Chapter 8: The Seven Sisters
Walking, walking and walking. It seemed that she had been walking for hours now. Maybe she had been Vivien wasn't quite sure. Looking around Vivien had begun to notice that the sun was setting and the street lights were coming on. "Callie, I don't know where we are." Vivien said as she began to get scared. She had never been to a big city at night before let alone by herself. "Daddy," she cried in her head.
The sounds of howling dogs, sirens and things prowling through the night came as the wind began to blow into the darkness. The hairs on the back of Vivien's neck began to stand up. Maybe running away wasn't the best thing after all. Wait! What was she thinking? It was the best thing she could possibly do.
Swallowing hard Vivien took a few more steps forward. While walking a few steps farther she could feel Callie's claws sinking into her arms. "OW, Callie," The cat looked up at her and meowed. "Be careful," Vivien scolded her kitten.
It didn't take much longer for Vivien to notice the blisters forming on the back of her ankles. Rubbing them every so often she continued along her way. She tried to block the pain from her mind.
Before long Vivien came to a street that looked promising, walking down the street by the name of Marylebone High, Vivien began to get a sense of hope. Seeing lights in store windows made it seem just a little more safe. Walking down a little farther Vivien came to a little bakery by the name of: The Seven Sisters. Stepping inside Vivien saw a few girls working at the counter.
"Sorry Miss, but were getting ready to close." The older girl said as she saw Vivien standing in the door way.
"Oh, please, I seem to be lost." Vivien said as she stepped up to the counter. "Maybe you could tell me where I am?" The warmth of the shop felt good against her bare shoulders.
The littlest of the girls smiled at her. "You're on Marylebone High Street. It's one of the many streets that have a great deal of food on them. If I might say people come all around for our bake goods."
Buying a cheese cream Danish Vivien sat there for a while as she could hear Big Ben strike eight. Was it that late already? Vivien asked herself as a yawn came to her lips. She must be much more tried then she realized. Resting her head on her arms Vivien shut her eyes for a quick moment. However, as soon as her eyes shut she had fallen fast asleep.
"What are we going to do? We can't let her stay here." The red head whispered to her other sisters. A few of the other girls just shrugged their shoulders and looked to one another for advice.
"Will see what we can do." Another girl said as she looked at her younger sister. Going over to her the little sister of the bunch pulled gently on her coat.
Opening her eyes Vivien lifted her head. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"It's alright dear." A girl's voice came as she began wiping down a table. "What brings you here? You don't look like you live around here."
"Yeah, she looks like she's an aristocrat." One girl spat as she just rolled her eyes.
Vivien looked down at her clothes. She had on her jacket how could they tell that she was of higher class?
"Never mind her dear. Please tell us why you are here." The eldest sister glared at the one that made the rude remark.
Vivien took a deep breath and began her story. For a few minutes Vivien explained who she was and why she was there. "So you see I'm running away from home because my stepmother hates me so much that…," Stopping in mid sentence her eyes fell upon the lovely oak countertop. Trying to keep the events out of her mind she went on. "That she wants me dead,"
A gasp could be heard from the sisters. "That's awful, why would she want to do such a thing?" one asked as they all gathered around. Now this was getting more and more interesting.
"Because, I'm more beautiful then she is," Vivien sighed as she thought about all the trouble she had caused at home. It was all her fault that her and her father had that big dispute between them. It was her fault that the household was now divided more than ever. Everything was her entire her fault. "This is my entire fault." She spoke as she took in a breath.
"But hasn't she ever liked you?" the little girl asked in confusion. She had barley heard the last thing that Vivien had said as she was so set on the question that she had asked.
"I think there might have been a time when she did." Vivien began as she thought deep into what she wanted to say. "I can remember a time when I was a small child we used to play dress up and tea parties. I really thought I had a mother again. She was kind; gentle just what a mother should be." Vivien fell silent for a little while as a painful memory took over the previous one.
"Then what?" the girl asked as she looked up into the young girls face.
"It all changed within a blink of an eye." Vivien pushed her lips together as she tried to keep the tears away. "Catherine was having an affair with a young gentleman. She would do this quite often. I don't know why. I just know that she did. It was almost as if my father wasn't good enough for her or to her." Vivien didn't know if she could keep going as the pain began to become too much. Knowing that it would make her feel better she pressed on. "My father never knew about it. Catherine told me to keep quiet about it and I did, but-but-then I let it slip one night at dinner. I didn't mean to. It was an accident." How could she have done such a thing? Looking back now she realized how stupid she had been. "Father was upset, but he refused to divorce her. He thought it was just something that would soon pass, but it didn't. It went on and on. Until finally Catherine couldn't get young men anymore, oh father was mad for quite a while. There would be times that Catherine wouldn't speak to me for days upon days. At times I thought she had forgotten about me, forgetting her own stepdaughter, forget. I would find out later that the man that Catherine was seeing at the time thought I was much prettier than she."
The room fell silent for a few moments until the smallest girl lifted her arms up. Vivien loved children, but right now she didn't want anything to do with them. Looking into the girls eyes she could see that she too was sad. Giving in Vivien picked her up and sat her on her lap. She was a very pretty little girl. Hair the color of gold as it lay in braided pig tails, while a few little freckles could be seen on her small cheeks.
"Maybe she can stay with us?" the little girl perked up as she began clapping her small hands together. Vivien thought the little girl was going to leap off her lap as she continued to wiggle with excitement.
The other's looked at one another. "I don't know Sally," the older one said as she looked at her younger sister.
"Please," Sally begged as her big green eyes grew big as her lower lip quivered. This little girl wouldn't give up until she got her way. The little girl reminded Vivien a great deal of herself when she was that age.
"I could help out around the bakery. I won't be a bother." Vivien chimed in as she agreed with the little girl on this.
"Well, as long as you help keep the bakery clean and going." The eldest sister said as the others agreed as well. "Another thing, you mustn't go anywhere without one of our permission or let anyone in unless we are open. If your stepmother is after you we don't want her to give her any ideas that you're here."
"I will, I promise I will." Vivien said as a smile came to her lovely face. Now she didn't have to go back to that awful place and- How could she call it an awful place? It was her father's grand estate. It was only awful because that evil woman was there. Trying to keep her thoughts positive she spoke again. "If I'm going to stay here I will need to know your names."
The one to the far right went first. "My name is Anna. I'm the oldest out of the seven sisters." Her black raven hair was at medium length. Her hazel colored eyes were followed by long thick eye lashes. Her skin was a light color and as soft as ever. Being the tallest of the sisters 5'6 it was her job to get all of high things that they could not reach. Of course she kept an eye out for her dear sisters.
"She's like the mother to all of us since our parent's deaths." The second oldest went.
"How awful," Vivien said with a gasp. She was thankful she at least had one parent that loved her. "I hate to be nosey, but what happened?"
Anna took a deep breath. "Our parents were going to a great party at Buckingham Palace. It was late that night and it had started to rain. I was watching the rest of my sisters that night. We were all headed to bed when the terrible phone call came." Anna stopped for a moment as tears filled her eyes. "It was the police telling us that mother and father had died in a terrible car crash. It's been five years since that awful day."
Sally began to cry a little at the talk of her parents. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring such a thing back." Vivien said as she felt awful for doing such a thing.
"Sally stop your crying." Commanded another sister "I'm Virginia," tucking a piece of her red hair behind her ear. Her red hair was the color of red. It was as fiery as her temper could be at times. At just 17 she was working with the aids of her sisters to keep their small bakery clean and in tip top shape. She doesn't let anything past her. When she knows someone or something has done something wrong she doesn't take it very lightly. While Anna had the quality of a mother or more of like their mother she was more like her father.
"Sometimes we call her grumpy on count of the fact she's always grumpy throughout the mornings." The next one laughed as she tried to hold back the laughter. "I'm Mary the third oldest. Even though I'm the third daughter I sometimes act like the eldest," While her gaze shifted to Anna. Getting it all out before a sneeze could come. "I have bad allergies. I've had them since I was three." At just 16 she as her sisters help with the bakery. Her skin a peachy color, while her light green eyes wore the look of mystery, while her dark brown hair is as her younger sister Jacqueline's.
They all nodded their heads yes, "I'm the fourth oldest. My name is Jacqueline," the brunet smiled as she began messing with an earring. Like every other girl Jacqueline likes to stay on top of fashion. She can be found reading the latest fashion magazine. Her dark brown hair is short. Her dark colored eyes always kept a look out for great sales. Whenever she saw it she bought it. 15 years of age and she had a closet that could dress an army of girls. It seemed to her that money was no object, but in all truth it is.
"She likes to be on top of the fashion." The next one said as she chimed in. "I'm Evelyn. People tell me I talk a lot." Everyone nodded their head yes. Her sisters are surprised she hasn't lost her voice as much as she likes to talk. 14 years was young, but just like the rest of her sisters she had to help keep the bakery in good standing. Her dark hair had a little curl to it. Even though she hates her curls everyone else likes them. Her skin is far while her crystal blue eyes were almost as if they were glass.
"I'm Emma," a soft voice came as Vivien looked behind another sister. This girl was very pretty but you could tell she was a shy girl. Her 13 year old mind and body was that of what a young woman should be. Very nice, proper and knew when to speak. Which was hardly ever. Her dark hair hits her shoulders and has the color of a dark forest green. Her skin is that of her sisters peach like and even though she was 13 people often told her she looked that of 15.
"And I'm Sally I'm the youngest by seven years." The little girl in Vivien's lap said with a toothless smile. "I'm seven," Her little girl mind wonders about fairy tales and happily ever after and wants to help Vivien get hers. Hair the color of gold as it lay in braided pig tails, while a few little freckles could be seen on her small cheeks. She is that of a sweet child.
"Seven, my, what a good age," Vivien said as she looked down at little Sally. "So that makes the oldest one at least… my age." While she did the math in her head, math was never her strong point, but small things she could do easily.
"That would be correct." Anna said as she nodded her head. It seemed Vivien had her work cut out for her didn't it? She would have to get started right away remembering their names.
"Vivien, what is this bracelet?" Sally asked as she pointed towards the silver object poking out from behind Vivien's glove. The bracelet was wrapped around her left wrist.
"Sally!" the sisters yelled as they all glared at her.
"Sorry I was just wondering." Sally bowed her head as she knew she had done wrong.
"It is alright it is best that I tell you." Vivien said with seriousness. "I am highly allergic to strawberries." She removed her glove and showed Sally the bracelet. "This tells others what I am allergic to in case of an emergency."
"We are glad you told us. We wouldn't want you to get a hold of something with strawberries in it." Jacqueline answered quickly.
Quickly forgetting the pervious conversation Anna spoke. "Come this way and I will show you to your room."
Climbing off of Vivien's lap Sally took Vivien's hand and went with her and Anna up the oak staircase that led to the sleeping quarters.
"Thank you so much for letting me stay the night."
"You are quite welcome," Anna said as they now stood in the warm, safe room.
Getting into the twin size bed Vivien shut her eyes and for the first time in a long while she was able to sleep. Curling up next to her owner Callie shut her eyes and drifted into sleep as well. It had been a long day for both of them. A good night's rest would do them both some good.
A/N: Aw, yes you finally got to meet Larry. What do you think? Did I do a good job of making him her prince? I will try and update again soon. However next week is finals for me so it might be a little while.
