Chapter Seven

The Servant Girl

I exhaled a weary breath, collapsing weakly onto my back upon the soft mattress beneath me. Everything

seemed to have calmed down somewhat, after Nemasu had lead me back up the staircases and through the hallways, past

the bustling rooms of what looked like maids, servants, and cooks, and by numerous other chambers. I remembered

scaling another elaborate brick series of steps, painted with scarlet carpeting and leading past more familiar tapestries of

eagles (Nemasu did say that was Cauchemar’s symbol, didn’t he?) and golden, glowing torches, until we entered a vast

stone hallway of dimly lit embers and silent suits of armor. That’s where he had knelt before me, kissed my hand, and

left with a respectful farewell.

Before me had been a wide, arched doorway hidden behind numerous strings of pearls, beads, and gems that

hung loosely down to the floor and clinked melodically together like windchimes when I pushed past them. At first I had

double-taked--the room beyond the chains was enormous, stretching at least fifteen feet in front of me and ten more to

either of my sides. It was rather murky, lit only by two marble pillars filled with dim, glowing coals positioned on both

sides of the doorway, but I could easily see what was spread out before me. Directly across the room, positioned only

four or five feet from the far wall, was a beautiful, elaborate bed, raised several inches up from the floor and appearing

hazy behind several wispy curtains of lace and silk suspended from tall posts. The entire mattress and all four poles were

strung beautifully with strings of exotic, colorful flowers, curled about intricately and releasing a sweet smell into the

room. Beyond that, embedded into the far wall, was a large, bowed window, hidden behind more silken drapes, showing

down into the lovely front courtyard before the castle and even out into the marketplace, even though my vision had

gotten slightly limited because of the falling twilight. More tapestries hung over the walls, although some portrayed

angels and landscape scenes along with eagles. I had never seen anything like it.

I sighed a second time, closing my eyes for a moment and searching through my thoughts. The strong scent of

the flowers surrounded me on all sides. ....Nemasu said that the legend said something about my finding the other

three...whatchmacallit, Destiny Pendant-things. Other than that, he didn’t seem to notice anything that might hint

towards my being able to go home. But I don’t understand....If the other necklaces are hidden in my world, where I can I

even start looking??....And if I’m trapped in this weird place, how am I supposed to go and find them in the first place?! If

I can’t get home without finding them, how can I get home to--

My thoughts were cut off as I heard a soft clinking noise coming from outside my bed, and all at once my eyes

snapped open and I whipped my head to the side. Faintly through the silk hanging from the bedposts beside me, I could

see the outline of a small shape moving about the room.

With a gasp I sat upright, seized the edge of the silk curtain, and whipped it aside with a loud, “..Hey--!!” But I

fell silent once again as the small silhouette turned about, revealing the large, frightened eyes and a pale, dirty face. It took

me several seconds to get my bearings, but then I suddenly could recognize her -- it was the girl from the Davises’

backyard. She seemed so much smaller now, standing up straight and dressed in her ratty sack and apron, and now her

unusual reddish hair had been tied back tightly and hidden beneath a bleached handkerchief. She stared up at me in

shock for several moments, then spun about on her heel and began to trudge hurriedly towards the doorway.

“...Hey, wait--!!” I exclaimed loudly, shifting my legs over the side of the bed and pushing the lace curtain out of

the way. She was almost at the door now, scuffling away from me with panicky, rushed steps. “Wait a second, where

are you going?? Come back, I just want to talk to you!! Hey--!!”

She reached out towards the strings of beads, but halted for a moment; she cast a frightened glance over her

shoulder back at me, shaking slightly and now biting at her lower lip. She breathed in a quivering breath through her

nose, then whispered hoarsely in a quiet, anxious voice. “....Wh...What do you want...?”

“I just want to talk to you,” I repeated, now on my feet and walking over towards her. She started slightly at

my approaching footsteps, her eyes flicking quickly towards the doorway behind the chains, but she remained still. I

drew up only a foot or two from her, bending at the waist and resting my hands against my thighs so I could look her in

the eyes. “.....I just wanted to see if you were OK,” I told her gently, smiling and trying to appear as unthreatening as

possible. What in the world could have her so spooked?? Has my makeup worn off or something? Geez... “...Um...I

wasn’t really expecting to see you again. I have a few questions for you.”

She stared up at me for several silent moments, then clung tightly to the threads of jewels hanging from the

doorway and shook her head frantically. “...N...no, no, I have to go now...” she replied quietly, biting her lower lip again.

“...He...he said I had to leave as soon as I left you some water and towels to clean up with...” She pointed quickly over to

the wooden table to the right, and I cast a swift glance over towards it and noticed a large porcelain bowl filled to the rim

with steaming water and a pile of various, fluffy-looking towels beside it. It was only for a second, though; I wanted to

keep my eyes on the girl just in case she decided to whirl about and run while my back was turned. “...You...you

weren’t even s’posed to see me.....I gotta go, right now!!”

“Wait! Wait!!” I cried as she spun about and almost escaped out through the door. However, she stopped when

I yelled. “Hang on, just for a second, I just want to talk to you!!”

“...N...no, he said...he said....!!!” she stammered breathlessly.

“It’ll be OK, I promise, just sit and talk with me for a sec, all right?” She seemed to calm down slightly, and

then with a slow nod she released the handful of beads she had been holding, sending them colliding with a musical

cacophony of noise. “...Now...” I breathed at last, flipping my hair over my shoulder and gazing down at her. It was then

that I realized I had absolutely no idea what I was planning on asking her. “....Er...well....What’s your name, for starters?”

She hesitated for a moment, staring up at me while kneading her hands nervously against her apron, then

swallowed and straightened herself up. “.....A...Aliza.”

I had to strain to hear her, but I think I understood what she said. “Aliza? Nice to meet you. My name’s

Nikka.” I waited for a moment, but she didn’t as much as force a smile, so I went on. “...I...um, well, I...I just wanted to

make sure. That you were all right, that is.”

She didn’t reply, staring suspiciously at me through her large eyes.

“.......Because when that man started chasing you, I got really worried,” I continued hastily, noticing the mistrust

in her gaze. “I...I thought that maybe he was going to hurt you. You looked really frightened.”

She still refused to reply, staring doggedly up at me with her hands clasped behind her back. I had a feeling she

was listening, but she didn’t feel obligated to react and probably thought that I’d let her leave if I got discouraged.

I decided to persist. “....Here, maybe you can answer some questions for me,” I went on, slipping my fingers

into my collar. “Everyone else seems to know what this is and where it came from, but no one seems to want to fill me

in about it. Maybe you can help...?” I pulled the Eye of the Blind into view and let it fall before my chest. Even though

Aliza didn’t say anything, her eyes widened slightly and she was biting at her lip. “Don you think you can tell me what

this thing is? Do you know anything about it, anything at all?”

There was a pause, and it almost looked like Aliza was going to answer when suddenly a loud clanging sound

came from the doorway, like someone furiously shoving aside the chains that hung there, and a series of heavy footsteps

came stomping into the room. I whirled about with a frightened gasp and heard Aliza stumble backwards several feet. A

tall, dark silhouette was now standing in the dim torchlight.

I think both Aliza and I were in shock for at least ten seconds, because neither of us moved. Then all of a

sudden she snapped herself out of her trance and drew backwards with a sharp gasp. “...Oh no!! Oh no no, no no,

please...”

I watched her for several moments, gradually slinking her way back behind my bed and out of view, then

shakily turned my vision back over at the ominous shadow at the doorway. Whoever it was, they were significantly

taller than me, and judging by the tense muscles on the arms, I could tell they were much stronger than me too. I was

debating between talking and ducking behind the bed along with Aliza when I finally decided to speak. “...Can...can I

help you?”

I must have sounded pretty stupid, asking some monster of a person who had just exploded into my room if he

needed my assistance. I made it worse by trying to keep a firm note in my shaking voice. However, the stranger

seemed absolutely deaf to my question and simply exhaled a breath while scanning the expanse of my room.

“..........Where is she?”

“...H...huh??” His inquiry took me completely off guard, probably because I really wasn’t expecting him to speak

(I was actually kind of expecting a roar or a growl or something), but then I instantly regained my grasp on reality.

Wa...Wait a second....That voice....I’ve definitely heard that voice before...!!

I drew in a startled gasp as the stranger took several heavy steps into the room, finally revealing his face in the

glow of the torches on either side of the doorway. I recognized him immediately -- that spiky brown hair, that scarlet

ascot, those dark blue eyes staring indifferently out from beneath the sagging mahogany bangs.... “...It’s...It’s you!! That

psycho from the Davises’ house!! You...you’re the murderer from my world!!”

The man at the doorway didn’t move for a moment, then exhaled another breath that sounded like a laugh and

ran his hand through his hair. “...Well whaddya know....The little brat I met in the rain. Who would have guessed I’d

ever see you again...?”

I gaped at him in vacant amazement with my bottom jaw hanging open, then instantly lifted my hands to the

sides of my mouth to amplify my voice and began to shout, “Help me!! Nemasu!! General!! Anybody!! There’s a--”

I was silenced as the man suddenly leapt forward and clapped one heavy hand over my mouth, which didn’t

only stifle my voice, I thought I was going to suffocate. “Will you be quiet, what’s the matter with you?!” he hissed

nastily. “Who do you think you are, making a pointless ruckus like this?! For your information, they all know I’m here,

you moron!”

“Mmmmmph?!” I let out a surprised, muffled cry, then grabbed hold of his wrist and wrenched his hand free of

my mouth. “What?!” I exclaimed again. “You...you mean they allow you to be here?? A psychotic murderer like you??”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too,” he huffed sarcastically, crossing his arms across his chest. “...For your

information, I’m a rather trusted sergeant of the royal army. Not that it’s any business of yours. Now if you don’t mind,

I’ll be taking what I came for and leaving.”

“...‘What you...’??” I repeated his words stupidly, then slowly turned to glance over my shoulder. Only Aliza’s

head was visible now, peering out from behind the bed post, and as soon as she sensed our stares she drew backwards

out of sight with a frightened gasp.

“Oh no you don’t,” the man told her firmly, taking several long strides into the room and seizing her roughly by

the arm, dragging her back into view. “What’s the matter with you, you stupid wench, didn’t I specifically tell you not to

be seen??”

“Ouch!!” she squealed pitifully, hiding her face from him as he gave her arm a second sharp jerk. “R...Rael,

you’re hurting me...!”

“Didn’t I tell you??” he repeated, more fiercely this time, bending over in an effort to establish eye contact.

“Well?? Tell me!!”

“Stop it!!” I exclaimed angrily, grabbing hold of his free arm and giving it a hard tug, as if I would have been able

to pull him away. “Leave her alone, you big bully, it wasn’t her fault--!!”

The man cast one amused glance down at me, futilely yanking at his arm, then released his hold on Aliza,

sending her slumping heavily to the floor. “....Spirited young lass, aren’t you...?” he said, slipping his arm free of my grasp

rather easily. “What an honor to be in the presence of such an animated Romanichel like yourself.”

“Just who do you think you are??” I snapped. I was getting rather used to the special treatment I was receiving

from everyone and was quite perturbed that he didn’t seem to be acting the same way. “Tell me -- who are you??”

“.............Well. How absolutely discourteous of me not to introduce myself to her eminence.” He couldn’t hide

the mocking tone in his voice, but he placed one fist against his chest and bowed somewhat respectfully at the waist. “I

am Rael, one of the three honorable sergeants of his majesty, the emperor of Cauchemar.” He straightened himself up,

appearing rather smug. “And you, my dear?”

I blinked. “....Excuse me...?”

“I don’t believe you were ever properly introduced to me,” he answered innocently, though I could hear the

arrogance in his voice. “I suppose we have met up before, and you managed to retain your head atop your neck. I

presume I can have the privilege of knowing your name...?”

“....You...!!!” I was really fuming now, especially since I was seeing flashbacks of the escapade in the rain, but I

inhaled a long, deep breath and managed to keep my cool. “....Nikka. Nikka Starling.”

“...Well, well, m’lady Nikka,” he said distantly. “The one who bears the Eye of the Blind. You’ve made quite a

name for yourself already, haven’t you...?”

“...No thanks to you,” I huffed irritably, crossing my arms. “You would have just as soon sliced off my head if

you could have gotten this stupid necklace along with it. Just like the way you gutted that poor old man, you sicko.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, and he turned his head aside. “....That is not your concern.” I think he could tell I

was about to say something else, because all at once he directed his vision back down towards the girl at his feet, who

was still sniffling and whimpering. “You. Stand up. We’re leaving now.”

“Hey, you leave her alone!” I broke in, taking a step forward as Aliza began to shift to her feet. “She doesn’t

have to do anything you say!!”

“...I’m afraid she does, my dear,” Rael answered me indifferently, casting a glance over his shoulder back at me

as he began to exit my room. “That’s what servants do, you see.”

“...Hey, wa --” I stopped as I finally understood what he had said. “....S...servant...?”

Rael pushed aside the chains hanging from the doorway in order for Aliza to step out into the hallway, then

turned and glanced back over at me. “It was a pleasure to meet you, your eminence,” he told me insincerely. “I suppose

we’ll be seeing much more of each other from now on, eh...?” Before I could reply, he turned and left the room.

I blinked several times, staring blankly out after them even though that had long since left my field of vision.

“....Well, that was bizarre...”

“...Excuse us, your eminence!!” Suddenly there came the sound of several pairs of feet sprinting lightly down

the hallway, and all at once the chains of beads were thrown aside, revealing at least ten maids entering the room. After

they all passed through the hatchway, they drew up into a neat line before me and simultaneously fell to their knees. I

was so startled by their entrance that I didn’t have time to protest against the bowing before one decided to speak.

“Please forgive our intrusion, your eminence!!” one servant, who I guessed was the leader of the group, cried

sincerely, lifting her face from the floor in order to gaze up at me. I could perceive a hint of fear glistening in her eyes

behind her glasses and beneath the loose strands of auburn hair trickling down from her bun. “We most certainly did not

intend to interrupt any matters of importance you might have been dealing with!”

“Wha...no, no, it’s ok!” I exclaimed, holding up both my hands and shaking my head back and forth. “I wasn’t--”

“The feast celebrating her eminence’s appearance shall begin momentarily!” another burst out, except it was

harder for me to hear her because she didn’t raise up from the floorboards. “His majesty has requested that your

eminence’s presence be in attendance! If you so please, of course!”

“Huh??” I blinked several times, gazing uneasily down at their stooping forms at my feet. “....Of...of course. I’d

love to come.”

“...Splendid.” The head maid exhaled a relieved breath, and once again they all rose to their feet in

synchronization. She turned her head to glance at the other servants lined up behind her. “Quickly now, girls, our time

is short! We must prepare her eminence to be presentable for the feast!”

“I beg your -- wahhhhhh!!” I was cut off as the rest of the maids surrounded me in a semicircle, then began to

pull violently on my arms, hair, and clothes. “What in the world are you doing?!”

“Your eminence cannot possibly think that she can attend the feast in such mangy attire?” the head maid asked

me, almost in surprise, as the rest of the servants continued to tug at my skirt and blouse.

“....Ouch!! Leggo of me!...Ow, that’s my hair!! That really smarts--!!”

“Hurry, girls, faster!!” the head maid ordered, holding out a straw basket into which my uniform was tossed

(after have been brutally pulled off of me) and waving two more hired girls who held an extravagant gown into the room.

“Her eminence cannot appear tardy for her own celebration feast!”

Y’know, this is kinda funny, in a painful sort of way, I thought bitterly as a middle aged servant torturously

pulled a comb through my knotted blond hair. Despite how high and mighty they seem to think I am, they’re certainly

not afraid to ignore me.

*Author's Note ~ Um, yea, yet another guy whose name is Rael. Go figure. x_x;; Heehee, but i really like his attitude and how sarcastic he is, LoL!! YEA RAEL!! ^____^ *

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