Twilight Fortress

‘Woah! I can’t believe I’m really going to live here.’ I spoke to myself.

The house looked like a cut out from Architects magazine. It was beautiful. Everything was geometric, which I guess you could say about almost any pitched roof abode with square windows, but on this house you couldn’t help but notice it.

It looked like a castle. Well indirectly, it could be a modern looking one.

‘Come along mrs. Ann.’ A voice shook me out of my trance. It was the butler I had previously met.

‘Y-yes.’ I muttered, as I followed him into the house.

He led me to a large and spacious room that had a nice fragrance. Apparently it was ‘my room.’ All that I was experiencing was very new to me. I had never lived in such a fancy house before. Actually, I haven’t stayed at a home at all.

You see, I’m a 12 year old orphan. My parents passed away in a fire when I was younger.

I was just minding my own business in the orphanage, till I heard someone was looking for me. And there, was standing a tall man in a suit. Out of the blue, he told me that I was getting adopted.

Honestly I had no idea how he picked me over all the other kids, they were much more...sophisticated. The other girls took care of themselves well, ate their food in grace, didn’t run around much..I was pretty much the opposite.

I always wandered into the gardens and some how ended up hurting myself through my curiosity, and they all called me a savage. I didn’t even look like a girl. Well, that summed up few of the reasons I wasn’t adopted like my other friends.

So when I heard this mysteriously rich looking man had been ordered to take me, I was overjoyed, but also a little suspicious.

Anyway, long story short, I ended up living In that huge mansion accidentally. I know! What are the chances!

‘Mrs Ann, you can...freshen up and uh...wear some nice clothes and we can head to meet them.’ The butler said, as he eyed me.

What was wrong with what i had on?

Unbothered, i just decided i’d change anyway. First impressions are everything.

‘Okay!’ I replied enthusiastically and he shut the door behind me. I still wondered what my new parents were like.

‘Dear,’ I heard a gentle voice that startled me. A woman in a nursing uniform looked at me.

‘We need to get you dressed.’

‘Oh right.’ I replied, as I followed her into my now gigantic closet. She picked out something and gave it to me.

‘Thanks.’ I replied, and she just gave a faint smile and headed out the door. After getting dressed, I looked at myself in the mirror.

raven black hair, peach skin, a bandaid plastered on my cheek, with freckles on the bridge of my nose. My nut brown eyes slowly trailed down as I witnessed the horror.

I didn’t know the last time I had worn something this...weird. Actually I had never.

It was a long dress, something that seemed very expensive, and I could tell with all the satin frills. It had puffs by the shoulders, and I looked like a spoiled and ugly princess. Something out of a story book.

This was way too dramatic, what is this, cinderella? (Except the gown is ugly.)

I decided I’d pick something for myself from my suitcase. I ended up picking out a casual shirt and jeans, and headed outside.

I walked down the marble staircase and all I could hear in the tranquil castle were my shoes clicking on the ground. I saw the butler there. What was his name again?

‘Mr. butler.’ I said, to which he turned around. His face looked stiff as ever and he glared down at me making me feel shorter.

‘It’s Xaviar.’ He corrected.

He seemed familiar, and he reminded me of someone- his glare. Oh right, Severus Snape from harry potter. Bang on, except this dude was not some wizard. His hair, his accent and glare seemed to be as unpleasant as Snape though.

‘Right.’ I said. His name was..complicated.

Xaviar he eyed me curiously.

‘Didn’t the maids give you anything to wear?’

‘Well they did, but it seemed all too...dramatic.’ I said, hoping I didn’t offend him. He didn’t answer, as he lifted his glare off me, and started walking into the halls.

‘Follow me.’ He said, and I did as I was told. We stood in front of a wooden door, as he faced me.

‘Ms. Eleanor awaits you inside. Go ahead.’ He opened the doors. I headed inside, to see a beautiful middle aged woman with dark hair. She faced the window on the right as she sipped her drink. Her red lipsticks made stains on her white mug.

She slowly faced me, and her expression changed into a heartwarming smile.

‘Oh! Anastasia darling!’ She said in a sweet tone. ‘You look so grown up now.’

Grown up? Had she seen me before?

‘Hi.’ I said nervously.

‘Oh there’s no need to be so formal.’ She informed, as she gestured me to take a seat. She sat across me, a table between us.

‘Well, you’re obviously slightly confused.’ She said in sympathy.

I nodded, still no words came out of my mouth.

‘The reason I called you here..’ Her expression saddened. ‘I need to tell you this, since you have the right to know.’

Right to know what?! What was going on?

‘Your parents loved you very much.’ She said, as her warm palm fell on my hand.

She knew my parents.

‘You see, Louisa and I were were very good friends.’ She said.

My mother.

‘And I owe her. For all the times her family had taken responsibility or care for my... actions.’ She paused. I didn’t know what she was talking about but something told me it was best not to ask.

‘When I got married, I promised her that if anything were to happen to you, I would take care of you.’ She said, almost teary eyed. ‘You were only three.’

Without realising, tears were already streaming down my face, reminiscing about it.

‘But why now?’ I questioned.

’After that accident...you were missing.′ She said.