Scars ofthe past

On a cold grey day in a thick forest, the tree's long branches blocking out sunlight from the forest floor 

A lone carriage was being pulled by a wither horse's hooves, leaving prints in the mud as it pushed through branches and underbrush, only stopping when in front of large manor gate

The old carriage driver looks up at the building with a mix of disgust and fear

 “Are you sure you want to get out? The rumors are that those who enter don’t come back out.”He spat out as the carriage door opened. 

Outstepped a tall woman, her eyes scanning the area.

She wore a white blouse with flared sleeves that are tied close to her wrist, with a small bit of ribbon. A black corset belt covered her waist that held the high-waisted dress pants to her thin frame, and while tied snugly to her neck was a black lace jabot that had a black dahilia pendent hanging off it.

Her thick Mary Jane heels snap small twigs on the ground as she steps forward; in one hand was a suitcase.The carriage driver huffing at her silence, grabbing her arm and having her turn to face him, making him recoil in disgust. Her layered cut burnette hair framed her round face, while her hazel-colored button seemed to have faded purple tears leaking from them, permanently scarring her cheeks. She glared at the man, her pendent flickering purple as she shrugged off his hand.

“Go on back, you got your coin,” was all she said, picking up her suitcase and walking towards the gates. 

“Crazy bitch,” he growled out before clicking the reins for the horse and setting off again. 

Stepping in front of the gate, she gave the woods one last look and let out a sigh, pushing the gate open and walking forward. Looking at the manor while doing so, she saw movement by the windows on the second floor. She squinted, trying to see what it was, but it disappeared before she could make it out quickly, shaking her head, deeming it to be a servant of the manor.

Finally, she arrived at the front wooden doors. She took a deep breath, knocking the door open. A few moments later, a man with a long white mustache dressed in a sharp suit gave her a nod. “Ah, I am Elvire Hayes. I am the new secretary.” She handed over her letter of employment the man took it, looking over it before stepping aside and letting her in.

The manor foyer was huge, and clearing showed off the baron money. “Please come with me, Ms. Hayes; do forgive us; we were expecting you later in the week." The butler walks past the women.

“However, four other guests have arrived as well, and the other three are set to arrive today as well,” he continued leading her up the stairs. “Three are currently in the backyard while the other is currently on the veranda ,” he explained. “Will I have any information on them?” she asked curtly, looking around, noticing all the expensive art and decorations The butler nodded. “I do believe the baron himself left information about the guest and your required duties in your personal office." Elvire stopped mid-step, looking at the man.

 “I have a personal office?”

“The office is a few doors down from the stairs to the foyer." The butler pointed it out, handing over the key to her. “Baron wants you to know if you have any desires for the room; do not hesitate to ask." as they continue walking. “The room is to be where you will receive documents, letters, and other required materials to keep the manor running while the baron is away, which is often,” the butler announced while the women's hazel eyes looked over the door to the room.

“Let me show you to your personal room,” he guestred with his arm Elvire raised a brow at this. “Am I not to sleep in the servant quarters?” The man chuckled. “Oh no, you are a very special employee of the baron; you are to be treated as equal to his status, his word exactly.”

 She blinks at this information, taken aback by the special treatment 

 Arriving at her own room, she was handed a key with a dhalia charm attached to it.

“This is your personal room in this manor. Lunch will be served in an hour, dinner at six, and breakfast will be served at eight. When meals are ready, a bell will ring, and you may help yourself to the kitchen for snacks and drinks in the mean time; however, at midnight all are to be returned to their rooms, and roaming the manor at night is discouraged even to you,” the butler explained. Elvire nodded and "understood.” The man bowed slightly and walked out, leaving the women alone. 

Setting the suitcase down, she looked around it.

An empty large closet, a writing desk with a matching chair, a large soft bed with clean linen, and even a personal washroom on a desk were a small mirror. She spared a glance in its eyes, narrowing at the permanent tear stains on her cheeks before putting the mirror face down. She also noticed on the desk was an envelope with the baron seal on it next to a set of keys. She unfurled the letter after breaking its red seal.

“To my dearest Elvire, 

I do hope that the trip was uneventful despite the coming storm.

Now this week all I need you to do is welcome in the seven other guests that will be arriving shortly and make sure no curfew and boundary rules are broken, as while it may not look like it, there are other rooms that are currently occupied.”

She thought back, remembering all the doors they passed; she had assumed they were store rooms or something else.

“You and the others won’t meet the rest of the residence until the end of next week but I assure they will be on their best behaviour while the rest of you settle in.

As you can see, I gave you a key ring that has keys to nearly every room in the manor other than private rooms. This will allow you to access what you wish when you desire it. While the butler should have given you your personal room keys.

 The other guest keys will have their keys given to them by the butler himself. Just make sure you welcome them.

Oh, one last thing, my dear, 

Your sister should have arrived before you. I believe you will find out where to find her, as it's best you are not seen communicating in the mansion itself.

Good luck, little shadow,

Baron”

She shuddered at the nickname “little shadow. What’s with that?” She thought to herself before setting the letter down and putting the set of keys into her pocket. She opened her suitcase, which mostly had reference books on etiquette for speaking to the higher class and work assignments she was told a secretary must do. 

A few garments were packed as well, but no real other clothes than what she wore at the time. 

“When I get paid, I'm getting a new damn wardrobe.” 

Leaving her room and heading straight for her personal office, she paused hearing a door creak open and turn around, seeing noting before huffing and continuing on her way.

She stopped suddenly when she heard a gunshot ring out She looked around and surpised, “It came from outside; I was told there were guests current out in the backyard." She thought another shot was followed by another echoing from outside. “Well, as secretary, I should know what's going on,” as she quickly walked down the foyer stairs.

The backyard was easy to find as it could be accessed from the attached indoor garden; it was a wide open field there. Standing there pointing a rifle, a person behind them stood two other cauntiosuly She crept forward. The last thing she wanted to do was startle a person with a weapon. As she came closer, she started to clearly see what they looked like, starting with the shooter. 

A tall woman, her black hair was cut close to her neck, and her icy blue eyes were focused ahead. Clearly, she was used to holding the rifle with her arm, being steady with the weight. Her outerwear looks a bit snug on her; a wine-red leather jacket ended at her mid-thighs. Her legs were covered by faded tan trousers, and a pair of worn brown leather gloves covered her hands as shrouding her face was a black chauffeur hat. 

The women let out another shot, pericing a set-up target with bull-eyes The women then turn sideways, placing the butt on the ground and holding it by the nuzzle, revealing that she was also wearing a grey button-up shirt with a black underbust waistcoat in front of it. The women noticed Elvire's presence. “Who might you be?” posh British accent left her lips and that when the secretary noticed the woman's upper face was covered by a grey porcelain mask, this got the other two's attention, who came to the woman's sides. 

Elvire cleared her throat. “I am the new secretary of the manor, Elvire,” she declared. She was a bit intimated by the other woman's presence; she was clearly excluding a threatening aura, putting herself in front of her companions, seeing the secertary as a threat, but at Elvire's declaration, one of them placed his left hand on her right shoulder, showing off his silver wedding band. “R-remeber dear,-w-we were tol-d-d about her,” he spoke with a stuttered as Elvire looked him over. 

He was a foot shorter then the woman; he also had a bit of a slouch; he had long, curly brown locks that went to his large grey turtleneck collar under one of his right dark green eyes; he had a long scar that ran along his cheek; he looked like he would blow over at a gust of wind as his clothes seemed to swallow him. His grey cloth belt being as tight as it could be to hold his black pleated pants, whose knees have been replaced with sown in red patches of fabric, the pants ends were frayed and stopped at the top of his worn black work boots.

But his right arm was truly unique—a golden-plated prosthetic with claw-like fingers; it seemed to have a windup key in it as well as a faint glow from inside it.

“Dominic right, Lady Meave. It seems we just startler her with you, practicing and all.” the other spoke, his light brown eyes looking Elvire up and down; he was an older man with a cockney accent rougher compared to his lady one.

 He was a giant man towering over all of them; his blond hair with a streak of grey in it was slick back to look neat. A black suit jacket was over his crisp white collar shirt, and around said collar was a black western bow tie. A pair of black suspenders are attached to his grey pants, and his old brown shoes look to be freshly shined. 

On each joint of his fingers, he had stitches holding his hands together.

"Ah, your right apologies, miss." Meave spoke, giving a small bow, while Elvire just waved her off. “  my apologies for sneaking up on you; I just did want to interrupt your,” she trailed off, looking at the rifle Meave noticed her glances and chuckled, “The baron hired me to show off my exhibition skills for any high-class guests; I used to be quite popular once.” She picked up the rifle again, uncocking a bullet from its chamber, then gestured to the two men behind her.

"Dominic, my husband, a brillant engineer, the baron has a project for him." The man in question was the curly brown-haired one. He ran his neck with his fleshy hand, looking sheepish at his wife's praise; she then nodded to the tall, older man. “this is Archer; he is my-” the man coughs, cutting off Meave “I am her lady butler here to assist her and her husband during their stay here,” he spoke, straightening his suit jacket. 

Elvire raised an eyebrow at this from her experience; stewards don’t interrupt their boss, but perhaps this lady Griffiths was kinder than most. “Ah yes, my butler's; I hardly go anywhere without him an old habit." Meave was slinging her rifle strap over her shoulders.

“I do believe lunch will be ready soon; forgive me, but I need to freshen up before that,” she announced before living Archer and Dominic following her, giving Elvrie small nods, who watch them leave. See Dominic sleeping his prosthetic hand into the woman's leather-covered one. Meave looked at him and gave him a gentle smile filled with love while Archer's shoulder shake like he was laughing.

The domestic scene made her smile, remembering happier times as she fiddled with her flower pendent, rubbing her thumb over it, but when she heard a twig snap, she spun off her heels, looking at the tree line, trying to see anything, before quickly hurrying back to the manor. As she was entering the manor, she was reminded there was supposedly another guest on the veranda. 

From what she could recall with manors like this, they were usually attached to the back. 

It took her a few minutes of walking around to find her destination; it was a lovely porch with hanging flower pots and other such decorations. There, sitting on a chair in front of a small table, was a stunning, beautiful young man.

Currently he was focused on a wooden traveling vanity; around it were small jars of creams and sweet-smelling ointments. His hands were delicate and soft-looking; no doubt he took care of them very well. His eyes were looking intently at every jar, brush, and pin. Not wanting a repeat of her early introduction to the other three guests, she knocks on the wooden railing of the veranda. He jumped at the sudden noise, looking over at her, giving her a clear view of his person as he gave her a soft smile.

His eyes were mismatched. His left one was a calm blue, and the right one was a light green color. Under said eye was a beauty mark. A subtle black eyeliner brought out his unique eye colors, and a small amount of rough on his cheeks gave him some color, and if she squinted, Elivrie could see a faint amount of lipstick on his.

His clothes were as beautiful as he was showing off that he either came or had money.

 A black ruffle long-sleeve shirt was crisp, the collar standing tall, covering his thin neck. On top of it, Azul lapel sleeveless double-breasted button-down waistcoat; his pants were a navy blue color; that covered the top of his lace-up ankle boots, which were a comfortable low heel.

His hair was a pure black, except one strand of pure white that was in place by bobby pins out of his face.

Snapping out of daze, she found her voice again “h-hello I am Elvire Hayes I am the new secretary of the manor,” she introduces herself, smiling at the man, whose grin grew bigger by a bit. “Kaiser Heinrich, I am the beautician that the baron hired.” He spoke; his voice was a bit rough with his accent that sounded German and Polish mixed together. He started to put away his gear carefully in his wooden case. “You came at a wonderful time, as I have completely forgotten  where the dining room is.” He stood holding the traveling vanities by it’s leather strap. He opened the door for her guestred her forward. She smiled, walking forward.

 While making their way in the manor, she turned her face to him. "Mr. Heinrich, can I ask what sort of work you will be doing here?” Kaiser hummed at the question, still having a small smile on his face. “I am to work alongside someone named Miss Nightengale; apparently she is this manor personal tailor,” he started waving his right hand around excitedly. “She will make pretty clothes while I make the faces and hair pretty,” he laughs a bit, letting out a content sigh. “Oh, I have missed work like this,” he muttered.

He then looked at her straight in the face, his eyes narrowed slightly and lips pursed. “You, my dear, are very pretty. I won’t have to do much to make you even more,” he declared, walking forward while Elvire paused, tilting her head a bit, a small smile on her face at the man's words before hurting to catch up to him. 

Not seeing a door crack opening a bit watching her.

Just as the two arrived at the dining room sitting down, next arrived Meave,  Dominic, and Archer, sitting opposite them. Meave pull out Dominic chair slightly, sitting next to him, and Archer takes the chair on the other side of her. The manor butler enters, “Ah, Ms. Hayes, two other guests have arrived while you were looking over the manor.”  He guestred with his arm to the side as the dining room opened and two people walked in—a man and a woman.

The woman was lightly tanned with patches of her neck and face that seemed lighter than the rest of her skin, like the skin had been lightly bleached. Deep scars were evident on her face and neck, which could be seen due to the v-neck from her black pleated lace-up blouse.

On her face, one large scar ran horizontally, going from cheek to cheek; one of her eyes was a milky white color showing blindness, while the other was a deep brown color. 

Her dirty blond hair was in a long bride with strands sticking out; it ended at her chest; it was tied with a wine-colored ribbon that matched the color of her long maxi skirt. The ends of barley kissed the top of the Oxford brown small heel shoes while she walked over to one of the chairs.

The man who sat next to her had dark brown skin and nearly glowing amber. His face had silver piercings decorating his face, twin loops on his bottom lip edges, and alongside his right eyebrow. His hair was styled in twists that went to his shoulders and had silver bands wrapped around them.

His clothes were simple design: a closed golden button black double-breasted trench coat with split sides that showed off his pleated pants that match the color of his jacket; the ends were tucked into his calvary strap boots, while his hands are covered with black leather half gloves.

On his head rested a black fedora hat with fresh flowers tucked in it’s band: lavender and chamomile 

“Welcome you two to Manor. I am Elvire Hayes, the secretary.” she told the new arrivals the women showed off a toothy grin, revealing her right canine was replaced by a golden tooth 

“Maybelle Freeman,” her voice has a clear southern twang to it as one of her scared hands up her water glass as she looks at the secretary. “I am the baron personal surgeon as of today.” She took a sip while Elvire raised an eyebrow. “I did not realize the baron was sick to require his own surgeon,” she said as the other set down her glass. “Ah no, I mean he will offer my services to his friends in case they need certain surgeons on a discrete matter,” the southern women explained, still smiling at the secretary  Elvire hummed at this answer, looking down at her plate

“There are many reason why someone would hire a private doctor but a private surgeon and not even for himself I really need to look at the office again,” she thought for a moment before forming a small smile  towards the other new arrival, “And you, dear sir?” she asked, looking him up and down; she could smell earthly and smokey aromas from him 

“Just as Papa used to smell like.”

He cleared his throat. “Bes Fouad a herbalist, the baron has sponsored my research for my medical experiments." Like Archer, he had a cockney accent but much more smoother

“My what group the baron has hired, and we are still waiting on the last one." Kaiser joke 

“A job is a job you take it when you get it." Meave spoke curtly, stabbing her meat. This acted like a single, as everyone else just focused on their food.

As the servants were taking away the dishes and only the butler was left, Archer spoke, “Pardon me, but I was informed that the baron would be meeting with us to go over our duties for the manor himself. Will that be soon?” He question the man while straightening his tie 

who merley turned spoke to the table, “Unfortunately, the baron has been preoccupied with the renovation of the Vitam Aeternam greenhouse, so he will have to postpone meeting you all.” 

The old man announcement caused Bes to perk up. 

“The Vitam Aeternam greenhouse is actually real?!" He pressed the butler and nodded. “Yes, but due to damage, it is off limits, especially during the daytime, as not to bother the workers," he explained, then he addressed the whole table.

"Tomorrow, when all new arrivals have come, you each will be allowed to explore the property and continue tasks the baron had given you in his invitations. The rules are simple: you can not leave the property without permission, and you are discouraged from walking around at night for your own safety.” 

He gave a slight bow, walking out of the room, leaving the seven alone.

“Vitam Aeternam greenhouse; the first part is latin “enteral life.” She faced Bes, who was whispering excitedly to Maybelle, who was grinning even bigger now.

 "Mr. Fouad, what exactly is this Vitam Aeternam greenhouse? you seem knowledgeable about it,” she asked sweetly Meave let out a fake laugh. “It’s famous among the higher circles; it meant to be a cautionary tale after all.” Kaiser gave a small, sad laugh as well. “Even I’ve heard whispers about it,” he confessed. Bes cleared his throat again. 

“As you’ve probably seen Ms. Hayes, there is a lot of land surrounded this manor, correct?” he started Elvire nodded, listening intently. 

About twenty years ago, a rising botanist who lived nearby where this mansion stands discovered a Potter graveyard; it was later revealed to be a place where those who died of disease were buried during a random outbreak, but it was unknown what it was. 

A white man with brunette hair tied in a low pony, dressed in fine but non-exagant clothes, was studying plants in a graveyard, recording his findings 

Now this botanist was an odd man who was heavenly focused on making plants, especially medical ones, more potent and stronger then they were in nature Some say he did this to create a miracle drug to cure all out of the kindness of his heart; others say he was doing it to get rich.

He sat at a desk, cut plants and herbs all around him as he was grinding something with a mortar and pestle

“Which to fair he did in way." Mike chimed in with a smirk  

He had heard of plants growing stronger using the corpses of animals as fertilizer, and since there was no one to claim the land or the bodies and it was not an official graveyard, he built his greenhouse on it, planting all source of greenery and studying how they were effected by the soil; they did in fact grow much stronger and quicker, their healing properties more potent, but he still wanted more so he reached out to an occult man who had immigrated from the spanish colonies.

He looks over blueprints as he smiles, seeing the greenhouse half built. Then, when it’s finished, he starts planting his granden himself but pauses and smiles, seeing a dark-skinned man with thin breasts, his body covered in tattoos. The two touch hands. 

This man had great knowledge in both the dead and herbalism. With the botaist funds, they were able to advance their knowledge greatly selling the medicine they made, creating helping people by donating it as well as selling it. 

The botanist seen shaking hands with someone as the occult man stood behind him, looking proud even though his face is covered by a hood

“But they never cheaped out; they always gave equal quality to all money or not,” Maybelle added, then winked, “don't see many rich folk doing that anymore.” she giggled

The greenhouse was named by the occult man, calling it “Vitam Aeternam,” as it was a place of healing.

The occult man is using a quill to write the latin name across the blueprints to the greenhouse while the botanist watches over his shoulder with a gentle smile.

“But then the wife happens." Meave spoke suddenly, staring at the table. Elvire titled her head a bit, “the wife?” she looked to Bes, who rubbed the back of his head Meave instead spoke,

 The wife of the botanist by arraignment was a heavy opium smoker, and realizing how powerful the greenhouse made her husband's plants, she planted opium so she would have her own continuous supply of the drug. The new strain drove her to madness to the point the botanist had to lock her in her bedroom just to prevent her from overdosing.

A women dressed in expensive clothes and jewels smoking on an opium pipe watches her husband in the greenhouse talking to the occult man but then an empty patch of soil gets her attention.

Servents plants the opium flowers while she looks on, smirking. As time goes on and the more she smokes, she gets thinner and weaker, but her smiles grow more and more. Till one day the botanist takes the opium pipe and slams the door on her.

 One day during a rainstorm, the greenhouse caught on fire for some reason. When it was looked into, the only remains were of the wife burnt to crisp digging through the patches that held her opium as the botanist and the occult man; they were never found. People saw the Vitam Aeternam as a cursed place, one that offered sweet promises with horrible prices, so it was abandoned.

A loud thunder crack is heard and arguing from the greenhouse, then a sudden light is shown in the greenhouse, and then a piece of it is up in flames. The next morning, men sort through the burn section, finding the wife corpse holding an opium flower in her hands with petals clenched in her teeth.

“And so it meant to be a cautionary tale amongst the upper class about being to ambitious and ignoring your family duties,” the sharpshooter said, finishing her tea 

Elvire mulled over the story in her mind, “But why would it be a cautionary tale about that? It seems more of a warning against opium use." she pondered slienty, then Meave stood up “I believed that enough story telling for me today; I think I spent the rest of the day resting in my room,” she declared, walking away Archer and Dominic following her

"Yeah, Bes and I got supplies to unpack away. You bunch won’t see us till dinner time, probably,” the Herbalist and Surgeon stood exiting the room 

"Hmm, resting sounds wonderful. The journey here has put strain on me. Do excuse me, Ms. Hayes." Kaiser spoke, nodded his goodbye, and also walked out.

The secretary was alone and pulled out the key to her office.

 “Seems it’s time to start working.”