Chapter 23
1382words
Her life was too precious to be given in exchange for his. There was a knock on the door, "come in" people who had her painting to be auctioned off came walking in. ‘Miss Bernard, we wanted to confirm with you if these pictures are okay with you as well as the edges of the paintings as you instructed has what you wanted so we can proceed with them" she turned in her seat to face them, then her eye landed on the painting accessing each piece. They all held their breath hoping that every detail was just as she wanted it ‘perfection'. One thing Mary had realized about the previous owner of the body was Martha always strived for perfection. Everything she does has to be just right. That's one thing about her that Mary would say they shared.
Mary stood up and walked towards the pictures with her heels clicking. The first picture was the picture of a naked lady in a relaxing pose but classy, another picture was a murder scene, and then the next piece was a total contrast from the rest. The picture had a view of the ocean in all its awe and someone who looked like he was stuck in the Island that was situated in the middle of The Sea.
The quality was evident in each stroke. It showed beauty, creativity and perfection.
These pictures were all painted by her. When she entered Martha's body, she suddenly had the ability to draw. While she looked at the paintings, something caught her eye, one of the words was crooked,
"what have I always said? Pay attention to details". "These pictures are going to be sold for 70 million or more. Take it back and redo it" The look on the faces of the auctioneers was one of pure tiredness, "but ma'am can't we just fix on it? It would take a long process and time to get it redone before the auction, this because would have to go back to the company, they would have to take off the whole write-up and do it again which might affect the painting".
She looked the speaker in the face, gave him her meanest glare and said " I don't care take it back and redo the frame. If the picture happens to affected, then I would call of the auction".
They looked at her like she had ran mad "But we have sent out invitations to so many dignitaries and we have funds coming in for the action ma'am". Running her hands through the painting she spoke slowly "I don't care and this would be the last time I would repeat this".
They gave defeated looks "yes ma'am" they hurried out of her office to make sure that they got the work done and with perfection as expected. The whole office was on their toes to make the project a success. Mary walked towards her seat and thought to herself "what next now?" She then remembered her date and that she had 48 hours and the day was almost over. She needed to say Ben's name. "What do I do" The intercom interrupted her thought. Answering it she hears the voice of her secretary "Miss Bernard there is someone here to see you". She sighed hoping it was someone reasonable "okay let the person in" she said. "Yes ma'am" her sectary ushers her visitor into her office and of course! it was no other person than the devil himself. Night Cross walked in with so much poise and confidence it was sure that every lady at her office couldn't get their eyes off him. Mary noticed she did not panic as much as she used to neither were her palms sweaty. She must have gotten used to the presence of Night Cross. As soon as she thought of this she shuddered.
Without waiting for an invitation, Cross sat down on the sit across and folded his leg.
"So Mary, something about the look in your eye tells me you have made a decision on who you are willing to give up" he reached into the inner pocket of his black suit that fitted to his body, making him look like a Model. He brought out a small purple vile and dropped it on the table. She looked at the bottle, it was small and enchanting,there was something about it that felt odd.
"Why are you giving me this?" She Said looking suspiciously at the bottle, "Good question, well the last time I made this easy for you, you just had to call the name three times but this time you will be more involved you know.
She squeezed her eye brow "what do you mean?" he raised two fingers and she noticed she had lost her ability to speak. She began to panic and sweat all over.
She had forgotten who she was talking to, she got too comfortable. "Peace and quiet Mary let me continue. So, as I was saying, what I was trying to tell you is that you would have to make him drink this when you call his name three times. Don't worry I know it's difficult to poison someone because they would ask why you won't drink with them too. If you drink this Mary nothing will happen to you but if the person you called three times drinks this, the persons soul will be forever doomed". He gave a wicked smirk, "so what do you say Mary" he leaned back on the chair looking at her. "What do you say Mary? Oh, my bad I forgot you can't talk" he snaps his finger and she breathed out heavily
"this was not the deal" she said, anger and pain making her breath harder
"but I never had any fixed deal with you and have forgotten who I am Mary? I am the Devil" as soon as he said that last word, he disappeared.
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Getting rid of the evidence that she had poisoned the guests was all Martha could think of. If anyone found out that she was responsible, she was done, and all her plans would fall out of place. Stuffing the bottle into her apron, she walked in a fast pace but tried her best to be unsuspicious. She had to get rid of the evidence tonight, Lady Winston had gone through a frantic craze and had begun searching servants' quarters, she believed someone had poisoned guests and she was correct.
Martha was just about to open the door leading out of the house to the garden shed when she heard her name being called " Mary, Lady Winston has requested you be brought to her this minute. Please she asked me to return with you and you know what she would do if I come back without you". The servant begged.
Martha knew the maid was correct, if she didn't go with the maid, she risked the girl being punished for nothing. She prayed she wasn't caught today and whatever she was being called for was nothing serious.
On getting to the Library where Lady Winston was, she noticed the stress lines on her face, the events of the past week had really put a toll on her. "Mary, I need a book from this cupboard, it's Amelias favorite book, find it and bring it to me". She didn't even spare Martha a glance and walked out. Great, now she was stuck with a cupboard twice her height and a book she didn't know about. Climbing a stool to start from the top, she went through rows of books until she saw something that looked like what was described to her. Just as she was to reach for it, she lost her footing, closing her eyes, she braced herself for the fall.
