MERIELLE'S POV
"Good evening, miss," a housemaid greeted. I ignored her in my haste to get up on that attic.
I do remember my parents telling me that I should not go to the attic. Something is up and that attic might have answers to it. Sure I sound weird, following suspicious orders from someone I just met and have no idea who or what he is (human, duh), but I have a feeling that I should follow his orders. I don't know...
"Is something wrong, miss?" another housemaid asked, but again, I ignored.
I continued my way up to the attic, and I didn't even stop at my room to drop my bag.
A few minutes later, I arrived in the attic. There is just one, short problem. The attic is locked. My parents are the ones who probably holds the key to unlock this.
I felt something cold brush my skin, like midnight air. Maybe the air conditioner?
*CLICK!*
I turned around and saw that the lock is... unlocked!
"How...?" I whispered.
With trembling hands, I took the lock out and opened the door to the attic. The door creaked as I opened it. Before going inside, I checked if someone is around. I don't want anyone seeing I am here. I have the feeling that I should know about this and only me. Once confirmed, I went inside and locked the door from the inside.
The attic is dark and the only light is from the window that lets the sun's setting light into this attic. I have to say, this attic is far from what the other rooms look like here in our mansion. Everything is dirty and full of dust. There is even a fly inside here. How did it manage to survive here?
Enough goofing around. I have to go rummaging through all this mess.
I moved boxes and crates. I saw old pictures of my family. I saw portraits and paintings. I even opened up some boxes and found clothes that looked like clothes from the Elizabethan Era. I wouldn't lie, I tried it on. What? It is my size.
"What does that guy want me to see here?" I asked myself a little too loudly.
*HIIIISSSSSSS!*
I suddenly heard a hissing sound, like something is sliding and slithering near me. I keep turning my head around, following the sound with trembling knees. How can a snake be kept in here? And how long has it been? It is impossible that a snake could live above here without food!
"I should have listened to Mom and Dad!" I told myself and rushed towards the door... only to see the snake there, staring and hissing at me.
I couldn't move, fearing that the snake would lunge at me because of one wrong move. I whimpered like a beaten puppy. It kept hissing at me, and it is keeping me from going out!
A sound of a bird came from behind me. I turned around and saw a black crow on top of a strange-looking chest. It is made of wood that is painted red with gold designs around it. It also has a golden lock. The crow cawed at me again, as if telling me to approach the chest. I turned around to check if the snake moved near me to bite me. To my surprise, the snake is nowhere to be seen. I whipped my head again and looked at the chest that the crow is still sitting on. The crow cawed once more.
"Hi there," I gently greeted the crow. "How did you get inside?" I asked it and then looked at the window. It is locked.
The crow cawed at me in return and perched on my shoulder. I couldn't help feeling scared. I am scared that this crow might bite my ears or something. I looked at the chest again and decided to try to lift.
"Too heavy," I said. "But not that heavy. I can carry this. But for now..."
The crow flew off my shoulders and I decided to push it to the door. I have to get this out of here in the attic and try to see what is inside.
I managed to get the chest out of the attic. I also noticed that the crow is staring at me.
"Come on," I whispered to the crow as if it could understand me. Dumb, right?
Just then, I saw the snake slither its way and stopped beside the crow. It doesn't look like it is going to eat it. It just stayed beside it. I couldn't help noticing that a fly is also flying above the crow and the snake. As much as I still want to understand what is going on (I expected for the snake to gobble up the crow), I have to lock this door already and get this chest to my room.
And that is exactly what I did, careful that no one notices me locking the door to the attic, carrying the chest down to my room, and locking the door.
________________________________________________________________________________
AUTHOR'S NOTE
The picture above is what the attic in Merielle's mansion looks like. The picture is not mine. Credits to the owner.