“I can’t believe he’s allowing that Yani into this class!” Natya said, pacing back and forth by the end of the bed. She gnawed on her thumb.

  “I don’t know what you’re so pissed about,” Belinia said. She was lying on Yesenia’s bed in her nightgown, staring at the ceiling.

  Stasha lay perpendicular to Belinia with her head on Belinia’s stomach, like it was a pillow. “Of course, you’re not angry. You’re now a maid for the best class in the school.”

  Belinia laughed. “Who would have thought that a Class E would be considered the best assignment?”

  “Best class? With that…thing here?” Natya paused her pacing to glare at Belinia.

  Sitting in the chair meant for students to study at the desk, Yesenia watched her friends. She was happy that Belinia worked with her now. Despite her chatty nature, she was a hard worker and made the communal cleaning more fun.

  She understood where both of her friends were coming from. Natya had told her of the horrors Banca put Reianna and Fawna through. Add in the tales Belinia had shared, and “Yani” was too kind a descriptor for the lilac girl.

  “Shh, keep it down,” Yesenia said. “They put her in the empty room next door. She might hear you.”

  “Good! Let her hear me! She needs to hear what a Yani she is!” Natya continued to pace around the room. “And now we’ve lost access to our nice bath! You hear that, Banca?!”

  “Look, I’ll give it to you that the bath thing sucks, and I know I did my fair share of complaining, but I thought you girls would know I just love complaining. She wasn’t that bad,” Belinia said.

  Stasha held her hand out and looked at her nails. “Yeah, and even the second-year’s maids know how she’s been treated.”

  “Things did get better once Master Gerenet got her medical help. I never wanted to be a nurse, and seeing all that blood when I had to change her bandages…” Belinia shuddered. “Ick.”

  At the mention of her master, Yesenia dropped her eyes to the ground, and her cheeks burned. Xav had been right; she had been wrong. Master Gerenet had no ulterior motives.

  “And, Natya, Master Gerenet has chosen to save Banca. Even Miss Reianna—”

  “Stop, Yez! I know what she sacrificed; he knows what she sacrificed! But he brought Banca in! I half wish Crystal would turn into a Yani and eat her.”

  “Hey!” Belinia said, sitting up and knocking Stasha off her. “Don’t even joke about that.”

  A knock at the door made them all freeze. Yesenia looked at her friends. They all looked at her with expressions that said, “Don’t look at us, it’s your room.”

  Getting up, Yesenia crossed to the door and opened it. Banca stood there, still wearing her school uniform. Yesenia shifted her hand to hold the door open by grabbing its edge.

  “Ba—Miss Banca?”

  Natya crossed the room in a flash. Pushing Yesenia out of the way, Natya’s hand shot out towards Banca. Yesenia ripped her hand off the door, swiping down, and hit Natya’s arm, barely knocking it off course.

  Banca’s eyes flicked down to Natya’s hand and Yesenia’s deflection, but she didn’t move or react. Natya’s hand jabbed into the side of Banca’s neck. The lilac-haired girl fell to the floor, gurgling for breath.

  Natya moved to attack again, but Yesenia grabbed her and pulled the mint-haired maid back. “Belinia! Go get Nurse Tyze, now! Stasha! Get Natya out of here!”

  Natya kicked and struggled in Yesenia’s arms. “Let me go, Yez! Let me finish it!”

  Belinia bolted from the room, and Stasha came over to Yesenia and Natya. The daffodil-haired maid helped Yesenia pull Natya to the servants’ door.

  “Natya! This isn’t your decision!”

  “It’s my duty to protect Miss Reianna! Let me go!”

  Yesenia slammed Natya into the wall in the corridor. Years of living in the camps and training from her first year gave her strength over the other maid. Natya was faster than Yesenia, but Yesenia was more powerful.

  Pinning her to the wall with her forearm, Yesenia stared into Natya’s eyes. “Go to your room.”

  The strength went out of Natya, and Yesenia took a step back. Stasha took Yesenia’s place and pulled Natya to the elevator. Not bothering to look to see if they got on, Yesenia dashed back into her room. Banca was still collapsed on the floor by the door.

  Her eyes were wide, and she gasped for air. Her arms lay listlessly by her sides. Despite being open wide, her eyes stared off into nothingness. It was a look Yesenia knew all too well. It was the look of someone losing the will to live.

  If Yesenia hadn’t knocked Natya’s strike to the side, she would have crushed Banca’s windpipe, killing her. Instead, Natya had only grazed her windpipe. But that flicker of despair in Banca’s eyes…

  Banca had recognized Natya’s attack, but had done nothing. Yesenia recognized Natya’s move because it’s what Head Maid Sophia was having Yesenia practice—ostensibly to “tuck the bed sheets in”, but Yesenia wasn’t stupid. It was meant as a single strike to kill. That’s why she had knocked Natya’s strike off course. But if Banca had done something as well…

  It didn’t matter to Yesenia if Banca lived or died. The only thing she cared about was stopping Natya from killing a person Master Gerenet had worked so hard to save, someone whom Reianna had sacrificed so much to save. Those were the people Yesenia cared about.

  “Where is she?” Nurse Tyze’s voice echoed from the servants’ corridor.

  “In here!” Yesenia called out.

  The bald nurse rushed to Banca, and Yesenia stood and got out of his way. She backed up to where Belinia stood. “Thank you, Belinia.”

  The slate-blue-haired maid shook her head. “No, thank you. You saved my charge.”

  “Do you want to wait to see if she’s okay?”

  “Do you mind?”

  Yesenia shook her head.

  Neither of them moved to sit down; they just stood back and watched Nurse Tyze work. It wasn’t long before Banca’s wheezing stopped, and soon after that, Nurse Tyze vanished his gear into his storage and stepped back. Banca still lay on the ground with her hands resting on her chest, which rose and sank with regularity.

  “I have to tell Basque about this,” Nurse Tyze told them.

  Yesenia nodded. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

  “Yeah, yeah. It’s my job.” Sweat beaded on his brow. “Just wish I didn’t have to run so far for emergencies.”

  He waddled over to the servants’ door. “She’s fine. So, don’t worry about that.”

  The nurse left the two maids alone with Banca, who lay on the ground, breathing deeply. Yesenia looked at Belinia.

  “What?”

  “She’s your charge.”

  Hesitating a step, Belinia walked over to Banca. “Miss Banca, do you need anything?”

  Banca rolled her head to look at Belinia. “No.”

  Belinia looked at Yesenia as if to say, “See? Look.”

  Holding her sigh in, Yesenia walked over to the two girls. After giving Belinia a glare, Yesenia bent down and lifted Banca into a sitting position. She stayed kneeling next to her new roommate. “Did you need something?”

  “I just said no,” Banca said.

  “You knocked on my door.”

  “Oh.” Banca reached her hand out.

  Before Yesenia could take it, Belinia was there, helping Banca up.

  “Thanks,” Banca said. She didn’t make a move to go into Yesenia’s room.

  The three of them just stood in the doorway, Belinia fidgeting with her hands, Yesenia staring at Banca, and Banca looking off into Yesenia’s room.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “So…?” Yesenia asked.

  Banca’s eyes came into focus. “I just…wanted to tell you all that I don’t mind if you use the bath.”

  Belinia looked at the ground and blushed.

  Yesenia gave a smile she didn’t feel. “Thank you.”

  More life returned to Banca’s eyes as she looked at Yesenia, like she was seeing her for the first time. “You…look familiar.”

  “I’m Master Gerenet’s personal maid. You’ve probably seen me around here and there.”

  Banca shook her head. “No, that’s not it. I’ve seen you—Oh! Wait. Aren’t you Islae from 2-E?”

  Yesenia’s heart raced. She shook her head and looked at Belinia out of the corner of her eye to see if she reacted. “You must be mistaken, Miss Banca.”

  Banca’s gaze turned to Belinia. She nodded. “I see. Sorry about the confusion.”

  The three of them stood in the entranceway without speaking again. Banca didn’t make a move to leave, and Yesenia felt pinned there until she did. The shock of everything was catching up to Banca. Yesenia had seen that expression on countless new residents in the camps, as they realized what their life had come to.

  That will to live was in there; Yesenia had seen it the day before. She had to pull it out again. “Thank you for giving us permission to use the bath, right, Belinia?”

  “Oh! Yeah, totally.”

  Yesenia had hoped that Belinia would be her normal self and start blabbering away, but she just stood there in her nightgown. Banca needed someone to engage with her, and Yesenia didn’t know anyone better at trivial engagement than Belina, but it seemed the master-servant bond was too strong for Belina to overcome.

  Taking Belinia’s normal role, Yesenia asked, “Do…you want to come in?”

  Banca peered into Yesenia’s room. “No, thanks. I should probably get to bed.”

  Belinia yawned. “Yeah, me too.”

  Trying to move the conversation to its conclusion, Yesenia said, “It was nice to meet you, Miss Banca.”

  “Banca.”

  “Pardon?”

  “Just Banca. I’m just a commoner now.”

  Yesenia shook her head. “You are a student of the school, Miss. We are not.”

  Banca nodded and walked back to her room. Belinia and Yesenia watched her leave, then looked at each other.

  “Well, have fun with that,” Belinia said.

  “She’s your charge. You should be the one helping her,” Yesenia answered as she closed her door.

  As she headed for the servants’ door, Belinia said, “I only have to feed her and follow her commands. Leave her be if it bothers you that much.”

  “Fine. I’ll deal with her. But does this mean you guys aren’t going to hang out with me anymore?”

  “Pfft. Are you crazy? She said we can use the bath. I’m not giving that up for the two-minute rinsing we get in the communal.”

  Relief flushed through Yesenia. “Good. So I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Yeah! Night, Yez.”

  “Night, Bee.”

  Once Belinia left, Yesenia waited long enough for her to get on the elevator before going back out into the sitting room. She pounded on Banca’s door.

  The lilac girl was still in her uniform when she answered. She didn’t say anything; she just opened the door and stared at Yesenia.

  Trying to think of a topic, Yesenia went back to what she didn’t want Belinia to know. “How did you know who I was?”

  “I know all the commoners in the school.”

  “Why?”

  “Daddy always said to know your enemy.”

  Yesenia blinked at her. To hear a noble, former noble admit it so readily… “Commoners are your enemy?”

  “Not any more. I am one now.”

  “Why would commoners be your enemy? What could they have done to you, a high-ranking noble?”

  Banca didn’t answer.

  Yesenia sighed. “I’m Yesenia, now. Master Gerenet saved me, and I became his personal maid. Please forget that I was ever anyone else.”

  The other girl nodded.

  They stood in the doorway. Banca’s face was slack, and while she looked at Yesenia, her eyes weren’t focused.

  Camp therapy was the only therapy that Yesenia knew. Soft words and reassurances didn’t keep people alive out there. Only straight, hard facts.

  “You know, if you want people to start liking you, you should stop looking at them like that.”

  “I’m sorry, I just…lost everything.”

  “You’re alive, aren’t you?”

  Banca shifted her gaze to the ground.

  Yesenia sighed again. “Come on,” she said and, walking through Banca’s room, pulled Banca into the bathroom.

  “What are you doing?”

  Pulling a pair of hand clippers out of her storage, Yesenia held them up. “We’re going to even out your hair so you don’t look like you have ringworms.”

  The whole situation made Yesenia feel like she’d gone back in time, comforting someone she didn’t care about, clipping their hair. When she entered Dyntril, she’d thought those days were over.

  Now, here she was shaving a head like it had ringworms, a thankless task that Yesenia never wanted to do again. So many kids got them. So few adults cared. Thinking back on it, Yesenia was thankful that both she and Xav escaped that torture.

  “Here, just…get in the tub and lay your head back, over the rim.”

  While Banca was doing as she was told, Yesenia got the trash can and placed it under the lip of the tub. Adjusting the clippers to leave about a centimeter of hair, Yesenia showed them to Banca.

  “I’ll cut it short now, and we’ll do it again in a week when the spots close to your scalp grow in. That will give it a nice, even look when you grow it back out.”

  “Thank you.”

  Yesenia clipped around Banca’s hair, evening it out as she promised. At least this time, she didn’t have to go steal old wine to pour on Banca’s head to get rid of ringworms. She also didn’t have to worry about getting infected.

  “So, Banca, do you want to tell me why you didn’t dodge?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I saw your eyes. You knew what was coming, but you still stood there and took it. You could have died.”

  “I couldn’t have dodged that.”

  “Yani shit.”

  “Maybe I deserve to. Maybe Natya was right.”

  Yesenia stopped her clipping. “You’ve been given a second chance. Don’t spit in their faces again.”

  Banca didn’t respond.

  Pulling Banca’s head back again, Yesenia resumed clipping. “Look, I know your life sucks right now, but you have three people who have valid reasons to hate you fighting for your life. You know I’m a commoner, but do you know where I’m from?”

  “No, just that you were in Class E.”

  “I’m a camper. I don’t even remember who my parents were. As shitty as being a Class E kid was, it was still a step up from the camps.”

  “What’s your point?”

  Yesenia paused her clipping. “That people who have it worse than you are still fighting to live.”

  “Excellent motivational speech, group leader.”

  “I know it’s not some switch you can flip, but if you want to survive, this fatalistic act you have going on right now needs to stop. It won’t be easy, but you don’t have that luxury anymore. Live or die. To mope is to die.”

  “Is that the Rule of Yesenia?”

  “If you want to call it that.” With one last snip, Yesenia vanished the clippers and rotated Banca’s head. “All good.”

  Banca sat up in the tub. “Thanks.”

  “You say that a lot.”

  “Should I not?”

  “No, I didn’t say it was bad; in fact, it’s good. Those people I was talking about in the camps? They have friends. They have allies. You need some, and ‘thanks’ goes a long way for it.”

  Banca spun around in the tub and looked at Yesenia. “Will you be my friend? Will you be my ally?” With her tone, it was hard to tell if Banca was being serious or sarcastic, but even if it was the latter, it was half-filled with truth.

  Yesenia smiled. “I won’t not be, but it’s too early for me to say yes.”

  Banca nodded. “Will those girls be over again tomorrow?”

  “Maybe? Belinia will be for sure.”

  “Okay…thanks.”

  Banca stood and walked to the door that led to her room.

  Yesenia called out to her, “Hey, wait. Don’t you want to take a bath? I’ll clean it out and fill it for you.”

  Pausing with her hand on the door, Banca stared at the knob. “I just want to sleep tonight.”

  “Okay, sure.”

  “But, tomorrow, do you think you can show me how to do it?”

  “You don’t know how to take a bath?”

  “What? No. How to prepare it.”

  “You…want to know how to prepare the bath?”

  Banca nodded.

  Yesenia smiled. A goal. A task. That would help. “Sure. I can do that. I’ll show you.”

  “Thank you, Yesenia.”

  The following day, Banca still wasn’t able to join classes as the paperwork hadn’t gone through yet. Yesenia was afraid of the girl being alone, but Crystal stuck with the new girl throughout the day, which none of the maids minded.

  Despite Master Gerenet’s assurances that any transformation would be slow, most of the maids were nervous around the animal, and they were happy to have the dog off their hands.

  Yesenia still wasn’t sure how she felt about the girl. She knew that the Banca who was around now wasn’t the same as the one who so savagely tortured Reianna, and she also knew that she wouldn’t be the same girl as she would be in half a year. Her wounds were still too fresh.

  When it was time for Yesenia to prepare Master Gerenet’s bath, she called Banca in and showed her how it was done. Once again, the girl thanked Yesenia, then left. During dinner and the time when Class E played in the hall, Banca holed herself up in her room, avoiding everyone.

  It wasn’t until Belinia, Natya, and Stasha came to her room that Yesenia saw Banca again. They were deciding on who would bathe first when Banca knocked on the door.

  Natya stiffened and stared at the door as if she could somehow kill the girl on the other side with her gaze alone, through the door.

  “Don’t do anything,” Yesenia warned her.

  Natya didn’t respond.

  Yesenia opened the door, and Banca stood there in her nightgown.

  “May I come in?” she asked.

  Looking over her shoulder, Yesenia nodded and stepped out of the way when none of the other girls protested.

  “I, uhh, washed the bath for you all.”

  Belinia and Stasha looked at each other. Yesenia raised an eyebrow. Natya stared death.

  “I showed her how to do it earlier today,” Yesenia told her friends. “So, it should be done properly.”

  No one made a move to go to the bath.

  “Natya, you wanna go first?”

  “Actually,” Banca said, “I was hoping to work with Natya on something?”

  “What?” Reianna’s maid said.

  “Your fingers, yesterday. They were a bit too stiff before the strike. Yesenia, can I borrow a pillow to show her?”

  “Uhh…yeah. Stasha, you want to head in first?”

  Stasha stared at Banca. “Umm, sure.” Though she said it, she didn’t move as she, Belinia, and Yesenia stood and watched Banca give Natya a lesson on how to kill her better.

  When Yesenia told Banca to make friends and allies, she never thought Banca would start with her and her friends. She smiled. She was willing to give it a try, even if it seemed like murder and killing was all that Banca knew.