“I cannot believe they ran out of towels and didn’t go back to get more. What’s worse is they don’t even remember which room they ran out in,” lamented Margret as she opened the door to exit the fifth room they had checked. Margret was in her late twenties with dark hair neatly pulled into a bun, wearing a simple long sleeve tan dress with an apron. The Burtons family crest embroidered onto her right sleeve, a crossed trumpet and staff over a shield.

Cassy followed slightly behind Margret, her light blonde hair pulled into a bun showing her elegant soft features while balancing a pile of clean towels on her forearms. She was eighteen, with light grey eyes, and wore the same attire as Margret. “It’s very frustrating, Ma’am,” she said, stepping through the doorway into the hallway.

*Cassy rolled her eyes internally, having to listen to Margrets complain about the other maids again.*

The walls were lined with dark wood panels that had intricate carvings telling of histories long forgotten. The vaulted ceiling seemed to stretch into the sky as sconces lined the wall, lighting the space. It was dimly light, with only half the wall sconces turned on.

“That’s right, and why are we the ones having to go around fixing it?” Margret closed the door for Cassy and continued on to the next room. She suddenly twitched her head before touching her right ear for a moment. She turned to Cassy, “Why don’t you wait here while I take a couple of towels into the next room, it will be faster if only one of us is going in and out of each room.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” *Finally, some quiet* thought, Cassy.

“Good.” Margret grabbed a pair of towels from the top of the stack, slipped them under her arm, and entered the next room, leaving Cassy in the hallway.

As she waited, the remaining sconces flickered on, and footsteps emanated from a nearby hallway. She frantically looked around, spotting an alcove in the wall. She hurried over to it and quietly slipped in. The alcove was large enough for two people to stand on either side, with space in between. She put her back against the side wall looking at the wall across from her, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. The footsteps grew closer before stopping.

A man stepped partially into the alcove. He looked to be around her age with neatly kept short dark hair and well-defined facial features with brown eyes formed into an ominous gaze that chilled to the bone. Cassy froze, feeling a blade pressed against her throat. The man spoke, "Your name, now."

"Cassandra Riley," she said shakily.

"How did you get in here? I sense no mark on you."

Cassy's mind began to race as the last several days flashed through her mind.

Four days ago

Cassy walked down the street, her blonde curls glowing in the sunset as streetlights lazily flicked on with a dim light that would slowly brighten as they warmed up. A warm spring breeze smelling of salt water blew past her. Jet flairs could be seen as shuttles descended from space to the spaceport just outside town. Her light makeup stained her soft features as tears ran uncontrollably down her cheeks.

She approached a small café and stepped inside. The familiar smell of coffee greeted her as Michelle, the café owner, looked up from behind the counter, "Welcome," she paused, "Cassy, are you okay?"

Cassy shook her head, failing to stifle a new stream of tears. Michelle's cheerful brown eyes saddened while she maintained a smile, "Take a seat. I'll have your favorite tea ready in a moment."

Cassy walked over to the corner table and sat down on the bench that partially surrounded it, setting her backpack next to her. A few minutes passed, and she slowly gained control of her emotions. Michelle came over to the table with two cups of tea. She was in her late 40s with graying brunette hair pulled into a ponytail.

Michelle set the cups on the table and sat in the chair across from Cassy, handing her a damp cloth and saying, "Your makeup is running. Why don't you wipe it off." She took a sip from her tea while Cassy wiped her face. Cassy sipped her tea slowly, the aroma and flavor of chamomile washing over her, calming her.

"My parents kicked me out tonight. They said I could live on my own and pay for myself now that I've graduated," said Cassy.

"That's terrible, dear. I never knew your parents could be so cruel. They always seemed so nice.”

"Emily cried while I packed my bag, begging my mom to let me stay." A new tear ran down Cassy’s cheek as she stifled more.

"Did they only let you have the backpack?"

"Yeah, my mom let me have a couple of changes of clothes, saying it would be enough for me to find a job, and she was going to give the rest to Emily, so she didn't have to buy her new ones."

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“Do you have any plans yet?”

“No, I thought I would figure it once I got here.”

Michelle contemplated something for a moment. "Why don't you stay at my house tonight? I've heard one of the mansions is looking for another housekeeper. I can go with you to inquire in the morning. I also have some clothes at home that should fit you, and I was about to donate them anyway."

Cassy showed a slight smile, "I would love to, thank you."

"Wonderful. Well, I intended to give you a piece of cake on the house to celebrate your graduation. If you'll excuse me, I'll go grab it."

Cassy nodded as Michelle fetched two pieces of cake, and they ate them together. After finishing the cakes, Michelle grabbed both plates and said, "Alright, now let's close up early, it doesn't look like anyone else is coming in tonight, and then we can celebrate your graduation properly."

The following day, Cassy unpacked her backpack and laid out the clothes she had. Michelle knocked on the door to her room. "Come in," said Cassy.

Michelle entered the room, noticing the clothes on the bed. She approached looking over the clothes, "Oh my, I don't see anything here that would work for an interview," She said before departing the room and coming back a few minutes later with a dress. "Here, try this on."

Cassy took the dress, put it on, and looked in the mirror. The dress fit like a glove and looked functional but still professional. "Perfect," said Michelle.

Later, Cassy and Michelle approached the mansion. They rang the intercom and were shown in by one of the guards. The estate sprawled over many acres, with gardens and outbuildings spread throughout. The air was filled with the scent of lavender, and bees buzzed happily around the flowers as groundskeepers went about tending to all the plants. They were shown down a stone path running along the driveway. The mansion slowly came into view through the trees, dominating the landscape like a castle.

They were taken to a side entrance and met with the head housekeeper, Mrs. Hopkins. After a brief discussion, Mrs. Hopkins smiled at Cassy, saying, "I think you will fit in wonderfully here. Provided, of course, you make it through a one-week trial. You can live in the servant's quarters during the week."

Cassy happily accepted the position before bidding Michelle farewell. Michelle hugged her and wished her luck.

Mrs. Hopkins gave Cassy a tour of the servant's area, which included a common room, dining room, kitchen, and several hallways that led down to private rooms for the staff. Mrs. Hopkins grabbed Cassy a dress and apron from a linen closet before heading down one of the hallways, "This will be your room," she said, stopping at one of the doors, "please change into your uniform and meet me back in the common room."

"Yes, Ma'am," said Cassy before entering the room and looking around. It was small, with a bed, a table with two chairs tucked against a wall, a wardrobe, and a bathroom and shower. Cassy placed her backpack next to the wardrobe, changed, and left.

When she returned to the common room, she saw Mrs. Hopkins sitting at a table next to a man. The room was large enough to accommodate around fifty people, with a few couches grouped together in different spots and tables dotted throughout the room. Cassy approached the table, and Mrs. Hopkins noticed her, motioning towards a chair, "Cassy, please take a seat. This is Mr. Grayson, the head of staff for the mansion. He is responsible for overseeing all the servants caring for the estate. Servants at this estate are separated into two groups, we, the house staff, are responsible for maintaining the grounds and buildings, while the other group serves the Burtons directly. The Burtons only allow their private staff around him," said Mrs. Hopkins, pausing momentarily.

Mr. Grayson began to speak, "While working at the estate, a special mark will be placed on your arm. This will allow the guards and other staff to identify who you are. Staff are given different marks depending on their position. Please hold out your right arm so that I may place the mark on it."

Cassy placed her right arm on the table in front of Mr. Grayson, who took out a grease pencil and drew something on her forearm before putting a finger in the middle of the mark and uttering something she couldn't understand. The grease marking absorbed into her skin before partially fading. Cassy examined her arm.

"Fascinating, isn't it, Ms. Riley? We will explain how it works in due time, but first, you must complete your evaluation period. I will leave you in Mrs. Hopkins's care for now," said Mr. Grayson before departing.

"Perfect. Let's get you started. I will have you working with Ms. Grant during your trial week," said Mrs. Hopkins.

Mrs. Hopkins led Cassy to a room in the mansion where a woman was cleaning, "Ms. Grant, this is Cassandra Riley. She will be joining us from today, and I would like you to train her."

Ms. Grant stopped what she was doing, approaching Cassy, "I would be delighted to. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Riley. I'm Margret Grant."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Grant."

"Perfect. I will be leaving the two of you now," said Mrs. Hopkins before departing the room.

"Alright, this room is about done, so there's not much you can do here. Did Mrs. Hopkins talk to you about the light?"

"No, she didn't."

"Very well," said Margret, returning to finish cleaning, "you may have already noticed that only half the lights in the mansion are kept on?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“All of them will only turn on if a member of the Burton family is nearby. If all the lights turn on, you will need to either leave the area or hide. If you're in a room, wait by the door. A member of the private staff will escort you out if they need to use the room. If you're in a hallway, you can leave, but if you can't, there are alcoves throughout the mansion that you can wait in for them to pass. Stand to one side facing the wall across from you, and don't look out unless directed. Usually, we have enough warning that it isn't an issue."

"How big is the family?"

“Five. We only have Lord Fletcher Burton, the second son of Duke Burton, living at the estate right now. The rest of the family lives off-world at their primary estate."

"Why do they have an estate here?"

"The Burtons are the heralds of the imperial throne, and Duke Burton is currently the acting steward to the throne in the emperor's absence. Usually, this estate is only used by the heralds when they are here to conduct business."

The rest of her memories became hazy as she felt slightly nauseous.