HIDDEN HOWL

Chapter Seventeen: Sneers in The Kitchen

TRINITY

I woke up with an unsettling grumble in my stomach, the kind that demanded immediate attention. I blinked a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. The sun had barely risen, casting a soft glow through the curtains. But the hunger… that was impossible to ignore.

I pushed the covers off and swung my feet to the floor, the cold hardwood sending a chill up my spine. I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should just head back to bed and wait for breakfast. But my stomach made its opinion loud and clear—food first, bed second.

I padded down the hallway, the silence of the house almost oppressive in the early morning hours. The air smelled faintly of something rich and warm, and I knew exactly where it was coming from: the kitchen.

When I arrived, I was greeted with the sight of several maids, all moving around the room with an air of efficiency. But as soon as I stepped into view, the atmosphere shifted. Their eyes slid toward me—cold, judgmental, and full of contempt. The warmth of the kitchen seemed to evaporate as the looks became pointed. I felt the weight of their gazes as if they were daggers.

But there was one exception. A young woman with soft brown hair and bright, kind eyes stood out from the others. She was the only one who didn't seem to find my presence irritating. As if on instinct, she smiled at me and walked over.

"Good morning," she said softly, her voice warm and genuine. "Are you hungry?"

I managed a small smile, appreciating the lack of disdain in her voice. "Yeah, actually. I'm starving."

"I'm Lily," she introduced herself, her hands already reaching for a pot on the stove. "I've been the one bringing your meals since you arrived. What would you like this morning?"

I frowned for a moment, confused. "I don't remember you, but I guess I've been a little out of it the past few days. You can just surprise me, I guess. Whatever you think is best."

Lily nodded, moving with a grace that was unexpected. I watched as she swiftly got to work, her movements confident and practiced. Within moments, the scent of something delicious—savory and buttery—began to fill the air.

While I waited for the food, I noticed the other maids in the room. Their glares hadn’t subsided; they still watched me, but with a little less intensity now that Lily was speaking with me. Still, the air felt thick with their judgment.

Lily seemed to sense my discomfort. "Don't mind them," she said in a quiet voice, her back to the other maids as she stirred something in the pan. "They're not the friendliest bunch."

I sighed, not knowing whether to be relieved or frustrated. "I was getting that impression."

She smiled sympathetically, her focus never wavering from the food she was preparing. "They have their reasons," she muttered, though I could tell she didn’t want to elaborate. "But you don’t have to worry about them. I'll make sure you’re taken care of."

I wanted to ask what she meant, but before I could, the door to the kitchen swung open, and in walked a man who immediately drew everyone's attention. His dark hair was neatly styled, and he moved with the kind of easy confidence that made heads turn. All the maids in the room straightened, eyeing him like they were starved for his attention. They began to fawn over him, tossing flirtatious glances and throwing themselves at him in exaggerated, almost comical ways.

But the man didn’t seem to notice. Or rather, he didn’t seem to care. His gaze was fixed on Lily, a smile tugging at his lips as he walked toward her, his movements casual but deliberate.

"Morning, Lily," he said, his voice deep and smooth. "I trust everything is in order?"

Lily smiled back, a warmth in her expression that wasn’t shared by the others. "Of course. You know how it is—always plenty to do."

The man glanced around the room before his eyes settled on me. I had been trying not to pay attention to the scene unfolding, but when his gaze locked on me, I felt a jolt of recognition. His expression shifted—his eyes widening in surprise.

"Trinity?" he said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "I almost didn’t recognize you. It’s been such a long time."

I froze, trying to place him. I could feel my brow furrow as I searched my memory, but the face before me was unfamiliar. The longer I stared, the more confused I became.

"Uh…" I trailed off, shaking my head. "Sorry, do I know you?"

He laughed softly, a sound that was surprisingly light for someone so composed. "It's me, Xander. I guess I’ve changed a bit, huh?" He raised an eyebrow as if trying to gauge my reaction.

Xander. The name struck a chord in my mind, but the memory of his face still didn’t quite fit. I thought hard, trying to recall any detail that might trigger a more concrete memory. But nothing came.

"I’m sorry," I said, feeling embarrassed. "I don’t remember."

Xander didn’t seem offended. If anything, his smile widened. "It’s okay. You’ve been through a lot recently. I’m just glad to see you’re doing well."

I gave him a hesitant smile. "Thanks."

Lily set the plate of food down in front of me, breaking the awkward silence. "Here you go, Trinity. I hope it’s to your liking."

The smell of freshly cooked eggs, crisp bacon, and warm toast made my stomach growl again, and without thinking, I dug in. But as I took the first bite, I couldn’t help but glance back at the other maids, who were still glaring at me, their faces sour.

Xander seemed to sense my discomfort. His gaze flicked to the maids, and he sighed, muttering something under his breath that I didn’t quite catch.

"Just ignore them," Lily whispered to me, though she didn’t seem to mind Xander’s presence at all. "They’ll get over it."

"Right…" I mumbled, focusing back on the food in front of me, even as my curiosity about the strange dynamic between Xander and the others lingered in the air. Something was off here, but for now, I was too hungry to dig any deeper.

“I'll see you around, Trinity,” Xander said, grabbing an Apple from the counter and making his way out of the kitchen.

My eyes remained glued to him until he was completely out of sight. And there was only one question that lingered in my mind.

Where do I know Xander from?