'I do apologise, madam, I thought you weren't coming until the evening.'

Amara stopped stroking the curtains, and looked up to smile at the girl, who she remembered as the soul she collected a mere week ago, 'that is not a problem at all. Isabelle am I right?'

'Yes madam,' the girl merely looked down and answered.

'Tell me, Isabelle, how are you finding your new life?'

Amara was quite glad she found the soul of a woman who has been through so much hardship when living the mortal life. She was glad she could at the very least reassure her, if needed, for the time being, until the time came to leave Syndesi once again.

'Hang on a second, wasn't it you who had harvested my soul?'

'That's correct, although, in this world, we call it gathering the soul not harvesting. Souls are not some crops, which you simply pick. They are a bit more complicated than that,' Amara informed, 'unfortunately', she added with a chuckle, which made a shy Isabelle smile too.

'Can I ask you a question madam?'

'Of course, but please call me Amara first.'

'Okay-Amara, I was just wondering if my mother is doing all right at all?'

Sadness shone in the girl's eyes and if it was possible to shed a tear, she would have cried a waterfall by now. Amara remembered very well how devastated Isabelle's mother has been, finding out the truth behind her daughter's death.

It was murder which had caused the girl's soul to need gathering. It was the hands of her own stepdad, who should have been the loving husband, which ended the life of a mere fifteen-year-old girl who was a mere bud, ready to blossom into a beautiful young woman. He first took whatever he wanted, including her pureness, then if destroying her from the inside was not enough, he also took her fragile life.

Amara smiled warmly at the girl, for she could see the girl's pain, yet unfortunately she was not even close to being powerful enough to cure her silent suffering. She was not sure if anyone could.

'She is slowly coping. Like in every situation life puts in front of us, time is the only thing that can heal any pain in the mortal realm.'

Although that might have been true, Amara knew that if a mother loses a child to this kind of circumstance, she was bound to never recover.

'You shouldn't worry yourself with mortals anymore. Their life carries on, whilst our stands still. They will grow old and die, whilst we will stay forever like this. Trust me girlie, you will go crazy if you keep living inside of your mortal life.'

Amara knew very well how true that was.

A person will go crazy from the thoughts of the life they used to have until finally, they shut down and give into the blackness of this place. The thoughts will always remain even after the realisation, there is nothing but numbness left because the previous life is no longer there. The past is of no return.

'What is it that you are holding?' Amara asked, as she for the first time saw a folded black fabric held in Isabelle's arms.

It might have been a good distraction from the prior subject.

Isabelle seemed relieved, 'That is-,' she paused to unfold what ended up being a beautiful black long gown, long lace sleeves embedded with black pearls gracefully around the edges, 'a dress which his highness sends you to wear to the ball.'

Amara took the dress out of Isabelle's arms, putting the fabric against her as she walked to the mirror which hung in the corner. She eyed the dress carefully, imagining how it could look, once she was dressed in the satin softness.

'You are going to look beautiful Amara.'

'I haven't worn a dress since the alternative became available for women,' she laughed a little, remembering the struggles of getting into a dress every single morning for a few centuries, 'it wasn't the easiest, looking my best, when the world was still led by no one else but men.'

Isabelle laughed with her, 'I can only imagine.'

Although she has never attended Thanatos' centurial ball, Amara could only presume how seriously he took everything in regards to the event. When it comes to the guests, who knows what creatures will be in attendance, for, even though she was more than five centuries old, she knew nothing of the creatures belonging in the afterlife. Nevertheless, she wanted to be presented at her best, even if it was just for herself. For all she knew, she was about to enter the lion's den, so she may as well do it with the grace she never possessed before.

'Do you know how to do makeup, Isabelle?' She asked, hopeful the girl will be of help to her.

Isabelle nodded with a soft smile.

'Good. Come with me then,' Amara took her hand, leading her to the walk-in closet.

As always when Amara entered the vast closet, she was not disappointed with the selection of products and clothes displayed for the eyes to see. Of course, when she was last here, the products were more fitting for the sixteenth century. Now, all was modern, worthy of the twenty-first century.

'I never needed to put this stuff on my face before, would you be able to help me please?' Amara entreated and sat comfortably behind a black dressing table.

'Of course. I used to practice on my mum when I was still alive so I don't think I will be too bad.'

Amara only smiled and checked the draws which were filled with more makeup than one would need, made by the best of quality high-end brands. Although she never knew there existed so many makeup brands, she was happy to see it and hoped it would stay on her face perfectly. There were two standing shelves, one on the right, filled with skin care products and perfumes and the left shelf was filled with hair and nail products of all kind. The shiny star galaxy countertop was filled with too many brushes, which the use of, Amara had no clue of.

Overall, this was every woman wet dream, yet Amara felt more uncomfortable than happy.

'I have never seen so much makeup in one place if I don't count a shop,' Isabelle said with a giggle.

'This room contains a magic charm, which automatically fills it with modern products and clothes. I sometimes wish I had this back in my apartment but then I remember I would not know what to do with all this.'

'Wow, can anything not surprise me about the afterlife?'

'Probably not. I still get surprised at times and I am over six hundred years old.'

Isobelle laughed which made Amara laugh also. Perhaps it was the girl's positive vibe, but she seemed to forget the negative thoughts, even just for a small moment.

'Can I do your hair and nails as well, to match the elegance of your outfit?'

Amara nodded with a small smile and lifted her eyes towards the big black framed vanity mirror. Her blue eyes watched the reflection, her mind trailing back to the terrifying, upcoming ball.