Not As We Seem
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She had been beaten and cut, the marks on her flesh implied as much. She had been taken and torn away from all her memories. All she possessed now were the burning flashes of unexplained horrors, along with the fear she had felt waking up in that cage; its image haunting her still. It was clear that Hannah had likely suffered greatly. But could part of that be at the hands of the woman with the dull eyes? In a moment like this, a being such as her could only have been imagined and described by some to be an abomination with the most twisted of desires…
Though at least she had been kind enough to serve dinner.
Hannah looked down at the table… Was it mere coincidence that she desired everything she saw? Meat pies, caramelized apples and the finest wines one could ever envision. All were propped up before and around her plate as she was expected to consummate the engagement; and all while the other stared ever on.
“May I suggest you start with the cured fluke? I am sure that it will live up to your expectations.” the dull-eyed woman said as she sat on Hannah’s left side. It appeared perhaps as if Hannah would be treated as a guest of honor; she did hold the space at the end of the table all to herself, after all. With the vast majority of the food seemingly serving no purpose other than to be devoured by her and her only, her hungering stomach, alongside the dim fireplace lighting of the castle room, might have just tricked her into feeling at ease. But for as long as the visions continued sporadically as they did, not to mention the inexplicable bruises… it would have been quite hard for the poor girl to truly feel secure now under the dark arches that decorated the ceiling above.
This house was as luxurious as it was massive… yet the fear she suffered under its shadow could have impressed even more.
“Who are you? Why am I here?” the young brunette asked, not that it seemed to bother her companion much. It lived up to the odd woman’s expectations, there were many of them to be sure.
“Having dinner. Does it not satisfy you? I prepared it with the hope that it would help you recover. You have struggled, how I know… But surely, a good rest is all anyone would hope to require in times such as this. Sleep can heal any wounds, I assure you, but at least now I know you will wake far more frequently.” the woman said with the slimmest of smiles. Her eyes were still blank and yet it was clear she may have held onto more emotion than she let on. Perhaps even more than she knew herself, jaded as she was; the pupils drew Hannah in like the void.
Hannah looked down at the food once again, it could all be so tempting… And shouldn’t it? The only thing missing from the ambiance was a delicate harp. Or perhaps a music box, should the times have advanced to that point. Hannah couldn’t help but feel… that she had no true idea of where she was, let alone when. An odd question and yet… had she ever visited a castle before?
She worried she might. About as much as she worried it would not be as large as she’d demand, flawed as she was herself… at some point in time.
Perhaps she was a noblewoman who had taken a bad fall, perhaps she was a historian who had wandered into a nightmare of some sort. But could she even guess at the latter? Not if she had indeed been confined to ages prior, yet the stones did appear quite old as well. The only thing she could, in fact, recognize, as well as appreciate, was the very beauty and magnificence of the dining room she sat in now.
The cloths were as soft as maiden’s skin, while the dancing shadows of the light could have enraptured even the most broken of spirits. The air smelled of grapes, the paintings were likely taken from the halls of Heaven itself, and the pale moon behind the window was as harrowing as it was keeping in tone with the scene.
One might be fooled into thinking its bright allure was sunlight.
There was simply so much to love and admire of the situation the young girl had found herself in. Truly, if it hadn’t been for the sight of the cage… as well as the other horrors of the cellar… she might’ve easily convinced herself she was nothing short of the princess of the house. The woman who kept staring might’ve appreciated that line of thinking, if only she didn’t tragically contribute to the unnerve Hannah could feel slithering down her spine. This manor, this night, the hour itself, were all unnatural. Though none more so than the tint of violet in the maid’s eyes. Yes, a maid… Her uniform suggested as much.
Hannah reached out… and tried the meat pie instead. She at least knew she had a mind of her own, surely the servant's opinions mattered little in the grand scheme of things. Now she simply needed to hope she had not poisoned herself with the sweetest taste of her ego. Or was it just fear?
The flesh tasted delicate and well-cooked in Hannah’s mouth as the juices played along with the wine. It was all so dearly delicious… A sick game of some sort, perhaps? Despite the civility… the sudden sights persisted.
The burning of a house, the screaming of the people. That maid… walking right behind, staring as if she were drawing it all into her void. Hannah could not be certain and yet she felt secure enough to blame. This woman… had she done terrible things? She was likely the reason why she had even been brought into this unknown place. Hannah didn’t remember the whole picture… but when had that ever stopped her own terrible judgments?
“Tell me who you are... before I stuff you into one of these pies.” Hannah threatened with another taste of the meat. The maid looked at her… in some ways she seemed satisfied, in others she still held onto suspicion. But a question had been asked…
“My name is Daphne. Daphne Rousseau, should it please you.” the woman replied.
Hannah looked at her…
“Should it please me? Why should it please me, what else should amuse me? The bruises? The empty castle I do not recall? What should please me here, Ms. Rousseau? Could you tell me that as well?” she hissed with a resentful tone.
Daphne… could not help but to look down in shame. She felt like a failure at times, so uncertain of herself. But it was all as it should have been, that much she knew. And so she would be forced to resign herself to her duties for that is what she was. A maid, for a force far more threatening than her. And one which Hannah could fear… should she ever recall it.
“I must hope that you enjoy your meal. And after this, your rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow and you will need your sleep for what is to come.” Daphne stated as if she had been reading off the back of a script she had already memorized, yet still held onto if only for tradition’s sake. From her perspective, all was as it should have been but even when the signs seemed brightest, she never could help but worry. She had always been like that… and still she remained ever faithful.
“What is to come? Where am I, why have I been brought to this place? Am I of importance to you, can you recite my own delicate family name to me?” Hannah grumbled. Daphne looked at her… and glanced away. And though she felt hungry as well, she would not dare to eat until the guest had truly finished. Such was her master’s ever-present threat, staring in from the darkness and fog. And hunger she clearly did…
“I mustn't. But it does not matter for you do not have any. Not since you awoke, you are nameless for now. Blank. It is Hannah only.” Daphne regretfully said.
Hannah… the only thing the girl knew… assuming it hadn’t been a lie or a trick of her mind. In truth, aside from the blurred visions, she recalled nothing at all. Nothing at all. Hannah was the name inside the ribbon that so wonderfully decorated her clothing. It could have been the truth… or the maid’s delusion, as far as she knew.
This night was unwell… and Hannah could not dare go further. Yet she worried about what may lay beyond the doors leading out of the room. They all imposed upon her… tall, decorated and bleak as could be. The hall she had followed appeared to have come from a nightmare. The cellar was worse and here the maid was… waiting for her with the meal of her dreams?
But how many more gifts would be granted now? For all she knew… this was merely an attempt to fatten her up, as they say.
Hannah couldn’t help but notice the way Daphne looked at her… with a repressed lust in her eyes. The maid tried not to do so, her deadened stare constantly darted away and towards the food she had prepared… But even still she could not resist, could she? Daphne wanted something, perhaps she intended to take it soon.
Hannah stood from her chair, the dinner had gone on long enough, she feared.
“Where is the exit? Will you allow me to leave or do you intend to reveal your crude intentions to me now? If you do not explain what has happened, truthfully, then I’m afraid I will have no choice but to resort to cruelties.” the girl threatened. She couldn’t have been very many years over twenty and yet she still held a fire. A presence. One which Daphne couldn’t help but to wish to toss herself into, even though she was the elder by some winters. Should’ve been wiser perhaps.
“I apologize. It is night, there is nothing for you beyond these walls. It would be best if you simply waited until the morning came. All will be clearer then, I assure you.” Daphne mumbled.
“And that is all that I can say.”
Hannah scoffed. And then she picked up a roll of bread before unceremoniously throwing it at the disturbing maid’s head.
“You will tell me what you know, or I will do to you what you have so clearly done to me! My body is covered in marks and wounds, I awoke in a cell!” Hannah shouted as the servant brought herself to her feet.
“I apologize.” Daphne tried to say with sad eyes yet the fiery girl did nothing but ignore her and instead continued with her accusations. “I have no memory, I have no past except for visions of horrors I cannot explain! The halls are treacherous beyond words and you do nothing but sit there and look upon-” Hannah yelled before she was harshly forced to pause.
Her legs almost gave in as she stumbled and crashed forward onto the table, knocking over two of the plates and even her glass. Her mind burned, her soul screeched. Everything she saw was...
“Fire, fire! It spreads to the upper rooms, we must get the family to safety!”
“They’re coming, oh Gods! They’ve killed them, they’ve killed all the men at the gate. Their blood spills, you must warn the… argh!”
“Ser! Ser, they’ve got him!”
“Aid him!”
“There are too many, retreat! Retreat and seek out the lady! Downstairs, we must…”
They all shouted as their bodies burned, their faces turned to cinder. All of them blew away, she could not help them. She could not run… The smoke… the smoke…
Hannah collapsed onto the floor and convulsed as the weary Daphne walked ever closer to her. The maid knelt down besides the shivering girl before placing her hand upon Hannah’s cheek. She whispered now for she felt she had no choice and though that may have been the case… it was clear the words haunted her in much the same ways the cuts wounded Hannah.
“Could you be the one to hurt me again? My love?”