The car stopped in front of the enormous wrought iron doors, and for a second my breath was cut short. The estate unfolded like a luxury postcard: stone towers cut out against the orange sunset sky, impeccable gardens that seemed pruned with a ruler, and that artificial lake that reflected the clouds as if the water were crystal. It was beautiful. Too much.
But before I could process the "we're loaded god level", the main door opened suddenly.
A pink stain shot out like a missile.
—Sienna!
I didn't even manage to blink. Some arms surrounded my neck and a body crashed against mine. The impact made me stagger; by pure reflex I hugged her hard so we wouldn't both end up rolling on the gravel.
When I recovered my balance, I had in front of me a girl with bright pink hair, dressed in an impeccable butler suit: pleated skirt, perfect tie, everything. Her green eyes shone with tears while she squeezed me as if I were going to disappear.
—At last you returned! I'm so glad! —she squealed, sinking her face into my shoulder.
—Haha... I missed you too —I managed to say, while my brain screamed in internal panic: (Keep calm, Dani! It's not time for emotional crisis! Act normal!)
Before I could process who this pink energy ball was, a shadow fell over us. Dad approached with a smile from ear to ear and the phone held high. Flash.
—Well played, dad —I raised my thumbs, still with the girl hanging from me.
—Look at you —he said, bringing a hand to his chest with dramatism—. Who would have thought that my daughter would love having photos taken of her. —He wiped away a fake tear.
The pink girl finally let me go, but her hands stayed clutched to my arms as if she was afraid I would evaporate.
—Sienna, we have so much to talk about! —she jumped in her spot—. Hell 6 came out while you were away! Can you believe it?
—Fuck... what madness —I murmured, seeing her bounce like a hyperactive puppy. (Sorry, Michael, but I think I just won the waifu lottery.)
Then, heavy steps from the interior.
The figure that appeared in the threshold froze my blood.
It was a stunning woman, although in that state it was hard to admire her completely. Long blonde hair, messy and tangled as if she had days without combing it. Loose robe, wrinkled, open just enough to hint at generous curves: prominent chest, narrow waist, and a face that, despite the unkemptness, was perfect. Intense blue eyes, fleshy lips.
I took a step back by instinct.
Dad moved fast to my side.
—Darling! —he exclaimed, approaching—. What are you doing with that look? You should be resting.
—J-just wanted to receive you, honey —she stammered, trembling voice, mix of shyness and longing.
Dad took her by the waist, brushed the hair away from her face, and kissed her. It wasn't a tender family kiss. It was deep, passionate, one of those that make the world stop.
—Aaaa! —the pink girl turned red as a tomato and covered her cheeks—. How romantic!
I couldn't take my eyes off. When they separated, dad stepped back a step, nervous, touching his lips as if they still burned.
—Honey... not here... not yet.
She let out a soft, melodious laugh.
—Don't worry. We have all day for that. —Then her eyes fixed on me. She approached slowly. For the first time I saw her full face: hypnotic, tired, but genuine.
—I see you've returned, daughter.
My brain hung. (Fuck... she's the fantasy of any mortal. How unfair that she's my mother.) I clenched my fists to disguise the tremor and took a step forward.
—That's right, mother. I've returned.
We looked at each other fixedly. Dad and the pink maid exchanged a worried look, without daring to get involved.
She scanned me from top to bottom, stopping on the uniform.
—Then —she said cold—, go to your room and... —long pause— try not to give your father more problems.
—Darling, it's not necessary... —dad tried.
—No. —She raised a hand, without taking her eyes off me—. I won't tolerate anything that interferes with... —her voice softened when looking at him— seeing you every day.
(Fuck, she's a total lovesick damsel.)
The phrase escaped me out loud.
—Fuck, she's a lovesick damsel.
Sepulchral silence.
Everyone turned towards me. Dad opened his mouth without sound. The maid covered her mouth horrified. And the mother... her eyes went from ice to fire in a second.
—Y-you... —she trembled with fury—. Do you dare say that stupidity as soon as you arrive?
She lunged, grabbing me by the lapel with surprising strength. Her face centimeters from mine, warm and agitated breath.
—Who do you think you are? —she growled.
Something in me ignited. The old Dani instinct: never back down. I grabbed her robe too and shouted:
—And what?!
We stayed looking at each other, breathing hard. Her eyes sparkled with rage... and something more. Pain, perhaps. After an eternity, she let me go and stepped back.
—I'm tired of this —she murmured, and without looking back she climbed the stairs.
The door slam made the vestibule tremble.
I exhaled all the air and let myself fall seated on the gravel.
—Fuck... —I whispered, passing my hand over my forehead.
Dad knelt beside me and hugged me.
—Daughter, you shouldn't have... You know your mother is very tired. —His voice was soft, without reproach—. But don't worry. I'll talk to her. She has to be more understanding.
He squeezed me hard for a second, then stood up and followed the mother inside.
I stayed there, looking at nothing. Until some little hands shook me.
—Sienna! Why did you do that? —The pink maid was kneeling in front of me, crystalline eyes—. Your mother could have...
She looked like a scared puppy. It drew a smile from me.
—Hey, calm down... —I put a hand on her head, stroking the pink hair—. I'm here, okay?
She let out a giggle between tears, drying herself with delicacy.
—That's why I say it. She could have given you a beating. —Laugh + sob.
—What are you talking about? Look at my muscl... —I touched my arm, expecting steel biceps. Only soft skin—. ...Ah, of course. I forgot.
She stood up, shaking off her skirt.
—In any case, Sienna —she said with determination—, I'll protect you. That's what I'm your maid for.
I looked at her with tenderness. (She's an angel. Having a maid like this is any man's dream... even if it's once in a lifetime.)
—You're a sun —I told her, smiling.
But she tilted her head, confused.
—Hey, Sienna...
—Yes?
—Why don't you call me by my name? —Her green eyes had curiosity and a touch of sadness—. Not once since you arrived.
My smile froze.
(Shit. I don't know what her name is. What do I do now?)
I reacted fast: I took her by the waist, pulled her close and put my face centimeters from hers.
—Because it's irrelevant —I said with fake seductive voice—. Before so much beauty, everything else takes a back seat.
She looked at me fixedly two seconds. Then she sighed and denied with her head.
—Sienna... —She pushed me away softly with a hand on my chest—. Stop watching yuri anime. It's rotting your brain.
She turned around and entered the house, leaving me with my hands extended in the air.
I looked at my empty palms.
—Well... —I murmured—. It didn't work in my world either...
I got up, shook off the gravel and crossed the threshold.
The interior was cozy, warm. No cheap ostentation: comfortable lounge, backyard patio with pool shining at sunset. I climbed the stairs to the second floor.
One door covered with photos of handsome guys stuck without order. Above, bright pink sign: "MADO'S SANCTUARY".
(Mado? No idea. Doesn't matter.)
I ripped the photos in one pull, made them into a ball and threw them in the trash.
—Fuck... —I sighed, letting myself fall on the bed—. I thought it would be easier.
Then, a sound broke the silence.
Ring. Ring.
I took out the phone. Notification:
**Message from: Unknown**
"Kiss a boy or steal the athletic prof's panties. You have one week."
I stayed looking at the screen.
—What shit message is this? —I exclaimed, bringing my hands to my head—. Why is the difficulty so high and the difference so absurd? Kissing a boy in a world where there are barely men, or stealing panties from a professor!
I snorted and left the phone aside.
—Forget it... I'm going to take a bath.
The bathroom was enormous: marble bathtub, shelves with salts and oils. I passed by and stopped in front of the mirror.
There it was: Sienna's reflection. Blonde hair, green eyes. But behind me, in the background of the mirror...
A translucent figure. Chained. A soul tied by spectral shackles, looking at me with pain and desperation.
—What the fuck?! —I shouted, jumping backwards.
It didn't move. It just looked at me, empty eyes that seemed to beg something.
And it disappeared.
I stayed trembling against the wall, heart at a thousand.
—This... is not normal —I whispered—. Sienna, what shit happened to you?
The mirror only showed my reflection now. But that image remained burned in my mind.