The Emerald Queen

NORA

Looking out the Window of the kitchen, I can almost imagine that I am anywhere but here. Its a magnificently sunny, May day. The flowers are Blooming and the rolling hills are just begging for me to explore very inch. In my nearly 18 years of life, 18 years of misery in this place they call a girls school, I have not once set foot on those hills, smelt the wild flowers or felt the summer sun on my skin. I will get out of this place one day, even if its the last thing I do. 

"Nora, get in here NOW!"

My fantasy is cut short by Dorothy, the head mistress of this miserable establishment. 

"NORA!" she screams again. Oh I could kill that woman.

"What's the matter Miss?" I ask.

"The floors haven't been cleaned in the dining room, and I'll need you to have this whole place perfect as we have a very special visitor coming tomorrow. You will spend the day in the kitchen, we will need our finest foods prepared."

"But tomorrow is my Birthday Miss, you promised me that I could have the day off." I argue, knowing I wouldn't win. 

"Do you think you are that important Nora? I told you, we have an important visitor coming tomorrow and you will do as you are told or be punished."

"Yes Miss." I sigh.

It was rare that a visitor came to Kylemore Girls school, so while I was curious about who this "important" visitor was, I wasn't happy that it had to be on my 18th Birthday. It was the one day of the year that I could have off and now I'd have to spend the day slaving in the kitchen. 

After a long evening of mopping, scrubbing and dusting, I headed down to my bedroom in the basement. The school itself is an enormous building, 120 bedrooms in total, a huge dining room, conservatory and kitchen. It also boasted an amazing library. Sometimes I would steal myself a book to read and get it back unnoticed. Reading was one of my only joys, but technically, I wasn't allowed to borrow the books. Despite the number of bedrooms, I am forced to sleep down here, in the cold and the damp, like an unwanted dog. 

Getting to sleep has always been a struggle on my painfully thin mattress atop the floor. No barrier against the cold and the damp and a mere sheet as a blanket. Returning to my fantasy of getting out of this place, I eventually drifted off and dreamed of green hills and blue eyes. 

                                                                                       ***

The morning came around too quickly and by 5am I am in the kitchen. Although the school has it's own cook, I am often recruited here to help with the cooking and cleaning. I swear Dorothy uses it as a form of torture as I am never allowed to eat the delicious foods that I cook. For as long as I can remember, I have lived off minimal amounts of porridge and watery stew. 

My face is covered in flour, my hands covered in dough, when I hear Dorothy stomping into the kitchen. Rolling my eyes, I awaited her criticism. But unfortunately I wasn't that lucky. I was almost brought to my knees when I felt that all too familiar sting of the whip across my back. f**k, what now? 

"You better be on your best behaviour today Nora, Lord help me you will." She almost hissed, sending shivers down my spine. 

"Yes Miss." Was all I could squeak out, trying not to cry. Crying only made her angrier and I didn't need any more whippings to mark my 18th Birthday. 

The work in the kitchen never seemed to end. Between myself and the cook, who showed up at 8am, we had turned out a feast that was fit for a king. Freshly made breads, the sweetest of fruits, a full chicken, potatoes in every way they can be cooked, an array of vegetables and fresh apple pie for afters. My mouth watered at the banquet set before me. I was so hungry I felt sick. 

I was placing the last of the food on the vast dining table when Dorothy appeared through the door, inviting her guest to come in and sit down. This wasn't going to be good, she never wanted me to be seen by anyone that came to the school. Just as I was about to turn and run out the other door, a pair of piercing blue eyes locked onto mine. I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe. My skin felt like it was on fire and at the same time, I was shivering. I could see Dorothy glaring at me at the corner of my eye, but for the first time in my life, I didn't feel fear.

"Nora, can you hear me? You can leave now. My apologies Mr Wolffe, some girls just don't know their place." 

"DONT YOU EVER SPEAK TO HER LIKE THAT AGAIN!" He shouted, while never breaking eye contact with me. What is this? What is going on? Like a flash, he was in front of me, close enough that I could feel his breath brush past my face. He was gorgeous, he was tall and handsome and I'm sure I've dreamt of those blue eyes. He brushed my cheek with his fingers, breaking me from my trance. Sparks flew all around my body in response to his touch, making my knees wobble.

"H...Hi" I stuttered.

"MINE" He muttered.