Chapter 7

"Seraphina, grab me some electric blue taffeta, will you?" I nodded my head as I went to the shelves for fabrics where they were arranged by fabric type and by color. Then I took the electric blue taffeta and bestowed the fabric to Nicia who was busy hand sewing a new cicada gown ordered by Lady Helga. I returned to my seat to finish the bonnet matching the ball gown for Lady Helga. Nicia and I were the ones handling this while my other fellow seamstresses were busy dealing with the new customers from the noble ladies. I took the needle and black laces to sew it to the brim of the blue hat. "Are you going to stay late again, Nicia?" I asked when I continued sewing. Nicia glanced at me. "Probably. It is not as if we have a choice. We didn't even have a break for work, Seraphina." She grinned. I chuckled, huffing. "You are right." But I sighed one more time. "I do not know what to explain again to Sander if I come home late and he is waiting for me again." "If only Madam Ibanez was considerate of our working hours and paid us with the right amount..." She paused when the door swung open, revealing the woman in her fifties wearing a vivid yellow gown and miniature hat on her head serving as headwear. "Speaking of the bitch..." I mouthed at Nicia causing her to grin. We both flinched when Madam Ibanez slammed our working table. "Did I even pay the two of you just to chit-chat?!" We lowered our heads immediately as we both exchanged meaningful glances. "M-My apologies, Madam Ibanez," I spoke in my sincerest tone. I winced in pain when she grabbed my hair and forced me to look at her. "Apologies? Apologies? Do you think that shall be enough to compensate for catching you two chit-chatting at work? Do you want your debts to escalate dramatically, you ungrateful bitch?" I bit my lower lip, not wanting to cry as I endured the pain I felt at the roots of my hair. She grabbed my hair like she wanted to take them out. Then the next thing Madam Ibanez suddenly made me feel dizzy. "Seraphina!" I held my forehead when we all heard the loud thud of my head being hit on the table. I didn't cry when she left me thereafter I heard Nicia's cry when Madam Ibanez pulled her hair as well. Unlike me, she didn't bang her head on the table. "If I ever catch you two again chit-chatting, perhaps, twenty lashes with wolfsbane must be the suitable punishment for the two of you!" I groaned as my lips quivered when I touched my forehead seeing blood in it. There was a huge impact she created by banging my head on the edge of the table. "Are you alright, Seraphina?" Nicia asked as she approached me and checked me. "I'm alright..." I scoffed, didn't shed a tear. She fished out her handkerchief and went to the sink to soak it in water before she tended me to clean the blood from my head. "This pain is nothing compared to when I gave birth to my son, Nicia." I chuckled softly. Nicia shook her head. "But it is still painful. Tsk. Madam Ibanez really does not know her limits when hurting her workers..." she sobbed. "We are werewolves so the wounds will heal quickly." I shrugged as soon she was done cleaning my forehead and head. "We must get back to work. We didn't want to get caught by madam." I sighed and massaged my temple when I felt a little dizzy from that banging of my head. Nicia wanted to protest but she nodded her head and agreed. I went home by the time it was already ten in the evening. I was walking my way back home when I came to see a shop where some of the people were eating some good meals. I sighed and averted my eyes from them, ignoring how they smelled so good. But I didn't have much earnings because I was penniless and didn't get proper wages from Madam Ibanez. It was always inadequate even if we met the date set to expect by our noble clients. I arrived in a dilapidated flat after walking for fifteen minutes from the shop of Madam Ibanez. I opened the door and locked it. Then I got teary-eyed seeing my son hugging a stuffed toy beside him while he was sleeping on the crumbling couch. I knelt before him. "You were waiting for me, weren't you?" I sniffed after whispering as I kissed his forehead before I decided to bring him to my bedroom. I melted and felt helpless because of my situation. I went to my small dining room where a small kitchen was also there. I cried when I saw that Sander made dinner for me. It was a rice porridge my son made for me. He was only six years old yet he already learned so fast what he must cook just by teaching him a few recipes I knew. "Sander..." I enjoyed eating it while I felt bad as a mother that my son was already doing this for me. I would make it up to him. As always. It was a good thing that I have a day off tomorrow. I went to check my savings hidden under the bedside table. I bit my lower lip. I only have two gold coins, a few silver coins, and some copper coins saved here from working at Madam Ibanez's tailoring shop. I glanced at my son who was sleeping soundly. Perhaps, I could take my son to the nearest public garden here or maybe to a seaside here in Alverton. I looked at the wardrobe where my wolf was urging me to check it. I hid the money I saved and went to Sander and I's wardrobe to see the wooden box that has a lock on it. Sighing, I caressed it and shook it a little causing them to be clinking. I used the locked key I had and opened them. There, I saw a bunch of gold coins and a few pieces of luxury jewelry I had never touched for years. "I think it is time for us to live in a decent flat..." I sighed seeing the rundown surrounding. I chose to stay with my son because I never intended to use them that came from... the past. The only asset I brought when I ran away. I was not spending this money because I was afraid of being detected by that man. Also, I would only use it if Sander was sick and I needed a doctor to treat him, especially if he had a high fever or some illness I didn't know how to treat. I even used it to purchase a potion to heal him. I sighed and stared outside the window. I wonder how he is right now. Since I ran away from our pack, I never had any news when I traveled away from the Rising Diamond pack located at Penrith took three days to get there. I stayed by my son's side as soon as I got to decide where we must go for my day off. I gently combed his hair and planted a soft kiss for my little boy-no, he was my little man because Sander grew mature as soon as he realized that we were living in poverty. I hate to see that he also had to be more understanding that his mother needed to work hard just so we could have a good life. "Mama..." Sander said, half-asleep. He rubbed and tried to look at me with his droopy amber eyes. He wanted to see if I was already here. "Shh... It's alright, son. You can go back to sleep..." I gently combed his hair and kissed his forehead one more time. His frail little hands clung to my neck as he buried his face in the crook of my neck. "Mama, I missed you..." I got teary-eyed and hugged him. "I know, my little man. Mama missed you, too. My apologies for always coming so late and going out so early for work..." Oh, Sander... I missed my son and I spent less of my time with him. It hurts to see that my son would have to beg for my time and I needed to work to provide for the needs he needed. "Mama... I understand..." Then I heard his soft snore after he spoke. I heaved out a sigh. "Oh, Sander..." I swear, I will make amends with you, my son.