The song sung in this chapter is called "The Jug of Punch".
Second, I thought it might be nice for you to know some of my INSPIRATIONS for the characters' PHYSICAL descriptions/appearances. (Just in case you were confused with what I was going for in my descriptions)
Diana: Olivia Hussey (Her Face Structure and Eyes)
Bruce: Ben Afflick (As Batman with stubble)
Hippolyta: Diane Kruger (As Marie Antionette)
Zachary Princeton/Zeus Troy: Gregory Peck (Just in general but mostly in To Kill A Mocking Bird)
Selina: Audrey Hepburn (Around the mid-1960s)
Clark: Henry Cavill (As Superman)
Lois: Tuppence Middleton (As Miss Havisham in Dickensian and Helene Kuragina in War & Peace)
Oliver: Jude Law (As Dr. Watson but with blond hair!)
Kara: A Young Cara Delavine (Found a picture of her as a child that fit perfect)
Donna: Penelope Cruz (Her Face Shape and Eyes)
Cassie: Kristen Dunst (As Amy March)
Thank You So Much For Reading and PLEASE REVIEW! :)
Chapter 30: Summer's End
Lancashire England September 1844
—Diana Princeton,
"Well done Diana! Look how far you've come, little sister."
Alexa praised as the sixteen-year-old finally managed to complete a perfect full split!
Face flush with excitement Diana tried to lean her torso as far towards her foot as she could, wondering how long it would be before she could touch her nose to her knee like Donna and Cassie did.
She had found during this summer that she was not naturally flexible, unlike Kara who didn't even seem to have bones given how quickly she'd mastered these exercises. But what Diana lacked in talent she made up for in determination, grit, and competitiveness.
She hated feeling like the weak link in the group. Every time one of the other girls or Alexa tried to take it easy on her it made her that much more determined to push through the pain and prove herself. She would work harder than any of them in order to bring her skills up to par.
Artemis was the only one to demand the same perfection of her as the rest. In fact, sometimes she wondered if her cousin held higher expectations of her than for the other girls. On more than one occasion she had admonished the younger girl for becoming discouraged too easily, insisting that she had more potential than she knew.
"It is from those who have to work the hardest that the greatest achievements are born. You have to struggle for what nature did not naturally provide, but when you finally beat her, she will give you a greater reward than those who were given everything but did nothing."
It was this prophetic advice that replayed daily in her mind, spurring her on. Artemis believed in her, in what she could be, and Diana wanted more than anything to prove her right, to make Artemis proud.
Ready to move on to the next set of stretches Diana stood up and began to dust the dirt and grass off her legs.
"Eww," Cassie grimaced, pointing at the back of Diana's leg. "How did you get that one?"
Diana looked over her shoulder, curious as to what Cassie was talking about. She saw a long cut on the back of her thigh with a line of dark red blood dripping down her leg. Diana frowned as the pain registered in her brain. Why did wounds never hurt until you saw them?
"I'm not sure," She said, wiping away the blood with her hand, but only managing to smear it. "I must have hit a rock."
Donna walked over to see what all the fuss was about and winced at the sight of her cousin's, now much bloodier looking, leg.
"That's pretty deep," the brunette observed, "Maybe you should have Aunt Alexa look at it for you."
"I WANT TO SEE!" Yelled Kara as she rushed to join the spectator sport.
Not enjoying being the focus of attention Diana tried to brush it off.
"It doesn't even hurt that bad, besides, it will probably be gone in a couple of days. I'm a fast healer."
Donna shrugged, "Suit yourself," and went back to her place on the field, seeing that Artemis and Alexa's conversation was ending, and training was about to start again.
Cassie gave a dramatic shudder as she too went back to her spot. Kara however continued to gaze in fascination at the cut.
"Can I touch it?" she asked, reaching out a hand.
Diana quickly slapped the younger girl's hand before it could get close enough.
"NO! Get out of here, go on." Hands-on-hips Diana pointed towards Kara's spot on the field.
Glaring Kara marched back to her place, arms crossed, making sure Diana knew she was fuming. She had been wanting a battle scar all summer and now Diana was being so selfish about letting her see the cut, it wasn't fair.
The Twins rejoined the little sisterhood and began leading them in the next set of stretches.
Diana rolled her eyes at Kara's antics and began stretching her arms, ready to start working on her backbend, when she noticed someone walking down the lane towards the house.
"Who is that?" she asked, pointing towards the solitary figure in the distance.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned toward the road.
Wary expressions crossed their faces as they all began, cautiously, stalking closer to the house, trying to make out who the intruder was.
An excited gasp split the air and they all snapped their heads to look at Cassie who was jumping up and down, her big blue eyes dancing with joy.
"It's father!" She cried, taking off towards the man who was drawing closer to the house, waving, and shouting as she ran.
The man dropped a large sack from his shoulder and held out his arms to the little girl, catching her and swinging her in the air with a laugh.
Setting Cassie back down, he removed his Navy's cap and placed it on her small head, picked up his bag, and sauntered towards the rest of the group, a huge grin on his face as Cassie followed adoringly at his side.
Diana turned to see why Donna had not also run to her father but found the eleven-year-old standing rigid and stiff. Her face was like stone as she watched the man coming towards them.
The atmosphere grew thick as Diana and Kara observed the way Artemis crossed her arms and widened her stance while Alexa raised her chin in the air, clasping her hands firmly in front of her. Only Cassie seemed oblivious to everyone's change in behavior as she prattled happily to the man who laughed heartily at what she said.
He came to a stop in front of them and Diana felt a nagging twitch tugging at the back of her mind. There was something familiar about him.
He was the tallest man she had ever seen, standing at seven feet, perfectly proportioned, with rugged good looks and a lean muscular frame that moved gracefully. Olive toned skin tanned from life at sea stood against dark blackish-brown hair with just a hint of deep red glinting in the sun.
The one trait that denoted the three elder Troys as family, besides their unusual height, were the deep-set, downturned, brown eyes he shared with elder sisters.
Sensing someone watching him the man turned. His eyes ignited with interest as he ran his gaze up and down, examining every part of her. It made her skin crawl, she felt exposed and vulnerable beneath his intense study.
His smile spread as he gave her a sly leer. Diana felt she was going to be physically sick. Every fiber told her to run away from this man and never turn back, but that same frigid dread kept her rooted where she stood.
She suddenly realized why he seemed so familiar.
He was the mirrored image of the man in the portrait Aunt Martha had given her of her parents, though truthfully Diana had never thought of it beyond her mother's likeness until this moment. It was like the painting had become animated and started walking about. They could have been twins, except for the hair. The painted man's locks were darker, with no red.
"Hello, Philip," Alexa said politely but there was an underlining urgency to her tone, making him drag his gleam of deviltry gaze away from Diana.
He gave his sister a dazzling smile that was a beautiful act but held no real affection, lazily assessing her. His handsome good looks melted into the background as his charismatic, yet turbulent, nature rose to the surface.
Everything about him feels false, Diana thought.
"Alexandra," his deep base hummed, vibrating the air like low thunder. "It's good to see you still don't care what others think of your appearance."
Alexa's lips thinned but she managed to keep her expression neutral while her little brother's glee was palpable.
A throat cleared over his shoulder and his pleasant demeanor dropped. Kara and Diana took an involuntary step back at the look of hatred that flickered in his flinty eyes before the façade went back up. From somewhere behind Diana could feel Barda come to join them and she felt a small measure of relief.
Turning to Artemis he presented a wolfish grin. There was a bloodlust to do battle with this sister as a true opponent whereas the other was simply a plaything.
"Artemis," he growled.
"Zeus," she grunted, her eyes narrowed into slits.
He sneered, baring his white teeth. "How's the eye?"
Diana could sense Alexa stiffen at his words, her fingers curling into fists. Artemis didn't flinch.
"I can see you're still alive," she smirked, her dead eye staring unseeing at his face. "Pity, I had thought the sea might have finally killed you this time. I guess I will just have to pray harder."
The haughty air sucked from Zeus's face as the corner of his lips shot down.
"Donna!" he barked.
Diana and Kara jumped but Donna stood still.
He turned, the friendly expression back as he locked eyes with his eldest daughter.
"Aren't you going to greet me?" he said in a loving tone but there was something about the way he did that sounded more like a warning.
She didn't move, her voice was cold and emotionless.
"Why don't you come here?"
This was clearly not the response he had wanted as a scowl marred his face.
"Donna don't be difficult." Cassie chided, tightening her hold on the man's wrist.
Slowly, begrudgingly, Donna went and stood before her father, who patted her on the shoulder with a heavy hand. His confident demeanor returned.
"There now, that wasn't so hard." He laughed.
Donna remained silent and moved closer to her sister.
"Are you staying long?" Cassie asked with bright eyes, hanging on to his wrist.
Zeus smiled and freed himself from the child's grasp then ran a hand through his youngest's golden curls.
"Just for tonight," he said.
It was obvious Cassie was fighting back her disappointment. Zeus however shinned a show-stopping grin.
"Which is why I'm taking my girls into town for a fancy dinner and maybe stop by the music hall. What'd ya say?"
Cassie's eyes lit up like stars as she squealed in delight, but Donna remained stoic.
"It's Diana and Kara's last day with us," Donna softly asserted. "We are supposed to have a goodbye party tonight."
Zeus brushed her words aside with annoyance. "We'll be back in plenty of time for all that. Now go on and get ready, put on your prettiest dresses, and let's go have some fun!"
Cassie ran into the house. Donna cast a look at both her aunts before quietly following her younger sister inside.
"So," Zeus began, bringing his eyes back to Diana. "You're Hippolyta's girl?"
"She's Zachary's girl." Artemis corrected with a sneer that Diana didn't understand the direction of. Was the malice in Artemis's words directed at her brother, her cousin, or Diana?
Zeus's smile hardened at his sister's words, but he pretended to ignore them.
"Hippolyta's daughter." He repeated.
Diana raised her chin defiantly, refusing to let him see the unsettling feelings that were coursing inside and made her want to run scared.
Zeus snorted. "Oh yes, Hippolyta to a T."
He took a step closer, Diana stood taller.
"We were good friends you know, your Mum and I."
The teenager faltered, overwhelming curiosity fighting against her instincts that told her not to listen to him.
"…Really?" she tentatively asked.
Zeus leaned in, tilting his head, so he was looking down at the girl.
"In some ways…the very best of friends."
Artemis scoffed and her brother bristled, turning back around.
"Still don't know when a conversation doesn't concern you, eh Artemis?"
The older woman's face turned red with rage.
Artemis curled her hands into fists, ready to break every bone in his smug face, but Alexa stepped in front of her, acting as a shield between the two.
"Would you mind collecting the post while you are in town brother?" she asked with a sweet voice. "Mrs. Pond holds the letters for us at the inn."
Zeus gave Artemis another hateful glare before grunting his agreement to Alexa's request.
"We're ready!" Cassie's cheerful voice broke the tension, allowing them all to take in a deep breath.
She came skipping up next to her father, followed by a sullen looking Donna. Both were wearing the wool tartan dresses from last Christmas. Donna tugged down the sleeves of the dress that was now to small.
In an instant Zeus's demeanor and mood changed again and he was once more the jovial charmer.
"Right then, let's be off!"
After 11 o'clock that night
—Diana Princeton
Nothing had gone right since the interruption of Phillip 'Zeus' Troy's arrival that morning.
There had been no more training, no farewell party, no stories, no laughing, no chores. All the five of them had done was pack and cast repetitive glances down the dirt road, waiting for the father and daughters to return.
The sun had set, and Alexa had sent them to bed while she and Artemis kept watch from the library window.
Barda lay motionless on her pallet by the door, and Kara had fallen asleep hours ago, her lite snoring a calming assurance of that fact. But Diana couldn't sleep. She sat on her bed staring at the two empty cots beside her, occasionally flitting her gaze back out the window to the road, grateful that the full moon made it easier to see.
It felt so strange without them here, so quiet. They had never not been in this room when Diana had gone to bed and she found loneliness with their absence. It was like the order and nature of their strange little world here had been shattered and could only be whole again once their missing sisters were safe at home again.
A horse whinnied and Diana snapped her head towards the window. Standing she squinted against the glass, making out the silhouette of Philippus in the distance slowly trotting down the lane.
"Good horse," Diana whispered, relief coursing through her as she began to smile. "Bring them home Philippus."
Quietly, to not wake anyone, she exited their room and crept down the stairs, heading for the front door.
Just as she was reaching for the doorknob, she jumped, the sound of Artemis and Alexa's powerful footsteps closing in.
"I don't like it! What gives him the right to show up and disrupt everything?"
Swiftly ducking into the room by the front entrance Diana found herself in the dusty confines of a parlor that was never used. The Twins' voices though could still be heard through the door.
"He is still their father Artemis."
"Bah! As if that is such a noble thing." Diana could feel her cousin's rage through the door. "Any male can make a child but that is where their usefulness stops. He is no father! He's a spoiled child who sees those children as nothing more than toys to amuse him."
Diana heard Alexa give a weary sigh and their footsteps grew quieter, apparently, they had gone back to the library.
The clopping of hooves made her turn and scurry to the window, which luckily faced the front of the house and had several broken panes which made eavesdropping most convenient.
Diana watched in surprise as she saw Donna walking towards the front door, reins in hand as she led the horse home. On its back was a very drunk man, singing and shouting at the top of his lungs a song whose words kept changing. Sitting in front of him, hands outstretched, singing her heart out like the greatest Prima Dona to grace the stage, was Cassie.
Diana's concern escalated as it became apparent that Cassie too was intoxicated, though not at the blackout level of her swaying companion.
What kind of man gives alcohol to a child? Diana's furious mind raged.
She wanted to go out there and beat some sense into the slosh but was wary of making the situation worse.
As they drew closer the exuberant singing of the man's deep base and child's airy soprano assaulted the night.
"What more diversion could a man require,
Then to settle down by the ale-house fire,
With a fine red pippin to crack and crunch,
And on the table a jug of punch."
Zeus swayed on the horse's back, his smile growing as he tried to swing his body side to side in time to the muddled music in his head.
Donna brought the horse to a stop. She looked tired but otherwise emotionless.
She patted the horse's head, offering it gentle words, before dropping the reins and making her way around to its side.
"Come on Cassie, it's time to go in now." Donna held up her arms and caught her sister as she slid off the horse's back in a fit of giggles.
Zeus let out a loud belch and began another verse of the tune while Donna tried to keep Cassie steady on her feet.
"If I drink too much, well, me money's me own,
And them as don't like it can leave me alone,
But I'll tune me fiddle and I'll rosin me bow,
And I'll be welcome wherever I go.
Too-ta-loo-ra-loo, too-ta-loo-ra-lay,"
BANG!
The front door burst open, causing Diana to jump and duck, in case she was caught spying. But no one could have noticed her with the spectacle going on in the front yard.
Artemis crossed her arms, seething, as she glared at her brother who blew kisses to an imaginary crowd. Alexa cast resigned eyes up at him as he started serenading the horse.
"And when I'm dead and I'm in my grave,
No costly tombstone will I crave,
Just lay me down in my native peat,
With a jug of punch at my head and feet."
Alexa instantly switched focus to the girls.
She put a reassuring smile on her face as she took in the sight of her nieces, but it was tight, and the corners of her eyes didn't wrinkle as they normally did when she smiled.
"Donna dear, why don't you take your sister up to bed." Alexa took another hard look at Cassie, who had laid her head on her sister's shoulder. The little girl's curls were damp and clumped heavily against her face. "But first, go out back to the pump, and see if you can rinse the gin off."
Donna nodded at her Aunt and hoisted Cassie up a bit in her arms as she carried her towards the back of the house.
Alexa and Artemis turned to their brother, who clutched an empty bottle to his chest like it were a holy relic and the key to his salvation.
Tears sprang into his eyes as he hoarsely repeated the chorus again.
"Too-ta-loo-ra-loo, too-ta-loo-ra-lay,
Too-ta-loo-ra-loo, too-ta-loo-ra-lay,"
The sisters stood and watched as he leaned too far to the left and slid off the tall mare's back like a limp rag doll. He landed with a smack on the soggy earth.
He gave a bitter cackle as he wheezed. Laying his head down in the mud he stretched out his arms, lifting the bottle to the sky, and slurred out the last lines, as if even in his drunken state he could appreciate the poetic justice of it all.
"Just lay me down in my native peat,
With a jug of punch at my head and feet."
He dropped his arms and closed his eyes, a self-satisfied smirk on his lips, as he once more mumbled through the chorus and slipped into unconsciousness.
"Too-ta-loo-ra-loo… too-ta-loo-ra-lay…Too-ta…loo…ra-loo…too…loooooo…"
The twins stared at him. Once it was obvious, he wouldn't be getting up again Alexa heaved a relieved sigh and took a step towards the drunkard.
"Leave him," Artemis bit out, "it serves him right. Let him wallow in the mud where he belongs."
Alexa didn't look at her twin, but Diana could see her shoulders slump slightly at her sister's bitter words.
"This is his house Artemis; he has the right to sleep in it."
Artemis scoffed as she glared down at the snoring man with pure hatred.
Alexa turned caring eyes to her twin, the second half of herself whom she had never been without.
"And he is our brother."
Artemis huffed and grabbed the horse's reins, leading Philippus to the stable. Anger shook the ground with each stomp as she turned her back on her sister, leaving Alexa to clean up Zeus's mess.
She watched until her sister was out of sight. A loud snore broke the silence. Alexa gave another heavy sigh, closing her eyes she turned her face up to the sky. "Hera give me strength."
Looking back down, Diana saw a flicker of rage morph her cousin's normally calm face.
Alexa swung a long leg and give her brother a swift kick in the side. The teenager flinched. Zeus didn't move but gave another loud snore.
Her passion vanished as quickly as it had come, and the older woman's normal temperate demeanor returned.
Alexa reached down and grabbed one of his arms. With incredible strength, she pulled his arm over her neck and hoisted his long body over her shoulders. The bottle dropped from his hand and rolled against the brick façade of the house.
Like a huntress with her kill Alexa strained to adjust the weight across her back as her brother's head lolled from side to side. With a deep breath, gritted teeth, and determination set in her jaw, she carried him into the house.
Diana waited until she heard Alexa's heavy footsteps disappear down the hall before creeping out of her hiding place and bolting upstairs to the bedroom.
Careful to not be caught she slowly closed the creaky door, tip-toed past the still form of Barda on the floor, and slipped onto her cot, burying her head beneath the quilt, desperately trying to calm her rapped heartbeat and irregular breathing before Donna and Cassie came in.
The door groaned again as it opened and Diana snapped her eyes shut, holding her breath, mentally chastising herself for not facing Kara instead when she laid down.
The door groaned and small footsteps pitter patted across the wood floor.
Hesitantly Diana opened her eyes, creating a small peephole in the blanket to sneak a peek at what was happening.
Donna carried Cassie over to the cot between her own and Diana's. She laid her down and the little girl sleepily mumbled the song her father had been singing. A happy smile lit up Cassie's face as she closed her eyes and sang.
"Even the cripple forgets his hunch,
When he's snug outside of a jug of punch."
Donna went to work pulling off her sister's boots, next moving to her stockings, and finally fighting against Cassie's wiggling as she undid the buttons on her damp tartan dress.
"Too-ta-loo-ra-loo, too-ta-loo-ra-lay,
Too-ta-loo-ra-loo, too-ta-loo-ra-lay,
Even the cripple forgets his hunch,
When he's snug outside of a jug of punch."
She was methodic in her movements as she began getting the nine-year-old dressed for bed.
Cassie gave her sister a quick peck on the cheek and then giggled as she lifted her arms for the nightdress to be lowered over her head.
Donna's lips remained in a thin line, her eyes expressionless. She seemed far older than her eleven years at that moment, nearly unrecognizable from the laughing and fun girl she had been just that morning.
The younger girl frowned as her sister pulled the nightgown over her head. Surveying the room with blurry eyes.
"Why are we back here?" she groused.
Donna bent her head down, squinting to see the tiny row of buttons on Cassie's nightdress in the moonlight.
"Because Artemis and Alexa are here."
Cassie blew out an exaggerated huff, making her lips flap like a horse. The little girl pushed her sister's hand away, not wanting her to finish buttoning the nightdress.
Donna calmly batted the child's hand back and continued fastening the tiny buttons.
Cassie glared down at the now secured buttons, then erupted into a fit of giggles, flopping back against her pillow.
"I love going to town." She smiled.
"I know you do Cassandra," Donna replied, tucking the covers around her sister so she wouldn't roll off in her sleep.
"Someday I'm going to be an actress!" Cassie exclaimed, opening her eyes, and looking at the ceiling as if she could already hear the applause and see the stage lights.
Donna didn't answer but instead began taking off her own dress and shoes.
"I will wear lots of beautiful dresses, eat in fine restaurants, have chocolate whenever I like, won't that be fun?"
"I'm sure it would," Donna commented, her back turned to the others as she put on her nightdress.
"And I'll never have to see Lancashire again!" Cassie let out a contented sigh as she rolled onto her side to face Diana, closing her eyes as her mind began crafting dreams of faraway places and adoring crowds.
Donna was still, slowly turning toward her sister. She watched Cassie's chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm as sleep claimed her.
Carefully, the older girl sat on the edge of the younger's cot. Donna reached over and softly moved a gold curl out of her little sister's face, brushing the tips of her fingers across her forehead before retracting her hand and placing it in her lap.
She continued to observe the serene smile on Cassie's face like she was searching for something in her sister's expression that she couldn't find.
"Never is a long time Cassie," Donna whispered. "You might get lonely."
Donna got up and crawled into her own bed. Stretching to the nightstand she picked up a silver locket, running her thumb over its surface before closing her fingers around it and holding it to her chest as she settled into her pillow. She cast one more fleeting glance at the sleeping form of her little sister before closing her eyes and going to sleep.
All was quiet as Diana removed the quilt from her head. She looked around at all her sleeping cousins, feeling a protective love swell up in her chest. She didn't fully understand everything she had learned today, but she knew that no matter what she would help them in whatever way she could.
She smiled to herself as she laid back down to go to sleep. Despite the confusion of today something wonderful had happened this summer. A sisterhood had formed between the six of them, one that she knew would last the years to come.
"Next summer sisters," Diana whispered to her sleeping companions, "we shall be together again."
