Odessa
I would have remained in my sober state, but my stomach was sending a whole different message to my brain.
Hunger isn't a new feeling for someone like me who has spent the entirety of her life in a slum… especially when the food the mayor provided was equivalent to poison.
The sun was slowly setting, leaving hues of crimson all over the broad sky. I went into the washroom for a quick shower and change of clothes.
Everything was entirely new to me. I now had a whole washroom all to myself… the closet was stacked up with clothes of different colors and materials of the finest brands..
I slid out of my clothes and dipped myself into the bath. If not for the rumbling cries from my belly, I would have sat in that tub for a little longer.
"Heaven knows if dinner is even ready…" I said to myself as I wiped my body with the towel and went into the room to change.
I picked out a black evening dress to complement my dark hair, and as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my smile widened.
"You are beautiful Odessa…" I whispered to myself and twirled around.. I quickly left the room and headed downstairs for dinner, but the table wasn't set and the aroma of food wasn't lingering in the corridors.
I rolled my eyes and strolled into the kitchen to see what was going on, and I met Annabeth..
"Hello there, Odessa…" she greeted and walked over to where I stood. There were other ladies of different ages in the kitchen as well – some, way older than the others.
"Good evening, everyone," I said and glanced at each one of them carefully.
"Good evening, miss," some responded while a few others made snide comments amongst themselves.
"Don't listen to them–" Annabeth muttered and held my arm. "Come, have a seat here," she said and pointed me towards a wooden chair, but I didn't want to sit… I wanted to do something.
"Do you need something, miss?" Annabeth inquired.
Not really, is there something to eat, please?
"ooh my lady, my apologises, the cook will make something for you" she hurriedly, went to set fire.
Never mind, Beth. I will do it myself.
"No, my lady, I don't think is okay, for you to do this." she said, worries visible in her tone.
"No, it's okay.." I persist
"I want to also make something for Marcel…" I blurted shamelessly, and they glanced at each other. "If you don't mind," I continued, and the cook stepped away from the pot she was stirring.
"We don't mind miss Odessa, please carry on" she said and I felt like an important person already. I took the pot down from the cooker and placed a clean one, filling it up with water and a stem of rosemary leaf.
Everything was going smoothly because I could still remember my sister's famous recipe from when she used to make dishes for me, and the outcome of the meal was spectacular.
"Someone pass me the coconut milk please!" I ordered and the chit chat ceased. Everyone paused and turned to look at me.
I turned to look at them, and they gave each other weird glances.
"We don't have any coconut milk here," Annabeth replied, and I lifted my brows.
"And why is that?" I asked.
"Well, the master –"
"Don't pay any attention to her Odessa…" Someone else interrupted, and I looked up at her. "She barely spends any time in the kitchen, so how would she know the ingredients we have and the ones we don't have?"
"Oh.." I replied softly, and the girl scurried off to the store room and returned a while layer with a new bottle of coconut milk.
"Thank you," I said and turned back to my pot. The soup was coming out wonderful as the scent filled the entire kitchen.
"Someone please serve the soup, I'll be waiting in the dining with Marcel.." I ordered and left immediately. I could hear them chuckling and muttering inaudible words as I walked away, but I couldn't care less.
Marcel was already seated by the time I walked in, and our eyes met for a millisecond.
"Welcome…" he said, and I replied with just a nod as I pulled out a seat at the far end of the table.
The food finally came, and as the lady served him, I watched through the corner of my eye as he savored the sweet aroma of the soup. I could see the glint in his eyes as they lit up and he picked up his cutlery immediately.
"I'm sure you'll address me better after this meal.." I thought to myself as I took a spoon of the soup and everything melted in my mouth.
Marcel took the first spoon, then another, and then another…
"This tastes like there's coconut in it.." he commented and I looked up from my bowl.
"It's my sister's recipe.." I replied, and he stopped eating.
"You made this?"
I nodded with a smile of confidence and satisfaction, but his expression changed. His brows furrowed, and he immediately dropped the spoon on his hand.
"Please tell me that there's no way you added something from a coconut into this…." He said as the depth of his voice grew deeper.
"I… I used some coconut milk. Did I do something wrong?" I asked and looked around without a clue of what was going on.
"Call the physician!" He ordered and I sprang up from my chair as I scurried off into the hallway. I bumped into Dahlia and she held my trembling hands.
"What's the ma–"
"Please call the physician!" I cried, and she darted off immediately.
"What have I done?" I muttered as I rushed back to the dining room but before I got there, his eyes has already grown heavy. His face was pale… my heart sank into my stomach.
"Please forgive me, Marcel…" I cried as my body quivered in fear.. "I didn't mean to cause you any harm."
"Just stop talking and get the bloody physician!" He growled, but before I could move an inch, Dahlia returned.
The physician followed behind her, and Aaron rushed in next.
"Step aside," Aaron said softly, and Marcel was carried into his room. I turned, and my eyes met with the girls from the kitchen…. Satisfaction was written all over their faces.