She Mask

Chapter 9

    I had managed to get home before Mistress Hemey awoke, and had started to fix the two holes that now were in my black cape.

    By the time Mistress walked into the Parlor, I was already almost finished the first hole in my disguise. I looked up from my sewing, and saw she had a basket in hand, and placed it on the table off in the corner of the room, beside the other chair.

    "You heading out to the market again today?" I asked.

   Mistress shook her head. "No, I'm going to fix the basket, then you'll be going to the market with me this afternoon."

   I had to shake my head too. "No, no I can't! No other women know of me! If I go, they'd be sure to ask questions!"

   Mistress laughed. "Today's your birthday. I have a surprise for you." She said, shooting me a wink.

   I rolled my eyes, trying not to smile. "Mistress, I appreciate the gesture, really, however, you know I can't go that far into the town."

   She crossed her arms, her brows furrowing. "You're coming with me, and you aren't going to give me a hassle about it."

    I sighed. There was no use in arguing. She would have dragged me by my hair if she absolutely had to. I went back tot work on my cape, as Mistress weaved and fixed the basket she always took out.

    I wondered what Mistress had planned. I looked over at her, and she seemed very calm, very peaceful as her skilled hands worked on the basket in her lap.

   What could she possibly be thinking by taking me into the market?

***********************************@*************************************

[Devon's POV]

     Sitting by the window, my thoughts always on She Mask, I held my head in my hands as I stared up at the sky. I had noticed that the She Mask had always looked up and rarely looked down. However, I guessed that its a good think considering she was always being chased, so she had to be alert.

    "Sir, you need to get ready to welcome your Father's company this afternoon." I heard a voice behind me say.

    I turned to see the Servant man, Donavin Zervinski, standing in the doorway holding a tuxedo. I nodded to him, and stood up.

    "Thank you Mr. Zervinski.You may send in the dressing Men, please." I said taking the suit from him.

     I took one look out the window, before heading into the dressing room while I waited for my tailor's and stylists to come up to my room.

***************************************@****************************************

 [Maggie's POV]

       I finally finished my cape, and sat at the dinning table with Mistress in the small kitchen. Our table had bread, orange juice, eggs, bacon and cheese. It wasn't a feast, not like Mister prissy pants got to have, but it kept our stomachs full.

     We ate in silence, fore we were both lost in thought. My mind was still reeling from everything that has happened since last night with Devon, right up until now. All the information that spun in my head gave me quite a headache. I thought back to earlier, when I sat on the branch in Devon's arms looking into his brown eyes.

     I looked over at the sundial looking clock on the wall, and checked the time. It was half past ten, and I knew that the day had yet to begin. I couldn't wait to see what Mistress had planned. I was anxious to get back into Man land, hoping to get my adrenaline pumping with a good fight or two. I needed to get back to my old self. The masked girl without a heart, except for the boys who needed her help. I let out a relieved breath when I thought about all the fun I was going to have tonight, and the fact that Devon or my parents weren't going to spoil it for me.

    Eventually, Mistress and I had finished eating, and we grabbed our cloaks. She let her hood fall back, as I picked up my mask and pulled my hood over my head. Just as I was putting my mask on, Mistress turned to me and shot me an irritating wink.

     There was definately something she was proud of, and her wink annoyed me because I didn't know what she had wanted to show me.

    We walked the streets of Farrowfeild, mainly because that's the only way to the market, and because she couldn't take the roofs like I usually did. She wore those slippery soled shoes, like Andrew, where I went barefoot.

    She led me to the market, passing every booth and stand, her basket hanging empty on her arm.

    Many shop keepers we passed politely smiled at her, and greeting her by name. These women don't know me, but they know her pretty well. I thought to myself.

   I was confused, because I thought we were going shopping in the market. Instea we rounded many corners, and finally she led me to an old abandoned building.

   It's windows were charred black around the edges, and were boarded off. The door was held onto the frame by only one of the three hinges that were there. We walked up the old creaky porch, which announced our arrival and visitation with every step. My feet kept getting slivers of wood stuck into the rough skin, and I knew it was going to be a killer later on today to get them out.

    Mistress opened the old door just enough for her tall plump body to fit through. I walked through easily, and looked around the only room in the building. There was a single table off into the corner, with a broken matching chair that accompanied it. There was a couple cupboards that hung just next to the small dinning set, and a sofa that sat in the middle of the room, facing the wall. Everything was coal black, and all that was wood was cracked and burned.  Something told me a fire had caused all this, one that had happened by purpose. I knew this because there wasn't any coals or remains of any other furniture in the room.

   Mistress walked over to the wall the sofa faced, and began tapping on it. Suddenly a secret door swung open, revealing a long dark hallway. Mistress Hemey walked down, her white cape just noticeable. I followed at her heels, wondering what secrets were held in the darkness of this damp and cold space.

     I had so many questions to ask the Mistress, but I held my tongue. The look that took form on her face told me she knew exactly what she was doing, so I didn't bother questioning her sanity.

    We walked down this hallway for what felt like forever, in nothing but pitch black. I couldn't see Mistress clearly, despite my excellent vision. Infact, I could barely see my hand infront of my face.

   Eventually we had reached the end of the dark and damp hallway that had already begun to give me the creeps. Mistress tapped the wall that stood before us a couple times, before it swung open revealing a large room filled with both women and men. Everyone turned to look at us, the new arrivals, and suddenly they all raised glasses of beer and vodka and whatever else was being served at the bar that stood in the corner of the room, in greeting to us.

   A young man, not too much older than I, sauntered drunkenly over to us. "Hey! It's Mistress Hemey everyone!"

    Everybody in the room let out a soft cheer, and Mistress Hemey gave a kind handshake to the man. "Ah, James, how nice to see you again. And hello everyone." She said pleasantly.

   The man, James, looked over at me, and staggered to my side. He swung a lazy arm over my shoulder, mumbling something about how I looked like his mother and grandmother, and how beer tasted so good. I shrugged his arm off, and went to stand on the other side of Mistress.

   I looked up at her, questioningly. She smiled at me before turning to the folks sitting and dinning around the room.

   "Well, here is my bestfriend's daughter, Maggie! The famous She Mask!" She announced. My mouth dropped.

   Did she seriously just tell everyone who I am?

   Everyone gave me smiles and hellos, but I just nodded to them. Who are these people, and why do the men seem to not mind my presence?

    It was then that I noticed the engraved words into the wall by the bar.

  " Revolutionise the hatred bewteen genders. Live to love. "