CHAPTER TWO
I walked down the corridor, followed by my servant. I walked and walked until I had reached the dining hall. I stood outside the doors of the dining hall and waited for my servant to open them for me. She hurried and pulled them open before curtsying and stepping behind me. I moved forward and entered the sumptuous dining hall.
Sat at the long dining table in the very middle of the hall were my cousin, Bethany, her brother, Flynn, and my aunt, Queen Zara.
As I entered the room they all greeted me with a smile and told me to take a seat.
My cousin Bethany smiled and said, “You look simply splendid tonight, Meredith.”
I knew that she was just saying this to make me feel good about myself, she had the tendency to do that sometimes. I really felt like telling her not to lie to me but managed to bite my tongue and squeeze a small smile.
Bethany was a kind, gentle soul, terribly fragile and brittle. She was so caring, she wouldn’t hurt a fly. I stared into her kind, open face and took time to notice the way it had changed over the years.
I had lived with Bethany for my whole life and had seen the twinkle in her eyes many times. If you’d known her as long as I had, you’d find it hard not to notice how much she’d changed since her father passed away.
I felt bad for her but death is something that happens, something that you have to learn to live with. No matter how many nights you spend laying in bed awake, silently weeping into your pillow. Or looking into the mirror and speaking to the person who passed away, leaving you with alone with a broken heart. Doing this will just make you feel worse, I would know.
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn’t even realize my aunt Zara calling my name, sounding very annoyed indeed.
“Meredith!,” she said in an angry tone. “It is not proper manners to daydream during a meal.”
“Of course, aunt Zara. It was very rude of me, my apologies.” My aunt accepted my apology and continued with her meal. As did I, pretending to pay attention to my food, but becoming lost in my own thoughts once more.
As we were all finishing up our meals, my aunt Zara began to speak.
“As you all know, the Princess of Belle will be visiting us in a few days,” we all nodded our heads. “Well, I expect you all to behave properly and as royalty. Also, I expect you to be ready at five o’clock sharp on Friday night.”
I glanced at her, looking extremely confused. What was happening on Friday night? I thought.
She returned my glance saying, “You do remember that we are having a grand ball on Friday to celebrate the kingdom’s 50th anniversary, Meredith. Honestly! You must remember to get ready on time!”
I nodded and then tilted my head down to finish my slice of apple pie.
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” Queen Zara asked her mirror, waiting for it to tell her what she wanted to hear.
“Your Excellency, you are the fairest of them all.” her magic mirror replied.
She smiled and says in a pleased tone, “That’s what I like to hear.”.
Next the queen turned away from her mirror and walked swiftly over to her dressing table where she perched herself on her comfortable stool.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror that sat above of her dressing table and grinned.
How beautiful am I? She thought to herself. In her own eyes, she was perfect. Though, to those of others she had many flaws, indeed. Though, of course, they could not admit to thinking this as she was the queen after all.
“How nasty the queen is,” whispered one of the cooks to her colleague. “She always sends back my food and complains about it.”
“Yes, and the other day I heard that her personal servant, Ingrid, accidentally brought her the wrong beauty potion the other day and when she saw it, Queen Zara snatched it from her and flung it against the wall. And it got worse as poor Ingrid had to clean it all up afterwards!” her fellow cook replied.
“Simply beastly! Poor old girl! Honestly, I have a good mind to quit my job here and go work somewhere else!”
It was true that Aunt Zara treated her servants and staff terribly. Some of them were even starting to think of quitting their jobs. But as much as they wanted to, they couldn’t because they all desperately needed the money.
Most young members of the royal family were unaware of the living situation of some of Formosa’s citizens, if we had known, we might have had the heart to make a change. Unfortunately, Aunt Zara didn’t give us this opportunity as we weren’t allowed outside of the palace walls.
That night, after I had left the dining hall and gone to my chambers, I changed into my silk night gown and lay down on my bed. I threw the covers over myself and pulled them closer to me to make them warm. I rested my head on my soft, fluffy pillow, closed my eyes and fell asleep.
I swayed from side to side, dancing and singing happily. The guests watched me in amazement, clapping and smiling. My curly, dark brown hair swished as I moved across the ballroom floor. My beautiful blue ball gown spun around me as I twisted and twirled.
Aunt Zara was sat at her throne, staring at me jealously. Next to her sat the Princess of Belle. She turned to Aunt Zara and said, “Meredith is a beautiful young lady. I daresay that she will be the fairest of all the land one day.”
Aunt Zara’s facial expression turned from envious to angry at once.
“Yes, I’m sure she will. One day.” she replied in a devious tone. Then, both ladies ended their conversation to continue watching the performance.
Meredith’s dance came to an end and the audience remained silent for a second and then broke out into applaud. Meredith smiled and laughed with pleasure as the audience clapped and cheered for her.
She curtsied and waved and then left the ballroom to change her attire.
Meredith entered her chambers and sat down at her dressing table. She looked in her mirror and smiled. Then, reaching for her hairbrush, froze in her position.
Her chamber doors flung open and her aunt Zara entered. She had an evil, wicked look on her face as she screamed, “Meredith!”
Queen Zara came closer and closer to her. Meredith got up off her stool and walked backwards, pleading for her to stop.
Then, when Queen Zara was only around three meters away from her, she pulled out a sharp silver dagger.
“Please! No!” Meredith screamed, but it was no use. She closed her eyes and froze in her tracks.
She waited, opened her eyes and the dagger came down, pressing hard on her and she fell to the ground.
I sat up in bed, gasping for breathe. I had been tossing and turning for ages until I woke up from my horrible nightmare. I stood up and walked, a little stiffly towards my dressing table. I lit a candle and placed it near the end of the table, allowing a small glow of light to shine over the room. I stared at my mirror and let out a sigh of relief.
Good. I thought. I’m still ugly.
Relieved to see that I still looked quite repulsive, I blew out my candle and slipped back into bed, wondering what the next day would bring.
YOU ARE READING
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall
Mistério / Suspense"I turned to the large mirror hanging on my bedroom wall and stared at myself in disgust. My once curly, dark brown hair appeared lifeless and greasy. My hazelnut eyes had lost their twinkle, my skin was dirty and covered in blemishes. What had happ...
