(A/N: I didn't really think I'd come back to writing Sofia the First fan fiction very much, not since writing A King's Justice or a Princess's Mercy. What can I say? This story is based off of one of my favorite love stories, Jane Eyre. And I like Sofia the First. So I couldn't resist. Some names of places won't change from whatever they are in Jane Eyre. But for the most part, names of people and places will be from the show. And this is not coming to be a copy and paste of Jane Eyre.
That said, I own nothing.)
"Come here, little rat."
Sofia tried to make herself smaller in hopes of staying hidden from her cousins. Morgana and Jade, she didn't mind as much, but Slickwell was a monster. Sofia silently pleaded for him to not find her. No such luck. He knew she liked to hide behind the curtain in the window seat and read there.
"Aha!"
Sofia paled when Slickwell pulled the curtain back. Angrily, he ripped the book she was holding out of her hands.
"Little Wench!" Slickwell demeaned his cousin. "What are you doing reading my book again?"
"It's not your book Cousin Slickwell, it's my Uncle's, your father's book," Sofia said.
"My father is dead, so everything that was his is mine, you filthy orphan," Slickwell said. "And you will call me Master Slickwell!"
Sofia shook her head. Angered, Slickwell smashed the book into Sofia's head, scraping it and causing her to bleed. Slickwell smirked as his younger cousin reached up to feel the scrape and look at the blood that was now on her fingers. The smirk quickly disappeared when Sofia lurched at him, hitting and kicking and anything else she could do.
"Mama!" Slickwell cried out. "She's going to kill me!"
Very quickly Aunt Prisma came running, along with a couple servants. Sofia felt herself being pried away from her cousin.
"You wicked child!" Aunt Prisma screeched. "Suzette, take the girl to the red room!"
"No, not the red room!" Sofia cried out. "That's the room my uncle died in. I won't go there."
Despite her protests, Sofia was dragged to the red room. As Suzette went to leave, Sofia tried to go out with her.
"Now hush," Suzette said, pushing the young child back in. "Don't make me tie you down."
"Am I a servant, that you or they should order me around?" Sofia asked.
"No, you're less than a servant for you don't earn your keep," Suzette said.
Sofia backed up. As the door closed behind Suzette, Sofia crumpled to the floor, crying and scared as memories of her uncle's death plagued her.
oOo
Several hours passed before the door opened again. Suzette came in and found Sofia asleep underneath the bed.
"Wake up Sofia," Suzette said gently. "You have a visitor."
Sofia opened her eyes and looked at the servant. Slowly, Sofia came out from under the bed.
"Go down to the drawing room," Suzette said. "Quickly, now."
Sofia did as she was told, wondering who would be coming to see her. Coming into the drawing room, she saw her aunt and cousins sitting with an older gentleman, taking tea and biscuits. Sofia remembered with a start that she hadn't eaten since long before she was taken to the red room.
"Ah, here she is now," Aunt Prisma said. "Mr. Grimtrix, this is Sofia Balthazar. She is the daughter of my late husband's sister. Sofia, this is Mr. Grimtrix. He is a parson and the director of Lowood Girl's School."
"How do you do?" Sofia said with a small curtsy.
Mr. Grimtrix stood up and looked, disapprovingly at the young girl.
"I hear you are a wicked girl," he said. "Well Sofia Balthazar, are you a wicked girl?"
"Perhaps the less said, the better," Aunt Prisma said.
Mr. Grimtrix nodded gravely.
"Come closer girl," he said.
Sofia stepped closer.
"Do you know where the wicked go after they die?" Mr. Grimtrix asked.
"Yes Sir," Sofia said. "They go to the fiery pit and burn."
"And should you like to fall into this pit full of fire and burn for all eternity?" Mr. Grimtrix asked.
"No Sir," Sofia said.
"What must you do to avoid this fate?" he asked.
"I must keep in good health and not die Sir," was the reply.
Mr. Grimtrix snorted at the reply.
"You see what I mean?" Aunt Prisma said. "She willful and headstrong. Please tell me you'll accept her into Lowood."
"But of course Madame," Mr. Grimtrix said. "We will tame her unruly spirit."
"Thank you," Aunt Prisma said. "For her holidays, I would like her to stay at the school. I should like for her to become docile and useful. And warn her teachers about her worst fault. A tendency to lie and be deceitful."
Mr. Grimtrix gasped.
"That is not acceptable," he said. "A liar? She will learn quickly to speak truth."
"I am not a liar!" Sofia cried out. "I am not deceitful! If I were, I should say that I love you and that you are the kindest person I know. I don't love you. You are the cruelest person I know except for your son, who I hate above all else!"
Aunt Prisma looked like she might faint.
"I'm glad you're sending me away," Sofia continued. "I'm glad you're no relation of mine. When I get to school I will tell them how you treated me. I will tell them that you locked me in the red room. I will never call you my aunt again.
"Suzette, come get this child and pack her things!" Aunt Prisma screeched. "She is to leave on the first coach tomorrow morning to go to school."
Suzette grabbed Sofia and pulled her away.
"Come, child."
