Flickering Shadows

Chapter 1

I wince inwardly, angry at myself for being so foolish.

I shake my head. "Of course not, Miss. I just thought-"

Pain explodes across my face, followed by Kiana's gasp.

My fingers reach up to touch lightly at the abused skin, tears racing to fill my eyes.

"You are not here to think," she spits. "You are here to do. If you would like to continue questioning my authority, I can arrange the Post to be set up for this evening. Would that be preferably to making dinner?"

I shudder, my mind fighting against past terrors that began with that awful place.

The Post is no silly threat, and I think I speak for every maid here when I say I'd rather burn both my hands on a hot pot than go there again.

"No, Miss," I whisper, blinking furiously against the water pooling in my eyes. "I apologize for my ignorance. I wasn't aware we were on duty tonight."

She scoffs, muttering something about insolence under her breath before she says, "Well, now you do. You will be present within the kitchen in five minutes, or punishments will be doled out. Understood?"

Kiana and I nod, muttering, "Yes, Miss."

I jump when the door slams, and I almost repeat the action when a hand touches my cheek.

Kiana's fingers are gentle as she prods at my face, but the tender skin is relentlessly throbbing.

"I don't understand why you provoke her. You know it only ends in bruises," she whispers.

I lightly push her away.

"I'm fine, really," I reassure her, smiling softly, though it might resemble more of a grimace. "We best get down there before she decides to make your face match. I wouldn't want your dance partner to get stuck with a swollen faced girl."

Her lips twitch, but despite my efforts, we both know one thing for sure.

Neither of us are dancing tonight.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

I truly didn't think this much food existed in the world.

Every counter is covered in everything from small trays of fruit and vegetables to massive plates filled with cut meats and potatoes.

"Behind!" Someone yells, and it pulls my attention from the food and back down to the dishes I'm currently scrubbing clean. Ready to be used for dinner preparations.

The cycle doesn't stop.

Hair flutters from my bun, right into my eyes, but I can't exactly fix it in my current predicament, so I blow making it fly up... and right back down into my eyes. I try again, again, again-

"You are supposed to be cleaning those dishes, not spitting on them," a cruel voice remarks from my left.

I tense, knowing exactly who that tone belongs to.

"Velaria," I say, teeth clenched so hard my jaw protests. "I was trying to get the hair out of my face."

"By spitting on the dishes?" She asks, her voice a mocking jeer.

I don't know why I try to explain myself to her. It never ends in my favour. To her, I'm lower. Just because I'm not an Anomaly.

"Your green hair doesn't make you superior," I mumble. I bite my tongue too late. As usual.

"What was that?" She spits.

My hands grip the edge of the sink, anger making my knuckles go white.

The punishment isn't worth it, I remind myself, over and over, then again, until my knuckles are back to normal and rage is no longer boiling in my gut. Then I take a deep breath before saying, "I have a job to do."

"Make fun of my hair all you want. I know it makes you feel better about your own," she whispers, then starts to walk away.

I start scrubbing the dishes a little too hard.

I know I'm not special. That title is reserved for the Anomalies. The ones with hair and eyes so bright, some with colours none could dream of having. People like Kiana with eyes such a vibrant pink that it looks like dahlias in the sun. Or Ms. Granelle, with hair and eyes so orange it could be mistaken as the fruit. And Velaria, with the colour green leaching from her hair and eyes, who never fails to remind me that my hair is nothing special, my eyes so dull they could be invisible.

She could just be a little more subtle, that's all.

"Everyone grab a tray!" Mia, the head cook, shouts. "The king's carriage has pulled in, and appetizers are to be going around at his arrival! Champagne trays are to picked up with two hands, and don't put too many glasses on at a time...."

I tune her out as I grab my designated tray, my fingers wrapping around silver covered in different cheeses and fruit with little sticks.

My stomach clenches, and I will it not to growl. How horrendously embarrassing would it be to have your stomach groan in a room full of people? A room with the moon king inside it.....

My gut clenches again, but for an entirely different reason this time. I've never seen the moon king before, but I've heard of his cruelty, his black heart and shadowed face. I pity the woman who must spend eternity by his side. 

"Alright, ladies!" Mia shouts again. "Line up! It's show time!"