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Chapter 15
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Serenity House: Ella's Journey Chapter 16
In the midst of death, life never stopped. Or rather, the jobs that needed doing never stopped. I wondered if Heaven employed domestics to keep everything running smoothly. Or was that Hell, where you found yourself a housemaid for all of eternity to the toffs residing upstairs?For one day, at least, Alice and I had managed to escape outside, enjoying the sunshine and gentle breezes. With our skin protected by thick gauze and gloves, we tackled the beehives. I wielded the smoker and kept the bees dreaming while Alice removed the frames and used a scraper to pry the honey free.Alice kept up a steady chatter about her intensifying romance with Frank. I could see the appeal. Tall and handsome like Seth, but Frank seemed quicker to laugh and more comfortable in his skin. From Alice's waffling, it seemed he was handy in all manner of things. There were even scandalously delicious details she would need to confess under cover of dark, once the rest of the house was asleep. I had to know
Serenity House: Ella's Journey Chapter 17
There were days when I felt like a Clydesdale, pulling the plough and tilling an endless field. The harness weighed heavy around my neck and shoulders, but I had no way to remove it on my own. The leather bit into my skin, as I strained against the weight I must drag behind me.Today is most certainly one of those days.We started extra early. With the ball that night, our workload seemed to quadruple. They all wanted special baths and their hair washed, which meant lugging hot water up to their rooms because we had no money to plumb in the bathroom. Father had planned one before the war. The room was built and tiled and held a divine claw-foot bath, but the pipes were never connected. Now it seemed like an extravagant luxury. I was quite happy with the tin bath in the kitchen; it was closer to both the water source and the range to heat it. But no, they had to bathe upstairs in the fancy, useless room.I was nearly done for the evening. The horses munched on their feed in the barn
Serenity House: Ella's Journey Chapter 18
Night fell and wrapped me in its embrace. I stopped crying, and the pain across my shoulder blades eased to a dull ache. Thankfully, my coarse clothing saved my skin from the switch and I couldn't feel any blood. But my nerves still protested and my joints hurt as the shackles held my arms up, and I couldn't relieve the pressure. At least the soft breathing of the horses kept me company and reassured me I wasn't alone. They munched hay with a steady grind, occasionally whickering to each other.Then my ears pricked at something not equine in origin?a tread more foot than hoof. Fear gripped my heart and gave a squeeze. "Who is it?" I called out.No reply.The feet shuffled closer. Oh God, a vermin was in the stalls. Had she laid a trail of vermin breadcrumbs, so one would find me helpless in the barn? Had she planned to use an undead creature to do her work and dispose of me? I renewed my effort to pull the ring from its home embedded in the wall. I leaned my weight against the chain
Serenity House: Ella's Journey Chapter 19
How could I refuse?I took the last step and laid my hand in his. He drew me near as the band began to play a waltz. Not the ragtime music I expected, but I wasn't going to complain while he held me close for a slow dance."You look beautiful," he whispered. His gaze shone, turning the grey of his eyes to shot silver."You're very fine yourself," I said. He was exquisite in his tails, but I imagined it was bad form to call a man beautiful.We moved out on to the parquet floor. While it gleamed for the moment, it would be dull and scuffed by thousands of footsteps by dawn. Overhead, enormous chandeliers glinted, as though Seth had plucked several moons from the heavens and hung them from the ceiling. One wall contained French doors at regular intervals, leading to the patio and gardens beyond. In between each set of doors and mounted on the wall were crossed swords, from delicate fencing foils to brutish Scottish claymores. Steel caught the overhead light, and fire ran along razor e
Serenity House: Ella's Journey Chapter 20
It's surprising how quiet two hundred people can be when they don't want to miss a single syllable of the main show. Louise's heels clicked on the floor as she approached. I had to turn, instinct demanding that I never present my back to the enemy. Two things gave me immense satisfaction in the horror playing out. The first came as I took in her dress, and had the satisfaction of knowing it was last season's. And here was the scullery maid, wearing Paris, summer 1919. Ouch.The second matter to bring me a fraction of joy was her angry face adorned with the broken nose and darkened circles under her eyes, although she had layered on the powder in a futile attempt to cover the dark smudges. She could throw all the dirty names she wanted, but I could throw a punch."What is the meaning of this, Louise?" Seth asked.She pointed a finger and stabbed the air in my direction. "She is a liar and a filthy, grasping whore!"My feet wouldn't budge. I swallowed, but couldn't squeeze out any wo
Serenity House: Ella's Journey Chapter 21
Four carcasses twitched and shuddered across the wooden floor while we took a well-deserved drink. Eight in total had attacked Serenity House this evening."I think we can safely say your ball was a riot." I couldn't help myself, I had to say it. Behind me, the soldiers chortled with laughter."It did end rather spectacularly, didn't it?" Seth smiled.Frank appeared on the top step. "Seth," he called. "We think we've pinpointed the hive in the grid Ella identified."Seth handed off his sword to the butler, who had materialised at his elbow. How did he do that? He must have secret doorways that exited in thin air. "Rally your men, lieutenant, we have our target.""Yes, captain." The soldier saluted and jogged up the stairs.I took in the mess on the dance floor. "We need to identify them if we can, and the ones outside." Where did they come from, and how far had they travelled? I needed names to inscribe in my notebook, before their bodies were consigned to the bonfire. A tinge of
Serenity House: Ella's Journey Chapter 22
Waiting seemed to take an eternity. From above came the monotonous thud as the men dug through the dirt, and then hit the stone. Not long after that, a soft boom vibrated the air around us and made me jump."Small charge," Seth said. "Just enough to break through the stone. Frank has a way with dynamite."Then from below, a gunshot, followed by three more fired in rapid succession. I jumped and glanced to Seth."Shouldn't we go in? They need our help," I said.He ground his jaw, but held his ground. "I can't risk more men without knowing what's in there. We wait."I wanted to dash in after the brave young men. How could he stand here, while a few feet away his soldiers needed our help? He reached out and took my hand, holding me at his side and drawing my gaze again."This is what it means to lead, to balance two lives against many more. I don't issue the command to wait lightly, but I have faith in Jack and Jake's abilities."Time stretched, and my heartbeat struggled to fill t
Serenity House: Ella's Journey Chapter 23
"Run!"Seth gave the command as soon as we emerged, but our feet were already moving.Frank waited up top until he saw we were clear. Then he let the missile drop, jumped, and rolled down the side as though the hounds of Hell were snapping at his heels. We ran toward the trees and the shelter of a low ridge. As we passed over, Seth looped an arm around my waist and pulled me to the ground, the damp grass chill against my skin. His larger body shielded me as a whump hit my ears, at the same time that heated air blasted over the top of us."What was in that?" I asked, although with the buzzing in my ears I wasn't sure if I would be capable of hearing his reply.A minute passed before he caught his breath and answered. "Ever hear the story of Greek fire?"Vague memory cells sparked. As a child, I had the benefit of a classical education, and father had loved reading me ancient stories of lost civilisations and long dead warriors.Seth started talking as he rolled us to our sides. "I
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