SLAVE OF THE HEART

5. New People

Luke had been excited to go back home. After all, he had been away for so long. and his sister Veronica was not the best of  companies. She whined about everything. The chairs, the clothes, the trip, and the friends he had. Charlotte, on the other hand, was pretty positive. She was as excited as he was, if not more.

"FINALLY!" the blonde haired girl yelled as soon as the carriage drove through their estate's gates. She started to fan herself, earning looks of surprise from her brother and her best friend.

"For such a pretty girl, you can be such a pain!" Luke said, earning a punch from his sister.

"I hate you Luke, SHUT UP!"

"Oh, feisty aren't we?"

"We are, that's for sure."

Eventually, the carriage drew up alongside the huge oak doors and the man standing at the bottom stair was none other than Veronica and Luke's father.

"Come in! i had missed you so much! Malik said you'd be here at 2pm. i am glad you came earlier."

"Well, Veronica felt she had to get away from the crazy peasants," Charlotte said, earning her a laugh from the man she had begun to picture as her father. Veronica huffed and ran up the stairs.

Peter came to carry the bags but Malik bet him to it, grabbing Charlotte's bags

"And this is Malik, my newest employee. he is the one who sent the message."

Malik's and Charlotte's eyes met and held for a while, before she tore them away. There was something there, attraction maybe, resentment, or curiosity.

Lucas smiled to himself as Peter took his bags. They were friends, though they kept it under wraps. It was not good for the workers and the boss' children to have close relations.

"So, this place hasn't changed much, has it?"

"Not really. still the same old." Luke replied, looking at Charlotte. She was his girlfriend. They had been together for a while now. They were no longer in the lovey-dovey stage and of late, they had been having those "break-up to make-up" scenarios. Luke loved her alot, but sometimes he felt like he was all alone.

Charlotte was already halfway up the stairs when he saw a girl with a purple uniform walk away, her back to him, and a long braid of hair looking like a plaited silken rope. Whoa! Who was that?

"Father, did you get some new workers? Apart from Malik?"

"Oh, yeah. there is this girl, her name is Ronne. She is pretty much younger than you or Veronica, probably nineteen thereabouts. Why?"

"Oh, just saw someone who doesn't look like Dora."

His father smiled. "I know you want to go say hello. Go on son!"

Luke started down the corridor, inhaling the delicious new smells, and hoping to eat the food before it left the kitchen.

Dora wasn't there, neither was Nina, so he just made his way in, grabbed a plate and started to serve himself.

"What are you doing here?" he heard the most beautiful voice ask, and he turned round, only to see a girl with beautiful brown eyes and a baby face staring at the plate in hand. "And who are you?"

"I am Luke."

She stared at him, then her eyes flicked over to the plate. "Why are you in the kitchen?"

"I'm Luke. Don't you know me?"

"Nope! I suggest you put that down."

"Why? i am hungry!"

"Dora!" she yelled, not letting her eyes leave the plate and Luke. "There is a weird man here called Luke! He wants to eat without waiting for everybody else!" Then she grabbed the plate and tossed the broth back into the pot.

"What are you doing?" he asked in disbelief. "I am Luke!" but Vasheronne was not listening. She was trying to shove him out of the kitchen.

"Dora!" Luke yelled. "This maid is pushing me out of the kitchen!"

"Which maid? Nina, is that you?"

"Its Vasheronne." the beauty said, still pushing at Luke, who moved very fast to pin her to the wall. Their eyes met and held, and they temporarily forgot everything around them.

"Luke? You're Home!" Dora yelled, coming into the kitchen. Luke pulled away, only to be pulled into a hug by the loving lady.

"Oh my son! i had missed you so much! How was MossDale? Are you alright? so sorry! This is Vasheronne. Vasheronne, this is Luke, he is the Master's son."

Luke and Vasheronne stared at each other, him admiring her and staring in wonder, while her . . . she just looked at him.

'Isn't she lovely?' Luke thought to himself. 'Is she really a slave? she is too pretty!'

At that moment, Veronica screeched from upstairs."Dora!"