Moirai (20 page)

“Thank you.” I took three sets of clothes in my size,
walking with her back towards my room. “Do you live here too?” I asked.

“No.” Lisa smiled. “But our head housekeeper Anita does. She
was from another city just like you were.” That caught my attention. I tried
not to act surprised. “You'll meet her in a little bit. She'll tour you around
the mansion and then give you an assignment. If you need anything at all, don't
hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you so much, you've been helpful,” I acknowledged as
she led me back to my room. I closed the door, changed outfits, and tossed the
extra clothes in the drawer. Like Jaxon had told me, it was easier to glamour
when you had few things with your appearance to change.

The head housekeeper, Anita, gave me the quickest tour
imaginable. I felt as though I was in her hair just being around. She was
polite but displeased to see me. I wanted to ask why but held my tongue. Now
was not the time to cause trouble. I needed to keep to myself, find out when
the Governor's Ball was scheduled, and relay the information to Jaxon.

I spent most of the afternoon with a dust rag, grateful
I'd been assigned a task that would allow me the opportunity to snoop around. I
worked the first floor rather quickly, knowing there wasn't anything
interesting worth finding. I waited until Craynor disappeared for dinner before
taking the cloth with me into the study. At least if I got caught, I'd have an
excuse for being inside his office. I shut the door behind me as I stalked over
towards his desk. Papers were strewn everywhere. Most of it made little sense
to me. I fingered through reports on cotton and fuel, pushing them aside. I
needed to find the date of the Governor's Ball. It had to be coming in the next
few weeks. I knew I hadn't missed it yet, I just hoped I didn't have to wait
months for news. I wasn't sure how long I could deal with these people. Letters
to Governor Craynor were stacked to the right of his desk. Curious, my eyes
glanced over the delicate script.

Craynor,

I beg you to consider what alternatives we have.
Negative population growth is an ever present and growing concern; maybe not
today or tomorrow but our children's children will have to face our
consequences based on foolish actions.

You may wish to ignore a growing problem, but it won't
vanish by simply throwing away my letters. I will have you know I am not the
only one up in arms over the failure of our great nation. Politics aside, we
must consider a progressive step forward. I will call a meeting in September.
With or without you there, a decision will be made.

Richards

Was Richards another Governor? I'd never heard of him but
we didn't study the leaders of neighboring communities. It wasn't part of our
curriculum. Whoever Richards was, he was right the system was flawed; time
would catch up with the town. It didn't seem like a problem now, but I guess
that was why Craynor wasn't concerning himself with it either. It wouldn't
affect him in his lifetime.

Putting the letter back as I'd found it, my fingers moved
over the center of the desk and shuffled through until I reached the bottom
page, a calendar of events. Most of them seemed insignificant until I landed on
one two weeks from Saturday with the initials “GB.” It was the only thing that
made sense. Although I had the date, I couldn’t just up and leave. Not without
raising suspicion. Besides, I wasn’t entirely certain it wasn’t something else,
although the fact it was a Saturday and Craynor had every other weekend off
made it seem the most likely answer.

I jumped as I heard the door creak open and came face to
face with Craynor. “Jacqueline, what are you doing in here?” He asked.

“Cleaning.” I returned my attention back to the desk,
running the dust cloth over it, tidying the papers as best I could, trying to
make it look as if I hadn't been snooping. “Was I not supposed to come in here?
Anita told me to dust the entire place, top to bottom.” She certainly hadn't
mentioned the study being off-limits, not that I would have listened anyhow.
Craynor studied my face, trying to see if I was lying, I could tell. I didn't give
him any indication I'd done anything more than clean. “Would you like me to
come back later?” I asked. “If you're busy in here?”

Craynor sighed, thinking it over. “You've worked enough
tonight. The rest of the staff is off, you may as well go home too.” Although I
technically didn't have a home to go to, I smiled, took the dust rag, and
slipped out the door past him.

Heading downstairs, I made my way through the dark
hallway towards the laundry, tossing the rag into the hamper before doing a
thorough search for Jaxon. No such luck. I should have asked where he planned
on staying. Turning the corner, I walked straight into Joshua's father, Dylan
Warren. He refastened his belt buckle and my eyes widened. He'd just left
Anita's room. The door was still ajar and she was sitting at the edge of the
mattress naked, putting her uniform back on. My eyes widened as I dropped my
gaze. “I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going, sir, I'll be more
careful.” I scurried away, doing my best to run from his grasp. My stomach
flopped. I hoped he had no intention of doing to me what he had to Anita.

He caught my arm, pulling me back, unwilling to let me
go. “You're the new servant, Jacqueline?”

This was a bad idea, using
her
name. I was stupid,
we were stupid expecting no one to know who she was, who I was. Making up a
name would have been simpler in some respects: there'd be no ties to anyone. Of
course, forging papers takes talent, and the rebel alliance has that talent but
they don't have the access to add an entirely new name into the system, at
least not yet. I'd have to manage.

“Is it you?” His voice caught in his throat and I let out
a hesitant sigh, nervously chewing on my bottom lip. At least he wouldn't
accompany me to my bedroom. Things could be worse.

“I'm sorry, sir, I don't know who you are.” I looked up
at him confused. Dylan Warren always scared the crap out of me when I was a
kid, and today was no different. The only difference was that right now, he
thought I was his long lost daughter.

“Of course you don't, Jacqueline.” He said my name with
such care and adoration, I felt my stomach flop. He reached out, his fingers
moving towards my red locks as he pushed an errant strand behind my ear.
“You've grown up so much, I can't believe you're here, but if I remember
correctly, shouldn't you be in school, in Livery?” He wasn't accusing me of
anything yet, or rather his daughter.

“I think you have me mistaken, sir. I don't know your
daughter and I certainly don't know you.” I pulled from his grasp and took a
step backwards, walking into Governor Craynor. Could this day get any worse?
“I'm sorry, sir.” I turned, apologizing, to the Governor. “I was just heading
for bed.”

I felt Craynor's strong grip on my shoulders as he kept
me from moving. “What's going on here, Dylan?”

“Nothing, sir,” Dylan shook his head, “I was just asking
the servant to bring me some tea.”

Craynor's eyes narrowed. “I see. You do remember, Dylan,
we prefer to call our employees housekeepers, not servants. It reminds us of an
unhappier time.”

Dylan agreed. “Yes, Governor.”

Craynor's smile faltered, his grip on my shoulders
loosening as I chanced turning around to face him. “Was that all he asked of
you, Jacqueline?”

Eager to get away from the two of them, the answer flowed
like water. “Yes, sir. A cup of tea.”

“Very well.” Craynor nodded. “Please put the kettle on
and prepare a cup of tea for Dylan. You can bring me one as well. We'll both be
in the study.” His hold relaxed and I slipped from his grasp, rushing down the
hall towards the kitchen.

“Tea?” I said aloud to no one in particular. My body
froze as a gunshot rang out across the hall. My eyes widened in terror as I
dropped to the ground. There were no drones, no planes coming to attack us. My
body shook. I hid in the kitchen behind the island. I could hear commotion just
outside the door.

“This is
your
fault,” Craynor scolded Dylan. “You
should be thankful I only had one bullet in the chamber.” He laughed as if this
was all some joke. “Find Lisa, bring her back at once. Inform her she's needed
overnight and will be compensated adequately for her duties.”

“Yes, sir.” Dylan answered. His footsteps echoed towards
the front door and a moment later I heard the latch clasp.

Frustration and fear filled me. I wanted to go home, back
to Shadow. I was safer there, even with drones attacking our town. I knew I
couldn't cower on the floor forever. If Craynor was expecting tea, he would
come looking for it.

Picking myself up off the floor, I turned the kitchen
light on. The kettle sat nestled above the stove. With shaking hands, I filled
it with water and turned it on. It didn't take any training to figure out how
to make tea. I dug around the kitchen, searching for tea bags. The cabinets
banged shut as I sifted through, searching for the one ingredient I needed and
couldn't find.

“Looking for something?” I heard Lisa's soft voice as she
stood in the open entranceway of the kitchen.

“Mr. Warren and Govenor Craynor asked for a cup of tea,”
I acknowledged. “Maybe you could point me in the direction of where I can find
the tea bags?”

Lisa stepped further in and opened the pantry. She dug
around for a few moments, pulling out the bags, cups, and sugar, mixing the
ingredients just how both liked them. “That's odd, asking for your services so
late at night. Even stranger they pulled me out of bed to help you.” She
paused, having a good look at me. “You look pale. Are you feeling sick?”

“I'll be fine.” I smiled, trying not to raise suspicion.

Lisa nodded. “Even so, usually they call on Anita, the
head housekeeper, for those necessities.” She looked puzzled by the situation.
“Any idea where she is?”

“You don't want to know,” I muttered.

“Okay.” She pulled up a stool and sat down at the
counter. “I know you're not from around here.” She studied me. I tried not to
show any emotion or fear as she scrutinized me. “Even so, you look familiar.”

“How can that be?” I laughed at her words, the bile
rising in my throat. It was impossible and so long as I held the glamour, I
would be safe.

Lisa confessed with a soft sigh, “I don't know.” The
kettle whistled, just in time for me to escape her curiosity and questions. I
poured two cups of tea and carefully carried them upstairs to the study.
Thankfully, the door was left ajar and I slowed as I approached, listening to
their conversation.

“Why didn't you tell me you were bringing my daughter to
Genesis?!” Dylan's voice echoed throughout the room.

“She's not
your
daughter,” Craynor retorted
sharply. “You know the rules, Dylan. She shouldn't even be here, you're lucky I
don't send her back to Livery or shoot her dead on the spot. I've already got
one of your messes to clean up. I don't need two.”

My eyes widened in fear. If Craynor sent me away, I
wasn't sure what would happen. Would I actually make it to Livery? What then?
Would Jaxon be able to stop and aid in my escape? I needed to last two weeks;
that was all.

“I know, sir,” Dylan answered. “I won't approach her
again.”

Leaning towards the door to listen in, I tipped the cup
in my right hand, burning flesh as the tea spilled out. “Shit!” I cursed
beneath my breath as my eyes widened, realizing I'd likely be caught.

Craynor laughed. “Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it.
Jacqueline, come on in.”

Carefully, I carried the steaming hot liquid into the
study and placed both cups on the desk. “Have a good evening,” I offered,
stepping one foot out of the room before Craynor stopped me.

“Not so fast,” Governor Craynor quipped. “I need you and
Lisa to clean up Anita's room. There's a mess. Take it out back and put it in
the dumpster. Then you're dismissed for the night.” I knew what that mess was
before stepping into the room. I headed down the stairs and saw Lisa come out
of the kitchen, shutting the lights off.

“We're needed in Anita's room,” I announced.

“Is she sick?” Lisa asked.

“That would be an improvement,” I muttered, grimacing as
I pushed open her bedroom door. Anita had managed to get her uniform back on
before being shot in the head. Blood stained the pillow beside her as I walked
further into the room.

Lisa gasped, eyes wide in horror. “What happened?” Her
voice stammered. “Who did this?”

I could hear the echo of footsteps coming down the stairs
and pulled Lisa further into the room with me. I shut the door. “We need to
clean this up and then forget this ever happened.”

“Why?” Lisa shook her head. “No, the Governor would never
do anything like this. He's tough but I've never…” Her voice trailed off.
“Kayla went missing a few years ago. Do you think…”

“It's not my place to guess.” Did she need it spelled out
for her? Craynor was capable of murder. He'd killed Anita. It probably wasn't
his first killing.

“What are we supposed to do with her body?” Lisa asked,
walking towards the door, cracking it open to look both ways. The hallway was
clear. “I can't carry her to the cemetery and we don't have a shovel.”

“He wants her thrown in the dumpster.” I grimaced as I
approached the mattress. “Help me.” I gestured towards the body. “I can't carry
her on my own.” Even if I could, I wasn't doing this alone.

“I'm not throwing her away like garbage!” Lisa crossed
her arms. “Think of something else, Jacqueline.”

“We could grab some wood, wrap her body, and burn her.” I
glanced around the small bedroom. It was mostly empty, except for the dresser
against the wall. There were no trinkets, no signs of another life outside of
Genesis. I couldn't help but wonder if anyone missed her from back home.