Bound by Secrets

Chapter five

“Good evening, Adams,” I greeted the butler with a bright smile.

The day's work had finally come to an end, so I rushed to the kitchen to get my dinner.

This was my favorite time of the day because I could finally get some rest from the day's activities.

“Thank you, Beatrice,” I thanked the head chef as she handed my food to me.

I sat on one of the chairs in the kitchen and started eating.

“There you are,” the cheery voice of my friend Anastasia sounded across the kitchen.

“Anna, you're back. I missed you. I said after swallowing the food in my mouth.

Anna had gone on her monthly break.

A privilege that all the servants in the Blackburn household enjoyed.

She walked to where I was with arms open, and I stood up to hug her.

“I heard what happened. Are you okay?” She asked in a quiet voice, concern written all over her face.

Of course, she had heard about the vase incident. News flew fast around here, so I wasn't surprised that she had heard about it even though she just got back.

“I'm okay. I sustained a small injury to my foot, but it is healing quite well,” I gave her a reassuring smile.

She looked at me with concerned eyes.

“Okay, great. Now tell me everything.”

We spent the next hour talking about everything that happened in her absence, from the broken vase incident to the interaction I had with Master Aiden.

I left out some parts, like the embarrassing encounter I had in Master Aiden’s bedroom.

Anna also told me some things that happened while she was away, and after some time we bid each other good night and went to bed.

I couldn't sleep, so I lay on my back and just stared at the ceiling.

“Mum, look!” I screamed as a butterfly landed on my palm.

“It's beautiful,” my eyes shone.

“Yes, it is.” My mother laughed. “But not as beautiful as you are,” she said with a smile.

A lone tear dropped out of my eye as I recalled that memory that happened when I was five.

I shut my eyes so I could get some sleep.

It was going to be a long day tomorrow, as the lady's birthday was in a week and serious preparations for the birthday ball would begin.

I let out a tired yawn as I tied the ropes of my apron and made my way to the ballroom I was supposed to clear out.

The ballroom was so big, and if not for the clutter of chairs and tables littering it, it would've appeared even bigger.

I got to work immediately as I didn't want Adams to see me slacking.

I picked up a chair and took it to the corner of the room.

I wanted to stack the chairs, so I moved all the chairs to one corner of the room till I was able to achieve that.

It took me about thirty minutes to finish. I did the same for the tables, and in no time I was done.

I removed all the curtains from the windows and went to the attic to keep them.

The attic was dark and dusty; it gave me the chills.

I quickly dropped the stash of curtains in one corner so I could bolt out of there.

I was about to leave when I saw something golden flash from the other side of the room. It was a large wooden box with shiny golden rims.

I walked slowly towards it.

A carved symbol was engraved at the top.

I ran my hands on it.

It looked familiar.

My eyes widened.

It was the same symbol on the key I found amongst the pieces of the broken vase.

I looked over my shoulder to check if someone was coming.

No one.

Just silence.

Slowly, I took out the small key from my dress pocket.

Warning bells rang in my head, and the tiny voice inside me told me to leave the box and walk away as if I saw nothing.

Instead…

I crouched slowly before the box.

My hands trembled as I placed the key into the lock.

The lock opened with a small click, and I jumped, my heart thudding in my chest.

“God, please help me,” I said, a silent prayer before opening the lid of the box.

My shoulders slumped in disappointment as I looked inside the box.

A bunch of old envelopes were scattered inside the box.

Beneath the envelopes lay a brown leather journal.

I picked up the journal and carefully opened it.

I skimmed through the first page.

“If you are seeing this, it means something terrible has happened to me and someone in this mansion is responsible...”

My breath hitched.

Could this be the lady's journal?

I reached for the next page, but my hand stopped midair when I heard the door open behind me.

My palms became sweaty.

Someone was here.

I raised my head and turned slowly.

A tall figure stood at the doorway.

It was…

Master Adrian.

He stared at me with a poker face.

He looked down at the box and then to the key in my hand.

He didn't say anything.

He just stood there and stared.

After what felt like forever, he walked towards me slowly, his eyes never leaving mine.

He stopped in front of me.

“Where did you get that key?” he asked in a firm voice.

My mouth opened, but no words came out.

I couldn't answer.

“Do not make me repeat myself,” he added, annoyance laced in his words.

My mind became hazy, and a thousand questions popped into my head.

Should I lie?

Or should I just tell him the truth?

This was a double-edged sword.

Telling him the truth would put me in trouble.

Lying would put me in even more trouble.

I decided to just say whatever came to my mind.

“I - I found…”