[ WP ] You are a butler for a rather wealthy couple . They 're serial killers , brutal notorious ones , hiding in plain sight , but you serve them . The only reason you are alive is because they you wo n't say anything . They know you ca n't .

`` The tea's cold again, Vik,'' the mistress spits out, flinging the pot at me and drenching my crisp suit. 
 
 `` I'm sorry, Madame,'' I say, willing myself to maintain calm. `` You awoke later than usual today.'' 
 
 `` Did I ask you for excuses?'' she hisses, blue eyes flashing with anger as she stands faster than my eyes can register. In an instant, her bright red nails are slowly raking their way down my throat. I swallow my fear. 
 
 `` No, Madame,'' I say quietly, directing my gaze toward the floor. 
 
 `` That's what I thought,'' she says, her sour breath tickling my face. She grabs the damp collar of my shirt and yanks me toward the ground. My vision goes blurry as the marble hits my cheekbone. I let out a groan as I feel the bruise begin to form. 
 
 `` Clean yourself up, Viktor. You look a mess,'' she says with an uninterested wave of her hand as she sits. I make my way back to my feet at the dismissal and sink into a short bow. 
 
 `` Yes, Madame Hunter.'' 
 
 `` Do n't forget that we're having Mrs. Mavis and her husband over for dinner tonight to discuss a potential business collaboration. Be ready to act in case things do n't work out,'' she says, a familiar evil glinting in her eye for a moment before she dismisses me with a wave once more. I give another bow, attempting not to shudder at her words as I walk up the stairs. 
 
 I make a quick stop before going to my chambers. There was only one room in the mansion that I am forbidden from entering, but it's the only room I care to visit. 
 
 She's tied against the wall as usual, eyes closed and chin pressing against a filthy shirt. As I open the door as quietly as I can, she opens her eyes, and it's my eyes that stare back at me. 
 
 `` Hey, Gracie,'' I whisper, feeling myself tear up. 
 
 Her eyes light up. `` Daddy!'' she whispers back. 
 
 She looks worse than usual. In the dim lighting, the bruises on her cheeks appear black. Her blonde hair is matted and filthy, but her eyes look so alive and excited that I can feel my heart tearing in two. 
 
 She should n't be like this. Things should have never happened this way. Less than a year ago, we were well off and happy. My wife had n't wanted to take the invitation. 
 
 *'I've heard rumors about the Hunter family. Apparently they're a nasty bunch to deal with,' she'd said to me that day. * 
 
 *'How bad can they be, Julia? It could be a good opportunity for us,' I had countered. * 
 
 *'I do n't know. Besides, there's no way we could find someone to watch Grace on such short notice.'* 
 
 *'It's just dinner. We'll bring her with us.'* 
 
 *'I guess...'* 
 
 I shake my head out of the past. Grace is watching me expectantly, and it takes me a second to remember where I was. 
 
 I undo the bonds on her wrist as fast as I can. She rubs the red, swollen skin with her small hands as I reach into my pocket and pull out a slice of bread that I had snagged from the kitchens this morning. 
 
 `` It might be wet,'' I say apologetically, but she wolfs it down regardless. 
 
 `` I have to go now,'' I say, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. She reaches her hands out, and I re-tie her wrists carefully, attempting to perfectly replicate the knot as it was before. 
 
 `` Love you, Dad,'' she says. 
 
 `` Love you too,'' I reply. `` I'll bring you some water tonight if I can.'' 
 
 `` Okay.'' 
 
 I focus on getting dinner ready for tonight's company. I begin to prepare six plates: two for my master and mistress, two for Mrs. Mavis and her husband, and two extra'in case things do n't work out'. 
 
 At around 4 o' clock, I pause preparations and proceed to make my mistress' afternoon tea. It's oolong, her favorite kind. The same kind that me and Julia enjoyed that night as we waited for the meal. 
 
 *'My apologies, I must go check on dinner,' the mistress had said. Julia and I had nodded politely as she headed out. * 
 
 *'This is crazy!' Julia had said the moment she was out of earshot.'What she's proposing will end with us giving all our money to her on a silver platter.'* 
 
 *'I know,' I had replied quietly as I took a sip of my tea.'We'll just say no. It's not like they can force us.'* 
 
 *'Looks like dinner's done!' Madame Hunter said, a large grin on her face as she waltzed back into the room. * 
 
 *'Come on, Grace,' Julia had said coaxingly as she shook our five year old awake, pushing blonde curls that matched her own out of eyes, bright green just like mine.'It's time to eat!'* 
 
 I stir the milk in, adding a sugar cube as more memories rush to the surface of my mind. 
 
 *'I do hope you enjoy the food. It's a family dish, courtesy of my butler,' Mrs. Hunter said with a nod to the corner of the room, where a man in a crisp white suit gave a small bow. * 
 
 *'We've thought about your offer, Mrs. Hunter,' I began,'but I think we're going to have to decline.'* 
 
 *'Is that right?' the mistress asked mockingly, a look of amusement in her eyes.'What a shame. I really did like you.'* 
 
 *Julia and I exchanged a panicked look of confusion.'What do you mean?' she had asked cautiously. * 
 
 *'My offers are n't the kind that can be rejected.' In a split second, she had reached across the table and impaled a kitchen knife into Julia's chest. * 
 
 Suddenly filled with anger, I reach over and open the cupboard that I despise. I grab the leaves and tear off one, breaking it into bits that I sprinkle into the tea. 
 
 *'Grace. We're going. Grace!'' I had shouted, shock completely taking over my body. I was completely frozen as Lady Hunter slowly walked stood up, red heels clicking as she grabbed my shaking child and pulled her into an embrace. * 
 
 *'Shh, it's okay,' she cooed.'I'm not going to hurt you, little one. Unless* you *try anything funny,' she said with a pointed look in my direction. * 
 
 *'You're... not going to h-hurt her? To k-kill... us?' I said in disbelief. * 
 
 *'No,' she said with a click of her tongue.'I've got an opening for a new butler. As it seems, this one just is n't cutting it.'* 
 
 *Faster than the poor man could register, she had drawn a sharp knife from her boot and thrown it his way with deadly accuracy. She turned back to me without missing a beat and gave me a mischievous grin.'Welcome aboard.'* 
 
 I knock on the door to my mistress' chambers and enter when I hear a faint `` Come in''. 
 
 `` Your tea, Mistress Bella,'' I say with a small bow. 
 
 `` It better not be cold this time,'' she said with a frown, taking a sip. 
 
 `` Do n't worry, Madame. It wo n't be.''
