CHAPTER 18 - THE BAIT

DAWN’S POV

“Scarlet” I screamed as soon as I came out of the mansion. “Where is that evil bitch?”

Lara came running to me. “Yes, Dawn” she answered.

“And are you scarlet?” I yelled.

“I am sorry, let me go get her for you immediately” she offered and was about to leave when I stopped her.

“And what are you, her maid?” I asked.

“No… I” she stammered.

I did not let her finish what she was saying before I added. “See, you don’t work for Scarlet, at least not anymore. You work for me now and so she must come to meet me here herself”

She was quiet and that infuriated me. “What are you, deaf?” I screamed.

“Yes… no, Dawn” she stammered yet again.

“So what, why are you quiet?” I yelled.

“It’s just that there is no way Scarlet would hear you from her room” she replied.

“Let’s wait and see and by the time I count to ten and she is not right before me, this would be her last day in this mansion” I replied.

“Scarlet” I yelled for the last time.

Lara was shuddering in fear before me and that infuriated me even more.

“See if you don’t know where your loyalty lies, you will suffer the same fate as Scarlet,” I told her. “Now where is she? I will start counting now. One two…”

SCARLET’S POV

“Scarlet” It was 5:00 am when I heard someone scream my name from afar.

It must definitely be Dawn. She is the only person that some not have the courtesy of coming close to my room to call.

In fact, she has never been to this side of the mansion for once in her life. She never failed to use every given opportunity to refer to this side as the gutters made specifically for my kind.

Anyways, she was right, at least nothing was distinguishing this place from the gutters aside that humans live here.

I slowly got up from my mat and stretched myself. I have been sick for a few days now and it made me very tired and sleep longer. I could barely bring myself to stand straight as I struggled to move my feet properly.

I staggered and fell but immediately got back to my feet. I made for the old-looking wardrobe and I changed into something else. When I was done, I found my way outside staggering. I know who Dawn is and she will not have the patience to wait for me for long.

I hissed as a recalled the events of these past few days. They were long and lonely. I had gone to see Ray a couple of times but was unable to. The guards informed me that he was very busy and would get back to me as soon as he was done.

I know that he should be very busy. The upcoming full moon will be at his Pack and the three Packs will be there so that would take extra preparations as a result.

But this wasn’t the first time that he would be this busy, he has been even busier than this in the past and yet he squeezed out time to see me even if it was just for a few seconds. Now, why is this case different?

Not seeing him for days has made me sick even though my friends have assured me not to worry that everything would be okay but still I cannot help it. Something seems to be wrong somewhere but I cannot pinpoint what that is.

As I drew near, I could hear some voices and it was definitely that of Dawn and some other person and I wonder who the person was.

“See, you don’t work for Scarlet, at least not anymore. You work for me now and so she must come to meet me here herself” I heard Dawn say to the person that she was speaking to.

Could it be that she was talking to mama Ruth, who could she be telling that she no longer works for me but her when I was only but a helpless servant in this mansion, my own father’s house?

“What are you, deaf?” Dawn screamed.

I intentionally reduced my pace in order to eavesdrop more on the conversation and at least know what was up against me before I finally face her this morning.

“Yes… no, Dawn” the person stammered.

The voice was a bit clear and it was Lara. But why would Dawn want to take away Lara from me knowing fully well that Lara was more like my backbone in this mansion? I will practically stop existing without Lara by my side.

“So what, why are you quiet?” Dawn yelled again.

I wonder where she draws her strength from. If I should yell even half as she does, I will not be able to talk properly for a whole month.

“It’s just that there is no way Scarlet would hear you from her room” Lara replied.

“Let’s wait and see and by the time I count to ten and she is not right before me, this would be her last day in this mansion” Dawn responded.

“Scarlet” she yelled yet again.

“See if you don’t know where your loyalty lies, you will suffer the same fate as Scarlet. Now, where is she? I will start counting now. One two three …”

I was struggling to get some breath as a result of the walk I just had. I went to the wall and leaned on it. I need some rest and would wait here until she gets to eight then I would appear before her.

“Now, please let me call her” Lara pleaded.

“What are you doing making a case for her?” Dawn asked.

I knew Lara was only trying to buy me time and ensure that I don’t get into the rage of my family and I appreciated her efforts at least I still needed some time to get my strength back and also this sleep out of my eyes.

“I only begged as a humble servant would beg his master” Lara replied.

I heard Dawn make some giggling sound. She must have believed that she has Lara over to her camp and it made her so happy.

“I would listen to you, Lara, but not this time. I am yet to test your loyalty” Dawn said.

“She is sick, Dawn. She will not hear you as she has been sick for the past few days” Lara revealed.

“I don’t care how she is, and you are not supposed to care either. See Lara, if you stand by my side, there would be a lot of great benefits” she paused a little and continued. “But I am not giving you a choice, Lara, or trying to lure you. And just so you know, there are great consequences for betrayer as there are great benefits for being a good girl”

“Okay, Dawn” Lara responded.

“And where was I?” Dawn asked.

“Two, you were in number two” Lara replied.

Dawn smirked. “For now, I will take that as an oversight, Lara, but don’t you dare do something like this again” she threatened.

“I am sorry” Lara apologized.

Lara was only trying to buy me more time, and she was doing a very good job at it. She had seen me when I arrived, and she knows that I was trying to catch my breath before facing Dawn and her never-ending troubles.

“Keep that to yourself” she snapped and continued with her counting but this time around, very quietly. “Four, five, six, seven, eight…”

At the count of eight, I came out from where I was and I walked up to her.

She looked at me and smirked.

“Hello, Dawn” I greeted.

“Keep that to yourself, I don’t need it” she spat.

She walked over to me and raised my chin. “The next time I wait for you for this long, I will cut off your legs. And just so you know, this is not a threat, it is not like any other threat that you are used to. It is a guarantee” she said.

“I will ensure not to keep you waiting ever again” I replied.

“You better do, because it will be for your own good, bitch” she responded.

“Now the both of you should be in my room this moment” she ordered.

We both did as was told and ran off to her room. We don’t know what awaited us over there, but her room smells doom.