Chapter 16

Aurea’s POV 

But before I could process any of it, a loud crash suddenly echoed through the kitchen.

Every head in the dining hall snapped toward the doorway.

"Watch where you’re going!"

A sharp, familiar voice cut through the heavy air.

I walked out to find Rita and Lyra, both staring at each other. Lyra was leaning against the counter, filing her nails with a smug, cat-like grin on her face and Rita’s eyes filled with a dangerous, protective fire as she looked at Lyra.

"Actually, you're exactly the person I was looking for," Rita snapped, her voice trembling with rage. She stepped directly into Lyra’s personal space, ignoring the way Lyra scoffed. "You think you can just lay your filthy fingers on Aurea and get away with it?"

Lyra didn't even blink. She slowly lowered her nail file, a nasty, venomous smile twisting her lips. She looked past Rita, her eyes locking onto me where I stood frozen in the corner.

"Oh, you mean that little charity case?" Lyra purred, her voice dripping with malice. "Oh Please. This pathetic little slut. She walks around here acting like an innocent princess, but she’s nothing but a trash who doesn't know her place. If she gets a little bruised up, it’s because she needs to learn who runs this house."

"Shut your mouth, Lyra!" Rita snarled, stepping closer.

"Why should I?" Lyra sneered, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "She’s completely useless, a stupid dirty whore.

Crack.

The sound echoed like a gunshot in the kitchen.

Before Lyra could utter another vile word, Rita’s hand swung across the space between them, delivering a brutal, open-handed slap directly across Lyra’s left cheek. The force of it snapped Lyra's head to the side, her perfect curls flying wildly on her face.

Silence descended on the kitchen. The other staff members in the background completely froze.

Lyra staggered back a step, her hand flying to her face. Her cheek was already flushing a bright, angry crimson. For a split second, pure shock blanked out her arrogant expression.

"Keep her name out of your mouth you bitch," Rita hissed, her voice deadly quiet as she pointed a finger right in Lyra’s face. "Aurea is a personal maid to the masters. She belongs upstairs, under their direct care. You are nothing. I swear to God, if you touch her again, we are going straight to the masters, and they will throw you out of this estate so fast your head will spin."

Slowly, the shock on Lyra’s face melted away, replaced by a dark, chillingly confident amusement. She lowered her hand from her burning cheek, dabbing at the corner of her lip, and let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

She didn't look threatened at all. She just brushed an imaginary dirt off her uniform, looking at Rita—and then at me—with absolute disdain.

"Go to the masters?" Lyra laughed, her voice echoing off the stainless steel appliances. "Oh, please, go ahead. Run to them. Tell them whatever you want."

She stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with a delusional, wicked pride. She leaned in close to Rita, making sure her whisper carried across the room.

"You think they care about a couple of tears from a pathetic little maid? You two have no idea what happens behind closed doors when the masters come around," Lyra whispered, a smug, filthy smirk returning to her face. "They like what I do for them when the lights go down. Do you really think they’d choose a fragile little whore over me? Try it. See who ends up on the street."

With a final, dismissive roll of her eyes, Lyra turned on her heel and strutted out of the kitchen, leaving the heavy swing doors rocking in her wake.

Rita turned back to me immediately, her anger melting into deep concern as she rushed over. But I couldn't move. My heart was pounding against my ribs. I knew how ruthless our masters could be, and Lyra's words sent a sickening wave of dread pooling straight into my stomach.

“Don’t mind that stupid bit*h,” Rita said and looked around her. “Don’t you guys have work to do?” As soon as she said that everyone dispersed whispering around them.

“You told me you won’t go after her,” I said, moving towards her.

“but I said I will still confront her” she smirked looking at her palm.

Lyra suddenly paused at the doorway, she turned her head.

Her eyes locked on mine.

"Enjoy your victory while it lasts, Aurea."

A smile spread across her lips.

I went back to work after Rita and I parted ways. I walked over to the supply closet, gathered the cleaning tools and fresh linens I needed, and headed straight up to the master's wing. I pushed open the first heavy door, entering the space that belonged to Valerius.

I walked into the bedroom, and a familiar chill ran down my spin, the room was dimly lit, and the air felt incredibly heavy and thick with their cologne—almost as if they were standing right there in the room with me. Shivering, I forced myself to work quickly, finishing his room before moving across the hall to Vincenzo's quarters.

Since they are not in the estate, I didn't bother to knock. I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The layout was a mirror image of the other room, dark and imposing.

I set my cleaning caddy down on the floor and walked over to the massive bed, reaching down to smooth out the silken sheets. But I froze dead in my tracks.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood completely on end. A sudden, terrifying wave of hot air brushed against the sensitive skin of my neck, accompanied by the distinct, heavy scent of expensive cologne and cedarwood.

Before I could even scream, the heavy bedroom door behind me slammed shut, and the lock clicked into place.