A/N: Okay, here is the second chapter. Slightly longer.
One week previous
"Oh my Lord! Rosie! Come and look what was in the mail!" I heard Sabrina screech from downstairs.
Rose-who was currently getting her dress fitted-heard her sister's demands and immediately began moving towards the door, knocking a tub of pins onto my legs. Considering the long figure of the needles most of them didn't make it through my ragged dress, although they were extremely sharp and one got caught the lacing, when I made a grab for the tub as it fell, the side my hand hit the needle; hammering it down into my thigh.
I cried out quietly-as possible.
It was only half an inch in the skin, I plucked it out easily but more of my resentment was added to Rose-who I knew did it on purpose.
I staggered to my feet and left the room, waving to another maid to clean up the pins as I clambered down the stairs to the main room to see what the fuss was about. My step-sisters were in the middle of the room staring at a piece of paper and shrieking in excitement. I fought the urge to roll my eyes at their childishness, I-unlike the others-had noticed the poor mail-man-an elderly man, who was standing about two feet from the squealing girls and their mother, shell-shocked and scared. I made my way to him and politely told him he could leave now. His gaze flickered to me and his expression relieved, he began to let himself out before stopping and asking me: "Wait, I have something to deliver to a Sydney Sage. Do you know where she is?"
I hesitated. "I am her."
He reached into his satchel and produced a letter with the royal seal on it. I took it in my hands and ran my fingers over my name that was written in beautiful cursive writing.
I thanked him.
"No," he contradicted. "Thank you for letting me out of here."
I laughed softly and wished him a safe journey before turning to the three females who were staring at me-or more precisely, the letter in my hands.
They eyed it hungrily.
"Well?" snapped Stanton. "Open it!"
The request shocked me but my fingers broke the seal and I pulled the parchment out. Unfolding it, I began to read aloud:
"Dear Miss Sydney Katherine Sage,
I must request that you attend my son's ball, I knew your mother and I know that you would make a fine wife for my son. I know that you have a love for ancient arts and Adrian is an artist, I know that you two may have a lot in common, although I did not want to scare him by confronting you both directly. I ask if you could make some interaction with him during the evening.
Sincerely,
Her Royal Highness Queen Danielle Ivashkov.
Postscript: Ms Stanton if you read this letter, I must tell you that you have no control over this and if you try to stop Miss Sage from attending the formal I will have you arrested."
I finished reading and continued to look at the paper, afraid of their reactions.
Sabrina was the first one to speak.
"It's not fair! Mother, why do you not know the Queen personally? Her mother did!"
Rose jumped in. "Yeah! Now she's going to have better chances with Prince Ivashkov because the Queen is supportive of it. We just got standard letters, she got a personal one!"
They continued to shriek about the fairness of the situation like the brats they were. Stanton looked horrified at her crying daughters, I kind of felt bad.
"Sweethearts, I can't do anything-" Stanton tried
"Don't bother talking to me!" Sabrina ran to her room, Rose on her trail.
"YOU!" Stanton shrieked, pointing at me as if it was my fault. "Go clean your step-sisters' rooms! Then you can help them get their dresses fitted for the ball and then you can go make dinner!"
She snatched the letter from me and stormed off. She stopped and turned to me. "Oh, and don't even think of attending that ball."
I was left wide-eyed in her wake. She has no control over that! The Queen said-
I groaned. The Queen wouldn't know the difference unless I told her and I was never allowed to leave the house.
This bites.
Back to the present (Straight after she was woken up in the 1st chapter)
Walking out of my room towards the kitchens, I heard Rose and Sabrina making a fuss about the ball as they came down the hall. When they spotted me their eyes went wide.
Oh no.
"Sydney! The ball is tonight and I need you to make finishing touches on my dress!" Rose demanded.
"And I need you to curl my hair the way you did yours at the dinner a couple months ago!" Sabrina cut in.
"Oh, yes," Rose continued. "Maybe a side braid, or plaits…"
They continued to walk discussing more details. Once they were out of an ear-shot I said. "Yes, of course! Whatever, pleases you! You two aren't princesses!"
Everyone looked at me as I threw my little hissy fit in the hall, stomping my foot as I continued to the kitchen.
I was stroppy in making breakfast. I threw and threw things just to let everyone know I was angry, no kind of attitude I would acquire in the presence of Stanton or the twins of evil.
I had just thrown a tomato at the wall when Eddie came in. The wall was right next to the door so he got spray back. He looked at my incredulously.
"Sydney, are you okay?" he asked, gently; obviously not wanting to piss me off further.
"No!" I tossed my blonde hair over my shoulder before beginning my rant. "I'm tired of being treated like this by queen bitch and twins of evil! I'm so freaking sick of it. I so pissed off and-you're not helping by staring!" I shrieked, and everyone turned their heads but Eddie kept his gaze trained on me.
"Okay, now why are you really upset?"
Damn, he knew me too well. I averted my gaze.
"I don't know," I answered, truthfully.
"It has something to do with the ball, you've been more and more anxious since you got that letter. And now you're really upset. You're so good at hiding your emotions, why are you acting like this?"
It did have something to do with the ball, I knew it did. "I just feel like I have to go. Like something's waiting there for me (A/N ooh, Sydrian intuition!)."
"Okay."
I looked up at him. "What?"
"Okay, I'll help you sneak into the ball."
A/N: Okay, that again was an info chapter, next chapter is going to be Adrian's POV before the ball and then in chapter four or five is going to be the ball because I need to put in the big breakout!
Also I like the response to the first chapter as this is my first fanfiction! Please review!