On the afternoon of our scheduled meeting, me and Jenni found ourselves back at the Di'Mello's entrance. Our only company was an excited spider that danced in my hands. Eloise and Amelia waited by the large, green-painted door.
They were smiling with their hands on their waist, betraying none of our plan.
"I will be your host as my grandmother, unfortunately, is busy with affairs from state." said Eloise, signalling to a young footman to open the door to the manor.
Jenni nodded, unaware of my silent exchange with the ladies in front of us. Inside, as per usual, we undressed our capes, allowing the servants to store them away before we followed Eloise again. Jenni then remarked to our friend that the duke had written another letter to Lady Di'Mello.
Eloise replied by glancing over her shoulder and showing a lazy smile. And we passed the first door of the hallway.
Then the second. Jenni, always polite, turned her attention to Amelia, inquiring over her father, Lord Castello. Amelia answered as she always did, with a matter-of-fact shrug and succinct words.
We then passed the third door and Jenni took it upon herself to praise the beautiful decor of the house, remarking that the Duke had told her it was all because of Eloise's laborious work. She received a heartfelt grin and appreciation from Eloise before we resumed our walk.
Then we passed the fourth door, and Jenni stopped talking and her shoulders tensed. The more we walked past the door, the more straight her back became. When we reached the last door, the back exit of the mansion, I saw her hands clenching her baby blue dress as if it was keeping her afloat.
It was with a cold softness that she asked, "Where are we going, lady Eloise?"
Eloise turned to her, her fingers wrapped around the gilded handle. "I thought it would be good to have tea outside for a change." The lopsided twist of her lips was misleading, conveying improperly the sheer pressure of her words.
She didn't wait for Jenni to answer and opened the door. It led to a back garden, with some chairs and tables and a few things more. Not a sizeable space by any means, and it seemed overlooked in contrast with the rest of the mansion, except for the small stable and working shed at the end of an endless row of grass.
However, that was not the important part. What I cared about was the driveway that led to two big iron gates on the side, which would give us a way out of the manor. And on the path, standing almost inconspicuously, was a carriage. Small and with its painting failing off, it had no coat of arms or showed any clues of who may own it.
Eloise and Amelia stepped down the small staircase that separated us from the garden. Before I could follow, Jenni grabbed my arm with both her hands. "I am not sure about this lulu... our safety."
Her eyes, big and watery, pleaded for my sensibility.
"Worry not, Lady Jennifer," said Amelia from behind her shoulder. "my people will protect us. No one would harm us." her lips curved on the side, while her voice rang detached. Aloof.
Jenni slid one of her hands to mine, the other firm on my arm. "Those don't look like Lord Castello's men, lady Amelia." she said when she turned to the lady in question.
Amelia's curved lip grew feral. "They are mine." She replied, walking to the carriage to wait with Eloise and a group of hooded men.
Like Jenni, I wondered where Amelia had found them, though I left my concerns unspoken.
My sister refused to budge, her nails biting into my skin as she pleaded once again. "Lulu, father would be most displeased..." she muttered.
I leaned in and whispered. "Only if you tell him."
Her eyes enlarged, and her mouth made the shape of a well-rounded circle.
"I will go with or without you, Jenni." I ended, taking her hand away and putting it in my pocket where the little spider sat, watching us with unmatched attention.
I walked down the harsh stone stairs, and for a moment, I thought Jenni would have stayed behind. However, seconds later, I heard an angry "Very well." Followed by some noisy steps.
By the carriage, the hooded servants (which I realized were women upon a closer inspection) gave us each a shabby cape. Way too large for us and with a quite fragrant odour. When Jenni took her cape, her nose wrinkling while she touched the rough material. Eloise asked in almost childlike curiosity. "My lady, are you not going to inquire us again about our destination?"
Jenni gave her a hard look while she put on the cape. "No, my lady," she replied, tying a knot to secure both sides of the garment. "I know who we are going to meet, and that is enough."
Speaking no other words, she entered the carriage. We followed her right after and we left in a sharp silence that could cut paper. Jenni continued mute, looking out the window, her posture straight and her hands resting on her lap. But as always, we sat side by side, the little spider taking the narrow space in between for itself.
Contrary to all the other carriages I had used, this one was rough and provided an even rougher journey as its wheels clashed against the ground. Our bodies moved like pendulous inside, and for several instances, my head almost bumped against the ceiling. While we all struggled, I seemed to be the worse, as Jenni and Eloise remained composed and Amelia just slouched into her side of the seat.
I tried my best to understand my surroundings and where we were headed, seeing nothing but the usual. However, it took little time for the voices to become damp, for the vivid colours to turn greyish and for the well-kept buildings to show signs of deterioration with each turn of the wheel.
Silence reigned for some time until the noises came back again. Together with a foul stench. The voices called and wept in desperation and anguish. In pain and in misery. Some buildings were mended, but most were little more than ruins. Yet, eyes watched us from all of them. Both angry and hungry. I felt them move as we moved, and a shiver ran down my spine.
The streets became narrow and dark, and the carriage had to slow down to avoid running over the people who approached or were lying down in the cold dirt. People who had nothing more than bones and skin, and hollow eyes. Their clothes, once proper, were now just rags that barely covered anything or provided any sort of comfort.
I tilted my chin, my forehead almost touching the glass, and I felt the paws of the little spider as it scanned the outside as well. My heart sank and my stomach wanted to revolt.
Their skins were covered in blisters, rashes, and wounds. Many wandered lost, looking at the sky for guidance. One that never and would never come. My hands struggled to be quiet, so I just grasped my knees, hurting myself since the force I applied was too big. Yet I still continued to shake. In anger.
How could it be? They were sons and daughters of the Goddess of light. Her children and yet they lived like this. On a land that was said to be so abundant that palaces and families could dress in gold. This messed up shit... I just couldn't accept I lived in complete darkness over this tragedy.
To the cries of the sick, of the hungry and of the children.
Then the carriage stopped and Amelia, who had been sitting across from me, pulled my hood up. "We cannot go forward by carriage." She said. When pleased with my cover, she went and pulled hers. "We must continue by foot."
She waited for Jenni and Eloise to repeat the gesture and then opened the door. Immediately, my senses overwhelmed me. The noises were loud and agonizing to my ears. But it was the smell that struck me as a fist. My body bent downwards while my hand covered my mouth and nose. In arduous breaths, I was able to keep away my will to throw up and finally straightened myself enough to step down.
Eloise came right after, whispering behind my back. "This part of town is said to be under the control of a harsh sect of the Temple's." She said, taking a deep breath before she shut her voice.
Jenni had finally descended.
I glanced at the girls, guilt building up on me. This horrible hell that I had brought them to was no place for children. I shut my eyes and breathed slowly. There was no other way, I told myself.
Although it provided me with little relief. Fuck, I was being a sorry mess. This is not the time. It never is.
I opened my eyes and faced this different world. One that, as Fanny so wisely told me, was sharp and cruel, hoping I would find at least a string of light.
What did you think? Hope you have enjoyed it.
It is a sad chapter (and unfortunately the next one won't be happy either). However, this will propel Lulu into change and give her the will to try to make a difference.
This chapter came early this week (to compensate for all the other times I was late XD) for some reason it was easy to finish it and I was happy with the end result or at least with the way I presented it.
One question... Who are those women that follow Amelia??