The Peculiar Case of Lady Ashlee

Chapter 1-1 : A New Life Part 1

She woke up.She felt off.She might be ill.She has no idea of where she is, a bedroom, lying on a fancy bed, one of those canopy beds. It had long intricately graved columns. She barely managed to make sense of what was engraved, it looked like random icons, symbols, maybe?She tried to get up, but it was much harder than she thought it would be. She felt like the bedsheets stuck to her naked back, almost like it was glued. After some struggle, she managed to sit upright on the bed. She felt even worse. She thought she'd either throw up or pass out. She did the latter.

She woke anew.Once again, she felt horrible. She laid still for probably hours. Inspecting the intricate carvings on the bed's columns, looking around, to her surroundings. The wallpapers were crimson red, with roses drawn here and there. All the furniture looked old, but in perfect shape, all made of a dark wood. They looked baroque. There was a long window hidden behind thin white drapes that flowed in the light air draft the open window let through.She tried to sit upright, slowly. Once again, her skin felt glued to the bedsheets. She managed with great efforts to sit upright, and once again felt ill, but she managed regain her composure. She slid the the side of the enormous bed, it could easily host four adults sleeping together.When she tried to move her legs, she felt the same glue-like feel as her back had.She realized that she was fully naked. The cold tiling floor sent a shiver up her legs."So you are finally up. You took your time." Said a voice.She saw an elegant woman standing in the doorway. She was dressed in a black dress, both of them were magnificent. The woman was lean with long black hair tied into a neat bun."You've been in that bed for a couple months now." She added."Do you remember anything?"She search her memory. Blank. "...no." She replied, puzzled."Do not worry, dear, it is only natural. A... Side-effect of The Ritual."More question burgeoned in her mind."In the meantime, do not stand up. You are not ready for that yet." The lady added before she left.Listening only to herself, she decided to try and stand up.She instantaneously fell on the ground, her legs unable to hold her own weight, nearly passing out in the process, she felt barely conscious.She heard a sigh."Albert, dear, I warned you." Said the woman's voice.She then felt being hauled up onto the bed, but somehow, she still felt the cold floor for much longer than she should have, before passing out once more.She woke once more to the sight of the crimson sheets suspended on the bed's canopy."Take it easy, Milady." Said another unknown voice, far softer and gentle than the cold voice of the Woman in Black.It was the voice of a young woman, dressed in a maid's gown, she had a neat blond bun, and a pale complexion. She would have been completely unnoticeable if it wasn't for her eyes, the wide slits that felt out of place on a human being. In addition to that, they were deep purple.She smiled broadly."Welcome back, Madam, I hope your rest was heavenly."The Maid sat on the side of the bed, her hand on Her shoulders.She tried to sit upright, but the Maid's hand blocked her. The Maid pressed a little bit more, and She felt like she was being crushed by a weight of several tons. However, the Maid's expression did not change in the slightest, however, her expression felt suddenly like it had darker intentions than just an innocent smile."I see you have met Samaira," said the Lady, whom had appeared at the door. She waived her hand towards the Maid. "You can let go now, I do believed she understood the message."For a brief second the Maid's expression seemed sad, but as soon as it had appeared, her broad smile returned, and she let go. She got up, bowed and commented "Of course, mistress." And then stepped away from the bed.The Lady approached, and Samaira went and fetched a chair for her mistress to sit on, next to the bed."Now, we established you did not remember anything, Albert. Is that still the case?""...Albert?" She asked."Ah. Yes. It is not an... adequate name anymore, is it." She gestured at the naked woman's body on the bed. She sighed."You came to me, now nearly nine months ago." She said"Few come to me for help, however, even fewer are able to afford the price. You did."She was still perplexed."See, people come to see me to change their lives. You wanted to, and I gave your innermost desire."Silence followed. She did not understand."You wanted a new life. Why isn't my place to ask.""I... was a man?""Indeed, and quite a handsome one at that, how you were able to afford my fee is still beyond me.""So what did you do, what was my innermost wish?"She smiled. "You will find out soon enough, Ashlee." She exited the room."You should rest, Lady Ashlee." Added the Maid, before following her mistress.This new name felt odd. It was obviously aimed at her, was it her name?More questions arose in her mind. But she managed to find sleep.Later in the day, she was woken up by Samaira, whom fed her some rather ill-tasting soup like she was unable to move at all. Ashlee quickly learned that it was not a good idea to refuse what the Maid fed her.A few days, maybe weeks passed where she laid in bed. Once a day, Lady Faye, the Woman in Black came by, checking upon Ashlee like a patient, or a subject.Samaira bathed Ashlee daily, somehow without ever needing her to leave the bed.After what felt like an eternity of the same routine, Lady Faye sat down next to the bed."Your physiology is... quite astonishing, I must say. Usually, when men come to me, they desire change, but never as much as you. You, first off, willed to become a woman, but not only that. You asked for a body that could break the laws of Physics. Not that they mean a lot in this manor."Ashlee wasn't sure of what Faye was talking about."Do not worry," Faye added, as if she had read Ashlee's mind. "You will find out soon enough."