Chapter Four

My first taste of freedom.

It is beautiful.

This is what freedom should have been like from the beginning. It should have been like this from the moment I was born. But, alas, God had other plans for me. One that involved the rudest family, and reincarnating into the villain of my favorite game.

Sometimes I feel like I don't say this enough, yet I know for a fact I say it every single day of my life: Life is cruel.

I've never been outside before. Correction, I've never been outside the tower before. If I had longer hair, then I'd practically be that one girl from that one Disney movie all my students loved to talk about. Tangled I think it was. It was a great movie, really, the class begged me to watch it after they finished reading the original Grimms Brothers tale.

"Miss. Odette, we must hurry along now. I know how wonderful this is for you, but you can look at the world later. Your father is waiting, and he's getting very impatient," Genevieve reminds me.

"Hey! I thought you were supposed to be on my side!" I pout.

"Yes, yes, I am. Trust me. But...Your father is my boss." Genevieve smiles at me. I wonder what her thoughts are. If only Odette had the ability to read minds. Ha, that would just make the kingdom label her more of a freak than she already is!

The walk to the main mansion is beautiful. The sky is bright and the grass is green. The flowers are colorful and make me smile. I forget all about the man I killed.

You must never forget. I will always be here to guide you to your destiny.

Odette's voice, again.

Just shut up, would you?

After about another 10 minutes we are met with the side of the mansion and a guard. He introduces himself and fearfully lets us pass.

As we walk into the mansion itself, I almost scream.

This place is far more beautiful than I thought it was. It might just rival the palace.

As I am trying to hide my joy, the housemaids and servants are all looking at me like I might as well be the devil. Gosh, I really must stop stating the obvious.

They all look like they are about to scream in terror and run as far away as they can.

Good. Let them. They must come to fear you.

No, they mustn't.

And I'll make sure of that.

Aside from the servants looking like they want to scream, this place is very bright and cheerful. The colors on the walls really lighten the place up. It's very different from the single room in the tower.

There are doors leading to many different rooms, each leading to some other place. I wonder where they lead too.

At almost every door and corner there are servants and maids whispering in fearful tones. They make faces at me, their expressions telling me what their words cannot.

"Don't be afraid, Lady Odette," Genevieve kindly says to me, making me feel a little less scared.

"I'm not that afraid!" I counter, which only makes her laugh a little.

"Of course you aren't," She stops giggling, "personally, I think you have every right to be afraid. I mean, when was the last time you actually saw your parents, hmm? A long time, yes. Maybe they'll come to love you." She goes on as we continue our journey down the hall.

Those are empty words filled with empty promises. Those so-called parents of Odette's will never love her. Ever. She knows it, her parents know it, her brother knows it; even Genevieve knows. I, myself, know it too.

Some things will never be changed no matter how hard one tries.

I just wished for one simple thing to change. For both myself and Odette. I wish that we find someone who will love us. Maybe then Odette will finally know love and will not try and kill anyone in her way. And maybe I will feel less empty inside. The last time I actually felt loved was when I was with my students in class. And even that feels like forever ago.

Genevieve hums to herself for the rest of our small walk. I remind myself I am now surrounded by beautiful things and stare around at all the beautiful paintings. Some of them have people on them, probably earlier members of the Mara Family.

At the end of a particularly colorful hallway filled with blue, is a door. A black door.

Odette's father is on the other side of that door. Along with her brother.

Just imagining what they are going to say to me when I walk through that door is giving me chills.

For the first time since I arrived here I am absolutely, utterly, terrified. I don't think I was this scared when I found out I killed that butler.

"Lady Odette?" Genevieve questions.

I snap out of my thoughts with a shiver. 'Sorry." I answer. I didn't realize how unprepared I was for meeting my father. I guess I was preoccupied with accidentally killing someone.

Genevieve pushes me closer to the door. I do not want to go in there at all.

"Time to go, Miss," she says cheerfully while pushing me to the door more.

I open my mouth to say: "Genevieve! You betrayed me!! I thought you were on my side! Don't make me go in there! Please!!"

But what comes out is: "I suppose you're right. I Must go. I wish you could come in with me, but this is something I must do myself."

I smile sadly. Honestly, I am ready to cry. I want Genevieve to come in with me! Gosh, I really am acting like a 7 year old.

"You'll do just fine. And besides, I'll be two halls down if you need me!" She smiles and winks at me before taking off to go about her maid duties.

A few good seconds after she leaves, I am left staring at this black door that seems very out of place in this blue themed hallway. I can't help but gulp.

...I can't believe I'm saying this but..I want to go back to the tower.

I feel like curling into a ball and crying. And maybe throw up too.

No. I must be strong. For the sake of Odette, I must. She is counting on me to set her free. To liberate her from this life of imprisonment.

Taking one last look at the door, I breathe in and breathe out.

"For the sake of Odette," I remind myself.

And with that, I open the door of uncertainties.

***

To Be Continued.

(A/N: Sorry for any errors in the writing. I found out I am a poet (according to my English teacher) so if any of that sounds weirdly poetic, then that's why. I am going on a small vacation soon, and I REALLY hope I can write a longer chapter than I normally write! Maybe I will! Anyway, have a good rest of your day or night!)