The new maid wanted to find out why the owner’s daughter was crying in her room at night. But when she entered the teenager’s room…

Trying not to make a sound, 27-year-old Elizaveta Andreyevna Malinkina carefully walked down the hallway toward the room of Alice, the owner’s 14-year-old daughter. She needed to check if the girl was asleep so she could finally rest herself.

Liza had been working at billionaire Voropaev’s house for two weeks, taking the place of her older sister Antonina, who had suddenly fallen ill during their vacation. She had to take over her duties. This job was very important to the family, as the salary here was much higher than anywhere else in their neighborhood. Antonina had two children: Marina, 14, and Vanechka, six.

The job was simple: keep the house in order and, if possible, avoid being noticed by the owners. But there was a “but”: on days when Alexey Voropaev and his fiancée Anzhelika were away, Elizaveta had to spend the night at the mansion.

Alexey Anatolyevich had a daughter, Alice, and on those nights, she was left alone in the enormous house. The servants’ quarters were at the other end of the property.

Already on the stairs, Liza heard crying. She looked at the clock: it was three in the morning.

“What’s this strange thing? Crying again… this isn’t usual anymore?” she muttered to herself.

The woman gathered her courage and knocked on the door. She wanted to know what was going on. She was sure something serious had happened. If the girl had such a privileged life, why would she be crying?

Although her sister had strictly warned her: “Don’t show yourself in front of the owners,” Malinkina decided to enter. Instead of just listening behind the door, she flung it open and entered the room.

“What are you doing here? Who let you in?! Get out right now! I’ll call security!” Alice yelled and threw a pillow at the maid.

Liza deftly caught it and threw it back at once. The pillow hit the landlady’s daughter directly on the head.

“How dare you?! I’ll tell Dad and you’ll be fired!” the girl exclaimed indignantly.

“Fire me, I don’t care,” the woman replied sarcastically. “It’s unbearable to live in your house. It’s never peaceful, even at night. Someone is constantly crying. Don’t you know who it is?” She smiled. “Oh, that’s right, it’s you. Maybe Dad didn’t give you the right star from the sky, or you broke a fake nail.”

Alice burst into tears:

“You don’t understand anything! If you only knew how much I suffer!”

“I understand, it’s hell,” Liza nodded. “If I were driven to school in a luxury car at 14, I’d cry too.”

“Why?” the girl asked, surprised.

“We used to go swimming after school, pick mushrooms in the fall, sometimes go to a cafe for ice cream. And you? No one visits you, you have no one to talk to.”

Malinkina headed for the door, but Alice stopped her:

“How do you make friends? I don’t have any.”

“None?” the woman was surprised.

“None. I used to have a mother, then my parents divorced. They sent me to study abroad, I got sick there, and my father brought me back.”

“Why do you live with your father and not your mother?” Liza asked, sensing a familiar ache.

“Mom doesn’t want to see me. She has a new family: a husband and small children.”

“Did she tell you that herself?”

“No. I haven’t seen her in a long time. My dad tells me that,” Alice sighed.

“What an idiot your dad is!” Elizaveta couldn’t help herself. “Only a completely selfish person would say that to their child.”

“Are you talking about me?” a voice came from the doorway.

They both froze. A man in his thirties entered the room.

“Oh, Dad, are you back yet?” the girl stammered, hiding under the covers.

“Stop calling Anzhelika a bitch,” Voropaev said sternly and turned to Liza: “Who are you and what are you doing in my daughter’s room?”

“I’m the housekeeper. I just wanted to check if she was asleep,” Liza replied embarrassed.

“We warned you: don’t go in, just listen behind the door. If necessary, call Tamara Petrovna, don’t come in here.”

“Yes, I was warned,” the woman lowered her gaze, not wanting to betray Alice.

“You’re fired,” Alexey said coldly and approached his daughter’s bed.

Liza stood there, not knowing where to go. She felt…

Liza felt as if her feet were glued to the floor. Fired. Just like that. She had no other choice but to stand there, her mind reeling from the suddenness of it all. The house, the luxurious rooms, the plush carpets, and the polished furniture—everything she had come to rely on these past two weeks—suddenly felt like a distant dream. But what troubled her the most wasn’t the loss of the job. It was Alice.

The girl sat there, hiding under the covers, trembling slightly. Alexey didn’t seem to notice. His attention was on Liza, cold and harsh.

“Get out of here,” he spat. “You’ve overstepped your bounds. I won’t tolerate such behavior in my house.”

Liza opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. What could she say? Her instincts screamed that there was more to Alice’s pain than just her father’s neglect, and she couldn’t walk away now. But if she left, would it be the end? Would Alice be left alone again?

“I… I’m sorry,” Liza said, forcing the words out. “I shouldn’t have come in. I just wanted to make sure she was okay.”

“Don’t make excuses,” Alexey replied, his tone dismissive. “Leave. Now.”

Liza hesitated, then turned and left the room, the door closing behind her with a soft thud. As she walked down the hallway, her thoughts were a whirlwind. Her heart ached for Alice. The girl’s loneliness was palpable, and Liza had a sinking feeling that Alice wasn’t just lonely. There was something darker at play here.

The Secret the House Holds:

The next morning, Liza left the mansion without a word. Alexey had been distant, his cold gaze following her as she packed her things. His fiancée, Anzhelika, hadn’t been around. Alice’s silence hung in the air like a thick fog, and Liza found it impossible to just walk away.

On her way out, Liza spotted Tamara Petrovna, the older housekeeper, in the hallway.

“Liza, where are you going?” Tamara’s voice was gentle, yet there was an underlying concern in her eyes.

“I’ve been fired,” Liza said, her voice thick with emotion.

Tamara frowned. “That’s strange. You’ve only been here for two weeks, and the family’s always been pleased with you.”

“It’s Alice,” Liza muttered. “I don’t know what’s going on, but something isn’t right. She’s… she’s hurting. I think her father’s neglecting her. But it’s more than that. It’s like there’s a secret here.”

Tamara studied her for a moment, then lowered her voice. “It’s not just neglect, Liza. There’s something else. I’ve been here for years, and I’ve seen things—heard things. The mansion has a history. Alexey and Alice have always had a strained relationship. But it’s deeper than just parental conflict. I think you’ve seen just the tip of the iceberg.”

Liza’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?”

Tamara hesitated. “I don’t know how much you know about Alice’s mother, but… she was more than just a wife. She knew things about this house—about the land it’s built on. I don’t know all the details, but after Alice’s mother left, the atmosphere here changed. The house feels… different now. It’s like there’s something in the walls, watching. I don’t think it’s just psychological. I think there’s something supernatural here.”

Liza shook her head, unsure if she should believe Tamara. But something inside her stirred. She remembered the whispers, the strange noises at night, the cold spots that had made her skin crawl.

“I don’t know what to think,” Liza said softly. “But I’m not leaving until I find out what’s really going on.”

Tamara nodded slowly. “You may regret it, but if you feel that strongly, then you should follow your instincts. But be careful. There are things about this place that shouldn’t be uncovered. Some secrets are better left buried.”

The Investigation Begins:

The next few days were a blur for Liza. She didn’t return to the mansion immediately, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was meant to be there. As she sat in her small apartment, going over everything she had learned, she realized one thing: she had to get answers.

She visited the local library to dig into the history of the mansion. What she found shocked her.

The Voropaev family had lived in the mansion for generations. The property had originally been owned by Alexey’s grandfather, a wealthy landowner who had made his fortune in various industries. But there were rumors. Stories whispered among the older residents of the town about strange occurrences on the estate. The most chilling of them was about a “curse” that had plagued the family for decades. The family had lost several members under mysterious circumstances, with each one seemingly driven mad before their deaths.

Liza couldn’t believe it at first, but as she dug deeper, she found references to Alice’s mother, Irina. She had been the one to break the family curse. She had known about the dark history of the land and had tried to protect her daughter from it.

But it was clear that Alice hadn’t been protected.

Liza’s thoughts raced. She had to go back to the mansion, confront Alexey, and figure out the truth. But how?

The Truth Revealed:

Liza returned to the mansion under the cover of night. She had a plan. She would speak with Alice one last time, make her understand that she wasn’t alone. Together, they would uncover the truth.

When she arrived, the house was eerily quiet. She snuck inside, taking care not to alert anyone to her presence. The house felt colder tonight, and the air was thick with tension.

She found Alice sitting at her desk again, scribbling frantically on a piece of paper. When she saw Liza, Alice’s face lit up, but then her expression faltered.

“Liza, you shouldn’t be here,” Alice whispered. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

Liza ignored her and sat down beside the girl. “I’ve been reading about your family. About your mother.”

Alice went pale. “What did you find?”

“Your mother tried to protect you,” Liza said softly. “She knew about the curse. But I don’t think it’s just a curse. I think it’s something else. Something darker.”

Alice’s eyes filled with tears. “You don’t understand. I… I didn’t know how to stop it. It’s in me. The curse—it’s inside me.”

Liza’s heart ached. “What are you talking about? Alice, you’re not cursed. You just need help.”

“No!” Alice cried, her voice breaking. “It’s real! I’ve seen it. In the mirrors. In the dark. My mother saw it too. She tried to stop it, but it’s too powerful. It’s inside me, and I can’t fight it anymore.”

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Alexey stood in the doorway, his face twisted with rage.

“What did I tell you about speaking to this woman?” he snarled. “She’s gone, Alice. She’s not coming back.”

Liza turned to face him, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and fear. “You’re hiding something. Alice deserves the truth. You can’t keep her locked away in this house forever.”

Alexey’s face twisted with something darker, something primal. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with. I tried to protect her, but you’ll never understand.”

The ground beneath them seemed to tremble, and the air grew thick with an unnatural chill. Liza glanced at Alice, whose face was pale, her eyes wide with fear.

“It’s too late,” Alice whispered. “It’s already begun.”

The room seemed to darken as Alexey stepped forward, his face contorted with a strange, almost demonic intensity. Liza backed away, but Alice remained frozen, her gaze locked on her father. Something in the air shifted, something ancient and malevolent.

Alexey’s voice dropped to a whisper. “It’s time, Alice. You can’t run from it. It’s in your blood.”

Liza’s heart pounded. She had no idea what was happening, but she knew one thing: Alice was not the only victim here. Alexey had been protecting a secret far darker than she had imagined.

In that moment, Liza made a decision. She had to save Alice from whatever curse had befallen the Voropaev family, no matter the cost.

With trembling hands, Liza reached for the old journal she had found in the library, opening it to the last page—the page with the ritual. It described a forbidden ceremony, something that had been practiced by Alexey’s ancestors in a bid to gain untold power. It spoke of a bloodline, cursed but destined to bring both fortune and destruction. Alice was the heir to that dark legacy.

Liza felt the weight of the journal in her hands. The ritual described in the pages was ancient, dangerous, and required the blood of the cursed to be sacrificed in order to sever the curse for good. But in doing so, it would either save or destroy the one performing it.

“Liza, stop!” Alice’s voice shook as she reached out to grab the journal, her eyes filled with fear. “Please, don’t do this. You don’t know what it’ll cost. It could kill you!”

“I have to,” Liza said, her voice firm. “You can’t keep living like this, Alice. You don’t deserve this curse. And neither do you, Alexey.” She turned to face the man who had stood like a shadow over his daughter for years. “This has to end.”

Alexey’s eyes darkened. He stepped forward, blocking her path. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with. The curse has been with our family for generations. If you try to stop it, you will unleash something worse than you can imagine.”

“But you’ve been feeding it,” Liza snapped, her fear melting into resolve. “You’ve been protecting it, allowing it to grow stronger, and it’s destroying your daughter.”

Alexey faltered for a moment, his face a mixture of anger and confusion. “I’ve tried everything to protect her. You don’t understand! If she embraces her legacy, she could rule it… become powerful.”

“But at what cost?” Liza’s voice trembled with emotion. “How much of Alice is left if she becomes the thing you want her to be?”

For a long moment, Alexey said nothing. His eyes flicked to Alice, and Liza saw a flicker of regret there, almost imperceptible, before it vanished again, replaced by his hardened, controlling glare.

Alice, still frozen, spoke in a whisper: “I can’t… I can’t be this. Not anymore.” Her eyes met Liza’s. “Please, help me.”

With that, Liza knew what had to be done. The ritual, though it was fraught with danger, was the only way to release Alice from the dark hold that her family’s past had on her.

Liza took a step toward Alexey, then, with determination, turned the pages of the journal. The words were written in a language that made her skin crawl, but she read aloud, her voice shaking but resolute. The ancient incantation began to echo in the room, the walls seeming to hum with energy.

Alexey screamed in anger, but he could do nothing to stop her. As the ritual’s words took effect, Alice’s body seemed to tremble, her pale face flushed with a strange heat, as if something deep within her was awakening.

The air around them grew thick, and Liza felt a cold, malevolent force swirl around her. The house groaned, and the lights flickered violently as though fighting against the ritual’s power. Alexey lunged forward to stop Liza, but the force of the curse snapped back at him, throwing him back into the wall with a resounding crash.

Alice screamed, and in that moment, it was clear the curse was not going down without a fight. The mansion seemed to come alive, shadows twisting in the corners of the room, whispers echoing from all sides. Liza continued to chant, pushing through the fear, focusing only on the power of the words, the need to save Alice.

A final burst of light erupted from the pages, and for a heartbeat, everything stopped. The air was still.

Alexey lay unconscious on the floor, while Alice collapsed onto her bed, gasping for breath. Liza rushed to her side, her heart pounding.

“Alice, are you okay?” Liza asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Alice opened her eyes slowly, looking up at Liza as if seeing her for the first time. “I… I feel different,” Alice said, her voice softer, the tension that had plagued her for years beginning to dissolve. She looked at the journal in Liza’s hand. “Did it work? Am I… free?”

Liza smiled, tears welling in her eyes. “I think so.”

But the mansion, still silent and heavy, remained in a strange limbo. The curse had been broken, but its power still lingered. The shadow of Alexey’s past clung to the house, as if it had not yet fully released its grip. The ritual had worked, but it had left the house and its inhabitants in a fragile state.

Alice sat up slowly, feeling for the first time as if she could breathe without the crushing weight of her father’s expectations and the curse. She looked at Liza with gratitude. “Thank you. I didn’t think anyone would understand.”

Liza’s eyes softened. “You deserve peace, Alice. I’ll help you find it.”

Weeks passed, and the mansion seemed quieter. Liza had stayed on, now as Alice’s confidante and guide. Alexey, though shaken by the events, seemed to withdraw further from his daughter, unable to face the truth of what he had done. He left the house frequently, no longer the dominant figure in Alice’s life.

Alice was slowly healing. She started seeing a therapist and began to make friends outside the mansion. For the first time in her life, she was free to choose her own path.

Liza, on the other hand, had found her place within the household, though she now worked on her terms, no longer a silent observer of the Voropaev family’s dysfunction. She had been the catalyst for change, and in doing so, she found her own strength.

But the mansion would never be the same. It stood as a silent testament to the darkness of the past and the courage it took to break free from it.

And as for Alice, she knew the road ahead would not always be easy. But for the first time, she was ready to walk it on her own.

With Liza by her side.

The end.