The Evil Princess

Chapter 1

My eyes shot open at the sound of my phone ringing. It's repetitive vibration against the wooden nightstand rattled around in my sleep deprived head, causing me to groan in protest. I sighed and rolled my eyes once I saw who was calling.

"What do you want?" I asked harshly, my voice cracking with exhaustion.

"Uh, hi, Victoria," the voice rambled meekly. "I-I was wondering if you know, if you were free, if you could come and speak to the children? A-about um, working for the mayor... possibly?" I sighed, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"Mary Margaret it is six o'clock in the morning," I grumbled.

"I know, I-I get up at this time to get ready for school at seven--"

"What day do you want me to be there?" I interrupted. I could hear her frantically flipping through her calender and sipping coffee on the other end.

"How about tomorrow? I'll schedule you for ten o'clock...you will be awake by then right?" she asked.

"Fine, I'll be there," I exhaled.

"Thank you so much Victoria! I'll see you--" I hung my phone up, throwing it down on my comforter as released yet another annoyed groan. The dim Maine sunlight streamed through my window in thin streaks, reflecting like grey prison bars across my soft, burgundy carpet. I decided to just get up, since Mary Margaret had already so kindly done the honors of awakening me from my lovely slumber. I tiredly shuffled to my closet and chose a dress that had a longsleeved, red top with a rhinestone encrusted black skirt, which fell just above my knees. It made me appear as regal as I had always imagined I was. Of course, almost every little girl dreamt of being a princess, the daughter of a queen, the next in line to rule a kingdom. I was the daughter of a mayor, next in line to campaign for office; it was close enough.

"These should do," I said with a smirk as I grabbed a pair of shiny, black t-strap heels. I sat at my tall vanity mirror as I combed my dark, shoulder length hair, pinning in a crystal apple clip, my mother bought me, just above my ear. I smiled, satisfied with the way it twinkled in the dull light against my dark brown waves. A soft knock at the door interrupted my self-admiration just as I began applying my makeup.

"Come in!" I watched the door slowly creak open in the reflection of my mirror. In shuffled my little brother Henry, already dressed in his school uniform, but still with a little sleep remaining in his eye.

"Victoria, mom said you have to take me to the bus stop this morning," he mumbled sleepily, leaning against the back of my chair.

"What? Why can't she?" I whined.

"She said she had to go by the sheriff's office, but she didn't say why." I rolled my eyes. I knew exactly why she was going there. I knew everything about her little nightly flings with Officer Graham. I had seen him escaping from our house early in the mornings. She couldn't hide much from me. As hard as she tried, I always found out about things pretty quickly.

"Fine, let's go," I huffed.

"But the bus doesn't leave until--"

"Now," I commanded. "I need to have a little chat with our mother." We tiredly trudged down the staircase, allowing the little light peaking through the curtains to guide our way to the kitchen. I flipped the light switch on, illuminating the bright, white room.

"Eaten anything yet?" I asked Henry as he hopped into a chair.

"I just got up fifteen minutes ago, Victoria," he said rolling his eyes. I pursed my lips together to keep from sassily commenting back while I flung the fridge door open. Inside on the top shelf was a fancy black note card with gold trim. On it was an elegantly written note from our mother in bright silver pen.