#writingblr

Even though she knew she should be sweeping the tenement’s yard, she did not even dare to try step outside. Perhaps she was a coward, or maybe just lazy. One way or another, she did not want to become a fresh meal for the undead. Not today. The quiet sweep of the broom was the only sound calling out through the room. Lily fell asleep surprisingly fast today and had no problem with breathing throughout the whole evening. She started thinking that maybe old Rosetta was actually right… maybe the girl would heal, and the medication would help. Maybe there would be a miracle, and the Gods would take pity upon her little, fading soul to get back her lost spark and prominent smile. Maybe it would help her again in surviving on this tormented land for another day.

After she’d finished sweeping the dirty wooden floor she made her way to the door at the back of the room, leading to Rosetta’s and Lily’s small bedroom. She gently pushed the door open, peeking inside through the soft crack. Lily’s chest rose up and fell down in a steady, soft rhythm, and Beth couldn’t help but smile at the sight, as the little girl looked almost identical right now to five months ago, when she was not yet sick. Even her face looked warmer today, with no paleness or faint green hue. She’d never been happier to see anyone this healthy. Despite the quite large age difference between the two, they had gotten impossibly close. Sneaking out to chase each other on the streets during daylight, playing with dolls inside when they couldn’t shut off their minds and go to sleep… When Beth was just sixteen and got into the factory for the first time, she’d either carve them out from wooden pieces she stole from the furnishing section, or, later on, sewed them from the tossed cloth pieces. Along with the spark from her eyes, the questions and pleas to play disappeared alonside with the first heavier fever and spat out blood drops. She could not tell if it was just life, or if the Gods were cruel enough to manage souls this way. There was not a night where she hadn’t begged for the sickness to take her instead, and let the kid live her life. She walked quietly to the bedside table and blew out the lantern standing there with a soft puff. The room was not entirely dark, the light of a dull fullmoon barged in through the thin curtains, making everything bask in blue light. Faint murmurs and low sounds drifted up from the street below, and Beth was simply glad she didn't have to be outside right now. To the undead, a full moon was like a playground to playful children, though their happines came from the taste of fresh blood and human flesh, not sharing toys and laughter. Her thoughts were occupied solely by poor Rosetta, who would likely spend the night in one of the factory’s cold rooms. At least, that was what she hoped... returning at this hour would be nothing short of idiotic.

After a last glance and making sure Lily was definitely safe, she closed the knotty door and walked over to the kitchennete. The dwelling was not large, quite the opposite. It was far too small for three people, let alone the weary travelers Rosetta welcomed in. She never turned anyone away, even though space was barely sufficient for herself, her daughter, and Beth, who she had taken in exactly three years ago. Today was the anniversary of the day she first set foot on this cursed floor. She took an old cloth with herself, slowly starting to wipe down the tabletop after the late dinner she and Lily had eaten, which she earlier forgot about. She sighed, fixing her gaze to the window, from which she could clearly see the night sky, full of various stars and constallations far away, illuminated by the bright moon… She had heard a little here and there about the study of the sky, but neither the children at the orphanage where she had once lived nor the women of Raimond were permitted to practice it. To her, the constellations were nothing more than signs to follow without straying from the Gods’ path.

After wiping down the countertop, she moved to the window and knelt down, resting her forehead against the sill. A small altar stood there, three simple candles, a doily she had woven herself, and her mother’s old necklace. It always reminded her of one of the goddess’s children, the warrior Tzillah, her favorite of the royal line. The noblest, the most worthy of the throne, and the most divine, that was how every song and prayer she heard described her. Her eyes closed and her hands clasped in prayer as only a soft whisper escaped her lips. Beth had always believed that to maintain a good relationship with any God, one had to keep it to oneself, deep within the heart, where no one could reach it or try to root it out. That was why she always kept the prayers to herself, even when Rosetta scoffed at her and Lily asked what she whispered about this time.

Her prayers were interrupted by a strange noise coming from the street below. She’d stopped for a second, listening in. As the sound got even louder she peeked from the windowsill, but couldn’t see anything through the thick fog… she could swear she heard horses, though. She immediately got up from the cold stone floor, blowing out every single candle not to draw attention. She felt her breath becoming shallow as she shut the window with a thud, rushing to put down the kitchen lantern and check the door, which turned out to be already locked. Royal troops rarely stationed in these parts of the kingdom. Rarely, or rather, almost never. In the three years she had lived in the tenement, she had encountered them only twice... and never this close. Not here, not on her street. They would have to sail here, cut through the hordes of undead by the shore and make their way to the city… it was not a problem for the royal knights, but they never bothered. They appeared by royal decree, not to protect the people from the creatures prowling the area, but to take disobedient or troublesome residents with them. Criminals or those coming from such families. The royal family couldn’t care less if you’d tried to escape your family’s fate. Once a criminal bloodline, always a criminal bloodline, like they said. To root out the evil that angered the queen, not the poor. She covered her mouth in agitation and slowly walked over back to then window. She watched them turn the corner, and in an instant, a fuss filled the street that made her struggle to even gather her thoughts. The armor of both the horses and the knights gleamed in the pale blue moonlight. A horse’s neigh echoed loudly through the narrow street, sending shivers down her spine.

Beth stood frozen as she realized they stopped by the tonement. Just by the entrance, sharing a few quick words before they got off their horses. The only person they could have been looking for was the old Ferdinand, who died two weeks ago of tuberculosis. Now, in the building there was only her, Lily and Rosetta, who was away in the factory. She rushed to the girl’s bedroom, running over to her bed.

“Lily… Lily, please wake up.” she whispered loudly, feeling her hands tremble as she tried to shake her out of sleep. “Hide, Lily, come on… to the pantry, now. Go.”

“What..? What’s happening?” Lily’s rasp voice answered, followed by a sharp cough.

“The troops are here, on… on horses. I don’t know what they are looking for.” she explained quickly, already dragging her out of bed. “You need to hide sweetie. Come on.”

She helped the girl up, wrapping her in a fluffy blanket and handing her one of the dolls. She knew it would be hard to explain to an eight-year-old what the army did to people like her, but she couldn't risk Lily meeting the same fate.

“There you go. Come on.” she urged, hearing footsteps already up the stairs. She opened the pantry door, giving the girl a gentle push on the back. “Don't come out until I say so, all right? And try not to cough.”

“But…”

“No “buts”, Lily. If… anything happens, don’t come out until mommy comes back, alright?” she ruffled her hair, sending a confident smile her way” I’ll take care of everything, don’t worry.

Before she could manage to choke out another word, one of the soldiers was already pounding on the door. She shut the pantry down, taking in a deep breath before shouting back loudly.

“Who comes calling at this hour?”

“Messengers for the nobility. Open the door, or we’ll break it down,” a deep male voice echoed from behind the door, making her close her eyes with a sigh.

She swallowed hard as she approached the counter. Reaching for a butter-stained knife, she answered in a trembling voice

“Are you looking for someone?”

“Sir Lockefeller is looking for a certain Beth Lannister. Do you happen to know where she might be?”

“No, my lord. There is no Beth Lannister in this area.” she replied, knowing full well that a nobleman’s messengers certainly weren't stupid enough to fall for her lies, or at least, not stupid enough to not check for themselves.

“Would you be so kind as to open the door, and perhaps offer some help or a drink? We promise not to be a nuisance and will leave the premises quickly.”

She knew the choice was simple. Either she surrendered herself to them and spared little Lily from potential harm, or she kept lying and put the child in danger. Anything in between would be foolish and pointless... which was precisely why she chose a third option. She clenched her fist around the butter knife, hiding it behind her back. She reached for the handle, hesitating... then quickly opened the door.

“What else do you gentlemen need?” She saw the eyes of one of the warriors widen. She winced at the sight, not just one or two guards, but five armed men clad in heavy metal from head to toe... she didn't stand a chance.

“Wait a minute...” the guard muttered, narrowing his eyes.

“It's her! Seize her, seize her!” the other shouted, pointing a finger at her.

“This... This must be some kind of misunderstanding, I...” she stammered, taking a step back.