Bathing in Blood

Bathing in Blood - Part 8

With Elizabeth out of the room, Anna was able to relax a bit. She enjoyed these nightly rituals, but not so much with her mistress's tantrums.

"Addy!" she called, looking for the old maid. "Take this hair and save it in a bag!"

The squat woman came scurrying into the room. "Aye, Ma'am."

Anna turned back to their victim, who was still sitting on the floor, apparently in shock. She gingerly reached up and patted her head. Upon realizing that there was barely any hair left, she immediately began to whimper.

"Stop that blubbering, girl! You'll give me a headache. Besides, you deserved that. You insulted the Countess."

A burst of sudden courage allowed Natalia to speak. "I haven't done a thing! I never said I was prettier than that devil-woman!"

Anna's eyes darkened. Nobody dared to insult the Countess in front of her.

Realizing her mistake, Natalia clamped a hand over her mouth. "I – I mean—"

"Save your breath, pet! You said the wrong thing to the wrong person, and now you must pay the price."

"Pay?"

"Yes, girl! Pay!" Anna knelt down on the ground, her lips right next to Natalia's ears. "I'm going to make sure you die in the most painful way possible. Perhaps we should burn you bit by bit in the fireplace? Or skin you alive, we haven't done that in a long while."

At Anna's words, Natalia began to sob violently once again. She threw her self at the woman's feet. "Oh God, no, please, no! Have mercy, please, oh please! I am truly sorry, I swear I didn't mean it, I'd never—!"

Anna stood up and kicked out her foot. She hit Natalia in the gut, knocking the wind out of her and sending her sprawled on her back. "It's too late for you now! What's done is done, and now you must suffer the consequences!"

Suddenly the door slid open, and Elizabeth walked back in. "Anna! Are you playing with the pet without me? I am disappointed in you."

Anna bowed her head submissively. "I apologize, Elizabeth. I became overexcited."

"No matter, no matter my friend. We all make mistakes sometimes," she said dismissively, waving her hand. "Mistakes like you made, little girl, for saying that you were prettier than me."

"I – I never said that, Madame," she wheezed, trying to sit up.

Elizabeth paused, a frown on her face. "No? But I'm sure you did... yes, very sure. You must not remember correctly. Yes, you have quite forgotten what happened. Isn't that true?"

Natalia lowered her eyes to the floor. "Yes, Madame."

Elizabeth looked over at Addy, who was waiting quietly at the other end of the room. "You have the hair?"

"Aye, Ma'am."

"Wonderful! Put it in my chest. I should like to keep it as a little memoir of tonight's festivities."

"I'll be happy to do that fer ye, Ma'am."

Elizabeth nodded, apparently pleased. "You are such a good servant, Addy. I think I'll treat you for your obedience. Not like I treated this creature on the floor, no, but I shall truly reward you. When was the last time you went outside?"

"Outside Ma'am? Tis been near two fortnights, Ma'am."

"Yes, I see. Tomorrow you may take the day to go up to the top of the castle. Wonder the grounds, do what you like. But you know the rules; do not leave the courtyard, and if you mention anything of what we do down here I shall have no other option than to kill you and your family and destroy everything you hold dear." She batted her eyelashes. "Understand?"

Addy didn't seem phased by the threat. After working with the Countess and Lady Darvulia she knew that they valued her too much to act upon anything they said. "Aye, Ma'am. Thank ye kindly Ma'am, I appreciate bein' able to go outside."

"You're welcome. Good service must be rewarded, after all."

"Aye, Ma'am." At the nod of her mistress, Addy scuttled away.

"Now," Elizabeth rounded on Natalia, "back to you. I'm sure you feel quite sorry for daring to think that you are – or were, as is now the case – prettier than me."

"I do, Madame," she answered meekly.

"Mm, yes. Such a good little pet. I'm so happy we've reached an understanding."