Seven of the Deadliest

A Story by Mary-Anne

Here is an unfinished story of which i have some serious writers block so any suggestions are more than welcome. Thanks! ok backstory, the seven members of the family each house one of the seven deadly sins inside of them... enjoy!

Seven of the Deadliest.

Wrath. Gluttony. Greed. Envy. Sloth. Pride. Lust.

I stared into the window of the shop. Little sticky notes covered the entire expanse of glass. The notes proclaimed advertisements for houses and jobs. Each one screamed at me with yet another garish colour. Job. I needed the money desperately since my rent was two months overdue and I couldn't possibly ask the landlord again for another month of free living. My eyes scanned row after row of sticky notes until my eye rested upon one. It was for a maid. I had to clean a seven bedroom house just east of the town. I looked at how much it paid and did a double take. That much money for a maid! I practically ran inside and completely startled the cashier when I demanded the little pink sticky note. I hastily copied the note, thanked the bewildered woman and sped out. The interview (if you could call it an interview) was tomorrow but already my nerves began to show.

The next morning I scrambled out of my tiny flat and got in my old car. It only took five times to try and get her started; a personal best. I drove east. Although this “interview” was for just a maids job, my heart was still skittering around my chest.

“Jeez, calm down Halie!” I muttered to myself.

I would have turned on the radio to avert my thoughts but unfortunately two weeks ago it had been stolen. Just my luck. I sighed and turned left into the house's driveway. The house was huge and it was no wonder they were paying that much for a maid. I got out of the car and walked across the endless driveway. I gazed up at the huge oak door and lifted the heavy brass knocker. I knocked loudly. The door was opened by a woman probably in her thirties. She had curls of auburn hair that fell to her waist. She was quite tall (she towered over me, but then again who doesn't) and had, unbelievably, purple eyes. She gave me a smile,showing off gleaming pearls for teeth.

“How can I help you? I assume your here for the job?”

“Yes ma'am. Sorry, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Halie Goldman.” I said shakily.

“Oh, well come in please. My name is Lucera. Please follow me.”

I thanked her and wondered. Lucera; it was a name I had never even heard of. I wonder where it originated bec-

“Please, make yourself comfortable.”

My mouth fell to my feet. We were in a room so big I could have fit about five of my flats in to this space. I heard chuckling from behind me.

“Sorry!” I apologized.

Lucera laughed again and told me to take a seat. The rest of the family would be here soon. I appeared to be the first one there and I sat twiddling my thumbs for a while before the second applicant arrived. I nodded briefly at him but that was all the communication we had. Three or four more arrived and sat down in the vast expanse of room. All this hype made it feel like a real interview for a business job. Finally, Lucera popped her head round the door and called my name. I hadn't realised how much I was shaking until I followed Lucera into a slightly smaller room across the hall. Six figures were sitting at a long table facing a lonely chair in the middle of the room. Was this an interview or an interrogation? Lucera joined the six people at the table. Lucera spoke,

“Halie, this is Greyson my husband.”

She nodded to a tall man wearing a grey suit that looked very expensive. He had jet black hair, had a young face and, again, he had strange coloured eyes. They were like liquid gold.

“This is my eldest, Glenard.”

She pointed out a boy who had light blonde hair and eyes the colour of copper. He was classically handsome.

“My next oldest, Primrose.”

Primrose was a stunning girl who had hair of an angel. It was like spun gold. Her eyes were a bright shade of pink.

“Then we have Wray.”

He had hair so black it was almost blue in the light. He was also very pale and his eyes only accentuated his pallor because they were the colour of blood. He sent shivers down my spine.

“And finally we have Enola.”

She pointed to a sullen faced girl who had dark brown hair the colour of melted chocolate. Her eyes contrasted with her pale skin as they were bright acid green.

I felt like a moth amidst a horde of butterflies. If I hadn't been sitting down my knees would have given way two minutes ago. The rest of the interview (yes, it was officially an interview now) went past in a haze. Lucera and Greyson asked me a few questions which, as usual I babbled for too long after they had asked the question but they laughed and even sullen faced Enola smiled. I was told by Lucera to wait outside. We would know who got the job after the last applicants interview.

The wait was a long and agonizing one. I kept remembering the nightmare of last night. My raving landlord was chasing after me with a rake (it was a dream) demanding money. I sighed and massaged my temples.

* * *

I had never realised how big this house was until I had started to clean it. I thought I had done the entire bottom floor when I realised that there was a door I had missed that contained another huge room.

I first noticed that wherever I was, I seemed to be avoided. I don't just mean that they didn't go in the same room as me but the entire floor I was on seemed to be deserted. I didn't even hear them talking in another room. It made me uneasy and it felt as if I was being watched. I kept looking over my shoulder expecting to see someone or something but there was always nothing. I was given a key and my money was left out everyday so I never saw a soul.

One afternoon I was heading out after a long day of work. I realised that I had forgotten my I-pod in the kitchen. Annoyed with myself I walked into the kitchen and stopped suddenly. Wray was in the kitchen with his back to me. I knew I shouldn't be in here with him so I tried to be as quiet as possible and sneak to my I-pod but I didn't quite go according to plan.

“I know your here”, Wray said.

Startled, I tripped over my own feet (yes, I'm not quite sure how I did it but I did) and fell to the floor pulling down a couple of pans for good measure. I could feel my face burning with embarrassment. Hastily I got up and started picking up the pans some of which had large dents in them. When I'm embarrassed I start to babble which is exactly what I did.

“Ohmygosh! I'm so sorry! I'll give you money, do you know how much it will cost? No, don't worry I don't want to cause any more trouble, I'll just leave my pay check. Did I mention I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it an-”

I stopped suddenly because Wray was laughing. His smile softened his face and he was clearly very handsome. I had never seen it before because of the wrath that covered his features. I was mesmerised. His black hair glistened in the light and his smile radiated throughout the room.

Suddenly Wray stopped, his smile falling from his face. It was like it had never been there. Behind me I heard someone clearing their throat. I turned around and saw Greyson standing, statuesque, in the doorway.

“I believe you should be leaving now.”

“Yes... Yes, of course.” I said, keeping my head down.

* * *

“Wray.”

My father stood watching me, disappointment in his face. He took a pace towards me.

“Your mother and I ask one thing of you. Leave the girl. Never acknowledge her. You dare to defy our orders?”

He took another pace towards me and without warning struck me hard upon my face. He made for me again but I caught his wrist before he could make contact.

“Don't touch me, ever!”

I threw his wrist away and stormed out of the room. Before I went upstairs I saw a flash of dark brown hair fly through the front door. Halie... how much had she seen?

* * *

Raw adrenalin pumped through my veins. Something very wrong was happening here. I closed my eyes but it was like the image of Greyson hitting Wray was imprinted on my eyelids.