Chapter 13

13

Ella

The clanging of the first bell wrenched me awake the next evening. My back ached from the hard mattress and lumpy pillow, and my eyes burned like they'd been vigorously rubbed with sandpaper.

Loud Annie had exceeded expectations, producing a gasping, pig-like snore that practically had concussive force. I thanked the Fates that Lorayna had worked me to the bone, otherwise I might not have slept a wink.

I wiped my bleary eyes and sat up, pulling back the curtain from the windows above me. The sun had gone, leaving the sky the dying red of dusk, broken by patches of dark purple clouds. This was my life now. I was a creature of the night.

The bed shook as Annie crawled out and glared up at me.

"What's your problem?" I asked, none too keen on enduring any kind of dirty look from her.

"You snore," she snapped. "You better learn to stop it, or I'll make your life a living hell."

My jaw went slack in surprise as Annie turned and sauntered toward the washroom, muttering under her breath.

I hadn't eaten since the day before, and my stomach was growling. After putting on my new uniform, I found Cara, and we headed downstairs to the servants' mess together. It was a large, low-ceilinged room with long tables, like in a tavern. I mounded my plate with a couple of warm biscuits and eggs as my stomach groaned with hunger. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to start eating before we reached the table.

The food was bland, but I savored every crumbly bite. It was the first meal I hadn't cooked since Belle had disappeared, and that alone made it absolutely glorious.

Cara launched into an excited account of her time on the household staff, making preparations for the ball. "It's going to be so amazing, Ella. A masquerade like no one has ever seen. The decorations are gorgeous—so much silver and gold. Fates, I hope we get to see it happen."

Loud Annie scoffed at the far end of the table. "They aren't going to let the likes of you in there. The waitstaff, for certain, but not seamstresses and scullery maids."

Cara stiffened. "Maybe I'll peek."

The other girl rolled her eyes. "Maybe they'll catch you and cut your head off for the entertainment of their guests. I bet they'd drink out of the stump like a fountain."

We stared at her, aghast.

"Just remember your place," Annie said with a full mouth. She finished the last bite of her biscuit and rose. "There are a lot of girls who've worked far longer and harder than you two have. You're fresh meat. You deserve nothing."

She scooped up her plates and walked away, shattering any remaining illusion I still had about what life in the castle was going to be like.

It'll be worth it if I can find Belle.

"What the hell was that about?" I asked.

Cara shrugged. "I think this place is going to take some getting used to."

A short girl with blonde hair leaned in. "Don't mind Annie. She works in the kitchens with me, and we never get to see anything but the insides of pots and dirty dishes. What you're doing sounds amazing."

"Once we finish the decorations, we're going to start adding the finishing touches to some of the ladies' gowns," Cara said. "That's what I'm really excited to see."

The squat girl snorted. "Why do you care about dresses? I want to see the males in their tight suits. Can you imagine what the prince will be wearing? He's already so handsome, my eyes almost break every time I look at him."

The thought of the prince chilled my blood. He was beautiful, but how could anyone fawn over him? He was a cold, callous statue. A heartless immortal.

And yet, he'd made my heart beat faster when he was close.

I shoved him from my thoughts and turned to the girl. "You work in the kitchens? Have you ever seen a girl with eyes like mine? Belle—she would have brought the cooks herbs and game for the lords' table."

Her face brightened. "Oh, yes! I knew there was something familiar about you!"

"Have you seen her recently?"

"No, but I'd ask the head cook, Sylvester. He deals with all the kitchen deliveries."

Before I could ask anything more, Lorayna's handmaid pulled me away. She looked to be about twenty-five and had a tight black braid and pinched features. "Her ladyship was ranting nonstop about you while I was getting her ready for bed yesterday. You'd better get to work early if you want to avoid a whipping."

The biscuit in my mouth turned to ash. I quickly bid farewell to my new friends, then followed Lorayna's handmaid, Katherine, into the halls.

"Are they all like this?" I asked. "The lords, I mean."

"Most aren't quite as bad. There's a special circle in hell reserved for Lorayna and her sister, Bianca, who is even worse, if you can imagine." A bitter smile crossed Katherine's lips. "The best thing to do is avoid the both of them like the plague."

Since I'd missed the orientation, Katherine showed me the servants' passages. They were cramped, narrow, and dimly lit. Every so often, the passage widened into a larger chamber, or we came across a door leading into a room or hallway. Most were unmarked, but Katherine pointed out the important ones as we went. I'd thought the main part of the castle was complicated, but the servants' passages were a labyrinth.

We flattened ourselves against the wall so a lady with stacks of linen could pass. "All this so the immortals can pretend we don't exist?" I muttered.

"That's part of it," Katherine answered as we continued. "On the other hand, the passages make it possible to do our job without getting constantly waylaid by immortals wanting us to do something else. Think of these tunnels as your own personal refuge from the sisters." She glanced back with a grin. "It also keeps you off the menu. You never know who's looking for a snack around here."

A chill snaked down my spine. "I have no intention of letting anyone drink from me."

"You're so certain about that? I heard you already caught the prince's eye. I wouldn't say no to that if he were interested."

The blood rushed from my face. Had everybody heard?

"He's a heartless monster. The only reason he noticed me was my hair and his horse. I'm hoping to stay as far away from him as I can."

"Hmm," she said, pausing to consider me with a long look. "I suppose the question is whether the prince will stay away from you."