Chapter 3: Dreadful Scream

Third person POV:

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING” Bernard growled on jasmine from side while Jasmine on other hand was wincing in pain by clutching her right hand wrist that was hit with wooden spoon “What…” She cried “You are brought here for helping us and not for munching on food like a beggar?” Bernard growled again, hearing Bernard word jasmine feel nothing but anger rose up in her blood.

“I AM HUNGRY AND I NEED TO EAT FIRST, DO YOU THINK I AM PRISONER TO WORK WITH FOOD, I CANNOT WORK OR COOK EMPTY STOMACH” Jasmine shouted back on Bernard but in returned received a tight slap from her aunt Livia “How dare you to raise your voice on my husband Bitch?” Livia said with venomous voice.

“He started it” Jasmine hissed back “Your uncle is correct, do you think we have time to waste on eating, now move your ass of that stool and start chopping pork” Livia said with scorn face.

“Let me eat quickly aunty, than I can work all you want, I am really hungry” Jasmine said in low voice “Since you are late for work, you won’t get any breakfast, no go and help Bernard in chopping that goat before I lose my mind” Livia said sternly and returned back to her place where she continued skimming milk on stove.

Unwilling Jasmine walked back to other side of kitchen counter where her uncle Bernard was busy slicing goat meat, royal kitchen was one big room which can be referred as equivalent to a massive play ground which was entirely made of big grey and black rock from our kingdom also there were four rectangular kitchen counter which were entirely made of black marble from Kingdom Uisdean, 50 stove, 10 mud tandoor and 10 black rocked ovens along with thousands of different utensils and cutlery made of scandal wood, teak wood and metals like brass and copper also there were several reserved cutlery which were made of pure silver and gold, Royal kitchen also included a big store room where we had verities of herb, spices mix, meat, milk product, exquisite wine and etc.

Working in royal kitchen was dream of every chef because of which there were several staff hired as helper but whenever there used to be events like today Bernard and Livia Grigoras used more mean than usual to others.

“Take this and chop palm size piece for tandoor, and minced two entire goat for spicy fritters” Bernard said handing over chopping knife to Jasmine “Okay” Jasmine simple said and stared working as instructed, when Jasmine used to live with her grandmother she used to cook all three days meal for grandmother because of which he cooking skill were very prominent than Aurelia who used to spend most of her time in grooming and making herself more presentable in front of others.

Jasmine skillfully chopped 5 goats in request pieces, once she was done with meat jasmine later helped few other kitchen worker to help prepared fresh flavored crème with fruit sauce which will be served as desert, later she chopped fresh vegetable and winter green salad, once done she alone prepared pork meat bites, it was almost early evening when almost every delicious dishes were done prepared by Livia, Bernard and Jasmine with help of other kitchen staff, entire kitchen was flooded with mouthwatering aromas.

Everyone was content with their performance until Livia Grigoras started preparing her renowned tender beef in honey sauce and vegetable curry while jasmine helped her aunt by chopping vegetables and grinding dried spices “OHH… LORD… OHHHH My” suddenly Livia squealed in panic “Wh… what happened Darling?”  Bernard Grigoras questioned his wife and immediately moved towards her “look… lo.. look at that mess, it’s burnt” Livia Grigoras replied and pointed towards her big pan where she was reducing beef stock to make thick curry sauce out of it.

“Ohh.. no that’s not a good sign, it must been because of too high flames” Bernard  Grigoras replied and turned off flames while Mrs Livia Grigoras fell down on her knees “How can I make such mistake on such an important day” she scolded herself “Don’t worry darling, we can still make it before party star, let me help you okay” Bernard  Grigoras replied “There is no more time to prepare this dish in such a quantity”  Livia Grigoras cried and screamed when “Ahem… cant we used dried and stored beef stock in such situation, we had already cooked it and it can be used as by product with other ingredient” Jasmine butted in their conversation, both Livia and Bernard shared a look and though on her suggestion for couple of minutes.

As Livia and Bernard kept thinking on Jasmine suggestion “Act faster aunt, we have no other option and it will taste just as you make fresh sauce, the only thing is you’ll need to do is balance and reduces your spice mix in it” Jasmine added lazily

“Correct, you are absolutely correct, hurry up, Jasmine help me prepare new set of curry mix , Aurelia leave dishes and stir fry those vegetable and Bernard quickly bring two pots of stored beef stock front underground store room while I tandoor those beef meet”  Livia  Grigoras ordered and everybody acted accordingly except Bernard “What happened honey, why aren’t you moving?” Livia Grigoras questioned her husband who was standing rooted to floor

“I.. I.. don’t you remember? I have aching back..” Bernard Grigoras said and soon Livia realized his situation, Bernard Grigoras was suffering from back sprain from past couple weeks and he was instructed to not to do any heavy lifting work by castle physician.

“Ohh… my, I totally forgot… I apologize honey.. You don’t go, I’ll bring it” Livia Grigoras said and immediately turned to leave when Bernard spoke “But, your presence is required here Livia, you need to assist us on your recipe, it will take almost half an hour for you to bring those pots here” Bernard said with little frown.

Bernard and Livia both remained in their own thought when suddenly “I can go there mother” Jasmine said, her words attracted all eyes of kitchen including of her parents and sister “But…” Livia tried to justify when

“We don’t have time, if you want to serve your special beef in sweet sauce with mix vegetable curry …. then let me bring it” Jasmine said with urgency in her voice, after thinking for couple of second.

“Hmm…. you are right, Jasmine you go and bring two stored beef stock front underground store room while Bernard honey…. you help me prepare spice mix for my curry” Mrs Livia Grigoras replied and all hurriedly acted accordingly.

As jasmine turned to leave her Bernard shouted “Jasmine... Listen, just bring those pots out and ignored every sound, also you better not mess around any other pots of stuff, mind it”.

Jasmine felt her uncle word were ridiculously strange however she nodded her head in agreement.

She immediately hurried her way all the down toward underground store room along with a burning oil lamp in her hand, opening to this underground store room was from a metal door which was build at back of kitchen grocery chamber, since grocery chamber was assisted and used by only chefs no other worker knew about this hidden store room except members of Grigoras family.

This special store room which was explicitly designed to store quality meat and spices for longer duration as it was relatively more cooler in temperature, this storeroom was around three floor down the surface level and was never used by anyone else then Livia Grigoras and Bernard Grigoras, since they both were head chefs, rest of Grigoras family were aware of this strange storage place but they never once visited it in person however today Jasmine felt indifferent as her aunt ordered her to go down but Jasmine knew today was exceptional situation since Livia needed Bernard help in preparing royal meal, it was the only reason she allowed jasmine to complete store room task.

10 minutes later when Jasmine climbed down last step of storage room, she felt unexpected chilling environment in fact as soon as her bare feet touched stone ground “Ohh.. lord it’s so cold” Jasmine squealed under her breath and rubbed her bare palms together while her body felt rising Goosebumps, it was winter in Tallis but the floor was exceptional cooler than any other part of castle.

‘How is this even possible, can there be so much of difference in temperature on surface level and underground’ Jasmine questioned herself in mind ‘But again what does I know about temperature and surrounding changes’ she again though and shrugged off her shoulder.

 Jasmine thoughtfully made her way ahead in dark corridor where her only source of light was burning oil lamp in her hand, she pulled her long sleeve more in order to cover her bare palms as she continued to walk ahead and followed her way as per instruction that were provided by Livia, the only reason why Jasmine volunteered to come down in this store room was to find of what was so special about this place, she remembered two years back when she was new to this place she accidently lifted door of this underground store room for which she received tremendous scolding and beating from her aunt Livia.

After walking for almost two minute she halted in front of a big wooden door that was locked with metal lock, she quickly unlocked it and pushed door open, it was dark, she lifted her hand up which illuminated several different pottery that were very skillfully secured on various rack in front of her “Hmmm…. Black earthen  pot’s with red silk cloth…. find one and rest will be on same rack” she murmured mimicking her mother word, Jasmine quietly started moving ahead looking for black earthen pots covered with red silk cloth, she checked 7 stands so far however post described by her mother were nowhere to be found when out of blue corner of her eye caught something shiny in corner of one rack that she had already checked, Jasmine moved ahead and “This is it, ohh my… you was hiding so well” she gently murmured staring at black pot with red silk cloth neatly tied over its top, Jasmine also saw bunch of similar other pot that were placed behind it, she kept her light lamp on ground and hastily pulled two pot out “this much should be sufficient for today’s celebration” she said and dexterously placed on round black pot on her head while tucked one under her left arm as she lifted her light lamp with right hand and made her way back to door.

‘AAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhh……………….’ Jasmine was taking quick steps towards exit door when she unexpectedly heard some faint squeal which abruptly made her halt in her track, she stood quite in her place thinking of if her mind was playing trick, she turned around and lifted her lamp up only to eye entire dark room which was filled with nothing but stored pots “Seemed, I worked too hard” she whispered an turned around however when was about to take step ahead ‘AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaahhhhhhhhhh…………………….’ There was again a faint screamed that was sufficiently audible to her ears.

Jasmine stood rooted to her place, beads of sweats started forming on her forehead and neck when once again, she thought of checking owner for scream however anxiety filled her body, she felt a shiver ran down her spine when ‘AAAAGHHhhh…….’once again a painfully scream was heard and at that time her father word started ringing in her mind ‘don’t believe anything that you hear’ thinking of which Jasmine immediately made a steady yet hasty run, she walked out of door and instantaneously ran upstairs without bothering to close wooden door behind her.

Jasmine POV:

Whose scream was that? Was it some person or something else? Why uncle warned me to not to pay attention? I bombarded myself with tons of question as I made my way all the way up to grocery chamber; I was scared and confused however I still managed to compose myself and went out in kitchen.

Aunt Livia was busy with her curry preparation while Aurelia was busy with vegetable “He.. here” I said and kept both stored beef stock pots that I was carrying along with oil lamp on kitchen floor “Oh.. lord, goodness Jasmine you are back in time, we just got order from king that they require only female server for tonight for prince crowning, now you and Aurelia both are requested to serve all guest with other server since we are short on female staff” aunt Livia said all in one and pushed me and Aurelia towards exit door “Now go and hurry up, put on your server uniforms, ceremony shall began soon” she added before I could have moment to speak.

I huffed out breath and followed her order, I and Aurelia quickly walked back to our room which was on ground floor, we both pulled out our light blue colored cotton dress and brown colored apron with white colored stocking and black colored shoes “Jasmine, you at last saw the forbidden kitchen storage room of our parents, now quickly tell me how was it, it is big ? Is there any hidden treasure or something? is there anything precious?”  Aurelia questioned as she continued to wear her stockings, her twinkling eye were curious and this lifted up my enthusiasm to revenge her for morning milk incident “Yes… indeed you are right; you won’t believe if I tell you about what I saw down there….?” I replied while putting on my server gown and apron.

 “I knew my parents were hiding something down there, if not, then why won’t they let me or Maximus to go down there? Tell me everything that you saw and experienced there” Aurelia said roughly pulling me on bed and making me sit face to face her, her face looked like those middle aged women’s from our kingdom who are friends with aunt Livia and are always looking for juicy news of castle of royal families.

‘Experience! Is she asking me about scary feeling that I felt down there, shall I tell her about the awful scream?’ I scoffed and thought for while when my mind told me not to as I myself was not aware of if it was true of my imagination because of empty stomach, as matter of fact Aurelia will consider me as coward If I tell her this.

“Do you know what I saw down there? Lots and lots of gold and precious stones, it was one big hallway that was made of pure white pearls, how I can even describe it… it was beautiful” I said with my fake smile, I made several hand gesture to tell her how extravagant my storage room experience was “Ohh Lord, I knew it, I knew there must be some treasure that our parents were guiding for king and queen…” Aurelia kept on saying in excitement when I broke out in laughter “HAHAHAHHA…. HAHAHAHH…. you can be so easily tricked…. hahaha” I said clutching my stomach and quickly picked up my shoe and ran out before she could say anything more, as I move farther from our bed “Tricked? Oh you Mother Fucking BITCH, how dare you to fool me?” Aurelia said angrily and I made my way out content on her angry face.

I wore my shoes as I was walking through hallway, but suddenly I turned and planned on taking other hallways which was shortcut to for reaching ball room where prince crowning ceremony was held, also I wanted to avoid Aurelia since she was fuming with anger on me… thinking of which I kept walking in other hallway when from not so far distance I saw our King, elder prince Sargon and royal sorcerer Gandalf standing in-between my way.

“Oh..ops” I said and quickly ducked and hid behind a metal armor statue that was place in passage, since this hall way was restricted to only royal family no other slaves were allowed to be here except cleaning staff on cleaning day, which mean I am liable to get penalized if they see me here.

“He is locked with us for more than two decades Gandalf, yet we are unable to make him surrender to us, you know how powerful his dragon is and with him on our army we can complete our dream of concurring entire eastern part” I heard our King Aldrich words, hearing which Gandalf freely nodded his head where he was wearing his giant golden and blue emblazed turban with long peacock feather on it corner

 “I regret my incompetency in serving you my King, I tried all my powers to make him submit but I am unable to, he is not like other dragon man that we have captured, he is one stubborn beast my king, I am doing all I could to make him submit but his spine is made of steel, even after starving him for months, slashing his skin, piercing his body, he had not anywhere close to agree to our command, we used all our brutal torture to make him speak but his thick dragon soul is helping him resist ever pain that is thrown on his skin, he is even able to repellent witchbone copper” Royal sorcerer Gandalf said and flicked his a long white beard that was reaching up to his chest,

As sorceress Gandalf spoke I heard a audible huff.

“You are not incompetence Gandalf, I understand your struggle, at least you have successfully kept him trapped in our underground chamber, that beast cannot break free from magic spell that you have casted on him” King Aldrich said “Sargon son, after today when I’ll pass this crown to you, you will be liable for taking care of our people and their safety, you will be responsible for keeping that beast and sacred jewel away from eyes of our people, you have to make sure that his kind is kept hidden from rest of world, even If that means to…..” King Aldrich word remained incomplete, his tone and words were dark “I understand father; I’ll slaughter that beast if there is any threat to our sacred Jewel from him” Elder prince Sargon said in his deep voice.

“Hmm… now let’s go, we shall complete your crowing ceremony, Gandalf I want you to serve Sargon just the way you and your ancestor have served Royal so far” King said looking at both prince and Gandalf “be assured my king, my knowledge and power shall only be serve to you and your family” Gandalf said bowing in front of both king and elder prince.

As three of them left, I waited for couple of minute and tried to figure out their words, their word got me hooked since I unintentionally eavesdrop on their conversation “Dragon Beast… Sacred Jewel…” I whispered under my breath “What Sacred Jewel…? And are dragons even real to talk about?” I questioned myself with raised eyebrow however since elder prince coronation celebration had already started I quickly halted my thought in my mind and hastily made my way out by using same hallway.

I peeked out of its door just to see if anyone watching me, once I was sure everyone else was busy in their work, with mouse step I got out and got mixed with crowd, however I was stunned the instant I step inside, my mouth got hanged open as ‘Wooowww……” was the only word that left my mouth.