The Dark Carousel

#1

When I said I wanted to earn my life,I didn't mean that my family would be a part of it.

"But you should help your family,it's your responsibility, Mer," Mama had said. Yeah, I get it. You raised me,now I should take you on your road. But my ideal life is earning on my own by Cooking and living a small low centred life. Quite a bit alone.

"Mercy! Is it done?" Valerie,the event planner of my current cooking, shouted. Almost snapping me out of my haze. She came running into the small chef-room and looked over the huge vessel which I was seasoning, then looked at me,her dark eyes boring into me. Her eyes are so dark that sometimes I wonder if they are just hollow.

"Yeah,almost." She gave a questioning look, so I said "I mean all are done. I am just going through and adding any seasoning if required." Her wrinkled face smoothed a little.

"That is good." She took the turning spoon from my hand, and took a sip of the gravy. And you could just see the stress relieving, and the look of satisfaction spreading through it. "I always knew you and your people do the best cooking in the whole town of Alienor, Mercy." She sniffed into the spoon, her dark brown hair falling over her eyes. "Today's event is very special. You must look good. Go into the Royal Cabin. They will ready you."

"Yes Miss Valerie." I said. Smirking a bit. Everyone called her Miss Valerie. Except me. I called her Val. We were friends a long time ago. And just happen to meet again. It's not like we're that old. I am 16. Just. And she is 23. And look at us. I remain here just a Cook. And she is a whole Event Planner. She looked nothing like me. I have auburn hair. Blue eyes. (My parents thought it was impossible before I was born.) Tall enough for a 16 year old. With fair skin and no tan. Of course, all I did was stay under roof.

I walked out of the Chef Room. And into the huge castle like house named as 'Royal Cabin'. I walked up to the dressing section. Almost everyone was out by now. So it should not take a lot of time for me to get prepared for this event. Today the family's son,Winnette's, who live in the Royal Cabin,turns 17. And it is also a huge event because the people from the Political Party Of Alienor are going to come,too, being their anniversary.

As soon as I entered the room, a girl who introduced herself as June took me to the face parlour where they cleaned my face. Then made me choose between a Black floor length gown and a Velvet short dress. Black looked elegant. So I changed into it. It's such a miracle how just a dress can change your whole looks. This black gown was laced on the top and at the waist it was tight fitting. The rest till the toes was the most elegant part. The Brook Family seems to be so wealthy that it questions me. Like, for a cook, just a cook, this elegant dress? I know it's temporary. Still,it is something. Something I don't get everywhere I cook.

As I stepped into the celebration grounds, people had already started coming. Some were wishing Dean,who was on the dais, collecting gifts-he already had a mountain of them with elegant wrapping-and with his Mum by his side. He is wearing a suit. Not that he is looking formal. His father's friends from the PPOA also started to arrive. And here I was, standing alone. Ah. And just then,I found Valerie. She looked stunning too. She wore a baby pink,dark baby pink if you understand, short dress. And it perfectly suit her. "God,you look so good,Val!!"

"And look at you!!" She said, scanning me. My dress, actually. She carried two glasses of blue liquid. One of which she handed to me. "Have it. And enjoy yourself today. With all your hard work and the saving you've got." I took the glass, she tipped hers toward mine and we took a sip. As soon as it went into my mouth it refreshed my mood. Just then I saw Dean. Looking at us both. Well, okay, I know he looked good. I am not denying that, lying to myself.

I lifted my hand for another sip. And saw 3 men,and 1 woman,if she was, entering into the ground. With everybody else. Well, it should not look this different to me. But these didn't look so mundane like the other people. These 4 people were dressed with just Blacks and Whites. No you don't get it. Like, utter blacks and whites. The 3 men,dressed exactly the same, Black Pants, Black shirts and even Black coats,yeah total black,with a hint of white handkerchief and white shoes. Black hair, like someone had painted them with liquid charcoal. And the lady, well, she was so beautiful and perfect. She wore Black pants and White shirt. White Shoes. Black hair,the same black hair.

No one seemed to notice them, even if they did, it just took about 7 seconds for them to mix in with the surroundings, but with no work, all I did was stare at them. Valerie was too, I noticed. And all of a sudden they were walking towards us. As if they knew perfectly who we were. The beautiful lady,a girl perhaps,she didn't look old. She had deep blue eyes. "Miss Valerie?" she asked.