Crown Of Hearts

Chapter 1

If you liked this chapter please don't hesitate to give it a vote or comment or both, until next time - xx A

The sounds of trains in the early morning was a normal occurrence for me. So much, that I had gotten it down to a complete science. The first train acted as my alarm and clock, always roaring around 6:55 AM. The second train alerted me to the midday cleaning around the Missus's home. The third train, Krill's house, fourth, lunch, five to eight more houses to clean and finally nine. Home.

I swiped the dirt from my apron, it was a pesky thing. Yellowed and worn from years in service. The pockets all had holes in them and virtually useless and the lime green was very attractive on a teenage girl much like myself. I hated this place. The Krills. With their rich mansion and their jewelry collections. One gem would be enough to feed everyone in my neighborhood for weeks.

Yasmine grimaced once she noticed my stare,
" Girl, lime green looks good on no one. Don't even worry about it. Now help me with this tablecloth."

" I hate this place," I muttered, however not as quietly as I hoped.

" Shush! You don't want the Krills to hear from you. They'll dock your pay to pennies." She hisses.

I stared at their stupid trophies and endless portraits that lined the walls, " The only reason the Krills live like this and we live like this is because they were born with the Krill surname. And you and I got Fae and Gart."

" You know the rules C. The rich and powerful are to be true, only names of Krill, Fare, Nam, and Pole are worthy of so." It was an old nursery rhyme that was repeated in schools until it was drilled into our heads that we would never amount to anything. Of course, this was only the short version. The real version had thousands of names ranked.

" Fae, Gart. Why are the windows not polished? I quite remember saying that the house must be in tip-top shape before the ceremony." Miss Krill was a tall woman, with a dark mess that she called hair. Her skin was pale and free of imperfections. No doubt from never having to step outside unless she really needed to. Why would she? That's what we were for.

I restrained from making a face, she threw a glass vase at me the last time I dared to even bite my lip. But it didn't stop me from fantasizing of her suddenly stripped of her riches and forced into a life of a servant.

" Oh yes, right away Miss. I'm terribly sorry. I underestimated the time it would take to iron the clothes and clean the-" Yasmine didn't get time to finish because the porcelain doll slapped her across the face.

Yasmine held on to her cheek, her face turning a light scarlet color.

I felt my face redden. Not out of embarrassment but out of pure anger. The anger seemed to pour out of my heart and fill my body with new adrenaline. I was shaking. Not enough for the pasty cracker to notice but enough for Yasmine to briefly glance over.

Yasmine flicked a finger to me. A universal code to remind another to calm down. I counted to ten and repeated until I could look at pasty cracker without wanting to attack her.

By now she had barked some kind of threat at Yasmine before disappearing upstairs. Off to count her many gems.

She struggled to smile as she returned back to smoothing out the tablecloth as if nothing had happened. There was a large mark on her right cheek, it was red and swollen.

" Are you okay?" I asked softly

" It's my fault. I should have worked faster."

" Y, don't say that. She gave you a lot of work. If anything she should get off her high ass and do some housework."

She giggled softly, " Don't say that." Yasmine was struggling to keep a straight face.

I finally heard it, the ninth train. I crumbled my apron and threw it in my bag as I waved goodbye to the other maids.

" Get home safe," Khol called after me.

" You too."

The air felt good against my face. It was a good relief from the hot kitchen.

It was amazing really, my home and the houses I clean were a mere three-block apart. We didn't have sprawling ivory walls, or gem collections, even electricity was rationed one week out of every month to help keep the pollution down. But the rich never had their electricity rationed.

We lived in run-down shacks called homes. The neighborhood kids fondly called our little circle the rundowns. A little offensive but we took to the name. So much that one of the dads built a tiny sign right at the corner. I could see the sign now, it was really a speck in the distance but a relieve to see.

Suddenly a flash of clothing caught my eyes and shiver ran down my spine. I could hear footsteps behind me. I quicken my pace and so did they. Damnit.

Two men appeared in front of me, their faces covered with bandanas. The taller man was dressed in black and red clothing, a thin chain at his waist. The shorter man had bright blond hair, he was dressed in black and blue clothing. My heart lurched to my throat. The shorter one made a step towards me and I stepped back. My back hit someone and I heard a soft groan.

" Please, I don't have a lot. But you can have everything in my bag. Please let me go. I won't even go to the police." I threw my bag at the taller man. I couldn't breathe, and I could feel tears biting at my eyes.

The men looked at each other and although most of their face was covered. They looked almost guilty.

The wind picked up at this point and I could see the guns strapped under their coats. Fire guns. Only high-level officials of the palace had one. How did these people get them?

" I told you, Zak. This is a sure-fire to scare the living crap out of someone. I'm sorry miss. Let me help you." The man behind me moved to touch my elbow but I jerked back, turned, and aimed a very uncoordinated kick towards his way.

" Don't touch me." I backed further away.

He held on to his side, looking more shocked than hurt, " Please let me go." I begged.

" We just want to talk to you." The taller man carefully walked towards me, his arms outstretched almost to say that he wouldn't hurt me.

" See, we're nice." He handed me my bag and pulled the cloth down to his neck.

He was a very handsome boy. With green eyes, dark hair and all sharp lines. The softness of boyhood had left him a long time ago. His eyes gleamed as he stuck out a hand, " Hi, my name is Zak Melbourn and I have an interesting proposal for you Clara Fae."