Fire Rain

A faint rumbling echoed in the castle’s corridor. The earthen keg hit the floor. Shards flew in all directions. Melissa stared at the mess on the floor. Just for a moment she followed the red liquid spreading over the tiles, like long spindly fingers grabbing everything in their way. Trying to reach her as well. Then she saw her distorted reflection. She flinched.

“What was that?”

The shout made the girl set into motion. She crouched quickly. Pain travelled up her knees. With shaking fingers she collected the smaller shards, placing them in the biggest. By building a tower of shards more of the sticky liquid sloshed on the floor.

Tears streamed down Melissa’s face, but no sobs came over her lips. With effort she pushed herself up again. The stack wobbled. Melissa moved her lips. Then she hissed. But the stack stood still.

“Where is the syrup? Maid!”

With the hem of the skirt sticking uncomfortably to her legs, Melissa rushed in the direction she had just come from. Her hands wrapped around the shards. When she discarded the red stained broken vessel in the garbage, she gave the shards an almost longing glance. The air was heavy with the approaching rain. Melissa took a few labored breaths.

“Why are you back?”

The girl flinched but didn’t turn around. Instead, she dropped her gaze and focused on her hands. The blood behind her temples throbbed uncomfortably, while the bleeding of her hands slowly stopped.

“Hey! I asked you why you are not in the kitchen? I sent you just a few minutes ago.”

Slowly, Melissa turned around, her gaze focused on the tips of her shoes.

“I got sent back. To throw something rotten.”

Her hands balled into the full black skirt.

“So, you have no more task? Then you will go to the laundry room. They need more hands today.”

Melissa froze. Then she felt the first raindrops on her head.

“Did you hear me? Go! Laundry.”

But despite the stern command, the girl couldn’t make her body obey.

“Girl! Do your work!”

Two hands touched her shoulder. There were two cries. Two people stumbled backwards. Melissa’s head shot up. Her eyes gleaming in a bright orange. Her wet cheeks flushed. The servant stared at her, shaking his head slowly. He took another step back.

“Please! Don’t. I will do as told. But …”

She shouldn’t finish her sentence as she saw the man open his mouth. Her heart pumped red hot pain through her veins. Sweat mixed with tears. She lifted her hands.

With wide eyes, Rollo stared at the girl’s hands. Where the raindrops hit, he could see blisters forming. He wanted to run but he was frozen in place. He opened his mouth.

“WITCH! WITCH IN THE CASTLE!”

He waited. His shout echoed in his mind. Others must have heard him. The girl in front of him was bathed in a red shimmer. She was breathing heavily. Some strands of her hair had come loose and floated in the air around her head.

Rollo listened but not even the faintest sound of footsteps or shouts reached him. Instead, the girl took a step in his direction. Rollo could feel a wave of warmth rushing over him. Her hands were still lifted.

“Help!”

His throat felt dry. He coughed. There was a taste of iron and ash in his mouth. He spat in her direction. Nothing left his mouth. He coughed again. The warmth had turned into heat. She had closed the distance and looked up. Her eyes were a bright red. Rollo shook his head.

“They’ll come. The Master will …”

“I’m so sorry.”

Her voice trembled and Rollo remembered the day the butler had introduced the new maids. Her small frame and downcast gaze had drawn his attention. With this picture in his mind, his breathing got labored. He barely registered her shaking apologies. The rain drenched his clothes. She was bathed in steam. Then she touched his cheek.

Heaving heavily Melissa leaned against the cold stone wall. Lightning and thunder rolled over the castle. Servants filled the corridors. Windows were barred with wooden panels. Candles and oil lamps needed to be lit. Nobody glanced in the girl’s direction. Water was dripping on the stone floor. Within a few minutes a small puddle had formed to her feet. Melissa didn’t register any of it. Instead, she stared at her hands. The cuts were completely gone. Not even faint scars were visible.

“It’s not a gift. It’s a curse, mother.”

It was a quiet whisper but it filled her head.

“Good God! What happened to you?”

Pressing her back further into the wall, Melissa looked up. Immediately, she could feel the heat rising. A hand stretched out and touched her forehead. A shiver ran down the girl’s spine. The hand was as cold as ice.

“Girl! You’re sick. Fredric, I take this one to the quarters. I’ll be back.”

“What are you talking about, Isrun! We need to …”

Grabbing her hand, the older maid pulled Melissa along, completely ignoring the head servant. The rhythm of their wooden soles followed the rain drumming against the window panels. A few times, Melissa tried to free herself from the woman’s grasp but instead it just tightened. The girl’s heat fought against the ice, which licked up from her wrist.

When they entered the servants’ quarters, they were almost dark. Roughly, Isrun let her go, shoving her towards the blocked window. Without moving the girl stared at the older servant handling the flint.

“Don’t just stand there! Undress!”

The tone was gruff. Melissa didn’t move. Behind her back, the wind pressed against the wooden panes. The cold draft creeping in through the cracks made the girl shiver. The room was finally dimly lit by the lamp. The other woman turned around.

“Undress! Now!”

The bark made Melissa shake her head. She mustn’t undress. Her own heat chased away the iciness in her body. She straightened her back. The other maid stepped forward. Isrun’s blue eyes pierced through Melissa. With the flick of her fingers, Melissa’s clothes vanished. A triumphant laugh won over the thunder.

“I knew it! Let me see your mark.”

Instinctively, Melissa’s hands had covered her left chest. Despite standing naked in front of the other woman, she couldn’t feel the cold wind anymore. Melissa felt herself smiling.

“Are you like me?”

This question just made the woman laugh coldly. Her eyes’ color intensified. There was crackling in the air. Melissa’s breath turned into white fog.

“Don’t kid yourself. I’m not like you.”

As Isrun took one step forward Melissa shrank back. Finally, the girl’s back was almost touching the wood.

“Now let me see, what you are!”

There was another thunder shaking the castle. Isrun snatched Melissa’s wrist and pulled. Lightning struck. The window panel burst. Water and wood rained over the two women. Thunder couldn’t drown Melissa’s cry. Isrun stumbled backwards.