Disclaimer: I do not own Cinderella or any of the characters (duh!)

Chapter 4: Busted

Venessa came to a stop a few feet away from Seamus and Ella.

"Your Highness," she said, curtseying, "I'm so sorry to intrude, but I really must be taking my daughter home." Her voice was controlled, not a trace of the boiling hot rage evident.

Ella felt the fear course through her, taking p every inch of her very existence. But she kept a straight face. Of course she hadn't told Seamus about her life at home, so she had to pretend that things were normal.

"Really, mother?" Ella whined, putting extra emphasis into her voice, "do we really have to go right now?"

"Yes, we do, darling," Venessa said through gritted teeth. Her hand then flung to Ella's arm and gripped on with an iron grip. "We are leaving… right… now," and with that, she tugged on Ella's arm, almost tripping her over.

Ella struggled to right herself and yanked her arm out of Venessa's grasp. Then, turning back to Seamus for a fleeting moment, she says, "thank you for such a memorable night, my Prince. I hope we meet again."

"As do I," Seamus replied.

Venessa then once again roughly yanked on Ella's arm. Venessa practically dragged Ella across the courtyard and through the still open door.

Following along the castle wall, Venessa rounded a corner and walked out across the wide open doors of the ballroom. The pavement was scattered with small groups of people still lingering around after the ball. Venessa simply tore through the crowds as if they weren't even there, making a B-line for the stairs.

Ella struggled to comprehend how her stepmother could walk so fast in heels where she was struggling to keep up; especially when it came to the stairs. Venessa raced down the stairs, never slowing, and before long she had leapt off the fourth-last step and was landing gracefully on the small bridge wide wooden bridge that lay below. Ella's landing however, was not so fortunate. Taken by surprise by this last leap, Ella had flailed through the air and landed face first.

With a low groan, Ella pushed herself up. Just as she was getting to her feet, she realized that one of her shoes had come off and lay at the base of the stairs. Mighty shame, they were some really nice shoes. Oh well, don't have time to go back for them now, she thought with a small sigh as she yanked off the remaining she and through it across the bridge. She took a moment to watch it slip off the edge, landing in the water below with a small splash. Then, without warning, she felt her stepmother's cold hand clamp around her wrist and she was once again pulled along behind her.

Stepping off the bridge, Venessa and Ella continued down a winding dirt road. The road was lined with carriages and horsemen. Venessa turned towards a blue and silver one. Ella didn't bother fighter against her grip. There was no avoiding what would happen when they reached home.

Venessa threw open the door. Inside were Ella's two stepsisters.

"Get out," Venessa growled.

"Why?" said one sister.

"I said get out!" Venessa roared before tugging both sisters out of the carriage with her free hand. She then tossed Ella into the cart and climbed in after her.

"Mother, what is Cinderelladoing here?" both sisters cried in unison, pointing at Ella in shock.

Venessa ignored them and slammed the door.

"Go!" she called to the horseman.

"But ma'am, what about your daughters?" the horseman replied, poking his head in through an opening at the top of the carriage.

"Just go!" she roared.

Venessa scared across the cart at Ella with a fiery gaze that could make ice melt. Ella braced herself for the scolding of a lifetime, but Venessa said nothing. The entire trip she held hr gaze, but kept completely silent, which only made Ella even more afraid for what lay ahead of her.

The trip seemed to fly by and soon Ella was standing in the middle of the living room. Venessa stood in front of her, her face full of anger.

"How did you get to the ball and where did you get the dress?" Venessa asked her voice stern and controlled.

Ella tried to speak but the lump in her throat stopped her from making any sound. Of course, she could tell the truth, it's not like her stepmother could do anything about a Fairy God Mother, it's not that she would believe her either. She had to think of something, but the fear inside her made her thoughts were a swirling mess. Venessa stood there, waiting for an answer. She let out a small sigh and smiled before letting fly a powerful slap. Ella staggered back and clutched her face. A fiery burning sensation spread throughout the right side of her face, radiating from where the hand had connected with her face.

Venessa reverted back to her controlled state. "I'll ask you again. How did you get to the ball and where did you get that dress?"

Ella looked up at her stepmother, her vision swimming with tears, still not able to say a thing. Through the haze of colours, she saw the shadow of a hand coming from the left and felt it slam against her face. It was just as powerful as the first one and sent her reeling back even further until she was only a few feet away from the crackling fire place. One more hit like that and she would be Cinderella. Venessa sot forward and clutched Ella by the shoulders. "Where did you get the dress!" she screeched. Ella tried to form words but all that came out was an incomprehensible blabber.

"Speak up!" Venessa roared.

"I-I stole it!" Ella lied, "yesterday, while I was in town - after I met with the Prince - I slipped into a tailor's. Then tonight I-I caught a lift with one of the neighbours."

Venessa stepped back from Ella and pulled the fire poker out from the fireplace.

"You stole it?" Venessa chuckled, "you're a dirty little thief!" Venessa swung the fire poker and smashed it against Ella's left cheek, sending her sprawling across the floor.

Ella screamed at the new pain radiating throughout her cheek. It absolutely burned… literally. The red hot tip of the fire poker had seared a nasty red mark into her face. Ella rolled around on the floor, wailing and clutching her face. Venessa reached down and picked her up by the shoulders, their faces only inches apart.

"I cannot believe you!" Venessa hissed. "After all I've done for you."

Those words seemed to numb the feeling of pain which was replaced by a new feeling- anger.

"After your father disappeared I could have thrown you out. But no, I brought you in. I gave you a bed."

You gave me a blanket.

"I fed you."

You fed me? I lived off your scraps!

"I treated you as if you were my own daughter!"

You spoiled the others and made me your slave!

"And now, you not only steal, but defy me and go to the ball right after I specifically told you to stay at home." Venessa paused as if considering something. Then she continued, "Well that was the last straw. "

Venesssa pulled Ella out of the living room and to the front door.

"You are never to come back here. Ever!" she screeched. She then kicked open the door and gave Ella an almighty shove, sending her stumbling through the door.

"If I ever see you again, I promise, you will not be so lucky." And with that, Venessa slammed the door shut, leaving Ella outside. Burned, battered, and having no idea what to do next.

Hey people,

So this one took quite some time, like a month or something. I had been playing around with different scenes and scenarios for a while but I finally got it and I hope you all liked it.

I'm going to start work on Chapter 5 a little later today so that one shouldn't take so long. I'm really excited about where the story is headed.

If you liked the story, make sure to Follow and review (no flames). Feel free to PM me about any ideas you guys have.

As always, hope you guys are liking the story.

Until next time,

Psychic, out.