Chapter 18: Preparations

"For now, every one of you will be staying in blue till the party tonight, however I deeply suggest one does not venture out of there off of schedule." Johnthan Riggs warns the new residents, somewhat escorting Waylen to the courtyard. "Stick to the piece of paper like your life depends on it, because it might very well." 

The courtyard seems a little less dead today, the grass green and the sky blue. Maids in blue dresses give off a lively feel, as they eagerly decorate the place. This is the first time he had laid his almond-colored eyes on the woman in blue. There flesh seems to be teaming with life, and their eyes vibrant, swarming with positive emotions. Each step is small yet carried purpose with the absence of fear. These are the servants of the String family. 

It seems this would be the easiest of his tasks today, watching to make sure everything goes in accordance procedure. Not that he had been given a procedure, but a woman with a golden necklace who stood quietly at his side, who made it her priority to gather his opinions on the various decor. 

Waylen didn't find her presence annoying, or disturbing. She had a knack for serving, accurately reading his thoughts from the different gazes he gave off. Never once pressuring him to speak, letting different shakes of the head suffice. If he had to have a servant girl at his side, this is the one he would choose. 

Not one hair is out of place on her body. She dressed modestly, with no obvious intensions on seducing him. Her face is fair but young, with silky black hair that fell an inch past her shoulders. She seemed to be no older than twenty-one, barely old enough to hold a glass of wine. The woman's name is Linsey.

As much as Linsey suited the roll, something about the girl's stature didn't quite fit the image of a maid. The way she carried herself gave confident authoritarian. Upon closer inspection there seemed to be something in her left pocket, specifically in the shape of a small blade. 

Linsey turns her head away from the diligently working maids, towards him. Her silverish-gray eyes morphing into a vibrant glowing blue. 

For a brief moment Waylen could have sworn she changed. Her simple blue dress, transformed into a white frilly one, with a blue coat over top of it. The jewelry once contained around her neck, spread all over her body like a snake, now integrating its shiny golden accents from her hair to her ankles, resembling a young mistress with millions in backing. That backing being the String family.

After blinking two or three times, the servant girl returned before him, smiling through her eyes, somewhat pleased with this predicament. Linsey wasn't a fool; it didn't take long to figure out what Waylen saw. It's not as if she had been doing a great deal to hide it anyway. But she ignored his probing questions and finished the job at hand. It's the twin's birthday party, how could she not give it all her attention? If he wanted answers, he should go ask that stupid silver haired man. With his attitude, Linsey is certain he should have spilt some of the can of beans by now. 

Interesting enough the silver haired man had stopped watching Waylen, the second she had been placed at his side. His trust well placed, but somewhat concerning. Even if she didn't want that flamboyant fool constantly circling her, things always seemed to be interesting when he did. 

Linsey surveyed the final set up of the courtyard one last time, pleased with the carefully placed white tables with various flower assortments in the center, and carefully folded napkins containing the nice set of silverware. Out of consideration for tonight's spectators, she took great care to add an extra knife, well sharpened, into Waylen's napkin. 

"Do you live here?" Waylen asks, stupidly. 

"Don't we all?" Linsey responds, counting the heads who had finished their assigned jobs for setting up the birthday party.

"Do you work here?" Waylen questions again, staring into her glowing blue eyes as they revert back to an interesting gray.

Linsey looks at the man, cocking her head to the side in a respectful but demining manner. The aura around her turns into a refreshing cold, that had the real potential to scare everyone shitless. 

"Don't we all?" She repeats again, staring him dead in the eyes , carefully analyzing every smidge of movement on his pretty face. "What are you doing now, young master Noel?" She speaks, now in a teasing tone. 

Bringing her delicate, slender fingers to her cheeks, Linsey taps them once or twice curious as to what the String family made him do. Smelling the scent of rotting corpse, escaping from his body, Linsey displays more signs of curiosity. Evidence being her index and middle finger rubbing softly together. An action that didn't go unchecked by Waylen's intense stare.

It's truly a shame she had been banned from interacting with this particular resident, wasting her time confined in the depths of blue. The amount of shows she could have witnessed had the potential to win a award. Then, she could be the last to feast eyes on it sweeping the evidence away herself. The Estate shouldn't be left dirty... Linsey is a firm believer of that. 

The last thing she needed is W.S. coming home to a corpse fest. Within seconds all the damage would amplify, and only a select few will remain alive. As much as she trusted her position and luck, W.S. had been notorious for not thinking before acting when angry. Death is just another means to get his point across. It may be a method that has her unyielding support, but it wasn't a stretch to say it's certainly uncomfortable. 

It causes her body to come across a substantial amount of filth, her body gradually decomposing from the inside out. White, slimy maggots inching their way to her left-over brain matter. Flies greedily circling her, graciously feasting. Lastly, a happy face, free of regret. 

"Linsey of Asha." Waylen calls out in the wind,