Chapter 3: Something weird

Artemisia only stopped walking when the clock struck 12 times, obviously scaring her. The body hurt a little and asked for food, rest and maybe some sun. However, without employees there was no food and after the eleventh stroke she remembered that she was trying to understand why she was alone in the mansion. I couldn't call the police, because being without employees wasn't an emergency, at least they'd laugh at it and for two weeks it would become the joke of afternoon teas.

She passed her hand on her little face caring if the powder came out a little or not, just closed her eyes for a few seconds and sat on the first steps of the stairs. In a few hours looking for someone, alive preferably, only showed that Artemisia was nothing more than a prey.

Well, he liked that.

The blonde's eyes quickly opened with thought. She had barely made a month of her move and was already starting to go crazy. Who the hell was he?

— I give up — Artemisia stood up and put her hands on her hips — Whoever is here, know that he is cursed. This whole place! — She looked in the hallways on the second floor and turned around looking into the living room — From this damn wood to the jewels I'm wearing, if you want to steal something, know that it's not very advantageous!

The young woman passed her hand on the bruise and pressed her fingers lightly, feeling that pang of pleasurable pain. The blondie spent a few seconds squeezing until he felt the blood start coming out.

— I'm definitely going crazy...

Walking to the center table, Artemisia felt as if something had hit her body so hard, all the air from her lungs came out. She tried to take a deep breath, but it was like she was underwater, and to improve black pine cones danced on her vision.

—... You shouldn't... The gifts, he... - Voices began to speak throughout the room. They spoke at the same time, one higher than the other — Don't stay!.. Burn the flowers... The crow's heart will...

The girl covered her ears hard, still pulling the air. The air entered slowly, but the voices were higher.

She couldn't quite understand what they were saying, they were just disconnected phrases and words. Like Artemisia fell in the middle of a bar fight and was trying to figure out how that mess started. The only thing she understood was just 'He, He, He' and nothing else, sometimes heard about flowers and run away.

Her head was already starting to hurt, the bruise was on as if she had just cut herself, she could feel the warm liquid coming down her chest.

— THAT'S ENOUGH! — A thick, velvety male voice screamed, but Artemisia felt as if she was the one who screamed.

One hand touched the girl's shoulder and she turned quickly, hoping to see who had entered the mansion. However, for the happiness and disappointment of Artemisia, the person who touched her shoulder was a short maid with very red hair.

— Are you all right, Miss Carmesim? — The woman's voice was soft, like the kind of loved ones who sang to the children, and also carried a little worry — I saw that the lady was no longer in bed, and when I came down it seemed like she was feeling sick.

— Oh... I... I think I'm fine... -- She looked around, seeing the normal movement of the mansion back — I was... Well, getting ready to go to the flower fair before afternoon tea with Mrs. Montenegro.

The phrase came out of Artemisia's mouth as if it were buttered. The girl had no idea which day of the week the botanical fair was taking place in the city, let alone until hours were open. However the phrase came out with such confidence that even she believed it was that day.

— You should have lunch first.

The maid's eyes looked like cages, the ones that were home to the wild animals the circus captured. Even trying hard, Artemisia couldn't take her eyes off that light brown prison. She didn't even realize she'd agreed and was heading towards the dining room.

— Do you know who left the hyacinths for me? — Artemisia asked finally letting loose from the maid's gaze and urgently looking at a picture of her great-grandmother with her two daughters.

— What hyacinths, miss? — The maid's gentle smile was too weird for the girl to be comfortable. She quickly entered the dining room, as if fleeing from a rat.

— The hyacinths that were on the coffee table — The girl sat in the middle chair and stared at the ceramic fruits that decorated the table — I... Is... I saw them when I came down for lunch, it was kind of hard not to see.

She turned her face to the maid, trying to make her expression as "I am the authority here" she could. It probably looked like it was passing.

— There were no hyacinths in the living room, miss — The maid bent lightly and looked one last time into the eyes of Artemisia — Excuse me, have a nice lunch, miss.

Without a word left, she left the dining room, leaving Artemisia staring at the door as if something had gone along with the maid.

Before she could find that woman again, at least that day, Artemisia put a scarf around her neck, touched her makeup and took her purse to get out of that mansion for a few hours. The idea of staying until the end of afternoon tea was very pleasant.

She warned the driver that she was leaving 30 minutes ago, which was long enough to prepare the car and for the girl to stand in front of the mirror wondering if she was really starting to go crazy at 22. It's just the mansion, thought as he got up and locked the room.

I wasn't in the mood to stay in the mansion, especially with a maid like that also being there. When he passed through the living room, Artemisia still smelled hyacinth taking over the place. The perfume, light and with a background of chocolate and honey, gave a feeling of forgiveness in the young woman's chest. Like someone wanted to apologize and she'd accepted the apology with open arms.

It was too strong and real to have had any flowers in that place. After dinner, Artemisia would fire the woman. She was strange enough.