"mistress" • diluc

x

• third person •

Bai stood outside of the mahogany door, her feet pacing awkwardly. She stepped forward, then back again, her pupils continuously darting around the area in case of an unexpected approaching figure.

This was almost a daily occurrence these days. Bai always found herself guarding the bathroom door first thing in the morning, unbeknownst to the one inside, doing her best to distract anyone, particularly Aila's parents, who were to come anywhere near.

Another gag erupted from behind the bathroom door. It was particularly bad today.

So bad in fact, that Bai could make out the noises perfectly outside the door. In all honesty, it made her want to gag too.

Sighing quietly, she turned, moving closer to the door.

Her eyebrows jumped when she heard a loud groan, and then a thud.

"M-Miss Lawrence?"

She was instantly met with a shriek.

"Fuck off!"

Bai's gaze fell.

A rapid cry followed, "I'm sorry," she heard. Aila sobbed inside the bathroom. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. I'm not like my parents."

Bai was silent.

It couldn't have happened again... surely..?

...Huh...

"Are you alright, Miss Lawrence..? You don't sound well..."

A period of quietness fell after a long while of Aila's vomiting.

"Miss Aila?"

Bai knocked on the door. Her eyebrows knitted.

"Aila. Are you okay?" She shook the door handle. "Are you awake?"

No response. Bai's heart began to pound against her chest.

Without thinking, Bai rushed away from the bathroom door. Her feet sped through the corridor, and she thanked the gods for the fact that the door of this bedroom was open.

Bai tumbled into Aila's room. She instantly led herself towards Aila's desk full of potions.

A blue potion glowed; a small vial that lay horizontally before the white vial rack, half empty. Bai snatched it up, immediately excusing herself back to where she came from.

She knocked on the door. "Miss Aila."

"Hmm..?"

A sigh of relief heaved from Bai's chest.

The bathroom remained quiet. There was a few echoes of steps, almost stumbling. Bai could only infer that Aila had collapsed onto the bathroom floor after vomiting.

"I have medicine. Here, unlock the door."

"Medicine..? I can treat myself..."

"Please unlock the door, Miss Lawrence."

"I need to go and see Klee. And Mr Albedo. I'm busy..."

"You need to unlock the door to be able to see them, Miss Lawrence."

"I can't see it," Aila replied. "I can't see anything. There's black splotches everywhere."

The door handle began to be turned, and it was clear from the fumbling sounds that Aila was trying to find the lock.

"I can't see," Aila cried. "Please help."

Her butler pursed her lips.

"Underneath the handle, you can find a small bolt. Feel for it... reach for the end of it, there should be a part that sticks out. Tug it to the left with your fingers."