Green

She leaned back in her recliner chair, legs crossed, one arm folded across her waist and the other holding lightly onto a wine glass. She stared at its contents, watching the reflection of the flames from her fireplace dancing in her emerald-colored drink. Gently swirling the glass, she watched the spiraling liquid, eyes glazed over as if she were mesmerized with the simple motion. Then with a flick of her slender wrist, she tossed the glass aside, wine and all. The sound of the glass breaking echoed through the room. She glanced at the mess: The wine had stained her pale green carpet. But she did not care. She unfolded her arms and placed them on the arms of the recliner. Hoisting herself out of the chair, she pulled herself up to her full length.

Almost as tall as any man, she was half a head taller than most women. She walked out onto the main hall, her dark green stilettos clicking against the marble floor. Clad in a silk gown of the same hue as her shoes, and with her chestnut colored hair framing her face in soft waves, she looked absolutely beautiful. Ethereal even. But her heart was not satisfied.

She scaled the stairs, one hand gliding up the banister, and reached the second level. Pushing down on the door handle of the great oak door in front of her and gently opening it, she stepped in.

Unlike the rest of her manor, this room was white instead of its usual green, with snow-colored curtains and bed linen. The room was illuminated by softly glowing wall lights. She glanced at the people in the room: Her sisters.

Dressed in a deep purple gown, one of her sisters was lying on her front on the bed, legs crossed elegantly at the ankles. In her right hand, she held a mirror, and was gazing into it. Her left hand was busy fiddling with her long brown hair, as she looked at herself adoringly and smiled. Such vanity.

Lying on the floor with her head propped up slightly against the foot of the bed, her second sister had her eyes closed and seemed to be doing absolutely nothing at all. She reminded one of a sloth with her dark brown dress and glorious mane of jet black hair. She lay for the longest time – unmoving. Such laziness.

Scantily clad in a translucent red toga, she was laying amongst lush cushions, legs crossed, hands fingering the hem of her toga. Her long blonde hair cascaded down one shoulder, reaching her waist. Her smouldering eyes were full of hunger – and not just for food. Such passion.

Lounging on the sofa, she shoved another tart into her mouth. Beside her was a silver platter stock full of various pastries and cakes. And yet despite her obvious self-indulgence, her slender body encased in a bright yellow sundress showed no signs of it. Such gluttony.

Beside her, sitting in front of the vanity table, was a figure in a silver halter dress. She was busy stacking the gold coins that were strewn all over the table. The look of rapacity was clearly evident on her face. Such greed.

Alas, it came to the last sister. Standing tall and erect, she looked fierce and strong in her brilliant orange off-shoulder dress. Her long auburn hair fell in waves between her shoulder blades and she looked down at everyone, arms crossed, feet planted firmly, shoulder-width apart. Her eyes burned like fire and one could clearly see the anger in them. Such vengeance.

And she stood at the entrance, jealous of her first sister’s beauty, her second sister’s carefree attitude, the third’s ability to seduce any man on the face of this Earth. She envied her fourth sister’s self-indulgence, her fifth sister’s riches and her last sister’s ruthlessness and strength.

Her hollow heart was never happy with herself, despite her beauty and intelligence. She looked at the people in the room again.

Purple, brown, red, yellow, silver, orange.

Such vanity, laziness, passion, indulgence, greed, vengeance.

Superbia, accidia, luxuria, gula, avaritia, iva.

These were her sisters: Pride, Sloth, Lust, Gluttony, Avarice and Wrath.

Then there was her. She was never satisfied with herself, for she was invidia.

Her name was Envy and she wore green.