Today was odd. Very odd.
We had gone to serve the Lords that morning. And true to her word, Becca went to Lord Fashire's wing to deliver food to his pet while I took the food cart to the other Lords' wings. As luck would have it, two Lords were absent, so I found myself in the company of their pets alone instead. They seemed well off, which brought a welcome relief for me.
And well… the Lords who were present, fortunately, didn't give me much attention. Lady Gremlin was pleasant, as always. Once I was done, I left the Lords' wings, and I waited for Becca.
I waited.
Then waited some more.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly, and unease gnawed at me. She too, was taking quite a long time in there, and I wondered if it was similar to what I had experienced yesterday.
When Becca emerged from Lord Fashire's wing, my relief was short-lived. Her face was drained of colour, a stark contrast to her usual vibrance. I stood there, perplexed.
"Becca, are you all right?"
Startled, her eyes swept to me as if realising I was there. She then made a feeble attempt at a smile, but her quivering lips betrayed her true state.
I approached her, scared. "You don't have to do that. It's obvious that you look…"
She covered her mouth and shook her head, pain flashing across her face. Becca burst past me, running without a word. Bewildered and worried, I pushed the cart and rushed after her.
Her usual enthusiastic gait had transformed into an anxious stride. Almost desperate. As if she wanted to escape the very air of the Lords' wings. We had barely distanced ourselves from their domain when I couldn't bear the suspense any longer.
"Becca, what happened in there? Is something wrong?" Desperation seeped into my shaky voice.
This did not make any sense. She had been to his chambers before, but she seemed so agitated. Even more agitated than I was yesterday.
She squeezed her eyes shut and whispered, "I don't want to speak of it. I'm truly sorry, Hiln."
Relinquishing her food tray onto my cart, Becca gently nudged it from my grasp, her actions laden with a silent plea as she refused to even look at me.
I released my hold on the cart, and Becca wheeled it away. I soon found myself standing alone in the dimly lit hallway as she disappeared into the kitchen, my chest heavy with fear and guilt.
It was my fault.
She had gone to serve him because of me.
But what had happened in there?
I had assumed she would be fine since she had served him before, but it seemed my assumption had been gravely mistaken.
Minutes ticked by, and Becca remained hidden within the confines of the kitchen. My determination to apologize and offer solace grew stronger.
She must have witnessed something very disturbing. The thought of that boy clawed at my mind, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. That tiny, terrified boy… I did not have the right to have Becca recount anything she didn't want to discuss.
At the end of the day, it seemed lesser vampires weren't that much different from humans. They at least didn't consume that much blood the way the higher Lords did.
I couldn't help but feel that Lord Fashire had unleashed something horrific upon that innocent boy while Becca was still in there. Perhaps the prolonged duration of her absence was due to her diligent efforts to clean up the aftermath of his actions.
I shuddered.
'Oh, lords!'
What kind of situation had I placed Becca in? It tortured me to see her cheerful demeanour dwindling so much. Was there anything I could do to bring it back? Rubbing my neck nervously, I made my way into the kitchen. Becca was the only one in there. Inside, she diligently placed the used plates in the sink, leaving them for Tori and May to wash when they returned to their posts.
"I—I am so sorry, Becca," I spoke up, hovering close to the entrance. "I should have never let you go in there… especially on your own. That was selfish of me."
"Stop." Becca didn't look up. Then, finally, she straightened, sighing deeply. "It's fine, Hiln. It's not really about that… Maybe I…" Her voice trailed off. "You know. We can discuss this another time." She then slouched forward as she looked back down at what she was doing. "Just not now."
I nodded. Then offered softly, "Should I wait for you?"
She nodded without lifting her gaze. I leaned against the wall and waited as she finished stacking dishes and washed her hands. We left the kitchen together in silence. Every step seemed heavier than the last.
I kept stealing glances at her, but she never looked up. Her steps were slow and laden with the weight of whatever had transpired in Lord Fashire's chambers.
Suddenly, a thought struck me, halting me in my tracks and startling Becca.
"Wait here, please," I slightly raised my hand, pleading.
Before she could protest, I turned and hurried to Matadre's office. Without bothering to knock, I pushed the door open to find her inside, engrossed in her work.
"Excuse me," I blurted out, then quickly added, "I apologise for barging in like this."
Matadre looked up from her papers, one brow arched. "Is there something I can assist you with, Hiln?"
"Yes." I rubbed my wrist, raw from nervous anticipation. "I was wondering… Since we have no further tasks after serving the Lords this morning, would it be permissible for Becca and I to venture into town?"
Matadre hummed thoughtfully, propping her elbows on the table and resting her chin on her clasped hands. Her eyes studied me intently before a decision formed. "Very well, Hiln. However, do not tarry for too long."
I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, and with newfound energy, I left the office. Becca stood where I had left her, leaning against the wall. Without thinking, I grasped her shoulders. She flinched and raised her hands defensively, eyes wide.
I stepped back at once. "I am so sorry, Becca. I didn't mean to startle you." I managed a small smile. "I sought Matadre's permission. Would you like to escape this place for a while?"
Her confusion softened into faint understanding. A flicker of light returned to her eyes, and my smile widened in response.
"Where are we going?" she asked softly.