Roots and veins

Chapter 7

Ugh I feel like shit. Damn it's bright in here. Opening my eyes bright LED ceiling lights assault my eyes.
"Good, you're awake."
Huh?
"Who's that?"
"My name is Annalise, I'm the castle nurse. You're quite healthy Julia I'll tell you that."
Ah right.
"How long have I been out?"
"About six hours or so. Mistress will be expecting you soon."
Shit. I turn my head to see that I'm hooked up to a blood bag and an IV.
"How are you feeling?"
"Tired, sore."
"That's normal, it'll pass. Keep resting for a few more hours and I'll grab you up so you can get dressed."
More rest, that sounds great!
"Okay."
"Good, I'll see you soon."
She steps out of the room and I'm left alone.
It might be the fluorescent lights, but I can't fall back asleep. I can't stop thinking about her.
Why did I feel that way as she was LITERALLY sucking the blood out of my body? This castle is weird; it's making me feel weird feelings, my mistress and her weird daughters are weird, it's all weird.
Annalise comes back into the room carrying a uniform on a platter.
"Here, dress and I'll show you to mistress's chambers"
I get dressed and slip my little knife in my collar.
I follow Annalise out of the room and up the stairs. As soon as we leave the room the environment transforms back into the mid evil hallways of the castle. We go through three heavy locked doors on the way up the staircase.
"what are all of the doors for?"
"To ensure that the blood bags don't get taken."
Ah.
We continue through the castle for a little bit before stopping in front of a door.
"Here are our Lady's chambers. I hope I don't see you soon." She pats my shoulder and walks away. I knock on the door.
Come in. A soft, velvety voice says from the other side of the door.
I push the door open and look to see my lady lounging on her bed wearing a thin satin nightgown reading a book. The takes off her reading glasses and turns to me.
"So, Julia, I take it you're feeling better?"
"Yes my lady."
"Splendid. Now, let's get down to business. Obviously you cannot be trusted working with the group, also the the lycans like you too much. I've decide that you shall be my personal gardener. You will tend to my personal gardens and flowerbeds. You will also run horticultural errands for me. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes I can my lady."
"Ah, wonderful. Your first day starts today."
She gets up and puts on a very long robe and her comically large hat. She leaves the room without acknowledging me to follow. I walk right behind her, basically jogging to keep up with her long strides. She leads me outside and out to a previously hidden greenhouse. Inside there are several empty flowerbed, small leaveless trees, several small waterless fountains, and a few benches (one much larger than the others)
"This is my lounging garden. My daughters and I would rest in here and read, picnic, and lounge. But as you can see" "she gestures to the area with her hand" "We haven't done that in awhile. I would like you to bring it back to its former beauty. You can do that can't you?"
"Um, yes I believe I can."
"Good, because you don't have a choice. Thanks to your little stunt the other day you are walking on very thin ice my dear."
I nod looking around. This will be difficult.