Victoria sat in bed beside her room, engrossed in the pages of her novel. The rhythmic tapping of rain against her window provided a soothing backdrop to her quiet evening. Just as she turned a page, a knock interrupted her solitude. Assuming it was her sister, Victoria sighed softly before calling out, "Come in."
Emma entered with her usual bubbly demeanor, her innocent smile lighting up the room. Victoria couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance.
Ignoring Emma's presence, Victoria continued reading, hoping her sister would take the hint and leave her in peace. However, Emma didn't seem deterred by Victoria's lack of response. With a swift motion, she plopped down on the edge of the bed, her excitement palpable.
"Vi, I need your help," Emma exclaimed, her voice filled with urgency.
Victoria glanced up from her book, her eyebrows raised in skepticism. "Help with what?" she asked, her tone laced with reluctance.
"I need to find the perfect dress for the Hallow ball tomorrow, and I can't decide which one to wear," Emma explained, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Victoria couldn't believe her ears. Just moments ago, Emma had been gossiping about her behind her back, and now she expected Victoria to drop everything and assist her with something as trivial as choosing a dress.
As Emma prattled on about the various options she had, Victoria couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal. Was this the same sister she had grown up with? Had Emma always been this self-centered and manipulative, or had Victoria simply been blind to her true nature?.
Despite her inner turmoil, Victoria found herself nodding in agreement, unable to muster the strength to confront Emma about her behavior. Rising from the bed, she followed her sister to her room.
As Victoria and Emma stepped into Emma's room, the air was filled with the scent of lavender and the soft rustle of fabric. Emma wasted no time in pulling Victoria towards her wardrobe, which overflowed with an array of colorful dresses.
"Help me choose, Vi," Emma exclaimed, excitement bubbling in her voice as she surveyed her extensive collection.
But as Victoria's eyes fell upon the dresses, her mind drifted back to the unsettling conversation she had overheard between Emma and Madeline. The weight of their words lingered heavy on her conscience, casting a shadow over the atmosphere of the room.
Caught in the grip of her thoughts, Victoria found herself staring at Emma, her gaze penetrating and intense. Emma, sensing the sudden shift in Victoria's demeanor, furrowed her brow in confusion.
"What's wrong, Vi?" Emma's voice was laced with concern as she studied her sister's troubled expression.
Victoria hesitated for a moment, grappling with the turmoil raging within her. Finally, she gathered the courage to voice the question that had been gnawing at her since their encounter in the garden.
"If someone were to ask you to describe your sister," Victoria began, her voice steady yet tinged with apprehension, "what would you say?"
Emma's smile faltered for the briefest of moments, a flicker of discomfort crossing her features before she composed herself, her expression morphing into one of feigned sincerity.
"Oh, Vi," Emma replied, her tone saccharine sweet, "I would describe you as the best sister in the whole wide world, of course."
Victoria's heart sank at Emma's hollow response, the facade of sisterly affection crumbling before her eyes. She searched Emma's face for any trace of the sister she once knew, but found only a mask of deception staring back at her.
As Emma's words hung in the air, Victoria couldn't help but wonder what had changed between them, if anything at all. Was it the weight of the secrets their parents held? Or had Emma been hiding her true nature all along?
Victoria's mind remained ensnared by the tangled web of emotions and revelations, her thoughts swirling in a tempest of uncertainty.
"Vi! Vi!" As Emma's voice broke through the haze, she blinked, momentarily disoriented before focusing on her sister's outstretched hand, clutching two dresses in contrasting hues.
"Vi, help me decide," Emma implored, her voice tinged with impatience as she awaited her sister's verdict.
Victoria's gaze flickered between the vibrant green and the soft yellow fabric, her mind still grappling with the weight of their recent exchange. But Emma's insistence pulled her back to the present, and she shook off the lingering doubts that clouded her thoughts.
"Um, I think the green one would look lovely," Victoria replied absentmindedly, her voice lacking its usual conviction as she made her selection.
Emma nodded in approval, a satisfied smile gracing her lips as she moved to hang the chosen dress back in her wardrobe. But before she could utter another word, Victoria excused herself abruptly, the urgency of her departure palpable in the air.
With a final fleeting glance at her sister, Victoria hurriedly exited the room, the weight of their unresolved issues lingering like a heavy shroud. As she disappeared from view, Emma's brow furrowed in confusion, a fleeting sense of unease settling in the depths of her mind.
In her bedroom, Victoria paced around, her troubled thoughts a tempest raging within. As she settled upon a cushioned seat, the heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing the graceful figure of her mother.
"Mother," Victoria greeted with a mixture of surprise and relief, her voice barely above a whisper as she watched her approach. "What brings you here ?"
Lady Elvira, resplendent in her flowing gown of silk and lace, swept forward with an air of quiet dignity, her concern etched upon her noble countenance. With a soft rustle of fabric, she settled beside her daughter, her eyes alight with maternal tenderness.
"I saw you running out of Emma's room my dear," Lady Elvira began, her voice a melodious cadence that filled the corridor with warmth. "And so, I decided to see if everything was alright".
Victoria's heart swelled with gratitude at her mother's caring gesture, her troubled spirit finding respite in the presence of kin. With a gentle touch, Lady Elvira sought to assuage her daughter's fears, her hand a soothing caress upon Victoria's trembling shoulder.
"Speak, child," Lady Elvira implored softly, her eyes filled with a mother's love and understanding. "What is it. You know you can tell me anything!"
Victoria's gaze flickered with uncertainty, her mind awash with a torrent of conflicting emotions. Yet, emboldened by her mother's unwavering support, she dared to voice the question that weighed heavily upon her heart.
"'Its Emma, mother," Victoria confessed, her voice barely more than a whisper as she sought to articulate her fears. "Alot has changed between us in just a few hours? She's not the sister I knew and I don't know what to do about it ".
Lady Elvira's eyes softened with sympathy as she regarded her daughter, With a gentle smile, she reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Oh my dear," She said softly , her voice a soothing melody in the stillness of the corridor "No matter what happens, you must always love and protect your sister. She is innocent, easily misled, but she is also your family. You must always be there for her, no matter what the future may hold."
Tears pricked at Victoria's eyes as her mother's words washed over her, a gentle reminder of the bond that held them together.