Shattered Mirror

Chapter 7

In the morning I didn't want to leave my room. I was afraid of my new found fate. Everything was twisted now as if someone was just wringing out a towel. Yet, no water is falling out.

Another knock sounded. I stared at the door and willed for the person to go away. This was the sixth time someone came to knock.

"M'lady. We need to prepare-"

"Be quiet." I mumble.

"M'lady people are heading here-"

"I don't care."

"Your people count on you-"

I growl under my breath and head for the door. I open it and shove my face into his." Listen. People aren't counting on me. They have no one to count on because we just toss them around." I quickly slam the door, hoping the man was speechless. I start to head toward my bed, but I catch a glance at the window. Emerald crosses my mind with her warning. I grab a pillow and throw it at the window. Suddenly, I hear a click.

I look behind me and see a stairwell. It was hidden behind the cabinet. I look back at the pillow and it is limpness on the ground. I gulp a little bit at the site of the stairwell. I decide, it's my chance to find something out at least. I grab my nightgown and hop over a muddy opening. I slowly make my way down with my footsteps echoing.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I touch the wall when the light behind me gets dimmer. I'm hit by a fowl oder when I get deeper in. I cover my nose and fan the air around me. My stomach turns when I wonder where it's coming from. A torch is placed right by a door. The steps stops and I'm glad it did. My feet were starting to cramp. I grab the torch carefully and look at the door. The oder is much stronger which wants to make me turn back. I close my eyes and try to think of something else as I open the door.

The smell overwhelms me and forces me to open my eyes. I wish I didn't. The torch illuminated the room to revel rotting corpses. I cover my mouth and back away in disgust. Dead eyes stare at me which makes me tremble. I realize that they are all wearing chains. Also, some of them are wearing maid outfits.

Do they kill their staff? Now I remember, why they all seem so frightened by me. Scared I might slit their throats and toss them down here. How sad. A knock echoes through the stairwell. Must be another person to pester me about the ball. I look at the bodies and chains.

In this world, everything here wants to kill each other. Or see others suffer.

Emerald's words echo through my mind.

Listen. People aren't counting on me. They have no one to count on because we just toss them around.

My words' also echoed along with Emerald's. I have to leave, but how. I'll figure out a way. First, I need to go to the event.

I close the door quietly. Whoever is at the door knocks again. I don't speak, I just run up the stairwell. When I reach the top I try to find a way to close it. The door opens and a maid comes in.

I glance behind me and see that the stairwell disappeared behind the cabinet as soon as the door opened.

"Um. I'm sorry for the rude behavior. May I get ready?" I say to the maid. The maid nods shyly and guides me toward, what I believe is my wardrobe.

"You have to hurry, they are about to arrive." The maids all rush toward me and start my getup. I hold in yelps as they yank on my hair. They left my hair down, but curled the tips. Also, at various parts they place flowers that a dark shade of purple. They said it's suppose to go with my dress, but I wanted to pull them out. Two maids brought out a dress. It was long and looked almost black. The top was sparkling while the bottom flowed with the wind because of a extra thin layer. I have to admire the peoples style. It's does really suit me. I tried to dash off before they put makeup on me. I truly, utterly, hate makeup. I never known why, but if makeup was a person. I would slap it a lot.