Zora's life as a servant at the mansion was very quiet and followed a strict pattern. Every day was the same. She woke up, put on her grey uniform, and went to work.
Some days, she was sent to the gardens. She would spend hours using metal shears to trim the edges of the bushes.
She liked the smell of the cut leaves and the feeling of the sun on her back, since it didn't burn at all. Other times, she was told to go to the kitchen to help the cooks.
She would scrub large copper pots until they shined like mirrors. She also helped clean rooms that were not being used, wiping dust off old tables and chairs.
It was now the third day since she had arrived, but she had never even caught a glimpse of the Duke. She just did exactly what she was told to do. She worked hard and kept her head down.
As for her roommate, Xila, things were not getting any better. Xila was still very bitter and mean. She often gave Zora angry looks or made sharp comments about how lucky Zora was.
Zora did not want to deal with that kind of attitude, so she avoided Xila as much as she could. Whenever Xila walked into a room, Zora would find a reason to leave. She didn't want any bad energy rubbing off on her, and she didn't want to waste her energy on someone who was so unhappy.
On the afternoon of the third day, Zora was standing in the back courtyard. She didn't have any chores to do at that moment, so she was just resting, she felt very tired.
The main reason she felt so weak was because she hadn't fed since the night she left her home in Gayle. Her throat felt dry, and her body felt empty.
As she stood there, she heard a whisper from some maids standing a few feet away. They were talking about a new girl who had just arrived at the gates to ask for a job. Zora didn't think much of it at first.
The people who hired her had said they were looking for more help, so she expected new people to show up eventually.
But then, Zora saw a figure walking toward the house. When she saw the girl's face, Zora froze. Her eyes went wide. She recognized that face immediately. It was the exact same appearance the witch, or the Fae, had used when she changed her shape that day in the forest.
Zora was completely sure of it. It was the same height, the same walk, and the same eyes. Zora stood very straight and watched the girl walk closer. She didn't move a muscle. She felt a cold shiver go down her back, but she kept her face calm.
A servant went to find the head maid, Madam Lilian. When Lilian arrived, she began the same process that Zora had gone through.
She asked the new girl about where she came from and what she could do. Zora watched them talk from a distance. The new girl looked very plain and normal, just like any other village girl.
After a few minutes, the girl was taken to the back hall to meet with the butler, Mr. Gerald. Zora did not follow them.
She knew it was dangerous to be too curious, so she stayed where she was. However, deep down in her heart, Zora felt a little bit of hope.
She wished that the girl was a good supernatural person. Maybe she was just like Zora and wanted a safe place to hide. If that were true, they might be able to help each other.
By the time the sun went down and Zora's work was done, she was in a lot of pain. She was extremely thirsty. She had gone two or even three days without any blood, and that was a very long time for her.
Usually, she fed more often than that. Her body was starting to feel strange. She knew from the book she had started reading that if a vampire didn't feed for a long time, they could get feral.
And if one had low self control, it would be worse, this meant they would lose their minds and act like wild animals. They might even hurt or kill people without meaning to because the thirst becomes too strong to control.
Zora was a good person, and she did not want to become a monster. She knew she had to feed tonight, no matter what.
She waited in her room until it was almost midnight. The mansion was very dark, and the only sound was the wind blowing against the stone walls. Zora sat up in her bed.
For a second, her eyes flashed a bright, glowing red. She felt the power moving through her veins. She looked over at Xila's bed. Xila was fast asleep and was making a soft, steady snoring sound.
Earlier that evening, Zora had been very careful. She had left the heavy wooden window of the room unlocked just a tiny bit. She knew that the guards walked outside the servant quarters at night, so if she used the door, she would definitely be caught.
Zora moved across the room without making a single sound. She was as quiet as a shadow. She pushed the window open slowly, making sure the hinges didn't creak.
She climbed out onto the stone ledge and hopped down onto the grass below. Just as she landed, she heard the heavy footsteps of guards on a patrol nearby.
She didn't waste a second. She used her vampire abilities to dash across the yard. She moved so fast that the grass didn't even have time to bend under her feet. To any human eye, she would have looked like a sudden gust of wind or a dark blur.
She ran across the front courtyard and headed toward the far side of the big estate. She knew there was a high fence there, and on the other side was a thick forest.
This forest was part of the Duke's land, but it was far away from the main house. Zora jumped over the fence with one easy motion and landed in the thick bushes on the other side.
She disappeared into the trees, finally feeling a sense of relief.
But Zora did not know that she was not unnoticed.
High up in a dark rkkmy, someone was watching. Duke Avner was standing in the shadows of his balcony. He had been standing there for a long time, just waiting.
He saw the way the wind suddenly blew as Zora zoomed past. He couldn't see her figure, but he knew exactly what had happened. A small smirk appeared on his face.
"What a brave little vampire," he said in a low voice.
He had been expecting this. He knew that a vampire could not go forever without feeding, so he had been watching the grounds since yesterday.
So far, all his observations of Zora had not told him much. She didn't act like the vampires in the slightest; proud, territiorial, fierce, he had heard about in stories. She smelled different, she had a scent that was much more pleasant than any supermatural. She also acted so much like a human that it confused him.
He wanted to know her secrets. He decided that he had to bring her closer so he could watch her every day. He already had a plan to make that happen.
In just a few more days, he was going to promote her to be one of his attendants. Then, she would have to be near him all the time. He turned around and went back into his room to get some sleep.
The next morning, the mansion was very busy. The head servants told all the maids and servants that important visitors from the Royal Court were coming to meet with the Duke.
The rules were very simple, every servant had to stay away from the main halls. They were told to remain invisible and do their work in the background. No one wanted the important guests to see the staff moving around.
At noon, Zora was working in the gardens by herself. She was busy pulling long weeds from a bed of white flowers. As she worked, she saw the new girl from the day before.
The girl was carrying a bucket of water toward the stables. This meant she had gotten the job. They didn't say anything to each other, but they both stopped for a second and gave a small nod of greeting.
Zora still didn't know the girl's name, and she still felt a little of the strange energy coming from her.
A little while later, Xila walked up to Zora. She had a weird look on her face, and her arms were crossed over her chest. "The head maid told me to give you a message,"
Xila said. "Madam Lilian wants you to go and clean the windows in the North Wing upstairs. It has to be done before the guests arrive this afternoon."
Zora stopped her work and looked at Xila. She felt very confused. "The North Wing?" Zora asked. "Isn't that the Duke's wing? I thought we weren't allowed to go there."
Xila just shrugged her shoulders and looked away. "Those are the head servant's instructions, not mine," she said in a cold voice. "If you have a problem, go find Madam Lilian and tell her. Otherwise, you better get started."
The new girl was standing a few feet away, but she didn't react at all. She just kept doing her work as if she hadn't heard anything.
Zora stood there for a moment, thinking. She didn't understand why she was being given a job in the most private part of the house.
Usually, only the oldest and most trusted servants were allowed to enter the North Wing. She felt a bit nervous about it. She hoped the Duke would be busy with his guests or maybe even out of the building.
Her plan was to go up there, clean the glass as fast as she could, and then leave before anyone saw her. She nodded at Xila.
"Okay," Zora said. "I'll go."
She put down her gardening shears and brushed the dirt off her apron. She walked toward the main house, her mind full of questions.
She wondered why Madam Lilian had picked her for this task. She hoped it wasn't a trap or a test. She just wanted to do her job and stay out of trouble.
As Zora walked toward the back entrance of the main house, she felt the weight of the water bucket in her hand. She had to go to the supply closet first to get her cleaning cloths and the special soap used for the glass.
The supply closet was a small, dark room that smelled strongly of vinegar and lemon oil. She spent a few minutes picking out the softest cloths she could find. She didn't want to leave any scratches on the expensive windows of the North Wing.
She thought back to her night in the forest. She had been lucky enough to find a small rabbit.
The feeding had been quick, and it had taken away the sharpest part of her hunger. Now, her mind felt much clearer. Her muscles didn't ache anymore, and she felt like she had her strength back.