Page 143 of The Cannibal

42

THE POISONER

As if the fates themselves knew of my discovery—I was requested as an audience.

But not with whom I was expecting.

They let me change from my stained gown. They only let human maids dress me. Among them was my little friend Amelia.

She helped me into the corset, making sure the rows of laces were tightened and tucked accordingly. They pulled out a crimson walking suit, something practical but still with nice gatherings. I would be going somewhere outside the bounds of the home, surely.

“Do you know where I’m going?” I asked Amelia. The other maids shot glances to her in between their work collecting the old clothes and changing the linens.

“There’s a carriage outside,” she said simply, putting the skirt over my head and fastening the buttons around my waist.

“Who called for it?”

“We don’t know,” she sighed, holding the bodice up for my hands to go through, then fastening it in the back. “We were only given a short list of instructions.”

“Even the attire?”

“Yes.”

Now I had my suspicions. I waited for the other maids to leave before turning, grabbing Amelia’s shoulder gently. “What is the talk of the house?”

She looked frightened when I turned, her mouth opening, but she was pondering my question. “That you’re a cannibal?”

“Aside from that.” I gestured for her to hurry and go on.

“Uhm,” she swallowed, shaking her head as she combed her mind, “there is a lot of mixed opinions.”

“What of the other staff?”

“They don’t care much.”

I leaned back, surprised at the very least at the admission. “Not at all?”

“A little bothered they had to clear an icebox for a body, but working for Vipera households is always unpredictable. Some of them eat human meat, others only require the collection of blood, much like this one. The job has a gruesome nature, we know this.”

“Oh.” I straightened my back.

“You are quite a topic of discussion, but it only means you’re less of a threat than the rest. To the Hosts and humans, at least.” She shrugged.

“What do you hear from the Vipera?”

“Not as neutral of a stance.”

“As expected,” I mumbled.

“You have some loyalists, I see it in their lack of comments. But it’s unwise to say so at the moment. I wouldn’t count on them.” She held her hand out for my arm.

She tied a black ribbon around it.

“What is this?” I mumbled.

“With reactive Nest members, they must signify with a black or red band,” she mumbled, “for informed decisions of Hosts, but I guess this one is for everyone around you.”

I watched her little fingers tie the neat bow, the tails slightly curled as they dangled.