Lillian the Villian

Free time

I wake up at 5 a.m. and get ready to report to Ms.Slyard, but Alice stops me in the hallway.

"What are you doing up, Lillian? Did no one tell you. All of the servants on the left side of the hallway get Tuesdays off, and the right side takes Wednesdays."

" I didn't know, what do we do all day?" I ask.

"Whatever we want, it's a free day, but first we need to go get in line to get paid."

I don't want her to know that my wages are being taken until I can pay off the broken plates, so I follow her into the kitchen where a small line has formed in front of an older man.

Alice whispers, "It is Ms. Slyard's day off too, so Will fills in for her. He is really nice and helpful."

We get through the line quickly, and Alice speaks up for me before I can say anything.

"This is Lillian. She is new, and it is her first time getting wages."

Will smiles up at me before counting out 15 coins and placing them in my hand. I don't mention my debt, but make a point to bring it up to Ms. Slyard the next time I see her. They coins look weird, but I take them and move to the side, waiting for Alice. She collects her coins and links my arms before grabbing some biscuits and leading us out to the courtyard. It is a dreary day, and I have an escape to plan, but I don't want to disappoint my only friend, so I follow her out to her bench and dig into the jam biscuits. As we're finishing up our biscuits, Gerald rounds the corner, and his face lights up as soon as he sees Alice.

"Morning Alice, dreadful weather today? What are you doing out here? It's your day off." Surely he knows she is out here just to see him.

" I brought you something." She says as she looks around before slipping a letter into his hands. They talk for a minute more before he heads off, in the same direction he came from. Clearly, she isn't the only one going out of her way to see him.

"What is the deal there?" I ask, gesturing to him.

"I don't know what you mean. He is a good friend of mine, nothing more, and if anyone ever asks, that's what you tell them." She says, followed by a wink.

She barely knows me, but she trusts me with a secret. I used to store up secrets as bargaining chips. They were just ways to manipulate people into doing what I want, but not this time. I will cherish the secret she entrusted me with.

We get up and head back towards the servants' kitchen, but the closer we get, the louder it is. We race to see what the commotion is and if anyone's in trouble and there in the middle of the kitchen. Cynthia is throwing dishes and yelling at Will, who looks very irritated. Like he is dealing with a spoiled child throwing a temper tantrum. My mind goes back to a memory I have of me behaving the exact same way because my maid brought me the wrong tea. I had a meltdown because we ran out of my favorite type of tea, and I bet Wendy, my old head of the servants, had the same look as Will when she was dealing with me but I knew she couldn't do anything about it because I was poised to be the next luna. I wish I could apologize to her.

When Cynthia sees us enter, she starts to clap. "It's about time you finally showed up. Taking a leisurely stroll this morning? Did you forget I told you to report to me at 6:30." She clicks her tounge and continues. "You are insubordinate and not even fit to be a servant. You should be happy that I pity you and just want you to pay back what you owe me." She yells.

I'm stunned, but I know it will only be worse if I say anything, so I keep my head down and nod. Will has had enough and finally speaks up for me.

" I see your request for a servant change in our books, but Beta Carson and Ms. Slyard agreed that she needs to learn more before she can be adequate enough to serve you, my luna. Now, it is a week before before your mating ceremony. How about I send Cathy up to draw you a bath and help you relax with a nice scalp massage. Of course, you can push through with the servant change, but you will need the Alphas or the current Lunas approval for Ms. Lillian to work on her day off. Shall I draft the request form for you?"

Cynthia shoots daggers at Will, then at me before storming out the door into the courtyard. Alice is the first to move. She grabs a broom and dustpan before beginning to clean up the huge mess Cynthia created. I fall in step behind her, and we have the kitchen back in order pretty quickly.

Will dismisses Alice, then motions for me to follow him into his office, and he closes the door behind us.

"That was interesting, to say the least. My advice would be for you to fix whatever problem you have with Cynthia before she gets her luna title and really makes your life hell. I have heard stories about you, you know. My brother lives in HalfMoon Pack and serves in the guard there. I hope you have learned to leave the past in the past, and with that, I want you to know that this is a new life, and I will not hold your past against you but if I find out you have gone back to your old ways and are trying to manipulate my pack members as Ms. Cynthia just claimed you were, and then I will hand you over to Alpha Atticus personally, and he is a man you should fear. His heart can not be manipulated the way Alpha Eric's was. He is a strong and ruthless leader when he has to be."

"Yes, sir, I will not cause trouble, and I am trying to put that life behind me." I state plainly. He ushers for me to leave.