maid to mistress

I lay on a bed. Not my own I don't believe. It's softer, bouncier. But I am not in comfort. Above my head my arms are strapped to the headboard, tied with what I can assume is some form of silk ribbon or rope, either way it rubs against my wrists causing my flesh to become tender and sore. It's so dark, I cannot see a single thing . I start to struggle against the head board, fear erupting through my body. I shake the bedpost against the wall, wriggling my wrists in a hope of sliding them out of the restrains but it is of no use. The fabric is tied well and strong, the person who did this clearly knew what they were doing. A creak. A creak in the darkness to my left. A creak of what sounds like someone getting out of a chair. Clank. A foot against the wooden floor. Clank. Another a little closer. Clank. Clank .Clank. A dip in the mattress.  I panick further flaying my legs about in the darkness trying to fend off the mystery entity. Banging my arms harder against the bed post in despiration. A heavy pressure sits its self on my torso, trapping down my legs, restricting my movements. A man. Very clearly a man. I can tell from the muscular formation of his legs. I attempt to struggle further but his hands catch mine, pinning them stiffly against the frame. It's only now that I realise the true nature of my situation as I feel the bare flesh of his legs against mine. I am only in my undergarments that is certain. Fear continues to stream through me, my breathing rapid, theres nothing i can do. I am completely in this mans power.  He doesn't say a word,just leans his head down into the crook of my neck, his stiffend bulge pressing into my stomache. A wet tongue sweeps across my neck, taking in a taste of my fear and scent. Teasing his prey. I flinch at it's touch. Before I know it his free hand grabs a hold of my throat, beginning to squeeze. I cannot breathe! his grasp intensifies, yet my efforts to struggle only seem to amuse him as he lets out a satanic laugh. This is it, I'm going to die.  RIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGG My alarm sounds and I shoot up out of bed. That dream.That nightmare. It has plagued me for the last 2 weeks. Every night the same dream. The same near death experience that leaves my bed drenched in sweat each and every night. I don't know why. I don't know who the man is. All I know is that I always wake up the moment death should strike, gasping for breath only to realise that once again  it had only been a dream. I move to my wardrobe, pulling out a towel, underwear and simple dress before heading into the shower to remove the stench of sweat from my body. The hot water washing the feeling of the mans body from mine. Today is a big day. My older sister Eliza and myself are being drafted into the maid service of the palace. A job that although lacks glamour, will secure our family enough money to live comfortably off of for the next 30 odd years. Unfortunatley the village we live in is high in famine and low on cash, and so the royals created a scheme which would benefit both them and the poor. All those aged between 20 and 25 could be drafted to work within the palace as servants,they would work under the royal family until they are dismissed where they will be set up to be married and provided with a home and money, in return the family of the drafted would recieve a new home in a wealthier village,with enough money to help them live a middle classed life style.  Eliza being 21 and I myself 20 (as of last week), are now both old enough to join the draft. Whilst Eliza could have joined last year our parents were determined to keep us together until I was old enough. You must think our parents selfish for selling their children off to become servants but keeping us inpoverty would be much crueller I assure you and from what we've been told life in the palace isn't even that bad! The food is plentyfull, the beds are warm and most staff are discharged before they turn 30.  I remove myself from the shower, wrapping the towel around myself before going back into my bed room and changing. "Need any help with that corset?" Eliza smiles, entering the room.  "please, I'm useless at these things. you'd think 12 years in them would have taught me some kind of hack"  She laughs, and moves to me to ajust and tighten my corset, she of course already being dressed. Eliza was always the better put together sister. The pretty one. Her hair a sunkissed blonde, long and wavey yet smooth and soft. Her figure petite, with a small perky chest. Her legs long, any girl would envy her legs. Her skin, pale but complimented by rosey cheeks and cute little freckles upon her nose. ocean blue eyes that could sink ships. Every guy in the village lusted after her. I'm not jealous persay, it just sometimes I feel like I'm in her shadow, the runt. Unlike her I am shorter in stature and carry a little more weight. My hair whilst also long is a dark ginger, a colour which although i adored set me a part from most other kids in the village and so lead me to torment in school. My chest is much fuller and needs alot more support, yet my waist is 12inches smaller meaning getting clothes that actually hug my figure is difficult. My eyes are an uninteresting chocolate brown and my skin lacks any colour causing me to resemble that of a vampire or ghost. Mother tries to tell me that I am a unique kind of beautiful but isn't that just another term for ugly?  "There you go" Eliza says after securing the back of my corset, "you should really hurry up and get dressed, the coach comes to collect us in 20 minutes and mamma and papa want to say a propper goodby before we go". "I really don't see the point in getting all dressed up when they are just going to give us our maid outfits when we get there" I moan, grabbing the emerald green dress from my bed.  "It's important that we make a good impression upon arrival. If we look to present ourselves well, theres a better chance we can get a better job. And its not unheard of for the great lords to select mistresses from the royal waiting staff, I know I for one would nopt be opposed to living the life of a rich mistress."  "Honestly I couldn't think of anything worse, your life being dedicated to warming the bed of some rich snob." "As opposed to what? slaving away for the best years of your youth only to end up warming the bed of some man that the palace sets you up with?", she had a point, "I'm just saying, I'd rather get to the bed warming early in some lavish house where I have all the fine dresses I could want". So that was what she was really after, pretty dresses. It didn't suprise me in the slightest really, she's always wanted beautiful stuff, pretty dresses for a pretty girl. I have no hesitation that if a lord was  to go scouting for a mistress within the palace and saw her that she would be their first pick. Fortunately for me I'm more of a put my head down, do my work and make the most of what I've got already kind of girl. I'd be more than happy to get a gardening job. "I'll be out shortly " I said, gesturing for her to leave so I could properly dress. I pull on the green piece, it's ill fitting, being too large on the waist but it's the best I've got, My parent couldn't reall afford to get me a dress made to measure and non of us are strong when it comes to altering such heavy fabrics. I don't worry about makeup, I wasn't exactly hoping to impress anyone, and my hair is placed in one long braid. This is it. The last time I see my childhood bedroom, the last time I have any of my own belongings. After all it's forbiddent to take anything of our own other than sentitmental trinkets with us to the palace, afterall they would be providing us with everything we need anyway. The only item that will be staying with me is my great grandmothers necklace, the only item I hold of any value. It's a rare blue saphire encased in silver. I never met my great grandmother,when mother had been pregnant she died,but upon her death bed she had instructed my mother to give it to me, for I was 'special' and it would keep me safe. As soon as I was mature enough to be trusted with it, I was allowed to keep it, with the vow that I would never take it off. "Annabeth hurry up, the carriage will be here soon!"  "Coming Mum!" I rush down the stairs lifting the dress up to avoid tripping and straight into the kitchen to find my mother and father. They looked distraught, even with the fake smiles plastered across their faces. My mother immediately caught me in an embrace, holding tightly as though a gust of wind may blow me away at any moment. "It's not too late you knwo, we could change our mind Harold" she weeps to my father. "We all know that's not true, and besides remember Katherine that this it whats best for all of us. we cannot continue to live this lifestyle when we've been offered so much more. Look at our two beautiful daughters. A little hard labour and then they'll be set up with respectable and comfortable lives.Husbands and the chance to have a family outside of poverty" Speaks father, placing his hand on mothers shoulders. This only makes her hold me tighter. "Mother, father is right. It's whats best for us all" I reassure her, " we will be fine, do not worry." "yes ma, we shall write to you regularly and once discharged we can visit" Eliza says beaming with excitement. BANG BANG BANG.  A knock on the door. As though we were all one entity we take a deep breath, mother removes her arms from around me and we look to the door. It's time. BANG BANG BANG "Coming!" yells my father, as he approaches and opens the doors. A large burly man stands on the other side. He in no way sends off friendly vibes. "I'm here to collect Miss Eliza Cross and Miss Annabeth Cross, on the order of the King of Quenwall." His voice is low and groff. " Both girls must leave now and get into the carriage, no time for goodbyes. " We look at each other, taking in one anothers facs for the last time in what may be years. I want to hug them but It seems there's little time for that and so I take Eliza's hand, give my parents a reassuring smile and we leave to start our new job, our new life in this new and daunting world.