I do not own anything except my own creation.
*I was not perfect. My life was made-up like a story. My mother raised me to be a "perfect" creation; A puppet in her play, her pawn. I never liked her consistent training. It was all to become a proper, beautiful daughter, like a mannequin; A Doll. I was never going to live up to her expectations. She wants me to go off and marry a guy that I do now know or care about. It was an auctioning ball, a ball that would have me dress up, and hopefully have somebody to buy me; Mother was always corrupted as I remembered. Unfortunately for me, I was raised to be a next in-line picture perfect face, as I recall. I will not stand to be swayed and swooped off from under my feet by some ridiculous knight in shining armor, like in the stories; to me it is all completely ludicrous. I am a Siren! I am meant to go out and explore the worlds, experience life. Live my life, and make something out of it. I am Zana: a 19 year old female. *
Zana lays on her black silk bed that has red designs on it. Her dark hair cascaded down her back as she sat up slowly, she rubs her eyes as she places her legs to the side of her bed and stood up slowly; Her alarm clock has buzz to life as it read; 7:00 A.M.
'What's today again?' She thought.
A knock is heard at the door, a small voice called from the other side of it, "May we come in?"
"Yes" said Zana, she suppresses a yawn.
Three women rushes in through the doors after they open it; They wore matching velvet dresses that stop at the knees, they wore plain white stockings, and black heel Victorian style boots. The three women's names are: Olivia, Scarlet, and Moira.
Before the mirror the women start to undress her from her white nightgown into a sleek black knee length dress, white stockings, and a tight waist cincher. They place on Zana's feet black lace heeled boots that stop at her ankles.
"Watch it, please" Zana hiss in air as the cincher pinch her too tightly; it felt similar to somebody was squeezing her insides from the inside. "Sorry, but your mother wants us to tighten it for a small waist size" Scarlet said apologetically.
"I suppose it's near my birthday?" Zana glance over at the three sleepily, 'I wonder…. What will be in store for me…?'
"Today is your birthday, remember?" Olivia said smiling; Zana laughed nervously and a scarlet of red brushed across her cheeks, "Oh... right; how silly of me" she shyly peer down at the floor.
"You sure can be funny" Moira swats her arm jokingly.
Zana nod slowly "…Yeah…W-what's next?" she peeks up at them from her bangs as they fell in front of her face.
"Make-up dear; you do have a major activity later in the evening" they said together.
Zana was took over to her vanity desk, and push down on to the stool; Scarlet brushes her hair as Olivia works on her nails, and her make-up was apply quickly by Moira. 'Why is it so important? It's just another birthday?' Zana thought.
"Pucker your lips!" Zana did so, and her lips were painted with red lipstick neatly. This was not such pleasant when she wants to run.
"Close your eyes, head up, back straight; and do stay still" They all said in synch.
She felt a cold trail go across her upper eyelids, her cheeks were tickled with a brush, and her ears had been pinch; she assumes that she had earrings in. 'What a relief' she thought as they finish up.
"Open your eyes, sweetheart" They told her smiling.
Zana opens her eyes and was greeted with a dark eye female face that was unfamiliar; it looked like a porcelain doll that she did not really want to look like. She didn't look like herself, which it had scares her to look similar to her mother and not herself.
"I looked like I'm trying to be in some Burlesque show, or some brothel at the worst!" Zana exclaims in horror.
"You look beautiful" the women says while grinning like they are mad loony women who escaped from an asylum.
"I don't look like myself" Zana complains like a child.
"That's the point" Scarlet rolls her eyes and laughed lightly; she places her hand on her hip and smirks at the work she had done, "You are marvelous"
Another voice came in, "Do not complain, do not slouch, don't whine, and certainly don't growl; It's so unbecoming of a young lady"
Zana turns her face her personal 'etiquette' teacher and mentor, Mrs. Cambella. The woman was taller than her own five foot six height. She was dressed in a very tight corset, red dress, and six inch heels; She has grey hair in a tight bun, and make-up plaster thickly on her face, which made her moss green eyes dull.
"Yes, " Zana said and stood up from the stool and held her head high.
"Your stance is too tense, you need more grace; wake up from your sleep daze!" her mentor says.
The servant woman stood in a line and faced them two and was ready to take orders if need be, she circles around Zana, and taking in the details. "That dress needs a choker that matches it, grab the Amethyst choker" ordered.
Olivia slid over to the jewelry stand and picks up a necklace that had black laces around it with an amethyst gem in the middle of it, She hurries over to Zana and places it around her small neck.
"You are exquisite" she said approvingly, pride gleamed form her jaded eyes; Zana nods and follows her out of the room, and into the hallway that led her to the elevator at the far end. Inside the elevator had selected gems that are placed in the slots in the walls; the floors were solid, and shines from the over excess cleaning it receives every day.
"It's breakfast hour, we must get you down to the great hall" said the mentor.
"Why in the great hall? I thought that's where mother eats with the others?" Zana asks while in shock.
"Yes, it's about time that you get associated with them since your mother will be resigning this year due to some illness of her lover. Anyways, you must get to know them for your role. The ball will be held tomorrow night" stated her mentor with a firm nod.
"Why the balls…Why do I need to attend it; it's not that important, is it?" Zana says wearily. glances over, "It is,. You must face your future life; Everything your mother did was to have you become the best role"
"I still don't understand" Zana says with pure confusion. "There's no need to understand" said harshly. Zana winces and inclines her head, "Yes, ma'am"
"You must walk with grace. Don't walk with a hump, don't walk sluggish; certainly do not even stagger, it's all about grace and power" slaps her back hardly; The sting of her flesh hitting hers has made her wince.
"Yes, ma'am" Zana hholds her head higher, and stood up straighter; 'How many times will this woman continue to precept me on how to become what mother wishes…?'
"Fabulous, now keeper your shoulders back" the woman pushes Zana's shoulders back until they begun to ache. "Ouch" Zana whimpers.
The snide old widow narrows her eyes, "Do not express how your pain is!"
Zana swallows her pain and kept her eyes on the elevator door, as it opens they walk out the elevator slowly; They went through a granite hallway with marble designs, and found themselves at double doors that led to the great dining hall. It's where her mother, who had all the power, and the advisers held nearly none to no power or influence, dines where she receives her daily toast.
"You will be acting properly, since your mother will only be in with you today. I simply cannot, my stature is not as high as yours" She said nostalgically.
'Good' Zana thought pleased;"Yes, I Promise" Zana said placing her hands on the door knobs and opens them.
She took very slow amble steps inside the great hall that has floors had made up of white marble with elegant designs made up of dark granite; The ceiling was high as a cathedral vaulted ceiling with beautiful finely drawn paintings of medieval patterns and it has a magnificent glass crystal chandelier that's hanging above the dining table; The table is sixty feet long and includes different type of foods coming from exotic fruits to common meals with a high quality.
Zana took a seat in a chair before the table, a servant came up behind her and scoots her in. The aroma of the mixed scents has flood her sense; The chefs have out very much outdone themselves this time. Her mother entered the dinning hall , she has short shoulder length brown hair, dark eyes, porcelain skin, and in a enticing long violet dress that has slits going up the sides with six inch heels.
"Mother" Zana greets with a blank facade, she did not want to have her mother scorn and scold her over the way she acts, or to even have a few punishments for her lack of obedience or politeness she is suppose to show and act like. "Daughter, happy birthday; your birthmark is coming up tonight, do you have any plans?" Aphrodite says with a raise brow.
Zana shook hear head, "I believe I do not; is there something special?" Aphrodite kept silent; she looks down at her favorite dish which is White Alba Truffles and took a bite with her diamond forks; her daughter views the dishes curiously , 'I wonder…' She reaches for a dish that she liked: Honey Blueberry Blintzes. However, a servant places the dish on her plate. "Thank you" she tells them. They incline their head.
They ate in silence, The only noise was heard was the quiet noise of silverware against porcelain china glass. Aphrodite took a slow sip from her wine glass and casually eyes her daughter and back down to her plate.
"Mother, may I ask you something?" Zana asks her. Aphrodite glimpses at her with annoyance, "What do you want to ask?"
"I wish to spend today with my friends" Zana kept her attention on her hoping to gain her wish; Aphrodite took a pause until anger appears over her, "No, you shall not; you have many things to do today. Who are you friends?"
"Olivia, Scarlet, and Moira they…" Aphrodite cuts her of sternlyf, "Those servant girls! They are not your friends!"
Zana's hope crumbles down like glass only to be replace with bitter sorrow, "I'm sorry for asking"
Aphrodite didn't watch her but says coldly, "Finish your meal and get your school bag ready"
"Yes, mother" Zana finishs her meal and meekly ask, "May I be dismissed?" her mother nods, "You may"
Zana stood up, dropping down to a curtsy bow, and left to the doors right after; They has been open up by servants near them. On the other side of the doors stood her mentor boiling in anger; once the doors were shut, she hisses, "You made a fool of yourself, and brought shame to me!"
"I-I'm sorry" Zana says apologetically, guilt enveloped her completely.
She snorts, "Whatever you say will not bring me any justice. I'm shamed-ashamed! I must go, my job just flashed before my life" She holds her head low and walks off saying, "You must get to school, or not, it's your life"
Zana heads to the front doors of her castle that she lives in with her mothers, and the servants that reside in the servants' quarters. When she got to the front door, there stood her three servant friends with make-up in their hands and a school bag. "No more make-up, I looked atrocious!" Zana says trying to avoid the women that are trying to fix her make-up.
She sighs giving up as she's held in place by a much larger woman. The smaller women begun to fix her make-up for the last time of the day; they stop beaming, "You're now fixed! Have a great day in school"
Zana quickly flee out of the front doors of her home. At the end of the pathway has a guide that led to her school every day along with the group that's arm guards; They all are dress in black suits, and has red and blonde hair. She left over to them and peer up at the sky briefly, the sun begun to lighten the sky in beautiful hues of red and pink.
"Let's go, shall we?" the guide says, he has a look of annoyance across his face.
"Yes" She follows him down the street that had many other children, men, and woman brushing through to get to their jobs or schools.
The buildings of the city was higher than twenty stories, a few botanical gardens on the small sides of buildings; All of the buildings has lovely reflective glass that are two-way mirrors. There's trees and plants that has been place in street corners, parks, and near buildings, The trees are of many types, from cherry blossoms to weeping willows that are always in parks in every city. They are a tons of flowers; roses, lilies, and violets, and among other beautiful flora.
Children are dress really neatly, clean, and accordingly to how their parents' income; and rank in society. Some of the children look quite batter and bruise, while other ones look starving, and suffering some kind of trauma; while other children are happy with life since they didn't have to worry about any stress of income or troubles.
Zana follows her guide to her private school. Many of the children smile at her in awe, the other half stare in disdain. Zana arrives at her school, The building is tall, expensive, and many of the rich class students has been chattering amongst themselves outside. "You're here. Get inside and attend your classes" The guide says.
She walks wordless up the steps that led her to the lager open French doors. The students near the entrance stop talking and turn to stare at her cynically. She retires inside the school which has long hallways of lockers, marble floors, and more students gather inside from the outside crowds.
"Oh, look at this- I'm fancy, the leader's daughter. The bitch got no skills, she only got in because of her mother" One of the girls of the 'cliche' groups sneers at her; Zana ignores them and walk on by them. They laugh at her mockingly, "What a disgrace. I thought she was intelligent enough to make a comeback; I guess I was wrong"
Zana is tired of their verbal assaults, She whips around on her heels and bee lines to the girls and said calmly, "Enough with the bullying. I'm trying to learn in this place. I want to become somebody, an individual, and not somebody that will not take a control of their lives. So please be quiet and thank you" Zana smiles and walks off in to her class, leaving a stun audience behind her in silence.
As an hour passes in class, she finishes her exam, and began to draw on a blank piece of paper. Zana glances up from her school desk that held her calculus exam, the teacher stands above her with a leering smile, "What is that you need to discuss?"
The teacher narrows her eyes. "You're supposed to be taking your exam; Not worry about your little worthless drawings"
Zana fully looks up , "It's art, not some 'little drawing; as you say it is"
The teacher snatches the exam off of the desk and held it up, her face drops. "Oh…You're finished"
"I am. Can you please leave me?" Zana asks her, a threatening tone lingering, "You won't get anywhere in life by drawing, writing music, and not getting a real career"
"If you say so, ma'am" Zana says focusing back on her drawing which is a small bird on a tree branch.
The teacher rolls her eyes and makes her way back to her desk swaying her hips; That made some of the younger males and females look at briefly then back down at what they were doing.
When three o'clock came by, Zana has fled from her school. She's in her room with three of her friends; Scarlet, Olivia, and Moira. They're chatting to about her day. "She was saying negative things about me. I-I'm sick and tired of it. You know how many times I had cried myself to sleep from their negative words; far too many times!" Zana cradles her head in her hands.
"Oh, it's okay…you got to do what you thought needed to be done" Olivia said patting Zana's back. "Well, it's time that you said something to those idiots" Scarlet says with a huge smirk.
"At least you got somewhere, I nearly committed suicide because of it" Moira murmurs.
"Why?" they asked her. Moira shrugs and tells her story calmly."A lot of teenagers have been doing that lately. It's all about the dying, only reason I nearly did it was because I was bullied, and in misery" Moira shook her head.
"Oh. But I have disgraced my face; my mother will hate me!" Zana complains as she holds her head in her hands.
"You're mother won't hate you" Scarlet reassuring. "You don't know her; none of you truly know her; she is your worse god damn nightmare!" Zana snaps angrily.
The others look very taken back, "We're sorry for angering you," Zana feels a quick wave of guilt wash over her, "I am sorry; I didn't know- I didn't mean to snap at you three… It was uncalled for. I am so sorry!" she said shamefully.
They stare in shock, "Its fine…we're use to it…but…" they are literally at lost for words."..What? Is my actions unforgivable?" she hangs her head.
"Oh…no…it's that we're not used to have apologies...you're forgiven?" Dinner time had come about six pm later that day. Zana stares down at her food blankly; She still felt guilty for making a scene when she was in school. "I heard that you humiliated yourself in school today" Aphrodite began, she counts down the time where her puny foolish daughter will explode and apologize. 'Three...two one...' "I-I'm so sorry! She was calling me names; it was beginning to get to me. I'm so sorry mom!"
Aphrodite taps her manicured fingers against the table, "Had you not thought of ignoring them?"
"No ma'am, I have not," Zana whispers. "I have not thought of it" Zana spoke louder.
"I can't hear you; speak louder not 'no ma'am, I have not' so speak louder for people can hear you!" Aphrodite sneers. "I have not thought of it!" Zana spoke louder; Aphrodite nod acceptingly, "Much better, next time do TRY to think of your consequences instead of trying to be the comeback queen. There is no real job on this planet to become anything like that; and I certainly don't plan on creating any. If I did, what'll be next? Walking animals'? Folding clothes? We got machine and slaves for them!"
"People do that too!" Zana said meekly.
"Don't argue with me! I am mother and I know best" Aphrodite said sternly.
'Yes, mother" Zana sighs mentally.
It was like this every day for her, get up, get dressed by servants, bathe and be cleaned by them, and majorly do all of her everyday tasks. She missed her father, her brother, and her family that once was; It she could turn back the time, she would change a lot of things, and this would resort her in not being in this position. She smiles when she remembers her family that was once happy and alive; Her memories were only great when her father was not dead, her brother was still home, and her mother was not this cruel beast she has become.
"We all were happy; I could have had a happy family!" She took a seat on her bed with her family photo in her hand. She closes her eyes and remembers her father used to tuck her in to bed as her mother used to sing a lullaby that made her fall asleep during thunderstorms. She still could hear her mother singing the lullaby,
"Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
When the blazing sun is gone
When he nothing shines upon
Then you show your little light
Twinkle, twinkle all the might"
Tears began falling from her eyes, her heart heavy with regret and sorrow. The photo has slip from her hands, and collide with ground and shattering the glass into many pieces. Zana's heart drop painfully, she slid off the bed, and picks up the photo from the frame. It had some indents from the glass breaking. She lets out sobs and press the photo close to her heart, she cries her heart out. Everything felt like it was falling apart.
"Please God; just let me fix my mistakes! I wish my daddy's back, please let us be the happy family again!" She cries hardly. Her body shook with sobs, her nose stuffy and she felt like she could die.
"Why…daddy; did you have to leave mommy and me alone?" she fell on to her side. She opens her eyes and held out her photo shakily. Wet drops of tears had stained the photo permanently. She shuts her eyes once more. She dreams of her family at a beach. They were having fun, Zana was building a sand castle with her brother, Samuel; She was six years old, and her brother was ten years old.
"Look, mommy and daddy! I made a sand castle with Samuel, are you happy too?" Zana shouts happily. Samuel laughs, "We made a castle!"
Their parents agree and smile, "Good for you honey!" Zana beamed happily, "Thank you! I love you mommy and daddy!'
"We love you too" they said. Then everything went from happy to fearful. Her mother's face distorted in anger; her father bleeding from the neck as he lay on the sand. Her brother turn into a skeleton. She let out a gut clenching scream. She sat up from her bed, she held her hand to her chest, she shook in fear, and her mouth dry and she's breathing heavily.
She close her eyes, "Mother… why did…why?" She swallow the sob that threaten to escape her. A knock is heard at the door, "Are you in the mood to chat?" the three girls ask.
"Yeah, why not girls" Zana open her eyes, walk over to the door, and open it.
"Can we come in?" Scarlet ask.
"No, I cannot let that happen" Zana shook her head.
"Alright" they back away from the door. Zana slip through the door, close it behind her, and notice that they was a small group of four people. The three girls and some random guard that she has seen courting Scarlet, she believes his name was Caspian. "Greeting" She smiled at them, they give her a nod in acknowledgement.
"Did you hear about Joe?" Olivia ask.
"No...What happened?" Zana ask. She didn't know Joe , but she assume that he is someone her friends are associate with. "So he was walking down the street with a basket of freshly picked roses, a clean suit, and a champagne bottle!" Moira giggles.
"Then what happened?" Moira raises a brow, "A lion pounced out of an alley and on to him, he had to fight off the lion, but the zoo keeps showed up and sedated the lion. He later showed up to his date with ripped clothes, ruined roses, and a broken champagne bottle. His hate broke up with him; he was going to marry her too! He told her what happened, she thought he was lying to her"
"Any you know what happened?" Scarlet laughs."That woman found out that it happened by news, she was so embarrassed! " Olivia said with a smirk.
Zana frowns, "Poor guy, that would be sad…" she pauses, "wait, where did that lion come frown?" Zana is confused.
"A zoo had a lion escaped, the place was closed for maintenance due to some critical failure going on" Scarlet answer. Aphrodite storms out of her office and towards Zana's room, until she spots her near a guard and the three servants that her daughter that are 'friends' with.
"Who sent the wrong package? Who ordered grey? I said white. Not orange, not pink, and definitely not YELLOW!" She snarls."And this precious vase, I told you to tell them to put it in wrap, not tissue paper!" she rages.
"Who did this? It was supposed to NOT be broken" Aphrodite snaps as she glances over to a vase that's has a chip.
'I-It wasn't us; the shipments were b-brought in like t-that!" Olivia stutters nervously.
"I-It w-wasn't u-us; t-the s-shipments w-were brought in l-like that" Aphrodite mocks her.
"Who was it then, the servants or the guards?!" Aphrodite asks harshly. The servants and guard shhook their head rapidly.
"It was my fault; not the servants!" Zana all but shouts.
Aphrodite brought her hand up and smacked her daughter across her face harshly and making a loud smack. Zana flinches as she hit the floor, cast her eyes down, and her cheek stung."Next times answer me when I ask you, not when I ask them!" Aphrodite narrows her eyes at her angrily.
Aphrodite stares at her daughter smugly, "No got to your room, and you won't be eating dessert, and get up from the floor!"
Zana got up slowly, her legs wobbling and her stomach twisting in agony. She turns her head to the bedroom door, "May I leave to my room, Mistress?"
"You may" Aphrodite says and turns on her heels, and walk down the hallway. The servants and guard shot Zana a look of pity, and a glare to Aphrodite.
Zana makes it to her room, she enters it and she shut the door, she stumbles to her bed, and collapses on to her bed; The tears in her eyes has made her vision blurry; with one hand she had reaches her cheek that her mother slapped her at; "Mommy…why…? Why…?" She cries. Zana sobs into her pillow, her eyes wet with tears, and she's full of fear like a child. She cries herself to asleep.
