MAID N MISTRESS

Market...

I sat under the already wearing out, thatched roof of my aunt's shop looking at the activities of the market. People were engaged in one thing or the other. While others are buying, others are selling then there are those that came to cause chaos, those that came to steal, those that were sent by the ministers to guide the affairs of the market. Talking of the ministers, they are powerful and power drunk people who live in the country Fligul. The country is guided by them and the commoners live to abide by their rules. They set out obligations for people to carry out and they also collect taxes. When l say taxes, l mean heavy taxes that overweigh the poor. The whole country is divided into four classes. The Ministers, those who rule. They live in the biggest city of the country which is called the city of the royals. Then the Higher ups. They are closer to the ministers in wealth and status but they do not rule. Then there is the civilians. These people are neither rich nor poor. They can pass as 'comfortable' since they are not oppressed by the ministers as they can afford taxes. They work for the ministers and higher ups as medic, teachers, treasures, secretary, amongst others. Then the Commoners. They are the oppressed ones. Their lives is made a living hell by the ministers; the higher ups don't hesitate to inflict pains on them. Regardless of this, they are said to be lucky because they do not fall in the category of the poor. The Poor are the ill treated, brutalized, exploited and enslaved set of people. They are mostly taken captives to be used as slave by the ministers when they default in paying their tax. I fall in the Poor's category and l have no one to blame for this tragedy. l grew up to learn that my parents died shortly after my birth. My aunt was the one that took me in and catered for me. She has two other kids to take care of so you wouldn't expect me to have ever had luxuries in my life. my aunt's never maltreat me when her kids pull stunts to remind me of my place in the family. Her husband is as nice as he can be so l have no much problem growing up. My daily routine for the past five years since l clocked fifteen is to go to the market as early as dawn and come back to the detached cottage l call home. l had grown used to my life activities over the years that l had never dared to imagine myself attending lectures like the kids of my age do as it is only meant for elite kids. Today is just another day to go over the day like l always do. l had woken up as early as l could and had dressed up in a certain gown l had been gifted by my aunt two years ago for my birthday. l had kept it since then for a day that will be special enough for me to be the perfect day. do you to my exposure to the adult's life, l know what kids of the poor like myself don't know. l know how to add and subtract numbers because that is the basic knowledge anybody that sells in the market should have. l also know how to speak the foreign language. Aunt Linda had made sure l have the knowledge since five years ago when she decided l start assisting her in the commoners market where she sells uncle Ruford's farm produce. Aunt Linda had told me the time of the year l was born and ever since then, l had learnt to calculate the day l will add another year. By my calculations, l am to clock nineteen today. l had worn the best dress l have and had jogged to the market happily. l cared less for anything in the world other than the fact that l am now a year older.

A loud scream that overpowered the usual noise of the market snapped me out of my thought. l jolted up and scurried out of the shed to take a look at the source of the noise. 'l should have known better' l thought to myself. The sight before me is just the usual thing that occurs in the market day by day. The Minister's guards are here to take the kids or relatives of those who were unable to pay their tax. l sighed heavily and walked back to the shed since it is not new to me. Almost everybody in the market has their relative or children serving the ministers or higher ups as a means of paying off their tax. If the family of who was taken captive are unable to pay the tax for the next month, the Minister's guards will come to take another person and in that format, everybody in the family will eventually be taken if they are still unable to pay up. One thing l am grateful to my aunt for is that no one in our family had ever been taken. We are not commoners but my aunt and uncle work so hard to pay their taxes to avoid anyone of us being taken captive.

"Do you have fresh lettuce?" a customer's irking voice rang in my hears and l stood up in a jiffy to attend to her. l scoffed inwardly upon seeing who the customer was. It is Mrs Osward, the gossip. She has a reputation of being the market's gossip with her friends. She also prices goods like hell before she buys. l so much hate customers like her but then, she came this early morning to spoil my birthday mood. 'Yes Mrs Osward! It is very fresh' l replied sarcastically

"How much is it?"

'It is $10 ma'am' 'And that is the last price!' l added immediately to escape further deliberation but who was l kidding? The Mrs Osward l know will not stop at the given price she will make sure she reduces it to an awfully low amount before she buys it. We were still arguing about the price when one of the Minister's guards came to the shed beside ours. Mrs Osward and l stopped our chatter to witness the next person that will be taken. Oh my God! l hope it is not Jane, the girl whose mum owns the shed beside ours. The guard kept looking into a tattered book which l guess is the book where the names of the next captive are listed. While the guard was still looking into the book searching for God knows what, the other guards joined him along with the six people they had previously taken that day.

"Vanessa Hope!" The guard with the book screamed at the top of his voice. The fear that gripped me after hearing my name was unexplainable. l began to get sweaty as l searched my mind for another Vanessa Hope in the market but l found none other than me! The guard has to be kidding. None of my family members have ever been taken captive and we would never! l wanted to turn and run or do anything but l was petrified when my body wouldn't move. l tried harder but still, there was motion as it seems l am glued to the spot. l lowered my head impulsively as I wished the ground will just open and receive me. Damn! this is not happening to me. Not at this stage of my life. Not on my special day. Different thoughts raced through my mind as l thought of the hard labour l will be forced to do. l felt something warm run down my face and l later realized it was my tears. l summoned courage to look up and indeed, all eyes were on me. Some people might have pointed me to the guards because his eyes are now focused on me sizing me up like he was trying to figure out the kind of labour l will be good at. He started walking towards me

He started walking towards me and my shaking body began to shake more violently. I am sure my legs will give out anytime soon. l opened my mouth to scream or say something but nothing would come out. That moment, it felt like the world around me has stopped. It felt like l was falling and there was no one to save me. I was beginning to give in to the fall when l felt a strong and rough hand grip me so hard. l gulped hardly as the hand began to drag me out of the shed. My body did not protest as they kept dragging me.

l looked back at where l was leaving and l saw Mrs Osward wide eyes staring back at me coupled with other eyes as well. l looked around thinking l will see my aunt or anyone that might be of help but there was no one. The hand kept pulling me forward and forward and forward and l kept looking around for help until the market began to fade slowly till it disappeared into thin air. It was at that moment l realized that l was done for. l faced where l was being dragged to and l pictured a life of suffering, infliction, pain and brutality ahead of me.

The walk to wherever we were being taken to is taking too long as we have been walking for a very long time now. l was beginning to get out of breath as my legs now feel heavy. Lord this is just the beginning and l am already complaining. 'How then will l cope?'

l asked no one in particular. l looked around to see the six other people that were being taken captive all looking tired and stressed out. Some were still lamenting while others like me just want to rest a bit before continuing the journey. The guard that dragged me out of the shed had long left me to go to the front so l am walking on my own now. Three guards were at our back while two are at the front. The guards do not seem to be tired at all as they kept cracking random jokes at the top of their voices

"Hey! You! What are you looking at?" l was jolted out of my thought by the voice and my head turned tentatively to the source of the voice. The guard that asked the question kept ogling at me like he was expecting something from me. That was when l realized that the question was directed to me



"Nothing" My voice came out cracked



"You better don't think of running away or we will be forced to tie you in chains" The guard barked.



"I am sorry" l replied hastily



"In few minutes time, we will get to our destination. l advice you all to be in your best character and not attract attention to yourselves" A guard announced from the back.



"Walk faster" Another guard from the front barked and l wished to spit on him but l know that l dare not do that. l don't want to be killed now, do l? l increased my pace and others increased theirs to and in no time, a huge building came into view. A building l never knew l would see. The one l only hear tales of. The magnificent, gorgeous, exquisite, splendid, lavish building of the Minister's. lt is an estate where the minister's of the country stay. l am sure the building is occupying hectares of land. 'How come human beings like myself live here while l live in a tattered cottage that looks like it will crash anytime soon?' l wondered. On seeing the gate, the guards became more strict, probably to give off the impression that they are doing their job well. The guard that was formerly beside me found his position beside me again and once again, a thought registered in my head. 'l am now a slave to the cruel ministers' '

'What is my aunt doing? What is uncle Ruford doing?'

Are they yet to receive the news of my captive or...l gulped down nervously...Do they plan on using me to pay off? Never! My aunt will never allow that. l trust her to the core, l assured myself. The gate of the huge estate gate was pushed open by one of the guards and l felt the urge to runaway. Somehow, l have a feeling that whoever enters this building will never come out. lt is not even a feeling because the people l know that were taken captive never came out instead, their family members join them. l sighed exhaustedly. Running away won't solve the problem as light be killed in the course of running away. New set of years ran down my face and l felt numb. 'Is this the end? Is this how l will start living my life from now on?' It is not like l am comfortable with my previous life but at least, l had my freedom and l was slave to no one! 

We were pushed roughly inside the building and l gnashed my teeth in pain. Our legs are already heavy, they shouldn't have pushed us. We kept marching to God knows where until we got to a particular field. One of the guards left while the others stood guard. Shortly after, a man in a very expensive cloth that screamed wealth walked majestically towards us. He stopped right before us and examined each and everyone of us like a predator checking out its prey. After what seems like forever, he pointed to a woman and asked her to move to the right. He pointed to someone else and asked him to move to the left. He separated everyone and l was left alone feeling agitated and nervous. 'Did they think l am not strong enough to labour and they want to kill me?' 

l prefer being a slave to being killed. l whimpered silently.

"Take these ones to the right zonal and these ones to the left zonal. This one should be taken to lady Quinn. Tell her to accept my small gift" The man in rich clothings commanded.



'What!? Small gift? Me? Do these people value their fellow humans? How dare he call me a gift?' 

l was not given time to access and digest my situation when a strong, firm hand gripped me and began to drag me. l succumbed to him and let him drag me. There was no point in picking up a fight or being arrogant now is there? We walked deeper into the estate and l was awed at the beauty of the estate. We passed through buildings that were painted in black, purple, blue, name the colour! The carriage that is commonly used by the rich were parked neatly here and there almost in front of every building, an indication that everyone here had a carriage. We passed by a well trimmed garden which could superficially be used as a maze and l felt the urge to play in it. 

'Who am l to even think of such?' l scolded myself mentally. We walked for a while before we turned by our right where another gate was opened by the guard. l tried as much as possible to take in every turns, nook and crannies of the estate but l failed woefully..The estate is just too big! How then will l be able to escape? It finally dawns on me that l am entering a place of no return. The guard kept dragging me like the slave that l am until we got to a certain part of the estate. The houses were painted in grey, giving off a remote, isolated and creepy aura. l became frightened immediately. 

'Is this where my soon to be owner lives?'

l began to push myself backwards in an attempt to free myself from the guard but it was just impossible! This guard is too strong for me. He applied more force on his grip and his fingers sunk painfully into the soft flesh of my arm resulting in the affected area turning bright red. l whimpered in pain as l felt fresh tears run down my face. He kept dragging me until we reached a certain grey mansion. The mansion is effortlessly bigger than the whole commoner's market where my aunt sells her goods. The guard pushed open the iron gate of the mansion and shoved me inside. He walked behind me, pushing me forward until we got to a huge wooden door that is twice as tall as me...

The guard began to pound the door and the sound filled my ears. My cries increased now as l realized where this is leading too. l looked back at the guard looking as pitiful as I can, dumbly thinking l will be shown mercy once again.

"Will you shut your mouth this instance!" the guard roared but l made sure l did the opposite. l increased the pitch of my cries. The guard looked frustrated as he stared at me like l have grown two heads. The door suddenly opened to reveal a young girl of my age or younger than l am putting on a gown that screamed 'I am the maid'. She looked between me and the guard as if trying to figure out what conspired between us. She however do not look surprised and that means she has witnessed scenarios like this a lot. She opened the door wider and paved way for me and the guard. The guard dragged me inside and what l saw next was incredible. The interior of the house was heaven! The arts on the wall, the fashionable curtains and rug, the purple coloured, expensive looking sofa, the well furnished chairs, l kept ogling around forgetting my present predicament. The sharp clicking sound of a heel jolted me out of my thought. l searched for the source of the sound and good God! Descending the stairs is a very very beautiful lady that looked like she fell from the sky. Her skin looked like milk and she looks like a queen in her own space. What was l saying? She is a queen in her own space! She should be one of the ministers of this country or her husband is. l forgot about my plan to wail till she set me free and just kept appreciating her beauty. She neared where we stood and l felt someone roughly push me to the floor. That was when l remembered what l was__

'a gift.'

"Good day Lady Quinn. My apologies for disturbing your peace. Master Rudgy asked me to deliver a little gift to you. He said you should not reject it for the Lord's sake"

The guard rushed out in his hoarse voice that dropped of forced sweetness as he feigned loveliness. l raised my head to lock eyes with my new owner and the look in her eyes is enough to send me six feets under the ground if looks can kill. Her gaze held contempt, disgust, hatred and what is that?__jealousy! Sincerely?

'How could she be jealous of me? How could she?'

She is jealous of a mere slave that was brought to her as a gift. l am very much aware of my excessively pretty face, huge boobs and protruding butt but still, jealousy is not something l expected from her. l am probably doing that my overthinking thing again. That is definitely not jealousy. I fixed my eyes on her trying to find anything... any form of sympathy towards me when l heard her shrilling voice...

"You are welcome to my house girl. l am capable of feeding you for the rest of your life and all you have to do is serve me well. An anomaly from you, I will make you regret the day you were born"

She said sharply and strictly. Somehow, she sounds like she is warning me to detest from something.

'What in heaven did l do to this woman? Where is the hatred coming from?'

l am done for! ls this the woman l will be living with?

"l will take my leave now my lady. Do have a good rest"

The guard blotted out and my head immediately snapped to him. 'ls he going to leave me here?' l felt my head throb. 'l want to follow the guard please...' My eyes trailed the guard as he walked to the door, opened it and closed it behind him. l am finally alone! Alas!

"You!" My new owner said while pointing her well polished finger at me.

"l am 'Your Majesty' to you. You must not look me in the eye, you must not talk while l talk, you must not complain regardless of what l instruct you to do. Understood?"

"Yes ma" I found myself saying impulsively

"You will be allotted your duty and you must perform it dutifully. Any slight mistake, you definitely don't want to know the consequence do you?...Do you!?" she screamed when there was no reply from me

"I don't"

l stuttered

"What? Didn't l tell you how you will address me?"

"l don't your majesty" l corrected myself immediately my lips trembling and my mind blaming my brain for its slow comprehension"

"Stupid!" she glared disdainfully as she made her way up the stairs.

'l don't want this. l did not ask for this. I did not plan for this. This is not happening to me.' Tears streamed down my face while I knelt there as l reminisced what happened today. On my birthday.

"Do you enjoy being on your kneel?" A voice infiltrated my thoughts.

l raised my head to find the maid that opened the door for us earlier, standing over me.

"Whatever happened has happened. There is no need crying over split milk. instead, start gathering your strength because you will start working tomorrow unfailingly."

She extended her hand to me and l took it. She drew me up and l felt like l will collapse if she leaves me. Thankfully, she was kind enough not to leave me till we made our way deeper into the living room. We took turns and turns until we got to a smaller section of the house. My tears clouded eyes and tired body prevented me from observing my surroundings on our way. The maid stopped in front of one of the many doors that lined the corridor and pushed it open to reveal a modest bedroom with two small beds designed for two people. The modesty of the room is a huge contrast to the lavish style of the main house. The maid made me lie on one of the beds which made squeaking sounds on receiving my weight. She helped me out of my torn and sweat-soaked clothes leaving me as naked as the daylight. l worried less about being naked for the glowing eyes of the maid to feast on as l was extremely fatigued which made me drift into a much needed sleep in no time. l don't know what tomorrow holds for me but l hope l won't regret not dieing along with my parents in the first place....

"Vanessa, get the lettuce from the store!" the head maid instructed

"Coming aunty!"

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. It has been two months since l was given to someone as a gift. The first two weeks were difficult for me. l had a hard time adjusting to the new life and l felt like l would die. There was a time l barely escaped punishment when l made a mistake in the presence of Lady Quinn and since then, l have learnt to be more careful. Now, l have fitted in quite well. l do my allotted jobs well and stay out of trouble at all cost.

Lady Quinn had declared a meeting with all the maids yesterday where she announced the homecoming of her husband, Minister Gabriel. She had instructed us to make varieties of food and exquisite juices. She also instructed us to ensure the house is in its best shape as she wants to please her husband to the core.

'She must love her husband so much' l had thought to myself.

Since the day l was brought to her by the guard, l barely saw her since my work revolves in the kitchen and l have no business with the main house. However, anytime l see her, her warnings and caution from the first day resounds loudly in my ears. l watched and listened patiently to her as she gave out instructions and instantly knew the arrival day is a no mistake day. She dismissed us after her long and boring speech that consisted mainly of instructions and command in the most bossy tone ever.

Today is the D-day and as we were instructed, we had all risen at the early hours of the day and had cleaned, mopped, decorated the living room. Some maids were assigned to clean the rooms while some to neaten the garden while l was assigned to the kitchen. Here l am, scrubbing, washing, drying and arranging utensils. There is this one thing l like about the minister's house and it is the fact that we are allowed to eat left overs of the food we cook and there is always left overs since we cook in excess. Clicking sounds was heard coming towards the kitchen and we all ceased what we were doing knowing who it was automatically. I mean, who among the maids would have a clicking shoe? We were all mandated to wear a certain type of clothes and shoes specially designed for maids. We focused our attention on where the sound is coming from and Lady Quinn showed up in a flowy, long, embroidered gown that is tied at the waist to accentuated her curves well. Her hair, a ethereal combination of dark, long and silky. My mistress is truly a beauty!

This would be the first time she comes to the kitchen and l had always thought she does not know which part of the house the kitchen is located.