Chapter 3 The Applicant

"You do know the Empress is mixed? ” Lady Funda cut straight to the point. It had not been a good round of interviews, and by the last interview, high noon was almost upon them.

So, needlessly to say, Funda wasn't in the mood to sugarcoat things. 

“She’s half and half.” Funda tapped her fingers. “Human and Vampire. And she has that cursed silver hair.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes, so-” Funda went to get up. Expecting it to be the final deal breaker. It was for everyone else.

“I understand you don’t want the position. You can leave through the main-”

“It must be pretty.”

“Yes, it is gross- “ Funda was agreeing when it hit her. “Wait, what?”

“I said it must be pretty.” 

“Pretty?” Funda blinked, still not processing it.

“Did I say something wrong?” 

“Yes, er, I mean, no-” Funda had to backtrack. It was not the answer she was prepared for. But she managed to collect herself again.

“Well, you will have to touch it.” Lady Funda went on. “It is part of your role. “ 

Funda paused to let the human speak. Like everyone else, she expected some rebuttal or protest, but the human only smiled.

“I expected as much.”

“You-” Funda had to sit back in awe. Could there really be anyone that tolerant?

Or was the money just that good?

Not that she had an issue with greed. Actually, she preferred them. Greedy people were always easier to work with. 

But, still, it didn't hurt to check. 

“Mrs. Bustlier-” Lady Funda picked up her application again. 

"Maddie, " She corrected with a smile. 

"Mrs. Bustlier was my mother's name. And that woman's been dead for far too long to start calling on now." 

“To speak of the dead so casually,”  Lady Funda grew pale. “Is not something we do in Nochten.” 

“Oops, ” Maddie covered her mouth like a quick apology. “I meant it as a joke.”

“A joke?” Lady Funda stared after her. 

“I guess it’s not all that funny.” 

“No,” 

“I can see that.” Maddie made a face. 

Funda returned to the paper.

“You come highly recommended.” It was an understatement. Out of all the candidates, Maddie had the most experience. She was precisely what they were looking for.  

So what was the catch?

“Why would you ever want to come here? It’s quite far from Dawny.” Funda went on

“I've been in search of a quiet child for some time. Someone who will be easy on my nerves, you know. " 

“Your nerves?” 

“Think of it like  a nice retirement." Maddie winked. Again, it was a joke. And again, Funda just stared.

“Damn, tough crowd.” Maddie scratched the back of her head before sitting up. 

“Listen, how about I sweeten the offer?”

“Sweeten?”

"Introduce me to the Empress. “ Maddie leaned in. “And If she comes to like me, I'll start working right away.”

“Mrs. Bustlier-”

“EH, Maddie, please.”

“Maddie, that's a bit-” 

“But if she doesn’t like me-” 

Maddie moved to undo the top of her blouse. She pushed the collar aside to bear her neck. Underneath the skin, Funda could see her pulse. It moved in a steady beat.

The human wasn’t even afraid. Was she that confident in her skills? Or was she touched in the head? 

Either way, Funda’s fangs sharpened at the sight. Maddie saw it and smiled. 

“What do you say, Lady Funda?” Maddie leaned back, not bothering to button up her collar on purpose. 

“Sound good to you?”

“It—” Funda coughed to hide the high pitch in her voice. She didn't want to seem too eager.

 But it was hard not to smile.  

“I don't think it would hurt to try?”

-x-

*Ana*

 I don’t even think to answer. 

“No, Not this one either. “I close the book. I add it to the growing pile.  It’s almost as tall as I am.

A tower of no’s. But there’s still no winner.

“Just a distraction .” it's all I want. 

“I just need something.” Anything that can take my mind off this unbearable heat.

Not to mention that. I frown at the clock. It’s almost noon. But I still haven't seen a single soul. 

Maids quit all the time, but even then, someone would come. It’s never been this bad before. 

And it’s only going to get worse. I’m already sticky with sweat. It’s getting hotter. 

“Am I  going to have to do it myself?” Can I? I look down at my tiny arms. Will they manage with the water and the soap and-

“I’ll give it a half hour. “ I go. A half-hour, and if no one comes in by then, I try again for the books. 

“Come on,” I plead. “Give me something.” Anything? 

I picked up the next book without even bothering to read the title. I toss it open and start flipping pages. Nothing so far, just some illustrations. But it doesn’t take long to see it won’t be enough.

“Another dud.” I move to toss it with the others before the page flips again. It has another illustration. 

But this one is different.  

“I—why do I recognize this?” It’s fuzzy, but I do. Somewhere, somehow, I know it. But what is this place?

“The castle of Dawny.” The description reads underneath.  

“Dawny?” I  trace the shapes and towers with my finger. It’s vaguely coming back now.  

“Why, It is!” I laugh at myself. How could I forget? The heat must be getting in my head. 

But I remember now. It is Dawny. 

And Just seeing it makes me smile. Like finding a toy you thought was lost.

“I haven’t seen you since-” But just as quickly as I remember, I regret it. Because it’s not just the good memories that come up.

It’s the bad ones, too. 

And I don’t want to remember. 

“Your Empress?” 

“Yes?” I shove the book quickly to the side as the door opens. 

“Aunt Funda, there you are.” I look up at the time. “You're late.”

“What kept you-” I turn back to see she’s not alone. 

"Who's this?" I am immediately up and gauge the woman, noticing her grey, not red hair. 

I look back at Aunt Funda.

“Why did you bring a human into my room?”

"Your Empress, this is Madeline Bustlier.” Aunt Funda smiles stiffly. 

“She’s a candidate for your handmaid."

"It’s Maddie,” The woman corrects and turns to me. 

“A pleasure, Empress Anastasia." And she lifts her head to smile.

It’s not one of Aunt Funda’s smiles, either. I can’t remember the last time I saw it—a warm smile like that.

It makes me feel funny.

"She's human." I look back at Aunt Funda. 

“She is.” Aunt Funda nods. Her hair slightly shifts out of her updo as she does. It makes her frown as she digs her fingers into her updo to fix it. 

But it won’t stay. She’s too sweaty. The curl falls back to stick to her sweaty forehead.

“She’s from Dawny,” I note the accent.

"Yes, but She comes quite qualified, your Empress." Aunt Funda goes again, but her eyes linger after the woman’s neck.

Some expression darkens her face.

“But if you aren’t interested, then-” Aunt Funda moves to take her arm as if to leave. But the human smacks her off.

“Hold your horses, there.” She stands back.

“I ain’t had a real shot yet.”

“Mrs. Bustlier,” Aunt Funda strains her smile. “I thought we agreed-”

“And it’s Maddie,” The human steps out of reach. “Like I said, Mrs. Bustlier is gone less you want to do necromancy.”

“Mrs. Bustlier!” Aunt Funda covers her mouth shocked  but the human’s leaning down.

“Listen to this, Your Empress.” She half whispers half speaks. 

“You see, me and Lady Funda made a bet.”

“A bet?” 

She nods.

“I bet Lady Funda can snack on me if you didn’t like me.”

“Snack?” I look back at Aunt Funda. 

“It’s-“ She’s turned red in the face. It’s almost as dark as her hair. 

“That is enough out of you!” Aunt Funda snatches her by the wrist.

“I knew I shouldn’t have let a human in!” And she’s pulling her away.

“Let’s go-” 

“You big cheat!” She smacks at her, but it doesn’t help. A vampire's strength is nothing to humans. She can’t break free.

But If she can’t break free, she turns to the next best option.

“Just a second, Your empress!” Her eyes scan over me and then to the side. Whatever she sees makes her light up.

“Dawny! That’s right.” She points to the book and then at me.

“You are also from Dawny, too, aren’t you?”

“That-” I don’t get to speak as Funda is already opening the door.

“Guards!?” She shouts into the hall. But it’s going to take a minute to get them. No one is usually in my side of the palace.

“Guards!?” She calls again.

“Come on, your Empress,” The human, meanwhile, isn’t giving up. 

“Don’t you want to help a sister out?”

“Sister?”

“We’re like sisters from Dawny.” She goes on looking at me with big brown eyes.  

“Don’t you think we should stick together?”

“Guards!” Aunt Funda perks up as I hear footsteps draw up.

“Here, take this human out of -” 

“Wait,” I hold my hand up.  

“Your empress?” Aunt Funda looks back wild-eyed. But I’m looking at the human. 

"Why?"

"Why what, your Empress?" 

"Why do you want to work for me?" 

I’ve never had anyone fight, let alone want to, before. So why is this human so determined? 

“Why?” I have to ask. 

"Because-” The woman pauses to think. And then it comes to her.

“Because I like you." 

“Because you- “ I drop my jaw. 

“Yup.” The woman nods on like it’s a matter of fact. “I like you.”

“So what do you say?” She goes on with another funny blink. 

“I’ll make it worth your while.”

“My while?” I don’t even know where to begin with that. I am still reeling from before.

She likes me? 

No, someone likes me?

I’m too stunned to speak.

"Well, your Empress.” Aunt Funda steals my pause as her chance. She yanks her into the door.

“We'll be leaving now." And she turns to head out with the guards. They are leaving.

And for some reason, it bothers me. 

It bothers me so much that I don’t even feel myself move, but I’m already rushing up. And my hand is around her wrist.  I’m pulling her away. 

“Your Empress-” Aunt Funda starts with a tug back, but I pull back harder. 

"Help me in the bath, Ms.-" 

"Maddie, your Empress." Maddie yanks her arm free.

 “Maddie is fine.” 

A triumphant smile is on her face as she throws a look at Aunt Funda. 

“You can call it from now on.”

“Your Empress?” Aunt Funda blinks rapidly before turning my way. “You can’t possibly want this-”

"Help me in the bath, Maddie." I go again and lead to the connecting room. 

“You’ll need to be quick. I need to bathe and dress.” Though It might be too late feeling the heat.

At least I won’t have to do it myself anymore. It’s already better.

“Don’t you worry, Your Empress.” Maddie goes before it happens. She’s so quick that I don’t catch it until the warmth of her fingers.

It’s a hand. Her hand.

She's holding my hand? I am nearly blown away by just that.

No one ever wants to touch me, let alone hold my hand.

But little do I know I am in for an even bigger surprise.  She's smiling so wide her eyes disappear.

“I’m gonna be the best decision you’ve ever made.” 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so happy.