Millicent's POV
I look around and saw that I still had alot more to do but the heat was draining and I was getting tired. I prayed for the strength to complete my chores today.
I wiped the perspiration from my forehead with the back of my hands, first with my right and then my left hand before it could slip down into my eyes, blinding me. And then proceeded to wipe them on the apron I had on. My body was soaked with sweat and my palms were very dirty from doing the chores all day.
I finished sweeping the training arena as well as the reception and dinning halls for the top officials and council of elders.
Then, I bent down to scrub, the sweat pouring down my body like someone had poured a bucket of water on it. My palms were no longer enough to wipe it, I had to use the apron to wipe my face at least. It was the middle of summer and the weather was really very hot. I got a mop and started mopping the the places I had swept and scrubbed, I do this everyday, at the Alpha's orders, which must be obeyed or be damned.
I heard footsteps and looked up to see it was Cathania. I frowned inwardly, hoping she was not going to pick on me this time.
'Have you really mopped these areas?' she asked indicating the areas I had just mopped.
'Ye...', I started but the word stuck in my throat as I saw that Cathania had covered the floor I had taken pains to scrub and mop with her mud- covered boats. Where she got her boots covered in mud was beyond my comprehension since the grounds were supposed to be dry this time of the year. She had probably gone to the stream or improvised in some way to make my work harder for me. I was sure it was a deliberate action to make my life harder.
Looking at the mess, I was so angry, I could not utter a word. And my stomach growled making me remember I had not eaten anything and needed to ingest something. Cathania smiled smugly to indicate to me that she had heard it too, getting me more furious and embarrassed..
'You could at least have used the doormat', I lashed out, trying to keep the anger out of my voice but failing woefully. 'If you had, there won't be mud all over this place! You do not know the first thing about scrubbing, so you wouldn't know how hard it is!'
'Are you speaking to me that way?' Cathania asked. 'How dare you take that tone with me!' Cathania was the lover of Alpha Sylvester and it was rumoured that she was going to be his Luna. But why she chose to pick on me everytime, was something I just could not understand.
As I looked round the sullied reception area, I felt like throttling Cathania.
'Get started with your work before I make a report of your lackadaisical attitude to your chores to Alpha Sylvester', she threatened.
I swallowed the sharp comeback that was on the tip of my mouth and bent to start mopping the arena all over again, seething impotently.
Cathania hissed as she walked out, stamping her feet as she did. I heaved a sigh, thinking that I got off easily this time, but there was no such luck as she came back with the dirty doormat and flipped it on the floor, allowing sand and dust particles to fly in all directions.
The mop slipped from my hand as I looked furiously at Cathania. But my fury only amused her. I imagined myself giving her a slap that would get her pale face red but I knew I could not dare and I bit my lip in frustration.
'Get on with your chores beggar maid', she taunted. 'I have other interesting things to do, things like being with my fiance. Else, I would have spent more quality time with you'. And off she went, swinging her waist, leaving me to clear the mess she had made. I watched her leave, seething, and unable to do anything about my fury except to attack the chore with vehemence. My stomach growled again, and with great effort, I picked the broom and started sweeping off the dirt and dust particles before proceeding to mop all over again, all the while, sobbing silently in rage, cursing my fate for being so unlucky. Then I looked up, screaming out my frustrations in my head: It is getting too much, How much longer will I have to endure this before justice is served? Will I get my revenge when I slump and die? Oh Moon goddess, you have to come to my aid.