It's a Slaves' World - Chapter 4

***Big thank you to Jess and Ashley and Britany and 'Does it Matter' Your encouragement and kind words keep me writing. Thank you all!***

A week after my kitchen disaster I have been kept far away from Valencia, due in part to my own terror and the remainder of the slaves have been actively keeping me away as well. Apparently when I get in trouble she makes hell rain down on everyone. Mind you my hands are drying out and my nails are all broken thanks to the dishes and laundry that I have been washing. Out of sight out of mind I guess. I only wish that I were allowed to say thank you to my personal hero. Constantly swooping down to save me from my own silly folly. I should know better than to start liking someone, I don’t have that freedom. God!

I pushed aside the last towel freshly folded, clean and lightly scented with lavender just as Valencia likes them. I have learned just how she likes everything from how she likes her clothes organized, to the temperature of her bath water, to the oddest little preferences about her food. I think I have finally found something that I am good at, behind the scenes work. The people that bought me probably had a different plan for me but hey if it keeps everyone happy who am I to argue.

I gathered up the pile of laundry and headed off down the hall towards Valencia’s room. Humming a tune to myself as I walked through the deserted halls with my burden, I felt almost happy. The tune brought back vague memories of a childhood lost in my past. I could almost swear that I was happy as a child. Adjusting the load in my arms, I pushed Valencia’s door open with my hip. This is a good day. The house is empty and I haven’t broken a single thing today. If it weren’t for the fact that I know it’s strictly forbidden, I would consider singing out loud.

My humming filled the silent room with an eerie tone. Smiling at the sound, it is delightful to hear my own voice. Starting my song over again, I reveled in the mellow echo’s that my song produced. Enchanted by the sounds I was sorely tempted. Glancing around the room, then a quick check in the hall, no one nearby. Putting words to my tune, I worked quickly, putting the towels on the shelf and setting the fresh bed linens on a chair. Stripping the bed of its old linen, I started to flatten out the fresh linen, folding the corners sharply as I knew would satisfy Valencia. Finishing her bed to perfection, I stepped back to admire my work and check that everything was perfect. Smiling at my handi work, I stood in the room, adjusting to the silence now that it’s getting to be that time when everyone should be getting back from their day out. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath, the last I would probably get tonight.

"Was that you?" SHIT! I spun around. Shit. I feel like a cornered animal, tense and ready to bolt. Standing in the door was Him. I should have known from the voice. He stood there staring intently at me. I realized that I was still half crouched in a defensive stance and felt ridiculous. Falling to my knees I did my best to grovel. Damn this is gonna spoil my winning streak. "I asked you a question." Does he want me to answer? His footsteps hit the floor with a dull steady thud as he crossed the marble floor to me. His normally soothing voice making me cringe. "Was that you?" My heart was in my stomach. With my head a scant few inches from the floor, I shook my head. If he doesn’t know who it was then I’m not gonna admit it was me. "Then who the hell was it if you’re the only person in here?"

I tilted my head back slightly trying to tell how much trouble I was in. His eyes burned into me but there was no violence in it. The brown depths seemed soft but intense.

"Aiden? What in the world are you doing?" My eyes tore from his to the door where Valencia stood. I glanced back up at Aiden. He was glaring at Valencia and I took it as a sign from god. I scrambled for the back door without a backward glance. Safely behind the curtain door, I pressed myself up against the wall to keep myself from floating away. Aiden. The most incredibly sexy name to go with his body.

•••

Hidden in the bowels of the mansion, I was doing my best to stay far from where Valencia might see me after yesterdays encounter. The only reason that she didn’t try to kill me was because I ran before she had the opportunity to think of it. Elbow deep in dish water I was focused on a particularly filthy pot, and never noticed the footsteps coming up behind me. Scrapper in hand, I was attacking the baked on lunch with aggression, working off my anxiety over what will happen when Valencia sees me next. Damn evil woman, she acts as if slaves are not even human, she treats us worse than animals. I roughly shoved the pot aside, examining it for spots. Clean. With a sigh I brushed some stray hair out of my face. Another day done.

"Was that you?" I damn near jumped out of my skin. Spinning around I found Aiden standing a scarce inch from my nose. He stood hunched over me, looking at me so intently that I thought I might die. I tried to back away only to find myself pressed back against the counter. "For Christ sake woman! I know it was you so why don’t you admit it?" He pressed a hand to the counter on either side of me, pinning me in place. With his breath on my face I stood gaping at the impressive figure standing over me. All I could do was open and close my mouth in the most pathetic manner. "Where did you learn that song?" Song? What song? That simple melody from yesterday? "Where?" He grabbed my arm and shook me slightly.

"Let go of me!" I half gasped as he squeezed my arm hard enough to bruise. I fought against his bruising fingers. "I don’t know what you’re talking about." I struggled feebly against his superior strength.

"That song! Where did you learn it?" He let go of me roughly, half pushing me to the floor.

"I don’t know!" I felt close to hysterics. "The song?" I tried to push myself away from Aiden. "I have always known it." I was doing my best to creep backwards away from Aiden’s temper.

His brown eyes were open round. Staring me through with a look of confusion. Why does he care where I learnt that song? Why am I not getting beat for being caught singing? His eyes softened slightly, noticing my panic. With the same suddenness of his arrival, he spun on his heel and left me on the floor. What the hell is it with these people? They are all crazy!