Forbidden Essence

Forbidden Essence : Discoloured

Forbidden Essence

Chapter 10 : Discoloured

5 years ago ...

Humming a tune to myself, I dunked the cloth in my hand in the bucket filled with soapy water and splashed it onto the floor. I began rubbing at a stubborn smudge on the stone floor, lost in my own world. The ballroom was large, and I stared solemnly at the large area I had to clean; my petite figure in the center. I sighed belatedly, never will I underestimate mother Anne's roughness. Mother had caught me sneaking out with John to go horseback riding when I was supposed to be studying Latin; after listening to her nearly sleep-inducing lecture I was told I had to clean the entire ballroom until it glistens and she can see her reflection. 

Looking around again, I shrugged, she could have given me worse, like shoveling the manure in the stables. I shuddered and rubbed the ground furiously, attempting to shake off the reminder of how the scent had assaulted me that even the other servants were cautious to stay away. I began rubbing the ground, determined to clean the entire room before Christopher caught me. I glared at reflective ground, thinking of how last time he had caught me in my punishment, he had snickered at me and leered words at me, resulting in me blubbering everywhere.

My wrists began hurting at the power behind my furious rubbing, and I winced, cradling them to my chest. Christopher was a daddy's boy, I thought with disgust, of course no one would want to say anything to him. He could make me cry all he wanted but no one would lay a finger on him, or dare say a word. He would just go running to good ol' daddy and have us all whipped. Father was cruel when it came to Christopher, and no one dared say or do anything that would make him angry or upset. It'd be our life dangling off the cliff anyways. Sometimes I wished that father didn't hate me so, I wanted to know how it felt to be loved like Christopher. He was fearless the way he mocked and swore at servants, and how he leered at me. He wasn't even afraid when he said senseless things to Alexander! 

While I was wallowing in self-grief, I hadn't realized Bryce had snuck up on me. I gave out a cry and fell forward, into the bucket of soapy water. I quickly jumped back, gasping as the cold water seeped into my clothes, and turned hatefully towards the only person who would dare do such a thing, "Bryce, you-you..." I was lost at words in my fury as Bryce laughed like hyena, tears spilling out of his eyes as he clutched his stomach and pointed to my soaked dress and clinging hair, "You dog!"

"Dog? Come on, Bella, you could do better than that!" he howled in laughter. I struggled to get up, the urge to pull his hair making my hands clutch. I only ended up falling back onto the ground, and making Bryce laugh that much louder,

"Oh, I will do better than that! Just wait till I get my hands on you, you imbecile!" I finally got up and grabbed the back of his shirt as he was about to run. The quick movement made my feet slip on the water, and my arms flailed as I fell back down, bringing Bryce down with me. The water splashed all over him and he groaned from the impact. We both sat up, fighting groans, as I rubbed my behind, wincing. Our eyes met, and at that moment seeing him look like a wet cat, his fiery red hair matted to his face, the freckles spread on his face, we both burst out in laughter.

"Mother will kill me!" I said, laughing as I rubbed my behind. He smiled widely, revealing the dimple in his chin that i had grown so fond of,

"At least you have a mother who will chastise you." instantly the smile left my face as I watched his happy one. He was an orphaned boy who had come seeking work in the castle; I still remembered that day as if it was today. The way he had smiled at me, his brown eyes twinkling, that moment I had sweet talked Alexander into keeping him. Bryce frowned at my sad frown and he rolled his eyes, "Oh come on, Bella, why do you take everything so seriously?" I smack his arm,