Chapter 8

"When we get too caught up in the frenzy of the world, we sometimes lose connection with others-and ourselves"

The rest of the group went out for the evening, Emma waved them off. She would enjoy the evening alone.

She browsed through the library.

One of the windows were opened, the breeze was cold. Emma shivered, pulling her gown tighter around her body. She soon settled in the lounge, where the fire was small, the sun had yet to go down completely.

Emma could hear the servants still doing their evening chores before they were to enjoy themselves for the evening. She continued to read until one of the maids came to notify her that a gentleman was asking for her at the door. Confused, Emma went down with the maid and saw that Adam was at the door.

"Adam? What are you here for?"

He took off his hat, face grim, "I come bearing bad news. Would you let me in?"

Emma and the maid hurriedly let him in, guiding him to the lounge and sat him down. Emma, herself, sat next to him, grasping his hands that felt as if they were of a corpse's.

"What happened Adam? Is everything alright?"

Adam looked at Emma with despairing eyes. He shook his head before smiling.

"Adam, what the fuck is it? You're scaring the shit out of me!"

Adam looked up in shock and the two stared at each other before bursting out in hysterical laughter; when the maid came back in she smiled in relief at the scene.

"You're tea," she bowed before leaving the room to go back and hang out with her friends that were in their maid quarters gossiping about the residents.

Back in the lounge Emma put some more pieces of wood in the fire and observed Adam until the other was uncomfortably squirming around in his seat. Emma raised an eyebrow.

"So, you looked as if you witnessed a murder when you came in. What happened?"

She watched as Adam's face fell again, "Tell me. You're making me more worried."

"I was told to go to a murder scene to check on of the bodies here. When I did," he took a deep breath, "It was one of your maids. I believe her name was Bella, full name Isabella Zeldin? Correct?"

Emma froze in shock. What?

Adam watched her face become pale and lips drew into a tight frown, brown eyes filling with hatred then sadness.

"So that's why she still isn't home," Emma gazed into the fire, hand clenched by her side, "Any leads?"

"No leads so far, we just know that this crime was committed out of passion. Her throat was slit and she had been stabbed numerous times. I probably shouldn't-"

"Tell me. Everything."

Adam sighed, "So she was stabbed many times. When we found her, her jaw was missing. We found it little ways from her in one of the open drains."

"Who would do that? Like she has done nothing. I will kill them. Whoever they are, I will kill them. She has only been serving me peacefully and became a dearest friend."

"...About that. We found a note that was addressed to you."

Emma slowly turned around, then she moved so fast that Adam jumped back when she suddenly appeared in front of him. Her face was in a twisted snarl. Adam could feel his heart beating furiously; he was almost scared that Emma could hear it.

"A note?" her voice low, dangerous, "What did it say?"

"C-can you move back a bit or sit down? Thank you."

Adam watched her sit down and brought out the note that was in a plastic bag, "Here."

[The note]

Dear Emma,

I hope you're well. This is your fault, you're the reason your maid is dead. You will come to see soon enough that you need me to survive. You will realise the depth of my affections.

I love you.

[End of note]

Emma never hated someone so much.

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Alexander sat in his room upstairs, grinning maniacally. He never knew how fun it was, but now he finally understood the thrill of killing. He always hated that maid, how close she was and almost seemingly protective of Emma.

Just thinking about it made him bitter. Something about her attitude towards him always just set him off, of course, he never made it obvious.

'Soon,' he thought, 'soon she will be back by my side again.'

________________________________________________________________________________________

Emma sat with Megan who was crying into her shoulder. Emma had told Megan of the murder of Bella.

She felt her heart wrench in pain as she laid Megan to rest. Going out to the hallway, Emma waved down one of the other maids to go grab some blankets and pillows for her. Emma returned next to Megan, who was tossing and turning in her sleep, crying quietly. She reached out, gently stroking Megan's head to calm her down.

"Shhh... Everything going to be alright. I will always be here," Emma whispered against Megan's forehead.

The maid gently opened the door and passed the pillows and blankets to Emma, she thanked her quietly; she turned to Megan who was still crying but not tossing around anymore. She tucked Megan in to keep the now arriving cold weather, gently moving Megan to the left side of the bed that was next to the wall, under the window, Emma settled next to her. She did not want to leave her personal maid alone, scared of what happened to Bella would happen to Megan.

Emma wrapped a comforting arm around Megan before falling asleep.

Megan woke up a few hours later, she felt warmth around her. She tried to get up but she couldn't, looking around she saw her mistress sleeping with an arm wrapped around her.

Due to Megan waking up and moving Emma woke up, she opened her eyes, rubbing them blearily.

"Megan? Are you alright?"

"Y-yes, I am- "

"You're crying," Emma sat up and motioned for Megan to move closer before she hugged Megan tight, rocking her gently and humming a song.

The two girls let their emotions go, and sat in relative silence, mourning for their dear friend.