Mayhem - G.Weasley

80. My blood

She couldn't help but admit. . . In this dress. . . She felt like a princess. Ivy gave herself one last look in the mirror to make sure her makeup looked as impeccable as the dress. Her eyes were a fierce red with charcoal winged eye-liner.

She didn't know what made her choose the red, but it felt right.

Osias thought she appeared as if she were preparing for battle. . . she felt as if she were going into battle. Though she wasn't sure who she was going to be fighting. Osias barely admitted to killing her family. . . she couldn't help but think she was missing quite a big chunk of the puzzle.

What else was new?

Ivy turned to pose in front of Sienna, who was caught watching in wonder before straightening her features into nothing. Ivy raised a brow. "How do I look?"

Sienna cleared her throat. "Like a queen."

The reply knocked the breath out of Ivy. Her dress was already constricting her lungs, but the surprise took whatever was left. She didn't know what answer she was expecting. . . but definitely not that.

Ivy smoothed down the beading of her dress, folding her arms behind her back. "How much longer until I am to be at breakfast?"

Sienna clasped her hands together. "Fifteen minutes mil--Ivy."

"Do you mind if we talk?" Ivy gestured to the large formal couch where Shadow lounged quietly, his ears alert for anything out of the ordinary.

"As you wish." Ivy shuddered, she hated to think Sienna thought it was anything other than a choice for her.

Ivy carefully folded the skirt of the dress underneath her as she sidled up to Shadow. The large feline shifted so his head rested in her lap. She ran her fingers through his fur, reassuring herself he was very much alive and not lying bleeding out in the Dark Forest. Ivy was thankful she had him at least.

She did a double take when she noticed the hesitation in Sienna's form as she stood in front of the luxury onyx-colored couch.

Ivy nodded and smiled softly. "Please sit."

Sienna blinked at Ivy before letting out a sigh and barely sinking to the edge of the couch.

"Where are you from Sienna?" Ivy ignored the purrs vibrating from Shadow.

"Here."

"Here?" She repeated back to her.

Sienna merely gestured around her. "I was born in this castle."

"What a dark place to be born in." Ivy murmured.

"It wasn't always like this." She whispered.

"How long have you been here?" Ivy could swear she almost heard a longing in her voice.

"I've lived here my whole life." Sienna gazed at the moonstone as if she could see past the dark stone to the world beyond.

"Lived here?" Ivy couldn't believe it.

"I come from a long line of workers who served your family since the beginning. As my ancestors were born here, like my mother. . . So was I." Ivy couldn't decipher the feeling behind Sienna's tone.

"What a terrible fate." Ivy felt her face soften. "Do you see your mother often?"

Sienna pursed her lips. "My mother is dead." She was void of any emotion, except for the most minute twitch of her thin lips.

Ivy reached across the gap, her dress skirts ruffling against the soft material of the couch, and placed a hand on her knee. "I am sorry for your loss." She gave her knee a squeeze. "Truly."