Blessed by the Moon Goddess

Chapter 2

“Wake up girl, you’re late.” A man’s voice gruffed as my shoulder was violently shaken until I opened my eyes.

“What?” I murmur as I sit up trying to remember what’s going on.

“You’ll need to be up by seven every morning. Six if the Missus requires, but for now she said seven. You’re late.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” I stammer as I scramble out of bed.

“Don’t let it happen again,” he grunts as he leaves the room.

I quickly rake my fingers threw my hair to make it look a bit tamer, use the restroom, wash my face with cold water, and quickly go looking for Helga. I’m starting to think she’s in charge more than my capture. “There you are,” Helga huffed as she moved around the room. “The kids leave for school at seven, you are to be up and out of your room as soon as they leave, understand? You are not to interact with them, but you are to clean up after them. I need assistance in making this house functional. After the sixth kid, things became cumbersome for me, and now here we are on kid number nine.”

“As you wish, Ma’am,” I reply.

“I was pleased to see their rooms so well kept, I hope you continue your work,” Helga stated. “The more thorough the job, the better reward I will give you. Fail to complete the tasks in a timely manner, and there will be consequences.”

“I understand ma’am. Thank you for being fair,” I bow to her not knowing what else to do. “I completed the laundry, may I put it away before beginning the tasks?”

“Laundry is the least important. Look around us, this house is a damn mess, and their rooms need to be straightened again. Don’t get smart girly.”

“Sorry, ma’am. I get to the mess here first.” I quickly say. I bow to her once more and begin cleaning up all the toys and the kids' items tossed everywhere. There are even clothes and shoes on the floor and on the couch. It’s like a tornado came through seven different times. I’m confused about why she said she has nine children when I’ve only seen bedrooms for eight. Did one pass away?

I hate feeling like I’ve spent the whole day cleaning, but that’s exactly what I’ve done. I cleaned the main room, including the kitchen as the kids left everything everywhere. I met the cook who was washing the pans from breakfast and waiting for me to clear the table. She didn’t even spare me a glance, she just pointed to a sink full of soapy water for me to put the dirty dishes in and then pointed for me to leave the room.

Once I cleaned the main rooms, I went to the bedrooms, cleaned the rooms, made the beds, and lastly put the laundry away. Once I was finished with that, Helga had me clean the nursery, which included more laundry, emptying the diaper trash, and restocking all the supplies so everything was on hand when she changed the baby’s diapers. At four the children came home and I was sent to my corridor to continue washing laundry which now included clothes I never brought in here, so I’m not sure where I need to put them, but I can wash, dry, and fold them.

When it was time for the kids to go to bed, I was brought my meal by Helga. “Did you wash the extra clothes I brought down?”

“Yes, ma’am they are folded in the basket,” I reply.

“Good, I’ll bring you one more for the night, and you can leave them in the laundry room. Remember, I expect you out of your room as soon as the children leave for school.” Helga states before walking away. I can’t help but feel tired. I eat my dinner, set the dirty dish aside to be brought to the kitchen in the morning, and go to the laundry room to see what she’s brought me. It’s a basket of clothes and a basket of bed sheets. Ugh, I was hoping to get to sleep earlier tonight as I’m tired. I’m not used to cleaning this much.

As soon as all the laundry is completed and folded, I collapse into the bed exhausted. Now I know how my mom felt having to clean the house all day, I can’t imagine if I had to take care of the cooking and the children. Then again, my sister and I would never dare to trash the house like animals. It appears these kids don’t care, or are not told to clean up after themselves.

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Day three of living my worst nightmare… I managed to wake up in time to do as I was ordered to do, and cleaned the entire main floor within two hours, followed by a repeat of cleaning the children’s bedrooms and making their beds. As I’m finishing up with room number five, Helga meets me in the hallway. She holds up a bag, “shower supplies. Including a towel. Just because you are a worker doesn’t mean I want you to have poor hygiene.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” I reply taking the bag from her.

“Also, be sure to wash your clothing at least once a week, I don’t want you to become smelly, girl.” Helga orders.

“As you wish, ma’am.”

“Finish your work, then come speak with me.” She insists as she walks away. I complete the last two rooms, quickly bring the bag of supplies to my room, and then find her outside on the patio.

“Is there something I can do, ma’am?” I ask her nervously.

“Sit, relax.”

“Ma’am.”

“I’m sure my husband told you that you are to do as we say, which I do expect though you are young. I have been asking him for four years now to give me a helper, yet he kept telling me no. Then he brings you home, and claims that you are spoils of war.” I sit quietly not knowing what to say. “Did your Alpha trade you?”

“No ma’am,” I reply.

“How did my husband acquire you then?”

“My… My pack was defeated and killed. I ran away into a cave. Your husband found me there.” I admitted. It took everything to keep myself from balling my eyes out as I told her. “Everyone and everything I’ve ever known is gone. Now I’m here, I would like to do some more work, please. I don’t want to be idle for too long. May I wash the windows or something?”

“That will be fine, thank you,” Helga replied turning to look out over the yard.

I return inside, find cleaning supplies in the laundry room, and begin to clean the windows. The last thing I want is to get used to hanging out with Helga and then have it become a habit that is not allowed. I finish cleaning the windows just as I hear the children enter the house telling me it’s time to make myself invisible again. I wish I had a book or something to read to keep me occupied in the evenings. I return to the laundry room and wash the rags I used to clean the windows and dust. No sense in sitting idle. As the machine runs, I clean up the laundry room and get acquainted with how everything is set up.

The door to the laundry room opens just as I finish folding the rags and putting them away for next time. “Tomorrow, I would like you to clean the bed linens for the children. This should be done at least once a week, and if you haven’t noticed yet, my younger two sons need their sheets cleaned often as they tend to wet the bed still on occasion.”

“As you wish, ma’am. Thank you.” I reply as I take my plate from her. “Ma’am, may I make a small request?”

“What is it?”

“May I borrow a book from the library to read at night? I have always loved reading.”

“I will think about it. Perhaps I will reward you with a book,” Helga replied as she turned and left the room.

I took my dinner to my room and ate happily. Once I was finished eating, I put the shower things to use and took a shower. I’m not a fan of the soap I was giving but I am in no position to argue or complain. They are going to use shower supplies and books as a reward for working, I can only imagine what a punishment will be. The idea causes me to shudder as I get myself ready for bed. I wish I packed more clothes, but at least she permitted me to wash the three outfits I brought with me.