You will hear the children if they cry or callplease attend to them.
Cassie felt confused and disoriented. She wished she could turn on a bedside light and take a few minutes to calm herself. The dream had been so vivid she still felt locked inside it. But the screaming must have started while she was asleepit might, in fact, have caused her nightmare. She was needed urgently, and she had to hurry.
She pushed the duvet back, discovering the window hadnt been properly closed. Rain had blown in through the gap, and the lower section of the covers was dripping wet. She stepped out of bed into the blackness and headed across the room in the direction she hoped her phone would be.
A slick of water on the floor had turned the tiles to ice. She skidded, losing her footing and landing with a painful thud on her back. Her head banged against the bedframe and her vision exploded into stars.
Goddammit, she whispered, easing herself onto her hands and knees and waiting for the pain in her head, and the dizziness, to subside.
She crawled across the tiles and felt around for her phone, hoping it had escaped the floodwater. To her relief, this side of the room was dry. She turned on the flashlight, clambering painfully to her feet. Her head was throbbing and her shirt was drenched. She ripped it off and quickly pulled on the first clothes she could finda pair of tracksuit bottoms and a gray top. Barefoot, she hurried out of the room.
She shone her flashlight onto the walls but there were no light switches nearby. Carefully, she followed its beam in the direction of the sound, heading toward the Duboiss suites. The room closest to theirs would be Ellas bedroom.
Cassie knocked quickly and went in.
Thankfully, light at last. In the glow of the ceiling lamp she could see the single bed near the window where Ella had kicked off her duvet. Shouting and screaming in her sleep, she was fighting the demons of her dream.
Ella, wake up!
Closing the door, Cassie hurried over and sat on the edge of the bed, gently grasping the sleeping girls shoulders and feeling them hunched and shuddering. Her dark hair was matted, her pajama top bunched up. Shed kicked her blue duvet to the bottom of the bedshe must be cold.
Wake up, its OK. Youre just having a bad dream.
Theyre coming to get me! Ella sobbed, struggling to get out of her grasp. Theyre coming, theyre waiting at the door!
Cassie held her firmly and eased her into a sitting position, dragging a pillow behind her as she smoothed her rumpled top. Ella was shaking with fear. The way shed referred to they made Cassie wonder if it was a recurring nightmare. What was happening in Ellas life to trigger such vivid terror in her dreams? The young girl was completely traumatized, and Cassie had no idea of the best way to soothe her. She had vague memories of Jacqui, her sister, waving a broom at a cupboard to chase off an imaginary monster. But that terror had its roots in reality. The nightmares had started after Cassie had hidden in the cupboard during one of her fathers drunken rages.
She wondered whether Ellas fear was also grounded in something that had happened. Shed have to try and find out later, but for now, she needed to convince her that the demons had gone.
Nobodys coming for you. Its all OK. Take a look. Im here and the lights on.
Ellas eyes opened wide. Tear-filled, they stared at Cassie for a moment and then her head turned, focusing on something behind her.
Still spooked by her own nightmare and Ellas insistence on seeing them, Cassie looked quickly round, her heart accelerating as the door banged open.
Margot stood in the doorway, hands on hips. She wore a turquoise silk dressing gown and her blonde hair was tied in a loose braid. Her perfect features were marred only by a residual smudge of mascara.
Fury emanated from her and Cassie felt her insides shrink.
What took you so long? Margot snapped. Ellas crying woke us up, it went on for hours! We had a late nightwe are not paying you to have our sleep disturbed!
Cassie stared at her, confused by the fact that Ellas well-being was seemingly the last thing on Margots mind.
Im sorry, she said. Ella was clinging to her and making it impossible for her to stand and face her employer. I came as soon as I heard her, but the light in the bedroom had blown, it was completely dark, so it took me a while to get
Yes, it took you too long, and this is now your first warning! Pierre works long hours and he becomes angry when the children wake him.
But With a surge of defiance, the question sprang to Cassies lips. Couldnt you have come to Ella if you heard her crying? Its my first night, and I didnt know where anything was in the dark. Ill do better next time, I promise, but I mean, shes your child and she was having a terrible dream.
Margot stepped toward Cassie, her face taut. For a moment Cassie thought she was going to offer a snapped apology and that they would reach a strained truce together.
But that didnt happen.
Instead, Margots hand whipped out and she struck Cassie hard across the face.
Cassie bit back a scream, blinking tears away as Ellas cries escalated. Her cheek burned from the blow, the bump on her head was throbbing harder, and her mind was reeling in horror from the realization that her new employer was violent.
Before you were hired, a kitchen maid did your duties. And can do so again, we have many servants. This is your second warning. I do not tolerate laziness, nor staff talking back. Your third offense will mean instant dismissal. Now, stop the childs crying, so we can get some sleep at last.
She marched out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Frantically, Cassie bundled Ella in her arms, feeling overwhelming relief as her loud sobs subsided.
Its OK, she whispered. Its all right, dont worry. Next time Ill come to you sooner, I will be able to find my way better. Would you like me to sleep here the rest of the night? And we could leave your bedside lamp on to be extra safe?
Yes, please stay. You can help stop them coming back, Ella whispered. And leave the light on. I dont think they like it.
The room was furnished in shades of neutral blue, but the bedside lamp, with its pink lampshade, was a bright and comforting item.
Even as she consoled Ella, Cassie felt ready to throw up, and realized her hands were trembling violently. She wriggled under the covers, glad of their warmth because she was freezing cold.
How could she possibly keep working for an employer who verbally and physically abused her in front of the children? It was unthinkable, inexcusable, and it brought back too many of her own memories that shed managed to forget. First thing in the morning, she should pack up and get out.
But shed received no payment yet; shed have to wait till months end to have any money at all. There was no way she could afford the taxi ride back to the airport, never mind the expense of changing her flight ticket.
There was also the question of the children.
How could she leave them in the hands of this violent, unpredictable woman? They needed someone to care for themespecially young Ella. She could not sit here, consoling her and promising everything would be all right, only to disappear the very next day.
With a sick feeling, Cassie realized there was no choice. She could not leave at this point. She was financially and morally compelled to stay.
Shed just have to try and balance on the tightrope of Margots temper, to avoid committing her third and final offense.