Dawn's soft light began to seep through the curtains, gently illuminating the room where Alice rested, sleeping peacefully on a makeshift bed made out of cushions. Her deep snores rhythmically echoed off the walls, expressing her peaceful unawareness of what was about to happen.
Kath, her caretaker, stirred from her slumber and gracefully stood up, adjusting her white nightgown before walking over to the window. She held onto the cords lightly while drawing the curtains open, allowing the early morning sunlight to spill into the room, causing the scarlet carpet to gleam with warmth.
She hummed a soothing melody as she undressed her sleeping gown and slipped on a white, middy-style blouse and a knee-length plaid skirt. With gentle hands, Kath helped Alice to her feet and out of her sleeping gown. As Alice stirred and gradually opened her eyes, Kath briefly paused for a moment, fixated on the rose-shaped birthmark nestled between Alice's breasts. A giggle escaped her lips. "It's kinda cute," she mused, but Alice's blank expression remained unchanged.
Kath stood behind Alice, a comb in hand, and methodically crafted her hair into an elaborate twist. She assisted the other young girl into a frilly dress with a black frilly dress with a knee-length skirt. After securing black stockings around her legs, Kath finished the look by enhancing Alice's natural beauty with a bit of makeup: matte black lipstick to bring out her full lips combined with feathery strokes of mascara for her long eyelashes.
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Suddenly, someone knocked on the door and Kath looked up. "It’s me, Flavia," came a voice from the other side of the door.
"Lady Sains?" Kath smiled and walked to the door to let the newcomer in. Lady Sains entered first, followed by two others – an albino woman and a vibrant redhead.
Flavia Sains beamed at the sight of them both as she exclaimed, “You both look beautiful – you could pass off as princesses!”
"Thanks," Kath blushed at the compliment.
Alice greeted Sains with a graceful curtsy without even batting an eye.
Margarita glided towards Alice, her albinism striking in contrast against the darkly lit room. Her white-blond hair flowed like ocean waves, and her lips were a deep black color. “She’s so cute!” Margarita patted Alice's head affectionately, her eyes sparkling like diamonds.
"Alice, you must prepare and protect this place from any intruders who may come," Joanne Belloc declared as she took Margarita's hands into her own. “You’ll ruin her hair!” She added quickly, grabbing Margarita's hand.
Alice curtsied again before taking a seat on a cushioned bench. Her movements were doll-like and graceful. The ethereal quality of her demeanor suggested that her mind was lost in another world, one entirely separate from their own.
"There are only two Amahraspand left, but I think we still have time," Joanne whispered as she approached Alice. Gazing deeply into her eyes, she continued: “We just need a little bit more time.” Then with a tender gesture, Joanne caressed Alice's head.
“Hey, you’ll ruin her hair!” Margarita scowled, but the tenderness of the moment appeared to overpower all other emotions in the room.