When I woke up I was alone again; big surprise. But this time I was alone in an insanely big room. The bed I was on felt like I was on clouds. The state I woke up in was amazing compared to how I was prior. I was wearing a light pink dress that offset the darkness of my hair. My skin felt soft and cared for, my hair was no longer messy and dirty it felt clean and smelt of roses. Just within view I could see a mirror. I'm not the type of person to care about appearances but in that moment I felt like a princess.
While admiring myself a knock echoed into the room, and in walked three young looking women dressed in maid attire.
"Hello young miss, we were given the task of taking care of you." The said in sync.
The one in the middle had golden blond hair neatly tied into a bun and freckles splatted across her nose. She looked timid and like she didn't have the courage to think for herself. The one to her right had almost unnaturally bright blue hair that reminded me of the sky on my tenth birthday, seeing that irritated me. On the far left stood a woman with a stronger presence, I assumed she was the one in charge. She had pitch black hair and wore circular glasses. She was the only one that spoke individually.
"My name is Alicia, I am the head maid here. To my side is Rose." Rose seemed startled by the sudden introduction and curtsied awkwardly than smiled up at me.
"And this is Liza." Unlike Rose who had at least tried to be polite, Liza just slightly bowed and then nodded towards me. I knew I wasn't going to like her.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"You are inside the Sapphire room of the empirial castle." Alicia diligently answered.
"The castle?" I asked rhetorically.
"Yes, you have been invited by his majesty the king." She continued.
"Normally low class individuals such as yourself would never even be able to set foot inside the castle let alone sleep here. I wonder what the king is thinking." She shook her head sarcastically.
By the way she's talking she definitely sees herself as someone with higher social standing than myself. Which is true, but her arrogance is almost sickening.
"Well, enough talking we need to get you ready." She started.
"Ready for what?" I asked.
"Your audience with the king." She said.
She and the other two hurried to dress me up in these beautiful silk gowns and drowned me in pearls and gems. They tied my hair up into a ponytail and stood back to admire their work. Looking pleased with themselves they lead me to another room in the inner castle and told me to wait. Shutting the door behind them. This room was spacious as well but in a cluttered way. There were documents and books thrown all over a broad desk. As I drew near a bookcase in the far corner a familiar voice hit my ears.
"Clothes really do make the man I guess. Or in this case the woman."
Whipping my head back I seen the man from before who had brought me here. He was covered from head to toe in a black cloak all I could see were his blood red eyes trailing up and down my body.
"Why did you bring me here?" I asked him.
"You mustn't rush to find the answer. It will show itself in due time." He said.
That didn't make any sense to me. This strange man who seemed to know everything about me, more than I knew myself. I had a feeling he was someone I shouldn't get close too. But something kept drawing in.
"I came to give you some advice and wish you well on your future endeavors." He said.
"Advice?" I asked.
"Don't trust everything you are told, the people here and everyone you meet are going to be against you. I assure you that in this place you are going to suffer. But should you make it out, the reward will be worth all of it." He said.
"What does that mean? Why did you bring me here then? And who are you?" I pressed him.
He just smiled at me. A smile that haunts my memories and claws at me in my sleep. There was a subtle knock on the door; and then it began to open. The hooded man was no where to be seen. As if he was never really there.