09 ~ August 1921, Isha

When the summer heat and light were striking harder, the ground floor and two levels above it were being finalised.

Water and electricity were running. The smell of wooden floor wax and fresh coats of paint over the walls were lingering everywhere.

The main corridor had the doors on both sides stuck open this day, letting the wind pass by, creating a refreshing vacuum inside.

There were less workers helping there now. Once the tile roof would be completed, there would not be many things left to do. The work had gone swiftly and had been well done. The garden was being rearranged and new furniture was being delivered every other day to fill all the empty rooms.

The sisters had rebuilt a gorgeous library on the third floor of their manor, where most of the remaining work was left to do. The new shelves should be able to hold beyond a thousand books, although for now it only held stacks of post and letters. Unfortunately the collection of their family had been lost to the fire and they had to restart from there. But they had chosen to push some walls, removing a few rooms to make the library even bigger than before.

Here they showed their ambition beyond rebuilding what had been their home.

Most of the manor was returning to quite similar aspects to what they could remember, albeit cleaner and brighter. It was again their home and really feeling as such from now on, although there were now only two inhabitants for this large domain.

They had the chance to set things as they pleased and change a few things to the layout, and the main changed they had done had thus been to the third floor’s library.

The second change would be to the garden’s fountain. White it was still in good enough condition, under the dirt, stains and erosion, Rose expressed she wanted change some parts of it.

She had seen in catalogues this European art style she fancied along others in these times. Actually, she confessed finding it somewhat weird, but a few aspects of it touched her. Blue didn’t mind the changing of the statues to reflect her sister’s taste. The house’s architecture didn’t really change, so this could.

Rose ordered five copies of statues from the Belgian sculptor she had seen pictures of. He also shared the same first name as their father, and that felt a little sweet as well. The statues of slightly abstract kneeling teenagers were of queer taste. Blue found them odd and a little spooky at night, but didn’t mind. Rose really found them beautiful and almost romantic. These silhouettes looking a little melancholic to her and she liked that.

Other changes would occur in their renewed home, albeit more minor next to these two.

~

The first obvious problem that had partially been mended with plenty of furniture orders, was about the empty rooms themselves. Everything from the six rooms had been lost. And if they had urgent need of making their two rooms liveable, the other four were not. They could remain empty currently, and the whole house revealed really being too big for only two people to live in. They finally had to admit it.

They hadn’t had the heart to attempting selling the property and settle elsewhere.

But now they faced empty corridors and vacant rooms they didn’t need.

They realised they would also need to hire a butler or a maid if they wanted to keep it clean and standing.

Even before, their mother had occasional professional help, when the five of them lived together. Now it was just too much to maintain and inhabit for the two of them.

Had they been a couple, they would have probably shared the master’s bedroom on the third floor. However since their rooms had burnt entirely anyway, they settled for different rooms than earlier. They settled for the two rooms facing the south garden on the second floor.

Rose was taking the room that once had been owned by Elise, and Blue took the next one that had been Rose’s before.

Rose didn’t want to return to her old room, while Blue on the contrary liked it a little more. It had been easily settled. On the other side of the corridor however, three rooms were now vacant on that floor, and so was the last one above.

As soon as the last workers would leave, there would be no one else but them here. It felt a little uneasy, and they agreed they wouldn’t be able to keep the house together on their own.

They agreed to find someone to hire for a while and help them.

Rose would write a letter to a famous agency in London shortly, to enquire about the possibilities.

~

The shop in town was being cleaned along with the last remaining clues of the tragedy in town.

Most of the houses and building being rebuilt, everyone finished the cleaning. Water was flowing through the streets and full carriages of rubbles or filth kept leaving the town every hour of the day.

Blue and Rose were working by themselves on cleaning the shop they owned. Here not much had been lost to the fire, beside the loved ones in that place.

The furniture, raw materials and tooling was still where it had been left the day before the incident.

Blue was cleaning the windows from outside, and messing her apron; while Rose cleansed their share of the street from what kept falling down.

It took a few weeks to get the shop back to looking clean and hospitable again.

Inside of it, Blue was sitting in the share her older sisters and mother had shared before her, in front of the sewing machine. Her foot activated it, as she started stitching some simple clothes together.

The machine was still working flawlessly. She would be able to operate it normally, and soon enough to repair and even craft new things.

Although the first thing popping to her mind that she should craft would be a stuffed giant spider, she was not convinced anyone would want to buy that for their children.

So they would start with more common merchandises, like teddy bears since Blue really wanted to make some toys for some reason.

Perhaps after a few years they would earn a name and Blue would become able to express herself in other creations.

The last details to end their house’s reconstruction were delayed as they spent a little more regular time reviving their meagre business. Blue was offering repairs, and crafting stuffed animals with what was spared of cloth along.

Rose was writing more letters and post, again. This time she was finally telling other their business was reopening by the end of August.

Amongst the papers to all the suppliers, partners and other acquaintances or known clients, a good few went toward London. Rose posted her requests to an agency providing maid and butler services, and another one to a newspaper agency to publish a similar job offer.

Both were thrown lines with the same intent, looking for someone that could support them, ideally as a full time work for them.

Rose didn’t think of any specification for the profile, aside the frivolous requirement they should enjoy reading, and to stand working alone most of the time.

~

One day, the construction which seemed to be everlasting for months, was indisputably over. It had happened smoothly. The last group of workers had left around midday. Rose thanked them heartily, they left, and that was it.

Blue watched them go with a hint of sadness.

It had been a nice part of her recent life, working there as an errand boy. She looked now far healthier than ever. The wounds on her head had fully scarred; and these ones were now hidden under new hair.

She was living as one should be, quite healthy.

As she was daydreaming in the garden between the path and the house, Rose was carrying back in the last furniture.

Both of them had good memories of that spring and summer. The remaining ashes of a fire in this garden or front yard were recalling the large barbecues they had with the workers, more than anything else.

It had sometimes felt as if they were holding some kind of party. It wasn’t that merry, but it had been pretty lively and cheerful time passing then, for everyone involved.

They had heard in town this past accident had put a definitive end to the coal mining exploitation in the area. Even without tragedies like that, mines had been closing all over the country lately.

The entrance that had already been disrespected were entirely sealed and condemned gradually. And most of the galleries remaining below would eventually collapse or flood. Some crevices were still found here and there occasionally between rocks, but it was now the end of this story.

Sudden tragedies like that one would never occur again.

Blue was still looking at the path entering the forest. She was elsewhere, her mind wandering far away for a moment.

Summer days, when everything was calm, it brought her back as well. There was the soft sound of the wind through the foliage and this lingering warmth in the air.

A part of her was shivering. Was it all a dream? Would her father suddenly appear to lift her up over his shoulders?

No, that was something else. When she understood what it was, her eyes opened a little wider.

Rose was calling her, but Blue could hardly move. She came by her side and saw her frightened face.

R - What is it Blue?

B - I just realised... I do not hear the train anymore.

Rose looked surprised hearing her words, almost a stupor. A moment passed before they could speak again.

R - You are free...

B - I’m scared.

Rose kindly pat her head, reassuring her.

R - Living is a little scary, it’s true. You will take the time you need, and you will see, it’s worth it.

B - Okay...

Blue was smiling, somehow reassured.

They went toward their newly rebuilt house. One that could last for a century at least, even unattended. Rose had paid for sturdy and reliable.

The main doors opened to a long corridor, going straight toward the rear garden. When the doors on both sides were opened and still, a large wind could create a vacuum inside. The wind could go up through the stairs up to the third level sometimes, making it possible to fly a kite within. On Autumn, the leaves could be brought directly up there as well.

On the left, the office was now Rose’s.

The second door on the right, before the stairway, led them to the kitchen, were everything was functioning again. It was simply still mostly empty, carrying little glassware or silverware. What was found during the cleaning of the site had been gathered in a large chest of rubbish outside the house. It had been removed a long time ago now.

They had little things to eat, but enough for a while. They were only two and the kitchen could hold food for more than twenty people and weeks. They would never need to fill it.

They were cooking together shortly after, musing over that.

~

While Blue was preparing the pans and pots to cook, Rose opened the door to the basement and went downstairs.

One floor below the house, the basement was the only room where no work had been needed since they came back. It was a place out of age and fully fireproof. It was simply stones, walls of large assembled and partially carved stones, as if the place came from a middle ages castle or crypt. It had been used as a storeroom by their mother mostly.

Now to make it look like a room from an ancient fort, all they needed to do was remove the electric light bulb, and lit out some torches or candles. It was gloomy.

Now that most things previously stored inside were now used inside the house, the place was very hollow. Rose looked at the emptiness, dark and cold, feeling uneasy. The two rows of small columns supporting the ceiling were leading to a wall. It was as if a door leading to the realm of the dead was missing there.

Rose slowly grabbed a bag of potatoes stored there, and then headed back, leaving this place behind.

Climbing the steps, reaching the door, she could hear again Blue and the kitchen noises. She felt better.

Rose switched the light off, and hastily closed the door to the basement behind her once out.

Blue gazed strangely at her, looking at her sister’s odd attitude, but said nothing. She could understand a little what feeling had come to her downstairs.

~

Later on, they were sorting the new post received recently. Among it were some answers to what Rose had written and send before. Most of the letters would soon be addressed to Miss Rose Herson, and not anymore to their mother or even father.

Blue was tossing the needless envelopes and useless papers in the fireplace. The fire was eating everything sent at it quite quickly, with appetite. She wasn’t afraid of it but felt a little uneasy for a different reason now.

She had no recollection of that fateful night.

B - Rose... Where were they, when they died?

Rose was a little hurt to hear the question, because she had to remember what she found on that most painful night of her life. What she found when she came back to the house.

R - Mom was in the main corridor... Elise and Scarlett were in the stairway... The part of Esther I found was in the kitchen, close to the basement door. I thought at first you had hidden downstairs, but it was not the case apparently. I feared you were buried somewhere else, under a wall or a ceiling that had fallen over you...

B - But I escaped somehow... And forgot all about it.

R - I still think that’s for the best.

Blue sat silently on the couch. She didn’t know what to say anymore. She had very few glimpses of memories, about just wandering through a field, and then being with whom she thought were her parents.

Rose understood her feeling and gently patted her hair again. Blue couldn’t help but smile upon it.

B - Thank you...

Thank you for everything. You’ve been so good to me that I was able to hope and live. You mean so much to me...

Blue only said her thank you, but they both heard the thought to its end. She owed Rose more than a life, and they could smile. They could live. That had seemed so unlikely, for as long as they had been alive.

~

The fire cracked and kept them warm, while the evening was letting night come. Blue was now dozing off while Rose kept arranging and writing a little more. Rose let a word of surprise slip when reading something unexpected.

B - Hm... What is it?

R - It seems the agency can’t find anyone to work for us.

B - Why not?

R - Because they haven’t found anyone to vouch for us apparently... We would need to go to London and meet them directly if we want a proper chance of hiring one of their people.

B - Then let’s forget about them... It’s not really our first concern to be well known, right?

R - I agree, but the slight humiliation aside, we will really need someone to help us maintain this place.

B - That is true, but not necessarily one of them.

R - Ah, right. They sure would be good, but we don’t need a prestigious maid or butler... You don’t care what kind of person it might be still?

B - As long as they don’t look like someone of the family, I don’t think I do... Furthermore, I guess these ones were costly, right?

Rose thought back about it and smiled.

R - Their standard wages were a little higher than the ones of the workers who helped us here lately indeed... You would need to craft a lot of dolls, just to pay that person.

Blue was amused. She nodded, as they agreed. They didn’t need someone really well trained, so long they fit the profile they required.

R - Then it’s settled. Let’s forget about them and see for a while if the newspapers advertising brings us someone instead.

~

At the very end of the month, someone came.

She carried only a small luggage with her.

Coming straight from the town, she walked at her slow pace. She knew the way and path as if she’s been to the manor before, without hesitation along the way.

She walked the forest path keeping her pace. She didn’t seem in a hurry, afraid nor nonchalant. She was simply focused and concerned with the meeting to come. She was overthinking what would come next mostly.

When the manor revealed itself, she admitted to herself she was actually a little afraid. What if things went wrong now? And if they already had hired someone else? What would she do? Where would she go?

Now she was afraid that her last and only hope would end in disappointment.

For some reason closer to her heart, she wouldn’t reveal on the interview, how the Herson were her last hope.

She managed to have herself smile a little softly with a renewed confidence.

She wouldn’t fail.

She breathed a little longer when reaching the door.

This morning, something was shining in the sky and behind the house. Something refreshing was in the air.

The sisters were about to leave, to head to their shop in town together.

Rose opened the door and her look fell upon a golden rose.

Below the light blond hair were two clear blue eyes starring wordlessly at her. She was a child next to Rose, who was not much older in spite of her appearance.

I - Excuse me... Misses Herson I presume?

R - Yes?

The girl bowed slightly.

I - I come to meet your offer of a job.

The sisters looked at each other and agreed to postpone their departure. They received the light blond girl to interview her with some shared surprise between them.

A moment later, they were in the living room to sit. Blue brought back what was left of tea for her.

She was sitting with a straight back and her hands appeared calm. Although she was obviously under visible stress, she still gave a feeling of serenity.

Blue & Rose introduced themselves. When they asked the girl her name, they were a little puzzled by the answer.

I - I don’t know my real name. They called me Ushka where I last worked. I don’t mind being called that way or by another you may want.

B - But... What about your parents?

That was a naïve question, but she answered honestly.

I - I never had any parents... When I was young, I was only called ‘’neschastnaya devushka’’, by my first adoptive family.

B - Are you Russian?

I - I believe I lived in Russia until I was maybe ten. But even then, I mostly learned to speak English. I don’t know what that means.

R - Say, how old are you, Ushka?

I - I’m fourteen years old.

R - Where do you live now?

I - Nowhere currently.

B - You saw how big the house is. Do you think you would be able to keep it clean and tidy all by yourself?

Before she could answer, Rose spoke.

R - Why did you come here for a job given your age? Do you have recommendations?

Who would be foolish enough to hire a girl this young for a job this important? Was she not mature enough to understand no one would hire her like that?

She stood silent for a moment.

I - I don’t have any... And I didn’t see any age or qualification restriction in your ad...

Blue could sense something odd in her answer. Something was off. She wasn’t telling everything. But maybe it would be for the better apparently if her past and old wills were left behind.

She apparently had to go through a hard journey as well.

Because of that, along with her really calm and polite behaviour, Blue was being swayed and began thinking it could be worth trying in the end.

B - That’s true... However you can understand we didn’t expect someone this young to come. This lead us to my question. Are you really able to do that kind of work properly?

She looked around as if to double check for herself, inspecting her surroundings. Rose spoke again before she could give her answer.

R - There is something else you must understand also. If you’re to work here, it won’t be a good reference for your future, and you will be utterly alone, often all day long...

But there the girl simply smiled kindly, inciting Rose not to push her explanation any further. The girl seemed to embrace such a fate with confidence and almost warmly.

She looked responsible enough despite her age, and answered simply when it was her turn to speak.

I - I understand, and I believe I’m up to the task.

B - Do you like to read?

I - I know how to read, but I’m not very experienced. I was wondering why you asked for that? Is there secretary work as well?

R - Actually... We had in mind that once the work is done, there isn’t much to do around but read books. However we realised since then that the work required to keep this house standing and clean will most likely a full time endeavour. There likely won’t be that much free time to read.

B - And we don’t have collected that many books yet.

I - I understand and I agree. The work will fill the days.

The sisters looked at each other. For some different reasons and a few shared ones as well, they were reaching an agreement. Blue was smiling quite merrily.

R - So... Should we give it a try?

B - Shall I give you a tour then?

~

Rose had left soon after, leaving the girl with golden hair with Blue for a while.

Once everything would be settled, Blue would catch up with her sister in town.

They would give the girl an honest try, no matter the situation.

Blue started the tour with the gardens. If the front yard was not really lively, the garden behind had found a new glory already. Now that the temporary sheds were gone and the new fountain set, it had some character.

The five kneeling statues surrounding the fountain were a peculiar touch of sculptural art, odd at first but not unpleasant after a while. It grew on Blue.

The rose bushes surrounding the garden were mostly sprouts now. And behind the lines of new shrubs, roses or otherwise, the field went on in a gentle slope toward many more and the distant town. It was opening on the morning sky.

The clear golden blond girl couldn’t help but make a strangely fascinated face upon seeing the flowers. She loved them already thought Blue. Or they reminded her of something important. The garden was just beginning anew to be colourful.

I - Your flower beds are gorgeous...

Blue laughed for a moment hearing that. She then smiled a little sadly.

B - These flowers... They bloomed quickly most likely because our parents and sisters are buried there.

Blue didn’t seem to realise this wasn’t proper to say such things so abruptly. The younger girl then noticed the rectangular shapes and tombstone a little besides and understood it was the familial graveyard she faced. They were next to the garden shed.

I - I am sorry miss Herson.

B - It is a slow process, but I’m getting gently over it. Well, you would have easily understood that the house is too big for only us two.

I - Only two persons are living in the mansion?

B - Well yes, for now...

They were heading toward the small path on the north side, heading toward the front yard.

The girl thought of something a little disturbing. The closest trees to the house had some branches cut to allow easier reconstruction of the house, but none had burn in the fire. It had not spread.

I - Excuse me, miss Herson?

Blue was passing the angle of the wall, but turned around.

B - Yes?

I - I... heard of a fire?

Something was off in her tone of voice. Was she going to ask about the dead? Blue expected it.

I - None of the surrounding trees were caught in the flames?

B - Ah... That’s because the fire came from the coal mine underground it seems. The house was more smoked than burnt I hear. The house is above one of the old tunnels or propagation veins it seems. The underground explosion that plagued the town recently had this sad outcome here as well... Parts of the house soon collapsed and the forest was spared. There are some fissures in the ground here and there though if you know where to look.

I - ...

B - It’s safe now. The mine is closed. The town wants to move on. Soon enough here and everywhere, except for the bereft, it will be as if nothing ever happened.

~

Within the house, Blue showed her every room and place with some method and some improvisation.

The girl understood better how much work it would be if she was alone to take care of it. It was almost too much, but she was ready for it, mustering some courage.

Blue told her they weren’t planning to hire more than one person for now.

Depending on how it would turn out, they would think about it. It was a trial in more ways than one and the girl understood the extent of its meaning.

When the tour was over, they went back to the large salon and sat again to discuss.

The tea was now cold, but Blue liked it that way as well, and drank a lot of it.

The girl was now sitting neatly in front of her.

The difference of age between them wasn’t huge thought Blue. But one of them was the employer and the other the hired employee, making the relationship a little peculiar.

It was for Blue as if Scarlett or Rose had interviewed her for the job.

Blue was able to control the unease that rose from that odd feeling. Seeing the girl seemingly unconcerned about that, made it easier.

B - Do you know how to cook?

I - Yes miss, a reasonable little.

B - And you still think you could do this work of maid on your own?

I - I do.

B - Okay then. Let’s try it out.

She smiled genuinely.

I - Thank you miss Herson!

~

B - Please, do remind me your name?

I - It was usually Ushka.

B - What was your full calling?

I - Neschastnaya devushka, miss... That was a moniker.

B - You don’t like it very much, do you?

Blue had noticed how the smile vanished from her face when answering these questions. The girl made a surprised face and was at a loss for a short moment.

I - Y... Yes, miss. Please feel free to choose another one you would like.

Blue understood she would like it very much as well.

B - Do you know what a daiûa is?

I - I... I think I heard a story once, but I’m not sure. They are like djinns, right?

Blue was looking over the window, thinking a lot and quickly. Many words came in mind, to describe that girl in front of her, and the impressions she made naturally. However daiûa was not the kindest description of them.

Other ideas twirled in her mind, and blended the words together.

B - How about Isha, how does that sound does for you?

The sonority was close to her Russian origins, but coming from Blue, they meant something utterly different from her younger nickname. The girl could understand as much intuitively.

I - Isha...

The sound was sweeter to their tongues than Ushka. Blue felt it that way at the very least. The name had various origins only Blue could explain, and they would not seem logic for everyone.

I - Isha?

B - For me, it means something sunny, with a lot of light and...

She couldn’t bring herself to say aloud all of her thoughts and how they interacted to come together to that conclusion of a name. A lot of kind warmth was surmised, because she seemed to fit that impression.

The girl seemed as flattered as if she had also heard the unspoken parts. She was, sunny? That didn’t make concrete sense, but that was by far the most flattering and kind thing she ever heard told about her. It was enough to make her want to tear up in recognition.

How could someone she had just met be able to use so precise words to touch her feelings? She lost herself in thoughts for a minute.

B - Isha?

The blue eyes gazing loosely at the ceiling suddenly woke up and returned to look at her. The sun came back to the room it seemed to blue. The morning sun flowing through every window was enlighting the young blond girl. Her eyes were contrasting, her irises appearing as the tip of a much larger flame that her whole being seemed to be.

Blue had this impression growing on her, the more she observed Isha.

She thought that even if she were dressed entirely in black, Isha would have an appearance too bright and gold to seem she would be mourning. She liked her.

The girl was back to her senses and managed not to tear up, although she hadn’t expected to feel destabilised by hearing her newly given name. Her smile was shivering a little however.

I - Isha it is... Miss Herson, I will be glad to answer to that name for you.

~

Isha was now on a trial period at their service.

Blue told her they would chose her a room when they would reunite together during the evening.

For the present day, Isha had no particular command to follow, beside familiarising herself with the domain. It would be mostly hers to choose what needed to be done and when. Ideally, Blue didn’t want to command her.

Blue was trusting her and left soon after to head into town.

Isha was left alone in the large and strange house. She had been warned that she would be alone most of the time. It was already true, but now she was inside.

She was looking at the front door Blue had closed behind her as she left. She stood there for a few seconds, daydreaming.

I - Welcome back, misses Herson...

Isha turned around in a swift movement and looked around the long corridor. Her mood darkened just a little, looking at the extent and shades of this corridor.

I - ... Welcome back... Isha...

Only silence welcomed her, but she was used to that language.

She knew she was welcome there, and Blue had been clear with her.

She was eager to do her best and prove she was worthy of their trust.

Meanwhile the suns made all ghosts apparently vanish within the house.

All but one maybe. The one who was trying to ascend to their plane.

~

The sun was setting down when the two sisters were walking their way home. They thought about buying one of these new cars, or just horses maybe, but they were not really excited about it. They preferred walking as they always had.

The house was as they left it on the morning from outside. They were curious to see what Isha could have done in her first day. Everything needed a little of cleaning in any case. Upon the results they would find, and what she would tell them, they would see what to expect, and most likely hire her.

Then they would give her a room.

As they approached, Isha was already waiting for them at the door, opening it for them. She looked calm and her appearance didn’t betray what she had spent her day working on.

Her smile was faint. The sisters couldn’t tell whether she wasn’t planning to let herself smile much more in front of her employers, or if she was simply tired.

It was many a first today, and mostly she was tired. She had been looking to impress them and worked a lot while they were away.

The entrance was clean, but they couldn’t quite notice the difference. The main corridor shone a little more than before however, and this was visible in some reflections.

Isha had wiped the remaining dusts from reconstruction that were spread a little everywhere still.

Isha led them directly to the dining room where the table was set for them two, facing each other at one end of the too large table.

Isha didn’t know they were usually sitting at both sides of a corner, and not facing each other. They didn’t bother telling her straight away, since that wasn’t important right now.

Isha brought what she had managed to prepare by herself and served them.

It was only a vegetable soup and small pieces of meat in a sauce. That wasn’t fancy but there was not a lot to work with in the kitchen currently anyway. What she had prepared and cooked was good nonetheless.

Blue and Rose didn’t talk much when they were eating. That made the sensation of appraisal a little heavy on Isha.

Their day had been long and they all were tired. Nevertheless the sisters were focused on what Isha had done and how she behaved. Even if they both already had taken a liking to her from first sight, they were evaluating her as fairly as they could do.

When they were done with the meal, the sisters gave her an hour to eat herself, and then meet them in the living room to discuss about her day.

Isha announced herself only half of this allowed time later, having already eaten a little. She had been used to light snacks more than full meals, and eating before the employer’s family rather than after.

Blue was starting a small fire in the fireplace. Isha was about to offer her help when Rose called her to sit in front of her. Isha obeyed quietly.

R - Tell me, what have you done today?

Rose plainly asked. Isha understood she wanted to hear plain and direct answers.

I - I’ve cleaned the entrances and started the main corridors this morning. This afternoon, I took more time to get accustomed to the house layout first. I cleaned the kitchen and began preparing the meal. I then finished cleaning the corridors in the afternoon.

Rose nodded quietly. She was comprehensive of what a first day at work with little supervision could be. She hadn’t been able to do much more right away.

The pace of many days to neatly maintain a single floor would probably not be sufficient to keep the manor prim, but many placed would likely not require a daily cleaning.

In the end, maybe it could be done by a single young maid.

It was considered.

Blue was a little anxious for reasons that were hers, but Rose seemed to warm up her confidence. Maybe she also felt a little sympathetic, as if she couldn’t abandon that young girl to her fate.

Rose seemed serious, as nearly always, when talking with Isha. Blue could notice that Rose was still a little concerned about the idea.

It was getting late and they were all tired although.

Blue stood up.

B - Should we show her a room?

Isha looked at her with noticeable emotion.

I - Does this mean I’m hired?

Rose had a little of a smile. After a single day, it was probably, or rather surely too soon to give a definitive answer.

Even though there was something else too for the employers to be.

For both Blue and Rose, they felt a little better with the same feeling that there was someone else at home. Knowing someone more was with them at home, it held a comforting impression.

The building they could only see take dust and being too big for them, it was becoming a little more lively again.

The added presence of that girl, even if the work would not be perfect right away, it would be a nice addition for them.

R - I believe it does, Isha.

They stood up and went to find Isha’s room.

Before the fire, the manor had domestic rooms on the third floor and in the attic, albeit in disuse back then, none in use. The reconstructed manor had an empty attic, and the rooms on the third floor had been taken down to make the library wider. Therefore the room Isha would use had to be either the previous parents bedroom, or one of the three left facing north on the second floor. The parents room was locked and surrounded by the library, with a small fireplace but no window. That part could be a little disturbing although the sisters were used to it.

They thought Isha would prefer to accommodate with one of the three rooms with windows on the second floor, but surprisingly she chose the parents room. Apparently the lack of windows was a thing she preferred.

Blue & Rose didn’t mind and didn’t care enough about to bother being inquisitive over the reasons.

Isha was left with her little luggage in the room, thankfully well-lit through electricity.

When she heard the sisters walking down the stairway, Isha sighed unwillingly in relief.

She had felt tensed, but she had won...

She did it, and she wasn’t alone anymore.

Things would work out, wouldn’t they?

Isha was soon after slipping between the fresh sheets of the bed, which was far too large for her alone.

It was not a room fit for an employee at all, but the sisters hadn’t thought about it during the reconstruction.

So far, it wouldn’t be a problem anyway. Isha sighed again and fell quickly asleep.

Her day and perhaps her journey had both come to an end.

~

Isha had strange dreams that night.

It felt like a sludge of exhaustion and emotions. She wouldn’t remember anything the next morning, but they had been rather pretty she recalled.

There had been a bright multi-coloured sky. A dusk of violet, orange and magenta. A flock of birds suddenly passing through it and before her, flying far off in the sky. She thought she was one of the birds for a moment, in that melting pot of colours.

She flew far off, far away, far up in the air... She felt that sensation of flying, until all the surrounding shades gathered in a bowl of flowing lights before her.

Something shining, with the antagonist impression of being both at nightfall and under a bright shining sun. Not an eclipse, rather the opposite... A disc of light piercing the sweetest night of all.

She felt the winds flowing between and against her feathers, while gazing at the light. She saw the grounds again, as she was going to land.

Her talons changed into feet, and in that clear and fresh night, her bare feet landed on grass in a field. She landed so softly, no sound but the wind came to disturb anything.

Isha saw her oddly large wings turning into arms, and her weight appearing. An odd dress with halves of mantles tied to her side was still floating in the air, falling slowly. She felt a freedom like she never experienced.

And the strange colourful light was still there...

It was all around her.

The sky was struck by these rainbows and aurora borealis wavering.

- You...

A soft, cold voice. A sad being could see the free and gleeful thing she was. A bittersweet feeling rose inside her however, bringing further satisfaction to her.

- You are such a marvellous being... It’s such a shame you are already waking up...

Isha felt flattered and even attracted by the soft voice. It felt good, she seemed pleasant.

- I feel... So relieved.... I am glad I could see the being you are...

It felt muffled and distant. The mists were getting lighter and brighter. She was starting to feel her real body waking up above. The nice dream vanished progressively. Isha felt herself breathing again and slowly woke up.

She sat in her bed and smiled in the darkness.

She couldn’t remember it clearly already, but she felt she just had the sweetest dream of her life. It made her shiver with satisfaction. That probably mostly came from her feeling of success.

Isha rose, and a new bright day was beginning.

~

Isha didn’t have any uniform, so she was putting her dress again. She had little clothing with her anyway. The sisters would at least have a long apron for her.

After a quick flush, she went slowly down the stairway. She walked carefully to avoid making any noise that could wake her mistresses, as their rooms were facing the stairways.

On the first floor, she went to the kitchen and began to prepare a breakfast. She realised she lacked a watch, and that she had noticed the presence of any clock anywhere in the house. She couldn’t tell the hour it was so. She was used to wake early but felt she would need to tell them about this.

When the breakfast was ready and beans cooked, Isha wondered whether she should bring it to their rooms.

She thought it was probably better not to intrude as long as they didn’t request it.

She had things prepared and waited for them to wake up and come down. Meanwhile she wondered how old this house could have been, since the repairs erased most of its age.

Whilst it had electricity everywhere and hot water, it still had fireplaces in nearly every room. Actually she had never seen a house with that many fireplaces and chimneys.

Even if the house was entirely new, because not a place was as it had been prior to the fire, it somehow already felt as if it was many, many years old. Things could grow old so fast.

Isha was looking at the oven next to the fireplace of the kitchen. She didn’t understand why they needed to have both. Didn’t they have enough faith in electricity?

Waiting for them, Isha was beginning to feel a little down.

After a few minutes, she left the plates to warm up and left the kitchen, to start cleaning somewhere else.

While they were still not coming down, she had some time.

Isha was feeling the return of her concern that they may want to find someone else but her in the end.

So she wanted to put herself ahead and work hard.

In the quiet morning, while wringing a rag to clear it from its dirty water, she soon could hear their distant voices.

Small, unclear voices, but joyful sounds...

A few voices could change a lot of things in her day and within her mind.

Isha smirked clumsily.

She was feeling optimistic.

And if that bright morning could last for months or years, she would not mind that.

~

That morning was merrier than usual for everyone within the manor.

After her awakening, Blue dressed herself and entered the corridor. Noticing the next door wasn’t open, meaning her sister was likely still asleep in her room, Blue went inside to wake her up.

She was rather happy, because somehow the frail Blue she had been became stronger than her elder sister within the months of summer.

Whilst she was now healthier than ever before, Rose was still skinny and pale like before. She also easily tended to sleep more lately.

Blue opened the windows and greeted her awakening sister, teasing her a little.

Rose rolled over between her sheets, moaning a fake displeasure at this kind wake up call.

R - Mary... Give me five more minutes... Rather ten...

Blue giggled and waited for a moment next to her. When Rose was standing at last, and was looking at Blue’s face and the light outside, something spurted out of her mind.

R - You have changed... I never saw you that lively before...

B - My memories of before are still rather blurry overall. Was I that different?

R - You were always a little sad, or a little... aside from reality. Now you look as if your past character was but a different persona or rather an illness, now cured for good.

B - Hm... Before, I don’t know; but I can tell you that since my awakening, I really feel alive.

Rose smiled eventually back and caressed kindly her hair. She had felt quite the same, thinking similarly.

Their losses brought them closer. The time of mourning ended in summer within the working site. Now they were experiencing a kind of bliss they could enjoy to the fullest.

Life was good.

Later on the same morning, they met Isha downstairs, and soon everything was as it should.

Isha received enough instructions for the day and the sisters left the house to her, right after breakfast.

Isha spent her day cleaning the second floor, where the rooms were. Blue’s room proved a little messier, but Isha couldn’t care less about that and cleaned it thoroughly like anything else.

She could notice there was very little clothing within the dress closet. She had probably lost everything and there was still nothing to spare.

Gradually the house would fill again.

Sometimes, Isha thought she just heard Blue’s voice downstairs, meaning she was home early, but it was just her imagination. Something was making a sound a little too similar to some intonations of her voice somewhere at times.

Maybe a pipe in the kitchen walls or something akin to that?

Isha rapidly grew able to keep her focus on her work, after a few times of realisation it had been her imagination. She didn’t go uselessly for hide and seek after each creaking sound she could hear.

Having begun her day early, she was able to overcome her planned workload by the end of the day.

As evening came, she began to lighten her focus over her work.

The day had been short for her, but rather nice nonetheless with a good sense of duty accomplished.

Her work as a maid would be confirmed without a doubt.

When it would be, she would burn a piece of paper she had continued carrying around. She would finally be able to bury what was left of her past.

She was growing eager to put these things behind and forget these memories for good.

Living there and with them, starting her new life here, it was her dearest dream, soon to be fulfilled. Isha smiled, and the last sunrays shone even brighter while they lasted.

~

Another evening, it was night already.

They returned later than usual.

Isha was waiting for them. The dinner was ready and then served.

And then...

R - Please, take care of this house for us from now on, Isha.

Isha heard the words and felt a little as if a part of her soul was expelled up in the sky. She was flying out of herself, realising she did won.

She took what was left of her mind to answer as best she could.

I - Thank you...

B - Welcome into the family Isha.

Isha felt even weirder hearing Blue’s words.

R - That isn’t quite it, but we’re happy to have you here Isha. We’ll count on you.

Rose fell silent afterward for some reason. Blue gave Isha the proof of their trust, as in a key of the house.

She also gave to the new employee a pocket watch she had for the time being, to answer her previous request. Until they would buy a real clock for the manor.

Isha happily accepted the two meaningful tokens.

As Rose was focusing on something else, Blue told Isha the matters of her wages would be handled by Rose onward as previously planned.

From that day, Isha would live with Rose & Blue. In some regards she was becoming a member of their small family, and somehow sharing a little of their growing happiness and destiny.

~