Over The Fence

Home sweet home. Chapter 6

The smell of rot and decay wafted through the air. Making me sink back into myself as if I could escape the stench. I swear I was going insane. The shadows on the wall haunt me along with my dreaded thoughts. I was terrified. I didn't know what to do, if there was even anything I could do. I was now sitting in a crore of the servant's quarters, shivering like a leaf. Not of cold, but of fear. She told me I had nothing to do that today. So I wait for tomorrow. Whatever that might bring me.

Before I could dwell on these dark thoughts any longer, the door opened. And came in all my dear coworkers. Maids and cooks, all looking worse for wear. They all dispersed throughout the room. Laying on the clumps of fabric they call beds. (Except for the lucky few with rotten cots.)

"Well you must be the new gal," Spoke a woman on a cot a few feet away. She was the closest to me, as I sat on a clump of dirt, cloth, and god knows what else. "Well welcome to castle little mouse. It's bound to be an interesting experience for ya." She continued as she took off her boots. Covered in mud and dirt. She must work outside somewhere.

"Yeah, no doubt." I mumbled back. I got to know of few of them that night. The one who spoke to me then, was Amy. She was a kind women. She had been her for 4 years. She came in as a cook. But she now works on the gardens and the few crop plots they grow. I had seen a few of those on my way into the castle.

Some of the others were sweet to. Emily, a maid, Amelia, a cook and Hannah, a wine maker. Apparently wine was a big thing for the castle.

"Oh yes," Hannah spoke, "It's how her lady usually drinks her blood. Whilst her daughters are more, straight from the source kind of gals." She spoke so casually. So many of them did. As if this castle was a normal thing. When I spoke of this Amy laughed.

"Oh why am I surprised? Well it's for our safety." I looked at her confused. "Yes I understand why you would see this place as scary and dangerous. You wouldn't be wrong either. It is, but only for some. If you work hard, be pleasant, and keep my lady's favor. You have nothing to worry about." She said smiling. And at that she walked away to talk to Marlene who had just walked in. I watched as I spoke. For whatever reason, she seemed rather upset.

"Trust her word, honey," Spoke Emily, " When I came her about 7 months ago, she taught me how to survive her. I came her as one of the cook assistant. I had to go get meat from down in the cellars. Now that was terrifying. But with that attitude she taught me, I'm now in charge of the lunch kitchens." I simply nodded and went back to my thoughts.

There kindness was strange. But not unwelcome. I'm still some what confused about there happy attitude but for the most part I understand. It should help me survive this place, survive tomorrow. But some part of me is more anxious because of it. I was snapped out of my short train of thought when Marlene's shadow covered me. She simply told me to get up and follow her. As i walked behind her I got a better look at some of the girls. Most of them were sleeping, or at least trying. Whilst others were doing small things like sewing a patch, sweeping the floors, sorting envelopes, etc. They seemed to never stop. But before I could make any other observations we arrived at Marlene's door. She unlocked with a key she pulled out of her apron pocket and stepped inside. I soon followed. Her room wasn't much better then ours. Still dirty, but at least she had a bed. A old wooden bed frame with a thin mattress a top it. On the opposite side of the room from the bed was a small table, lit with a lone candle. Papers ad such spewn across it. And a few shelves contain jars and who knows what.

"Now." She suddenly spoke. Turned away from me, untying the apron on her waist. "What do you think your doing."