Thankyou very much to Arwen Veancawen who was my first ever reviewer. I'm glad you enjoyed it so here's the next chapter. Does anyone know if I'm supposed to put a disclaimer on this story? Please read and review!

"CALLISTA!" Mary yelled, "Get here this instant! And what is this filthy broom doing in my room! Put it in YOUR room!
Callista stormed up the stairs. I'll tell you where I'm going to put that broom she tought darkly, I'll put it up your- her thoughts were interupted by the shadow that cast itself upon the steps ahead of her. She looked up from the basket of clean laundry into a pair of light brown eyes at her. "What are you doing?" Adrianna, Callista's step-mother asked coldly. " Responding to Lady Mary's summons" Callista repiled. They stood for a moment, glaring coldly at each other. " Get on with it then!" Adrianna ordered then flounced down the stairs and out the door. Muttering darkly, Callista continued up the stairs. Before Callista had even walked through the door, Mary immediately began her ordering her about. It was already about three hours until noon, but Callista had been up since dawn doing chores and was quite tired. Mary on the other hand had just woken up by the looks of it. Her hair was tousled and she was still wearing her nightgown, no doubtedly waiting for Callista to dress her. She probably thinks of me as her own personal slave. Callista thought Do this Callista, don't do that Callista, mimicked Callista in her thoughts, I need this, get me that, Callista. Callista, I need you to scratch my- For the second time that morning, her thoughts were interupted, this time by the sound of Mary's voice. "Callista, are you listening to me? Callista! Go to my wardrobe and find that amber gown I bought last week. Then I need you to braid my hair, I've got a luncheon with Lady Maura today. Don't forget my corset and..." Callista stopped listening at that. They went through this every morning. From the minute Mary had laid eyes on Callista, it was clear that the girl had a fierce dislike for her new step-sister. Callista's thoughts wandered as she remembered...

She was eight. Her father was on one of his usual "business trips" and it was the first time Callista was left alone with her new family. She had been in her room, admiring the porcelain box her father had bought her the year before, the same time he had brought their new family home. Suddenly, the door slammed open and a visibly bored Mary walked in. Callista tried to hide the box behind her back but was too slow. Mary had seen it. "What's that behind your back?" she had asked.
"Nothing" Callista said quickly
"It's not nothing, show it to me!" Callista brought the box out from behind her back.
"Oh," Mary sighed " What is it?'
"A present my papa gave me"
"Can I have it?"
" No, it was my present" Callista replied.
"Give it to me!" Mary had demanded, "I want it" Mary tried to wrench the box from Callista's grip.
"No!" Callista argued, "It's mine, give it back!" Mary dug her heel into Callista's foot and the pain forced Callista to release the box. Surprised by the sudden lessening of force, Mary had dropped the porcelain box, sending it crashing to the floor, smashing into hundreds of pieces.Mary flounced out of the room as Callista picked up the pieces of porcelain. A green stone glittered under the white and Callista picked up the necklace. Unoticed before, Callista dicovered that the word Adonia was carved on the back. "Mother" Callista whispered. She picked it up and twirled it around her fingers. Suddenly feeling brave, Callista ran downstairs and tried to tell her step-mother about what had happened. But Adrianna wouldn't listen. "It's your own fault." she had said "you should have behaved like a proper lady and let Mary have it" Callista was dumbfounded. "But it was my box!" she had argued. Callista received a heavy blow that had bruised her cheek for days." You will never use that tone of voice with me again!" Adrianna had commanded "Or else your father will hear about this" she added.. And that was when her servitude had begun.Her father never found out of course. When he was home Adrianna and Mary would be all sweetness. But when he was away, which became more often than not, they treated Callista like a dog that had rolled in something smelly.

"Callista!" Mary's yells brought her out of her memories. "Callista, tie these corset laces tighter! Goodness knows what lady Maura will say if she believes my laces are too loose." Mary turned towards the mirror and began to examine her curls. Whatever pleases you my lady" Callista said innocently. But Mary, who was admireing her reflection in the mirror, did not see the wicked grin that flitted across Callista's face. Mary took a deep breath as Callista wrapped the laces around her fingers and tugged with all her might. Mary gasped as she felt the corset tighten. "Oh, I don't think the laces are tight enough my lady" Callista said smiling sweetly. She caught the look on Mary's stricken face in the mirror and almost burst out laughing. That look is absolutely priceless she thought, this is going to be fun. They spent the next twenty minutes adjusting Mary's laces until Callista was satisfied but after that, Mary began on the endless list of chores for Callista to do, adding to the ones she already had to do for Adrianna. Blast! Callista thought I shouldn't have irritated her with the corset laces. Now I have more chores to do. Callista sighed and walked to the wardobe. She was instantly engulfed in layers of silk and expensive cloth. She found the amber dress quickly and proceeded in dressing Mary. She was then ordered to dress Mary's hair and sent to find matching ribbon, amber beads and all sorts of things from various drawers. By the time she was finally pleased with her appearance, Mary did not have very much time until her luncheon and could not give Callista any more orders. So she ran down the stairs and disappeared into the waiting carriage. A relieved Callista flopped onto the bed and sighed, thinking of all the chores she had to. At least the hard part is over, now all I have to do is wash all the downstairs windows, find that cloth for Mary's dress,and scrub the dining room floor, and tidy the study, and dust in Madame's room... Callista thoughtas she got up and walked towards the kitchen.

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