This is the South wing, the servants’ quarters.”

            “What does that mean?” I questioned quietly.

            “Oh! Well this house is like a giant plus sign. The South wing is for the servants. The East wing is Master Marcus’s quarters. The West wing is Master James’s quarters. And the North wing belongs to Lord and Lady Ishkov.”

            I nodded in understanding and glanced up and down the hallway.

            “This house holds a family of vampires?”

            “Yeah the Ishkov family follows the old tradition of parents and children living in the same home. Still, it’s convenient because each wing is like its own separate house, with bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. No one has the need to leave their wings except for the servants.”

            “That’s…interesting. All of my old masters lived by themselves.”

            “Yep, that is how it is now ‘a’ days. The Ishkovs’ are ancient, and I don’t mean that as a pun.”

            “They stick to the rules.”

            “Hell…they probably wrote the damn rules,” Emily scoffed.

            I tried and failed to stifle a giggle and soon both Emily and I were holding our stomachs with rolling laughter.

            “C-Come on…I gotta go put this back,” Emily stuttered, waving her broom in the air.

            I followed her down the hallway and into a large dining room with two long wooden tables and benches. Emily walked off to find a closet.

            “Abby! This is Ellianna! Can you check out her hand?”

            A middle aged woman with kind eyes and a head full of red curls come forward. She pulled a piece of gauze out of her apron as she approached me.

“Let’s see what we’re dealing with,” Abby uttered softly, gently grabbing my hand.

            “I-I fell,” I mumbled.

            Abby scoffed, “well it hasn’t been the first time I heard that one, dear.”

            “No, it’s true! I was h-hit by my master…and I fell.”

            Abby gasped as she inspected my hand and wrist.

            “Was it James?”

            “N-No it was Master Marcus.”

            “Well, he must have been in a good mood. He’s always been the less violent of the two, but that isn’t saying much….” Abby mused as she wrapped my hand and wrist in gauze.

            “You’ve got that right!” Emily called as she walked over, smoothing her skirt.

            “Will my hand be ok?” I wondered.

            “Don’t put any pressure on it, and don’t strain yourself. It will heal in about a day. Might have a bruise, but it’ll be fine.” Abby explained.

            I offered her a grateful smile. “Thank you so much.”

            “Nothing to it,” she replied with a grin and a wink.

            I giggled softly.

            “So…what are you here for?” Emily asked.

            “What do you mean?” I questioned.

            “Like, what’s your job?”

            “Your hands aren’t calloused enough to be a gardener,” Abby inquired.

            “And you’re too skinny to be a cook,” Emily noticed.

            “She’s not talkative enough to be a maid,” Abby commented, giving Emily a playful shove.

            “Hey! I don’t talk that much!”

            “Dearie, you haven’t shut your trap since you got here,” Abby laughed.

            “Yeah…well…whatever,” Emily grumbled.

            “So, what are ya, Babe?” Abby pondered, turning towards me.

            “I-I’m a personal servant…”

            “So you’re a concubine?” Emily condemned.

            “Emily Jane! I told you that little mouth of yours was going to get in trouble one day, so you hush it up this instant!” Abby commanded.

            “Well it’s true! She’s nothing but a sleazy concubine that isn’t included in the harem. Someone that only belongs to Master Marcus, and no one else, she’s his toy!” Emily taunted.

            Before I knew what was happening I has slapped Emily hard on the cheek and she was stumbling backward in shock. Her eyes were wide and brimmed with tears as she stared back at me.

            “I’m sorry I had to do that, but it had to be done. Don’t ever call me a toy again. Because when you do, you’ll see what happens when you wind me up.”

            Emily rushed over and pulled me into an embrace.

            “I’m sorry, Ellianna, I’m so sorry. That was so rude of me to say that, I-I didn’t mean it,” she gasped, crying into my neck.

            “It’s alright,” I whispered, stroking her back, “I forgive you.”

            “Thanks,” she replied, pulling back and offering me a smile.

            I smiled in return.

            “Now,” she started, clasped her hand on my shoulder, “let’s clean you go up.”

            I nodded.