The Forbidden Entity (BWWM)

16

A few days later,

I could finally walk and move about with only a slight limp. Thus, I got up before breakfast and cleansed my teeth with a blend of clay, peppermint leaves, and oil. Once done, I grabbed my worn garments and ventured to the kitchens in search of Ms. Rita. I forgot to grab my waste bin, so I'll have to empty it later before the stench soils my room.

"Excuse me." I regarded one of the kitchen servants, walking up to her and politely gaining her attention. "Do you know the whereabouts of Ms. Rita?"

The girl scrutinized my figure, heeding me with a distasteful look as she didn't bother to answer my question. "Never mind." I backed away and apologized for disturbing her.

"Ms. Rita doesn't come out this early. She's probably still in her cottage," another servant spoke. His tone was unfriendly, but I turned and acknowledged him anyway.

"Thank you."

"Mmhm." He eyed my guard, who stood a few paces away before resuming his task of organizing different cuts of meat, which all looked to have been skinned and cleaned.

I dropped my shoulders in defeat and continued out of the castle, stopping at my first destination: the water well. I stuffed my dresses under my arm and began pumping water into the nearest pail. I then found an empty spot on the gravel and plopped down onto the rocks, fetching the large pebble from the bottom of the bucket. It likely came from the last servant who used it.

I nearly began scrubbing when I heard loud footsteps approaching. The exaggerated noises compelled me to look up and gasp, taken aback by the redness of the girl's face; she was furious.

"What have you done?!"

Her name evaded me momentarily, but I eventually remembered it: Jess. I recall slamming the door in her face when we first met. She's friends with Rosie and has been saying malicious things about me.

"What do you mean?"

"Whatever the hell you did, undo it, now."

"I did nothing." I grabbed my items and stood, displeased by her proximity. It was too early for such an improper attitude.

"You're a fucking snitch. You got me, Sasha, Rosie, and Melina demoted to barn duty because your weak ass can't handle mere words."

"Mere words?" I frowned at her audacity to downplay the situation. I haven't heard what Jess and her friends have said verbatim, but I can only imagine the cruelty of their remarks. If Jess could call me a whore, worm, and a pet to my face, then she has likely said much worse behind my back.

"How does slandering someone's name count as mere words?" I questioned.

"Have you never heard of a joke?"

"Jokes are funny; they're not supposed to hurt someone. I've done nothing to warrant your verbal attacks on my character, so why do you insist on making me the subject of your vicious 'jokes.' It's not funny, it's cruel."

"Oh, boo-hoo," Jess mocked me. "You're so pathetic you crumble when someone speaks badly about you. Grow some fucking balls and get over yourself," she spoke harshly. "If you think we'll stop heckling you, then you're—"

"Do we have a problem?"

I turned at the foreign voice, sighing in relief when I saw my guard. He usually positions himself out of view, which he does to make my adjustment to having a permanent guard more bearable, but I guess he wanted to intervene. He hasn't spoken since Khirus stationed him outside my door three days ago. Thus, his name was unknown to me.

"Leave," he ordered Jess.

She huffed before turning and stomping away. Once gone, I slowly lowered myself to the ground and opened one of my dresses, spreading it out and drenching it with water.