Lazarus

4

By the time I finished cleaning the downstairs, it was nighttime and I was exhausted. As I was making my way to my room Lazarus was just getting out of his.

"Have you eaten?" he asked, I shook my head. "Want pizza again?" I nodded. He just nodded back and shuffled downstairs. We needed actual groceries not just ordering out every night.

I shuffled into my room and tried to relax for a few minutes, I flopped on the bed, a little bit of dust brushed up and practically choked me. I didn't really care, my eyes quickly felt heavy and I soon fell into a deep sleep. Minutes later I was abruptly woken up from the dream by Lazarus, he was standing over me with a plate in his hand.

"I figured you wouldn't want to eat downstairs tonight, you look pretty beat up so I brought you this" he placed the plate beside me on the bed. Before I could say anything he left. I ate the pizza quickly and fell asleep.

The next morning I got up again to Lazarus lighting the fireplace up, this time it was filled with fresh logs.

"Good morning" I greeted him. He stood up and turned to look at me.

"Morning."

"I need some money today" I tried to sound professional.

"Why?" he brushed some of his dark hair out of his face.

"Grocery shopping, we need actual food" I snapped, the heat rose to my cheeks as I realized I just snapped at my boss.

"Fine, give me five minutes and I'll walk you" he huffed out.

"No, I can do it myself" I raised my chin. I was a confident young woman I reminded myself.

"Fine, works better for me anyway" he pulled out his wallet and handed me a few twenties. "Keep the change" he turned and left the room. I slid out of my bed and rushed to get ready, I felt like I had to prove something for some reason. I had no idea why this man was nothing special, I didn't know him I was just a stranger he hired after they wandered in off the streets...literally.

I dressed in my new work uniform we had bought the previous day and wore the new boots he bought me as well. They looked like combat boots, but cuter. I shoved the money in my bra and made my way downstairs. Lazarus was nowhere to be seen, so I just assumed he had gone to his room.

I left the castle and made a mental list. "Apples, oranges, eggs, bacon, bread, and milk" I spoke aloud, I repeated that list in my head to town until I reached one of the small markets. It was a Sunday afternoon and on the main street were little farmers selling their fresh fruits and vegetables. I bought a pint of strawberries and blueberries from one and farm fresh eggs from another. I walked past the rest and made my way into a little grocery store called Super V. I grabbed a basket and walked around the store I bought a loaf of bread, a bag of milk, lots of bacon and a box of pancake mix just to be saucy. As I was paying I realized I forgot oranges and apples. I decided to grab them on my way home.

Home. It was an odd feeling to call a place home. I had never really had one. I brushed the thoughts away and left the store in a hurry. I bought a couple of apples and oranges from a little lady and practically ran home. I wanted to pack everything up and prepare a meal for myself.

When I got home I practically burst through the doors and went straight into the kitchen. I placed the bags on the counter and lit a few candles, in hopes it added some extra light.

I took one of the candles and plugged in the huge fridges. I unpacked the groceries. I left the fruit, bacon, and milk on the counter and hoped they didn't go bad before the fridge had time to start up. I placed the pancake mix and bread in the cupboards. I found a milk jug and opened a bag of milk. I checked the fridge, it was cool enough so I put what needed to be in the fridge in the fridge.

I decided after putting all the groceries away I wanted to start on the upstairs cleaning. I got the mop and bucket again and filled it with hot water and a little bit of vinegar I found laying around in one of the cupboards, I found a few clothes and threw them in the bucket of hot water.

I started in my room, I mopped the floors and dusted the fireplace, bed, and nightstand with one of the damp cloths. I wanted to dust the curtains, but they were super heavy and dusty so I needed to ask Lazarus to help me get them down.

When I was done my room I was famished. I decided to go to the kitchen and grab a snack, I made a little bowl of a mix between strawberry halves and blueberries. Where is Lazarus? I knew he was a bit of a night owl from what he had shown me, but nobody could sleep all day and stay up all night unless he was....an insomniac. That explained the super pale skin. Lazarus was an interesting fellow, I could tell.