"The purple is too dark for her, go bring the peach"
"Tell the makeup artists to come here when they are done with Madam Bethany. "
"I want something on the loose side, she's a bit fleshy and tight clothing would highlight her flaws."
Orders kept flying around and footsteps could be heard scurrying away, Alice turned on her bed, her hand still on her head.
'Am I dreaming' she thought, those orders sounded strangely familiar. She turned again to change her position when she stopped in her tracks.
The bed felt too soft and it smelled of Jasmine, a scent she only perceived from her co- worker, Lillian.
'What is Lillian doing in my house?' she thought again.
Willing herself to wake up so she could understand what was going on, she finally opened her eyes, but immediately shut it back, the brightness was blinding. Shaking her head she opened her eyes again and what made her scream was the mean looking woman standing Infront of her.Quickly, she jumped out of the bed which made her lose her footing and she saw herself kissing a plush pink carpet
She didn't own a pink rug, her room was fully tiled. Carefully, she surveyed her surrounding and she found herself in a Sophisticated lavishly furnished bedroom, a queen size bed covered with a white duvet in the same fashion as those in big hotels, the walls were painted white and grey and every other furniture including the rug, she was currently sitting on was pink.The room was too pretty to be reality, so Alice though sad to leave the beautiful dream, tried to wake up. She closed her eyes and opened it only to find herself in the same place and position. Confused, she slapped herself and she could feel the stink on her cheek.
"What?" She screamed.
She stood up and went to the woman who had been quietly observing her with a weird look on her face.
"Where am I?"she asked
"Where is this?"
"It's a dream right?"
"Talk to me " she begged, as she wriggled the woman's shoulders, her confused state more evident, seeing how she could actually feel the fabric the woman was clothed with against her palm.
"Madame Alice, this is your bedroom in the White's mansion, and No, you are not dreaming, it's true your parents had finally gotten you out of the slums you previously lived in. Please if you don't mind, we are here to dress you up for the banquet prepared to celebrate your Sister's 20th Birthday, arriving late to your first public exposure will give a bad first impression." The woman answered quietly, her words though polite but the tone and the look in her eyes suggested otherwise.
Alice looked behind her and she saw four maids in identical uniforms all holding something she assumed she was supposed to wear.
As she made to turn, a painting caught her attention and she stared at it. It was of a demon, he was rather big and had monstrous features but his eyes held loneliness, loneliness she couldn't ignore, the sadness illustrated by the painting clawed at her heart,making her stand transfixed until she realized the maids had begun whispering among themselves. Reluctantly, she turned away and that was when the maid's words registered in her head.
She had mentioned White's mansion, a banquet, a Birthday party for her sister.
'Wait WHITE, wasn't that the name of Alice's real parents in the novel?' Her thoughts were now racing and she looked at the painting again and this time it looked familiar, it looked like the same Painting Alice had in her room in the book.
"No,no,no, that's absurd." she said as she shook her head but she remembered the orders she heard in her sleep, those were the exact orders, miss Sarah had given while they were preparing Alice for the banquet her parents organized to welcome her back.
"No" she screamed, this time slapping herself on her cheek.
"You can't be thinking in that direction."she said to herself.
But the bedroom, the maids, their uniform, the painting,the conversations, everything was screaming "falling in love with you."
So despite herself she managed to ask the maid.
" Are you by some chance miss Sarah"
"Yes?" She replied, questioning her with one raised eyebrows.
Alice took a step back, her eyes widening.
"My parents are David and Emily White?" She asked again, her voice shaking, dreading the answer she was to hear.
"Yes" Miss Sarah replied curtly, unable to hide her anger anymore.
Alice gulped, a very audible one before she proceeded to her next question.
"MMy my..siblings, the sister whose Birthday banquet is being held today ..."she stammered.
"Are miss Bethany and Peter White ma'am."Miss Sarah completed the sentence for her impatiently.
Alice's legs could no longer hold her weight so she sat rather ungracefully on the bed. Her last question would confirm her fears but she needed to know, so though fearful, she still managed to utter
"So that means I am.."
"Miss Alice White, the newest member of the White's family, formerly known as Alice Morgan." Miss Sarah deadpanned as she signaled the maids to begin their work.
"Now if you would allow me, I need to prepare you for the banquet." She added proceeding towards a pale Alice.