Moreal left shortly after the incident with the girl. Anelle tried to get her head around what she had just seen. But her fatigue took over and she fell asleep.
The morning light steamed in through the thin window, shining off of the glass jars and containers strewn across the centre table.
The room was empty and the house beyond was silent. Anelle sat up and only felt a slight dizziness this time. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and lowered her feet to the ground. The cold stone sent shivers through her bare feet. She stood in nothing but her dirty shift feeling exposed. Anelle pulled the blanket off the bed and wrapped it around her shoulders, hugging it to her body.
Anelle looked at the glass tubes and liquids moving between them. A book on distilling was open next to it, with a grey stone holding the page.
She turned her attention to the sitting area next to the door. The stone that hung in the centre was dead and grey. Anelle recalled how Moreal had simply brushed her finger tips to it and it had illuminated the room. She tentatively reached forward and touched it. But nothing happened. Anelle took hold of it and turned it in her hands. It was lighter than she expected. A small hole had been made in the top for it to hang by. She released the stone, letting it swing in small circles.
Anelle moved to the large door at the end of the room. It was unlike any door she had ever seen. Strips of wood laid out in a grid pattern with a layer of sage green fabric sandwiched between them. Anelle tested it with a small nudge and it moved easily. She closed the door behind her and stood in a long corridor.
Anticipation and a twinge of fear ran down her spine. She felt like a child sneaking into the library after lights out.
The stone floor transitioned to wooden boards. The walls were painted a brownish red with wooden planks every few metres, breaking up the long corridors. Above her head hung lanterns with white stones in them, giving off the faintest glow.
Anelle walked down the long corridor. The eerie silence of the house sent shivers down her spine. She passed several large sliding doors made of golden tones and ocean blues.
The end of the corridor forked in two directions. To the left stood two sets of stairs, one leading up and another leading down. To the right was a heavy set of wooden doors, decorated with a carved motif of a male and female figure looking away from each other.
The sound of footsteps and creaking floorboards sounded from above. A woman's high pitched voice followed by a low toned male voice brought Anelle back to reality. She felt like a child hiding from her parents not wanting to leave her friend's place, except the consequences would be much worse. Her breath quickened and fear settled into her stomach. She looked behind her and snapped her head up as the footsteps approached. The stairs creaked as the pair made their descent. She stood still against the left side of the corridor. The pair headed towards the doors, their conversation was clear whispers in the silence.
He wore a decorated overcoat, his white shirt beneath was dishevelled and stained pink in spots around the collar. She wore nothing but a thin tight fitting shift in cloud blue, leaving nothing underneath to the imagination.
"Lia, next time I will bring glazed mions as your prize. But you still have to beat me first." He spoke softly, smiling down at her. He pushed back a strand of her golden hair behind one of her ears. She lowered her head into his chest, taking him in for one last moment.
"I don't want you to leave." She whispered, her voice as soft as feathers.
He looked up and noticed Anelle standing against the wall. His smile dropped and his eyes opened wide as they took her in. She stood tall staring back at him. If she was caught then she wasn't going to run and hide. Anelle felt naked under his gaze but refused to let her embarrassment show. She calmed her nerves by studying his features.
He had a square face with a jawline that looked like an artist had sculpted, slightly swollen lips and long brown locks falling over his eyes. He pushed his hair back from his face to reveal a set of blue eyes.
"Who is she?" He whispered.
His companion turned to look at Anelle as well. Shock and confusion flashed across her face for a moment before she recovered.
"She's new and unavailable yet."
"I don't see any indication she's not for sale." He replied, while looking back down at her with a smirk.
"Have you grown bored of me already?" She asked with mock surprise. "She's not even received her uniform yet," she looked back up at him, "you wouldn't be looking at another woman while I am right here would you?" She performed an over dramatic pout.
"Of course not." He responded.
She walked past him and opened the doors. Outside two guards looked back over their shoulders at the open door.
"It feels like you're trying to get rid of me." He said in jest.
"I am only thinking of you. It's best you get back home before someone reports back to your wife."
He sighed and took one more look at Anelle before walking out the doors into the early morning. The doors shut behind him.
The woman turned to Anelle and grabbed her by the arm.
"Don't just stand there you dunce! Do you want to be caught by someone else?" She angrily whispered.
She dragged Anelle down the stairs to the level below. The stairs turned and sharply changed from wood to warn stone. The basement below opened into a series of connected rooms. Tiny thin windows at the top of the basement, let in light.
They walked through the central corridor to the end into a large kitchen. A large pot was boiling away over an open fire, the orange light from the stove revealed multiple loaves of bread rising as they cooked. A girl dressed all in black with a dirty apron on, no older than fifteen, was standing on a step reaching up into a high shelf.
"Yulin." Anelle's companion called.
"Oh perfect, Russelia can you get the jar at the back for me, please?" Yulin asked, without turning.
Russelia dropped Anelle's hand and walked over to the shelf. She picked up the jar.
"This one?" She asked as she handed Yulin the jar.
"Yep, thanks."
"Now if anyone asks she was with you the entire time." Russelia pointed at Anelle as she spoke. Yulin looked back and noticed Anelle standing in the archway and slowly nodded. "I am going to bathe and neither of you saw me, understood?" She announced to the room, not waiting for a response, Russelia quickly walked out of the kitchen and back up the stairs.
Yulin placed the jar on the bench and sprinkled some of its contents into the boiling pot.
"So what am I to call ya?" Yulin asked, not looking up from the pot.
"Anelle, it's nice to meet you."
"Manners and all. You can save that for the customers. I'm Yulin. Now come over here and wash these dishes," Yulin pointed to a large basin on the right side of the room and the plates stacked up next to it, "like Russelia said you have been here all morning."
Anelle walked past the workbench in the centre of the room. She began scrubbing the plates soaking at the bottom. She enjoyed cooking and cleaning with Emera's motherly voice echoing around the kitchen as she hummed a tune, often one of the songs from the evening before.
Yulin rushed about throwing things into the pot and tested the broth. She pulled out the loaves of bread from the oven and stood in front of the open door, letting the residual heat warm her.
"The oven can warm us as it cools, just don't touch the door, the last thing I need is ya getting any scars on my watch." Yulin said.
Anelle looked over and nodded as she pulled another couple plates into the water.
"I'll go set the dining table and then help finish cleaning the dishes." Yulin said as she walked into the next room.
Anelle continued to scrub thinking about Emera and how she would be preparing the morning meal. Tiione and Klin would already be in the workshop and Kae… Kae would usually be sitting at the table pouring over the shop's ledger or helping carry dishes to the table. He'd be smiling and laughing about something or telling a story of some kind. Her eyes began to well at the thought. She squeezed her eyes tight, pushing her feelings aside.
"Anelle?" Yulin asked.
Yulin stood next to her, holding her elbow, her brow creased with concern. Anelle looked at her and opened her mouth to speak. A lump had wedged itself in her throat and she closed her mouth again.
"Ya get used to it, slowly. Or rather ya learn to miss it less."
Anelle studied the girl before her. Wise beyond her years, comforting her. Yulin had a round face with baby fat clinging to her cheeks. Small lips but big dark brown eyes. Raven dark hair and olive skin that would turn bronze in the summer sun.
Anelle nodded and turned back to the few remaining dishes sitting on the bench and Yulin began drying.
"Right, now that's done I'll go ring the dinner bell and ya can begin serving the stew." Yulin instructed as she shrugged off her apron. "Oh don't serve more than eight until we know who's hungry."
Dinner? But it's morning. Anelle thought.
Anelle stood in the kitchen serving the stew into bowls as the fast ringing of a bell sounded for a few seconds. Yulin hurried back and began slicing the bread.
Footsteps and conversations sounded from above as women began to enter the kitchen. Each was a different variety of beautiful; one tall and thin, another short and curvy; light pale skin, dark chocolate and every shade in between. They wore comfortable robes and shifts.
Vetha entered the kitchen next wearing all black. Her eyes perked up as she saw Anelle. She grabbed both of Anelle's hands.
"I'm so glad you're alright. I was so scared when you collapsed." Vetha said. She looked down and back at Anelle.
"You didn't…?"
Vetha looked down with the shake of her head. Anelle felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. Fainting during the slave branding was unusual.
"Where are your shoes and clothes?" Vetha asked, changing the topic.
Anelle opened her mouth to speak and looked at Yulin.
"We didn't have time to get them this morning," Yulin chimed in, "After dinner we will find ya clothes and show ya your room."
Anelle served another bowl of stew. Vetha took it with a smile and moved into the dining room.
More women came through, most not taking notice of Anelle as they took their food. Anelle handed another bowl to the next woman.
"You must be new." Spoke a deep velvety voice, with a thick drawn out accent.
Anelle looked up at the woman. She had deep caramel skin and dark inky eyes. Thick plump lips stained black around the edges. Black hair pulled back in a messy bun on top of her head. Anelle was mesmerised for a moment, frozen at the sight of her. Her eyes resembled Kae's and Emera's but her skin was a deeper brown.
She raised her eyebrows as Anelle stood dumb founded.
"Um, yes. I'm Anelle."
"Nyssa." She flashed a smile before moving on.
Russelia entered. She now wore a modest light blue shift and a royal blue shawl around her shoulders. Her golden hair was wet and tied up on the top of her head.
"It's nice to meet you, I'm Russelia." She winked at Anelle.
"Anelle, the pleasure's all mine."
They shared a brief smile.
Anelle and Yulin served themselves and made their way into the dining room. The large table could sit up to twenty people but only seven were currently seated around one end. Used bowls and plates were stacked in the centre of the table from people who had already finished. Anelle sat down next to Vetha and Yulin. Everyone was already eating and talking amongst themselves. Anelle tucked in. As soon as the first bite hit her tongue she realised how hungry she was. The yellow broth was warm with a slight kick that lingered on your tongue. The bread was simple but worked wonders to lap up the last remaining drops of stew.
Once everyone had eaten, Vetha stayed to help clear the dishes into a pile next to the basin before heading up stairs.
*****
Yulin escorted Anelle to a small room on the first floor. It was square with a bed against the wall and only two wooden poles on the adjacent wall. It was devoid of windows. Yulin returned a few minutes later with a pile of black clothes, a corset and two pairs of shoes.
"Here are two sets of clothes. Ya wear one and wash the other. Same for ya night dresses. If ya lose anything, the cost will be added to your debt. Speaking of food and nights spent sleeping also add to your debt. Ya don't have to eat but you do have to work, understand?"
Anelle nodded.
"Ya must always wear black. It symbolises that you're not yet ready for sale. The customers know that well." Yulin looked up at Anelle.
"I understand." Anelle said.
"Good," Yulia placed the shoes by the edge of the bed, "Now I know it feels weird but it's better if ya try to sleep now. I'll come get ya later alright?" She leaned in and spoke her next words softly. "Ya could get in a lot of trouble for exploring like that."
Yulia left the room.
Anelle placed the pile of clothes by the foot of the bed and laid down. She replayed the last few days in her head. The festival, the riot, losing sight of Kae. She closed her eyes and curled up into a ball. The feeling of hopelessness washed over her. She let tears fall to the pillow, sobs racked her chest as she lay there. All the feelings of loss and loneliness filled her as she cried. Thoughts of Kae and the family. Her own father and stepmother lying dead, Thea likely dead too. Why her? Why was she left behind?
Anelle knew what a pleasure house was. The act she couldn't even bear to think about. Her stepmother's chastising look as she warned Anelle about men. The feeling of disgust she had for women who slept with men before marriage. Self loathing struck her stomach because soon she would soon be one of them.