Kingdom of isolation - you can't hide

Thirty Four ~ Aurora

Aurora

The girl standing in front of the floor length mirror is a stranger, watching me with curious eyes. I feel like an imposter with my chestnut coloured hair all blown out, diminishing the prominent curls I'm used to, parted in the middle and framing my face. It's..nice. The makeup artist insisted we keep my face makeup minimal, apparently, freckles are all the trend and mine are adorable, according to her. I touch the soft peach coloured fabric of my gown, enamored by its intricate design and the diamanté detailing. I wonder how long it took to make this gown. It's a bit long at the moment but I'm pretty sure heels are expected to solve that little problem. I'm not used to seeing myself dressed like this in any capacity. Sure, I've worn dresses from time to time, but this fancy work has always felt like a fantasy of sorts, reserved for the girlies who know how to wear a dress like it was made for them. I lived in baggy clothes and hoarded streetwear like my life depended on it prior to coming back home. It was easy to wear and I didn't have to worry about matching the outfit to my shoes or a bag. I'm seeing too much of myself and it's fraying my perception. I liked the oversized aesthetic because it hid my scrawny body from being scrutinised. As the former runt of many packs, it's screwed me up. Having said that, I kind of don't hate it either? I look like a Disney princess right now and the irony in that statement itself isn't lost on me. I am a princess. I'm expected to be dressed like this all the time? I might have liked it more if the dress in question hadn't been sent straight from my custom made hell. Custom made to my size too, as if to tell me that I have to wear it no matter what. I look so pretty though! Yeah, as pretty as a caged bird. I grumble incoherently, judging everything I'm wearing.

Levi mumbles in his baby language as he sits on the couch right beside me, arranging the lego pieces by smashing them together. "How do I look, buddy?" I ask the little guy, who's dressed in a tuxedo onesie and looking absolutely dapper. His response is vague and unreliable. I sigh, going back to judging myself in the mirror again. The week has flown by in a blur and I am secretly regretting ever agreeing to this. What was I thinking? That's the problem, I wasn't thinking. It's as if all coherent thoughts were scrambled in his presence, an idiot having taken over my body. One year is never going to be enough, not with someone like Alexander. This freaking gown is the first step to asserting his dominance over me and I'll be damned if I let him believe his own delusions. I refuse to give up, no matter how sticky of a situation this is turning out to be. And boy, what a messy week it has been. I realise what Uncle Noah meant when he'd said I was famous now. News about the upcoming event spread like wildfire, lack of a phone and social media presence became my only reprieve. It's not that I'm unaware of my family's reputation in the world, they're celebrities for all intents and purposes. I just can't envision myself as one, which is why I'm mortified everytime I catch an image of myself in the media right next to his stupid face with ridiculous headlines. Is this my life now? I don't want this.

"Holy guacamole..is that really you, munchkin?"

A scream gets lodged in my throat as I turn around to see—

"Don't you dare throw that at me!"

I watch, confused by what he means until my brain registers the hairbrush in my hand. I stare at my chosen weapon of choice for a few beats before looking back at Nikolas. The devastatingly charming one, the good twin with dimples that are far too adorable for his face. His hands are up in surrender and I slowly put my hairbrush down on the vanity table. Nikolas grins at me, lowering his hands and placing them behind his back, electric blue eyes sparkling with mischief as he walks closer. He looks like a completely different person in his formal suit and tie. For a microsecond, he resembled his brother but it's not him, thank goodness. There's an effortless ease in his demeanour that disarms you almost immediately, he's like a breath of fresh air. And hopefully not anything like Alexander because that could be a trait he might as well use for nefarious purposes. Who's to say he isn't already? I'm not sure about that. For starters, my brother adores him, in his own robotic way. Well, weren't Papa and Uncle Eli friends too? Look how that friendship turned out.