CHAPTER 4
I was released the following morning to do my daily routine. There are many things to be done. I have to clean the rooms, bathrooms, make the beds, iron clothes, wash them, sew any clothes that need to be fitted, and repair anything that had broken down. There are other slaves around here to help, but this place is very large that even with the amount of workers we have here, it could never be done so quickly. I have to do kitchen duty sometimes. Such as washing dishes, tables, and serving food, but I was sent mostly to care to the bedrooms. Sometimes my mistress would call me to see me and talk with me, but most of our conversations were quiet, simply because I’m too afraid to speak to her. She’s unpredictable and sometimes short tempered. I can’t risk my life because I let my tongue slip and ended up saying something offensive or disrespectful. I did everything she asked for of course. She didn’t command me to do anything that much. She just wanted to talk with me, which I find so strange. The other girls, when their owners call them, it’s usually for one thing; sex. But with mine, it’s different. She would only do something if I wanted it. And if I showed any signs of discomfort or fear she would stop. It doesn’t add up. I get a lot of looks from the girls around here. And I’ve only been here for four months. I’m still relatively new just like Koharu. We came here together, but everyone seems to over look her and come back to me. Some of the other slaves are jealous and the other mistresses see me as a tool for sex and nothing more. It scares me. I know that if my owner weren’t the person in charge of this coven I would have gotten taken from the people that want so badly to use me. In a way, I’m glad I have her for a mistress. I’m protected. Until she’s done with me; then I’m left for the taking. I walk my way towards the lunchroom where the others are heading. We don’t get that much of a break from cleaning, but it’s better than having to run on zero all day. The room is small with the tiniest window you can imagine. There are only three tables. All of us can never fit, so half the time we have to stand and eat. Being that I’m slow and often take my time to get somewhere I don’t get a place to sit because all the tables are full. I’ll have to stand again and I could use a seat. I’ve been walking around and running everywhere. There’s nothing that can be done about that though. I grab a plate and fill it up with the limited choices of food we have on display. I fill the plate up all the way to the top and take a cup of water then go towards the back. I’ll just lean against a wall while I eat. As I walk through the rows of people I can feel some of them staring at me. Others whispering about me and laughing. It seems even though we’re all treated like garbage or toys you still can get looked down upon. And I happen to know that for a fact.
“Hey, new girl!”
I stop in my tracks and look towards the person who spoke. No one’s ever spoke to me. Except Koharu, Airi, and Aika, but they’re mostly busy tending to my mistress’ needs. They’re her personal servants. So, they’re lunch break is somewhere much better than this tiny dungeon. They get better choices of food too. I look to the table on my left and see in the middle of the crowd someone I’ve been trying to avoid since I got here. Her wonky off centered eyes pierce me down, making it impossible for me to run. She motions with her thin and small hands to come over. I’m afraid if I don’t listen, she’ll hurt me. I take a deep breath and walk over nervously. I don’t know her name, but I know she’s someone I want to stay clear of. Everyone seems to avoid her too.
“Need a place to sit?” she asks
I nod. She stares at one of the girls across from her and tells them to leave. She quickly obeys and runs off. The reason why everyone’s so afraid of her is because she’s the only girl that talks back to her owner and the other mistresses around here with an attitude. If anyone does that, they would end up dead or severely punished. She hasn’t had both. I think it’s because they find her amusing. That and because her owner always finds a way to bail her out, that’s the only reason why she’s still here.
“Sit.” She commands
I don’t take a second to think. I sit down and let out a tired sigh. My legs finally get to relax. It feels good. I wish I can stay here all day or have a comfortable bed to sleep in for the night. But that would be asking for too much.
“My name’s Reina.” She introduces, and scoops up a spoonful of her soup. I quietly begin to eat my food. “You got a name?”
I nod. Now I know her name. She looks at me annoyed. Oh! She wants to know my name.
“Eri.” I mumble
I put my head down, my eyes transfixed on the meal before me. I don’t like sitting here with her. She makes me uncomfortable and I can feel her seething stare on me every second. She doesn’t like me. I know it.
“So you’re the girl Miki is so fascinated over.” She chuckles
She shouldn’t be calling her by her first name. Slaves are to always address the ones higher than us differently. I wonder if she uses first names with her mistress. I stay quiet, taking another scoop of my cold rice. All the food here is stone cold and poorly cooked. At least the water is fresh. It’s warm, but it’s potent.
“Aren’t you a lucky girl.” She sneers
I pick up my head to the sudden change of her tone. Her behavior has changed too. It’s hostile. She looks angry. Why would she be angry with me? I didn’t do anything to her. I didn’t do anything wrong. The girls around us snicker. They don’t like me either. No one likes me. I’m all alone left to defend for myself.
“Tell me… ‘Eri’, how does it feel to be treated better than us?”
It catches me off guard. I scoot back a little in surprise.
“What?”
“Don’t play stupid with me! Don’t think just because Miki treats you like some princess that you’ll get the same treatment here. This is my playground and you’ll be smart to listen to what I say. Or we’ll have one serious problem.”
I knew sitting here was a bad idea. I open my mouth to say something on my defense, but I’m too scared. She glares at me, waiting for me to say something. She will probably hit me if I speak. I close my mouth and look away.
“What’s a matter? Too scared to say something now?” she hisses, “You’re pathetic.”
I feel my eyes start to burn and flood with tears. I try to hide that I want to cry, but she doesn’t seem to miss it and starts laughing. It makes me want to cry more. There’s more snickering, it’s louder this time. The whole room is listening.
“Are you going to cry? Awe, did the little princess get her feelings hurt? Well let me tell you something ‘princess’ you…”
“That’s enough Tanaka!”
I look down the table to the right. Reina turns her head, annoyed that someone had the nerve to stick up to her. I know this girl. She’s another person no one messes with, mainly because she’s quite tall and can easily pound the living day lights out of anyone. They don’t like to be around her, but Reina isn’t afraid of her. She isn’t afraid of anything or anyone here.
“You got something to say bigfoot?!”
The black haired girl stands up and walks towards Reina. I’ve never seen her so angry. She’s usually content and harmless. She stays to herself. She’s also passive and does whatever she’s told. Reina stands too and goes up to her. With them close to each other, you can clearly see the high difference between them. Reina’s puny and the other one is very tall, towering over Reina.
“You leave her alone, Reina. She never did anything to you.” She demands
Reina snorts and smirks at her. “Shut up JunJun. Mind your own business if you know what’s good for you.”
She’s pushing JunJun’s buttons. Reina’s hand curls into a fist. Something tells me a fight’s going to break out and it isn’t going to be a pretty one. Before JunJun can say something back, the door to the lunchroom opens.
“Reina, that is enough.” Says a calm and stern voice
She looks towards the door and has on a frown. It’s Maki. Her mistress.
“But,”
“Come with me, Reina, now.”
Reina frowns, but listens. She rushes to the door. They’re arguing a little, but Maki takes her by the wrist and walks her out of the room before they start yelling at each other. I let out a sigh in relief. JunJun sits down where Reina once sat and looks at me. She has on her content and relaxed expression again.
“Are you ok?” she asks
I nod. I lift up my fork in my hand. I instantly start shaking uncontrollably. JunJun puts a hand over my hand to stop it. I look at her and laugh faintly. I guess I’m not all that fine. I pull my hand free and put it down.
“Don’t listen to Reina. She’s all talk because Goto-san always saves her from trouble. She’s just jealous that you get treated so well by Fujimoto-sama.”
I smile.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t going to let her walk all over you. If she bothers you again just let me know. I’m the only one that will stand up to her.” She advises
I nod at her. We smile at each other and I eat my lunch in peace, finally. I think I’ve made myself a new friend. I’m glad.
Topic: The Coven [CLOSED] (Read 16974 times)