God's Own Garments

Savannah and Cassie make their way to the street, the sound of their shoes clicking against the pavement echoing through the quiet city streets. It was a crisp autumn morning the trees lining the sidewalks were adorned with golden and red leaves, creating a colorful mosaic that cascaded down to the ground.

Cassie opened the door of her sleek black car, the leather seats inviting them in. Savannah took her place in the passenger seat, and Cassie started the engine, the purr of the motor filling the air. As they drove through the city, Cassie began to tell Savannah about her work at Seth In Stone, an animation company that was making waves in the industry.

"I'm working on a top-secret project right now," Cassie said, her voice tinged with excitement. "It's a sci-fi movie, and let me tell you, it's going to blow your mind."

Savannah's curiosity was piqued. "What's it about?" she asked eagerly.

Cassie hesitated, "I really shouldn't say. It's still under wraps, and I don't want to get in trouble."

But Savannah was persistent, and after a few minutes of prodding, Cassie finally relented. "Okay, okay, I'll tell you," she said with a laugh. "The movie is about a group of space explorers who find themselves stranded on a distant planet. They must use all their skills to survive and find a way back home."

Savannah's eyes widened with excitement. "That sounds amazing! Can I see it before anyone else?"

Cassie laughed heartily, still holding onto the steering wheel. "Nice try, Savannah, but no way. You'll have to wait until it comes out like everyone else."

Savannah pouted, but deep down, she knew Cassie was right. She couldn't expect to get special treatment just because her friend worked at the company.

As they continued to drive, the city slowly began to transform around them. The tall skyscrapers gave way to smaller buildings, and the roads became narrower. Finally, they arrived at their destination - a fashion boutique with the headline, "God's Own Garments."

Savannah and Cassie stepped out of the car, the crisp autumn air hitting them in the face. The boutique was a small, two-story building with large glass windows that showcased the latest fashion trends. The store was nestled between a quaint café and a small florist shop.

The two friends walked through the door and were immediately greeted by the sound of classical music and the scent of fresh flowers. The boutique was arranged in a way that felt luxurious, with tall shelves and glass displays that were perfectly lit. The racks were lined with clothes that looked expensive and made with the finest materials.

Savannah took a deep breath, "This place is beautiful. Everything looks so elegant. Better than last time."

Cassie nodded in agreement, "I know, right? It's my favorite place to shop in the city. And the owner, is amazing. She's always on top of the latest trends."

Making an entrance into the store, Savannah's eyes were drawn to a beautiful red dress that was on display. It was made with a flowing, lightweight fabric that would move with the wind, and the cut was designed to accentuate the curves of the body.

Cassie smiled, "It's beautiful, but I don't think it would suit you. You need something more, casual."

"That dress sure is stunning, however I think it would fit Izzy more. her curves are elegant and more pronounced than mine." Savannah said, pointing to the red dress. "You're probably right, but a girl can dream, can't she?" She said as she shrugged.

As they made their way to the heart of the luxurious store, Savannah and Cassie couldn't help but feel like they were being watched. Their unease was only amplified when they were greeted by Sarah, a woman in her late 40s who oozed elegance from every pore. Her body was trim and fit, her skin taut and smooth, and her clothing bespoke the finest quality. Despite her age, she could easily pass for a woman in her 20s, and her demeanor commanded respect from those around her.

"Savannah Evershade," Sarah greeted her, her voice low and melodic. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

Savannah was taken aback by the use of her full name, but she quickly regained her composure and offered a polite nod. "Thank you, Sarah. I had no idea that you were expecting me."

Sarah chuckled softly, as if Savannah's modesty amused her. "Please, Savannah, do not be so modest. Everyone in Romania knows about The Gathering, and we have been eagerly anticipating your arrival."

Savannah's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized that all eyes in the store were on her. She could feel the weight of their gazes upon her, and she was grateful when Sarah took her arm and led her away from the crowd.

The room that Sarah led them to was clearly reserved for VIPs only. A single mannequin stood at attention in the corner, dressed in the latest fashions. But upon closer inspection, Savannah realized that the mannequin was not made of plastic or fiberglass - it was a real woman, who had been made up and posed to look like a lifeless doll. Looking around, Cassie noticed others standing on every corner as well. Almost unreal. The lighting in the room was dim and red, casting an otherworldly glow that made the space seem almost regal. At one corner of the room, a set of Katanas could be seen hanging on the walls.

As Sarah closed the door behind them, the room became even darker. The only light came from the soft glow of the red bulbs overhead, which cast ominous shadows across the walls.

Sarah wasted no time getting down to business. "Savannah, I have been waiting for you," she said, her tone serious. "I know that you are here for The Gathering. Pick out a few clothes you ought to wear whilst you attend the ceremony."

Savannah was startled by the directness of Sarah's words. "How do you know that?"

Sarah's lips curved into a sly smile. "As I said, everyone in Romania knows about The Gathering. And you, my dear, have a reputation that precedes you."

Cassie spoke up for the first time since they had entered the room. "What exactly do you think The Gathering is?"

Sarah turned to look at Cassie, as if only now remembering that she was there. "Ah, yes. You must be Cassie. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, my dear."

Cassie offered a stiff nod in return, clearly put off by the way Sarah had treated her compared to Savannah.

"To answer your question, Cassie, The Gathering is a secret event that takes place every year in Romania. It is an invitation-only affair, attended only by the wealthiest and most influential people in the country. The guests come from all over the world, and they come to buy and sell some of the rarest and most valuable items in existence."

Savannah's interest was dissolved after finding out She knew little to nothing of what It actually meant. Sarah was the town's first area of gossip, as most of all women and men came to Gods' Own Garments. All type of women came to her store to shop; rich, poor, young, old, fat, slim. No type of juicy gossip happened to slip by her.

She turned to Savannah and said, "I have something that I think you will be interested in. But first, I must ask you to trust me."

Savannah nodded cautiously. "What is it?"

Sarah calls out one of the women, and in a moment, the woman strips off her clothes without any hesitation. Cassie and Savannah stood there, unsurprised by this display, as it was a common occurrence in this place. The woman stood there, naked, while Sarah picked up a piece of cloth and showed it to Savannah.

"This is exactly the dress Izzy would like," Savannah told Cassie, admiring the cloth.

The woman immediately went back to her original position, frozen like a mannequin. Sarah asked Savannah if she liked it, and she responded positively, causing Sarah to look pleased.

"Would you like to see what I have cooked up? Something a bit different than usual?" Sarah asked, to which Cassie and Savannah eagerly agreed. They were curious to see what Sarah had planned, as it was always the same old VIP services.

Sarah led them through another door into an inner room, which was completely different from the previous one. The black and purple lights gave off a sinister vibe, and the room was filled with women passed out from exhaustion or drugs. Men were posing in another corner, naked and proud like Greek gods, while a perverted painter drew them in their prime. Moaning and lustful sounds echoed through the room, and Savannah and Cassie felt uneasy.

But Sarah didn't stop there, which the both heaved a sigh of relief. She led them deeper into the room, holding a curtain aside for them to enter a new chamber. This room was completely different, noiseless, and quiet, with white walls and brightly colored tiles. The only thing that disrupted the white walls were the clothes hanging on them. Women posed like mannequins in this room, but this time, they were painted completely white.

Savannah and Cassie stood there, admiring the new room, awestruck by its beauty. "Sarah, what is this place?" Savannah asked, puzzled by the sudden change in scenery.

"This is the Glow," Sarah responded, a mischievous grin on her face. "The place where we showcase our best work, only for the best of the best. Fun fact, it's displayed only to those in the highest of authority. Our Last customer was a woman of your family descent. I believe it was Olivia? Yes. I'm certain now. Olivia Evershade.

Cassie and Savannah looked at each other, both confused and amazed by what they had just seen and heard. "Your work?" Cassie asked, not sure she understood what Sarah meant.

Sarah laughed, a musical sound that echoed through the room. "Yes, my work. We specialize in the art of transformation, the art of making someone into something they never thought possible, with nothing but simple clothing. We can transform the worst looking into a God, hence our name"

Savannah and Cassie stood there, trying to comprehend the meaning behind Sarah's words. Sarah led them around the room, showing them different displays, each more breathtaking than the last.

"This is our masquerade display," Sarah said, pointing to a group of women dressed in elaborate costumes, each one more ornate than the last. "And over here, we have our illusion display. We can make anyone look like anything they want."

Savannah and Cassie looked at each other, amazed by what they had just seen. They had never seen anything like this before, and they were in awe of Sarah's creativity.

As they walked through the showroom, Sarah explained to them the process of transformation, the art of making someone into something new. She spoke of the different techniques they used from Ankara and silk to prosthetics, to completely transform someone's appearance.

"We believe that everyone deserves to feel beautiful," Sarah said, a hint of compassion in her voice. "And with our techniques, we can make that happen. We can make anyone into anything they want to be."

Savannah and Cassie looked at each other, amazed by what they had just heard. They had never heard anyone speak with such passion and conviction, and they knew that Sarah was truly passionate about her work.

Finally, Sarah came back to reality, "Take from whatever you want. Strip the finest clothes off any mannequin you want. Choose the clothes you need. Make sure it looks as elegant and charming on you as it would be on anyone else. I'm sure it is, as you have the body of a goddess, your friend also." She concluded, turning to Cassie, who stood there looking round.

They began their search. From Baggy jeans to crazy jeans, all the way to gowns and skirts. All looked different from what they saw on display.

Savannah spotted a red gown, raising up from its' box she exclaimed "Ah! I actually saw an identical of this being showcased outside! It looks nothing like it. It's more majestic....regal I might say. I'm sure this would be absolutely perfect for Isabelle. What do you say?"

"Well, that is going to fit perfectly on her hourglass body that's for sure." Cassie said, still picking up clothes from another box in the other end of the white room.

After they had completely finished with their selections They see Sarah arrive with a Blue gown. "Here, have it. this one's on me." She said, handing it over to Savannah, who took it with pride, thanked her and placed it on her stack of carefully - selected clothes.

Sarah clapped her hands four times and the mannequins began moving towards the clothes and began carefully packing the clothes into travelling boxes.

Savannah and Cassie looked with amazement and a sense of guilt having another person do their chores.

Once they had finished, Savannah brought out a black card from her purse and handed it over to Sarah, who smiled widely "Ah, the Shadeblood Card. always so happy to see it."

After making payments, Savannah and Cassie turned to leave and thanked Sarah for her kind gesture.

"It's not a problem really. You can stay in the other room if you want. Pleasure and fashion go hand in hand." Sarah suggested

"No no. We're fine. Thanks for everything Sarah. Talk to you soon." Cassie said, dragging her box and Savannah out of the white house.

As they left the showroom, Savannah and Cassie felt transformed, as if they had just experienced something new. Well, they had. Sarah gave them the best she could offer, and they were all nothing short of amazed by the experience Sarah had given their eyes. They dragged a box filled with the clothing they had purchased, carefully and neatly stuffed into the box.

As she was about to make her way into the car, a voice rang in her eardrums. It came from inside Gods' Own Garments. A feminine voice. "Savannah! Cassie!".

Turning to see who it was...