Ash and Cinders

Chapter 1: A Slave to the Wage

                  

The tray on my hand was wobbling slightly as I set the drink down in front of the customer I was serving.

It was a busy day in the Café Dahlia and my feet were sore from running around trying to get everything to my tables in time.

The tray of coffees was heavy and my hands were threatening to wobble if I didn't get rest soon.

Setting it down on the table in front of me, I met the customers' faces.

"Café Latté?" I asked and a brunette lady raised her hand. "Here we go."

She smiled warmly at me, and I felt my own lips tug sideways.

The Café Dahlia was a quaint little place, where young and old came together for the delicious treats that the Café Dahlia offered.

Nothing like anything you will ever find any other place.

It's situated in London, my home. You wouldn't find it in any tourist guides. But, you will find it on a corner where its white interior stood proudly.

I found the Café Dahlia on a walk through the neighbourhood it was in. I saw a vacancy sign in the window and when I went in, the owner, Lila, gave me one look and gave me the job instantly. I still don't understood why she did it.

But, this is my happy place. It's also the only place I can make money.

See, I have a stepmother. Her name is Rebecca.

My father, Stephen Lewis married her shortly after my mother died and for a while everything seemed okay. Losing my mother was an inescapable darkness. But, for a little while, Rebecca brought some light into my father's life and therefore, mine.

But, my father died eventually. It left a hole in my heart that nothing in this world could ever fix.

What made it all worse was Rebecca. In the beginning she too, was overtook by grief. But, the moment he was put in the ground, she turned cold. Something that could only be described by two words: Power Hungry.

She took all our money and used it for greedy purposes. She never gave me a cent of my own inheritance. She took it and split it between her two daughters.

All that was left of my father was rid out of our house like a plague. I still remember that day.

"Throw it all out! I don't want to see it!" She shouted at the maids in our mansion home.

I shivered at the memory of my father's prized possessions being thrown on the curb. And she didn't stop there.

"You will sleep in the maid's courters. Got it?" she ordered me.

It didn't stop there though. She made me do everything. She fired all the maids, and gave the job to someone else: me.

There was only one person to help me in the house called Megan. My only true friend.

My only source of income is from the Café Dahlia. Rebecca  doesn't know about it. I disappear each day to come here and she never questions where I'm going. She doesn't care as long as I do my house work.

"Order up!" I heard from behind the barista counter. Lila was standing there, her black hair swaying as she went back and forth between the machines.

"Table?" I asked as I neared the counter to pick up the drinks.

"Four. Two cappuccinos, extra cream." She echoed the order.

"Thanks Lila."

As I walked to the table, I thought back to the days before Rebecca. It was wondrous.

"Two cappuccinos, extra cream?" I echoed the order and when they nodded their heads I put the drink in front of the young couple. There was a look of sad longing in their eyes. I almost wished I could've comforted them.

***

"No! I bought it! It's mine!" I heard shouts from inside the house.

"You gave it to me!"

I sighed. My stepsisters, Julia and Lillian were standing in the foyer, tugging a shoe between them. I almost rolled my eyes at the sight.

They were like babies. They got what they wanted, when they wanted it. It made me sick that Rebecca allowed this.

"Ah! Anna!" I heard someone saying my name in a fake friendly voice.

Looking behind me I saw a woman with dark brown hair walking up to me. Her beautiful face was pinched in a tiny smile that made her eyes look like they were going to pop out.

"Good afternoon Rebecca." I replied to her.

"Girls!" she shouted over their fighting in a warning tone.

They immediately both dropped the shoe and retreated to their rooms. She then turned her ice blue eyes to me.

"It's almost dinner time. Why don't you scurry along to the kitchen?" she said, her smile now gone and replaced with a cold look on her face.

When I nodded and turned to go to the kitchen she followed me.

"Where were you today? You didn't clean my closet out." She asked, her heels clicking behind me.

"I was out. Needed some air." I answered, still walking. My heart beat frantically in my chest from fright. She never asked before.

"Air?" she retorted. "Is that some sort of code for going to see your boyfriend?"

I let out a sigh of relief. She didn't know of my job at the café.

I quickly swivelled around and looked her in the eye. This was going to take some convincing.

"Yes. I'm seeing someone." I said with a straight face on.

"How long has this been going on?" she asked me, anger evident on her face. Anger that would be nothing compared to what she'll do if she knows I'm hiding money.

"A couple of weeks. Nothing serious." I answered, my tone giving nothing away.

She let out a laugh and neared me, gripping my face in her hand.

"You little whore." She said, her face gripped in anger. She looked like she was going to explode. Her face was red. "End it. No boy that keeps you from your duties is worth keeping."

I swallowed. "Yes, Rebecca."

She nodded her head and turned on her heel.

I let out a sigh. I'm going to have to switch shifts.