A Crown To Die For

The Caretaker

"S. Opus!" The man shouted. He smelled like old sweat, stale and musty. "Your chart says you're a trouble maker.." He paused and gave a throaty laugh.

"We'll see about that. We're waiting for one more girl then I will unbind you all and introduce you to the caretaker. This is a quiet room, it is my quiet room and I expect it to stay that way. Now shut your trap! No I'm not freeing your peepers to look 'round my room you'll see what you need to see when you need to see it." By the time he had said this his voice had faded away and the door shut once again.

At least he had told me what was going on. I appreciated that much. I must apologize to Kataina. She would likely be upset at me for getting us scolded. "Va-locvlard." 'I'm sorry' I hope I hadn't said it too softly, or too loudly. Ierrellian is forbidden on Zurayn, because they don't understand it and the few translators often had a hard time with our accent.

One thousand two hundred breaths later I heard the wheels and foot steps of our final guest arriving. You would think I'd feel a sense of relief at this news but I could only think of what uncertainties lay ahead. My stomach dropped as the whole room seems to move from under my helpless body. I wanted to react. Squirm, kick, scream my body said to me, I lay still though.. listening.

The smells changed again.... chemical? Poison!!!

*~*

My brain was awake before my body was. I took two deep breath and listened to other people breathing as well. "Hello? Is anyone awake yet? How boring of them, right Veldean?" An irritating little laugh came from a girl with a slick squeak in her voice. "I was awake on arrival."

"Malmare no one was awake on arrival, shut up." Came a calm reply.

"I was." Malmare grumbled. I willed myself to speak, to say something. Foot steps stomped away.

"So is no one really awake or?" Veldean left her sentence unfinished, waiting for someone to speak up.

"Veldean..?" A new voice questioned.

"I'm awake as well." I finally squeaked out. My mouth and throat were so dry. I sat up and opened my eyes to look around. The room was dark, but had high ceilings. Eleven girls lay before me some still unmoving and only one standing. Veldean I assumed.

"Can you ladies stand?" Veldean's voice was soothing. Over the next five minutes she coxed myself and three and then four (a newly awoken) into standing and then leaving the dark room.

We gathered into a dim hallway and followed a quiet Veldean to a door which had light pouring behind it. Veldean organized us into a line from how we first awoke to our last sleeping beauty.

"You will go in first the rest will wait." She told the girl standing in front of me.

"Now hold on aren't you the care taker? Should you be showing us to our room or at least a showering area with a change of clothes?" A girl toward the end of the line asked. We all looked at her. She was tall and had a bruise on her cheek with her hair tied up. Brown eyes and a pouty mouth which was a little swollen. Veldean only laughed.

"I'm not the caretaker you are actually about to meet her. I came to help you because no one helped us. I see you don't appreciate it." Veldean's blue eyes turn to steel in that moment and her mouth turned down in disappointment. " Ill leave. It's not like all of you will come to the other side anyways." We watched as she turned and took the first girl through the doorway.

I'm next. I might have zone out a little because six hundred and two breaths later the door opened and I was beckoned through.

This room was small with cement walls, a examination bed, a large sink, a tall mirror, and a privacy screen. "Opus!" An XY voice shouted my name from behind me. She had opened the door for me. I wonder if I was the only one she shouted at or if the room was sound proof.

"Yes ma'am." I faced her with a pleasant nod. This woman had short brown hair, hazel brown eyes, and she was rather on the short stubby side.

"They only gave me a chart of names and faces. I'm so frustrated!" She huffed "I have to do a physical on you." She paused. Her rough voice sounding annoyed. "Go behind that screen and undress. If you are to be in dealings who anyone in this home you must be clean in everyway."

The caretaker pushed me behind the screen then continued talking. "I will check you for signs of infections or impurities. You be allow me or I will use force to get the research id like. Now we can do this the hard way or the easy way, but either way will be done my way Ms. Opus, I am Schmeik the caretaker."

"Ive been with this family for all of my 52 years and I will continue to serve them long after each and everyone of your Ierrelli's are gone, Now lay on the bed and spread yourself out. The king's advisors wish to inquire about your maiden health, and your other bodily hygiene this will take five maybe ten minutes." Schmeik chuckled evilly at this last part.

All in all the process of the physical was degrading but now at least I was free to move unto the next unlocked door before me.