Odessa
"Don't panic dear…" Dahlia's calm voice seeped into my head, breaking me out of the chaos going on in my head. "This has happened once, but as long as he gets his medication, he'll be alright."
"When was the last time something like this happened to him?" I asked, and she looked away.
"It's been years, Odessa, but you have absolutely nothing to worry about. It's not your fault.." Dahlia pressed further.
"That's the problem, Dahlia –" I blurted. "It was my fault.
"I prepared the meal, I'm responsible for triggering his allergy."
"I should have listened and focused on what I was asked to do, now I made it worse."
Dahlia took a deep breath and patted my shoulder softly. "Sir Edgar will be alright, just calm down, and no need to beat yourself up," she persuaded.
I swallowed the huge lump in my throat and nodded softly. Dahlia left, but my body refused to calm down. I paced from one end of the hallway to the other, biting my lower lip and fiddling with my fingers as beads of sweat covered my entire face…
"Please God…" I muttered silently. "Let nothing happen to him."
I kept watching his door to see when the physician or Aaron would come outside, but it was taking longer than usual, and my patience was wearing thin.
After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open and Aaron walked out, gently shutting the door behind him.
"Is he alright?" I asked as I rushed to him.
"The master is doing fine," he responded, smiling at me.
He'll be up and about in a few days, the physician says he needs all the rest he can get." Aaron replied calmly, and my entire body settled.
I felt relieved, and a soft sigh escaped my slightly parted lips. Aaron made to leave, but I gently tugged at his shirt, pulling him to a halt.
"Can I go in now?" I asked, focusing my eyes on his face.
"You'll get to see him later, please allow him to get some rest like the physician said," Aaron shot back, and I quickly folded my arms behind me. "I need to get something for the physician… excuse me"
He bobbed his head slightly and trudged off, leaving me flushed with the embarrassment of being told 'no' in such a manner.
"Well, he's okay.. that's all that matters," I reassured myself. All my appetite had been lost already, and I clearly wasn't in the mood for any meal.
Taking one more glance at Marcel's door, I sighed softly and left for my room. This was far from what I had pictured my evening to be, so the moment I got into my room, I quickly changed into a more comfortable dress, picked up a book from the floating shelf by the headboard, and sank into the sofa.
"The days Mel and I used to sneak out to learn how to write and read have finally come in handy," I thought as I stared at the cover of the book.
I flipped the pages, reading the words silently and carefully because my hands were still trembling from what happened with Marcel, and my words were slurring.
"Miss Odessa…" a firm voice called from outside my door, and I pinched the space between my brows because the last thing I need now is anyone in my room.
"Coming!" I announced as I dragged my legs reluctantly to the door. "Can I help you?" I asked dryly, and the lady lifted the tray in her hands for me to see.
"I noticed you barely touched your dinner, so I went out of my way to make you a little snack.." she replied, and I moved my eyes around the contents of the tray.
My stomach grumbled as the sweet smell of pie went up my nostrils.
"Thank you.." I replied calmly and tried to take the tray away from her, but she let herself in, slightly brushing against me, and placed the tray on the little stool in front of the dressing mirror.
"What a beautiful room you have here…" she started and spun around, taking note of every detail of the room while I stood by the door, glaring at her with confusion written on my face.
"Is there something else you need?" I asked, and the lady stopped looking around. "I need to be left alone.."
"Look, I'm so sorry for being part of the perpetrators of that prank…" she replied, and I rolled my eyes as I folded my arms over my chest.
"A prank? It was just a prank to you all? You all put Marcel's life in danger, and you called that a prank?" I snapped.
"I didn't know this would be the outcome we were taught never to include or serve him anything made from or with a coconut. I have never actually seen him in this state, which is why we didn't think twice before pulling such a prank.."
"What's your name?" I asked.
"It doesn't matter, Miss Odessa –" she replied, and I lifted my brows in shock. "I'm here to apologize, I'll do whatever it takes to compensate you. You're his favorite and clearly special to Master– I wouldn't want to be on your bad side.."
"Apology accepted…" I blurted.. "But it better not repeat itself," I commanded, and it felt so good to have this much authority for the very first time in my whole life.
"Thank you so much. I'll return to my duty post, I hope you enjoy the snack… and if you need any tips on making up for the master's condition, I can help you with a few ideas.." she said and left.
I picked up a plate from the tray, cut out a piece from the pie, and slowly stuffed my face with it. My body was yet to recover from what I just experienced because the more I thought of his pale face and drowning eyes, images of my sister dying in my arms came flooding my mind.
The pie was delicious, but I needed fresh air. So I picked up a night robe from the wardrobe and headed downstairs towards the garden. I sat on the bench and swung my legs back and forth, reveling in the sweet scent of the environment.
The air was clean and breathable – unlike that slum where I used to live. Everything reeked of both alcohol and rotten food.
"Restless?" A familiar voice echoed, and I turned to see the lady from earlier.
"Mmmh.. a bit," I responded as I adjusted for her to sit. Her dark, bold eyes rolled around as she took a seat, and I folded my arms underneath my robe.
"He never lets anyone close to his mother… your role is a new one. Are you truly special?.
A part of me felt high and mighty, but I pursed my lips and swallowed my words.
"I guess so.." I replied, and she chuckled softly.
"Master will be upset by the time he recovers.. You have to do something to make him less angry when he eventually gets better." I tilted my head towards my left and squinted my eyes.
"You think so?" I asked and she nodded.
I tried to think of something that might make him happy.
"I barely know anything about him, let alone what he likes," I thought as I sighed heavily."
"I know you don't have any ideas, and so I'm here to help."
"And why would you help me?" I asked and glared at her expressionless face.
"I watched you fall into a trap that would have cost our master his life… it is only wise if I do this to atone for mine and my sisters' mistake.." she replied, I stared at her for a while, contemplating the risks in taking advice from her but then what harm could she possibly cause her master?
"Alright then," I finally replied.. "Let me hear it."