The Pendant

Chapter 1 - The Promise

Janice could hardly believe her husband was dead. It seemed only yesterday they had gotten married. She had held Caleb's hands in her's and said those two magical, binding words: "I do." It was the start of their wonderful life together.
She remembered the smell of the smoke. She remembered realizing what was going on. She remembered running out of the house, and Caleb running back in for their sweet, new-born daughter. He had run up the stairs to the second floor and opened the window. Janice remembered him tossing their sweet girl down to her before being engulfed in the flames.
She remembered his last words to her. "Take care my love," he said. "Keep her safe. One day, she will be great." And he was gone.
As Janice sat by the ashes of what use to be her home, clutching her baby girl, she placed a small, blue pendant around her neck, and made a promise, a vow to the world. "Take care of her. Keep her safe. She is yours. Protect my precious Lily."

---<>---

"Lilian!"
At the sound of her name, Lily rushed down the large wooden steps. She carefully manuvered her way past the many pieces of furniture and into the living room."Yes Madam Vickers?"
"Where have you been, so quietly, for so long. I have dresses that need mending."
"I was in my room."
Madam Vickers eyed Lily suspiciously. "Doing what?"
Lily gulped. "I was reading Madam Vickers."
"You were - reading did you say?"
"Yes."
Lily knew she was not supposed to read, go to school, or get an education of any kind. She knew why to. Madam Vickers had no desire to get a new maid if her old one got too knowlegable and left her for a better job elsewhere, and that's exactly what Lily was, a maid.
"Let me ask you something. Do you not appreciate me letting you live here? Is it too much to ask a few things of you child? You must remember that i was the only one who would take you in, nobody else wanted you dear. You should be more greatful toward me."
"Madam Vickers," Lily said in the most sincere voice she could, "I am greatful. I do appreciate everything you've done for me. I just don't see why I can't read. All my chores are done."
"Oh they are, are they? Well, I can see why you shouldn't. Lilian Malloy, If i've told you once, i've told you a thousand times -"
"Not to read, i know. What else am I to do? You won't let me leave this house, and I tend to get bored when i've finished with my chores."
"Well, as I have said, there are dresses that need mending. Chop, chop!"
"Yes Madam Vickers."
Lily trapsed back through the house to the staircase and made her way up. The sewing room was small, but Lily was greatful for the big window in the corner. She would sit and sew for hours by the large window in the small, wooden rocker.
Picking up a needle, some thread, and one of Madam Vicker's large dresses, Lily sat down and began her work. If she were lucky, she would be done before nightfall.

---<>---

Lily awoke the next morning and found it cooler than usual. Fall was here.
Swinging her legs over the side, she attempted to made her eyes focus but proved unsucessful. As she laid her head back down on the pillow and rubbed her tired eyes, she bagan to think about the day ahead. The first day of fall meant that the garden needed tending. Winter vegatables needed planting. That was her favorite chore.
The garden was her one excuse to go outside. "Filth, that's all it is out there, and I will not not not have my house covered in filth." Lily laughed. Even though she had grown up with it, she still found it wuite odd that Madam Vickers said many words in threes. "Do this this this. Get that that that." It had always been that way.
Thinking once again about the prospect of working outside made Lily excited. Working the garden usually only took her and hour or two at the most, but Madam Vickers, having no clue about such things, had never been the wiser. "Fresh food, I want fresh food on my table. So, work work work, and make it happen my dear," she would always say.
Pulling on her clothes and shoes, Lily filled up with more and more excitement, and by the time she had gotten down to the breakfast table, she was bursting.
"What are you smiling about child?"
"Oh, just happy that i can go out and tend to garden. Like you always say, there's nothing better -"
"Than fresh food, yes I am aware. I am not aware, however, how someone, even a maid, could possibly be looking forward to going outside. All the filth and the grime and -"