The Evil and Fairest

𝔓𝔯𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔤𝔲𝔢

TW: Abuse

"Father, please," Narcissa cried, whimpering. She was on the floor, begging her wicked father. "I'm starving, please let me eat---"

"You think you're slick, huh?" Narcissa's father chuckled, downing a cup of beer. Narcissa couldn't stand the smell of her father's rancid breath. Narcissa's father took another sip. "You t-think your a whole damned princess, don't cha'?"

Narcissa's brown hair moped over her shoulders as she shook her head. Her stomach growled like a bear. She was so hungry and seeing a small bit of chicken on the wooden dining table made her even more desperate.

"I am hungry, father," Narcissa said, her tiny eyes brimming with tears. She tried to speak to convince her father. "It w-w-wouldn't be much, there some chicken, maybe a bit of honey on the side like how mother use to---"

Narcissa screamed as her father slapped her right across the face. She stumbled back on the floor, crying her eyes out.

"You think you can talk about your mother like that? After you killed her, you little brat?!" he bellowed, standing up. He pushed the chair aside and Narcissa sprung away. "Get back here you little---"

He grabbed Narcissa by her ragged nightgown, his rancid breath seeping into Narcissa's nose.

"F-Father!" Narcissa cried, stammering. She was a tiny, slim child that could easily be lifted off the ground. "I-I---"

"Who told you about your mother and how she speaks, eh? Do you think you can add some honey to make the chicken sweet? You think you can be like your mother and pretend to be like her?" the father yelled as Narcissa sobbed. "Who told you about her, huh? Eh? WHO?!

"The n-neighbor," Narcissa cried, stuttering. Big, fat tears streamed down her plump cheeks as the father swore. He glared at the crying girl.

"You are an ugly, very ugly girl, you hear me, Narcissa?" he laughed, crackling. "Your mother was a pretty, very pretty girl before you killed her! She had plans, darlin', big plans to raise you as a family! You ruined that, brat!"

He slapped her again, Narcissa didn't even bother to cry or scream this time, just gulp down the pain.

"I hope every time you look in a mirror, you know you're ugly, and you can do nothing to change that!" Narcissa's father chuckled. "You think anyone would want to marry a girl who isn't pretty?"

"N-No," Narcissa gulped, choking on her own tears. This isn't real, he loves me, I'm pretty, I'm pretty, he loves me, Narcissa thought repeatedly. The father swore again and started to carry her into the hallway. Lovely, stunning mirrors handcrafted by Narcissa's father were hung around the hallway, where Narcissa had to stare in shame. I was ugly, no one wants to marry me, Narcissa would always think. In truth, Narcissa was a very, very beautiful girl, with dark brown hair, doe eyes, and fair skin. Narcissa always considered herself fair and equal to others.

Narcissa's father cracked open the door and threw Narcissa hard outside. She gasped and gasped until the shock faded away. She didn't dare to get off the ground until her father was back inside. Her stomach felt pained and her legs felt numb.

"You want to eat?" he pointed to a simple apple tree standing by the family's cottage. "Go get an apple, won't you?"

"B-But I-I---"

He slammed the door. Narcissa slowly got up to her feet, staggering. She touched her arm and winced. It started to swell up and bruise. Narcissa's stomach growled again so she walked closer to the apple tree. It was a lovely, strong tree that always bore the juiciest apples. It was much too high for Narcissa to reach so she started to climb. She grabbed a strong branch and gripped onto another. 

She could feel the sun setting down her spine as she climbed higher. Surely father would let me back then after dark, she thought. Narcissa finally found a hollow spot to sit and rest. She crossed her ankles and plucked an apple from a branch. From afar, Narcissa could see the silhouette of the Kingdom of Gwendolyn's palace, standing tall and broad. Sometimes, Narcissa wished she could be inside that palace instead of the prince. The oldest prince was to be crowned the next year. Narcissa watched the glowing sun go down as the moon went up as she took a bite from her apple. She hoped for a better future...