She was Cruella De Vil's dog. That was the thought that looped through Penny's head as she sat on the table after getting a warm bath. Her stylist had been instructed to bathe her, dry her, perfume her, and basically make her look adorable. She cooperated, eagerly wanting to please her pet. She lifted her head as a diamond studded pink collar was fitted and fastened.
She turned to look in the mirror at the tag that glinted golden in the light. Engraved in fancy cursive, the name Penny looped across the front. On the back, the words Hell Hall were engraved, as was a phone number to call. She watched as a pale pink bow was carefully pinned on top of her head. It didn't stay, so the stylist retrieved another bow of the same color that had an elastic band that permitted him to wrap it around her ear.
"Magnifique!" the man exclaimed in what was obviously a fake French accent. He picked her up and carried her out to the front room where Cruella was reading a magazine. "'Ere she iz Miz De Vil. What do you theenk?"
The woman stood, managing to tower over the little man, who shrank back nervously.
"I think," she said slowly as she looked over the dog, "that that horrid little bow needs to be disposed of. It clashes with the brighter shade of the collar and looks terribly uncomfortable."
"I assure you, Miz De Vil, zee bow iz abzolutely painless."
"Really? Why don't we ask Penny. Penny, darling, is that bow hurting your ear?" She barked in a way that seemed to say Yes! Please take it off! "There, you see? It is hurting her little ear. Remove it immediately!"
"Of course, Miz De Vil."
He instantly reached over and pulled off the offending object, causing Penny to yelp as it tugged her ear.
"Imbecile! I'll have your head if you've injured her!"
She reached over and gently picked the puppy up, carefully checking her ear to make sure it wasn't hurt.
"Please, Miz De Vil, it waz an accident! I didn't mean to 'urt her!"
Penny, once in her pet's arms, calmed considerably and licked any inch of her she could reach, her way of thanking her for everything.
"Well, you're in luck. She seems all right, but if I find so much as a scratch or bruise, I'll have this little business of yours!"
She stormed out after that, not giving the man a chance to respond. After making sure Penny was resting comfortably in the passenger seat, she began her drive to Hell Hall, the one she was currently in, not the dilapidated mansion in Suffolk. Once at her mansion, a valet opened the passenger door. The small dog jumped down excitedly and began exploring her new home.
"Come, Penny," Cruella called from the front doors. "You'll have time for that later."
She did as she was told and rushed to her side, eager to see the inside. It was a complete opposite of her old home. The interior was furnished darkly, and eerie looking statues and portraits lined the walls. She whimpered a little and tucked her tail between her legs as she followed Cruella up some stairs and down a hall. They stopped in front of a large oak door, and Penny tilted her head questioningly. Cruella looked down and smiled at her before opening the door and stepping aside.
Penny stepped inside hesitantly, and froze in her tracks. The room was a bedroom, a large canopy bed taking up most of the far wall. There was a large tv on the opposite wall, and there were various dog toys littering the floor. There was a large window with stairs leading up to the window seat. Beside the stairs, two silver bowls sat, one filled with water, one with food, both engraved with her name.
As she looked around, she noticed a set of double doors in one of the walls. She looked back at the woman questioningly. She seemed to understand, as she stepped forward and opened them. It revealed another bedroom, all white with a large closet surrounding a raised bed. Penny knew immediately it was Cruella's room.
"This is my room. These doors will be left open or cracked most of the time, so of course you may come and go as you please. The door to your room will remain open as well."
The dog was shocked, to say the least. She had never had her own bowl before, much less a whole room. She barked happily and ran over to the woman. She picked her up immediately, and she licked her face furiously, desperate to convey how thankful she was and how much she loved her. Cruella laughed and held the puppy away from her face to get away from that little pink tongue.
"Yes, yes, I love you, too."
Yes, she was Cruella De Vil's dog, and it was a title she was more than proud to bear and keep.