Chapter One: The Morning Routine

A loud creak of the door broke the silence within the large darkened room as a young woman slowly entered it. The clattering of wooden shoes on hardwood flooring resounded against the walls as the young woman walked to the window and drew the large blinds back. Instantly, sunlight filled the room and fell onto the large white bed where another girl, much younger than the former, was sleeping.

As the light filled the room, it fell on the various deep auburn wood furniture that made up its entirety. The hardwood floor, now revealed as darkened mahogany, complemented with the marble-like walls of the room for a perfect blend of rustic and modern. Along the walls of the room were various dressers and cabinets, a large vanity that rested opposite of the window, and in the center of the room was the large white bed, covered in vast sheets and a plethora of pillows.

"Uh!" The voice from the bed sprung to life with a quick moan. From the bedsheets, a young girl rose slowly into the sunlight. Her eyelids felt extremely heavy as her gaze fell on the silhouette of a woman standing near the window. The young girl scowled and threw a pillow over her face to block out the light.

"Rise and shine, Miss." The young woman spoke with a crispness in her voice, "Again, the sun is up, and it's time that you are too!"

The young girl stuck her tongue out at the woman before removing the oversized sheets that laid on top of her. The older woman began walking towards the bed, her shoes resounding loudly against the floor, and held out her hand to the young lady as she reached the bedside.

The girl hesitantly hobbled out of the bed and began stretching towards the ceiling. With a short "oomph" and a few clickings of the tongue, the girl folded her arms, staring at the woman. "Meriah, I would rather you not use the sun to wake me." The young girl rubbed her eyes, "It's so underhanded."

"If I don't use the sun, you would refuse to hear me calling out to you, as you normally do," Meriah said as she stepped forward and gave a slight bow. "If you'd like instead, I could tickle you like I did when you were a child."

"N—No!" The young girl said blushingly before bringing her hand to her lips and clearing her throat, "No tactic like that shall be needed. I am no longer ticklish so that won't work anymore."

"Is that so?" Meriah said with a giggle, motioning over to the vanity, "Well, I will always miss your cute laughter. You were such a happy child."

"Am I not that way anymore?" The young girl said with a small pout as she began walking with Meriah.

"Of course not, Miss Brenda." Meriah said softly in defense as she sat Brenda down in a chair near the vanity before saying even softer, "You are now a young and beautiful lady."

Brenda's face moved to a smile at the compliment as she looked at her reflection. Her face seemed a bit pale for the early morning, which was illuminated by her cerulean blue eyes. Her hair, a strawberry blonde, flowed straightly midway down her back as her bangs fell just above her thin eyebrows. Her slender figure was without blemishes, and in her purely white nightgown, she looked like a ghost.

"Oh." Brenda's face moved back to a smile before giving Meriah a look of disgust, "But, I look rather ghost-like this morning."

Meriah stepped up to the mirror, and it gave off her reflection. Her figure was also slender; however, it only exemplified the numerous scars across her body. Her jawline was chiseled while her cheeks were sunken inwards, complimented by her most distinguishing feature-- her two long pointed ears that sprouted from within her silver coarse hair, which reached far down her back. Her silver eyes gave off a faint glow against her similar pale skin, but those eyes masked quieter darkness than she would like to admit.

"Nonsense, Miss." Meriah said swiftly, "You are a human, not a ghost! You will see that with a bit more color. A ghost would be jealous of such a sight, especially a seventeen-year-old girl."

"A ghost would be jealous of life in general." Brenda said with a slight giggle, "I wish this world had more color, honestly."

"This world has plenty of colors," Meriah said as she reached over into one of the side drawers of the vanity, pulled out a brush, and began brushing Brenda's hair. "The world outside is filled with bright green trees, a light blue sky, and oh, when it storms, we see the dazzling colors of the lightning as it dances across the sky."

"Well, that's true." Brenda said with a small smile that turned back to a frown as she looked over Meriah's torn and stained light-brown plain dress, "But there isn't much color inside this manor."

"Elves don't need color, Miss." Meriah said lightly, but with a frown, "We are just happy to be here. Living and helping, just as our destinies told us."

"I'll talk to Father and see if we can get a change of wardrobe around here!" Brenda exclaimed, suddenly standing up, ripping the brush from Meriah's hand. Faster than Brenda could see or even react, Meriah instantly reached outward and caught the brush as it was about to hit the floor.

"Hold on." Meirah giggled as she gently pushed Brenda back into the seat and began brushing again, "Your father will have my head if he were to see you like this."

"He has seen me worse than this." Brenda scoffed, "I don't see why—"

"Our punishments have been worse for less." Meriah sighed and then covered her mouth in shock, "I am deeply sorry, Miss Brenda. I didn't mean to—"

Brenda sighed sadly, "It's okay, Meriah. Other humans may be cruel, but you are my friend. Feel free to speak freely around me, okay?"

Meriah shook her head, lifting her right hand to her right ear, feeling over a deep jagged cut that was impossible to miss at first glance, "I appreciate the offer, Miss. I'll just watch my words from here on out. Now, time for your bath."

"Um." Brenda looked puzzled and stared blankly at Meriah, "Why did you brush my hair and then draw my bath?"

"Someone needed a reminder of her beauty." Meriah laughed to herself, fully showing an expression that she did that on accident, "Now, off with the gown, come on."

Brenda frowned and nodded as Meriah finished brushing her hair and opened a door to the side of the vanity, leading to a large-scale in-ground bath with similar marble walls and stone flooring. As Meriah drew the bath and undressed Brenda, Meriah hummed a slow and soft tune to herself. Brenda knew this tune very well as she listened to it daily throughout her childhood.

Meriah picked out a bright blue morning dress for her master to wear as Brenda took a rather long bath. Next, Meriah assisted Brenda with the dress without speaking, adding a large white bow on the end of the dress for appeal; however, the silence between the two continued onwards through the entire morning procedure.

"And finished." Meriah said, clapping her hands together, "Now, you are ready to show the world your beauty."

Brenda looked back into the vanity to see much more color about her. A rose-colored blush was applied and livened up the lips with a type of herbal balm, while her eyes shined even brighter than a clear pond at high noon. Her dress, a light blue topped with a white bow, complimented her age and beauty along with her innocence. To top off her outfit, she wore white laced sandals, and it looked like she went from ghost to "deity of the lake".

"Even if I am not going anywhere?" Brenda said with another sigh, "Just for once, I'd—"

"Oh! I assumed your father told you!" Meriah said, clapping her hands together again, "You are going to the next kingdom over with your parents."

Brenda stopped and her jaw dropped in shock, "I—I get to leave the manor!?" She began jumping up and down in excitement, "Oh! I wonder what it's going to be like?"

"I'm sure your father will fill you in on the details, Miss." Meriah said as she walked over to the door of the room, her shoes again resounding throughout the large room, "Now, come, come! Your father was expecting us minutes ago."

Brenda, with a big smile on her face, stepped out of her room, unaware that it would be the last time she would ever see it again.

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