Search the room, and escape!

The vision fades as concern grows in your belly. What type of danger have you found yourself in... At least you know how you got here, that crystalline creature, but why?! And where exactly is "here"? You cover your body self consciously. One things for certain, you can't follow the same path as your body did in your vision. You need to escape.

You glance back to the wardrobe, but quite confident that you don't want to wear those ridiculous dresses, your eyes again pass through the room seeking alternatives. You see a large chest, and a desk with drawers, but little else. The chest reveals blankets... at first. As you dig deeper beneath them, you discover a thin silver rapier with an intricate guard. Curiously, it seems to give off a light that doesn't produce any brightness to the room, and instead only makes the rapier itself easier to see. It's hardly longer than a dagger, and clearly meant for one hand, but it's better than nothing. You also find a small, "last shot" derringer, with a dark wood hilt and shiny black metal barrel. It's barely larger than your now diminutive hands.

Grasping the derringer tightly, and clamping the rapier under one arm, you turn your attention to the desk. The first thing you find is a large open book. It's written in a fine and flowing cursive, and seems to be a journal with dated entries of personal reflections... Presumably of your bodies former owner. However further inspection reveals that some of the entries also contain what you can only describe as spells. Components, rituals, chants, and more fill the pages, and most contain ominous titles like "Shackles of Suggestion," "Instill Priority" and "Hobble Will." You shudder slightly, but decide it best to bring the book with you, there will likely be something quite useful contained within.

Before you have the chance to look further the door bursts open. Your heart leaps in your chest, and you ready yourself to face the intruder. However, the figure walking in doesn't seem phased by your nudity, or your bearing of weapons.

Before you is a girl in a more earth toned dress with blue eyes, and large spiraling blond hair. Her hands are gloved, and the lace collar of her dress tightly hugs her neck before billowing out just below her jaw line.

"Mistress is waiting. I will help you prepare yourself." She states sweetly, but flatly, as if reading an uninspired script. "You don't need these for the ritual." She states plainly, casting your rapier and derringer back to the chest.

Then, with a surprising amount of strength, she takes you by the shoulders and guides you to the wardrobe. Her gloved hand dances across various articles of clothing, touching each delicately, before swiftly moving to the next. Each item she touches flies forth and binds itself to your body. She lifts your arms as a black chemise casts itself over you body, and hangs loosely from your shoulders, and bloomers slip up your legs. A stiff crinoline slips around your waist, emphasizing a proud bustle behind you, and as this settles, the woman opts to fit a corset on you herself. She uses that same inhuman strength to pull the laces tight, cinching your waist to waspish proportions. You imagine for a second that you should feel pain, but in spite of your shallow breaths, you seem perfectly fine. Immediately after that, layer after layer of petticoat flies onto your body, until your hips erupt into one large billowing cloud. A grand two piece gown wraps itself around your body. It's deep burgundy and black in tone with golden lacing and ribbons decorating each additional pleated layer. The skirt is so large you can't even make out your lower body, only the swishing caused by the shift of your stance. The coat, on the other hand, exposes your corset and bust at the center while hugging your waist, neck, shoulders, and arms tightly then billows out into a lacy fabric at your wrists. Lastly, a seductive pair of black boots sporting a pointy toe, and three inch heel wrestles ots way onto your feet, and up your calves, and then laces themselves tightly.

The other woman holds a relatively elegant hat in her hands. It's thinner than the bonnet you saw in your vision, and has two long lacy tails behind it.

For the first time, the other women... The doll... Seems to reflect a spark of life in her eyes.

"Do not be worried. This is the price we pay for power and immortality..." She whispers in a breathy tone. Clearly thinking your **** to betray a nervousness about the ritual to come.

"What do you mean?" You challenge her.

She casts her eyes aside and a look of guilt comes across her face as she misinterprets your challenge. "You're right, this is a gift, not a price... Though I do wonder what it would be like... to feel again... to be touched again..." Her hand goes to your cheek almost lovingly, then traces the curves of your body before taking her hand back. "I know you don't care... But try to remember what it's like to be alive after the ritual. It will be more important to you then."

Fully disturbed, and painfully sympathetic you grasp her hand in yours. "Then let's skip the ritual! You state rashly, show me the way out, let's run!"

Now she does seem alive, lucid, and confused. "But you've always wanted this. You criticized me for my lack of faith."

"Well, I don't anymore! Show me the way out, and come with me!"

Her brow furrows. "I cannot. Not anymore." She glances to the side nervously. "But I will help you." her eyes flit to you, then with an incredible speed, she lunges forward, and kisses you on the lips. There is surprising degree of passion... even lust as she slides her hand up your back, and cradles the back of your head. Then, as quickly as she stepped forward, she withdraws, once again becoming the stoic doll.

"Mistress will be angry... We must hurry!"