"Rose," Anna called out walking into Rose's bedroom with a black stripe of fabric hidden behind her back.
"Yes, I'm here," Rose answered from the walk-in closet.
"I have something to show you," Anna said leaning on the door way of the closet.
"What?" Rose asked uninterestedly since she had other things on her mind to be bothered by whatever joke Anna might be making.
"Seriously," Anna said pulling her by her wrist out if the closet into the room. "It is a surprise for you. Mum and I prepared it for you. I am sure you will love it," Anna tried to persuaded her as she lifted the black stripe of silk fabric towards Rose.
"What is that for?" Rose had to ask watching her sister closely for a sign that she was joking as well as a tip about whatever this was about.
"Relax. How will I harm you in here? I will never harm you. I can't imagine that you think I want to do anything bad to you," Anna said frowning displeased.
"Do this fast. I have something to take care of. What is that for?" She asked glancing at the fabric and back to her sister.
"Oh. I want to use it to blindfold you," Anna answered excitedly.
"Please make it fast," Rose hastened her as she turned her back so Anna would tie the fabric over her eyes.
"Sure," Anna asked enthusiastically as she tied the black silk over her sister's face and supported her sister out of the room.
Rose sighed over and over when it seemed they kept on going forever. She was tired of the darkness but left her eyes closed as she followed her sister to wherever the girl was taking her to.
"Mum wanted to be here to do this but I decided to do it on my own since she won't be back till Tuesday and I really can't wait till then," Anna narrated as she opened a door and held her sister and led her in careful to prevent her from getting hurt since Rose was blindfolded.
"Are we there yet?" Rose asked getting tired of the darkness as her mind began running wild.
"Yes we are," Anna replied reaching to help her sister loosen the covering on her eyes but Rose had began loosing it herself.
"Oh my God!" Rose could not hold back her exclamation as she stared around the room with her hand on her chest and mouth left slightly open.
"Do you love it?" Anna asked watching Rose closely. She wanted Rose to love it but if Rose did not love it, then she was willing to make all the necessary adjustments to make it good enough for her sister.
"I do. I love it. Is this mum's workroom?" she asked forgetting the route she had to go through to get there. It was fully equipped with all a professional fashion designer will need to do his or her job easily and comfortably.
It was painted white and pink based on one of her favorite colors giving a cool feeling. It will be very easy for anyone to work comfortably with enough space to move around easily with two very big work desk for perhaps cutting. The lighting system was good.
She almost began thinking the room belonged to her since she could not see any sign of use by someone. She immediately shook off that wishful thinking since there was no reason why they will buy her the best brand of equipments and machines which will cost far more than she won during the competition.
They were too good to be hers at least not until she makes more progress with her talent or when she becomes the kingdom's queen.
"No this is your studio. Mum did it for you while I bought a few things like the table, chair and a box of different scissors and measuring stuff . . . You know. I ordered for them online. I hope you love them," Anna answered as her heart was jumping for joy that Rose loved it and her effort was not in vain.
"I do but I don't think I can take them," Rose said shaking her head. This was too much for her to accept without hesitation.
"You must take them and use them. I need new dresses," Anna said shaking her head as she pushed towards the chair in front of the sewing machine. "I also spent a fortune buying those things for you. I even ordered for some special threads for you."
"Anna I . . ." Rose began but stopped when Anna placed a finger against her lips to shush her.
"I said I need new dresses. I want a new dress from you," Anna said firmly.
"What do you need the dresses for?" Rose had to ask. Anna was the type of girl to always wear a dress out. She wore mostly shorts, overalls, or trousers.
Since she joined their family, she had never gone for a formal outing or party because Anna had to stay at home and when Anna began going out, they have never been invited. It was sure that her parents always went for such occasions but they had never gone.
"Dad got invited for the King's birthday party and he wants us to come with him," Anna answered walking to the other end of the large studio where a tall wardrobe was.
"What?" Rose had to ask because she could only guess she must have heard wrong.
"The King invited this family for his birthday party. Dad wants us all to go. I saw the invitation card and it was said we should all go so I need a dress," Anna answered immediately.
Rose could not calm her raging heart. She clinched her fist digging her nails into her now soft palm. She wished her father and his wife were small enough to fit into her palm that she could crush them down till blood rush like squeezing the juice out of orange or persimmon.
"I want to wear black just like the dress you designed for me earlier but I want it to be very formal and for a royal. You know mum is from the royal family. She is from the family of the late queen," Anna continued narrating not noticing the change in her sister's expression.
Anna's narration sounded distant as she remembered the accident that took her mother's life. Her father must be celebrating his fiftieth birthday while her mother had to be buried six feet below before she even turned thirty.
She did not suspect him of being an accomplice but she did not trust him either. He was supposed to trust her mother even if no body else did. Why was he the first to conclude that she ran away from the kingdom to sell out the very people her mother loved almost more than herself.
Why did he join the world to defame her mother. He might have not killed her mother physical but he killed her mother's reputation. He tarnished her mother's imagine and married some other woman almost immediately.
If he stood up for his mother and prevented what was written down about her in her history from being written, her mother would have still remained the very loving queen everyone said she was before she died. She felt her heart get crushed in her chest so hard the pain was suffocating.
She gasped for air as tears ran down her cheeks. She pressed her hand to her chest hoping to relieve it of the stuffy pain she felt. She pat her chest gently as she pleaded with herself to remain calm. She had been doing well for all these while but why was this happening now?
"Oh my God Rose!" Anna called when she saw her sister face flushed and Rose kept hitting on her chest gasping for air. She held Rose confused and unsure of what to do. "Rose please wake up. Stop it, you are scaring me."
She could not shout out for help because no one will hear her through the soundproof walls and ceiling of the room.
The memories of her death returned to her as she tried so hard to breathe but air seemed to be unwilling to fill her lungs. The pain, the pain she faced in her nightmares returned as she tried to scream but the lack of air prevented her.
This was the greatest pain she had felt in both of her lives. Her eyes closed as she felt that familiar pain in the back of her head and she lost her consciousness.
She was very unwilling to die at this moment just like her past life where she tried desperately to save herself. There was nothing she hated more than the feeling of dying hopelessly.
She had never expected the thought of returning to the palace to see all those people who had hurt her both physically and psychologically to have such effect on her.
She felt very pathetic since the people she swore to use this her life to avenge against made her very vulnerable even just at the mention of their names. How will she fight and win in this state? How will she face very powerful people and bring them under submission?
***