Cinderella Bonasera
Meet the Family
Once upon a time...
In a land far, far away...
Life didn't suck for Stella Bonasera.
But that's once upon a time.
Stella was a little Greek girl who lived a moderately happy life at Basil's manor. It was like an orphanage for all the children who were taken from their homes. Stella never knew her parents, though she was a fairly happy girl with lots of friends and a heart of gold. The other children looked up to Stella; she was a sweet girl with a tough as nails mentality and a protective strength.
But again, that was once upon a time. This is reality.
"Bonasera!" A shrill voice shouted angrily.
"Yes ma'am!" The woman snapped to.
"Get Peyton and Quinn!" The voice snapped.
"Yes, mother!" Stella responded quickly, dashing off to find her stepsisters. Peyton and Quinn were two VERY unpleasant ladies in every aspect. Peyton was a frigid woman with dark chestnut hair, cold greyish eyes and freckles over pale skin. She had a bit of a British accent which domineered her snippy voice. Quinn was a cynical looking woman with small dark eyes, short stringy orange hair and an almost permanent frown. Stella, on the other hand, had uncomparable beauty. Olive complection, large twinkling green eyes and a mop of caramel colored curls that framed her face like gold lacing silver. She was nice too.
"Peyton? Quinn?" Stella knocked on their doors.
"What?!" Two irritated voices bit back.
"Mother would like to speak to you." Stella said submissively, holding her scrub bucket in her hands weakly.
"Oh mother!!" Both girls called, rushing out of their rooms and knocking poor Stella over in the process.
"Oh boy..." Stella said to herself, steadying herself. "I'm okay..."
"Mother!!" The two women giggled.
"It's here!" Their mother said with an equally annoying voice.
"The invitation is here!" Peyton and Quinn squealed.
Stella simply watched with a frown. Her life had gone down the tubes since she was adopted. "Invitation?"
"What was that?!" Her mother asked sharply as always.
"I asked what invitation." Stella repeated boldly.
"Since you'll be driving us there I suppose you should know. The invitation to the castle to meet with Prince Mac!" Stella's mother barked at her angrily. "Now finish your chores so we can go!"
"Yes, mother." Stella sighed, slinking off with her shoulder slumped. She dragged herself to finish scrubbing the marble rungs of the stairs. She was incredibly thorough and prided herself on attention to detail, just like Father Sid at St. Basil's. He was a scientist working on cutting edge inventions of the age, and she loved him dearly. He always let her help in his alchemical lab of wonder. He'd tell her, her eyes twinkled like stars when she was in wonder. She always thought she could be a scientist. A darn good one, too!
"Hurry up, you frizzy haired freak!! We want to see Prince Mac!" Quinn shouted louder than needed, considering she was almost literally butting heads with her stepsister.
"First, my hair is curly, not frizzy, and second, I'm when I'm done, so get ready, or something!!" Stella bit back, furrowing her brows.
"Why you insolent-"
"Alright, I'm done!" Stella burst. "Get in the carriage, I'll get Aiden then I'll be right out."
"You'll need Jordan too!" Said Peyton.
"Fine, but I don't know why we have that useless mare, all she does is eat her weight in hay and trot along while Aiden does all the real work." Stella murmured to herself, going to the stable. She dumped the bucket at the door and went to Aiden first.
Aiden was a gorgeous, strong, brown Stallion with gentle eyes. Her mane was kept nice and soft by Stella and she was in tiptop shape.
"Hey Aiden, we have to take the witches to the palace." Stella said unceremoniously, patting Aiden's snout. Aiden whinnied and nodded her head. "Come on, girl." Stella tugged the reins slightly and guided her outside.
"Bonasera, hurry up and get that horse hooked up! And where is Jordan?" Their mother barked.
"Just one moment, mother." Stella gritted. She went back to the dirty blond horse with a snout slightly too narrow and eyes like coal. "Hey Jordan, we're going to the palace, and please don't leave Aiden to all the pulling work." Though Jordan seemed to resent this.
"Finally! Let's go!" Peyton snarled.
"You heard her." Stella sighed, perching herself on the carriage's front and cracking the reins gently. Aiden and Jordan started along at a good pace; fast enough to make good time but slow enough so the passengers wouldn't complain.
"Oh, Prince Mac will just love you girls, I know he will!" Their mother gushed girlishly.
"He's so handsome!" Peyton bubbled, her freckled cheeks flushing pale pink and her dim eyes brightening ever so slightly.
"I know!" Quinn smiled.
Stella's eyes drifted back to her temporary family with a dark expression before returning to the dusty road; the same dusty road she'd first traveled when she came to Hattanshire. Some people said it was going to be a big city, but not many believed it. Stella's eyes became shadowed once again as the chatter invaded her brain. She never had a chance at happiness. Never had a chance.
Life sucked for Stella Bonasera.