Chapter 7

After lifting the covering of the lamp in the shop’s lobby, I add a single drop of water to the phoenix petal. Only when the flame fully catches burning a bright orange do I lower the coverings and move on to the next lamp.

I’m conscious not to be too loud to afford the ladies a few more minutes of sleep upstairs. As I enter each room downstairs for customers and light the lamps, I also light the petal under aphrodisiac oil plate. My nose itches from the onset of scents filling the shop, but I ignore it and press on.

For one lamp that I add water to, my mind wonders and in those few seconds, disaster strikes. My single drop of water on the flower petal turns into three, causing flames to burst out high enough to reach the ceiling. Eyes wide, I carefully examine my surroundings for any lingering embers outside the lamp. I give it a solid two minutes before walking away.

With the upmost care, I continue lighting the lamps in the last two rooms. My single drop of water on the phoenix petal from before has turned into half a drop. Just in case.

Lady Auclair likes me, but not enough for her to forgive me for burning down her shop. The very shop that her wife is currently sleeping in. I shiver at the thought of how bad that could have gone.

As I press on with my morning chores, I mentally check off everything I’ve done, and everything I still have to finish up. I linger by the front lobby waiting for the food to be delivered. Whenever it gets here, I need to wake everyone up and drop off their plates. And then…Flame. I sigh even after just thinking her name.

A light knock on the door pulls me away from wiping down the front counter. When I open it, I see the boy that delivers the peach wine. Based on his appearance, I can tell it was a struggle for him to get here through the crowd.

After he hands me the crate, I only manage to get out ‘thank-’, before he runs off. Poor kid. After Sai threatened him when he caught him hitting on me once, the kid doesn’t even have the courage to make eye contact with me much less speak.

I devote myself to arranging the wine in the underside cabinet of the front desk as I watch the door for Margie’s arrival. Five minutes later, I pick up on the familiar sound of Margie’s cart rolling over the stone paved streets as dishes clatter against each other.

When I go out to greet her, I come up short as I take in the wrapped dishes that are meant to contain the morning meals for the ladies upstairs. I have so many questions.

“Margie, what is that?” I point to something on the plate. I’m pretty sure I know what it is, but I’m hoping I’m wrong.

“Ah, they were out of meat at the market, so I went worm hunting.”

I wasn’t wrong.

The biscuits threaten to resurface, but I will them down. They cost entirely too much for me to lose them over a few worms.

Noticing my concern, Margie assures me that it’s misplaced. “Don’t worry about it. I steamed them and even cracked open the shells for you ladies. They taste just as good as any animal that makes it on your plate.”

I try to keep a polite smile and not make it apparent that I don’t believe a worm and a cow are comparable in terms of meat. This is a problem for Lady Auclair and Cyra to deal with, not me. Since the pre-made food has already been paid for, I can only take the dishes inside and give them to their unknowing and likely, unwilling victims.

One by one I knock on the lady’s doors, setting plates down in front of their rooms. I hear muffled footsteps from inside a few rooms, but no one walks out until I’m halfway down the hall. Once the first door clicks open, over half of the other room’s occupants flow out into the hallway. Multiple sets of hands reach for the plates I’m holding while others wait for me in their doorway still half asleep.

“What are we having today?” Autumn calls out from inside her bedroom to no one in particular. From the grogginess in her voice, I can tell that she’s still under the sheets.

There’s a long pause before Doll answers her. “Worm.”

For a moment, no one says anything. However, I hear them checking their plates to confirm that they heard Doll right. Then, I hear the first scream. Several people shout, what is this, and a couple women scream at me as if I’m the one that put the worms on their plates.

Don’t look at me. I explain to anyone who is willing to listen what Margie told me about there being no meat at the market. “If you don’t want to eat it, then don’t. I’ll take any orders for delivery as long as you pay up front.”

A few of the ladies try to argue with me about having to pay for more food when the worm dish was already deducted from their paycheck, but Kitten intervenes. “You heard the lady. Either take a plate, pay, or don’t eat.”

Kitten grabs a plate in my hand appearing unaffected by the worm on it. I really want to be like her when I grow up. The poise that woman has regardless of the situation is so cool.

Honey runs past me to go to the toilet looking sick. Guess she’s skipping this meal.

I steel my resolve as I make my way to the room I don’t want to go to, with a plate that I’m sure she’s going to throw at me the second she sees the worm.

“Just leave it at her door. She’s probably still in a mood.” Autumn warns me before shutting her bedroom door to change.

I should listen to Autumn. But why do that when I can ruin my night? After I knock a few times, I open the door letting the noise and light from the hallway trail in behind me. Exactly where I expect her to be, Flame’s cocooned herself under the covers barring a few strands of flaming bright red hair.

Clothes and trash litter the floor along with a few dozen alcohol bottles. Sleeping in the second biggest room in the shop apparently just means she has more room to make a mess. I close the door cutting off my access to light, so I’m forced to maneuver over the trash on the ground to find the lamp.

“What?!” Flame moans.

I can hear her crawling out from under the covers when. Since it’s dark, I can’t verify my guess, but I’m pretty sure Flame’s glaring at me.

I light the lamp next to her bed and, nh, she’s glaring. That is until the light temporarily blinds her. Clenching her eyes shut, Flame retreats under the safety of the sheets once more.

Setting the plate on the mattress a few feet in front of her, I turn my attention on tidying up the room. This has been our morning ritual since my very first day working here. The first time I did this, it was out of some strange fascination. I wanted to meet her.

Now though, it’s not simply curiosity that keeps me coming back. It’s a desire to see how different, and possibly, how similar we are.

Our eyes lock for a moment when I peer up, but Flame quickly averts her gaze. Instead, she looks down at the plate glowering. “Is that a worm?”

Instead of throwing a fit or even the plate like I expected, Flame just sets it to the side untouched. Her expression is one of disappointment, but that’s the only reaction she really gives.

I take the plate on my way-out leaving Flame to get ready. From the moment I entered to the moment I leave; I never said a word to her. I never do. I think she likes me better when I don’t talk.

In the hallway, nearly all the bedroom doors are now open. People are shuffling from room to room helping each other get dressed or do make-up.

“Does anyone have any red rouge?” Autumn pleads as she waves her empty lipstick container in the air.

“I have some.” With Doll’s summons, Autumn scurries down the hallway almost colliding into me.

She apologizes with a “sorry Blue,” before disappearing into Doll’s room.

I scoot my way past them and head towards the stairs. A plate of food sits untouched outside the only closed door. After lightly knocking on the door and receiving no answer, I open it.

Winter is huddled in a corner staring blankly at the wall. Most of her mother’s things are still in the room giving the impression that Snow might come back, but we all know that won’t happen.

“Hey Winter, I left your food by the door. Make sure you eat it alright. I heard that worm taste pretty good. Or if you want something else, I can get someone to pick it up.” I stare conspiratorially down the packed hallway before whispering, “I’ll pay, but only for you. Don’t tell anyone, alright?

Winter doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t even look at me. I thought that a week would be enough time for her to come to terms with her mom abandoning her. I guess not. My eyes lock with Doll’s who gestures for me to leave Winter be. So, I do.

Once I’m downstairs, I brush off the few droplets of sweat running down my cheeks and I enjoy the momentary relief at the temperature change. Less bodies, less heat.

As soon as I finish organizing and cataloging the peach wine under the counter, I hear the unmistakable chime of the bell above the front door. Weird since I’m sure I locked it.

When I stand up, I’m greeted by three people. All but one have cloaks with hoods that hide their faces. Though they don’t have on the dark blue uniforms I’m accustomed to seeing on soldiers, the cloaks they’re wearing are the standard military capes. That means they either used to serve or are currently in the military.

“Good evening,” I provide in greeting.

I shot another cursory glance behind them at the door. Since there’s no signs of it being forced open, I’m having second thoughts about the memory of me locking it.

My eyes connect with the man without the hood, and I’m pulled in by his golden mesmerizing eyes. He’s also decently attractive with a face that at first glance seems trustworthy, but I don’t let my guard down. Something tells me that would be a mistake.

His tone when he replies is relaxed, but it does nothing to ease my concerns of him, or his friends. “Good evening, I was hoping to ask you a question if you don’t mind.”