Chapter 4 The Selection

I wore my uniform back on, putting on my worn out slippers as I walked out of my room and up the stairs to the hall where some maids stood, waiting for the head maid to come. I took my position in the line, my hand strapped behind my back. My eyes scanned the hall, watching the other maids race into the hall. We didn’t have to wait long when we heard the familiar footsteps of the head Maid, walking into the hall, but she wasn’t alone. She had walked in with two massive men and a lady. The three of them stood behind her while her eyes peered round the room. Taking her time, she carefully inspects each and every one of us, occasionally nodding her head and the lady behind her would jot down something on a piece of paper without any of them uttering a word. That was one of their gifts, they were able to communicate through their mind. You might be wondering, how did I know this. It was all thanks to Tatiana, I had no clue how she was able to know so much about them, but she did. It was like she was watching every move of them. I kept my head down like the rest of the maid, you could smell the tension in the air since none of the beast were saying anything. “ Heads up.” Madam Perrine ordered, and we complied, lifting our heads up. “ Like I told you yesterday, there will be a routine change done today.” She starts, her cold eyes scanning us as she paces up and down In front of us, both hands put at her back. “ Some of you would remain working here, going back to your old jobs. While the lucky few would be sent to the King’s Palace.” Lucky few! She can’t be serious, right? How is being sent to the King’s Palace an act of luck or any form of privilege. It was a death sentence to us humans because only a few make it past the first day before they end up being killed or killed themselves. So how could she stand there spitting those words to our face, like we should be grateful and gravel at their feet. Yet again, here was i screaming inwardly. My hand formed a fist behind my back and my jaw clenched. I looked back towards the head maid and found her glancing at me. Her eyes stayed on me for some time and I was sure I had ceased breathing. I could feel my palm being too sweaty, and I unclutched it, resisting the urge to rub it on my dress. She snapped her gaze away from me, looking back to the centre of the room, and she cleared her throat, preparing to speak again. “ We are yet to decide who will be going and who is to stay, but hopefully the decision will be made before the end of the day.” There was a small pause. “ Carry on with your work, and you would be called back when it’s time for the announcement to be made. You are all dismissed.” Just as she had come into the room, she left with the three beasts trailing behind her. The moment they were out of sight, there was another outbreak of conversation amongst the maids, and just like yesterday, I was left alone by myself. I stood there rooted in my spot, watching as the rest of the maids communicated with each other, expressing their fear of being chosen as a maid in the King’s Palace. Deciding it was best to have breakfast and start the day’s work, instead of pondering about where I would be assigned to or not. There were up to a thousand human maids in the Palace in general, so the chance of me getting picked would be 0000.01 percent. I have been here since birth and I never got picked, so I doubt I would now. The kitchen, like the hall room, was filled with chatters. The maids made guesses among themselves who was likely to get selected and who wasn’t. Like usual, I stayed out of it, not joining in their chatter while devouring the bread and tea given to us. Breakfast went by faster, so I carried on with my task for the day, not bothered about the routine. I am confident I won’t get selected. I was tasked to help assist in the kitchen for the day, which meant I was in charge of doing the dishes. I did the dishes while those in charge of cooking prepared food for the Royal, consisting mostly of meat. By the time I was done washing the plates, the cooks began making lunch, yet the talk about the King’s Palace still carried on “ I don’t think I would mind being taken to the King’s Palace.” One of the maids says, cutting the vegetables. “ Carrie’s cousin’s friend’s sister was assigned to the King’s Palace two years ago, and she won’t stop gushing to Carrie’s how handsome the king was. He has not only his kind, but also the female humans swooning after him, trying to get him to notice them.” “ I would be quiet if I were you.” The maid beside her says, nudging her shoulders. She points towards Saoirse, who was clearly listening in on their conversation. Her lips pursed down in a frown, a dead glare sent to the maid who had been talking. I rolled my eyes, looking at how dramatic and equally stupid she was being right now. It was obvious she was making a claim on the devil king when she wasn’t even certain if she would get selected or not. Not that I mind. At least if she does get chosen, then we wouldn’t have to worry about seeing her again. “ What appears to be amusing, Micaela.” Saoirse’s cold tone brought me out of my thoughts. I didn’t realize my lips were raised in a smirk, with the rest of the maids staring at me. “ no.....nothing.” I stuttered out, keeping my head down. That was who I was, a coward. I couldn’t stand up to myself, except rant about it in my head. “ Thought so.” She scoffed, sending the maid one last glare before storming out of the kitchen.