A Special Guest

"Ma mère, her food is ready" one of the maidens who had left earlier announced as she wheeled in a tray of covered food

"Good. What about the bath?" The elderly woman enquired 

"Vanessa is having it done ma mère" the lady answered.

Rose took hold of every information she heard, the senior lady was called mother, maybe she birthed the two younger women. Among the two, the shorter one was referred to as Vanessa.

"Where do I place it?"

"Over to this side, child" Ma mère directed her. The slender maiden obeyed quietly and made for the door

"Miriam?" Ma mère called her attention

"Yes, good mother" she turned

"Go get some rest. You've been working since the midnight hour"

"I sure will" Miriam nodded her head before leaving the room

"Dear child" Ma mère sprang up "Fill your belly with this meal so you can have your bath there after" she looked up at the clock ticking stealthily on the wall 

"It's already past one? Good gracious! Hurry child, you must be ready to see Madame Gloria by three" Ma mère said in haste as she rushed to leave

"But who is Madame Gloria?" Rose echoed but it was too late for her voice to be heard, Ma mère had disappeared through the door already

Rose looked around the room, it was a big one, although a bit old fashioned.

The room smelt musty, the colour was a dull brown. A shelf of books stood by the corner, on the side table were some old newspapers stacked neatly together

The windows were sizable too, she paved way through the curtains and looked through the open window

She could see guards standing at tension, talking calmly while the others gambled

"If only I knew what all this is about. It's driving me nuts" she grabbed her hair 

"What if I'm to be killed? Oh no, I'd have to escape one way or another" she scampered to the door and tried pulling it open, it was locked. She tried again and again, all attempts proved useless

Not being able to have her way with the door, she dashed to the window and looked below. It had just dawned on her that she was on the top most floor of the castle so any effort to jump out that window would surely lead to her death. She put her back to the wall, feeling disenchanted

"I can't let these evil wolves kill me, not after every… wait a minute, is it really their plan to have me killed?" she thought 

"Cos if that was the agenda, that monster would have finished the job before now, he had the opportunity after all

"I suppose they wouldn't have offered me this room or any food at all if that was the case" at the mention of food, she felt her belly murmur. 

She squeezed it tightly, dragging herself to the food tray. She lifted the lid, revealing the contents of the tray. On it was a loaf of freshly made 

bread, a glass of thick milk and a huge chunk of grilled meat.

The hungry wolf girl dived in quickly. Her interest seemed to dwell on the meat more than the bread. Taking hold of the glass, she emptied the content in one gulp, she could feel her dry tongue resurrect to life

 She felt better and stronger already. Food was probably the medicine she needed at the moment to get her in shape. 

Her mind suddenly wandered off to the past, how graciously her mother would prepare fresh milk for them. Hers always carried an unknown ingredient that made it superb. She could remember how Jack would stuff himself with food until he'd need some help getting up 

"Oh Jack.." she smiles wryly

 "Jack? Oh no Jack!" Her eyes almost pulled out from their sockets 

"Where was he taken to? What was I thinking that I forgot about him all the  while? What if he's hurt or being tortured? I'd never forgive myself" her eyes beamed with tears, guilt overwhelmed her. How could she have forgotten the only one she had left?

"I must find him" Rose rose in resolution, and tried opening the door once more. What followed was a series of pounding banging

"Let me out, I have to see my brother" she cried with desperation in her voice. 

Fearful thoughts galloped through her mind. What if he was dead? 

Wayne had said he didn't find Jack useful anyway. What if that heartless beast slew the poor child in his unconsciousness? Her whole life would be doomed forever

"Help me! Someone help!" She banged more, disturbing the quiet nature of the vicinity. No one was forthcoming, it was their plan all along, that's why she was locked in there. The food and care was a distraction wasn't it? 

"How could I have fallen foolishly for it?" Her lips uttered in regret. A melancholic cloud hung over her head, depression was having it's way with her. She looked outside the window, a group of guards were practicing with dreadful looking guns

"Aim target" the commander held his hand in the air "And fire!" He brought his hand down forcefully

The word "fire" echoed in Rose's ears

 She ran back to the door and resumed banging

 "Fire! Fire! The room's on fire!" 

In less than thirty seconds, she heard footsteps running to the doorstep. 

The door was opened immediately

Ma mère entered first followed by Vanessa and a male guard.

"Child, are you by any means hurt? And where is the fire?" Ma mère held Rose's shoulders

"I'm fine. And there's no fire, I lied. I just want to see my brother, to know his condition. I'm losing it at the thought of him being killed" she voiced in honesty

"No one has killed your brother young lady. He's in good care now" the gray haired lady assured

"I want to see for myself" Rose doubted her words, no one could be trusted now