Bleeding Bird

I

The carriage pulled up to the estate, and Helen felt next to her for her mask. Feeling nothing, she remembered it was stowed away on the top of the carriage with her other possessions. It irritated her thinking she might need to wear it, but after what happened, she felt she couldn't argue with anyone about consequences anymore. She knew them all too well. Thankfully, again, her aunt's estate was well known for being absent of birds. Therefore, nothing should peck her to pieces even if she didn't have a mask on.

She took a deep breath, collecting her wits one by one as she waited for the door to open. She would have opened it herself, but she wasn't sure what protocol was here. Her auntie was rather strict. She didn't want to seem stupid and stay in the carriage, but she didn't want to seem either overly eager or devoid of manners and break out.

The door opened when she wasn't expecting it and she had to bite down a tad bit of anger at the sudden motion. Trying to put on a smile, she slid out of the carriage, into the pebble driveway, and followed a tall balding man to the great front doors.

Her aunt's mansion was huge. It really was what people said—a stunning act of defiance and bravery, and yet, completely and utterly for itself. There was nothing vain about it—nothing flashy. But not entirely utilitarian either. It was a long and, she would have said square, if each of the corners were not rounded off like turrets. Everything was brick, a kind, warm brick. But there were countless windows. Glass windows. It was something Helen had never really seen before. She'd lived in the country her entire life. They had no glass windows. She'd visited the city, but there were no windows there. The city was plagued by the birds. They couldn't afford the constant replacements. Though, Helen had learned from her father that ravens and crows didn't like their own reflection, and the idea of windows being dangerous was really a myth. Ravens only smashed them because they hated their reflection, or they weren't thick enough glass to distort those within.

The balding man opened one of the double glass doors for her and she slipped in. Before her stood a line of people, waiting to meet her. She gulped, brushing her skirt down a little. She suddenly felt subconscious of her new dress. It was a simple, long-sleeve, dark green, that father had ordered from the city.

The room she was in was a sort of hall. It stretched out forever to the left. It continued to the right, but then, turned for the corner of the house. Even from here, however, she could see that, to her right, the floor moved a step down, and the ceiling was pushed way up, and there was an entire wall of glass windows. The carpet was a rather ugly green, and the walls and ceiling were a deep wood paneling. There were gas lamps every few feet, but the main source of light was from the windows lining the hall.

She turned her attention back to those in front of her. Her aunt stepped forward. She was a rather grumpy, proud-looking woman. She set her nose in the air, and her eyes downward at anyone in her presence. She had what looked like an impossible amount of grey hair pulled back in a large bun, accented by gems of green, and barrettes of gold. She had cold grey eyes and a sharp nose.

"This is my neice, Helen Taft," Auntie Jude stated as if she was being introduced to a ballroom of suitors' parents. "Helen, I would like to introduce you to some of my staff. First, you've already met Mr. Nolan, my butler and the overseer of all staff."

The balding man stepped up beside her aunt and nodded.

"Next, I would like you to meet Miss Meredith Kingsley," Auntie Jude motioned to the young woman beside her, "she teaches at a local school and I house her."

The young woman nodded to her. She had soft blonde hair, tied back by green ribbon in a soft knot, and had a kind face.

"Lillian," Auntie Jude said, "is the gamekeeper's apprentice. I only introduce you too because, if you ever have a problem with beasts, Helen, she will be your resource."

Helen nodded, watching the girl. Lillian was short like her, but solid. Standing with her arms crossed, her brows raised not in challenge or judgement, but passive interest, and her mouth squeezed into the corner of her mouth, the did not look entirely friendly. Dark curly raven hair hung around her round face, and Helen wondered if her new aquaintence ever received some of the judgement others did about their dark hair. There were two opinions on dark hair: it was a good luck charm because, in addition to a mask, would help you appear more as a bird, or it meant you had some sort of vile connection to the beasts. She tended not to believe either one necessarily since her father said the first could possibly be unnecessary, and the second meant absolutely nothing.

"And I'm Will," a tall, slightly bronze boy said, stepping forward and reaching out a hand. When she went to shake it, he wrapped an arm around her and said, "it's nice to meet you, Helen." He nodded, and moved back into the line-up.

Auntie Jude patted her dress and Lillian bit down a grin. Even the tutor, Meredith offered a small smile.

"Will works here occasionally in the barns," Auntie Jude said, "Well," she bit her lip, "We've already been here longer than I wanted. You can meet everyone else as you go. Meredith will take you to your chambers."