"You look different," Officer Aaron's voice cut through Elizabeth's swirling thoughts like a knife. She turned, her heart doing a nervous jig, to find him far closer than she'd anticipated.
Elizabeth managed a weak, sheepish smile. "I've not been feeling well," she offered, the lamest excuse she could muster.
Aaron's dark eyes, intense and probing, lingered on her, examining every detail of her face. It wasn't the fear of him discovering Hira's body that truly terrified Elizabeth, it was the dread that he might somehow sense she was a spirit inhabiting his brother's wife.
"There's something different about you," he murmured, his gaze flicking momentarily to the Mayor's personal assistant before returning to Elizabeth. "You're giving Hira today," he stated, his voice devoid of inflection.
Elizabeth fought to keep her inner panic from surfacing, a skill she'd honed over the years.
His eyes dropped, then lifted, a fleeting pat on her shoulder accompanying a seemingly casual remark. "Don't go missing again, okay?"
She nodded, the gesture stiff and unnatural. "Okay."
As Aaron walked away, Elizabeth's mind raced. Who would have guessed that the man she'd wanted to punch was the Mayor's brother? And—
'Damn! His ass is fine,' Elizabeth thought, unable to suppress the fleeting, inappropriate admiration.
Her hand instinctively drifted to rest on her stomach. Weeks pregnant? Was that why she couldn't switch back? She would have to tell Martha. But Martha knew she was Lady Hira, didn't she?
The safest person at the moment was Sir Tansi. She would have to wait and discuss it with him when he was less busy.
Elizabeth remained glued to her seat, a statue of anxiety, until Tansi approached, his expression grim and unreadable.
"Let's go," he commanded, leading the way without explanation.
She rose and followed closely behind, half-expecting to be taken home, but her hopes were quickly dashed.
He headed for the staircase, ascending to the upper floors. Maids in black uniforms glided past, bearing trays laden with appetizers and fruit salads, their movements silent and efficient.
They reached the third floor, and he led her to a room at the end of the corridor, ushering her inside. Elizabeth was completely lost.
The door clicked shut the moment she crossed the threshold. It was an ordinary single room, the white interior stark and sterile, the white bedsheet stretched taut over the mattress. Mary stood in the center, a tiny flask clutched in her hand.
Sir Tansi turned to Mary, his voice clipped. "I'll be in the car." With that, he opened the door and disappeared.
The sound of the closing door snapped Elizabeth's attention back to Mary.
"What's happening, Mary?" Elizabeth asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Mary offered a reassuring smile. "It's nothing, dear." She opened the tiny flask and extended it towards Elizabeth. "Pee in it and leave it covered in the bathroom."
Elizabeth immediately understood. The news of her pregnancy was out. However, she's more than happy to know if it's true or not.
She took the flask and retreated to the bathroom. Like the others she'd encountered in the mansion, it was massive, the design consistent with the guest room's overall style.
She peed, left the flask on the counter, and returned to the main room.
Mary was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped in her lap. "Done?" she asked, rising to her feet. Elizabeth nodded. "Good, now let's go."
The flask remained in the bathroom, a silent witness to the unfolding drama.
They returned to the ground floor. Aaron strode past, deep in a heated discussion with another officer. "Take the securities in for questioning," he barked.
Mary guided Elizabeth to the car and opened the door for her. Only Sir Tansi was inside, the two other men were nowhere to be seen.
Mary shut the door behind Elizabeth, and the car pulled away from the curb.
She didn't tag along.
An uncomfortable silence settled over them. Elizabeth hated the idea of being alone with Tansi, especially with his eyes fixed on her since she'd entered the car.
The ride was excruciatingly awkward, her gaze glued to her palms for the entire journey. As soon as the car stopped, she scrambled out and was greeted by Martha.
The car's engine roared to life, and it sped away heading back to the late Mayor's mansion. Elizabeth didn't care where it was going.
"You haven't had breakfast. I prepared different dishes in your bedroom since I didn't know your favorite," Martha said, leading the way up the stairs. "I've picked out an outfit for you to wear."
They reached her room and stepped inside. The room was immaculate, and a variety of dishes were neatly arranged before her. She recognized two, but the style of preparation was unfamiliar.
Martha poured a cup of clear tea from a jug filled to the brim. "After eating, drink this. It's a stress-relieving tea that helps the nerves and muscles."
Martha left the room to give Elizabeth some privacy.
She shed her clothes and slipped into the comfortable outfit provided.
She was famished. She sampled each of the six dishes, liking them all. After eating, she stared in awe at the empty plates. She must have been incredibly hungry. She drank the tea afterwards.
She wiped her lips and glanced at the time: thirteen minutes past nine. She yawned.
Slowly, she climbed into bed, sinking into its luxurious softness.
She told herself it would be a short nap.
__________
Moonlight streamed through the open window, a cool breeze dancing through the room.
Elizabeth yawned softly, stretching languidly. She clearly needed this rest.
Her eyes weren't ready to open. She wasn't used to such a cozy lifestyle, and she wanted to savor it while it lasted.
A smile stretched across her face.
'This is a dream come true,' she sighed contentedly.
"Sleep another minute, and I'll have them dig a hole for you," a voice threatened.
"HOLY—"
Elizabeth screamed, bolting upright in terror. Her fingers clutched at her pillow. The room was almost pitch black, save for the moonlight filtering through the window. She couldn't see who was speaking.
"W-who's that?"
The room fell silent.
Elizabeth, her heart pounding, grabbed an empty glass and hurled it in the direction of the voice.
The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room.
"And you missed." This time, the voice rose, and footsteps sounded on the floor. A figure emerged from the shadows into the moonlight. Sir Tansi.
Elizabeth's mouth dropped open. "Sir Tansi?"
He ignored her, approaching the bed and handing her a glass cup filled with a brown liquid. "Drink up."
Subconsciously, her hand flew to cover her stomach. She could swear something had changed in the atmosphere when she did that.
She lifted her gaze from her stomach to his face, barely able to make out his eyes in the darkness. "What's that?"
"Juice."
Juice aren't this brown and thick.
"I'm not thirsty," she said as politely as she could.
"It's not an offer," he replied, authority lacing his tone. "Drink up."
Her hands began to tremble. She wasn't exactly scared for the baby, she was scared he would decide to kill her to solve everything.
"I don't like waiting."
Her breaths came in ragged gasps. She raised the cup to her lips, but hesitated.
"How do I leave this body, please?" Her eyes welled with tears. She was willing to end her life, but in her body. Dying in this body meant nothing.
"Killing yourself."
She blinked back the tears and drained the cup into my system. The liquid was bitter, with a metallic taste like blood and a strong, unidentifiable smell. She handed the cup back to him, praying for a quick and painless death.
As if reading her thoughts, Sir Tansi said, "You're not dying, yet." He strolled towards the door and left the room.
Elizabeth's mind was reeling.
She waited until his footsteps faded into the distance before leaping out of bed. She threw on a silky robe and hurried out of her room. She needed to know what she had just swallowed. Martha would tell her.
But Martha wasn't in the mansion that night.
At night the mansion was even more unsettling than she'd imagined. Elizabeth could have sworn she felt eyes watching her as she descended the dimly lit stairs. She sensed someone behind her, but when she turned, the hallway was empty.
The halls were deserted. No servants were in sight; it seemed they had all retired to their rooms for the night.
There was no sign of Martha anywhere.
She reached a door. Instinct told her to ignore it, but it was too late. She had already pushed it open and entered.
Oh…
It was an empty room.
She shrugged and walked out, nearly jumping out of her skin when she saw Martha standing outside the door.
"You okay?" Martha asked, her tone concerned. "I couldn't find you in your room."
Elizabeth couldn't shake the unease she felt inside, so she chose to ignore it.
"I was trying to find you. I got concerned."
"I ran an errand for Sir Tansi. Thanks for your concern. Let's go," she gestured with her head. "Sir Tansi doesn't like anyone entering his space."
Elizabeth had no choice. She followed Martha back to her room.
The moment the door closed, she turned to Martha, her eyes wide with fear. "He gave me something to drink. I don't know what's in it."
Martha, whose warm eyes always seemed to soothe her, stroked her hair. "Imagine the lady you're keeping alive ends up pregnant. You will do anything in your power to get rid of it. You're safe, don't worry."
Her mouth fell open.
She's safe?
"Don't think too much about it. And besides, you're taking the image of his stepdaughter. He doesn't want you pregnant."
Elizabeth understood what she was saying. But he could have just asked her.
She remembered something and placed her hand on Martha's. "How do I leave this body? If I stay any longer, I'll permanently possess it."
"Only Sir Tansi can help with that." Martha takes a deep breath.
"Will he help me?"
Martha shakes her head. "I doubt it,"
"I can be replaced right? You can suggest a pick for him to replace me,"
"Sir Tansi doesn't just pick anyone." She declared in a dismissive tone. "Rest now, by morning there will be a tour around the mansion just before your educator comes."