my body and admiring the aesthetics o

e voice whispered gently, followed

d. Who would dare approach Levi's priv

r a week, yet I already understood the atmosphere. Everyone treaded carefully around Levi. He was a m

a," the voice

gned to me personally. She was the only

espond, another

or the wedding ceremony," the second

d my body and stepped out, steam following in my w

." I b

t was.

been stitched with stars. The fabric was rich, delicate, and alive with sparkles

he second maid asked, sn

ded.

began brushing, combing, and styling. Another maid entered with a tra

l still struggling to understand her new reality. The next, I was a glowing

so beautiful,"

he second maid added, adjus

the kind of woman little girls read about in fairy tales. The kind w

he right places. The lights overhead made it glow like it had a life of its own.

ainst the marble floor. The towering doors opened wide, and a wave of quiet

as I took slow st

here

e

ike a statue carved from ice and shadows. His eyes never left mine, intense and unreadable. There w

d once dared to th

I had

s taking steps into hell

ome only watched, their faces unreadable, their eyes sharp. Levi's best ma

a strange blu

hts fli

h spread acr

m, but no windows had opened. I looked around.

n... I

oved. Her lips were blood red, and her eyes shimmered with a kind of knowing. Her gaze

Don't

dn't b

ldn't

-reminded me of the nightmares I could never fully remember. H

en-It

hysic

hing I had never felt before,like a part of

asp

back. The music played. The guests

hing had

ne else ha

to its perfect illusion. My pulse raced. My

as Cleo-came up to me, smiling like

heerfully. "Let's enjo

barely hearing their laughter, their whispers. My eyes kept w

trying to piece everything toget

oman said, her voice

ce. Her yellow gown shimmered like gold, and the necklac

ed, trying to ma

h a poised smile. "And t

" Frank added. "You can add

It's a pleasure to mee

ted behind Aunt Lila's eyes. Her smi

rvived?" she asked, her voice

vived what?" I

nds and whispered

't hear

hat it sounded like

most amused. "Oh, nothing, d

way she

hills dow

was supposed to kn

hen they moved away, disappearing back int

scared me

he ce

an in the b

shift that no one

dancing, sipping champagne like nothing had happene

lt like-this was o