Trouble

|Chapter Twenty-Five| Mulberry Tree

[Mulberry tree]: I shall not survive you

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I stare through the mirror, at my flowing white dress that drapes elegantly around my figure. The satin shimmers as if woven from moonlight, making me gasp at how beautiful it actually is. The off-shoulder design reveals the slope of my collarbones and the curve of my neck, to show both innocence and allure that should be characteristic of me today.

The bodice cinches at my waist, adorned with intricate lacing, the corset coming together on the front, complementing the vintage aesthetic of the dress. Puff sleeves balloon out gracefully, while the flowing skirt cascades in luxurious folds, sweeping down to the floor like a silken waterfall.

My brown curls flow down in waves, past my shoulders and reaching almost my lower back. I have a crown-like headband on, made of different red artificial flowers, because I'd never sacrifice so many beauties for my look.

My fingers trace the red chrysanthemums, lilies, hydrangeas, carnations, alstroemerias and then the small fake pomegranates I've added myself in between.

In Greek mythology, the pomegranate plays a significant role in the story of Persephone's abduction by Hades. While in the underworld, Persephone ate a few seeds of the pomegranate offered by Hades, without knowing that they'd forever bound her to the realm of the dead.

Consequently, she had to spend a part of each year in the underworld with Hades, leading to the cycle of seasons as her mother, Demeter, mourned her absence in the winter months.

So yes, it has a very significant role in Persephone's story, and of course I wanted to add it to my look tonight. Because tonight, I'm her...

I'm Persephone.

The only thing I'm missing is my Hades. Will he come after me tonight?

Instead, I'm currently holding onto a big pan that isn't mine and kind of makes my whole look comical.

"Sorry, I took longer than expected." Sydney emerges from the bathroom into the waiting area in front of it, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I turn around, staring at my best friend like the eye-candy that she is in her purple Rapunzel costume that makes her boobs look more phenomenal.

My friend is HOT, and I mean it with my whole chest, not only because she's my best friend, but because she truly is and everyone can see it.

Ever since we were kids, she's always had guys running after her, begging her to look at them even for a second. And now in college too, she has so many guys hitting on her, it's actually a rare occasion to walk with her and not have people stop and talk to her.

With her big blue eyes, natural red hair and always in-shape figure, she looks like a model right out of a Vogue issue. As if that isn't enough, she has the brains, the talent, and the personality, to make the entire population complain about their unfair life.