Woodchoppers Secret

Chapter Seven | Experience

"No, I do not like it, this is a gathering. The suitor likes black. Get her a dress in black." Here, I was, one week later and it was already Monday. My soon to be husband is on his way to engage me, did I care? No, not really. I had slightly given up. My books. Gone. My hope. Lost. My one free way out of here. Deprived. My mother was right, I am a nuisance to other people.

I just still do not understand why he got so offended; all I did was clean. Maybe it was a boundary I should not have over stepped but that was so unhygienic. After settling in a black dress that reveals my shoulder, my mother helps me slip on some black gloves as she ties my hair into a tight bun.

I stare at someone who was not me in the mirror, I do not recognise this half given up person. "Alright, I shall meet you downstairs in fifteen minutes." I nod my head, everyone leaves the room, allowing me deprived in my very own attacking thoughts. The dress, reaching the ground, tight around my waist. I slip over my hat and pace out of the room, two of my handmaidens joined behind me informing me all about the old man.

I stood, in front of the golden doors once again for the hundredths time. I nod to the door openers as the slowly push open both doors, what I expected to be an old man, with a huge stomach was wrong. I was only revealed me to a man. Who stood tall, not the fat chunky type? No. Instead he stood as if he owns the place, he held such power but I knew this man loves his money.

"Princess Anastasia." He whispers, though he was good looking. His olive was not what I was used to. Axe's voice was deep, raspy and secretive. His was boring and plain.

"Lord Clark, how do you do?" My mother and sisters sat on the end of the hallway as Clark pulls open a chair for me to sit on. The maid pours us both some tea as I cross my legs to the side.

"Very well, better knowing you are going to my property sooner or later." He chuckles, I stay silent knowing if I said anything, my mother would do a lot worse than slap me. "How about you? I hope you are not fooling around with men."

"I hope the same to you, Lord Clark."

"It does not matter what I do, you are a woman, that is different. Women stay virgins until they are married." I pick up my tea cup and take a slight sip before knowing it needed a lot of sugar.

"Is it now? Lord Clark, are you for a virgin?"

"Anastasia!" My mother slams her hands onto the table as she shoots up from the chair beneath her.

"Well, Lord Clark. Are you?" I settle my cup of tea onto the table as his gleaming brown eyes dispense into my own.

"How dare you?" He slurs.

"How dare I what? I am simply returning the question you have wanted to ask." Lord Clark fixes his tie and stands up.

"I do not want to marry a woman with such disobedience, I should have known Princess Malissa was a better fit."

My mother tires to persuade him to stay, and how it was all a misunderstanding. I knew I stepped over a line. I knew what was about to come my way, my mother pulls me out of my own seat and drag me into the hallway. I fall behind her, unable to keep to her speed. Her hands digging into my forearm.

"One hour, one hour!" She shouts dragging me down to the cellar in the staff hallway, I gasp at the pain urging through my skin. We pass some of our staff workers, the maids who has known me since I was a child stare at me with disbelief.

Then my eyes caught onto his, emerald green. His eyes were the hue of the new spring growth, bright and soft all at once. There were flecks of strength, of the kind of green that comes only as summer advances. His curly black hair was shifted to the side as he held the log over his shoulder, his hands covered with gloves.

He looks surprised.

"You are a disgrace; I cannot believe this anymore. You will stay down here, and no one! No one will open this door otherwise I will behead you all!" His eyes had some sort of worry as she pulls open the cellar door. I grab onto her hands begging her with my eyes to stop but instead she threw me inside and locked the door. I bang onto the door, feeling the air closing in. Tight spaces were never my best friend.

I feel tears brimming my eyes as I slap my head against the palm of my hands, it was dark. I was scared of the dark, not even moonlight. "Anastasia, darling are you okay?"

"It was not my fault Lauren, I promise."

"I know, it's okay Ana, I am right here, just on the other side of the door alright."

"It is cold down here Lauren," I whisper rubbing my forearms with my bare hands to produce me an ounce of heat.

"I will try slip you a blanket from underneath the door, are you hungry child? I am going to get you something to nibble on." I rest my head against the door, my eyes slowly closing as I try to rub faster.

The cellar was always cold, since I was a child. I should be used to it but it was as if, every new year, the temperature rises. Lauren tried to slip a blanket but the space was between the floor and the door were too tight. She could only slip past some breath, thin bread.

I still thanked her for her effort but told her to go after she told me it has been a few hours; my mother was going to make me sleep here. Like she always does. Smoke is leaving my mouth; I stay in the corner of the opening door. I try to sleep; I try but nothing works.

Instead, the only see of light was the from underneath the door, I wipe my tears from underneath my eyes and stare at the darkness in front of me, allowing it to suck me in. Then I hear a body slide down the door. "Who is there?"

"I'm sorry, about last night. I did not mean to-I am not used to having women in my house, I like to do things myself and not have people do it for me." He whispers.

"I should apologise, I should not have overstepped the line."

"Why does she treat you like this?" His deep occurring voice whispers, not wanting to get caught.

"I wish I could answer that question myself."

"You are a good person Anisa."

"Anastasia."

"I wish I could tell you to back yourself up and be strong but you would lose your job and then it would all be on me. I should get going, I will check up on you tomorrow." My eyes widen, as I press my hands against the door.

"No, please do not leave me...not alone..." I murmur, pressing my forehead in contradiction of the door. Begging, hoping he would stay. I cannot do this again.

"I will stay until you sleep." He releases after a short while; I sigh in relief and nod my head knowing he would not see.

"How old are you?" I ask, wanting to make some short talk.

"Twenty-six, and yourself?"

"Twenty-one, you are old."

"You think twenty-six is old?"

"When I was ten you were fifteen."

"And?"

"Are you a June baby?"

"No, born on Second march, nineteen fifty."

"Married?"

"Most likely single, since I like being alone."

"As do I, I do not think it is a very well habit."

"You know what I would do if I were ever to be Queen?" I mumble, playing around with my fingers.

"What?"

"Free education, stopping poverty, removing children from the streets and paying workers so much more than seventy coins an hour, provide healthy water and food."

"I think you would be an amazing Queen." Those words, those words right there sparked something in my heart. Something that has not been touched. I feel myself blush along with a smile as I look away.

"Thank you, what is something you have always wanted to do?"

"Study, all my life my father has educated me, I never had a single privilege, never. You?"

"Run away, I hate it here. I am always put down, always abused and always-you should go Axe."

"Matias." My head lifted up from the ground.

"What?"

"My name is Matias, come to my cabin anytime Aniyah, when you do not feel safe." I hear him shuffling to stand up as I close my eyes.

"Goodnight Mario."

"Matias." He chuckles back.