74
MAYA.
“But there is surely going to be a catch. We are going to keep our identity hidden. Yes it’s going to be very hard, but that will be very crucial. This place is a very big place and you don’t know who is who. There could be someone from our Pack who could be here, and they won’t be hesitant to report us to the authorities in a heartbeat. I’m sure nobody wants that to happen.” I cautioned, not liking the fact that I would be hiding my true self for a whole week.
It would be really hard becoming a new person in such a short space of time. But I was ready for all of it. She raised an eyebrow at me and folded her arms across her chest.
“That’s a very good idea but there is another catch.” She said with a hopeless tone in her voice. “You should know that maids are handpicked. They don’t don’t select maids. Just like guards, they do a thorough background check. And I’m sure we will be questioned.” She said, already seeming to feel a foreboding from the onset.
“I know it’s a risk, but we are going to do something about it. We are not just going to sit back and watch. We have a mission here and we aren’t leaving until we are done with it.” I said, hoping she would put off the act and agree with me.
“Besides, we can’t just walk into the Packhouse and demand answers. We need to blend in with everyone else before we can gather the information that we need.” I finished. She nodded.
“But if that’s going to happen, then we are also going to be spending some time here. Blending in won’t just take some hours or days. At least, it’s going to take weeks. And that’s not the scheduled time we agreed on. It has to be fast.” She said.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
“Fast? I’d rather have it slow and not die, Tianna. Perhaps if we take it slowly, we will be able to know a lot of things. I understand what you’re saying, but I’m not being pessimistic. I’m just talking about what could possibly go wrong. The odds are stacked against us, and if we must go to this mission with the assurance that we will get out of it, then we need to answer every question about every odd we could possibly face. If that is done, we will be prepared for different scenarios that we might face.” She said. She had a very valid point, but at the same time we had to look at the bright side of things which she wasn’t doing.
“We are going to be really careful, Tianna. We will create new identities if that’s the case and new stories also. We will be no one important, just two ordinary maids trying to make a living.” I finished. She shook her head and I noticed her eyes were still filled with worry.
“It’s not that simple. The Packhouse is full of secrets and we’re probably not the only ones looking for answers. I won’t be surprised if we run into someone who recognises us.” I took a deep breath. The things she said even fueled my determination the more.
“It’s ok if you don’t want to continue this mission. I can do this on my own.” I said, already getting pissed off by the things she was saying. “No.” She laughed, for the first time in many days.
“I’d be damned if I aborted the mission. I’m going to see this till the end.” She said with a smile.
“We are going to face that when it happens. But for now, we are going to focus on getting inside first and getting used to the people. We can do this, Tianna. And we have to do it.” She nodded slowly with a resolute expression.
“Okay, Maya. But we are going to be very careful. I’m just saying this because of my experiences as a guard. I know a lot of things I might need to tell you.” She smiled and I smiled for the first time since we started to talk about this mission.
“Well, we are going to start by finding out who’s in charge of hiring maids. We will apply for the job and see how it goes. And before you say anything, I know it won’t be easy, so I expect anything from it.” She nodded with a smile before walking out.
That night, we went around and soon enough we were directed to people who could do the job perfectly. We got it sorted out and returned at midnight. The next morning, we got ready. I put on my finest gown. It was a soft blue silk with delicate lace trim.
Tianna put on a green velvet skirt. Our dresses were very elegant but it wasn’t revealing. We didn’t want anything that would draw too much attention or spark jealousy, especially with the housekeeper who could be interviewing us. We curled our hair and applied subtle makeup. Our goal was to appear refined and respectable.
As soon as we finished our preparations, we headed straight to the Packhouse. It was only a few minutes walk before we arrived. It was a very large construction and it already had me feeling dizzy when I stepped onto the staircase. One of the guards approached us.
“Hey lovely ladies.” He said with a smile. I was glad our dresses had been able to attract a pair of curious eyes as soon as we arrived. “What brings you here?” He asked. I smiled, making a good first impression.
“Won’t the Alpha kill you if he finds you ignoring your job and hitting on ladies?” He laughed, and I did too. I blushed, feigning to be shy despite my annoyance inside.
“We are here to see the housekeeper please. We are here to be maids.” I said. The guard turned round and exchanged amused glances.
“Ah, new recruits, eh? Well, we will make sure you get the grand tour.” He winked at us. “Follow me.”