Chapter 35: A Painful Reminder
"Ow," a soft voice said.
"Oh, sorry," Maya said. She turned her head and looked down at the small figure a little over one foot away from her.
The boy Arlo was rubbing his forehead as he looked up at her with a frown. She didn’t feel any pain from running into him, but he seemed to be in pain.
"Are you okay?" She asked softly, instinctively leaning forward so she didn’t tower over him.
He pulled his hand from his face and peered up at her with a thoughtful expression. "Who are you?" He asked and folded his arms.
Maya was immediately taken aback, and for a moment she didn’t know what to say. She just stared at him with a dumbfounded expression, realizing she wouldn’t be able to explain herself.
"I am sure you’re not a maid. I know all the maids here," he announced proudly. "But... you’re wearing the maid’s uniform. Did Mother get a new maid?"
Mother?
Suddenly, Arlo gasped as if he recalled something. He stepped back quickly, almost like Maya had struck him. His hands came undone, and the nearest one clutched the wall as he stared at her with horror in his eyes.
"You’re the Alpha’s new mate," he gasped out, bowed, and fled before Maya could say anything.
She turned her head to watch him run toward the kitchen. He had been terrified of her when he realized who she was, and she knew it had nothing to do with Keenan. Her actions and her father’s were no secret.
Maya’s brows furrowed a little as she remembered his words. He had mentioned something about his mother. Was Agnes his mother?
Maya could see that. She had gotten a good look at him, and his sharp eyes were not the only thing he had gotten from his mother. He had her nose and her shiny black hair. Maya had finally gotten a peek at Agnes’s hair during this trip to the kitchen.
However, his resemblance to his mother was not the only thing she noticed. She also saw that he had tiny scars on his fingers. Maya’s stomach knotted; she would recognize those scars anywhere.
He had been sent to the mines by Father.
She turned her head away as she briskly began to walk. She felt heavy; the weight of her father’s actions threatened to crush her to the ground.
She would have sworn he only sent orphan male children to the mines, but she was very wrong. Arlo had been sent to the mines even though his mother was still alive. Just how many children suffered the same fate as Arlo and Keenan?
She wrapped her arms around herself. Was she ever going to make any headway? She had underestimated the suffering. Every single member of the village had been impacted by her father in one way or another.
To them, she was no more than the High Alpha’s daughter. To think she was complaining that they were avoiding her. She suspected the maids had either had their brothers sent to the mines or had someone they knew sent there. The male servants could have gone to the mines themselves.
Her legs felt heavy with each step, threatening to burrow through the ground. She needed to get to her room quickly.
"What are you doing here?" A voice pulled her out of her debilitating thoughts.
Maya lifted her head to see Bess marching toward her. She had an alarmed look on her face.
"You’re not to go near the kitchen," she yelled, glancing behind Maya and then back at her.
Maya didn’t have the mental capacity to handle Bess even if she wanted to, and without Alaina, Bess was nothing more than a screaming maid to her. So, she didn’t stop walking. She just walked past Bess, still wrapping her arms around her body.
"I am speaking to you," Bess yelled as she walked past her.
The maid stretched out her hands to grab Maya but stopped herself. Her hands formed fists beside her as she marched in the direction of the kitchen.
Maya got to her room without running into anyone, but she could not stop thinking about Arlo. He likely hadn’t gotten his wolf yet, the marks were still pretty clear. She also couldn’t help but wonder if all the male children above the age of ten had gone through the same fate.
She curled herself into a ball. She could understand why Agnes couldn’t stand the sight of her. She must be a painful reminder to a lot of people of what they had suffered at her father’s hands.
Maya jerked as a knock echoed in her room. She glanced at the door with a frown as she slowly stood up. She opened the door to a maid holding a tray.
The tray held two covered dishes and a cup of water. Between the dishes was the rolled-up thread she had requested and a long stainless needle.
The maid looked a little familiar. It took her a second to remember, but she recognized her as the maid she had taken the chicken from while cooking the day before.
"Palmer?" she unconsciously called.
Palmer’s gaze darkened; she didn’t seem to appreciate Maya calling her by name. Palmer stretched out the tray to her without a word.
"Thanks," Maya mumbled as she accepted it.
"Leave the tray outside when you are done. Agnes doesn’t want you in the kitchen."
"Give her my thanks."
"She doesn’t want it," Palmer replied as she walked away.
Maya’s expression fell at her reply but she knew she had no right to feel sad. She watched the maid leave briefly before looking at the tray. She had simply asked for some thread and a needle. Agnes didn’t have to give her food, but Maya appreciated it.
She retreated into her room and shut the door. She dropped to the ground, putting the tray in front of herself as she opened the contents. Maya could already smell the pie. She had gotten a slice of pie and a bowl of mashed potatoes.
Maya was slightly worried that the food had been tampered with but Agnes didn’t seem like the sort. The woman disliked her, yet she had shown her more sympathy than anyone else.
She gave a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess as she began to eat.
