Time Cursed by Brooke Lile & Tiffany Roth
CHAPTER 10
Gabriella led Arlana and Lilliana to the servant’s quarters. They didn't talk much on the way, Arlana was still reeling inside from her talk with Senora Draco, and she felt like she had almost cost Lilliana her job. Lilliana had risked a lot to get her the job there and she didn't want to be the cause of misfortune for her. They walked around the back of the house and down a hill. At the bottom were the servants’ quarters. There were two good sized houses about a quarter of a mile apart. They were two story houses painted white with Green shutters. Gabriella explained that the house to their right was the male servants’ quarters and the house to the left is where they would be staying. “Under no circumstances are any of the female servants to ever enter the male servants’ quarters. Everyone is two to a room except Senora Draco who has her own home down the other side of the hill. You two will be roommates; your room is on the second floor to the far left. You will both begin tomorrow. Do you have any questions?”
“At what time do we get our meals?” Lilliana replied.
Gabriella smiled, “After the household is served and everything cleaned you can go into the kitchen and make yourself a plate. Oh, and I forgot to mention, we all work 6 days on and then one day off. Our days off rotate depending on when we started.”
“Thank you Gabriella,” Lilliana nodded her head towards her.
“You can call me Gabby, all my friends do. You both go on and get settled. I will see you at dinner.”
When they got into their room Lilliana let out a sigh of relief, “Ahhh, we did it! We got the jobs! Mom will be so relieved. Thank you Amber.” Lilliana smiled animatedly.
“You are thanking me? I almost made you lose the job. I should be thanking you, and apologizing. Thank you for helping me, I don't know what I would have done without you, I can't seem to remember anything.”
“Everything will be ok, just stick with me. I'm sorry you can't remember though, maybe we can try to think of ways to help you remember. Like that ring you are wearing, it had to have come from someone who cares about you. Let's settle in first though, which bed do you want? ”
There were two small beds across the room from each other each with a dainty white bedspread. There was a small white dresser and the windows were decorated with white curtains.
“I'll take the one close to the window if you don't mind.”
“No, not at all I just want to put my feet up.” Lilliana lay across the bed dropping her shoes onto the floor. In just a few moments she was snoring quite loudly. Arlana laughed quietly to herself, oh no, what have I gotten myself into, I'll never sleep again, she thought.
Arlana peered out the window. The grounds were beautiful. There were hills of grapevines as far as the eye could see all colored in orange, red and gold hues-the colors of fall. She saw a man passing by towards the fields. He had dark black hair and his skin was darkened by the sun. He was hauling large buckets down towards the fields. He sat one of the buckets down and pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe his face. Sweat glistened against his muscular arms. He suddenly looked up towards Arlanna and they made eye contact, he smiled at her and gave a little wave. She put her head down and stepped to the side of the window, embarrassed that she had been caught staring. Just then Lilliana started to yawn.
“Uhhh...Is it dinner?”
Arlana laughed, “I don't think quite yet but we can get ready. They dropped some clothes off for us while you were resting.”
“Oh, good. Let's get ready and I can braid your hair for you. I have lots of little sisters and I am the oldest, I am quite good at braiding hair.” Lilliana smiled.
“Ok, that would be great to get my hair up, it is pretty warm today”
“The cold should be coming soon, we are well into the fall already and yet it still feels like summer.”
They got dressed and Lilliana braided Arlana's hair around the sides and back of her head.
“There it looks beautiful, you look beautiful, wow I didn't think it possible but now your eyes stand out even more, whoever gave you that ring better get here soon or you will have a new ring on your finger in no time.”
Arlana smiled but felt a little sad inside, she wondered who had given her that ring and where they were.
As they headed into the kitchen for their dinner they heard shouting coming from the next room. Arlana grabbed Lilliana’s hand and held her back as they listened.
“He doesn't know how to make wine, not good wine anyways. And where is he now, traipsing around the countryside with that American wife of his! He should be here, taking care of business.”
“Um, I think he is away on business, looking for new customers, I don't think his wife is with him.” a quiet voice replied.
“Are you siding with him brother? He has taken everything from us, everything that is rightfully ours!”
“No, but I don't see why we should be so angry, maybe you could talk to him, make a few suggestions. He does let us stay here whenever we want after all, and he has paid for our schooling and travel.”
“Centesimo, centesimo to what he has. It is nothing; nothing like we are nothing to him and the sooner you realize that the better off you'll be.”
“Antonio, let's quiet our voices, this is his house after all.”
“Fine, but quit reminding me, let's go in the kitchen and eat some more of his food before we go out.”
The kitchen door swung open and Arlana and Lilliana quickly closed their gaping mouths. At that same moment the man that Arlana had seen working outside earlier came in through the servants’ entrance.
Antonio and Marco walked across the kitchen. “Where are the servants?”
“Um, we're here sir,” Lilliana bowed her head slightly towards Antonio.
“I haven't seen you here before,” a twisted smile spread across Antonio's face, “and just who is this bella donna?” he nodded towards Arlana.
“This is Amber and I am Lilliana.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you.” Antonio grabbed Arlana's hand and kissed it, Arlana's eyes widened and so did Marco's. She tried to pull her hand away but Antonio didn't let go.
“Antonio, we should probably get going.” Marco touched Antonio's arm.
“Not before I've had my snack. Lilliana, if you would be so kind as to get us a plate of food and some wine. Bring three glasses up to my room, Amber I'd like to get to know you better, you will come with us.”
Lilliana's eyes widened.
“No, I'm sorry but they can't. Senora Draco just had me come to tell them they were needed immediately, there’s been some sort of problem at your quarters, I would suggest that you go there right away.” It was the man that Arlana had seen outside, he looked at them pointedly and he pulled Arlana's hand out from Antonio's grasp.
“Salvatore, shouldn't you be outside working?” Antonio scowled towards him.
Salvatore stood several inches taller than Antonio he held his seriousness and replied,
“I just came to get the ladies and then I will get right back to work.”
“See that you do, I can't believe my brother has hired such lazy workers. Well, you don't need to go with them and my food is not going to make itself, you stay and prepare the food for us.” Antonio then looked towards Arlana, "It was such a pleasure to meet you, I look forward to having more pleasure the next time we are together.” He gave his same twisted smile and Arlana practically ran out of the room all the way back to their quarters.
“Wait,” Lilliana called after Arlana trying to catch up.
“Amber, stop!” Lilliana called out as she caught up with Arlana. “Why are you running? I would never let anything bad happen to you. Ignore that self important man. I am sure he was trying to make you uncomfortable. He sounds bitter and spoiled. Never a great combo but he wouldn’t know how to make you do anything he wants. Running away only fuels his power.”
“He was so creepy. I could feel his eyes on me I felt like the turkey at a feast. I am sorry but I panicked. Do you think he would still be t
here if we went back? I know you are hungry.”
“Oh Amber. You will soon learn that I am always hungry. Ha ha that is why my mother wanted me out of the house. She said I was like a son the way I ate so much. I think we should go back so they know that they will not intimidate us. Besides they are not our employers.” Lilliana said and took Arlana’s hand and walked with her back to the kitchen.
Gabriella led Arlana and Lilliana to the servant’s quarters. They didn't talk much on the way, Arlana was still reeling inside from her talk with Senora Draco, and she felt like she had almost cost Lilliana her job. Lilliana had risked a lot to get her the job there and she didn't want to be the cause of misfortune for her. They walked around the back of the house and down a hill. At the bottom were the servants’ quarters. There were two good sized houses about a quarter of a mile apart. They were two story houses painted white with Green shutters. Gabriella explained that the house to their right was the male servants’ quarters and the house to the left is where they would be staying. “Under no circumstances are any of the female servants to ever enter the male servants’ quarters. Everyone is two to a room except Senora Draco who has her own home down the other side of the hill. You two will be roommates; your room is on the second floor to the far left. You will both begin tomorrow. Do you have any questions?”
“At what time do we get our meals?” Lilliana replied.
Gabriella smiled, “After the household is served and everything cleaned you can go into the kitchen and make yourself a plate. Oh, and I forgot to mention, we all work 6 days on and then one day off. Our days off rotate depending on when we started.”
“Thank you Gabriella,” Lilliana nodded her head towards her.
“You can call me Gabby, all my friends do. You both go on and get settled. I will see you at dinner.”
When they got into their room Lilliana let out a sigh of relief, “Ahhh, we did it! We got the jobs! Mom will be so relieved. Thank you Amber.” Lilliana smiled animatedly.
“You are thanking me? I almost made you lose the job. I should be thanking you, and apologizing. Thank you for helping me, I don't know what I would have done without you, I can't seem to remember anything.”
“Everything will be ok, just stick with me. I'm sorry you can't remember though, maybe we can try to think of ways to help you remember. Like that ring you are wearing, it had to have come from someone who cares about you. Let's settle in first though, which bed do you want? ”
There were two small beds across the room from each other each with a dainty white bedspread. There was a small white dresser and the windows were decorated with white curtains.
“I'll take the one close to the window if you don't mind.”
“No, not at all I just want to put my feet up.” Lilliana lay across the bed dropping her shoes onto the floor. In just a few moments she was snoring quite loudly. Arlana laughed quietly to herself, oh no, what have I gotten myself into, I'll never sleep again, she thought.
Arlana peered out the window. The grounds were beautiful. There were hills of grapevines as far as the eye could see all colored in orange, red and gold hues-the colors of fall. She saw a man passing by towards the fields. He had dark black hair and his skin was darkened by the sun. He was hauling large buckets down towards the fields. He sat one of the buckets down and pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe his face. Sweat glistened against his muscular arms. He suddenly looked up towards Arlanna and they made eye contact, he smiled at her and gave a little wave. She put her head down and stepped to the side of the window, embarrassed that she had been caught staring. Just then Lilliana started to yawn.
“Uhhh...Is it dinner?”
Arlana laughed, “I don't think quite yet but we can get ready. They dropped some clothes off for us while you were resting.”
“Oh, good. Let's get ready and I can braid your hair for you. I have lots of little sisters and I am the oldest, I am quite good at braiding hair.” Lilliana smiled.
“Ok, that would be great to get my hair up, it is pretty warm today”
“The cold should be coming soon, we are well into the fall already and yet it still feels like summer.”
They got dressed and Lilliana braided Arlana's hair around the sides and back of her head.
“There it looks beautiful, you look beautiful, wow I didn't think it possible but now your eyes stand out even more, whoever gave you that ring better get here soon or you will have a new ring on your finger in no time.”
Arlana smiled but felt a little sad inside, she wondered who had given her that ring and where they were.
As they headed into the kitchen for their dinner they heard shouting coming from the next room. Arlana grabbed Lilliana’s hand and held her back as they listened.
“He doesn't know how to make wine, not good wine anyways. And where is he now, traipsing around the countryside with that American wife of his! He should be here, taking care of business.”
“Um, I think he is away on business, looking for new customers, I don't think his wife is with him.” a quiet voice replied.
“Are you siding with him brother? He has taken everything from us, everything that is rightfully ours!”
“No, but I don't see why we should be so angry, maybe you could talk to him, make a few suggestions. He does let us stay here whenever we want after all, and he has paid for our schooling and travel.”
“Centesimo, centesimo to what he has. It is nothing; nothing like we are nothing to him and the sooner you realize that the better off you'll be.”
“Antonio, let's quiet our voices, this is his house after all.”
“Fine, but quit reminding me, let's go in the kitchen and eat some more of his food before we go out.”
The kitchen door swung open and Arlana and Lilliana quickly closed their gaping mouths. At that same moment the man that Arlana had seen working outside earlier came in through the servants’ entrance.
Antonio and Marco walked across the kitchen. “Where are the servants?”
“Um, we're here sir,” Lilliana bowed her head slightly towards Antonio.
“I haven't seen you here before,” a twisted smile spread across Antonio's face, “and just who is this bella donna?” he nodded towards Arlana.
“This is Amber and I am Lilliana.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you.” Antonio grabbed Arlana's hand and kissed it, Arlana's eyes widened and so did Marco's. She tried to pull her hand away but Antonio didn't let go.
“Antonio, we should probably get going.” Marco touched Antonio's arm.
“Not before I've had my snack. Lilliana, if you would be so kind as to get us a plate of food and some wine. Bring three glasses up to my room, Amber I'd like to get to know you better, you will come with us.”
Lilliana's eyes widened.
“No, I'm sorry but they can't. Senora Draco just had me come to tell them they were needed immediately, there’s been some sort of problem at your quarters, I would suggest that you go there right away.” It was the man that Arlana had seen outside, he looked at them pointedly and he pulled Arlana's hand out from Antonio's grasp.
“Salvatore, shouldn't you be outside working?” Antonio scowled towards him.
Salvatore stood several inches taller than Antonio he held his seriousness and replied,
“I just came to get the ladies and then I will get right back to work.”
“See that you do, I can't believe my brother has hired such lazy workers. Well, you don't need to go with them and my food is not going to make itself, you stay and prepare the food for us.” Antonio then looked towards Arlana, "It was such a pleasure to meet you, I look forward to having more pleasure the next time we are together.” He gave his same twisted smile and Arlana practically ran out of the room all the way back to their quarters.
“Wait,” Lilliana called after Arlana trying to catch up.
“Amber, stop!” Lilliana called out as she caught up with Arlana. “Why are you running? I would never let anything bad happen to you. Ignore that self important man. I am sure he was trying to make you uncomfortable. He sounds bitter and spoiled. Never a great combo but he wouldn’t know how to make you do anything he wants. Running away only fuels his power.”
“He was so creepy. I could feel his eyes on me I felt like the turkey at a feast. I am sorry but I panicked. Do you think he would still be t
“Oh Amber. You will soon learn that I am always hungry. Ha ha that is why my mother wanted me out of the house. She said I was like a son the way I ate so much. I think we should go back so they know that they will not intimidate us. Besides they are not our employers.” Lilliana said and took Arlana’s hand and walked with her back to the kitchen.