Shining Through Shadows

Morning Chaos

Lydia

I’ve been here for three days and I have been surprisingly content with my new life. I ate well, slept well and worked around the house 6 hours daily.

We had breaks to eat two times during work and in the afternoon we had reflection time. They gave us two hours on working days to spend as you like. You could choose from reading, studying, gardening or exercising. My favorites were exercising and studying, something I’ve never had time to do before. You even had two days off every week.

This was so different from what I had been used to. My family and I always spent every waking hour working our butts off. Not that I wanted to complain. It was just strange to have time for myself.

So far, I haven’t met anyone I know. It gutted me completely to learn that not a single one of those previously chosen from Issdal had made it here alive.

I'd come to learn that the other servants had been chosen as well. All of them thought exactly the same as I had when they were chosen. They were being sent off to protect their town from the wolves. A fight to the death against the Rogue Alpha’s deadly wolves. Only by paying with blood would their homes be safe.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that the servants here had similar destinies as myself. Left at the border to fend for themselves only to wake up in this house to be taken care of and provided for.

But I missed my home. I missed my mother and Cameron. Was he taking good care of my mother? Did he miss me or mourn my inevitable death? Hell, I even missed Lady Agnes and how she would tell me to clean her table two times when she was about to work with silk.

Home.

I rolled onto my side, glancing at the windows covered by thick curtains. My duvet was pulled all the way up to my chin and both my hands were tucked underneath my cheek on the pillow. Everyone was still asleep, but it was only a matter of time before we would all get up and prepare for work.

A loud bang made me gasp in shock and I watched how Jena almost jumped out of bed, horror on her sleepy face as she tucked her feet into her slippers.

“Stay in bed!” She yelled as she sprinted towards our door. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t noticed yet, but it was only when she began fiddling with them that I noticed the large bolts and thick chains.

Another loud crash and a bone-chilling roar echoed through the massive house and I pulled my feather duvet over my head in fright. The other girls were oddly silent, a few others whimpering or breathing hard as the sound of wood breaking and shattering glass resonated.

What the HELL was happening!?

I wasn’t entirely sure of how much time had passed, but the house had turned quiet again. When I heard the rustling of feet on the wooden floor, I removed the duvet and glanced around at the other girls, seemingly unfazed by the previous chaos.

“Wha— What was that?” I asked out loud as I made my bed like the other girls did.

“It’s nothing you should worry about right now.” Jena said dismissively as she went to remove the bolts and chains from the door. “We have a mess to clean up. Let’s get going.” She declared to us before leaving the room.

I stood with wide eyes, still wondering what the hell had just happened, but had to follow as the other girls left to follow Jena.

“Reyna, hey, what happened?” I whispered to her as we scurried down the corridor towards the dust room. Her worried gaze met mine for a second before she let out a breath and continued forward. “Reyna!” I whisper-yelled, my heart beating frantically in my chest as adrenaline still rushed through my veins.

“Jena will explain it later.” Why wouldn’t she tell me anything?

I was handed a bucket containing a dustpan along with a broom and was ushered downstairs together with several other servants. My mouth opened on its own as I walked down the stairs, taking in the utter destruction of the grand foyer. The wooden panels were partially pulled out of the wall in several places, large gashes splayed around the foyer as if someone had let in a wild animal.

The floor was covered in dirt and melting snow. Shards of glass and from the beautiful double doors were littered on the ground as well. It was utter chaos.

Nobody said anything as we began cleaning up the mess. Male servants arrived to replace some of the panels and two of them unhinged the double doors, probably to fix them as well.

After the foyer was clean and tidy, everyone continued their day with their chores. Harper was dusting a bookshelf and I decided now was the time to get some answers about this morning.

“Harper.” I greeted her with a smile as I helped her to wipe down the shelf. She was about to leave when I grabbed her arm, pleading her to stay. “Please, don’t leave.”

“We’re not supposed to talk while working. You know that.” She reminded me and I nodded my head and I felt my shoulders slump down in defeat.

“I know, but no one will explain to me what happened this morning. I need to know!” I whisper-yelled. Her eyes wandered around the room, making sure we were completely alone before she spoke again.

“It was him.” Was all she said before she resumed dusting. “If, or when, this happens. You run to our quarters, lock the door and wait for it to pass.”

If they knew something like this happened regularly, why wouldn’t they just inform me about it when I came here?

The pleading look in her eyes told me to wait until we returned to our quarters. So that was what I did, questions already forming in my brain as I finished my chores.