So after this chapter, I'll probably be updating once every two days. But bear with me people, I've gotten most of the story down. So no worries about it not being finished. Anyway, thanks to several 'Guest's (By the way, any chance of giving a name? I like to refer to my reviewers by name and not simply as 'Guest'), as well as Zabou and Southun Lady for reviewing. For those concerned about the other characters; fear not, they'll be appearing in the coming chapters. Now, do read and do, do, do take time to review. They mean the world to me. Enjoy!
Now, I need not tell you, dear readers, the extent of Erin and Beth's untold cruelties toward our heroine. The long hours, the snide laughter and comments, the heavy workload had now become part of Cinder-Emily's new life. This day was no different, and Cinder-Emily woke with the dawn and started her work. She cleaned the clothes, the floor, made the meals and catered to her stepfamily's whims. And yet, there was an undercurrent of excitement among Erin and Beth, for tonight, was to be the ball held to find the Prince's future bride. And so, poor Cinder-Emily who knew she had no hope of ever stepping foot out of the house, had resigned herself to continue her chores and helping her stepmother and sister primp for the ball. She wondered, as she scrubbed the floor and tucked a stray hair back, if the Prince would even think of her as he chose the woman he would wed tonight. Yet, even the simple task of thinking was soon interrupted by Erin, who could never seem to stop yelling out Emily's name.
"Cinder-Emily!"
Cinder-Emily, or Emily, as we shall call her for the sake of convenience, rolled her eyes when an irate shriek sounded out through the house.
"Cinder-Emily!"
Straightening, she winced as she stretched a kink out of her sore back. Her stepmother and stepsister could not get any more annoying. Dusting her hands off her white apron, she went up the stairs to see her blonde stepmother –who by the way, went by the name of Erin Strauss- struggling to fit into a corset. The portly woman, having caught sight of her brunette stepdaughter through the reflection of the mirror, hollered out to her, "Help me into my corset; you must've shrunk it till I can hardly fit myself in, you silly girl!"
Emily sighed and went over to force the garment around Erin's body. "Bloody old cow." She muttered under her breath, tightening on the strings violently, satisfied when she heard a strangled gasp from her stepmother. Erin turned and glared at her, "What did you just say?" The brunette stared back innocently at her, a look so sickeningly sweet that Erin Strauss's mouth tightened as her nostrils flared with agitation. "Nothing, stepmother."
Before Erin could reprimand Emily any further, an identical shriek to the first one interrupted their glaring match. "Emily! Emily, where did you put my favourite dress?" Another brunette swept into the room with her head high up in the air that Emily was surprised she didn't fall over her own feet, and it would have been a regal sight if said woman had not been dressed only in ruffled petticoats and nothing more. Emily, having finished tightening the laces on Erin's corset, turned towards the woman whose looks resembled her enough to be her sister. She preferred, however, to think that the only thing in common she had with the distasteful woman was the colour of their hair. Though of course, Emily was certain that her long, luscious locks were much more beautiful than the primped and stiff coiffeur belonging to her stepsister.
"I had them placed on your bed, Beth. If you'd take the time to lower your head back down to earth, you'd actually be able to see what's in front of you." Beth bristled and pointed her beady little eyes down towards Emily, "How dare you, you ungrateful, snotty little scullery maid! Mother!" Turning towards her mother, Beth pouted, looking ridiculous, absolutely unbefitting her age of eight and twenty. Emily rolled her eyes once more, not knowing that her actions were secretly mirrored by Erin, who while she loved her daughter, thought the girl acted far too immature and child-like for her age.
"Keep your voice down, Beth, dear. It wouldn't do to have the neighbours wonder at why our voices were raised. Cinder-Emily, help your step-sister dress and bear in mind, you are not to talk in such an insolent manner to her again, is that understood?" Erin shot a dark gaze at Emily. She had never liked her step-daughter, but alas her father loved her well and true and Erin had not been successful in trying to eject the insolent girl out of their home. Emily Prentiss was far too bright for the likes of her simpering step-sister and mother; they could never have outmaneuvered her even if they tried.
Sighing and counting backward from ten, Emily pasted the brightest smile on her face and turned towards a smirking Beth. "Of course Beth. Here, let me help you, for I'm sure even dressing would tire you out, you poor dear." Entirely missing the scathing sarcasm in Emily's tone, Beth smiled triumphantly and flounced out of the room, and Emily trudged reluctantly behind her.
"Emily?"
The brunette sight once more and turn towards Erin, "Yes, stepmother?"
Erin's mouth quirked a little and Emily was surprised to see it actually made her look human. "Try not to antagonize my daughter's mind too much. I'd like her capable of speech, at least for tonight." Coughing violently as she tried to cover her sudden bout of laughter, Emily nodded and gave a quick wave before disappearing from the room. How strange.
Emily picked up the ornate silver brush laying on Beth's vanity and swiftly teased out the snares as she gathered them into an ornate pile on her sister's hair. She hated to admit it, but Erin had outdone herself in dolling up her daughter. Beth looked a picture, that is, if she could refrain from speaking. Beth, oblivious to Emily's thoughts, chattered about the ball they were to attend tonight. Herself and mother of course. Emily was forbidden to attend such prestigious events; ironic, given the fact that it was Beth and Erin who lived a life of poverty before Erin married Sebastian Prentiss. Emily, when she was but a child, had been known to be a frequent visitor at the castle, even a one-time playmate to the young prince then. But, the brunette sighed as she tightened the pins on Beth's hair, it was in the past and right now, Emily was only known as Cinder-Emily, scullery maid to her step-family.
"It will be such a grand ball tonight! Mother has assured me that the prince will be enamoured with me. Just think! After tonight, I will be his wife and you'll forever remain as nothing but a servant!" Beth aimed a spiteful glare at her counterpart through the mirror, "Not so high-and-mighty now, are you?" Emily just snorted and gave a final tug at Beth's hair, eliciting a wince from her. "Are you saying I should be jealous of you, Beth? I'm afraid I see nothing to be envious of." Smirking, she leaned down until she was at eye-level with Beth. She whispered, low and soft and silky, "You forget, sister dear, that I was the prince's playmate. His tastes are much more…" she wrinkled her nose for good effect, "refined than what you could possibly offer him." She rose to her full height, a sweet smile gracing her full red lips at the sight of the paleness in Beth's sharp face. "Bear that in mind, Beth." Gliding gracefully towards the door, Emily looked no less of a princess even dressed in old hand-me-downs. Pausing, she turned and added, as though in afterthought, "Oh, and have a good night, Beth."
Shutting the door behind her, Emily grinned a little. That would show her obnoxious step-sister. But her smile faded; what she had to be triumphant of? It was Beth who would be attending the ball tonight, it was Beth who would dance with the Prince, it was Beth who would be decked in a marvelous gown that was no doubt priced at an absolutely ridiculous cost, and it was Beth who had a chance of becoming the Prince's bride. Emily's slender fingers ghosted over her cheek, remembering the bashful kiss the Prince had bestowed upon her when they were children, and childhood sweethearts. Her father and nonno Rossi had laughed and nudged at each other, smiling indulgently as they joked about a possible union between the two.
And yet, their relationship fell to dust when the Prince, in his teens, had disappeared from the kingdom for years, and that was the last she had heard of him. Rumours whispered that the young Prince had been enamoured by a blonde Princess of a neighbouring kingdom, and that they were bound to be wed when the Princess was brutally murdered. Emily did not know just how true the stories were, but regardless, she doubted that he would remember her, nor did she hold any hope that he would magically fall in love with her. Emily smiled bitterly; she had never stopped loving him throughout but alas, such was the fickleness of man's heart. Straightening her hair, she sighed and headed down the house once more; there were chores to be done.
Prince Aaron stared solemnly out of the castle windows, duly noting the number of carriages already arriving at the palace. A heavy hand came to rest on his shoulder, signaling the arrival of his father. "Come now, Aaron, no need to mope. The perfect woman is out there waiting for you, somewhere." Aaron turned his dark eyes to David, decked in resplendent red and ceremonial cloak. "Do you think she will be here tonight, Papa?"
David, knowing just who his son was referring too, smiled gently at him as he clapped Aaron on his back. "If I know my cara, Aaron, she'd move heaven and hell to be here tonight." Leading his son down the stairwell to the ballroom, David muttered darkly, "So long as that bloody Dragon Lady and that bimbo of hers don't mess with my girl."
Ok, so good, bad or just all right? Let me know what you think in a review or even PM. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. :)