After The End

23. Level Up

Elora POV:

My eyebrows furrowed in complete concentration, I cannot miss this up!

With a thin hairpin, I parted the front of my hair into a perfect triangle. I twisted the tiny ponytail and held it still between my two fingers just above the tip of my nose. Better longer than I wanted than stuck with the Spock bangs, I shivered from the thought.

Taking a deep breath, I held the scissors up to my hair ready to chop it off, at that moment the door swung open and a loud gasp echoed.

"Ellie, what are you doing?" Dorothy quickly put the silver tray down and hurried toward me as if she were about to stop a disaster that would destroy the entire universe.

"Trying to cut my bangs," I shrugged.

"I wasn't aware that my lady, whom I have served for most of my life, was a hairdresser." Her eyes narrowed into slits, as she planted her hands on her hips.

"I am learning..." I trailed off. I admit I had never cut my hair by myself, but in my defense, I saw Maisy cutting her bangs a thousand times and she was good at it.

"Could you please take a seat, and hand me those scissors," She sighed, and I swiftly complied with a grin.

"Wait, do you even know how to?" I squinted my eyes in suspicion.

"You are insulting me. A lady must have more faith in her maid." She shook her head.

"Where would you like to have your breakfast? The weather today is quite lovely," She inquired as her fingers gently worked through my hair.

"The balcony it is, then." I smiled. The new view of my new room was just gorgeous, one glance from the balcony and my eyes got to feast on the colorful flower beds.

"Wouldn't you prefer joining your family in the garden?" She suggested with a touch of enthusiasm.

"Oh, by the way, there is this book I'd like to read over breakfast. Would you be kind enough to bring it to me?" I asked. My eyes automatically closed as she began to cut my hair.

"I would love to know what or rather whom you are hiding from." I could hear the frown in her voice.

"I am not hiding from anyone," I pouted, and my eyes lowered to my lap.

"Hmm, is it a coincidence then that the only times you got out of your room in the last three days were at night? Sneaking off only when you made sure everyone else had retired to bed," She pointed out with a firm tone as she brushed my freshly cut bangs. My eyes widened, if cameras were in this world, I would suspect she installed ones in my room.

Woah, Dorothy is terrifying!

"How do you like it?" She handed me a hand mirror before I could defend myself from her accusations.

"Oh My God! It's so good. You amaze me, Dorothy." A huge grin spread across my face, my fingers excitedly skimming over my fluffy curtain bangs. "And The swelling on my face is already going down, isn't that wonderful," I happily remarked.

"All thanks to the ointment his grace had sent you," She commented with a sly smirk and heat rose to my face.

"His Grace has been kind enough to send the ointment to both Delphine and me, "I corrected her. He probably sent it to me, to avoid drawing attention to his feelings for Delphine and therefore exposing himself.

"A true gentleman indeed," she teased before adding: "However, in discussing the topic, it appears you may have forgotten to express your gratitude to His Grace."

"Express my gratitude...?" I pondered, tapping my lips lightly in deep thought. If my memory served me right, Delphine had gotten something to Castiel as a thank you. Ah, What was it again? Ooh, how could I forget she gave him a cute heart necklace/collar for his kitten 'Violet'.