Destiny's Child

Later, after Leah had finished her bath, when she was in bed, she thought about the last few years of her married life. It had been a sweet dream which turned into a dull, lethargic and sometimes intolerable nightmare. She forced the thoughts from her mind and prepared for sleep. One arm curled around her stomach as if protecting her baby from the terrors of the night, Leah soon fell into a dreamless sleep. Mye had gone back at the window and was gazing at the moon again when she heard her mistress snoring gently. She turned and looked to confirm that Leah was asleep. Then she turned back to the window to gaze at the moon, which was now high in the night sky. Her eyes followed the clouds that skimmed across its surface. Mye was twelve years old. She had been with Leah for two years now and although she was young, her mistress had come to trust her and depend on her. Mye was a strange and unusual child, just like her name, prone to day dreaming and a little fey, people said. It did not matter to Leah who took to the girl from the beginning and the girl in turn loved the lady. Now as Mye sat staring at the huge moon, she felt a cold chill run through her. At the same time the mistress stirred and murmured something unintelligible. Mye shivered and moved away from the window. She checked that her mistress was still asleep and then Mye got into her little cot at the side of the bed and curled up to sleep