BitterSweet

"Miss Juliet what about your baby?, If you leave her here those men will take her and use her for whatsoever they please".

Juliet ran faster upon hearing Theresa's words, not a tear rolled down her cheek, not even an ounce of regret was in her bones.

She grabbed the door handle, it would lead her out of this place, the light would kill her and her suffering would end.

"Let them take her, and do whatever they like".

She turned to Theresa one last time. "Look at that baby's eyes well, Theresa, it's the eyes of someone who will never give up."

Juliet crossed over, shutting the door behind her, a small smile on her face, the smell of freedom was better than she could have ever imagined.

And she was gone.

An anguished scream filled the hall, followed by the cries of a woman with a baby in her hand, one she didn't know what to do with.

Should she follow her mother's wish?

She kept the baby on the tiled floor of the hallway, doing a sign of the cross with her necklace as she looked up.

"There is no more time, please understand me".

She stuffed the necklace into her dress and walked towards the same door Juliet had just walked through.

She could already hear their footsteps, the Guardian's guards, patrolling the area. They would see the baby but they would see no owner, and history would repeat itself once again.

She took a deep breath, tears falling down her cheeks, "I hope your mother was right", She whispered one last time before disappearing forever".

Carruan Dessert. Present Time.

I held my chest as I coughed out an excessive amount of blood, cleaning it quickly so the people wouldn't notice.

They would call me sick and use me as their next meal.

"Genessa, Hurry!".

"Coming!", I said as I ran outside, taking in the fragrance of the sand one last time before I was shipped once again to what the men promised was 'my final destination '.

It sounded wrong, sure, but I knew it meant they wouldn't ship me off to new places anymore, and I could finally be somewhere I could call home.

"Are you done packing?", Mr John asked handing me some vegetables.

I nodded, my eyes focused on the green food in my hand, "What am I to use this for?"

He tilted his head, "Don't you like vegetables anymore, princess? Or have you just been pretending?"

A small laughter escaped me, "I didn't know you believed me, maybe I am good at this acting thing".

He shook his head, "I wouldn't say that princess, this old man's just gullible".

I tied the vegetables in a white nylon, placing them in the small purse I would be wearing around my neck.

They were fresh and ready to eat so they would be of great use once I was in the carriage, my journey was long after all, all the way to Marin.

"The carriage will come in the evening", Mr John added.

"It's already evening, though".

He nodded, "I know that, that's why I've started building up my tears. I hope you'll make me proud, princess, you were my first and last kid".

I placed a hand on my cheek, "I'm not sure about that, you and Miss Adeline have been real close lately. My only fear is I might just miss the wedding".

He smacked my head, "Adeline is a friend, who's even teaching you this nonsense?"

I giggled, "I know many alleged 'friends' who are suddenly married with two kids.

The sound of old wheels and a horse cut our conversation short, a bright red and golden carriage appearing before us, it looked quite ancient but one could see it held great value.

Mr John stepped out of the house, a disappointed smile on his face.

"My friend, you couldn't have come at a worse time".

The man in the carriage ignored his remarks, "Where is the girl?"

I pulled my bag over my shoulder, crossing the small brown purse over my head, as I cleaned my shoes one last time.

"I'm here", I said, stumbling towards the carriage as I held one shoe in my hand as I didn't want the white socks Mr John gave me to get dirty.

The man in the carriage jolted back a bit upon seeing me, then he turned to Mr John, "Did you cut her hair perhaps?"

Mr John shook his head, "Why do you ask, young lad?"

I held a strand of my hair, "This is my usual length, if anything it's grown longer".

He sighed all of a sudden, "Just get in the carriage".

I stepped in, the texture of the material warming my heart, all I had sat on for so long was bamboo beds and stone seats.

I looked at Mr John one last time as the horse neighed in readiness, "Goodbye", I waved.

It took him a second, but he waved back, and a tear dropped down his cheek.

The ride was long, longer than I had expected. Marin was far, yes, but it slowly began to feel like it was at the other side of the planet.

The driver looked at me for a split second, before his eyes returned to the road, "Are you to be a maid or someone's betrothed?"

"None".

"Then what are you?"

"I don't know".

He threw something at me without looking, from the noise it made I knew it was coins. "Don't deceive yourself, girl, you are a slave".

I adjusted myself on the seat, trying to come closer, "Why do you say that?, I have never been a slave anywhere I have gone".

He shook his head, "Well you haven't been to Marin, you are either getting married or serving a married couple, seeing as you have short hair it is surely the latter".

My hands traveled to my hair, it never really grew that much, and when it did, I cut it, I didn't have the money to take care of it.

The carriage came to a halt at a mansion painted blue, yellow, green, and a touch of white now and then.

The driver helped me out, though he wouldn't do the same when it came to my bags, he said I shouldn't let someone else touch my belongings.

A woman rushed out of the house before I could even look at it well enough.

She had a night gown on and there was a white flower in her hair, her heavy breathing as she ran implied she was greatly tired but she still kept going.

She fell towards me, her breathing much heavier now, as she held her dress with one hand for a reason I didn't know.

She looked at the driver, "You're a special soul, Corinth. I don't think anyone else would have done this for us".

Corinth stepped back into the carriage, "That shouldn't be thought, you should know it as a fact".

She giggled, "Yes, yes, there is no one like you. Now how much do I owe you?"

He didn't say a word and simply rode away, adding a silent 'Keep your money' once he was almost out of sight.

The lady's firm grip brought me back to my world, her long black hair, red lipstick, and a smile as vibrant as the sun, so these were the people of Marin.

What was so special about them?

She held both my arms tightly, "It's so nice to meet you, Mr John told me a lot about you and I do pray he wasn't wrong".

I blinked, "You know Mr John?"

She chuckled lightly like it wasn't a simple yes or no question.

"Of course I know him", she said, hitting my shoulder. "He's how I knew you were perfect for this job".

"What job?"

She showed me a small blue pendant in her hands. "My soulmate and I had a blue wedding yesterday, and today we get a maid".