Kiera

"Why does he do this to me?" I ask myself, staring over the remains of my ruined violin. "Why is he so mean now that Maman is gone? Why does he have to treat me so horribly?" Tears swell in my eyes and then make their way down my porcelain white cheeks.

"Au revoir, ma cherie," I hear my stupid father's voice say.

Through the window of my room, I see that he is kissing that filthy whore that he calls his fiance. I'll not have her for a step-mother...especially considering the way she treated me earlier. I'd like to teach her a lesson!

An idea pops into my head. The gravel in the garden would be the perfect size for throwing at her from a distance. I hurry down the vines below my window into the garden, keeping low to the ground and hidden amongst the shadows. I choose three stones and duck behind some rose bushes for cover.

"Don't expect me back for a while, dearest..I have business affairs I must attend."

"I shall count the seconds until your return."

"And, the next time I visit...I know that little thing with the looks of a demon will be gone for good."

"Filthy skank!" I growl and fling a stone at her. It hits her square in the jaw.

She screams and stumbles back. "Who dares?"

I only sit and giggle...serves her right.

"Kiera!" my father shouts.

"It came from the garden!" Cassandra grumbles.

"Wait here!" He starts into the house.

"Where are you going!"

"To get my gun!" He rushes into the house.

"Kiera," someone whispers my name. "Kiera, child, quickly!"

I turn to my left to find Madam Bardoix motioning for me. "Madam?"

"My dear, Kiera, please! Come inside before he kills you!" She hurries to the gate of the garden and opens it. "Please!" She takes my hand and hurries me into her home.

I immediately go to the window to watch the scene unfolding at my home.

"Just wait until I find her...I will kill her the way I should have the day she was born!" Father steps out with his rifle in hand.

"Child, come away from there!" Madam Bardoix pulls me away from the window and closes the curtains. "Do you want to be killed?"

"My life would probably be better if I were to be," I sigh.

"My sweet, please, do not say such."

"No one loves me, Madam."

"You're wrong about that. I love you, and since your father is obviously not capable of raising you, I shall. You will be my daughter. After all, I've never had a little girl...my children were all boys. And, you can keep me company and go with me to Paris to shop. Would you like that?" She brushes my hair behind my ears.

"Well...I've never been to Paris, but I've read that it is the most beautiful place there is. I'd love to stay with you, Madam Bardoix!" I exclaim and throw my arms around her waist in a hug.

Of course, being the sweet lady she is, she hugs me too, the affection that I have not known in such a long time being restored to me. "I'm glad you wish to stay with me, ma petite."

"Should I call you 'Maman' now?" I ask.

"If you like, but I leave that to you." She smiles down at me.

"Very well...Maman." I kiss her cheek and then sit beside her on the sofa for the remainder of the evening, resting my head against her shoulder until I fall asleep happily for the first time in weeks.

The next morning, I wake in a large room with little decoration, much like my old room but this one is much warmer and inviting. The smell of rotten wood and wet carpet is not lingering in the air...the bugs are no where to be found.

"Bonjour, Kiera," my new mother says, opening the door.

"Bonjour, Maman!" I squeal and hurry into her embrace.

She kisses me cheek. "Come into the bathroom...I've run some warm water for you to bathe in." She takes my hand and leads me across the room to a pair of doors. She reaches out, pushing the lever down, and steps into the room. "This is your bathroom, Kiera...you may do what you like...change, bathe, brush your hair...but let us refrain from artistic creations on the walls without my consent."

"Yes, Maman," I reply.

"Very good. Now, would you like my help?"

"No...I can handle things myself."

"As you wish but should you need my assistance, simply call for me. I'll come as soon as I can."

"Merci."

I remove my clothes and step into the warm water in the tub. The warmth runs throughout my body, thawing my frozen toes, and a bit of my heart, that has grown cold over the year due to my father's lack of love for his princess...but that ws once upon a time. How often do things start out that way but eventually go bad? My life is like a fairytale at times...the little princess winning out in the end against the evil tyrant trying to imprison her...other times, it is like a bad dream, one I can't not wake up from...a horrible monster has thrown me into the dungeon to await my turn at the guillotine and just as the blade falls towards my bare neck, I wake in a cold sweat.

"Kiera?" Maman knocks at the door. "Is everything all right in there? It's been nearly an hour."

"I'm fine!" I call to her.

"Is the water still warm?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Very good. Remember, if you need something, do not hesitate to call for me."

"Yes, Ma'am."

I lean back against the side of the tub for a brief moment before washing...of course, after my spat with the bar of soap ends, the slippery devil...and then grab the towel waiting for me, wrapping it around my body as I step from the watery paradise.

In my room, my clothes are missing. "My dress! Maman..." Calling her that seems so awkward but it is nice to be able to use that term again in address to someone who actually loves me almost as much as my real mother did. "Have you seen my dress?"

"Yes, Kiera. I've washed it and it's on the clothes-line outside. Look in the closet...some of my sons' old clothes are in there...I believe they are your size. I'm afraid you'll have to wear them until I've repaired your old dress and we've gone to Paris, bought you a few new dresses and shoes, of course," she says from outside the door.

"Maman, I don't want to be a burden...won't that be a great deal of money?"

"Not for me, child. I've more money saved up from all the years that I've no idea what to do with it...until now."

"What might your intentions be, Maman, while I'm here?" I question, pulling on a pair of trousers.

"Why to spoil my little girl...daughters are for spoiling...sons are there to help with the heavy work," she laughs.

"You plan to spoil me?" I step into the hall where she stands.

"Nothing less." She kisses my cheek.

The very next day, she wakes me early with a dress for me to put on. "What's this?"

"I've fixed your dress. Now, put it on, ma petite...we're going to Paris today to shop."

"It's a different color," I whisper.

"I hope you don't mind the midnight blue color. It was the only dark color I had."

"You completely remade it."

"Yes...I had nothing to do last night."

"You should have been asleep, Maman. Thank you for caring." I hug her and then hurry back into my room to change.

After changing, I hurry down the stairs and meet Maman at the door.

"Into the carriage with you, Kiera," she orders sweetly.

I giggle and jump into the waiting carriage. She follows and sits beside me. "I've never been in one these before," I sigh.

"You haven't?"

"No, Papa never let me go anywhere even if Maman tried to take me...before she got sick."

"Oh. I'm terribly sorry, dear. Well, since this is your first ride, allow me to put forth some rules." I nod and she continues, "You must remain seated at all times...if we were to hit a bump in the road, you could hurt yourself. Second, do not lean against the door, it is possible for it to open and send you tumbling into the street. Thirdly, enjoy the view from your window. Oh, and no badgering the driver or horses."

"I've put them to memory, Maman." I lean against her shoulder and stare out the window as we make our way to Paris...a new place for me and new adventures, aswell as new memories in the start of a new, and happier life...I hope.

Happy now ladies? I make it better...for a while! Read and review or I'll get you (dude, it rhymed...I'm so losing my mind...anyone else agree? lol 0D ) (so maybe I'm not a perfect angel but still...gotta love me for updating)