Jane: the Curse, the Lost, and the Lovers (draft 1)

Pt 1: The Curse ~Chapter 1~ Dixie

*503 years earlier*

I swept up the shattered jar, glaring at the boy who caused me more work. Tossing the porcelain remains in the trash, I stood and adjusted my uniform. “Are you trying to get me in trouble?” I hissed. “ ‘Cause let me tell you, if you get Lucifer’s attention, I will have to kill you.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I huffed: “men.”

He looked at me, his twilight blue eyes sparkling. “Of course I’m not trying to get you in trouble. I apologize for the vase, I’m a little clumsy. And don’t worry about the old fart. I’ll make sure you don’t get the blame for it. Lucifer may be a little strict, but only when it comes to the female population. He thinks you girls cant handle yourselves out in the real world.” He winked.

I groaned. Not another flirt! There’s enough in this stupid castle. Im only fifteen, and I wont even think about wedding bells until I am long out of the Service. Sure, girls around my age are getting married, but not me. I plan on becoming an old maid.

“Go away. I don’t need this right now.” I turned on my heel, fists clenched. I hear his feet walking behind me as I go to my cupboard. Great. Another reason for Lucifer to yell at me has arisen. God damn it. I shoved my broom inside and withdrew my feather duster. “Why the hell are you following me? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Why not?”

“Do you really want me to get pissed?”

“I would like to know your name.”

“Then ask someone else. I’m the only one with the hair of an old woman.” I coiled up my  hair into a bun and removed my cleaning apron. I grabbed the frilly white thing that I am forced to wear whenever I’m above the servants’ corridors. “Please excuse me, I must go and clean for the princess.” I shoved past him.

He grabbed my arm. “Tell me your name,” his breath was hot in my ear.

“Go and mess with another slut. I wont allow anyone to treat me this way.”

“Tell me your name. Please.” His grip on my arm loosened. “I want to know the name of the woman who caused me to break that vase; her beauty caused me to lose my dignity.”

Heat rose to my cheeks. “Jane Agentum Garner.”

He smirked and let go of my arm, retreating into the shadows. 

"Wait!" I jogged after him. "at least tell me your name!" 

He glanced back at me. "Im the new guy. Ask around," he left.

 *   *   *

“Damn it! How did I not even manage to get his name?” I yelled at the ceiling. My friend Lilly shook her head, sighing.

“Girl, calm down. He’s new, apparently a butler. Besides, if you really wanted to know his name, then you would have just gone and searched for him. He’s a charmer with the other maids I hear, and everyone, including some of the other guys, is attracted to him. He’s not that bad looking, if I do say so myself. Just relax, and I’ll go find him for you.” She hopped off the bed, her short black hair flipping dramatically.

“No! I’m fine! I’ll just corner him later, when I feel like it.”

“Mm hmm. Sure, just keep telling yourself that. And while you go all chicken on me, I’ll go and find out the hunk’s name.” She scurried off, the door shutting softly behind her.

Crap. Not only will she go off and meet that annoying hot guy, but she'll probably bring him back to the dining hall when she’s done interrogating him. Just great. I never asked for this.

I met Lilly when I first applied to become a maid. I was let through the many halls and corridors by the girl herself, straight into the heart of the castle, where I met Lucifer, the head of house. Not only did he control the servants, but he was also the right hand man of the princess. He’s fat, the only fat man I have ever seen, and wears a fake white wig that reminds me of horse droppings. And he’s cruel. He slapped many maids in front of me when I was turning in my application, including Lilly. Basically, he’s the one person I hate so much I don’t want to get on his bad side. How a Wood Elf such as him can be unpleasant as much as he is, I have no idea.

Did I forget to mention that I’m an elf? A Wood Elf, to be exact. My people reside in the countryside of Monte, the capital city, and only a few are able to be in the city itself. Its grand, and more advanced than that of the rumored Earth, where there are no magical creatures, no magic, and no fun. Also, Monte is the place where I was born before my father decided that it was best for us to leave, which was about the time Princess Bella took the throne after her parents died of an unfortunate vampire attack. She was the only survivor.

My mother died in childbirth when she was having my brother; both of them died. Father claims that the only reason she died was because she was sick, and having a baby wasn’t making anything better. I was two at the time, so I don’t remember my mother at all. My grandmother came to live with us in the Village of the Moon, where the Moon Goddess blesses everyone who comes through there. She hated me for some reason, and hated the fact that I have silver hair that not even she had. I do not know how she died, several years later, but I have a feeling it was from the disease that was killing off the elders of every kingdom in Ebony Hills. Even the King of the werewolf kingdom of Lindensdail lost someone in the pandemic.

 I did my chores, as well as Lilly’s, waiting for her to come back. She had been gone for a couple hours, so I wonder what could be taking so long. Was she making out with the guy? Did her secret admirer reveal himself? I let my mind come up with several scenarios, each stranger than the last. I must be very bored if I can amuse myself with these ridiculous things.

Finally I heard the click of the door opening, followed by a sigh.

“Have fun?” I asked, a smirk on my lips.

“Do you realize what a catch you’ve got around your finger? Damn girl!  He won’t even let anyone flirt with him. ‘saving himself for the girl of his dreams’ he says. Why did you have to get the most handsome elf in all of Ebony Hills?”

I smiled and put on my uniform. “I don’t know, Lilly. You have a man after you too. I found yet another box of Sea Elven chocolates in front of the door.”

“Really?” she dashed across the room, the smell of rich chocolate hitting the air. “Yum! I really need to find out who this guy is!” She shoved a piece into her mouth, licking her lips. “I did happen to find out the guy’s name for you, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time.”

“And that is?”

“Dixon-Keith Hemerson.”