T.7.D.S

Ch. 5

Ivan and Charleston walked away from the room, and back towards the stairs. Charleston looked at the white doors as he went up the stairs. When they reach the second level, Charleston notices more white doors down the halls.

"What are the other white doors for?" Charleston's asks.

"I suppose it is important for you to know. Those are the staff washrooms." Ivan replies as he smirks to himself.

"Oh..." Charleston says as he continues to look down the hall. He looks down the hall right of the stairs. There is a darker corridor connecting to the main hallway.

"What is down there?" Charleston asks curiously.

Ivan stops walking to answer. "Those are the chambers of the master's daughters. And at the very end of that hall is the Master's room itself." He turned to Charleston and looked at him very seriously. "You should never go into the Master's chamber under any circumstances!"

Ivan then turned again and started up the stairs to the third floor.

Charleston stops. "Where are we going now?"

"I am escorting you back to your room. We don't need you anymore today."

Charleston realized how much time had actually passed. It was about time for dinner now, and for the first time today he started to feel hungry.

"Excuse me, Sir? You said I get three meals a day. Can I get one one of those now?"

Ivan raised an eyebrow and then spoke.

"Ah, yes! There is food waiting for you in your room."

Charleston was relieved to hear these words. When they reached Charleston's room, Ivan handed him a copper key. It was small and decorative.

"This is the key to your room." Ivan said. "It would be a good idea to keep it close to you and not lose it."

Charleston used the key to unlock the door. He stepped into his room, and he was overwhelmed by the aroma of meat stew. He loved meat stew. It sat there on his dresser waiting for him. Ivan didn't seem to enjoys the delicious scent as much as Charleston. He seemed almost bothered by it.

"Don't you love the smell of meat stew?"

Charleston asks this as a rhetorical question, but to his surprise Ivan answers.

"No. I'm not big on food really."

"Oh, I see." Charleston says only half paying attention. 

"Excuse me." Ivan says as he tries to leave.

"May I ask one more question?" Charleston asks before Ivan could leave.

"What are these bells for?"

Ivan then seemed less bothered by the scent of the stew as he focused on the bells. It must have been a good question.

"These are the bells of the masters. You noticed how they all seemed to be keen of a certain color. They each represent a master. The bells connect to their rooms. It is how they call a certain butler when needed. The lower staff share a bell. The bells are also in order of youngest daughter to the oldest."

Ivan points to the first bell.

"This light blue bell belongs to Sunroza. The green one is Vivian. The purple is Evangeline, and the pink is Glennette.

Ivan then pointed to the peach and gold one.

"This one belongs to Lorena and this one is Adeline. Last, this red one is Villecent."

He then pointed to the black one.

"This one belongs to the head master. You won't ever hear that one ring, so pay no attention to it. And, this little silver one is mine. It connects to the staff room. There is a board outside the staff room where an envelope marked 'Smith' will be posted. Your deeds for the day will be inside. The bell will ring when your work is posted."

Charleston listened to this trying to remember all of it.

Charleston then asked, "And what if I need you?"

Ivan then pointed to a small button below the silver bell. Charleston didn't recall that being there before.

"Push this if you need me." Ivan said.

"Okay, thanks." Charleston slowly waved at Ivan as he left.

Charleston then rushed to his dresser and grabbed the bowl and began eating. He saw a glass of liquid sitting on his dresser as well. He put down the bowl of stew and picked up the glass. He sniffed it. It was liquor. A sharp pain ran through his head down his spine. Images ran through his head as he passed out and fell on the floor.

He woke up a few minutes later on the floor. Did he remember something? Images of a liquor went through his head. He spilled it in the car. He was sweating. When did that happen? Was that from that night? He couldn't remember anything else. He picked up the broken glass and soaked up the liquid. He decided it would be best to go to bed early after blacking out. He changed into night clothes from the dresser, locked his door, and went to sleep.