Emperor of Annihilation

THREE

she was magical.

🦢

I WASN'T SURE IF I HATED THIS DRESS because it's pink or because I'm in it. The skin-tight fabric practically clung onto my body. How was I supposed to walk in this?

There's a knock on the door. "Come in."

Aditi, one of mother's maids, enters—a sweet smile decorating her soft features. My eyes lock onto hers in the full-length mirror and I smile. Aditi has been with us since I was a baby. She practically raised me growing up when my parents refused to.

She's 50 but looks at least 34. A sweet old Indian woman who happened to be blessed with never ageing.

Her nose scrunches up almost immediately at my dresss. "Can you even breath in that, bachcha?" She asked with concern, walking up to me, taking my face in her hands. Something in her features changes. "Have you eaten today? You look frail."

No. "I had breakfast at the academy." I reassure her with a lie and a convincing smile to match. "And to answer your first question, I can't even feel my ribs."

I looked like a Barbie doll if her balloon boobs magically deflated. Looking in the mirror hurt almost a little too much, so I tended to avoid it.

Aditi tsked and shook her head in disbelief. She let go of my face, walking to my closest in the corner. I blindly watch her rummage through my closest and come out victorious with a yellow dress wrapped in her arms.

"You still like gold, don't you?" She asks in a thick indian accent. My head cocks but I nod. A smile slides over her lips and she hands me the fabric. "Change into this. I'll be waiting."

She leaves, shutting the door behind her. I wasted no time in tearing that horrendous dress off me and slipping into the new one. A retrofête Mich draped embellished tulle mini dress that reaches slightly above my knees.

Against my better judgement, I look in the mirror and for once, I like what I see. The color compliments my skin tone and my hair.

"Have you tried it on yet?" Aditi's voice beats like a drum on the other side of the closed door.

"Yes."

The sound of the door opening and closing catches my attention and I spin on my heel. Aditi stood tall and proud in front of me, smiling. "You look beautifil." For some reason her compliment sent me over the moon. I hadn't received one from anyone other than Autumn in a while. I thank her and she walks up to me, placing her arms on mine. "But most importantly, do you feel beautiful?"

There's a pregnant pause between her question and my answer. I hadn't known how to respond to that kind of question, because no one had ever asked me how I felt before. Whether it be in terms of beauty or overall health.

But I lie and say, "I feel like me again."

We welcome the Ambrose family inside our mansion. We as in Mom and Dad, while I just stood off to the side silently hoping no one would notice me.