Come on Fey, there’s nothing to be afraid of…I’ve been here tons of times before, don’t listen to what Mommy says. That’s right Fey, just press there, lightly yes just like that. We’re in!

A little girl around the age of seven presses on a stonewall that was hidden behind a large red and gold tapestry. The little girl’s name is Fey Lionheart. Fey is holding a small china doll, the doll isn’t very large and isn’t very heavy either. The china doll is dressed in a dress of white lace with small pearl buttons; she has curly red hair with white bows. The doll’s eyes are a pale green; her dress has a pale green tint to it as well. The doll’s pink petal lips are formed in an eternal smile showing a small glimmer of pearly white teeth. Her long lashes bat at her glass cheeks, which have the same pink tinge, painted on them. The doll’s feet have small lace stockings and white shoes.

“Mary…I’m scared, Mommy says never to go here.” Fey says, her lips pout and her blonde curls caress her flushed cheeks. She stares into the passage she just unlocked, dark with candles lining the sides.

Mommy doesn’t know what she’s talking about, she’s never been in here! This is daddy’s house, the servants just scared mommy a bit.

“Mommy says aunty disappeared here a long time ago…”

I told you Fey, Mommy doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Go in, don’t you want to know what’s inside??

“Not really…” Her blue eyes dart around afraid.

Well I do, go in!

“O-ok…” Fey stutters.

Fey’s shoes make small clicking sounds as she steps into the stone passageway. Mary’s eyes seem to glow in the dark hall. Lights begin to shine; Fey blinks and takes a step backwards.

What are you doing?!? Go forwards silly girl!

“But…the lights! Mary, I’m scared I want to go back! Please?”

No! Don’t be silly, we’re already this far along! The lights are fairies you like those don’t you? It’s a fairy spell.

“R-really?”

Would I ever lie to you Fey?

“N-n-no…”

Then keep going!

Fey Lionheart is the fourth generation of a long line of French nobles. Her mother is a noble from Ireland though and she and Mary have just moved here from their Ireland home. Mary’s father has lived on this fortress-like estate his entire life, and so have his father, and the father of his father, and the father of his father’s father. Mary’s father, Leonard, had a twin sister, Annette, who disappeared when they were children. All of the girls in Fey’s family mysteriously disappeared around this time of year, which is why Mary’s mother objected so much to their moving to France. The only reason she gave in was because Leonard kept insisting that nothing was wrong. Mary agrees with Leonard, Mary has been Fey’s best friend ever since Fey can remember.

Ever since Fey and Mary came to their new home in France Mary has been acting odd. She keeps telling Fey to go into the forbidden passageway behind their family crest tapestry. The tapestry is gold and scarlet with a large lion breathing fire emblazoned on it. Behind the tapestry is the passageway Fey is walking in right now. Today Fey has finally given in, just like her mother did.

Just a little further…

“Just a little further to what Mary?”

It’s a surprise!

“Mary, it’s cold…” Fey’s breath began to fog up in front of her face, she hugged Mary closer to her, the china doll’s eyes rolled and the crimson locks offered no warmth as they usually did Fey notes as she buries her face into Mary’s hair.

Because this tunnel goes underground, don’t worry it’ll get warm again soon

“If you say so Mary, how do you know what’s down here?”

It’s a secret Fey, I don’t want to ruin the surprise for you

Fey continues walking, the tunnel becomes cleaner as she goes along, the cobwebs disperse, the rats are gone, and the dripping of water does not exist this deep in the tunnel. Fey begins to see the beginning of a red carpet. There are torches burning in the torch holders. Mary sees a golden frame, several golden frames in fact. Mary knows they are close. Fey looks around confused.

“Mary where did all these come from? Who are they?” She stares into faces of girls that look her age, one of them has hair just like her and green eyes just like her father. Another girl has brown hair but the same green eyes. There are several girls and several portraits she notices. Fey fails to notice that each girl is holding a china doll in her arms…

That’s the secret Fey…but I can tell you if you want to know…

“Yes! Yes Mary I want to know! They’re all so pretty!” She stares in awe at the girl’s pretty dresses and their lifelike eyes. The golden ornate frames and the beautiful backgrounds are so delicate looking she thinks. Then she notices the dolls. Each doll has curly hair, pale skin, and a lace dress. However some dolls have brown hair, some have gold, some have black, a few have red. Most dolls have green eyes, some have blue, a few of them have brown. All the dolls have lace dresses but in different shading. Fey frowns, those dolls look like Mary she thinks. She comes to the end of the line of portraits, but the hall goes on she notices. “Mary, those dolls look like you.”

Oh, that’s good…

“Why?” Fey is slowly putting things together. Fey never told Mary about the passageway…

Because they are me.

Those dolls all have the same dress of white lace; all the dolls are in the exact same position, as are the girls…with the exact same expressions and exact same…Oh no…

“Is that aunty Annette?” Fey whispers to herself, terrified, as she points to the last portrait. The portrait features a beautiful blonde haired, green eyed girl carrying a red haired blue eyed doll in a white and blue shaded dress. The frame is gold with the Lionheart crest on it, as do the last four pictures…

Hm…I think so…let’s see…why yes it is, why do you ask Fey?

“Mary how did you know what aunty Annette looks like?” Fey has never told Mary she had an aunty Annette.

Because I’m her doll!

“But…you’re my doll!” Fey holds Mary out in front of her horrified. What was going on? Mary…she couldn’t…could she?

I am, but I was also her doll, and her auntie’s doll, and her grandmother’s doll…

Fey drops Mary and runs towards the exit, she glimpses at the portraits at her sides horrified, how could she not notice? How could she not see? Mommy was right; she shouldn’t have come here…Mommy!

Where are you going Mary? Don’t you want to join them?

Fey hears Mary laugh, but it isn’t inside her head like usual, it’s all around suffocating her, and suddenly she hears nothing…

“Are you sure about this Mary? Daddy told us not to come here…”

Don’t be such a sourpuss Meg…Daddy doesn’t know what he’s talking about this isn’t his house…

A little girl around the age of six walks into a stone passageway behind a red and gold tapestry…

The subject of an oval portrait stares out into the hall…another one is coming. The little girl with golden hair and blue eyes holds the red haired green-eyed doll with white lace in her arms. The other portrait’s tense as well. It was time to welcome another into their ranks…

“Mary isn’t that aunty Fey?!?”

Why yes it is…don’t you want to join her?