Hello my lovelies! Its time for another chapter. But this time its time for these two girls to bond. How about you?
BPOV
I awoke to the sound of knocking. I groggily opened my eyes and turned towards the door as another knock sounded throughout the room. I closed my eyes and tried to tune out the sound but it kept getting louder and louder. After a minute of constant knocking I finally flung off the covers and stomped towards the door. I opened the door only to reveal Alice standing there with a smile on her face.
"Good morning Isabella." She said as she walked past me with two maids carrying trays of food behind her. She softly grabbed my hand and lead me towards the chaises. "Come let us have breakfast!"
She sat across form me as she dove into her various fruits and wine. It felt a little awkward because this was the second meal I have had with someone in a row since I was forced here. But even back on Earth I hardly ate meals with anyone. My mother was gone most of the time and Angela worked all day. I watched her cautiously for a few seconds and then slowly ate a piece of cheese. I politely declined the wine and drank some water instead as Alice began speaking to me.
"So Isabella...I think it's time I gave you a tour of the kingdom." She said as she sipped on her wine.
"A tour?"
"Why yes, you have hardly seen the castle. Or the town. Its small really but the people are adorable." She giggled as she popped a couple grapes in her mouth and she leaned back.
"There's a town here?" I asked. Shocked really. Who would want to live in the Underworld?
"Oh Isabella you have much to learn." She said quietly almost as if she was talking to herself. I was going to question her on her comment but she quickly stood up and ordered the young girls to clean the room. "Come Isabella it is time for you to dress." She said as a third slave girl entered the room carrying two gowns. She spread them out on the bed as Alice looked over them. I stood beside her and eyed the beautiful gowns. They both where floor length and covered only one shoulder but one was emerald green with gold stitching and the other was a a light blue that reminded me of water. "I think these colors will look wonderful on your skin. I hope they fit as well. Which would you like to wear today?"
"Oh...I don't know." I responded honestly as I brushed my fingers against both dresses and was shocked as to how soft it felt. "They are both so beautiful." My eyes switched back and forth for a few seconds before I finally pointed to the blue one.
"A good choice. Blue is lovely on your skin. We can just save the green one for supper." She said as she snapped her fingers and the slave girl gently grabbed the green dress and walked away with it. Alice helped me into the gown and I was so surprised as to how light and it felt. It barely weighed an ounce for so much fabric. She then guided me back to the chaise and patted the cushion for me to sit. As soon as my bottom hit the cushion she began on my hair. I felt her combing out my tangles but then she began pulling lightly and twisting. After a couple minutes she finally patted my shoulders and squeal that she was finished. I felt her move my hair and I realized she had braided it. My hair hasn't been braided since I was a little girl. She then fastened a thick grey cloak with a hood on my shoulders and she placed one on herself as well.
"You look beautiful Isabella." She said and grabbed my hand again only to lead me towards the door. Just before she opened the door she turned to look at me with a smile on her face. "Are you ready to see the rest of the castle Isabella?"
Although I was nervous to see the rest of the castle but I was curious. I chose to nod my head. I wasn't too sure how to respond. Alice has scared me before and I did not want to upset her again.
Her smile only grew as she opened the door while holding my hand.
"First I will show you the village! They are just so adorable." She said as she lead me down so many turns and countless hallways. I was very lost but I tried my best to place certain things into memory. Such as a different candle shapes and sizes along with different floor colors. After sometimes we finally made it to a set of doors I could only presume led to the outside. They were tall, wide brown doors held together but two, long pieces of wood latched together. Two guards on each side of the doors stood there holding spears. Their faces were so serious and were staring straight ahead. But there was something interesting about each of them. They each had a thick scar ling from their right ear down to their chin.
Once Alice stood in front of the guards, without looking at her, they quickly left their posts and moved the large wood to open the doors. All four men had to work together to open the door and I could even see them struggling a bit. Their veins were completely visible in their temples and arms as the heavy wood opened for us. Once it was opened they stayed in their position as Alice guided me forward. I felt a slight tug on around my neck and saw Alice placing the hood around on my head.
"We shall return in a few hours." Alice announced as the men nodded their heads and slowly closed the door behind us once we touched outside dirt. Alice held my hand as we walked ahead and I let her be my guide. The huts I saw on my first day were not too far but it was a walking distance. I looked up to see the same grey sky and red moon as before.
"Alice?" I asked as I stopped walking and stared up at the sky. "Is it day time or night right now?"
From my peripheral vision I could see her look up at the sky as well and smile at me. "It is day time Isabella. Well almost afternoon if I am being specific." She said while looking at me.
"The sun is very different than from earth. What about night time? Is that different as well?"
"No Isabella. The moon is the same here in the Underworld as it is on Earth." For some reason that put my heart at ease. At least one thing in my life would not be so different. I could feel a small smile creep on my mouth but I tried to hide it.
"Unfortunately darkness is the same where ever you go. I cannot hide." She said so softly almost as if she was whispering to herself. I didn't understand her words and looked at her for confirmation but she turned her hand and tugged on my hand.
I took one last look at the red orb before walking ahead with Alice in tow. After a couple minutes of silence I could hear some murmuring in the town. But the closer we went the more I realized that it was ...laughter. More specifically children's laughter. Once we were at the town edge I could see children chasing each other and adults talking and some merchants arguing.
"They all seem so..." I lost my voice as we walked more into the town.
"Happy?"
I nodded my head without looking at Alice but she was right. She walked beside me as we wet deeper into the heart of town.
"Everyone believes that the Underworld is a cruel place to live. That nothing but ghosts and dead bodies rule this place. It is a common misconception." She explained as two young girls ran past us with an angry old man following behind them. "Most of the people here did not have a choice to live here but they made due with their fate."
"How did they come to live here? Have people always lived here?" I asked as we walked by an arguing couple.
"No. Most people came here because they were banished or cursed by the gods. Anything can make a god or goddess angry. Once you come to the Underworld you can never return home. You must stay here forever. So they just make another life here. Get married. Have children. Or become a merchant. It is a small kingdom of maybe five hundred people or so but the people are happy." I was in disbelief. A part of me did not want to believe that the gods could just separate people from their families and be so insensitive. But...I couldn't deny the myths and stories I have heard from my mother as well. Did my mother ever curse a human?
"But I am so glad the people have found a way to move on." Alice said as she smiled at the people passing by. Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts as I people watched too. Despite their grey skin color, they were normal people. Wives yelling at husbands and men working to provide for their families. Children being curious and mischievous all at once.
"I am glad." I responded as I looked at Alice and for the first time..I smiled with her.
I'm sorry if it seemed a little short but I did want to update since its been a few weeks. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Black Friday as well.
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