Title: True to Yourself
Author- Starr Ryder
Rating- PG-PG-13
**This chapter is PG-PG-13.**
I quietly closed the door behind me as I entered
Springstone. I smiled lightly to myself as I placed the
bags of food on the kitchen countertop and stepped out
into the entrance hall once again.
"Where were you last night?" Came a sudden voice
in front of me. I was startled to find Mina standing at
the foot of the stairway. Surprisingly her tone wasn't one
of command but one of kind curiosity.
"I... I was out on an errand for Beth." I said
sticking to the excuse Beth had given them. Her face didn't
move she just walked closer to me.
"You don't have to lie to me." She smiled slightly.
"I know Beth would never order you around. You are friends
and friends don't order other friends around." I snorted.
"You know that ordering me to do something doesn't
necessarily mean work?" I said taking a seat at the table.
Trying not to let anything loose I hanged the subject
quickly. "Where are your mother and sister?"
"They went to the beauty salon in town." She took a seat
next to mine and stared down at her feet. "You want to know
something?" She said changing the subject. "I'm not like them,
as much as I try to be, I'm just not." She looked up to me with
her blue eyes showing almost a look of sadness. She looked
back down to her feet. "I can't understand how they can order
people about as they do. Especially you."
"Me?" I asked her bending down slightly trying to see
her face. This confession didn't surprise me one bit. I knew
from the start Mina wasn't like her family. When they first
moved in, I had hoped me and Mina could be friends. She of
course was repeatedly trying to follow Beryl in everyway she
could, including being wickedly cruel to me. She looked up
at me almost startled
"Of course! I mean this is just as much your house as
it is ours." Her eyes found a way back to her feet.
"Well, I suppose..." I said shrugging.
"I remember after your father died," She looked up
to me almost apologetically. I nodded to tell her it was
okay. "I... I asked Mama why you had to be a servant if
this was your house and not ours to begin with. I said
that you shouldn't be a maid and should be able to live the
way we do. She said I was being a dolt and sent me off to
bed with no dinner for even mentioning it." She fingered her
long blonde hair gently. I stared at her. Never
in a million years had I ever thought she would defend me
like that. I'd always known Mina was different then her
family but not different enough to defend me. "You wanna
know something funny." She said smiling slightly up at
me. "I still don't get why you're serving us. Your twice the
person Beryl and I are. And I know she'd strike me for
saying so but your three times the person Mama is." I don't
know why but right then I broke down in tears, my hands
covering my eyes like a child. I had never in my life dreamed
anyone in my family would say something like that. Mina
gasped and I looked up at her. "Oh I made you cry! I'm
sorry! I really am Serena!" She placed a comforting shaking
hand on my back and bent down next to me. I smiled and
shook my head.
"No, no." I said shaking my head more. "It's just,
no one has ever said something that nice to me before."
Mina stared up at me confused.
"You're surely joking." She said laughing slightly. I
shook my head joining her laughter.
"But you're wrong." She looked at me questionably. "I might
be a better person then your sister and your mother, but you?
Never." I could see her try not to smile.
"How could you say such fooie? I mean look at you! Your
beautiful and smart and nice. And I'm ugly and dumb..."
"You are not!" I interrupted sternly. "Mina you're twice as
pretty as me! And you are not dumb!"
"I am not as pretty as you! Beryl says I have the looks
of a toad and the brain of a log. I wasn't educated much as
you were and...What?" She looked upon my stunned face. I knew
Beryl was cruel but I never knew she would say something like
that to her own sister! Especially when they were false! Mina
certainly wasn't ugly. I was surprised she wasn't engaged
already. She had perfect long blonde hair and shimmering blue
eyes. She wasn't fat and had terrific curves. I just stared
down at the floor.
"Did she really say that?" I asked after a moment
of silence.
"Well, of course. It's true." She answered sadly.
"Oh Mina, your not any of that!" I said laying a
comforting hand on her shoulder. "I bet you could find a
million men that would be dying for a chance at you! Beryl
is nothing compared to you, nothing at all, and don't let
her tell you otherwise." I could see the tears starting to
form in her eyes. I pulled her into a hug before I could
think of what it meant. I had actually gotten along with
my step-sister. Not only were we getting along but I think
we were actually friends.
"You're so nice. I wish I was like you."
"No you don't. Stay just the way you are." I said
smiling back at her.
"Wanna hear something funny? You do know why Beryl went
to the hair salon?" I shook my head making a face. "When you
came down the stairs this morning and Beryl saw your hair like
that," She flicked at the curls still in my hair. "She got so
angry and got Mama take her to the salon to get it just like
that." I laughed uncontrollably for the second time in 2 days.
I can't believe I hadn't realized that sooner! Mina quickly
joined me.
"You're surely kidding me?" I said when I could finally
speak. Mina just shook her head not able to speak yet. Mina
took a deep breath and calmed down.
"Now you have to be kidding if you told me you got that
do' while out on an errand." She said raising her eyebrows. I
smiled and looked away.
"Not quite..." I said blushing.
"Don't tell me you're having a secret affair! That's what
all the chamber-maids are saying!" She looked at me eyes wide.
"No!" I said waving my hand. I looked around. "Not here,"
I bit my bottom lip. I grabbed her hand and started going up
the stairs. "I'll tell you in my room. Come on."
"You talked like that to the prince?!" Mina squealed
nearly dropping her glass of ale on my bed.
"Well, yes, but he was being perfectly dreadful to me
so I had the right to be." I said shrugging a little. I had
told her everything. I had even told her my little encounter
with Darien in the marketplace. She seemed to think it was
perfectly wonderful. What I hadn't told her was that Darien
was driving me nuts and inside my head all the time.
"Oh yes perfectly dreadful." She said sarcastically. She
drank the rest of her ale and put the glass on the wood floor.
She fell back onto the bed and sighed. "Oh why must things
like this happen to you!"
"Things like this? What things?" I said leaning over
her. She sprang up.
"I've read enough romance novels to realize that the
prince is quite taken with you." She said smiling slyly.
"Oh please!" I said rolling my eyes.
"Serena if that's not flirting I don't know what is!"
She smiled raising her eyebrows. "And if I'm wrong, which
I'm not, I believe that you my dear, were indeed flirting
back." My mouth flew open.
"No! Of...... no.....No!" I baffled out. I knew I was.
I knew I was then, and I knew I was now, but I didn't
want Mina to know, I knew
"You darling, are a liar!" She said jumping to her
feet.
"I...I am not!" I said standing up. Mina just stood
and glared at me with those blue eyes of hers. I swiftly
reached for my pillow and was about to fling it at her...
DING.
DING.
"A caller now?" Mina said suspiciously. She left
the room and made her way to the entrance hall, I followed
behind her. She went to the door and opened it a crack
before opening it all the way.
"May I help you?" She asked Lita who was standing
at the door.
"Lita?" I asked walking up to her.
"Serena," She handed me the letter. "This is from
the ah...." She paused not wanting to say the princess
in front of Mina.
"It's alright, she knows." I said smiling and taking
the letter. "Lita, this is my step-sister Mina. Mina,
this is my friend Lita."
"Nice to meet you." Mina said extending her hand.
"Pleasure." Lita said shaking it. I quickly drew
my attention to the letter. I ripped open the envelope
and opened the letter. It read in a curvy cursive-
'Serena-
I hope this reaches you okay. I wanted
to ask you to come to the palace tomorrow night. We're
having another ball for some foreign countries monarchs
arrival and I'm positive it would be a total bore without
you. Please say you'll come? It's at 9:00pm but I'll send
a carriage there at 4:00 to pick you up and bring you here.
Please come. Send message back with Lita. She'll make sure
I get it.
Your very bored friend,
Raye'
Another ball? Oh how I'd die to go! It was a dream!
Seeing Raye again! Darien... Well I'd sort him out later.
Going to the palace and getting away from Susan and Beryl.
If only I could! But I knew that I couldn't. Susan would
never let me go and Beth could only cover for me so often.
I sighed.
"What is it?" Mina asked stepping towards me.
"She wants me to go to another ball tomorrow night."
I looked at the floor shaking my head.
"You don't want to go?" Mina asked.
"No, I'd die to go! But I can't. I mean it's not like
your mother would be letting me go and Beth can only cover
for me a certain amount of times." I sighed again. "It's
impossible."
"No it isn't!" Mina ran up to me taking the piece of
paper from my hand. "I could do it! I'll tell Mama and
Beryl that I sent you out. They'll never suspect a thing if
I do it."
I looked up at Mina who was staring at me waiting
for an answer. I couldn't believe that a girl I had hated
just yesterday was now my savior. It was completely
ridiculous that she was related to the worst of beings.
I stared back at her. "You'd do that for me?" I whispered.
She just smiled.
"Of course. That's what sisters are for, and I have
a lot of catching up to do with that duty..." She didn't
even get to finish before I had her in my arms in a big
sisterly hug.
"Wait a second Serena!" Lita interrupted and I pulled
away from Mina. "Serena, it's not like I don't want you to
go, but, I don't want you to lose everything either." She
rubbed her temples gently. "What if you get caught? I mean
it's not likely someone will recognize you but what if they
do? Are you willing to risk everything?" I stared up at her
laughing a little.
"Lita you talk like it's a life or death situation."
"But it is! You know the consequences for a servant
out of there place! Think about it Serena!" I knew what
happened when a servant was out of place, there owner
was allowed to whip them. It was one of those rare
occasions that barely happened, but when it did it could
sometimes be deadly. "Serena if you get caught your
stepmother is not going to be understanding! She'd whip
you until you bled to death and there would be nothing me,
or Mina or Beth could do at that point. I don't want that
to happen Serena! You're my friend and I can't let you keep
doing this." I frowned when she finished. Although I hated
to say it, I knew she was right. If I was caught I was long
gone. Susan wouldn't care, she'd take pride in having a
reason to beat me. At that point nothing anyone could say
would matter.
"Your right, I was stupid to even think of it..."
"No!" Mina sternly interrupted placing herself in front
of me. "Serena, you deserve to go to that ball! You can't
live your life in fear of my mother! That's exactly what
she wants and if you give in there will be nothing left for
you. She'll take advantage of that and you know it." She
placed her hands on my shoulders. "Serena, there's something
special out there for you and your not going to find it
here." I stared at her for a second trying to make sense of
her words. She was also right, in a strange way. Something
amazing could happen and I would miss it if I sat by and
watched. I couldn't live my whole life following Susan
and Beryl's orders like a mechanical machine. I couldn't,
and I wouldn't. Going to another ball would just be another
step to my freedom and I was willing to take it. Life was
full of surprises and they wouldn't come looking for you.
"Your right too." I said sighing. I turned to Lita who
was biting her lip in though. "She is right, Lita. As much
as a risk I would be taking, I can't be afraid of Susan all
my life. I have to start somewhere and why not have some
fun along the way?" She looked up at me sadly.
"I just don't want you to get hurt." I could see
how she was debating with herself.
"I promise I'll be careful. If not for myself,
for you and Mina." I could see she found comfort in my
words. I smiled a little. "God knows I can't leave Mina with
those two evils." Mina and Lita laughed at this. "Now you
go tell Raye I'll attend." Lita nodded and left the Manor.
"You know, I never really realized how ugly this
could get if you're caught." Mina said frowning a little.
"Do be careful. Lita has her reasons for worrying."
"I know." I said sitting back onto a chair. "We
have one problem though."
"What?" Mina asked curiously.
"Your mother." I snorted. "She can't know we're
friends. She'll know your helping me with something."
"Your right." Mina said biting her lip. "She'll know.
If not her then Beryl will."
"Geez, just when we were started to get close." I
chuckled.
"Well," She smiled. "Under these circumstances I must
order you to go upstairs and get ready for your departure
tomorrow." She pointed her finger to the stairs. I smiled
back at her.
"As you wish, Madame Mina." I said curtsying and
running up the stairs with Raye's letter still clutched
in my hand.
Later that night, Susan and Beryl came back from
the beauty salon. Beryl's hair looked a little worse for
wear. Unfortunately my style did not suit her well and she
came back with a head full of massive messy curls and a
braid slanted to the left of her head. Beryl's face was
just as delightful as her hair. Her scowl was not one of
happiness. Susan entered behind her, complaining how she
had wasted her money completely. When they sat down for
dinner Beryl had wrapped her hair in a huge purple towel
and refused to take it off.
"Mama, Serena will not be here tomorrow." Mina said
as I was serving their deserts. I gave her a furtive smile
as I placed down her plate.
"Will she not?" Susan asked eyeing me as I placed
her plate down.
"No, I've asked her to run me an errand in the
city. She shall be leaving around 4:00 and won't be back
until late I believe." For such little practice, Mina was
a wonderful actress. "Your always telling me to use the
servants and so I figured, let them do it and save some
time for myself." Susan smiled at this.
"Very good Mina, I'm happy you finally realized
where their place in life is." I saw Mina trying not to
burst out in laughter as I was handing Beryl her dish. I
tried to look as sad as possible but with Mina turning
all red and nodding like a mumbling idiot I couldn't
help but smile a little and hope no one saw. Unfortunately
Beryl glanced my way and caught sight of my smile.
"What is it that you have the wench doing sister?"
Beryl asked nose in the air and a fork making its way
to her mouth. I looked over at Mina. She didn't seem
panicked as I was.
"I'm sending her off to order me new dresses.
A lady called Molly owns a dress shop in the city and
I've been in need for a few dresses so I'm sending
her off." I sighed in relief. Thank god Mina had something
planned! I thought we were dead for sure! Beryl didn't
seemed satisfied though. She looked suspiciously at Mina.
"That wouldn't take the whole day Mina, She'll be
back by 8:00 at most." Beryl place another forkful of cake
in her mouth and pushed the plate away with half the cake
left. I again glared at Mina. She still seemed calm.
"Dear sister! 8:00 you are surely kidding! With dresses
must come shoes and accessories! You need everything to
attract the opposite sex."
Beryl laughed a wicked laugh. "Mina darling as if
any male would look a glance your way! Do not dream of such
things!" I saw Mina grow quiet and I felt the anger come to
my face. Acting on impulse I reached for Beryl's plate and
'accidentally' let it slip off the table onto her lap. She
screeched loudly and I saw Mina's mouth fall open as she
stared up at me in happy shock. I put my hand to my mouth
in surprise.
"You little bitch!" Beryl screamed.
"Awfully sorry miss, it slipped right out of my
hand." I said trying my best not to laugh at her.
"Mama! Mama, look what the little brute did to
me!" Beryl whined to Susan. Susan jumped up and walked
up to Beryl examining the stain now on Beryl's dress.
"It'll come out with a few washings." Susan said
still trying to rub it off. Beryl moaned. "Hush Beryl.
Serena go up to your room now! No dinner for you tonight!"
She pointed to the staircase leading to the servant's wing.
I slouched down still smiling and walked the way to the
stairs.
"Serena! I'd like to talk to you about the dresses
for tomorrow later on. Please do not fall asleep." Mina
said smiling slightly. I nodded.
"Yes ma'am." I said as I walked up the stairs.
My stomach grumbled slightly. I knew it was a stupid
thing to do, but at that point I was so mad at what
Beryl had said that I would have slapped her, had I had
the courage. How dare she speak to Mina so! She wasn't
at all one to be saying anything! Her head was wrapped in
a towel for god's sake! Still I knew I would pay for it
later. It didn't matter though. Cook would give me
something to eat later on when my relatives retired to bed.
I lazily walked up to my room, closing the door
behind me softly. I reached for Raye's letter which still
lie on my bed. I sat down on the bed as I reread the
letter. God I hoped this was going to be worth all the
lies and the risks. Somehow in the back of my mind I knew
it was. I knew I'd find whatever Mina said I was meant to
find there. I didn't know why but in my flare of excitement
my mind somehow kept referring back to Darien and our
conversation in the marketplace. Would he be there? Of course
he would be there you dolt! It's his palace! Well not his
palace but... Oh god now I'm correcting my thoughts!
KNOCK
KNOCK
I shifted my head to the door as Mina opened it.
She walked in carrying a bag of some sort, she placed
it on the floor and sat next to me.
"Hi." I said smiling.
"Hi. I brought some food for you." She picked up
the bag at the side of the bed and handed it to me.
"Cook gave it to me." I opened the bag to find a bowel of
soup, a piece of chicken and a blueberry muffin. I laughed
a little at the desert she picked.
"Thanks." I said unwrapping the soup and digging out
a spoon from in the bag.
"No, Thank you." I looked up at her, not sure what
I was being thanked for. "No one has ever stood up for me
like you did. That was really nice of you and I'm sorry you
lost your dinner because of me." I nodded my head remembering
why I was being thanked. Then I shook it.
"Oh you deserved it! After all you're doing for me, I'd
dump a thousand pieces of cake on Beryl." I smiled at her.
"Don't worry about it." She smiled back at me.
"Now," She said as she rose from the bed. "I hate
to have you travel so far, but you must come and pick a
dress to wear into the city tomorrow." I shook my head at
Mina.
"Where would we be traveling?" I asked raising my
eye-brows. "My wardrobe is right there." I said pointing
to the old wardrobe in the corner of the room.
"You're kidding right?" Mina said making a face. "Our
Lady Serenity must have a wonderful dress to go to the
palace with! And frankly my dear that wardrobe isn't going
to work."
"But that's all I have." I said looking down to the
floor. I had no proper dresses to wear to the palace. Even
the one I had worn the first time was appalling to be seen
in even if it wasn't to the ball. I'd have to due with one
of my old tattered dresses and hope no one could see me in it
for too long.
"Well, that's what I expected. So here comes our far
traveling," She said raising her eyebrows. "To my room."
"Why would we go there?" I asked rather stupidly
not realizing what she had in mind. Mina rolled her eyes.
"To pick out a dress from my wardrobe of course!"
"Oh," I said finally getting it. "Oh, I couldn't
take one of your dresses Mina."
"Well, for goodness sake why not?!" Mina said
crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently.
"Because they're yours!" I knew it was kind of
stupid but it made sense before I said it.
"And your point is?" She asked still tapping her
foot. I just kind of shrugged. "Serena," She walked
towards me and gave me a hug around the shoulders.
"We're sisters. I know I haven't acted like one until
just now, but that doesn't change it. Now come on. They're
just as much mine as yours."
I rolled my eyes and stood up. "Alright fine!"
She led me down the hall and into another and entered her
room.
Before I knew it, I had had a dress and shoes for
tomorrow and I was lying in my bed waiting for sleep to
come. My dress was a simple yet elegant one. It was a no
sleeved yellow dress. It had white bodice and the edges were
also trimmed with white. The long skirt almost covered my feet
fully. The shoes were white flats and fit me perfectly although
they were too small for Mina. The dress was perfect, the shoes
were perfect and I knew that I would feel perfect in them.
While thinking of my dress and my shoes and of my visit to the
palace, I carelessly fell off into sleep.
The morning sun shown through the window. The bright
yellow wakening me from my dreams. I rose tiredly from my
bed and dressed in my tattered clothes once again,
dreaming of the clothes I would be wearing in only a matter
of hours. When I entered the entrance hall, and to my surprise
Beth was sitting at the table, sipping tea.
"Your back?" I said surprised that she hadn't stayed
at her friends house longer. She was planning on staying
there a week but I guess she changed her plans.
"I'm glad to see you too!" She said sarcastically.
"No! I'm glad to see you, very glad, but I
thought you were staying at your friends house for the
week?" I raised my hand apologetically.
"Well, Andrew is a little pre-occupied. He isn't
much fun like that. He'll be coming here instead. Maybe
he'll be a little calmer that way." She said sipping her
tea again. "What have you been up to? You look a little
red."
"More then you can imagine." I smiled. "I'll tell
you in a second but I must go feed Moonlight and Luna.
They both get awful prissy if I don't." Beth nodded and
I grabbed the milk and apple before walking out the front
door to the stables.
"Morning Girl." I said petting Moonlight gently.
I handed her the apple and held it as she ate. "I'm going
back," I whispered into her mane. "Tonight. I don't know why,
but I feel like such a different person there." I snorted.
"Well actually I am, Lady Serenity isn't quite me but she'll do.
I wonder if Mother was like me, or more like Serenity?"
Moonlight nahed. "I hope so too." I whispered as I pulled
open her stall to get to Luna. The cat walked towards me as
I entered. I picked her up and cuddled her. "D'you think
Mother was like me?" I picked up the milk bowl from the floor
and placed it in front of me.
"Yes, quite like you." I dropped the cat on the
floor. I looked around to see where the voice came from.
No one. Then I looked down at Luna who had proceeded to the
milk bowl. She couldn't... Did she just talk? Wait a second
cats don't talk! Cat's meow and purr!
"Did you just talk?" I tried to keep my voice even
and hide the scared face that was bursting to come out.
"Yes, Of course I did! You did hear me didn't you?"
"Yes,...yes, but...Cats,...Cats don't...they don't
talk!"
"Of course they don't! But I am not an ordinary cat
so I can." Luna continued licking up the milk from the bowel.
I bent down beside her.
"What do you mean you're not an ordinary cat?" Luna
made a noise that sounded a lot like a frustrated sigh.
"I thought you were a bright one." The cat groaned
licking another mouth full of milk. "I'm not your average
cat, as you may have noticed. I was sent here by your mother..."
"My mother?" I looked down at the cat. "Luna,
my mother's dead." I tried to keep my voice even but it
cracked and shook as my insides were.
"Not quite my dear..."
"My mother's not dead?"
"No she's passed..."
"Then how not quite?"
"Will you stop asking questions and let me finish!"
"Sorry,"
"Thank you." Luna took a seat in her bed again.
"Please before I start, get this horse out in the pasture.
The smell is getting more then I can bear."
"Oh," I said jumping up and leading Moonlight
out the back door and into the field behind Springstone.
A talking cat? My mother? This was all piling up on me so
fast. I wished there was a way to turn off thoughts, for
mine were working a thousand times a minute. If I had a
dime for a thought! I slowly walked back into the stable
wondering if my strange talking cat would still be there.
"Thank you that's much better." Yup still there. "Now
about what I was about to say, Your Mother sent me here to
watch over you. She said you'd be getting in some tough sand
and I was here to help you through it.
Those goddesses always could tell the future..." My mouth
dropped open.
"Whoah! Hold up! My mother is a GODDESS?"
"Well, half goddess." Luna said as if it was a
known thing and I should already know. I just sat there
for a while staring at the talking cat.
"Wait, then... How come, How come no one ever told
me this? Shouldn't I've known or something?"
"She wasn't planning on telling you until you were
older." Luna said sensibly. "Selene told her that was best."
"Selene?"
"Yes, Selene!" The cat said getting irritated. I just
stared at the cat confused. Selene who? The cat rolled
her eyes. "Selene your aunt! The Goddess of the Moon!" My
mouth opened wider then before.
"Selene,....she's my aunt?" I fell back onto the
floor staring up at the ceiling. God! Why didn't I know
any of this? Why didn't anyone tell me? Was this minor detail
something my family decided to leave out of my life? I wonder
if anyone else knows? Did my father?
"But that doesn't matter now. I'm here to watch over
you and keep you from doing something stupid."
"But...."
"But nothing! Now go and shoo! I need my rest if I'm
going to play watch-cat."
"But...."
"Go!" She screeched as she cuddled up into a ball
at the back end of the stall. And so I left, with more
on my mind then a ball and a dress.
Author- Starr Ryder
Rating- PG-PG-13
**This chapter is PG-PG-13.**
I quietly closed the door behind me as I entered
Springstone. I smiled lightly to myself as I placed the
bags of food on the kitchen countertop and stepped out
into the entrance hall once again.
"Where were you last night?" Came a sudden voice
in front of me. I was startled to find Mina standing at
the foot of the stairway. Surprisingly her tone wasn't one
of command but one of kind curiosity.
"I... I was out on an errand for Beth." I said
sticking to the excuse Beth had given them. Her face didn't
move she just walked closer to me.
"You don't have to lie to me." She smiled slightly.
"I know Beth would never order you around. You are friends
and friends don't order other friends around." I snorted.
"You know that ordering me to do something doesn't
necessarily mean work?" I said taking a seat at the table.
Trying not to let anything loose I hanged the subject
quickly. "Where are your mother and sister?"
"They went to the beauty salon in town." She took a seat
next to mine and stared down at her feet. "You want to know
something?" She said changing the subject. "I'm not like them,
as much as I try to be, I'm just not." She looked up to me with
her blue eyes showing almost a look of sadness. She looked
back down to her feet. "I can't understand how they can order
people about as they do. Especially you."
"Me?" I asked her bending down slightly trying to see
her face. This confession didn't surprise me one bit. I knew
from the start Mina wasn't like her family. When they first
moved in, I had hoped me and Mina could be friends. She of
course was repeatedly trying to follow Beryl in everyway she
could, including being wickedly cruel to me. She looked up
at me almost startled
"Of course! I mean this is just as much your house as
it is ours." Her eyes found a way back to her feet.
"Well, I suppose..." I said shrugging.
"I remember after your father died," She looked up
to me almost apologetically. I nodded to tell her it was
okay. "I... I asked Mama why you had to be a servant if
this was your house and not ours to begin with. I said
that you shouldn't be a maid and should be able to live the
way we do. She said I was being a dolt and sent me off to
bed with no dinner for even mentioning it." She fingered her
long blonde hair gently. I stared at her. Never
in a million years had I ever thought she would defend me
like that. I'd always known Mina was different then her
family but not different enough to defend me. "You wanna
know something funny." She said smiling slightly up at
me. "I still don't get why you're serving us. Your twice the
person Beryl and I are. And I know she'd strike me for
saying so but your three times the person Mama is." I don't
know why but right then I broke down in tears, my hands
covering my eyes like a child. I had never in my life dreamed
anyone in my family would say something like that. Mina
gasped and I looked up at her. "Oh I made you cry! I'm
sorry! I really am Serena!" She placed a comforting shaking
hand on my back and bent down next to me. I smiled and
shook my head.
"No, no." I said shaking my head more. "It's just,
no one has ever said something that nice to me before."
Mina stared up at me confused.
"You're surely joking." She said laughing slightly. I
shook my head joining her laughter.
"But you're wrong." She looked at me questionably. "I might
be a better person then your sister and your mother, but you?
Never." I could see her try not to smile.
"How could you say such fooie? I mean look at you! Your
beautiful and smart and nice. And I'm ugly and dumb..."
"You are not!" I interrupted sternly. "Mina you're twice as
pretty as me! And you are not dumb!"
"I am not as pretty as you! Beryl says I have the looks
of a toad and the brain of a log. I wasn't educated much as
you were and...What?" She looked upon my stunned face. I knew
Beryl was cruel but I never knew she would say something like
that to her own sister! Especially when they were false! Mina
certainly wasn't ugly. I was surprised she wasn't engaged
already. She had perfect long blonde hair and shimmering blue
eyes. She wasn't fat and had terrific curves. I just stared
down at the floor.
"Did she really say that?" I asked after a moment
of silence.
"Well, of course. It's true." She answered sadly.
"Oh Mina, your not any of that!" I said laying a
comforting hand on her shoulder. "I bet you could find a
million men that would be dying for a chance at you! Beryl
is nothing compared to you, nothing at all, and don't let
her tell you otherwise." I could see the tears starting to
form in her eyes. I pulled her into a hug before I could
think of what it meant. I had actually gotten along with
my step-sister. Not only were we getting along but I think
we were actually friends.
"You're so nice. I wish I was like you."
"No you don't. Stay just the way you are." I said
smiling back at her.
"Wanna hear something funny? You do know why Beryl went
to the hair salon?" I shook my head making a face. "When you
came down the stairs this morning and Beryl saw your hair like
that," She flicked at the curls still in my hair. "She got so
angry and got Mama take her to the salon to get it just like
that." I laughed uncontrollably for the second time in 2 days.
I can't believe I hadn't realized that sooner! Mina quickly
joined me.
"You're surely kidding me?" I said when I could finally
speak. Mina just shook her head not able to speak yet. Mina
took a deep breath and calmed down.
"Now you have to be kidding if you told me you got that
do' while out on an errand." She said raising her eyebrows. I
smiled and looked away.
"Not quite..." I said blushing.
"Don't tell me you're having a secret affair! That's what
all the chamber-maids are saying!" She looked at me eyes wide.
"No!" I said waving my hand. I looked around. "Not here,"
I bit my bottom lip. I grabbed her hand and started going up
the stairs. "I'll tell you in my room. Come on."
"You talked like that to the prince?!" Mina squealed
nearly dropping her glass of ale on my bed.
"Well, yes, but he was being perfectly dreadful to me
so I had the right to be." I said shrugging a little. I had
told her everything. I had even told her my little encounter
with Darien in the marketplace. She seemed to think it was
perfectly wonderful. What I hadn't told her was that Darien
was driving me nuts and inside my head all the time.
"Oh yes perfectly dreadful." She said sarcastically. She
drank the rest of her ale and put the glass on the wood floor.
She fell back onto the bed and sighed. "Oh why must things
like this happen to you!"
"Things like this? What things?" I said leaning over
her. She sprang up.
"I've read enough romance novels to realize that the
prince is quite taken with you." She said smiling slyly.
"Oh please!" I said rolling my eyes.
"Serena if that's not flirting I don't know what is!"
She smiled raising her eyebrows. "And if I'm wrong, which
I'm not, I believe that you my dear, were indeed flirting
back." My mouth flew open.
"No! Of...... no.....No!" I baffled out. I knew I was.
I knew I was then, and I knew I was now, but I didn't
want Mina to know, I knew
"You darling, are a liar!" She said jumping to her
feet.
"I...I am not!" I said standing up. Mina just stood
and glared at me with those blue eyes of hers. I swiftly
reached for my pillow and was about to fling it at her...
DING.
DING.
"A caller now?" Mina said suspiciously. She left
the room and made her way to the entrance hall, I followed
behind her. She went to the door and opened it a crack
before opening it all the way.
"May I help you?" She asked Lita who was standing
at the door.
"Lita?" I asked walking up to her.
"Serena," She handed me the letter. "This is from
the ah...." She paused not wanting to say the princess
in front of Mina.
"It's alright, she knows." I said smiling and taking
the letter. "Lita, this is my step-sister Mina. Mina,
this is my friend Lita."
"Nice to meet you." Mina said extending her hand.
"Pleasure." Lita said shaking it. I quickly drew
my attention to the letter. I ripped open the envelope
and opened the letter. It read in a curvy cursive-
'Serena-
I hope this reaches you okay. I wanted
to ask you to come to the palace tomorrow night. We're
having another ball for some foreign countries monarchs
arrival and I'm positive it would be a total bore without
you. Please say you'll come? It's at 9:00pm but I'll send
a carriage there at 4:00 to pick you up and bring you here.
Please come. Send message back with Lita. She'll make sure
I get it.
Your very bored friend,
Raye'
Another ball? Oh how I'd die to go! It was a dream!
Seeing Raye again! Darien... Well I'd sort him out later.
Going to the palace and getting away from Susan and Beryl.
If only I could! But I knew that I couldn't. Susan would
never let me go and Beth could only cover for me so often.
I sighed.
"What is it?" Mina asked stepping towards me.
"She wants me to go to another ball tomorrow night."
I looked at the floor shaking my head.
"You don't want to go?" Mina asked.
"No, I'd die to go! But I can't. I mean it's not like
your mother would be letting me go and Beth can only cover
for me a certain amount of times." I sighed again. "It's
impossible."
"No it isn't!" Mina ran up to me taking the piece of
paper from my hand. "I could do it! I'll tell Mama and
Beryl that I sent you out. They'll never suspect a thing if
I do it."
I looked up at Mina who was staring at me waiting
for an answer. I couldn't believe that a girl I had hated
just yesterday was now my savior. It was completely
ridiculous that she was related to the worst of beings.
I stared back at her. "You'd do that for me?" I whispered.
She just smiled.
"Of course. That's what sisters are for, and I have
a lot of catching up to do with that duty..." She didn't
even get to finish before I had her in my arms in a big
sisterly hug.
"Wait a second Serena!" Lita interrupted and I pulled
away from Mina. "Serena, it's not like I don't want you to
go, but, I don't want you to lose everything either." She
rubbed her temples gently. "What if you get caught? I mean
it's not likely someone will recognize you but what if they
do? Are you willing to risk everything?" I stared up at her
laughing a little.
"Lita you talk like it's a life or death situation."
"But it is! You know the consequences for a servant
out of there place! Think about it Serena!" I knew what
happened when a servant was out of place, there owner
was allowed to whip them. It was one of those rare
occasions that barely happened, but when it did it could
sometimes be deadly. "Serena if you get caught your
stepmother is not going to be understanding! She'd whip
you until you bled to death and there would be nothing me,
or Mina or Beth could do at that point. I don't want that
to happen Serena! You're my friend and I can't let you keep
doing this." I frowned when she finished. Although I hated
to say it, I knew she was right. If I was caught I was long
gone. Susan wouldn't care, she'd take pride in having a
reason to beat me. At that point nothing anyone could say
would matter.
"Your right, I was stupid to even think of it..."
"No!" Mina sternly interrupted placing herself in front
of me. "Serena, you deserve to go to that ball! You can't
live your life in fear of my mother! That's exactly what
she wants and if you give in there will be nothing left for
you. She'll take advantage of that and you know it." She
placed her hands on my shoulders. "Serena, there's something
special out there for you and your not going to find it
here." I stared at her for a second trying to make sense of
her words. She was also right, in a strange way. Something
amazing could happen and I would miss it if I sat by and
watched. I couldn't live my whole life following Susan
and Beryl's orders like a mechanical machine. I couldn't,
and I wouldn't. Going to another ball would just be another
step to my freedom and I was willing to take it. Life was
full of surprises and they wouldn't come looking for you.
"Your right too." I said sighing. I turned to Lita who
was biting her lip in though. "She is right, Lita. As much
as a risk I would be taking, I can't be afraid of Susan all
my life. I have to start somewhere and why not have some
fun along the way?" She looked up at me sadly.
"I just don't want you to get hurt." I could see
how she was debating with herself.
"I promise I'll be careful. If not for myself,
for you and Mina." I could see she found comfort in my
words. I smiled a little. "God knows I can't leave Mina with
those two evils." Mina and Lita laughed at this. "Now you
go tell Raye I'll attend." Lita nodded and left the Manor.
"You know, I never really realized how ugly this
could get if you're caught." Mina said frowning a little.
"Do be careful. Lita has her reasons for worrying."
"I know." I said sitting back onto a chair. "We
have one problem though."
"What?" Mina asked curiously.
"Your mother." I snorted. "She can't know we're
friends. She'll know your helping me with something."
"Your right." Mina said biting her lip. "She'll know.
If not her then Beryl will."
"Geez, just when we were started to get close." I
chuckled.
"Well," She smiled. "Under these circumstances I must
order you to go upstairs and get ready for your departure
tomorrow." She pointed her finger to the stairs. I smiled
back at her.
"As you wish, Madame Mina." I said curtsying and
running up the stairs with Raye's letter still clutched
in my hand.
Later that night, Susan and Beryl came back from
the beauty salon. Beryl's hair looked a little worse for
wear. Unfortunately my style did not suit her well and she
came back with a head full of massive messy curls and a
braid slanted to the left of her head. Beryl's face was
just as delightful as her hair. Her scowl was not one of
happiness. Susan entered behind her, complaining how she
had wasted her money completely. When they sat down for
dinner Beryl had wrapped her hair in a huge purple towel
and refused to take it off.
"Mama, Serena will not be here tomorrow." Mina said
as I was serving their deserts. I gave her a furtive smile
as I placed down her plate.
"Will she not?" Susan asked eyeing me as I placed
her plate down.
"No, I've asked her to run me an errand in the
city. She shall be leaving around 4:00 and won't be back
until late I believe." For such little practice, Mina was
a wonderful actress. "Your always telling me to use the
servants and so I figured, let them do it and save some
time for myself." Susan smiled at this.
"Very good Mina, I'm happy you finally realized
where their place in life is." I saw Mina trying not to
burst out in laughter as I was handing Beryl her dish. I
tried to look as sad as possible but with Mina turning
all red and nodding like a mumbling idiot I couldn't
help but smile a little and hope no one saw. Unfortunately
Beryl glanced my way and caught sight of my smile.
"What is it that you have the wench doing sister?"
Beryl asked nose in the air and a fork making its way
to her mouth. I looked over at Mina. She didn't seem
panicked as I was.
"I'm sending her off to order me new dresses.
A lady called Molly owns a dress shop in the city and
I've been in need for a few dresses so I'm sending
her off." I sighed in relief. Thank god Mina had something
planned! I thought we were dead for sure! Beryl didn't
seemed satisfied though. She looked suspiciously at Mina.
"That wouldn't take the whole day Mina, She'll be
back by 8:00 at most." Beryl place another forkful of cake
in her mouth and pushed the plate away with half the cake
left. I again glared at Mina. She still seemed calm.
"Dear sister! 8:00 you are surely kidding! With dresses
must come shoes and accessories! You need everything to
attract the opposite sex."
Beryl laughed a wicked laugh. "Mina darling as if
any male would look a glance your way! Do not dream of such
things!" I saw Mina grow quiet and I felt the anger come to
my face. Acting on impulse I reached for Beryl's plate and
'accidentally' let it slip off the table onto her lap. She
screeched loudly and I saw Mina's mouth fall open as she
stared up at me in happy shock. I put my hand to my mouth
in surprise.
"You little bitch!" Beryl screamed.
"Awfully sorry miss, it slipped right out of my
hand." I said trying my best not to laugh at her.
"Mama! Mama, look what the little brute did to
me!" Beryl whined to Susan. Susan jumped up and walked
up to Beryl examining the stain now on Beryl's dress.
"It'll come out with a few washings." Susan said
still trying to rub it off. Beryl moaned. "Hush Beryl.
Serena go up to your room now! No dinner for you tonight!"
She pointed to the staircase leading to the servant's wing.
I slouched down still smiling and walked the way to the
stairs.
"Serena! I'd like to talk to you about the dresses
for tomorrow later on. Please do not fall asleep." Mina
said smiling slightly. I nodded.
"Yes ma'am." I said as I walked up the stairs.
My stomach grumbled slightly. I knew it was a stupid
thing to do, but at that point I was so mad at what
Beryl had said that I would have slapped her, had I had
the courage. How dare she speak to Mina so! She wasn't
at all one to be saying anything! Her head was wrapped in
a towel for god's sake! Still I knew I would pay for it
later. It didn't matter though. Cook would give me
something to eat later on when my relatives retired to bed.
I lazily walked up to my room, closing the door
behind me softly. I reached for Raye's letter which still
lie on my bed. I sat down on the bed as I reread the
letter. God I hoped this was going to be worth all the
lies and the risks. Somehow in the back of my mind I knew
it was. I knew I'd find whatever Mina said I was meant to
find there. I didn't know why but in my flare of excitement
my mind somehow kept referring back to Darien and our
conversation in the marketplace. Would he be there? Of course
he would be there you dolt! It's his palace! Well not his
palace but... Oh god now I'm correcting my thoughts!
KNOCK
KNOCK
I shifted my head to the door as Mina opened it.
She walked in carrying a bag of some sort, she placed
it on the floor and sat next to me.
"Hi." I said smiling.
"Hi. I brought some food for you." She picked up
the bag at the side of the bed and handed it to me.
"Cook gave it to me." I opened the bag to find a bowel of
soup, a piece of chicken and a blueberry muffin. I laughed
a little at the desert she picked.
"Thanks." I said unwrapping the soup and digging out
a spoon from in the bag.
"No, Thank you." I looked up at her, not sure what
I was being thanked for. "No one has ever stood up for me
like you did. That was really nice of you and I'm sorry you
lost your dinner because of me." I nodded my head remembering
why I was being thanked. Then I shook it.
"Oh you deserved it! After all you're doing for me, I'd
dump a thousand pieces of cake on Beryl." I smiled at her.
"Don't worry about it." She smiled back at me.
"Now," She said as she rose from the bed. "I hate
to have you travel so far, but you must come and pick a
dress to wear into the city tomorrow." I shook my head at
Mina.
"Where would we be traveling?" I asked raising my
eye-brows. "My wardrobe is right there." I said pointing
to the old wardrobe in the corner of the room.
"You're kidding right?" Mina said making a face. "Our
Lady Serenity must have a wonderful dress to go to the
palace with! And frankly my dear that wardrobe isn't going
to work."
"But that's all I have." I said looking down to the
floor. I had no proper dresses to wear to the palace. Even
the one I had worn the first time was appalling to be seen
in even if it wasn't to the ball. I'd have to due with one
of my old tattered dresses and hope no one could see me in it
for too long.
"Well, that's what I expected. So here comes our far
traveling," She said raising her eyebrows. "To my room."
"Why would we go there?" I asked rather stupidly
not realizing what she had in mind. Mina rolled her eyes.
"To pick out a dress from my wardrobe of course!"
"Oh," I said finally getting it. "Oh, I couldn't
take one of your dresses Mina."
"Well, for goodness sake why not?!" Mina said
crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently.
"Because they're yours!" I knew it was kind of
stupid but it made sense before I said it.
"And your point is?" She asked still tapping her
foot. I just kind of shrugged. "Serena," She walked
towards me and gave me a hug around the shoulders.
"We're sisters. I know I haven't acted like one until
just now, but that doesn't change it. Now come on. They're
just as much mine as yours."
I rolled my eyes and stood up. "Alright fine!"
She led me down the hall and into another and entered her
room.
Before I knew it, I had had a dress and shoes for
tomorrow and I was lying in my bed waiting for sleep to
come. My dress was a simple yet elegant one. It was a no
sleeved yellow dress. It had white bodice and the edges were
also trimmed with white. The long skirt almost covered my feet
fully. The shoes were white flats and fit me perfectly although
they were too small for Mina. The dress was perfect, the shoes
were perfect and I knew that I would feel perfect in them.
While thinking of my dress and my shoes and of my visit to the
palace, I carelessly fell off into sleep.
The morning sun shown through the window. The bright
yellow wakening me from my dreams. I rose tiredly from my
bed and dressed in my tattered clothes once again,
dreaming of the clothes I would be wearing in only a matter
of hours. When I entered the entrance hall, and to my surprise
Beth was sitting at the table, sipping tea.
"Your back?" I said surprised that she hadn't stayed
at her friends house longer. She was planning on staying
there a week but I guess she changed her plans.
"I'm glad to see you too!" She said sarcastically.
"No! I'm glad to see you, very glad, but I
thought you were staying at your friends house for the
week?" I raised my hand apologetically.
"Well, Andrew is a little pre-occupied. He isn't
much fun like that. He'll be coming here instead. Maybe
he'll be a little calmer that way." She said sipping her
tea again. "What have you been up to? You look a little
red."
"More then you can imagine." I smiled. "I'll tell
you in a second but I must go feed Moonlight and Luna.
They both get awful prissy if I don't." Beth nodded and
I grabbed the milk and apple before walking out the front
door to the stables.
"Morning Girl." I said petting Moonlight gently.
I handed her the apple and held it as she ate. "I'm going
back," I whispered into her mane. "Tonight. I don't know why,
but I feel like such a different person there." I snorted.
"Well actually I am, Lady Serenity isn't quite me but she'll do.
I wonder if Mother was like me, or more like Serenity?"
Moonlight nahed. "I hope so too." I whispered as I pulled
open her stall to get to Luna. The cat walked towards me as
I entered. I picked her up and cuddled her. "D'you think
Mother was like me?" I picked up the milk bowl from the floor
and placed it in front of me.
"Yes, quite like you." I dropped the cat on the
floor. I looked around to see where the voice came from.
No one. Then I looked down at Luna who had proceeded to the
milk bowl. She couldn't... Did she just talk? Wait a second
cats don't talk! Cat's meow and purr!
"Did you just talk?" I tried to keep my voice even
and hide the scared face that was bursting to come out.
"Yes, Of course I did! You did hear me didn't you?"
"Yes,...yes, but...Cats,...Cats don't...they don't
talk!"
"Of course they don't! But I am not an ordinary cat
so I can." Luna continued licking up the milk from the bowel.
I bent down beside her.
"What do you mean you're not an ordinary cat?" Luna
made a noise that sounded a lot like a frustrated sigh.
"I thought you were a bright one." The cat groaned
licking another mouth full of milk. "I'm not your average
cat, as you may have noticed. I was sent here by your mother..."
"My mother?" I looked down at the cat. "Luna,
my mother's dead." I tried to keep my voice even but it
cracked and shook as my insides were.
"Not quite my dear..."
"My mother's not dead?"
"No she's passed..."
"Then how not quite?"
"Will you stop asking questions and let me finish!"
"Sorry,"
"Thank you." Luna took a seat in her bed again.
"Please before I start, get this horse out in the pasture.
The smell is getting more then I can bear."
"Oh," I said jumping up and leading Moonlight
out the back door and into the field behind Springstone.
A talking cat? My mother? This was all piling up on me so
fast. I wished there was a way to turn off thoughts, for
mine were working a thousand times a minute. If I had a
dime for a thought! I slowly walked back into the stable
wondering if my strange talking cat would still be there.
"Thank you that's much better." Yup still there. "Now
about what I was about to say, Your Mother sent me here to
watch over you. She said you'd be getting in some tough sand
and I was here to help you through it.
Those goddesses always could tell the future..." My mouth
dropped open.
"Whoah! Hold up! My mother is a GODDESS?"
"Well, half goddess." Luna said as if it was a
known thing and I should already know. I just sat there
for a while staring at the talking cat.
"Wait, then... How come, How come no one ever told
me this? Shouldn't I've known or something?"
"She wasn't planning on telling you until you were
older." Luna said sensibly. "Selene told her that was best."
"Selene?"
"Yes, Selene!" The cat said getting irritated. I just
stared at the cat confused. Selene who? The cat rolled
her eyes. "Selene your aunt! The Goddess of the Moon!" My
mouth opened wider then before.
"Selene,....she's my aunt?" I fell back onto the
floor staring up at the ceiling. God! Why didn't I know
any of this? Why didn't anyone tell me? Was this minor detail
something my family decided to leave out of my life? I wonder
if anyone else knows? Did my father?
"But that doesn't matter now. I'm here to watch over
you and keep you from doing something stupid."
"But...."
"But nothing! Now go and shoo! I need my rest if I'm
going to play watch-cat."
"But...."
"Go!" She screeched as she cuddled up into a ball
at the back end of the stall. And so I left, with more
on my mind then a ball and a dress.