For Her

Chapter 2: Extra Help

Finally passing the gates and escaping the looks of distaste I scurried behind my mother who had kept a fast pace heading towards the looming mansion with a blank expression throughout the whole ordeal but I knew she tried not to show how hurt she really was.

All because of me...

Reaching the wide steps I could make out the servants rushing in and out of the mansion and some arranging and dusting the fragile glass figures and other expensive decorations.

I wonder what's all the rush?

Although I haven't been here much often I could tell it wasn't always this busy.
As we made our way through the double doors a short plump women wearing a green island dress with a cloth around her hair scurried towards us, her face filled with anxiety as she stopped in front of mother.

Yu karem hem kam wetem yu? (Did you bring her with you?), she said with a gruff voice, I could tell she was, probably annoyed that she had to be the one talking to the outcast.

Mother reluctantly moved to the side revealing me.

The women's eyes fell on me and I found myself being scrutinised, I did not miss the look of amazement she gave, I knew I looked different, always causing people to do a double take. Most of them were not in a good way though.

Of course that was inevitable as no one had seen features such as mine; caramel skin and grayish blue eyes framed with thick dark curls falling loosely to my waist.

*Flashback

My friend Ceci and I scrambled onto the dark rocks along the riverside drenched from head to toe and laughing at the water battle we just had.

She was the only friend I had, although she was hesitant at first but that's a story for another time.

I had come down to the river a while ago to wash the clothes mother left for me and had spotted my friend also washing some clothes, and so after we were done we took no time in jumping into the cold clear water to wash of the slippery soap suds and soon we were thrown into a water battle.

I tried flipping my hair out of my face, only for it to fall back in place, huffing with frustration I took the ribbon tied around my wrist and gathered the dripping curls above my head and tying it with the ribbon, by the time I was done my arms felt like they were about to fall off.

"Cursed hair", I mumbled under my breath.

"Ba Yu harem se hadwok beh heia blo Yu mekem yu nice mo........wanem wod ya.....exo-exotic", (It may be frustrating but it adds on to your pretty and......what's that word.....eco-exotic features) , Ceci giggled in amusement.

She always said I was pretty and I always hated myself for not believing her.

However I would have blushed at the compliment but I never wanted to be 'pretty' or 'exotic' , I didn't want to stand out, I wanted to fit in, I wanted to be like everyone here, I just wanted to be loved.

Giving her a tight smile I hopped of the rock and waded to where I left the clothes ready to be pegged and dried.

"Ba Yu kam?" (You coming?), I called over my shoulder.

*End of Flashback

The look of amazement had soon turned to disgust.

It was funny how one minute she had looked at me like I was some exotic specie and the next as a pig that had rolled itself in mud and asked to share a bed.

She then turned and walked away.

"Folem mi waet dok" (Follow me white dog), she called without turning around. I winced at the nickname but followed obediently, confused at first I turned towards mother but she had already left. Typical.

"Ba Yu singoutem Mi Anty Marie, mi mi lukoutem ol women weh oli sta wok ya, so yu mas respectem mi" (You will call me Aunty Marie, I am responsible for all the maids here so I demand respect), she said yet again without turning around as she turned a corner appearing in a large lounge room.

She marched passed a group of maids wiping the candle stands and they involuntarily straightened continuing at the task as if it was the most precious thing to work on.

We walked down a narrow hallway until we reached red double doors, she pushed them open and stepped in, I followed.

The room was large and very elegant, the walls were a creamy light pink, a bookshelf packed with books, a fireplace and plush armchairs seated in between the shelf and fireplace. I almost drooled over the idea of sitting in here and devouring as much books as I could.

"Ah finally she's here".

I snapped my head to find the owner of the voice that had brought me back to reality.

It was Mrs Berthmann, the mistress of the house, I have always heard and seen her from afar but never this close, to say she was beautiful was an understatement, she was breathtaking with her long black hair that tumbled down past her waist like ink against her milky white skin and her warm green eyes and high cheek bones, although she was in her 40's she could pass for a women in her 20's.

I suddenly felt aware of the other presence in the room and quickly looked to see a hebridean girl standing head bent low with her hand clutching tightly to a similar thin dress I wore.

"So this is the girl? And I see she is mixed." She said with a hint of distaste and another emotion I can't depict.

"Beautiful and exotic, now that won't do", she added like the words tasted bitter in her mouth.

I was shocked. Apart from Ceci I was never called beautiful. I was always seen as bizarre and strange, nevertheless I stayed mute.

"As you must know my son, Master Lucas will be arriving tomorrow to spend the holidays and he needs servants, we have been running out of extra hands because of the harvest nearing and so you two ladies will be stepping in as his maids and I warn you I do not tolerate play ups", she said with a serious face and thin lips pinched in.

That explains the place going crazy...

With that said she flicked her wrist and I along with the other girl was being dragged by the arm out the door.

"Okeh yu tufala lisen, tumoro taim Masta Lucas kam Yu Lei-ann ba yu wok wetem kakai, ba yu na sta preparem kakai blem mo karem ko lem" (okay listen you two, when Master Lucas comes tomorrow you Lei-ann will be responsible in preparing his foods as well as serving it to him)
, she said looking at the Hebridean girl.

She then turned to me, "Afta yu waet dok Yu ba yu sta klinim rum blem mo wasem clos blem be yu ba yu clin up nomo taim hem no stap" (As for you white dog you will be responsible for cleaning his room and making sure his clothes are washed)

"Ale yutufala kam" (come along), she said swiftly turning on her heels and marching back down the corridor where we had come from a while ago not turning to see if we followed.

I hurried behind her and so did Lei-ann.

I caught her eye and gave her a shy smile but she avoided my gaze and focused on the marching women leading us.

We caught up to her as she stopped in front of a door and fished into the pocket of her dress pulling out a bundle of keys and unlocking the door.

The door swung open with a creak revealing a well put and rather cozy bedroom and study.

I assumed this was Master Lucas's new room.

"Emya rum blem spos wan samting e lus ba utufala sta lo trabol ok?!" (This is his room if something goes missing you will be in serious trouble understood?!), she said turning to us with a scowl.

We both nodded our heads vigorously not wanting to put her into an even worse mood than she is in right now.

She led us out and the rest of the day was her showing us around, telling us what we should and should not do and basically scowling at us. Well me mostly. She sure loves her job. Not.