I Am Forever (What Kills Me) by Wynne Channing Read Free Book Online

eyes made it seem as if she was blindfolded with blue ribbon.
    “My lady,” she said in a rich baritone.
    My dresser was male, a beautiful male in drag.
    “Hi,” I said.
    “I,” she said, pausing and putting her hand to her chest, “am the dresser Pavone.”
    She had on brown-leather finger gloves, so it looked like she had dipped only half of her hands in chocolate.
    “I’m Axelia.”
    “It is my most extreme honor, my lady, to be at your service.”
    She held her dress out like a fan and curtsied. As a trio of maids flitted by her, she swept her skirt theatrically like a bullfighter with a cape.
    “It is my sole duty to ensure that you look gorgeous,” she said. “What do you like to wear?”
    The maids stretched tape measures across my chest and around my waist. Lucas and Uther both sank onto a couch.
    “Uh, I’ve never been one to obsess over style.”
    “Style, I’m happy say, is my only obsession. Do you have favorite fabrics?”
    “It’s super cold where I’m from, so the warmer the better.”
    “And how about colors?”
    “Anything, really. I love bright colors.”
    “Marvelous! Me too,” she said with one raised eyebrow. “Vampires tend to dress as if they are going to funerals. Black, black, and mind-numbingly boring!”
    I was grinning so hard that my cheeks ached.
    “My my my, you’re tiny,” she said. She put her hands on her hips and pointed her elbows at me. “With your golden complexion and your gorgeous black hair, my lady, you will be stunning in anything. But let’s do 10-33, 44-38 and 98-10.”
    What is she talking about? She’s like a quarterback calling out plays.
    A maid beetled from the room. I heard her sliding hangers across a rod down the hall. She returned with three dresses.
    “No!” Pavone said, backhanding the air. “I said 44-38.”
    The maid started to leave. “No, just stay here.” Pavone forced a strained smile. “Let’s try 98-10.”
    The maid pulled the lacy, lemon-yellow dress off its hanger, unzipped the back, and formed a wall in front of me.
    “Gentlemen, privacy please!” Pavone said.
    Uther smoothed his robe and walked out of the room. Lucas sighed, stood, and turned around to face the wall.
    One of the maids pulled my clothing over my head. I steadied myself on another maid’s shoulder as the third helped me step into the dress.
    “Hair,” Pavone said. A maid released my hair from its messy bun and ran her fingers through it; meanwhile, another dusted my face with a brush and then daubed at my cheeks and lips with a sponge.
    Pavone put her gloved fingers on my bare shoulders and turned me to face a standing mirror. Oh wow. I smoothed the lace over my abdomen; the strapless bodice had a sweetheart neckline with scalloped edges. I turned slightly to look at the bustle on my dress. The layers of fabric made my butt look enormous.
    Is this what the Divine should look like? I didn’t feel strong or powerful. I felt like I was going to a costume party as a Disney princess.
    “Aren’t you just divine?” Pavone said. She grinned, revealing two rows of perfect teeth. Lucas came to stand beside her.
    “So? What do you think?” I asked.
    He looked me up and down. “You look like one of those yellow rubber ducks.”
    I coughed out a laugh but Pavone gasped. Great. I’m Quackula.
    “How dare you?!” Pavone exclaimed. “She looks resplendent. Don’t pay any heed to that appalling comment, my lady.”
    “Don’t worry, Pavone. It’s like water off a duck’s back,” I said, giving Lucas the evil eye.
    “Do you like it, my lady?”
    “It’s...very...bright. Very lovely. Thank you.”
    The maids wedged my feet into navy satin pumps.
    “And what ensemble would be complete without glitter?”
    Pavone waved her hand over a wooden case like a magician, and the maid opened it to reveal a yellow tear-drop diamond the size of a small egg.
    “Oh my goodness,” I said. “That’s incredible.”
    “From the Empress’s collection. It’s the