Just the Maid

Chapter Eight- Eavesdropping

"Well, what do we have here?" A voice says behind me.

I swivel around and jump backwards before he can grab me.

I eye my opponent carefully. He has long black hair, eyes of the dead, a green jacket, yellow shirt, black pants and black shoes. He was eyeing me carefully.

"Welcome home, Master Illumi," chorused Canary and the head butler.

He totally ignored them and walked right past them and me. I realized I was in a fighting position, so I stood up straight and regained my composure.

"Well, uh, I guess I will have to talk with you then. Later though. I must tend to Master Silva," said the head butler. He turned to leave. "Oh, Canary, please show our guest to a spare bedroom please." He then gestured to me. "And you may refer to me as Gotoh." Then he left.

"This way," said Canary. She lead me down a series of halls. As we passed one door, I stopped to listen in on the conversation, just for a moment.

"... looks fine. You do a swell job here, Gotoh." It sounds like Gotoh and someone are speaking. Obviously.

"Thank you, sir. Would you like an escort back to your dwelling?"

"Oh, no. I think I'll be just fine. What was that earlier that you had to leave for, though?"

"Ah, yes. Forgive me for that, Master. One of the new apprentices left their post early because of a little... incident and came to me for guidance. It is all getting sorted out though. It is nothing to worry about," explained Gotoh.

"What was this little mishap?"

"Ah, well... You see sir, it's nothing huge. We wil-"

"Gotoh."

"Yes sir?"

"I have a right to know what goes on on my property. Speak, or be punished." Then, knuckles crack.

"O-Of course sir. Well, you see-"

"Psst! It's rude to eavesdrop!" whisper-yells Canary to me. I wish to hear more of the conversation, but I must continue, or they will get suspicious.

After leading me down a series of halls, Canary gestures to a large wooden door.

"These will be your sleeping quarters until we can figure out what to do with you," says Canary.

I nod to her and enter the room. It was then that I knew... I was in heaven.

The ceiling was about six feet above me. A scene filled with angels fighting demons was delicately painted onto it. To my right, there was a big, purple bed with silver drapes around it. To my left, there was a table surrounded by couches and comfy chairs. The entire area was really big! Not huge, but it was pretty big.

"This is only for the night, so don't get comfy," spat Canary. With that, she slammed the door closed.

'Someone's salty...' I thought. Then, I stuck my tongue out at her, even though she wasn't there, then laughed lightly to myself. I sigh.

"I'm such a child," I whisper out loud. I take off my cape and lay it on one of the couches. Finally, my outfit makes an appearance.

Oh yeah! I never told you about the power of my special cape! Well, basically, it keeps my outfit hidden, as long as people don't see my face or hear my voice. Pretty cool, hunh? I got it as a prize in a place called 'Magnolia'.

Anyway, as I'm setting my cape onto the couch, my door creaks open. I try to find a place to hide, but there's no where. In defeat, I slowly turn around to see...

"What's your name?"

I'm staring at the little white haired boy. I blinked in response.

"I asked you a question," he says as he walks to the bed.

"Katara..." I say. "Why?"

"I was just wondering. How'd you get in here?" He plops down on the bed with a sucker in his mouth.

"I, uh... Well, I am the... Well you see-" I didn't know what to say. Should I lie? Should I tell him it's none of his business? Both terrible ideas, since he's more than likely a Zoldyck. Maybe I should just tell him the truth...

"I'm waiting. Man, you're terrible with words," he sighs.

"I'm... I'm here to meet Mr. Zoldyck," I say. It's the truth, at least.

"Oh?"

"Y-Yeah..." We both are quiet for a few minutes.

"Okay, I was wondering. Bye." He hops off of the bed and heads to the door. Before I can ask him his name, he closes it on me, leaving me in partial darkness.

In case any more 'visitors' come, I hold my cape in my right arm. I glance at the door one time before I go to the bed. I toss my cloak to my left, then lay on my back, looking at the beautiful drapery. I sigh.

'It's gonna be a loooong night...'

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I wake up to bright sunlight shining in my face, suddenly.

"Wake up, sir. Or should I say, Miss?" It's a girl's voice I hear and I know it's one person.

"Surprise, I'm a girl, Canary," I retort. She looks over her shoulder at me and smiles a little.

"I feel a little better that I got beat by a girl instead of a boy, though. That would've been embarrassing." She walks to the other side of the bed where blankets and sheets are strewn around on the floor.

"Ah... Sorry about that, I can clean that up," I say in a daze. "Bright sunlight plus just waking up, it just makes me an angry person for the rest of the day."

"Oh? Well, sorry about that then." Canary picks up the sheets and blankets and tucks them into a large container filled with other laundry.

"Oh, did I say that part out loud?"

"Yeah. I'll leave you alone for now. There's a fresh set of clothes on the couch if you want them. I'll be back soon." With that, she left with her basket on wheels.

Groggily, I stood up and held my head. I groaned and walked over to the couch to see what she got for me. I didn't even care. It was a new outfit and this one was about done for. I swapped clothes, not even knowing what I was wearing. I put on my cloak just in case and started towards the door when I heard someone talking.

"You don't have the power to speak down to me like that, young lady!" yelled a booming voice. I put my face up to the door so I could hear better. Especially since I'm wide awake now.

"Canary, please. This is the last time. Get out of my way." It sounds like the voice from last night!

"But sir, he's changing. You wouldn't want to interrupt him, now would you?" pleads Canary.

"Off!" I hear a shuffling and try to get away from the door, but it's too late.

The door swings wide open and hits my face hard, swinging my entire body to the right of the room. I hit a wall and slump to the floor, my hood covering me.