SIXTY NINE: The Face of a Monster

The ornate wooden door gave way to an even more elegant room.

Thick drapery hung from several large windows in perfect folds. Intricately carved wooden molding dressed the top of the walls. Lush flowers, famous paintings, expensive pottery and golden sculptures graced the walls and tables.

In the middle of it all, a woman sat, surrounded by layers of organza from her gown with her lips and cheeks painted the color of a rose.

Her blonde hair fell in shimmering curls over her shoulders with the pieces around her face pinned back so as to not obscure her beauty.

If Kel didn't know better, she would think it wasn't a human at all but a life-sized porcelain doll seated there.

"Kel?"

The doll's eyes widened ever so slightly as her rosy lips parted.

As a pale fragile hand emerged from the folds of organza toward her, Kel stumbled backward with a grunt.

She shouldn't have come, after all.