The First Day

Chapter Six

The First Day

Aveline Meadows

It took a lot of convincing from my father before I accepted to ask Angel for help. My father believed that Angel was a literal angel, but I knew her better as I had been her maid all these years instead of a sister.

"I will write a letter for you, and you'll show it to her, okay?" My father said gently. "Trust me, she will take good care of you. I'm certain of that."

My hesitation wasn't from how Angel would treat me because I was used to that kind of life by now. But it meant that I was going to see him...

Ash Caden.

If I was to work in the estate, I was going to pass through the garden a hundred times and get reminded every single time that I once felt happy and loved and unguarded there.

By the time I reached the estate with Lumi holding one of my hands, it was already late, and the door opened to reveal a stern looking woman.

"It's late in the day, and the Alpha isn't receiving guests." She said politely, but I could still sense the coolness in her tone as she gave me a once over before deciding I wasn't worth talking to. "If you're looking for food to eat with your child, please use the back because —"

"No..." I stopped her after realizing that she thought I was a homeless person coming to beg for alms. I stretched out the letter with shaky hands to her. "I'm here to see Angel."

"Angel?" Her eyes darkened.

"I mean... the Luna." I realized my mistake almost instantly, and her face pulled together in disgust.

"Why will you call her by her name? Have you no respect for the future queen of our lands?" She hissed before opening the letter.

"Greer? Who is that? Why are you raising your voice this beautiful evening?"

I heard my sister's calm voice that she had practiced so well all these years, and the nostalgic feeling crept up my spine. She peeked her head out of the door, and her eyes first landed on the woman before she looked at us. Her eyes constricted immediately before they widened in realization.

"Aveline!"

"Luna? Do you know her?" The woman called Greer, asked her.

Angel forced a fake smile on her face, obviously not happy to see me, but she had to pretend. "Of course, I do. Aveline and I go way back, you know." Then, she faced me squarely. "Is there any problem, Ave? Is there anything I can help with?"

I nodded slightly before pointing at the letter in Greer's hands. "From dad." I mouthed slowly so that only she could see. I knew deep within me that she didn't want anyone to know that we were related at all.

Greer was unfolding the scroll when she gently took it from Greer's hands. " Don't worry, dear. I'll take it from here." Then, she turned and went inside while giving instructions. "Please, lead our guests to the tea room. I'll be with her in a moment as I want to change from my sundress."

"Yes, Luna."

*

"I've seen the letter dad sent, and as much as I want to send you away immediately..." She looked at me wistfully. "I don't want to break his fragile heart, especially now that I hear he has a heart disease."

"What?" My head snapped to her face.

Her face broke into a smile. "Relax, Ave. I'm just kidding." She laughed and sat down on the sofa, crossing her legs. "Now, I have a lot of questions to ask after you ran off to the goddess knows where and brought back this thing you call a child, but as Luna, I have so many important things to do." She took a deep breath and uncrossed her legs. "Now... I will honor father's request to give you work and a place to stay with your daughter under one condition."

Relief flooded my chest little by little because I had wondered where and how Lumi and I were going to survive since I didn't plan on running from the pack again. There was literally nowhere else to go.

"What's the condition?" I asked.

"You will never tell anyone we are related. You're going to be just a homeless woman I picked off the street out of compassion, sheltered and gave her a means of livelihood. Is that clear?" Her eyes were sharper than a knife, and to be honest, I didn't expect less.

I nodded in response. "Yes, Angel. Thank you so much, and—"

"Don't you dare call me Angel!" She barked. "It is 'Luna' to you, is that clear??"

I swallowed and nodded hastily. "Yes, Luna."

"Good!" She looked satisfied. "The head maid would show you to your room and give you lots of jobs to earn honestly instead of sleeping around for money. Look what one of it caused you..." She said pointedly at Lumi who was curled up in my arms, staring at Angel quietly.

If only she knew... My chest tightened at the thought. If only she knew Lumi belonged to Ash...

"Thank you, Luna." I said again before she nodded and began to leave.

*

I started working in earnest that evening, without having the time to settle in and meet other workers. I had to leave Lumi in our new room, and she looked so excited as she jumped on the first bed she had ever seen in her entire life. My heart swelled with happiness, and that was the only thing I wanted to see and feel. My daughter being happy.

Before I got to work, I made sure to cover my face, just in case... Just in case I stumbled into him. Just in case I saw him again... I didn't want to lose this job to that.

I scrubbed floors until my fingers were raw. I hauled laundry baskets up three flights of stairs, emptied chamber pots and scrubbed them clean and returned them to their rooms. No one looked at me or spoke to me. I was invisible again, just like before.

By night, my arms ached and my back was screaming. I was carrying a stack of clean linens up the west corridor stairs when I heard footsteps coming the other way. They were heavy and measured steps, the kind that reminded me of only one person.

I kept my head down and began rounding the corner until I collided with whoever was there, and the linens scattered with everything falling off, and I dropped on the stone floor to gather them.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going."

He didn't answer at once, but when he said; "Are you a new maid?" I felt my heart constrict at the instant recognition of his voice. The low rumble sent shivers down my spine, while my heart was pounding hard against my ribs.

"Yes. I managed to whisper.

"What's your name?"

"Aveline." It came out before I could think of a lie. Stupid. Stupid.

"Aveline." He repeated it like he was testing the weight of it. "I haven't seen you before."

"I started today."

"Why is your face covered?"

"I'm unwell. A cough. I don't want to infect anyone."

He was quiet for a moment, and I hurriedly packed the linens back into the basket before I heard him speak again

"Look at me," he said, and my back went still immediately.

I couldn't. If I looked at him, he would know. He could see my eyes, and maybe remember... or will he? Was I scared for nothing, and had he gotten over it? That was almost four years ago, and it shouldn't mean much, right? He wouldn't be able to put two and tow together...

"I should finish my work," I said.

"In a moment." His voice was still as calm as I remembered and dreamt of every night. "Look at me."

I lifted my head to look, and his silver eyes struck me deep in my heart. Just like Lumi's eyes. He looked at me and something flickered in his expression. Confusion? Recognition?

"Do I know you?"