Hellfire • L.A.

The Pill

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My eyes roam my figure in the mirror. The dress I've got on is nothing like I would normally wear. The fabric of the form-fitting dress hits just above the top of my feet. It's simple with an unlayered skirt. The short sleeves fall off my shoulders a tad bit, while the neckline scoops a little low. The woman in the shop told me it would be great for a formal dinner with distant relatives but I still feel uncomfortable and exposed. The green velvet is too hot, and the way the shape of the dress sticks to my figure makes me a bit self-conscious. The only detail of my formal outfit that makes me feel at ease is the addition of my mother's ring on the gold chain around my neck. No, I would never make a good noble.

Whatever, my insecurities will have to wait.

I grab the black clutch that Hanje's lent to me so that I could have somewhere to keep my knife just in case and head out the door of my office. Across the hallway, I see Lev's door and question whether or not I should say goodbye, but I choose not to. If I see him right now I'll just try to convince to come with me again, and he's already made it clear he has no intention of joining me this time.

I'm not used to walking in heels even if they are only one or two inches and the walk to the foyer of the headquarters is a wobbly one. I'm relieved that most people are already in the mess hall for dinner or taking care of personal errands. It would be quite an embarrassment for anyone to see me stumbling around like this in a dress that doesn't suit me at all.

My relatives had the decency to send a carriage for me and it's already waiting for me outside when I get to the foyer. It's nice, too nice in my opinion. The driver opens the door for me and when I step inside I can't help but groan. The seats are all covered in dark red velvet and the thought of my dress rubbing against it makes me cringe. As well as the plush seating there are windows with little curtains all detailed in golden trim. My mind struggles to comprehend being so wealthy that someone could afford to waste money on such minute, lavish details.

Luckily, my family's home isn't far from the headquarters. They live further in Wall Rose away from Trost, but not too far. As the carriage takes me through the market streets of Ehrmic District I wish I had time to stop and see Glenda Hawthorne. Her home was closer to Stohess, but maybe I could stop by on my way back this evening.

I lose my eyes and lean my head back into the plush cushion. Thoughts of Glenda lead me down a rabbit hole to thoughts of Perry. When we first arrived at the Scouts' Headquarters just outside of Trost he made me accompany him in the carriage despite my protests. I had felt sick the entire way there because of the lurching and wobbling of the cabin itself. So much has changed since that day. How long has it been? Only two months? Maybe three?

The carriage comes to an abrupt stop and I groan at the lurching feeling in my stomach. Some things, I guess, never change. I wait for a few seconds in the cabin before the driver once again pulls the door open for me, and when I see the front of the house or mansion I should say, my breath is taken away.

I should've expected something extravagant from the appearance of the carriage. The mansion is enormous, at least three stories high with white pillars in the front. The front steps to the veranda that wraps around the building come from both the left and right. There are flowerbeds that wrap around the home along with the veranda, and I notice a rose next to each set of steps.

"Would you like for me to accompany you to the front door, madame?" The driver holds his elbow out for me to take hold of but I shake my head 'no'.

"Thank you, but I believe I can see myself from here."

He nods silently and mounts the driver's seat once more. With the sound of galloping hooves and the wobbling carriage wheels growing quieter in the distance, I begin to approach the intimidating structure. I steady myself on the railing of the steps while walking upwards to the front door. I'm not surprised in the slightest when I see the front door has two large, golden lion heads as door knockers. I reach a shaky hand upward and grab hold of one.