"We will meet them in due time," Elanor said, her tone almost dismissive, as if the anticipation of the meeting was a mere formality.
"When we turn six-months old, we are blessed by the priests of Cassiopeia, and then we meet them. Don't think too much about that," Iris added.
"I see. What happened after that?" I asked, curiosity bubbling beneath my cautious demeanor.
Alice's eyes darkened. "We became our mothers' marionettes," she replied sharply, her words hanging in the air like a chilling echo.
Silence enveloped us, heavy and suffocating—a silence I didn't dare to breach.
Elanor was the first to shatter the quiet, her voice soft yet filled with the weight of years past. "Do you remember when Mother had us dressed in the colors of war, just to spite Queen Petunia?" she asked, her gaze distant as she stared at the flickering flames of the candles surrounding us.
Dorothy nodded, her expression darkening at the memory. "She claimed it was for our own good, but we all knew it was just another way to dig at the queen consort. Doing everything she had denied us. They didn't even want her to rest in peace, going against everything she fought for. It was never about us, not really."
"But we paid the price for their battles," Alice interjected, her fingers tracing the edge of her sleeve. "I can still feel the weight of those jewels, the way they sparkled like trophies to be paraded around the court. They saw us as symbols, not daughters."
Iris sighed, her voice softer, almost hesitant. "I didn't understand it back then... I thought the gowns and jewels meant we were loved, that we were special. But the older I got, the more I realized—" She paused, glancing at her sisters. "We were pawns, just like the crowns on their heads."
Elanor's voice grew firmer as she continued. "Each of us was caught in their war, but we handled it differently. I tried to become what Mother wanted, to survive. I did what I could to protect you all, even if it meant playing her game."
Dorothy scoffed, shaking her head. "I never had the patience for their schemes. I wanted out. I wanted to be free of their claws, but no matter how far I ran, they always found a way to pull me back. It was like being trapped in a maze of their making."
Alice, her voice colder than the others, added, "I envied your strength, Elanor. You were always so poised, even when they tore us apart. But I... I resented them. And part of me resented you too, for being able to play along while I felt so powerless. You wore their masks so well."
The room fell silent, the weight of Alice's words hanging in the air. Elanor didn't flinch, only nodding slowly as if she had expected this truth to surface one day. "I knew you felt that way, Alice," Elanor finally said, her voice softer now, filled with understanding. "But we were all powerless. In our own ways."
Iris shifted uncomfortably, breaking the heavy silence. "Do you think they even cared about us, or were we just tools in their power struggle?" Her question hung in the air, heavy with implications.
Elanor's eyes softened as she pondered. "Maybe they cared. In their own way. But their hunger for power was always stronger. That's what tore us apart."
After a moment, the tension broke like a fragile glass. Alice leaned forward, a mischievous grin playing at the corners of her lips. "Then we all ran wild after their grip upon us loosened. We did everything we wanted. I'm still proud of the mess we made."
Iris laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I was poisoned when I was young, trapped in a cage because of my frail body. I always envied you for your strength, so I caused some trouble with Faith. Haha!"
Dorothy chimed in, her tone filled with pride. "We made a royal mess of everything. I never cared for the expectations. The rules felt like shackles, and when I finally broke free, it was exhilarating!"
Alice's smirk widened. "I didn't want to be prim and proper, so I played around, causing chaos wherever I could. It felt good to break free from their suffocating grip."
Elanor's expression shifted, a malevolent grin spreading across her face. "And everything was within my control." Her eyes glinted with a mixture of pride and mischief, as if she relished the memories of those rebellious days.
In that moment, I couldn't help but feel a shiver run down my spine. The realization that my sisters, despite their struggles, had embraced their chaotic freedom was both thrilling and terrifying.
"My sisters are scary," I whispered, unable to suppress a chuckle. They turned their gazes toward me, each wearing a different expression—Elanor with a knowing smile, Dorothy with a challenging spark in her eyes, Alice with a playful smirk, and Iris with a blend of innocence and mischief.
"You know what's scarier?" Dorothy leaned in closer, her voice low. "The fact that we're just getting started."
Elanor nodded in agreement, her demeanor shifting from reflective to resolute. "Together, we can reshape our destinies. They may have tried to use us, but we have the power to break free from those chains and write our own stories."
Alice clapped her hands together, her excitement infectious. "Let's show them what true chaos looks like!"
Iris giggled, her laughter ringing through the room. "I'm in! Let's make them wish they never underestimated us. Even if its a past they never know about."
As the sisters rallied around their shared resolve, I felt a sense of belonging I hadn't experienced before. Their laughter, their determination, and their scars formed an unbreakable bond that transcended their painful past.
In that moment, I understood the true strength of the Natra sisters—bound by blood and fire, united in their defiance. They had transformed their pain into power, and as they plotted their next moves, I felt an undeniable surge of hope. The future was uncertain, but together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.