Chapter 127

Almara’s Pov

Robert approaches the steep steps once more while Bess and I hand back. He marches up the stairs with purpose and with even more determination than his ascend, he knocks on the door. Moments later the short man who escorted us away opens the door.

Bess and I stay crouched next to the steps, pressed against their siding so we can’t be seen. We listen as Robert asks Timmothy to step outside. At first hesitant, Robert persists.

Once we hear Timmothy walk down the steps, I slide around the curve of the stairs and very quickly and quietly catch the door before it closes.

“Come, look at this.” Robert ushes Timmothy further away from the building and sets his attention down the street. “Do you see how vacant these streets are. Well, do you?” Robert asks.

“I suppose.” Timmothy days, unsure of how to respond to Roberts heightened energy. Bess makes her way up the steps, just s Timmothy is about to turn back.

“Keep looking until you suppose for sure.” Robert urges.

“Okay, fine. The streets are not booming with liveliness though to be fair not much does in this town.” Timmothy says, clearly annoyed and just wanting to move on with his job.

“This is why the council must shorten their decision-making time. We want to build a business that will attract new comers and sustain original tenants-” The rest of Robets distraction gets cut off as Bess and I let the door softly shut behind us.

The hallway is eerily quiet. Yet again, it’s as though the portraits of the council men are staring down at us. Instinct tells me to stay low and have my hair cover my face, but once that string of red curls over my eye’s logic hits me. I don’t need to hide. I work here. The only people who need to not see us are the ones we’re imitating.

I stand taller as if I know what I’m doing. “We have to get to the kitchen.” Bess says, though it’s not her voice but rather the deep voice of some male I’ve never met.

We walk through the side door that Bess was led through earlier, seeing as though our only other option is through the big heavy doors that lead to the councilmen chambers.

We pass through that door and come to a cross roads. There’s a bit more noise filling the hallway now. It sounds like t quick movement of steel clanging against one another and muffled speaking. It must be the kitchen.

Bess nods her head towards the left and I nod in confirmation. I follow behind her step. As we walk down the hall, another servant turns a corner and comes into our view heading our way. When he reaches us he gives us a smile and murmurs a greeting, we respond the same.

We come up to the same corner that servant just turned from and pause. I slowly crank my neck out to get a glimpse at what lies around this turn, just in case one of the servants we’re pretending to be comes into view.

The only thing is are double swinging doors and a large black cuckoo clock. We only have about forty minutes left until the potion wears off. Between the walk here and the distraction, we’re down twenty minutes. This should be fine.

I turn my head and give Bess the signal that it’s clear. We continue on and approach the doors. Luckily there’s two circular windows on each door so we can peer inside. I lift my eyes to the windows and take a minute to make sense of what I’m seeing.

Just on the other side of these doors are about ten chefs speed-walking and zig-zagging over one another, shouting orders, and pointing at one another with butcher knives. When I look more closely at what’s on the grill, I’m almost certain it’s not any food that I would eat. My stomach gives a bit of a flip flop.

Perhaps I’ve lingered too long, because the door swings open and a chef is yelling in my face.

“Claire? Didn’t I just send you to deliver the plasma? What are you doing back here?” The man asking barely waits for an answer before he starts yelling again. “Well c’mon, don’t just stand there gawking at me. Where’s the juice?”

Unsure of how to answer any of his questions, I shake my head hoping any words might fall out. “I need another one.” I manage to what I manage to say.

“Those greedy bastards always need more, more, more!” I suppose I gave a good enough answer because the angry chef throws his arms up and disappears into the crowd, I suppose to get more of the plasma. I try to stand out of the way, but find that more challenging than I expected.

I look back through the window and see Bess, or well, the face of whoever she’s pretending to me but nevertheless the look is the same. She’s wondering what the heck I’m doing. I try to convey with the same facial expression that I have no idea.

“Here, here. Take it and go. Move quick like you just did, yeah? I don’t have time to be delivering drinks all night.” The angry chef is back and he’s shoving some metallic cup in my hand with a thick dark red liquid sloshing inside.

Despite the rising bile, I mutter a thanks and move back out the doors. At least we got something one of these sickos will put their mouth on.

“What happened?” Bess asks.

“I don’t know, but my name is Claire and I got us a drink. Now let’s go deliver it.” I say glancing back up at the clock. Just about thirty minutes to go.

We reach the tall double doors that lead to the chamber. Before we enter inside, Bess and I press our ears up against the thick wood, but can’t manage to hear a peep. I chew my bottom lip, we can only hope the real Claire and other servant aren’t in there now.

I push the door open a crack, but the heaviness requires a bit more force and when I give a more firm shove it causes me to spill some of the mysterious red liquid out of the cup and now it’s sliding down my hand. I’m disgusted to learn that whatever it is, it’s warm.

I fight the urge to wipe the liquid off my hand at the risk of having the door shut too loudly. We look through the crack and I don’t think I see any of the servants.

“Come in.” I hear one of the councilmen say. Shoot.

I give Bess a shrug and tell her to wait here to keep on look out. I open the doors the rest of the way and enter inside.

“Back again?” Delfino inquires with a raised eyebrow.

“I brought more plasma.” I say, remembering what the Chef called it.

“We didn’t order anymore.” Delfino says, already holding a class in his hand.

“Just in case.” I say, hoping they accept the new drink. “I can take the old glass if you’re finished with it.” I offer.

“I’m not.” Delfino says slurping from the glass in hand.

“Then I’ll leave this one here and come back to clean the empties later.” I say, not recognizing the voice that I’m speaking.

“Very well.” Delfino says and then with a sideways glance says to me, “Do give us more than thirty seconds to enjoy our drinks.” The others laugh and I nod.

I set the drink down on their desk and leave the room, hoping I only look like a good servant moving swiftly rather than desperate to get out of this room.

I let out a deep sigh when the door shuts behind me. Though he quick relief doesn’t last long as I notice Bess is missing.