Maebh leaned by the frosty glass window as she watches the Mullins’ jovial daughter play in the manor’s little courtyard.
“Maebh!”
The governess shrieked at her who’s now by the maid quarter’s threshold.
“Get us some food, you silly little girl! Little Ms. Ariadne Mullin needs her afternoon tea and sweets already.”
“But it’s still two in the afternoon. Her afternoon tea is four.”
The governess inched closer to her, index finger pointing callously to little Maebh who’s only wearing nothing but tattered sage dress. She was not even given a proper maid uniform as it will give a notion of a child labor. So, her employers—the Mullins—gave her Ariadne Mullin’s old apparel.
“Don’t you dare complain and talk back to me! Just do what I said!”
“Bu-But-”
“Now!”
Maebh was left with no choice. She curtsied towards the neat kitchen downstairs.
As she was about to bring tea and food to Ariadne and her governess, a little boy bumped into her. Luckily, she was able to save the food from spilling and the dishes from breaking.
“You’re not paying attention again, eh?!” The boy, who’s just a bit taller than her, lifted her chin and smirked.
“I’m sorry Mr. Ludwig Vergara,” she said with a bowed head, avoiding his gaze.
He just chuckled and said, “I was joking, Maebh! I was meant to surprise you but it seems I was the one who was more surprised!”
Maebh looked at the handsome boy’s face. It was the face of a lothario. She once caught the twelve-year old lad last autumn having sex with a gorgeous young maid in the Mullins’ attic. Well, what else can a seven-year-old girl like her do but watch and observe and…imagine.
Ludwig cleared his throat, making her unwittingly lift her head to him. She caught him peering at her face. No, not to her face… but to the well-rounded breasts in her chest that is quite uncommon for her age.
“What took you so long, you fool!”
The governess shouted while walking towards her but immediately halted when she noticed the mayor’s son facing and looking at Maebh.
“I-I didn’t know you’re here Mr. Vergara.”
Ludwig’s eyes were still at Maebh. He didn’t yield a single step or stare at the freaking governess—nanny as to what Ariadne called her.
He faced the governess and said with a husky voice, “She’s still a minor. Even though she’s just a scullery maid or a housekeeper, she’s still a child. She still deserves respect like you give to Ariadne. Just look at her as a pathetic child and not a filthy little orphan!”
The governess raised her left brow and crossed her arms. She walked towards them, as if she had all the remaining hours to waste in slow-walking. Yet, her eyes…her eyes are focused on Maebh like a lion who was about to mangle a doe.
She tilted her head then said, “You’re lucky little one that you have your knight in shining armor at your side. Because if not for him, I’ll definitely make sure that you spend the rest of the week in the attic, with only spiders and vermin to accompany you during winter nights!”
She then grabbed the tray of food from Maebh without any emotions. Not even a sign of hesitation or a murmur of apology from that damned governess.
Maebh’s eyes were still on the nanny when Ludwig spoke.
“It’s your birthday tomorrow. What gift do you ask missy?”
He said while he put his hand at her waist and fondled that tiny little ass.
She just sighed. Not a bit of emotion was vivid in her pale-colored face.
“I just want a happy life,” Maebh replied.
Ludwig then seized away his hand and grabbed her shoulders. He then pulled her into one of the dark unoccupied rooms nearby.
He pinned her to the chestnut-colored wall.
Maebh just stared at him. They looked at each other for what seemed to be a century of staring.
“Can you give me that? A rich prosperous life like every little poor orphan's dream while sleeping under the fireplace, waking up to find their face and entirety showered by cinders from the chimney!”
It was the last words of Maebh before moving and walking away from the scene.
“I will do that…if you will give me your love.”
Maebh paused by the threshold of the room. Her back was facing Ludwig.
“I can give you everything, Maebh. Just give me your heart and my love and trust shall be yours.”
She didn’t dare to face him. Maebh was just standing at that threshold, listening to the whistling cold winds of winter. The snow was now again falling from the sky, just like the tears that started to slide down from her gloomy eyes.
Without a word, she just continued to walk away, leaving Ludwig Vergara to wonder if her silence was a yes…or was it a challenge. A challenge to prove his love to that beautiful orphan. A dare to show his unyielding love to the little girl who always sleeps in the attic even without supper.
***
The sun’s beaming rays woke Ludwig Vergara.
His dream was unusual last night. It turned from utterly sexual to wholly spectral.
“Who the fact is that black-haired woman?” He muttered loudly, scaring his pet python by its glass terrarium. The snake lifted its head, beckoning Ludwig for a breakfast meal.
“Not yet, Nara,” he said while looking at the yellowish serpent.
A knock made him jolt away from the snake.
“Breakfast is ready, daddy.” Vivien, Ludwig’s adoptive daughter, said by his room’s threshold.
He sighed with relief. It was only his daughter after all.
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes, honey!”
He rubbed his face and quickly treaded towards the shower. He can’t believe there’s an unfamiliar person in his dream. He was just having a hot intercourse with the Blood Mistress when a raven-haired woman appeared. He was not able to see the face of the voluptuous woman because his sight suddenly went black, then he woke up.
After his morning shower, Ludwig then had a quiet but sumptuous breakfast with his pretty adoptive daughter.
***
Her death was brutal.
The governess was last seen before dusk when she was about to return at her native home for Christmas Eve.
Instead of a merry Christmas in the Mullins household, fear and trepidation engulfed them—including Maebh.
Ariadne’s nanny was found hanging in one of the pine trees within the Mullins’ estate. Her intestines were oozing from her widely-cut stomach. Her neck was slit as if she was just a mere animal to be butchered mercilessly.
The governess was naked. Her skin shows no sign of blood left. Life has indeed departed from the nanny’s body and left her nothing but her remaining skin, bones, and organs.
Ariadne, Mr. and Mrs. Mullins, and the rest of the household didn’t yield to look at the body.
“Who could’ve done that to her?” One of the police mumbled. He too was shocked to see such a grotesque way of dying in the midst of Yuletide season.
Maebh looked around. She spotted Ludwig beside Mr. Mullin while his parents were comforting the weeping Mrs. Mullin.
Ariadne was wholly traumatized. Imagine finding your nanny brutally murdered when you just saw her this morning, jolly and cheerful as ever.
And Maebh, she was just silent. Because she has a hint on who the culprit is. She knows the only person who could bravely execute that perfect crime.
A person will always do anything he could just to prove his genuine, undying love to his beloved—even if it means to butcher a demanding nanny.
***
“Dad! You’ve got mail from someone!”
Vivien shouted from downstairs. He was just buttoning his polo shirt when his adoptive daughter yelled.
Ludwig was slightly startled. He was just reminiscing the moment when he raped and killed Ariadne’s governess when he heard Vivien notifying him of a letter.
‘Who could be writing to me again?’ He asked himself.
‘It couldn’t be her…the Blood Mistress just met me a few days ago. What does she want this time?!’ He contemplated.
To his great surprise, the door suddenly opened, revealing a red-headed woman. Her russet eyes sparkled as she saw Ludwig who was not yet wearing his brief.
“You really have a weird way of dressing huh? I’ve taught you before to always wear your undergarments first before your upper clothes!”
“Well, Ms. Maebh Mullins, I have my way of dressing. Besides, you just barged into my room without even knocking or telling me that you’ll be coming,” he said as he turned around and slowly wore his undergarment. His magnificent ass was facing Maebh, beckoning her to touch that ass.
“Do you like my hairstyle now? I’ve switched back to my original hair color and eye color as well. I’m tired of wearing eye contacts. Having ashen gray hair and citrine colored-eyes seems to be a bit peculiar, you know?” Maebh stated as she wrapped her arms around him. Ludwig can clearly feel her round breasts at his back. It was like calling him, yearning for his manly touch.
“Well?” She asked.
“I like you in any style and in any color.” That was a genuine answer. He was always truthful to her ever since they were young, ever since he first met her in the Mullins’ soiree.
“Hmp! I actually look villainous with gray hair and yellow eyes, you know?”
“I don’t think so. I mean someone is always a villain in someone’s story.”
He declared as he kissed her on the lips.
And for the rest of the hour, the two made love in Ludwig’s bed, savouring every second of their blazing passionate tango in bed.