Chapter 2

SCARLETT'S P.O.V.

"So, are you going to get on with it?" I asked coldly as I looked at her, breaking the silence. She looked taken aback by my tone, but I didn't care. She might have been nice to me, but that didn't mean she had good intentions.

"I'm afraid I do not understand you, child."

"Don't call me that." I snapped at her irritatedly, causing her to raise a brow at me.

Letting out a sigh, "I'm sorry for snapping at you. If you want to kill me, then get on with it." I fought to keep my tears at bay as I looked away, but my voice cracked in between. Suddenly, I heard her laugh, which caused me to look at her in confusion.

"What's funny?" She didn't reply for a few seconds as she struggled to keep herself in check, her laughter finally dying down.

"I'm sorry---"

"Scarlett."

"Yes, I'm sorry, Scarlett. But why would you think I'd want to kill you?" She asked in amusement, her eyes holding a certain twinkle. It was then I properly studied her. She was beautiful, with clear skin just like Britteny, save for the crinkled lines by the corners of her eyes and on her forehead. Her lips were painted cherry red, and she had pearl earrings in each ear. Her hair was packed in a slick bun, strands of white hair visible. All in all, she was beautiful.

"Scarlett?" She called out to me, drawing my attention.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I asked why you'd think I want to kill you."

Falling back against my seat, "Because you're nice to me, and you're a stranger. And there's the saying of stranger danger."

"So why would you follow me if you thought I had ill intentions towards you?" She asked, amused, while I shifted in my seat in embarrassment. She did have a good point.

"Because I didn't care." I shrugged nonchalantly as silence followed before she spoke up.

"Why?" Hesitantly, I gave her a quick summary of my life while she listened attentively without interruption.

"I see." She spoke once I was done, "Well, for one, I am not going to kill you, Scarlett. Instead I'd like to help you." Help me?

"Why?"

"Because I like you." She shrugged with a smile. I squinted at her in disbelief, letting out a quiet scoff. She was good, I'd give her that.

"Cut the bullshit." I hissed disdainfully. Fair to say that I was ungrateful and rude to her after she had showed me kindness, but I couldn't help it. I had a feeling she wasn't entirely forthcoming. "Let's assume for a second that you are nice; you have good intentions. You happened to come across a young girl who looked like she could be in need of help. You take her home with you, feed her, and then offer to help her? Why? Surely there must be some hidden agenda." I hated the way she looked at me, with pity.

"Don't give me that look."

"What look, Scarlett?"

"Pity. I don't need it."

"Yes, I'm pretty sure you don't, Scar." She drew in a breath before she continued, "I... I understand your fears. Believe me, I do. But I want you to know that I do not pity you, nor do I want to harm you. You see, Scarlett, I was once like you. Tired of everything, and when I saw you today... it brought back memories. I just wanted to help in whatever way I could." I could hear the sincerity in her words as she rubbed the back of my hand. Mid-talking, she'd held it. Slowly, I detached my hand from hers.

"You're serious about wanting to help?"

"Yes."

"Pray tell, how would you help me?"

"How would you like to have a job here, Scarlett?"

"A job? Here?" I sputtered in disbelief.

"Yes, as a housekeeper. You'd be in charge of cleaning the house, although we have a few others who'd assist." I couldn't believe my ears; she had to be joking.

"What's the catch?" I couldn't help the doubt; it seemed surreal. One minute I was out in the streets and without a job, and the next minute a stranger was offering me shelter and a job.

"Yeah. I mean yes, of course. Thank you so much, Mrs...."

"Miss Hawton, you can call me Savannah or Miss Hawton. Your choice, honey."

"Thank you so much, Miss Hawton." I said elatedly, trying not to show how happy I was. She gave me a breakdown of the agreement, what I should do, as well as the do's and don'ts. The salary was much more than I had expected. She'd also said I'd be staying in the quarters she'd shown me.

"There's one important rule you must follow, Scarlett." My attention piqued by how serious she sounded, all traces of the cheerfulness gone.

"What is it?"

"You must never enter the east wing." Her eyes held seriousness. The east wing? I was curious as to what was there.

"If I may ask, why?" Inhaling sharply, her brows creased as she spoke.

"That is his territory, Master Luciano De Luca."

"His territory? What do you mean? I thought this was your house?" I quipped curiously, my brows raised as my index finger made a circling motion.

"It isn't; I'm just a caretaker." I was confused; if she was a caretaker, then why would she offer me a job in someone else's house? Why would she offer me a place to stay? It wasn't making any sense.

"I can see the wheels turning in your head, child."

"I'm just confused, that's all. I mean, I wouldn't want to worry about being thrown out of the house by the real owner anytime soon." I chuckled nervously. Her smile dimmed as she mumbled incoherently.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Nothing, dear, and you have nothing to worry about. I assure you. Come, let me show you around."

Savannah took me on a tour of the manor and estate. I had met with a few workers whom I had learned also lived on the estate. The manor was like a maze; I couldn't fathom why anyone would want to live in such a large place.

"Pardon me, Savannah, but where's the family who lives here?"

"Dead, most of them anyways." She replied sadly as she took me on the last tour of the house.

"Oh."

"And that's that about the manor." She said as we came to a stop atop a staircase leading to a hallway. I could tell that was the east wing; it had this cold feel. And then suddenly it clicked.

"There weren't any pictures, something to recognize this...master by."

"I can assure you, Scarlett, you wouldn't be seeing Master Luciano anytime soon, and if you do, do yourself a favor and stay out of his path. For your sake." And with that, she turned and left, leaving me staring after her before turning back to look towards the east wing.

Third Person's POV

As Scarlett drifted further away from her spot, she felt a chill run up her spine fearing whatever was in there. Savannah's warning to stay away from the east wing rang over and over again in her head. If Master Luciano wasn't going to be seen anytime soon, then why was the east wing off limits? A stronger part of her wanted to be as far away from whatever evil was in the east wing as possible, but a tiny part of her couldn't help but be curious. What was there? How dangerous was it? Little did she know that it wasn't an 'it,' but a 'who.'.

Confined in the east wing of the manor lay a comatose Master Luciano De Luca, and heaven help whoever would wake him.