"What brings you down here on such a bright and beautiful morning?"
Mada Arumina’s voice was the only one that rose as she approached Arabella.
"I hope I am not disturbing," the young woman shifted a little in her standing place, "I’ve always wanted to see the kitchens and its occupants but never found the courage," she smiled sheepishly, her cheeks flushed.
"May I see your hands?" the head maid stopped right before Arabella’s figure and readjusted her round glasses on her nose.
"Oh... Yes,"
She did as told and lifted both hands, allowing Arumina to inspect them. The older woman did not shy away from taking them, flipping them around and rubbing her own fingers against Arabella’s skin.
"Well, you certainly aren’t disturbing, but you do not belong here. I can tell you that," her piercing gaze abandoned her hands in order to focus on the young woman’s face. Upon noting the puzzled look plastered on her however, she elaborated, "No cuts, no calluses, no bruises... I assud you never worked a day in your life,"
"No. I am afraid I haven’t," Arabella lowered her head and her tone as well.
"Not that there is any sha in that, of course," Arumina turned around and started walking away, "I am sure your talents lie elsewhere, but why don’t you tell us the real reason you ca down here?"
"The real reason?" her eyes snapped back onto the head maid as her mouth remained a little agape.
Ada and the other maids did not seem more clued in than her. Their irises kept on flickering between Arabella and Arumina until one of them spoke again.
"I am sure you wanted to see the kitchens and et the rest of us, but you also wanted sothing else, didn’t you? So go ahead,"
Arabella’s heart sank a little to her guts as she twiddled her fingers. Her gemstones refused to et the chestnut brown ones burning holes in her.
A mild wave of dread washed over her when realizing just how accurate was Arumina’s reading of her.
What she believed so well hidden, lay exposed before the old woman as though she held magnifying lenses to her soul.
"Well,... The truth is," Arabella glanced at Ada before turning back towards Arumina, "I did want to speak with Edna,"
A gasp emanated from both Ada and Gloria. Although, the one escaping Ada was sharper.
"I am sorry I did not ntion it before, but I simply did not wish to worry you," Arabella focused on her friend, thinking she’d have felt deceived by her actions.
"Follow ," without any dilly dallying, Arumina walked towards the door.
Arabella hesitated for a bit, her attention on Ada’s fallen face before following in Arumina’s tracks.
"Considering what I’ve heard about you," Arumina looked ahead while speaking, "I am sure you have no intention of hurting her. She’s been through a harrowing ordeal and she’s still a bit shaken by it,"
"Knowing Edna, she’d forget all about it upon seeing and focus on tearing down instead," a chuckle almost escaped her.
"Fingers crossed,"
Through the hallways she was led up until an imposing door marked the end of their journey.
Arumina opened it and stepped inside without knocking.
"Edna," she calmly called her na.
"What?" she spat. As per her usual, there was neither warmth nor poise in her voice.
Edna sat upon the edge of one of the beds in that vast room. Arabella lost count of them after fifteen beds.
Her already crumpled features twisted further when her eyes landed on Arabella’s figure.
"What is she doing here?" she sprung to her feet, face draining of all color, "Trying to get in more trouble?" she stepped backwards, around her bed as though it’d have shielded her.
Armina raised a hand, "None of that. She’s co to speak with you,"
"Of course, she did!" Edna gritted her teeth, "What new whims have stricken the princess this ti around?"
"Like she said, I-,"
"Stay away!"
Arabella had taken one, shy step forward only to be scread at which rooted her in her spot.
Edna’s breathing cadence increased, heart clearly battering its cage.
"I told you already! You may have fooled everyone else but not !" Edna hamred her index finger against her own chest to make a point, "Hey! Wait! Where are you going?" the confidence and harshness lted off Edna’s features when realizing Arumina alone was heading towards the door.
"Edna, please!" Arabella stepped between her and Arumina, forcing the blonde to freeze in place, "I just want to speak," she pleaded.
"Well, alright then! Speak or leave alone! But know that I have nothing to say to you!"
"Are you feeling alright?" soft Arabella’s voice was.
"What?" Edna’s features curled further, "Is this a joke?"
Instead of responding, Arabella’s eyes fell on the purple marks around Edna’s neck, "I am sorry for what happened to you,"
"Right," Edna nodded, the grimace of a smirk on her, "Of course you are sorry since you probably caused it, didn’t you? You sent that wench to kill , didn’t you?" she crossed her arms.
"What? No! I would never!" Arabella shook her head furiously.
"This is absolutely ridiculous! I am done listening to this,"
Edna stomped forward, aiming for the door, but Arabella once again stood firm in her way.
"Get out of my way!"Edna demanded.
"What’s the matter? You do not like when this is done to you? You did it to countless tis," Arabella’s features were closed, harsh even.
There was no twitching, not an ounce of hesitation.
"You-"
That ti around it was Edna that interrupted herself. The words literally hitched in her throat upon noting the bite marks on Arabella’s neck.
Her traits relaxed at once, her smirk growing real, untainted with strain, "I see the rumors were true then," she half asked, "You know, for a second, I wondered why you had that vapid, dead stare but now I realize... It’s because you’ve turned like ," a scoff escaped her, "Is that why you are here to see ? It’s because he’s tossed you aside like he did to . You ca to talk because you believe we have sothing in common," she half suggested again.
"No," Arabella shook her head slowly, "I’d like to know what you did to Katherine. She’s been acting weird for a while now and then this happens...," her gemstones fell onto Edna’s neck again," It can’t be a coincidence,"
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