Evil I Become...

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

It had been two weeks since that stressful night when my half-sister Lily was born. She had grown rapidly and my mother was back to full health. Lord Allad and Lady Isabella were planning to stay another week just to help around the castle. My mother and Lucias hardly got any sleep because of Lily.

As for me there seemed to be no end to the washing pile. I had just delivered the knights dirty laundry (underwear…again) and was making my way back to the kitchen for the next load when I crashed into Mila. Although I never forgot that night when she kissed me twice our relationship never got any further and we stayed friends.

“Oh I’m sorry Rocco I wasn’t looking where I was going” she said.

“That’s okay neither was I” I replied. It wasn’t a lie but that didn’t mean I was sorry I ran into her.

“Are you going to the kitchen? If you are I’ll walk with you.” she said and I gave her a simple nod in return.

This had been happening a lot lately, we’d run into each other and she would walk with me. Despite the fact she was previously travelling in the opposite direction. After that night when she made the candle float we never talked about her powers again. Although she would use them whilst we were alone talking to do simple tasks such as stir her drink.

“I was thinking that you need a break Rocco, all you ever seem to do is work” she said jokily. She was right the work never seemed to end. Since Lily’s birth the washing load consisted of ever changing baby clothes.

“I want to stop work but I can’t. I work for my food and my bed you know that” I replied. Although I couldn’t help feeling a little jealous. After all her food and bed were provided for free. She fell silent for a while after that. It was a comfortable silence, over the weeks the silences had become less awkward. I also felt more comfortable talking to her and hardly ever stuttered anymore.

When we finally reached the kitchen I knew she would leave. This was because a week ago the cook had caught me talking to her and being distracted from my work. The scowl from Lea the cook was enough to stop Mila from entering the kitchens again. I have to admit though I was extremely behind on the washing load that day.   Mila left with a simple goodbye and once again a load of washing was in front of me the minute I stepped into the kitchen. This time is was baby clothes with something that looked suspiciously like sick covering the front. I could just foresee this being an interesting laundry day. Even so I got stuck in only to gag on the smell five minutes later.

When I had rectified the smell issue by placing an old peg on my nose I returned to the work.  After half an hour of non stop scrubbing dried sick my feet hurt and my hands were sore but at least the washing was done.

I was just placing the now clean clothes on the makeshift line outside when something went “Oy over here” and through a rock at my leg. I sharply span around to see a small man emerging from the bushes despite the fact that the voice definitely female and very familiar.

“Yeah you washer boy where’s Mila” it said. I was stunned and was frozen to the spot. That voice was the same I heard on the night of the ball that shouldn’t have been there.

“HELLO ANYONE IN THERE!!!!” it spoke again.

“What…what are you?” I replied, it was the only thing I could possibly think to say. After all what do you say to a small man asking for your friend in the servants garden?

“Just get Mila and I’ll explain, I’ll be waiting in the bush but remember I ain’t got all day” it replied mysteriously before abruptly farting without seeming to care. It crawled back into the bush again and I started to question what on earth just happened. Just as I was beginning to think the lack of sleep was getting me and it was a figment of my imagination a rock was once again thrown at my leg.