5. Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Lillith
A strange sense of unease annoys me as I make my way back to the hallway. The walls seem to close in on me, their secrets taunting me like whispers from the shadows. As Lillith Shadowend, villain extraordinaire, I have always been one step ahead of everyone else, but here, under the guise of Lilly Grimsbane, maid and general cleaner of floors and underwear, I am at risk of being exposed if I don't keep my wits about me.
"Surely, there's nothing to worry about," I mutter to myself. "Nobody suspects a thing."
Yet, that nagging feeling refuses to go away. Every time someone looks at me or speaks to me, I can't help but wonder if they know who I truly am. As a villain, even working as a maid wouldn’t be possible. If I wasn’t disguised as Lilly, the law literally states that I would have to be killed. There’s no other option. If you’re born a villain, you live as a villain.
As I resume cleaning the floors, I can't shake the feeling that something is amiss. My instincts scream at me that danger lurks nearby, ready to pounce on any hint of my true identity. Not danger to myself but challenging my superiority. It is as if an invisible force guides me, urging me to follow it to the source of my unease.
"All right, intuition," I whisper, "let's see where you take me."
After placing the bucket full of dirty water and rags in the washroom, I follow my gut instinct to the back of the home. The air grows colder as I venture farther into the shadows. It’s too quiet. I tiptoe through the darkened halls, trying to stay as quiet as possible so as not to alert anyone to my presence. My heart pounds in my chest with each step, and I strain my ears to listen for any signs of life.
"Who would guess," I muse softly to myself, "that Lillith Shadowend would be skulking around in the darkness like some common thief?" But if I want to protect my secret, I need to find the source of my unease before it finds me.
As I round a corner, I catch a glimpse of movement in the shadows. My breath hitches, and I press myself against the wall, heart pounding in my ears. Something is here.
"All right," I mutter under my breath, "let's get this over with."
Steeling myself, I prepare to confront whatever lay hidden in the darkness.
"Who's there?" I call out, my voice shaking slightly.
I strain my ears, listening for a response or any clue as to who might be lurking in the shadows, but all I can hear is the pounding of my own heart and the distant creaking of the old castle.
"Show yourself!" I demand, trying to sound brave and confident despite feeling anything but. "I won't hesitate to defend myself! I promise you will come out of this far worse than I will."
A soft chuckle echoes through the corridor, sending shivers down my spine. Whoever it is, they are clearly amused by my threat.
My mind races as I try to recall any villains who might recognize me from my past life as Lillith Shadowend, but their identities elude me. I prefer to keep to myself. Rule number six to be a good villain—never trust another villain. All the more reason to ensure my secret remains just that: a secret.
"Come now," says a raspy voice, finally emerging from the shadows. "Is that any way to greet an old acquaintance?"
As the figure steps into the dim light, I catch sight of their hand first. It is a ghastly sight. Rotting flesh clings to bone, some of it hanging in tatters like shredded cloth. The stench of decay wafts from it, making bile rise in the back of my throat. He must have touched the rot iron fence on his way in. A snort escapes me. What kind of idiot couldn't recognize rot iron or did and still chose to touch it?
"Acquaintance?" I spit, trying to keep my composure. "I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else."
"Ah, playing coy, are we?" The villain smirks, revealing a row of jagged, yellow teeth. "Very well, I'll play along, but know this. I am not the only one who knows your true identity, Lillith Shadowend."
My heart skips a beat, but I refuse to let my fear show. Instead, I force a smile. "Well, if you do know me, then surely you remember that I don't take kindly to threats."
"Threats?" He chuckles again, the sound as grating as nails on a chalkboard. "No, no, dear girl. This is simply... a friendly reminder."
"Your idea of 'friendly' could use some work," I quip, trying to buy time as I rack my brain for any way to escape this situation.
"Perhaps," the villain concedes, their rotting hand flexing menacingly. "But I think we both know that our past encounters were anything but friendly, and should your secret come to light, well, let's just say your life here will be far less... cozy."
"Is there something you want from me?" I ask cautiously, dreading the answer yet knowing I have no choice but to push forward.
"Ah, finally, we get to the heart of the matter." The villain's grin widens, revealing even more of those disgusting teeth. "For now, simply your silence. But soon, Lillith, very soon you'll be called upon, and when that day comes, you'd best not hesitate."
"Are you threatening me?" I growled out, clenching my fists at my sides. "Since you know who I am, you know very well how exactly that turns out for most people."
"My dear, your threats mean nothing to someone who knows your weaknesses."
What weaknesses?
"You and I both know that's a thinly veiled lie. You've got nothing."
"So you say." The villain smirks, stepping back into the shadows. "Until we meet again, Lillith Shadowend, the flame that dances in the darkness."
And with that, he vanishes, leaving me alone in the cold, dim corridor to contemplate the words he left with me.
Before I can turn, a flurry of movement erupts. One knocks over a suit of armor while another leaps out the window like a cat fleeing from a bath. The third villain, a lanky man with an eyepatch, tries to scurry away but trips over his own cape.
"Wait!" I call out, panic rising in my chest. "Don't—"
"Run? Why ever not?" Eyepatch answers, finally extricating himself from his cape. "Unless you're planning on turning us in?"
"Of course not!" I hiss, glancing around nervously. "You're making such a commotion!"
"Exactly," he replies, sneering at me. "We're causing a distraction so we can escape. It's called strategy, love."
"Quiet, both of you!" a new voice commands.
My stomach drops as Mrs. Umbernuckle emerges from the shadows, her willowy frame imposing despite her slight stature. She looks every inch the head maid, her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed in disapproval. If she notices the chaos that has unfolded moments before, she gives no indication.
"M-Mrs. Umbernuckle," I stammer, my heart pounding in my chest. "I was just—"
"Save your excuses," she snaps, silencing me with a wave of her hand. "I'm well aware of what you were doing, Lilly, and I must say, I'm disappointed."
"Disappointed?" I echo, searching her face for any sign of recognition or shared secrets, but all I find is stern disapproval.
"Indeed," she continues, her gaze flicking between me and Eyepatch. "You've both been entrusted with tasks of great importance here at the palace, and yet you insist on engaging in this... tomfoolery. I expect better from my staff."
I am confused. Eyepatch works at the castle? What does that mean for the other men?
"Of course, Mrs. Umbernuckle," I mumble, staring at the floor.
"Good. Now, Lilly, I suggest you return to your duties, and as for you," she adds, turning her attention to Eyepatch, "I trust you know your way out?"
"Like the back of my hand." He smirks and vanishes down the hallway.
"Very well," Mrs. Umbernuckle sighs, massaging her temples. "Lilly, see that this mess is cleaned up and then report to me in my office, and do try to stay out of trouble in the meantime."
"Yes, Mrs. Umbernuckle," I mutter.
"Good," she replies, her eyes never leaving mine for a long moment.
Then, she turns and strides away, leaving me alone with the wreckage of the villains' flight and more confused and suspicious of Mrs. Umbernuckle than I had been before.
But Mister Rotting Hand recognizes me doesn't mean Mrs. Umbernuckle knows who I am.
As I set to work cleaning up the chaos, a million questions race through my mind. How much does Mrs. Umbernuckle know? Is she one of them or merely an unwitting pawn in their game? And most importantly, how can I continue to keep my true identity a secret if everyone around me seems to be hiding something too?
Lost in thought, I miss the creature from the kitchen until suddenly it appears in front of me with a quiet pop. I gasp and nearly jump as the creature gives me an almost apologetic look. Its long ears flop slightly as, wide-eyed, it casts a worried glance down the hall and offers a hurried motion in what I can only assume is the command to hide before disappearing again with a small pop.
The gentle rustle of her skirts is my only warning. Spurred by my desire to not be caught after wasting so much time, I find the perfect hiding spot behind a towering suit of armor. From there, I watch Mrs. Umbernuckle as she investigates the scene, her brow furrowed in concentration. She seems to glide gracefully across the floor, her willowy figure a sharp contrast to the chaos left behind by the fleeing villains.
"Curse my curiosity," I mutter under my breath, trying my hardest to remain silent and unnoticed. The air feels thick with anticipation, and my heart races within my chest.
Mrs. Umbernuckle kneels down to examine a discarded scrap of cloth. "This is peculiar," she murmurs, picking it up with delicate fingers.
As she scrutinizes it, I can't help but notice how familiar it looks, almost like it belongs to one of the villains' cloaks.
Could she be one of them? But if she were, wouldn't she have recognized me? Or is this all an elaborate ruse?
"Who goes there?" Mrs. Umbernuckle suddenly calls out, her voice slicing through the silence like a dagger .
My heart skips a beat, convinced that she has discovered me.
Instead, her eyes are focused on a small creature scurrying across the floor. "Ah, just a mouse. You gave me quite a fright, little one."
My pulse still pounds in my ears. That had been far too close for comfort.
Risking another glance, I see Mrs. Umbernuckle rise from her crouched position, her expression unreadable.
"Ah, well." Mrs. Umbernuckle sighs, pocketing the scrap of cloth and straightening her apron. "I suppose there's nothing more to be found here." She glances around the room one last time before turning on her heel and exiting the hallway, leaving me to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Close call, indeed," I whisper to myself, my heart rate finally beginning to slow.
As I emerge from my hiding place, I ponder the mysteries surrounding Mrs. Umbernuckle and the villains who have recognized me. One thing is clear. Keeping my true identity a secret is becoming increasingly difficult, and I have to tread carefully lest I be exposed.
"Time to focus on my duties and lay low for a while," I decide. I can't help but feel that my life is about to get far more complicated than I ever could have imagined.
** *
I can't shake the feeling that something is off about Mrs. Umbernuckle, and the more I think about it, the more suspicious she seems. As I continue cleaning the floors, I notice her casting furtive glances my way, as if trying to gauge my reaction to her earlier investigation.
"Miss Lilly," she calls out to me, a thin smile crossing her face. "I trust you're finding your new duties... manageable?"
"Of course, Mrs. Umbernuckle," I reply with a tight smile of my own, my mind racing with unanswered questions. "I'm quite adept at adapting to new situations."
"Ah, good," she says, and I could swear I see a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. "Well, do carry on then."
She walks away, leaving me to wonder what her true intentions are.
Is she onto me? I scrub vigorously at a particularly stubborn stain. Or is she merely testing my loyalty? Either way, I need to be cautious.
Just as I am finishing up the task, a messenger appears in the doorway, looking rather flustered. "M-miss Lilly," he stammers, "you've been summoned by Prince Asher. He requests your presence in his chambers immediately. "
"Thank you," I reply, curiosity piqued. "I'll head there right away."
As I make my way to the prince's room, I can't help but feel a mixture of excitement and trepidation. He has to have found the woodroaches in his room. I can't think of any other reason he would call me to it. How angry is he? Has he killed them and needs the corpses cleaned up?
I enter Prince Asher's sitting room, my eyes taking in the lavish surroundings. I had been so distracted by my mission the last time I was here I didn’t really take in the room.Tapestries line the walls, depicting scenes of heroic battles and mythical creatures. A large fireplace crackles softly, casting a warm glow over the room. Plush velvet chairs sit invitingly by a small table laden with an assortment of delicacies fit for royalty and my roommates on two of them. A large wooden door connects to the room where I left my present.
"Please, have a seat." Prince Asher gestures to one of the chairs, his voice as smooth as silk. He appears to be the epitome of serenity, his white hair framing his strikingly handsome face. His vivid blue eyes seem to hold a secret wisdom that belies his youthful appearance.
"Thank you, Your Highness," I murmur, seating myself on the edge of the cushioned chair, unsure of what to expect.
As soon as I am settled, he turns his attention to my roommates, who sit on a long couch across from us. "Now then," he begins, rubbing his hands together briskly, "I've called you all here because we have a bit of a woodroach situation. Fear not. I will instruct you on the proper method of relocating them without harming the creatures."
"Woodroaches?" I ask, feigning innocence.
"First," Prince Asher says, reaching into a box on the small table and pulling out a large wood roach, unphased by its antennae waving in front of his face, "you must approach the creature gently, so as not to startle it."
He demonstrates his point, holding the roach tenderly between his thumb and forefinger.
"Next, offer it a small morsel of food, such as this," he continues, producing a tiny crumb from his pocket and extending it to the roach.
To my astonishment, the creature takes the offering with its spindly legs, nibbling contentedly. That little traitor. Was its stomach not filled already from my own offering?
"Finally," Prince Asher concludes, "once you've gained the wood roach's trust, simply place it in an appropriate location outside." He opens a nearby window, releasing the satisfied creature into the night air.
"Your Highness," Mairelle interjects, "why exactly are we learning about woodroaches? "
"Ah," he replies with a gentle smile. "I believe that all creatures have their place in the world, and it's important for us to learn how to coexist harmoniously."
"Of course, Your Highness," Cherry manages with a shaky smile.
"All right, let's practice what we've learned, shall we?" Prince Asher suggests, gesturing to the collection of woodroaches scuttling about in a terrarium on a nearby table.
"Absolutely!" Mairelle chimes in, her bubbly excitement serving as a welcome distraction from my internal turmoil.
"Good luck, ladies." The prince grins, stepping back to observe our progress.
I approach the terrarium cautiously, hyper-aware of every movement within the room. My senses are on high alert, ears straining to catch even the slightest whisper of suspicion while my fingers tremble as I reach for one of the roaches.
"Easy there, Lilly," Cherry murmurs, her regal poise a stark contrast to my own rattled nerves. "Remember what His Highness said—slow and gentle."
"Right," I agree softly, forcing my hand to steady as I offer the roach a tiny morsel of food. To my relief, it takes the offering without hesitation and without the need of magic this time.
"Excellent work, Lilly," Prince Asher praises .
My heart skips a beat. I glance at him, searching for any hint of mockery behind his kind eyes, but all I can see is genuine admiration.
"Thanks," I reply quietly, releasing the creature out the window before turning to watch my fellow maids attempt the same feat.
Mairelle coos at her chosen roach, her cheeks flushed as she successfully relocates it. Cherry, on the other hand, struggles to conceal her disgust, her lips pursed in a thin line as she reluctantly follows Prince Asher's instructions.
"Well done!" Prince Asher says as he walks to the door and opens it. "Now if you don't mind, please take care of the rest."
Mairelle squeals as she jumps on top of a nearby table at the sight of the hundreds of small brown bugs waiting for her. Cherry freezes. A blank mask slams down on her face. Fists clenched behind my back, I try to keep my face as neutral as possible. This is not how this was supposed to play out.
I can do nothing for the moment, though. I will do whatever it takes to keep my secret safe. I am here because I need a challenge, and the prince is turning out to be the perfect one. For now, at least, I will tread carefully, my every move calculated to maintain the delicate balance between my two identities.