Don't Look Back (A Klaroline Fanfiction)

Chapter 3

Nathan cleared his throat. Thus far, Caroline and her brother had been shown about a quarter of the enormous house, with the help of the exceptionally exciting tourguide The Very Stoic Butler, whom Caroline had no other name for.
"Um..." Nathan began "When is it that we will be shown our quarters exactly?" Caroline shot her brother a look. She did not think that they should be asking The Very Stoic Butler any
questions. Something about the man made her nervous, as if there was perhaps something else lying beneath the rather dull and grey exterior. Something that was maybe not so pleasant. Although, it wasn't like the man radiated happiness in the first place.
"Have patience" the butler hissed.
Nathan laughed nervously. "Right yes, yes patience of course."
"Now," the butler began "this is one of the most important rooms in the house." They came to a set of extremely tall double doors, that looked as though they weighed over a ton. The butler grasped the two large handles and swung them open. Inside was the biggest room Caroline had ever seen. It was larger than any house Caroline and her brother had ever lived in. "This is the grand dining room." Said the butler. "It is where The Family eats, and where you will spend much of your serving time. The kitchen also a key element to your jobs, and once you get your position in the staff, you will be expected to learn how to use it. Someone will have to give you lessons on the many cooking utensils.." The butler continued to drone on about various pots and pans, but Caroline didn't hear any of it, she was to busy staring at the dining room walls. Although the rest of the room was regal and gorgeous, the wall tapestries were not. The twenty foot tall woven cloths ran the full length of the dining room, and depicted things straight from Caroline's childhood nightmares. They were of dark figures, covered in blood, each leaning over what looked like a body. The figures most prominent feature was their protruding fangs, dripping with blood. There were seven tapestries in total, each with various differences. In one, the dark figure almost looked like a wolf, and in another they had thick, flowing hair and an ornate dress, but each of them was just as horrific and gruesome as the next.
"Ahem" the butler practically screamed at Caroline. "Are either of you, by any chance, listening to what I have to say?" Caroline glanced at her brother, and from his pale face, realized that he too, had been looking at the walls. Nathan made a squeaking noise, and Caroline dragged her eyes away from the tapestries to look at the butler.
"I just um...didn't hear that last part" she said in a hoarse voice.
The butler placed his head in his hands and mumbled something under his breath. "I said, there is a large ball tomorrow night, and you will be expected to serve. Tonight, the servants will be preparing some of the food for tomorrow, and you shall help with that. You will be assigned your positions and be expected to fully carry them out or you will be...let go." He said the last two words as if they would be more than let go if they didn't properly carry out their jobs.
"Now, I will show you the kitchen and you will begin your training. If you will just walk this way-" the butler prepared to exit the dining room, but Nathan grabbed his arm. The butler tensed. "Did you need something?" He said in a voice he probably used to torture disobedient servants.
"Those tapestries..." Caroline's brother began, "what...what are they for?"
Oh dear Caroline thought, this will not end well.
"Oh, those." The butler said, surprisingly casual, "they represent each member of The Family's first kill. Lovely, aren't they? Now, come along."
They walked down a seemingly endless hallway, passed grand paintings and Persian rugs, until finally, after descending a long and winding staircase, the trio reached "The Kitchen". Caroline's mouth dropped open, for almost the tenth time today. Everything about the kitchen was beautiful to her. All her life, she had loved to cook, bake, and do practically anything else involving food, so this was a dream come true. The place was full of every ingredient imaginable, and almost fifty people bustled about, conjuring up all sorts of delicacies.
"It's not much" said the Butler, "but it serves us well. As you can see, we are currently preparing for tomorrow's ball. Yes, we are indeed quite busy." The butler stood for a moment, then said "Well, what are you waiting for, grab an apron!"