Cursed by the land

Two Faced

As the Dantes slipped away into sleep, there were people plotting against them in a distant land of Breezedale. In mansion, the candles have exhausted themselves.

‘Is the plan going as supposed?’ An old man who had hidden himself with cloak asked a gentleman who had his feet on the table. ‘Just as we thought. The girl is currently head over heels with me.’ The young man filled in. ‘She brought her sister today she is also pretty as her and I think both of them will fetch a good price.’ He added. ‘Stick to the plan lad!’ The old man slams his hand on the table. ‘The last time Lazarus failed to adhere we all know what happened, he was caught and hang on the gallows.’

Do nuh be greedy and bite more than you can chew. Continue hiding yourself so you won’t be discovered by the folks. The butler of the mansion enters and bows his head. ‘Letter came in for you in the evening when you were away master’ he said and bowed his head. He takes the letter and drops it on the table dismissing his butler with his hands.

‘You have to be careful with your servants Nathan. You never know which one might betray you.’ The old man chips in a little advice. ‘Moses has been nothing but loyal to me. He doesn’t go further than he is supposed to and he knows me too well’ the young man Nathan tells him. ‘It doesn’t cost to be extra careful. The old man gets up to leave as he is done with what he came here for. The young man gets and the light from the fireplace reveals him to be Archie. He escorts the old man to the front door and gets back to sleep.

After taking his bath, he sits on the bed in his bedroom and picks a drawing of a young girl none other than Eli. He takes a dagger from the drawer and tears the drawing apart. ‘I’ll bring tears to your eyes Eli. You think I love you? I will never do that after the humiliation the Dantes did to me. Thunder strikes and he smiles with a malicious intent and throws the torn drawing into the fireplace.

Abbey wakes up to see sun shining brightly. She gets out of bed find Eli already out of the room with her bed laid. Jude however was still combing her hair. Abbey goes out to see the letter she had forgotten to read. ‘You forgot to take the letter last night child.’ Aunt Rebecca said. I take it and murmur thanks to place it back on the bed before going to take my bath.

I returned to see the family already seated. I had worn a new dress aunt Rebecca got for me. I had applied as a librarian to the town’s library as one of its workers had retired last week leaving a vacant spot. I leave the house with Eli who is already working there.

‘Baum Library’ I read the sign in front. Eli knocked and I entered after her. ‘Good morning Mr Nolan. A man in his late forties in a suit and an old hat bowed after him.’ Eli then shows me the door to the room of Mr Oliver Green who was to interview me. I heard he was quite strict and rarely allowed females to work with him. I know and a heavy voice tells me to enter. Bowing my head after entering as a sign of greeting and respect. ‘Welcome Miss de Lawrence. I received your letter three days ago.’ I thanked him and he signals me to sit. I thought every day interview will go the normal way until he hits me with ‘I cannot offer you a job lad. There’s no vacant space here. Although Mr Williams retired, the library is not in the state to employ anyone soon.’

Looks like I won’t be getting this job. I bow my head and thank him leaving the room. Eli notices my sunken face and asks me if everything went well. The sigh from me was enough to tell her everything. ‘It’s alright, you can apply as a home tutor for a rich family.’ She tries to console me but I wonder if I’ll ever be picked for such jobs. Eli had more knowledge in books than I did. Since I came here she has been the one helping me pick up from the basics.

I go back home and drops myself on the bed. Aunt Rebecca doesn’t probe further since my mood is enough to explain I didn’t get the job. We were counting on the money I’ll earn as a librarian to help push the family further as we all survived on uncle Hugh’s and Eli’s income. Before getting up to change the dress I wore for the interview, I find the letter I’ve been forgetting to read.

I tear it open and it’s a letter from Laurel. She was one of the kind people I used to work with. She also came from a poor background and was mostly shunned when I used to work in Kenthood. I read the letter and I’m quite happy that she has found another job and was getting married soon. Laurel has always been in love with Peter Walls. I was so happy she found the one she loved.

Jude enters soon and is happy. She throws herself on the bed and I ask her what happened. ‘Eleanor has finally been able to get the Crown’s approval to sight see the palace.’ My brows furrow at the thought since I know Eleanor has no connection with the king and queen and their family is the last to be invited to the palace. Noah Rivers was banished from entering the palace after there were reports of embezzlement. ‘Are you sure of this?’ I enquire and she nods happily showing me a letter with the royal seal on it.

She leaves the room bouncing and I understand for a girl her age but then I can’t shake off the bad feeling I have. I then remembered the dream I had last night. I saw myself in a cage with feets and hands shackled. Uncle Hugh stood by my side and did nothing about it. I was whipped until a young man with black hair stretched his hands to help me. He had chestnut eye and looked like a fine gentleman. I woke up afterwards and this had skipped my mind.

Aunt Rebecca calls me out to help her with the kitchen. ‘It’s okay to be sad but don’t be broken lad. We all face rejection at a point in our life.’ I stare at her and smile at her comforting words. ‘You can still apply as a tutor at the Rikards, aunt Rebecca said. I nodded and started thinking of telling uncle Hugh to write a letter so I can start applying as a tutor for children.