My tears stop falling down. It's like they have vaporized in the air. I open my eyes and with my right hand I itch my skin a couple of times, knowing that soon I will wake up.

But nothing happens. I don't see the carpet fading away, just my arm skin getting redder and redder because of the itches.

"Avelyn Lothbrok, did you hear me?"

I raise my head, coming face to face with the person I hoped I wouldn't see. "Ehm.. could you - could you repeat, please?" I say weakly.

He furrows his eyebrows and curls his nose, "you know I don't like repeating things, don't you?" Leaning forward me, he continues, "I said that you will be my maid."

I tilt my head slightly, "didn't you ask me?"

"Oh, so you heard me." I slap myself mentally. Of course I heard him, I just wanted to have the confirmation that I really heard what I thought I heard.

"Your maid?" I ask, bewildered.

"No, my wife. Of course my maid!" He rages.

I would have get scared if It was in another moment, but right now all I feel is confusion.

"Why?" I suddenly ask.

"Because I need a maid." He answers as if it was obvious.

"No, I mean why aren't you.. killing me?"

Now he is the one thrown into confusion. "Killing you." He says, almost chuckling. He is deeply trying not to burst into a laugh and maintaining his serious expression.

"Yes! Because of the book!" His eyes shine suddenly.

"Oh, the book." A piercing laugh leaves his lips.

He gets up and starts walking back and fourth in front of me. "I knew from the beginning you were behind that book" I  widen my eyes "and I let you think you were smart enough not to be seen."

I gasp, "so.. so you were the one who spied on J - me?" I correct myself right away. If he doesn't know about Jonathan being part of it, it's better not to put him in danger.

"Spy?" He laughs coldly, "do you think I would waste my time spying on some meddlers?" He exclaims.

Oh, so he does know about Jonathan too, and he wasn't the one overhearing us. "Then how... How did you...?"

He turns around, facing me, and from his furious eyes I regret having asked it.

"I do command here and I do know everything! I cannot be fooled, Avelyn! Nor by you, nor by anyone." He affirms eagerly.

Silence floods the room at his words. Questions over questions are haunting my mind, but I fear he will truly kill me if I say a word.

"So, let's get back to where we were." He says calmly, as if he hasn't just lost his temper. "From now on, you will work for me."

I recompose myself, moving my hair behind my ears, "may I ask why?"

"My personal maid, Mary Cuthbert, has now reached a certain age and she needs some help and someone to take her place." He explains, giving now his back at me, gazing at the garden from the huge window.

It was him the black figure I saw that day while I was planting the roses.

I shake my head.

"Mary Cuthbert? I have never heard about her." I mutter. If she is a maid, why wasn't she in our same building?

"For the same reason you have never heard about me." He points out, but his words confuse me more.

Why have I never heard about him? Why nobody dares talking about him? Why did he choose me and not Lucy or Claire or, better, Anne to be his maid?

Why am I even wasting my time questioning myself if I will never have the answers?

"I suggest you go take your things." He finally turns back around with the usual emotionless expression.

I stand up, "my things?" I ask, bewildered for the thousand time.

"Yes, your things. You will work and life here." My mouth opens, shocked.

"But why would I have to move here? I won't leave my building and fri-"

"It wasn't a question, but an order!" His rage voice makes me take some steps back.

I never thought he could be so scary until now. Veins are popped out in his neck and his arms, clearly visible because of his bright white skin. His angry eyes are directed at me and for a moment I can feel some itches on my skin because of their intensity.

Without saying a word more, I tramp towards the door heading down to my building.

*

Storm is nothing compared to the family and the girls' reaction at my appearance. Series of questions and accusations have flooded the hall in less than a second and I have had to bear everything in silence.

All I wanted to do was getting all my things, but they didn't seem to let me leave. For a moment, I could see the family and the girls get along at one thing: judging me. Except, of course, Lucy, who isolated herself in the corner, waiting for their senseless accusations to drop.

"Why are you still alive?"

"Did he spare your life?"

"What did you do to make him change his mind?"

"You're a thief and a disgrace!"

"How could you steal something that belongs to us?"

"You will get what you deserve!"— And on and on. I have tried to shut my ears, but their poisonous words were stronger than my barrier.

As I have managed to reach my room, I start packing my little luggage with all the few clothes I have. I wish the reason of my leaving was a new life, a new beginning away from here, but it would be too wonderful to be real. Once I fill the luggage, I sit on my bed for the last time and I slump onto the pillows, with my eyes fixed on the white old ceiling.

Nostalgia of this room suddenly hits me right in the chest. I know I am not going far away, but I will miss everything about this place that has been part of my routines.

"Why are you packing? Oh no, he is sending you somewhere in a horrible place working... Or worse... Dying?!" Lucy storms into the room, stuttering frightened.

"Lucy, breath. I am just moving to his place." If I thought I could calm her down by these words, I was wrong.

"WHAT? ARE YOU - OH MY GOD HE WANTS TO - AVELYN HE WANTS TO HURT YOU! YOU HAVE TO TELL-" Okay, this is way too much.

"Lucy! Listen to me! He's not going to do anything to me!" I say out loud.

She stops her frenetic gestures, "then explain to me, because I am going crazy!"

"I would if you just let me talk!" I hit back.
She takes some deep breaths and with her arms crossed, she nods with her head, as a sign she is ready to listen.

"Okay. So, from now on I will be his maid since... Mary Cuthbert, his personal maid, is old and needs help and I will substitute her once..." I stop.

Lucy looks at me with her furrows up, " once she is dead." She finishes.

"Yes." I don't know why I found it difficult to say it. Death seems to be the only subject I have dealt with the most these days.

"Oh, so you won't be with us anymore." Her sorrow tone makes me want to burst into tears.

"No, but we can still see each other and spend time together." I reassure her.

"Yeah." She forces herself smiling, but fails. "So he won't do anything to you about the book?"

I sigh, " No, but he knows - actually - he has always know it was me who took it."

"Then why did he have to come down and ask to anybody?" She asks, and I start thinking about it.

"I don't know. Maybe he wanted to... let me know he knows." I suggest.

"So that you won't do anything more stupid." She adds, smiling. "I will miss your curious detective butt around."

I heartily laugh, "I will miss your sarcasm, too. Who will make me laugh now?"

"Who will I partner in crime with, now?" She cries, remembering the cadavers in the basement and the book.

"Come here." She pulls herself into my arms in a tight hug.

"I will defend your name in your absence. " Tears start forming on my eyes at her words. Nobody has ever said such powerful words to me, and for the second time I have the confirmation she is the one who will always be by my side, no matter what.