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CHAPTER FOUR:

That night Chloe dreamed of cards and monsters and a mysterious old man with a mansion of suspicious creatures. As well a deadly assassin in a black robe. It may have been the weirdest thing yet, but she even believed she danced with the Monster King himself, after having reached out to her from that 100-point-card with his beautiful monstrous hands. She had went places she had never went before. And her dream seemed more bizarre than ever.

But it was only when the first ray of morning light leaked into her room did she awaken.

Chloe rubbed her brow. She shrugged away the sleepiness. Then grabbed her red velvet pillow in her hands. Her favorite, beloved pillow.

Slipping out of her bed, she proceeded to the black dresser of all her strangest items. A weird metal object. Some matches. Her childhood straw hat. Or even, she knew, her gray hoodie.

That wasn’t all the strange objects in her dresser, but she only needed her hoodie. It would be perfect. Perfect for breaking into Nicholas’s house.

She just couldn’t stand it.

Nicholas was hiding something. And she was going to figure out what it was.

How did she know that? Well, it seemed pretty obvious to her. The death-craving figure in the night. The mysterious animals. Nicholas’s manipulative attitude. The townsfolk had always been slightly suspicious of Nicholas, it seemed. Even Horacio was slightly suspicious, the great lord of Eldymartt.

She didn’t mean to sound rash or any of that sort, but she was going on a little adventure.

“Like a young raven gliding the night sky!” She sung to herself, sliding on her hoodie. “Into Od Mr. Nicholas’s mansion!”

Chloe clasped her hands together. She trudged forward, draped in her gray hoodie. She strode out of her room in swift strides, exiting the house.

 

Eric hammered a nail into the wood. He smiled to himself, staring at the house-in-process. It would look so beautiful when it was done. And Chloe would love it.

Several barks split the air.

“I’m coming, Frosty,” Eric shouted over his shoulder at his pet husky.

Turning around, he strode over to his dog tied to a pole. Frosty barked again, his blue eyes sparkling like glittering diamonds. Eric ran his fingers through the husky’s shaggy gray fur, relaxing at his touch.

“Good dog.” He stared off into the distance, then back to the house with a smile.

He could just imagine the house. Great and beautiful and strong; its looks more dazzling than ever. And he would use it for something in particular; something special.

Eric spun on his heel, proceeding further to his work.

And perhaps even at Creation’s Day, he could get some rather precious material. He smiled. Chloe would love the house.

 

Nicholas let out a cackle. He clutched the railing of the balcony, staring off into the distance as the wind played with his ghostly white hair. He grinned, eyes blazing. He could hardly wait. The growl of a wild beast echoed in the distance.

“Yes, I know.” He grinned wickedly. He eyed his black outfit, fitting so perfectly on his marvelous form. He threw his hands in the air.

“Behold, the wretched town of Eldymartt!” His eyes roiled in contempt. “Seriously, they couldn’t think of any cooler name for this town. The word Eldymartt doesn’t even sound cool; what a ridiculous name. They should’ve named this town after me: Nicholasia.”

He smirked, rolling his eyes. He cackled. May Lord Horacio fall to his death and have his blood made into wine! What a pig that man was, not even letting him rule the town. Nicholas was better than anyone in the world. And the people… they were such dirty grubs. He wished he could smash each one of them and throw them into a red hot frying pot!

A poor woman in ragged clothing approached, tears sliding down her face.

“What do you want?” Nicholas smirked. “Have you come to my magnificent mansion for help?”

The woman shook her head. “Please… my son. He’s dying. He has a disease.”

“A disease?” Nicholas smirked, placing his hands over his belly. “Please, tell me more.”

“I don’t have much to say, really.” She sniffed, her eyes full of hope. “It’s just… will you help me?”

Nicholas stared into her hopeful eyes, then spun on his heel without a second thought. “No.”

“B-but… he has a disease,” she begged.

“Yes, I know. I do not wish to have any part of this disease.” He cast a single glance over his shoulder. “As for your son, the poor do not deserve to live.”

Nicholas grinned, slamming the doors shut in her tear-stricken face. He didn’t have time for all the peasants of this town. There were much better things to occupy his mind with.

He clasped his hands together. “Servants, fetch me my thing! I have errands to do. Many, many errands.”

 

Chloe strode the town streets. She pulled her gray hoodie tight, walking quickly. People cast curious glances her way. She took in a deep breath. Nobody ever just kept a bunch of random animals in a mansion for no nothing.

And it didn’t take that long before she reached Nicholas’s sickly yellow mansion.

She sucked in a breath of air. Casting glances in all directions, she craned her neck to peer into one of the windows.

“Trespassing again?”

She spun around to meet the same figure enrobed in black, a hood concealing his face. “Yes, I am.”

“Really?” He purred. “And what for, may I ask?”

Chloe sought for the right words, then smiled as an answer exploded in her mind. “Uhh… for work.” She cleared her throat. “My visit to Nicholas’s house wasn’t as bad as I thought. And I’m a hard worker. I just thought I’d do Nicholas a favor.”

The dark figure went silent. “Really? Is that so?”

Chloe swallowed hard. “Yes, yes it is.”

He threw back the hood concealing his identity. “Then I accept your offer. I, Nicholas, am all too happy for your humble service.”

Chloe opened her mouth, then shut it. Her eyes flared. Nicholas was that creepy black-robed man. How could he…

“Yes, I know. I am full of surprises.” Nicholas smirked, his nose pointed slightly in the air. “As someone as magnificent as me always is.”

Chloe hid the disgust spread across her face with a smile. “T-then it’d be my pleasure to do you a service.”

“Of course it will.” Nicholas smirked. “Follow me, Miss Chloe.”

 

“Clean the walls here.” Nicholas pointed a finger. “And do it till is looks as if it has never been touched.”

Chloe shrugged. “Okay.”

She stopped herself from her rolling her eyes. This was really weird. But she didn’t complain. After all, it was her choice to come here.

Nicholas patted his silken red outfit. “Make it look as if it has never been touched. I am the most intelligent, beautiful, powerful being in the world. And I expect my mansion have a kingly touch to it.”

Chloe snorted. “Your mansion is painted an ugly yellow.”

Nicholas glared, but concealed his face with a slick smile. He rose a contemptuous eyebrow. “Chloe, I am no longer just your ‘neighbor’ anymore. I am your master. And as your master, you are to treat me like a royal human being. Now clean the walls!”

Nicholas crossed his frail old arms, and trod down the silver hall. Chloe stuck her tongue out at him from behind his back. She knew it was a childish thing to do, but she didn’t care that much. She plunged the sponge into the soapy water, pressing it against the walls.

Nicholas slammed the door shut, leaving her alone in the hall. Yes! She dropped the sponge in the blue pale. Then tiptoeing down the hall, she carried the pal carefully with her. Now… where were those animals? She cast a glance at the flickering lanterns above, then strode forward.

A loud screech echoed in the distance. Chloe narrowed her eyes. Was that a parrot or what?

“Need some help there?”

Chloe spun around to spot a young woman in a vibrant red dress. Her skin was tanned, eyes quite green, and her hair very black. Her mouth formed an ‘O.’ That was one of the Nameless Daughters.

“No, no, thank you…” Chloe forced a smile. “I’m just doing Nicholas a favor.”

The Nameless Daughter rose a black eyebrow. “Is that so?” She circled her with that hawk-like gaze. “I see.”

Chloe cast a glance down at the sponge in her pal. “Well, I guess I’d better be getting to my work.”

“Indeed.” She smiled, her lips slick and soft and as red as blood. “I’ll be going now.”

The Nameless Daughter eyed her, trotting down the hall in swift strides; vanishing from sight.

Chloe sucked in a deep breath, then strode forward. Where were those animals? A strange cackle-like growl filled the distance. She narrowed her eyes even more. What was that?!

Running silently down the silver hall, she came to an abrupt stop at a door. Another growl filled the distance. She pressed her ear against a wall. Yep, it must have been coming from within there. She didn’t mean to sound too nosy, but she was about too…

The door flung open!

Right in front of her was yet another of the Nameless Daughters. This was the ginger-haired one, her eyes roiling in venom.

“I thought I heard something.” She grinned. “Did someone collapse?”

Chloe cast a glance around. “Uhh, no.”

“Oh come on!” The Nameless Daughter rolled her silver eyes. “That would have been so funny!” Her voice fell, pointing a finger. “What is that?”

Chloe glanced at the wall. The Nameless Daughter kicked her leg. She collapsed to the ground with a scream, the pal of water soaking her dress. She immediately grabbed the pal, jumping to her feet.

“Now that was funny.” She grinned, slamming the door shut in her face.

Chloe scowled. “You mischievous serpent.”

“Oh my nature, did you soak that dress!”

Another of the Nameless Daughters?! Chloe studied the girl, who was now right in her personal space. “I’m sorry, I accidentally─”

“Look at this.” The Nameless Daughter yanked at Chloe’s thick black hair. “What a mess!”

She let out a scream as the Nameless Daughter cast her to the silver floor and poured the rest of the pal on her back! She gasped at the cold water over her skin. She thrust her chin upward, glaring at the Nameless Daughter. Somewhat shocked, she could only glare as the Nameless Daughter distanced herself.

“It was so very nice meeting you.” The Nameless Daughter trod away. “Now meet the wrath of my sister.”

She staggered to her feet, gasping and leaning unstably against the wall.

“You!” screamed madly the Nameless Daughter who had the blonde hair, glowering at her with those salty sea blue eyes. “I’m going to kill you!”

The Nameless Daughter charged. Chloe stood her ground. She wasn’t about to be hit again. But to her dismay, that was exactly what happened. That Nameless Daughter was the stormiest of them all. And she could hardly keep that dangerous woman from ramming into her abdomen.

Again, Chloe met the cold surface of the gloomy hall. Shocked with the hostility of it all, she clenched her teeth and staggered to her feet… just to be kicked in the back! She let out a scream, pain clawing at her back.

“Die!” the Nameless Daughter punched her in the jaw.

Chloe fell to the floor, her eyes rolling into her head. Stop, you idiot daughters!

She cast a glance up at the lanterns lighting the room, putting a finger to the blood on her lips. Anger boiled within her. She attempted a move, aches covering her back. The Nameless Daughter approached her with arms crossed. And then all went black.

 

Chloe’s eyes flashed open. She moaned, leaning forward from a soft yellow bed in a rosy pink room. The floors were covered in vibrant colors. A vase of sunflowers stood near a round window, the sun’s light leaking into the room.

“Hello, Miss Chloe.” Nicholas approached her, wearing his elegant red silk. “You look quite pretty in that little white gown, don’t you?”

Her eyes shriveled in anger. “You let this happen.”

He sighed. “It was a test─and you failed it.” He clasped his hands together. “My first granddaughter that met you, the one in the red dress, is very good at recognizing people’s motives. It appears that you came not to help, yet to spy. Tell me, what were you spying on?”

“I don’t know.” She glared. “It seems that something is going on here. Not trying to sound like a little nosy girl, but honestly, you could probably do a better job at hiding those animals.”

Nicholas straightened. “Ahah! Rumors, rumors, rumors. Suspicions, suspicions, suspicions. It appears that even Lord Horacio is slightly suspicions, now, isn’t he?” He eyed her, almost thoughtfully. “The animals are no secret to be kept, well, until Creation’s Day. Your naughtiness requires a punishment, but I will give you another chance. You can either work for me, or, you can be sent to prison. Allison would not be pleased with you if you were to go to prison, young woman.”

Chloe opened her mouth, then shut it. “You most certainly have a secretive presence about you.”

“And that is none of your business, foolish girl.” He crossed his frail old arms. “Are you planning on continuing your job here, Miss Chloe?”

Chloe went silent.

“Are you?” Nicholas urged.

“Yes!” She blurted out the answer. “At least I’ll be getting some of your precious gold.”

“Yes, you will be.” Mischief glittered in Nicholas’s eyes. “I look forward to seeing your pretty face around. It’s so pretty, in fact, I want you to take a look at yourself in the mirror.”

Nicholas gestured to a shiny round mirror at the end of her bed. Chloe gasped. Her lip was split, her face bruised. Her dress was soaked. Aches covered her back.

“Goodbye.” Nicholas strode out of the room.

Chloe’s jaw dropped. She put a hand to her forehead. What had she done? She shook her head, trying to clear it all away.

Wait, what was she to tell her parents? The realization struck her sudden and cold. Why had she been so impulsive… and stupid.

She covered her face in her hands.

 

Chloe walked the town streets, the dreaded thoughts nagging at her mind.

But also another thought as well: Creation’s Day and Nicholas.

What were those animal really for? She didn’t know.

 

“Chloe, what happened to your face?!” screamed Allison the moment she entered the house.

“Sorry, I fell.” Chloe paused. “But it’s not that bad.”

“I hope not.”

“Allison,” Chloe said, “there is something I need to tell you. I have decided to…”

“To what?” Allison slid the mop across the floor. “What have you decided? What is it? Is it good?”

“Well, let’s just say I kinda got a job at Nicholas’s house.”

Allison fell silent. She cleared her throat. “What did you just say?”