Bonded

Chapter eight Lunar ball

I walked slowly down the marble stairs carrying a mop and bucket. Every step seemed to echo through the vast walls. I descended down reaching the dining table. Servants walked earnestly murmuring among themselves. Going left I dropped the bucket at the cleaning closet.

Heaving out a sigh, I tried to relax my shoulders but my arm were teased, muscle sniff allowing no movement. Stretching out leisurely and walking with no destination in mind.

"It's today" someone whispered. Two young servants walked ahead. The other seemed to teased up by the statement.

"Have mercy on me God!" the other spoke up sounding fearful.Two of them walked with caution searching for an invisible danger. The moved closer murmuring audible prayers. They passed by lost in precation. I looked back at them watching them closely. They words brought curiosity. Turning left, I went searching for Ebere.

The ball room was just below the floor, a spacious wooden polish floor, heavy curtain with brown embroider. Tables were laid at the wall. Leaving the center free, a huge illuminist chandelier dangled from the center. Servants moved around with plates and trays of food placing it at the buffer table at the far corner, my attention was immediately glued. Gulping down the urge, I walked to were Ebere was sited.

She sighed heavily, her lips forming into a hard line, browns frowned in unknown rage as I moved towards her. She didn't move when I sat down and only continued her task. Drawing the chair out I sat at the elegant table.

Banging her hand on the table, I feared it would hurt but she only grunted out a ragged breath.

"What's this so hard eeeh" she exclaimed

"Wenti be this?" continuing with her angry speech she cleaned the sliver spoon squeezing the fabric tightly. I could only watch.

"This time of the month is always the hardest" she spoke up after some minute.

I only hummed out knowing I was missing an important massage.

"Today is the lunar ball" Ebere said filling me in.

"A ball at the mansion? I asked.

She looked up with narrowed eyes glancing my way.

"Yes it is, held ever middle month of the year" I didn't miss the way her body movement seemed to change and worry expression covered her face.

"What's up" I neared closer making sure my voice was lowered.

She stared at me for a while her eyes scanning around moving in a pendulum motion. Shaking her head slowly, she looked away and continued her task. I don't question her and only stare out the opened curtain. Worrying over nothing in particular. Also thinking deeply into the concept of the ball. Nothing was certain in this mansion. Different thought clouded my mind on the prospect of the night to come. The air was omnivorous, the exchange of words from those girls repeated endless through my brain. Shaking my head slowly. I had no reason to be afraid. Looking through the window, the sun casted it shape down leaving the night to come with its own mystery.

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The ball room was dazzled with gold. Soft music played at the background. Ruffled skirt of different colours and beautiful Ankara grown adored the women. Heavy jewels dripped from they neck and ears. The men wore Abada and suits chatting with serious expression to each other. I carried a tray of drinks along others, held high up, I moved slowly through the crowd careful not to spill a drop. Occasionally I was called on to serve invisible to the busy words. They danced and chattered freely with partners, bight colours Akara swayed to the beat of the song. Grazing in wonderment, I stood and watched. They were all beautiful with perfect chiseled jaw and high fulled cheek bones. It was like another word as they danced happily till nightfall, they perfection and height intimated me. I was like a pebble lost in sea. Holding the now empty tray on both hands with dumbfound curiosity I watched from the distance at the buffer table.

Someone tapped my shoulder, I turned back a little dazed. Standing with an angry scowl on her face, her tiny lips were pressed together almost like a pout but not quite. She stood overshadowing hands on her tiny waist, she didn't speck for full minute with heads bow down I knew what was to come. She was one of the supervisor of the ball.

"You are supposed to be working and don't starring with your mouth open" she chastised, I automatically closed my mouth. Looking else where.

"Let me not catch you next time" with that warning she turned and walked away. I breathed out a sigh of relief, turning back I checked if she was closed by. Her retreating figure sway lightly easily disturbed by movement. I returned to my former action looking around, after a while I took the dirty wine glass to the kitchen.

After a back and front movement serving drinks and returning back to kitchen. My arms ached all through the night raising the tray high up and in anxiety. My pinafore grown felt sticky the night was humid but it didn't affect the glamour of the night. The long night dragged painful slowly, I stood motionless by the corner only allowed some few minutes to lower the tray and grazed ahead but nothing seemed to make sense. I tried to peep beyond the mass of bodies clutter together searching, but only mops of hair and different strangers faces grazed back at me. I looked down when ever our eyes met knowing it was against the norm to stare at a guest. Even with crowd, I desperately tried to see those taunting orbs.

"Hey you" someone called out, I turned to the voice my pasture straighten.

Ahead a lady motioned me over, I walked towards her. Lowering the drink to her level, she looked shapely at my direction, a scowl on her face. Her attitude is not new to me. But the fear of not being cautious enough to know what would happen next.

"Didn't you hear me"? She asked. I don't speak and only looked down cursing myself for such a mistake.

"I want a drink" she sass out.

Taking the glass I moved it towards her. With out scratched hands, I brought the drink closer. Time seemed to stand still, the clattering of the glass ranged out. Every movement seemed to stop and the hall became silent. Standing there shocked the glass scattered on the floor.

"Are you mad?" the lady says angrily. I looked up frightfully ready to apologize but I just stood there staring at the floor. Words always fails me at a crucial moment.

Her heels clicked on the floor as she approached crouching the glass making a nerve wracking sound.

Her movement were unanticipated, a hot slapped landed on my cheeks, it sting my burning skin, I turned violently to the side as the impact was administered.

"You must be mad acting all innocent" she voice rode higher enjoying the silence. I don't speak nor defend myself.

"Am talking to you" she spoke out pulling me closer to her by the dress. She held on to my uniform with unimaginable strength. I was trapped between her clutches, her sharp red nails dug deep into my skin. Whimpering out, I looked around anxiously.

"Don't you think that's enough" an all to familiar voice spoke up. I looked up with hope, his stare was icy. With the command she realised my uniform. I stumbled lightly and looked down biting into my lips.

"Alpha this thing isn't well trained" her accusing tone rose higher. Defying the silence, all eyes watched us curious, I could feel the piercing graze of his.

"You don't have to get so angry over a common servant" he spat out. I squirm at his words, a ting of pain travels down deep. The lady nodded her head agreeing to his statement. They unfreezing stare with superiority, makes the air go dry, I feel small covered my warm bodies.

The crowd gathered began to move away and the women left not before eyeing me. I could feel his presence by my side, looking at the floor the scattered glass broken to pieces. Not knowing what else to do, I bended down ready to clean the mess I created. I reached out for one piece careful for it not to pierce me.

"Stand up" he hiss out. Looking up from below his towing height shadows around my form, a frown is plastered on his face, his eyes burns disappointment and anger. Slowly standing up, I dare not look up. Shifting away from him, I stood at arms length, he doesn't speak again and storms off. Yet again for the third time I stare at this retreating back. Another servants comes seconds later with a broom and packer. Within minutes i leave the hall, walking down the corrido leaving the noisy area.

Claiming up the flight of stairs, I move with no direction knowing the consequence that awaits when I return. But I needed an escape from the world that surround around. When I reach the top, a mad bawl rings out. Turning with shaking hands. I stand very still.