81 Dark society- Part 1 (2/2)

”It wasn't a happy life there. It isn't a place for anyone but there are few things you cannot do anything about. During the two long years, I befriended a child there, a young boy. He was more or less like me. Maybe that is why I bothered to notice him when other slaves used to beat him up,” he stared at the apple in his hand, ”When master picked me from the place without any notice, I didn't get to bid the boy. There were days when I remembered and days when I didn't. It must be the slave's instinct, to be selfish and not to look back at people who rot.”

”You never met the boy after that?” Heidi asked him.

”I did. But the boy had died a week after I left,” Stanley answered, continuing to explain, ”He had been beaten to death for disobedience by one of the guards. It isn't that uncommon. When people running the slave establishment find a slave too hard to deal with without much benefit, they are either face death or are sold for blood in the black market.”

”Is this where he lies then?” she saw the butler nod his head.

”The dead bodies in the establishment are normally taken together and dumped in the lake of bones. Master help me find his body but his body had already begun to decompose. Four weeks the body lying with other piles of bodies. Master told me that he would let me bury the boys body here, telling there was a ritual to keep a person's energy or remnants in the trees and I followed it. Besides that apples are my favourite fruit,” Stanley finished explaining it.

Heidi didn't ask further than that and let the butler do his work in peace while she stood at one side of the orchard quietly. It was a sad story. It was only after she pondered on it for a few minutes that she realized that more than being sad, the end was disturbing. There were at least more than twenty apples trees and it wasn't just one the butler was partial to. He was partial to each and every one of them here. Wouldn't that mean that the body didn't lay just under one tree?

”Do you like apple wine, Lady Heidi?” she heard Stanley ask her with his back facing her.

”I haven't tasted it to know if I would like it,” hearing this the butler turned his face surprised.

”Really?” and she nodded her head, ”Then you must try the one's I make.”

”Please don't,” she waved both her hands, ”I wouldn't want you to overwork when you already are.”

”Do not worry, miss. I am a half vampire with extra time in my pocket. I insist you try it. I am sure you will like it,” he spoke so enthusiastically that she didn't have the heart to say no to him. After all the butler making wine from his treasured apples for someone who wasn't Lord Nicholas was a rare occasion.