Virginia followed closely behind Angela as they walked through the long halls of the mansion. It seemed so much larger now that she was on the move and not just standing in the foyer.
Almost every room they passed was closed, so Virginia paid close attention to the numerous horrific paintings on the walls to keep track of her location. She recognized some of the artwork: Francisco Goya's "Saturn Devouring His Son," Pieter Bruegel the Elder's oil painting called "The Triumph of Death," and Henry Fuseli's "The Nightmare." However, many of the art pieces were new to her.
Virginia began to fall a bit further behind Angela as they ascended the stairs. There were many of them, and it felt like they'd already walked two miles to get where they were. Plus, she was carrying her bag with the books and other odds and ends. Not to mention the fact that Virginia was already emotionally drained from the morning's events.
It was amazing how Angela could be so composed while Virginia was nearly out of breath. She was even carrying the heavier bag! She must have been used to walking around the mansion, and perhaps her work kept her fit.
Virginia attended a barre class three times a week and did yoga daily, but she was struggling.
"The servants' rooms are on the second level in the East wing," Angela said.
Virginia nodded though Angela was in front of her and couldn't see her response.
So she was destined to be a servant then.
Virginia was glad to have some kind of answer as to what was going to happen to her. She supposed being a servant wasn't the worst thing. She would have to live with it for her family's sake.
When they finally reached the top of the stairs, Virginia saw that there were more historical items. A suit of armor, a couple of statues, a Chinese vase, and, of course, there were more paintings of vampires and gruesome battles.
The Prince's had to be the most wealthy person in the country to afford all of these precious, rare things. Virginia was sure most of these things should be in various museums all around the world. She wondered how the Princes were able to take them into their possession.
The Princes also had to be one of the oddest families Virginia had met. What was their obsession with the grotesque?
"It's all pretty amazing, right?" Angela asked.
Virginia didn't realize she had stopped and that Angela was waiting for her.
"Oh, yes" Virginia tore her eyes away from the historical treasures and caught back up to Angela.
As they continued down the hall, Virginia thought that Angela was very pretty. Considering their skin and eye color, Virginia thought that Angela and Charles could have been related somehow, but she thought their hair and general facial features were too different.
She tried not to stare, but she was intrigued by Angela's appearance. Angela casts a quick sideways glance at Virginia, but she didn't say anything. Nor did she look displeased.
"Here we are," Angela said kindly.
Virginia snapped out of her daze and joined Angela as she opened the door and walked into the room at the very end of the hall.
"This'll be your bedroom."
Virginia was amazed. The Princes must have treated their staff very well.
The room was large, just a bit bigger than her room back home. It had a massive, king-sized bed in the middle and very fine, expensive vintage furniture. It looked like, despite the fact that she was to be a servant, she would still have her own closet, her own dresser, her own vanity, and her own writing desk.
There was also a giant arched window that overlooked the mountainside.
Since they were on the East wing, the morning sun shone through the window and cast a glittery ray of light throughout the room. The scenery outside was straight out of some magnificent fantasy. Though she was fairly familiar with Meridian Valley's landscape, this was a new view.
The sun tossed shadows over the mountains, and the contrast between light and dark was so stark. Great boulders hung on the cliff sides, and tall, thin trees were spotted all over.
It was kind of mystical, and for a moment Virginia forgot that she'd just been taken away from her family not just a couple of hours ago.
"Before show you around, I'll have to take your phone." Angela said.
"What? Why?" Virginia asked. Her heart began to beat fast and reality sank back in.
She was alone, and now she wouldn't even be able to communicate with her sister.
Angela smiled sympathetically. "It's okay. You can still write letters. The no-phone thing is just a rule for all new staff. This is a prestigious family, after all."
Virginia reached into her coat pocket and grabbed her phone. She recalled the warning her father had given her, and even Charles told her to obey to avoid getting hurt. It was best to stay safe. She handed the phone to Angela.
"After some time they may let you have it back," Angela said, tucking the phone into her apron pocket.
Virginia stared down at the ground, trying not to panic.
"You don't need to be afraid," Angela said lightly. "As long as you do what you're told and heed my advice, you'll be just fine."
There it was again. Another warning. Virginia stiffened. She was beginning to feel more and more like she was in danger.
Angela must have noticed. "Just stay away from anyone who seems scary," she joked.
A flash of Charles' stern face and his cold demeanor flashed into Virginia's mind. She'd really only met Charles and Angela so far, and Angela seemed kind.
Virginia had, on the other hand, certainly been unsettled by Charles on numerous occasions already. Virginia laughed wryly. "So Mr. Prince then?"
"Ha," Angela laughed, "Which one?"
Virginia was confused. Maybe Angela was alluding to the fact that Charles had more than one personality. If there was some version of him that was scarier or more intense than what she'd already seen, Virginia wasn't sure she wanted to know about it at all.
After a moment of silence, Angela spoke up.
"Well, I'm sure you're very tired from your journey. Why don't you wash up and take a rest? I'll bring up some food for you later."
Virginia nodded and set her bag on the floor.
"The bathroom is behind that door there," Angela said, pointing across the room. "It's adjoining between your room and mine."
"Okay," Virginia said.
Angela turned to leave.
"Wait."
Angela swiveled around quickly. "Yes?"
"Will I be able to keep all my things?"
Virginia gestured to her bag on the floor.
Angela smiled. "Of course. Set your room up as you like."
She left the room then and Virginia was officially alone again. The room seemed to grow wider, and she felt the opposite of claustrophobic. She'd rather be locked in a closet than stranded in a giant room in a giant castle-like mansion.
Virginia took her time unpacking her belongings. There was no bookshelf, so she lined her books on the dresser and used the heavy globe that was already sitting there as a bookend.
All the drawers were in the dresser and nothing hung in the closet save a white robe, so there was plenty of space for her clothes. She wouldn't even have to worry about making room for the red gown.
She hung it up in the back of the closet just in case anyone decided to snoop around.
She wasn't sure what kind of things she could get in trouble for. Virginia thought that maybe if servants were not allowed to have phones that they wouldn't be able to have other nice, personal belongings either.
After she put her personal items in the bathroom, Virginia plopped down on the bed. The mattress was very firm, like it was brand new. The comforter was a heavy quilt.
There were several pillows on the bed. It really didn't feel like servant's quarters at all.
Virginia laid in bed and thought about her father, and how he betrayed his daughter for a wooden cross. She rested her hands across her abdomen and watched them rise and fall with each breath.
She thought about Janice, her sweet, loving sister. She already missed her and it probably had not been more than a few hours. Without her phone, she wasn't sure of the time. She looked around the room for a clock, but there wasn't one.
After some time, Angela delivered a tray of fruit and a sandwich. Virginia was not feeling hungry in the slightest, so the food did not look appetizing at all.
"Take the rest of the evening to get settled in. You will begin work in the morning," Angela said before taking off.
She came back a couple of hours later to pick up the tray and she found the fruit to have been picked over and the sandwich only nibbled on.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"No," Virginia said. "Thanks, but I don't think I'll be eating supper tonight. I think I'll get to bed early."
Angela nodded and left.
Virginia laid in bed under the covers and hoped that by not fighting the Princes she had guaranteed her family's safety. She still didn't totally understand what it was her father owed the Princes, but at that point she didn't think it mattered. She just needed to keep a level head and not let her guard down. She just needed to be obedient to guarantee her own safety.
She had a hard time relaxing and was so on edge, that she felt someone was watching her.
Every time she thought she was drifting off to sleep, she would jolt awake with the feeling that someone was standing over her bed.
Maybe, after a while, she would grow numb to all the worry and fear.