Chasing Cinderella (Book one of the Cinderella Series) (Completed)

Chapter 9 (Edited)

I walked into the house and held myself, sadly. I could still feel the loss of Blue, but now I felt that my father was actually gone, even though I still lived in the house that I had lived in before he died. However, the house now felt like a prison, more than a home.

Thank you Delilah for corrupting my life and my house. Please, note the sarcasm.

I scoffed a little and shook my head, scowling myself for the self-pity. It wasn't something that I should do, but somehow, I still do it. I felt... empty, now that Blue was gone. It felt like my father was gone for good and he wasn't going to come back. I know, I repeated myself, but I couldn't explain the feelings no matter how hard I tried.

Anyways, what was the point of living here now? Nothing was holding me here anymore. I had no future, no present except that of pain and misery, but why did I stay?

"Ellie Penelie? Are you all right?" a young male voice asked, sounding cautious.

I shook my head, breaking away from my thoughts before I wiped my eyes. I looked at my younger half-brother, Derek as he came into the kitchen, carrying a box in his arms. A small frown creased my face as I looked at it cautiously.

Derek was known to have pranks up his sleeve. I was one of his "subjects" and have been tested with more than I could count. However, I have gotten him back a few times.

Yes, he looked like an angel, with his wavy, brown hair and gray, almost, silver eyes, that had a look of an innocent 10 year old angel. However, his horns are showing under is halo. No can also miss the mischievous glint in his eyes.

"It is nothing," I said, not wanting to talk about it. I mean, Delilah is his real mother. I didn't want him to hate her, no matter how mean she is. "What do you want for lunch?" I asked glancing at the clock to see that it was noon.

Derek shrugged his shoulder as he placed the box onto the table. "What about pizza?" he asked, hopefully. "I love the fresh, homemade pizza that you two make."

"That takes a long time to make," someone said as they came into the kitchen. "We can make it now and it should be ready before Dinner."

Derek and I turned around towards the door, leading outside, to see an African American female, standing there with a couple of bags in her hands.

She looked at me,  her brown eyes filled with tiredness. I knew the reason was because Delilah kept her busy as much as she kept me. However, I was younger than her and could live off of it, sadly.

"There are more bags in the car, if you can get them for me. She looked at Derek, who was at my side, frowning. "You can get out of my kitchen, if you just want to be a pain, Boy. I don't need any of your tricks or toys right now." Warning laced her voice as she started to move more into the kitchen.

Derek held up his hands in mock defeat. "I'll help Ellie Penelie with the bags, Anne," he said.

"Hmph," the female or Anne, said. "I'll start putting the stuff away." She looked at the table and saw the box that Derek had placed on the table before turning to look at him, mistrustful. "That better not be a prank, Derek Matthew Rogers," she warned using his full name.

Derek didn't meet her gaze. "Come on, Ellie, let's get those groceries." With that, he ran out of the house and towards the car, with me following. I couldn't help but laugh a little at his quick escape.

There were some things that I'll miss, in this life. The 10 year old boy, running in front of me was one of them.

***

"Don't drop the eggs," I warned. "Delilah will have my head." I watched Derek as he picked up the bag with the eggs in it as he rolled his eyes at me. Unlike some of us, Delilah prefers eggs from the store and not those that we have at the farm. Don't ask why, 'cause I don't know. They were the same thing.

"Yea, yea, yea," he said. "Like Mom will-"

"Oh yes she will and you know it. Remember, she did make me sleep in a stall because I "ruined" the cabbage," I said, making him snort as I closed the door with my hip.

"It was old, and it made a good tool."

I shook my head, remembering what he did for it. "Not for me. I smelt like rotten cabbage for a week, since you placed it in my Mango Mandrine shampoo and conditioner."

Derek smirked a little. "But you placed manure in my clothes and hid it around my room, so I stunk like crap."

"Hey, and you still prank me, Idiot," I teased.

"Hey, you are more fun than my sister's," he replied as he opened the door. He tried to close it fast, so that I would hit my head against it, but I caught it with my foot.

I frowned a little at him, but didn't say anything as I spotted Delilah standing in the doorway that lead from the kitchen to the dining room. There was a scowl on her face and if looks could kill, I'd be six feet under.

"Why are talking to my son, you worthless piece of shit? Are you trying to dehumanize him too?"

I gritted my teeth a little and looked down. I hated the way she treated me and wished for my father to be here. All I wanted to do was punch that plastic doll face of hers. She didn't care about me or anyone. All she cared about was money and fame.

Delilah was a model and a fake. She had a lot of plastic surgeries and had made her boobs look bigger than they should be. She also had bleached her brown hair, so that it would look better. Let's just say, that blonde wasn't her color for hair. It should've been black, matching the darkness of her soul.

"Well?" she sneered. "Going to say something?"

I lifted my head and met her brown eyes with my blue ones. Anger and hatred coursed through my body like wildfire. It took every inch of me not to hit her. "I have a lot to say, but knowing you, I would be punished for having a backbone," I replied coldly adding 'bitch' mentally.

Delilah hissed and took two steps towards me, in six inch heels. She slapped me hard across the cheek, making my face snap back from the contact. "Never, use that tone with me again and do not talk to my son. Do you understand me?"

I could feel tears prick behind my eyes, but I didn't cry. I bowed my head a little. "Yes, Ma'am," I muttered.

Delilah smirked and patted my head, as if I was some dog. "Good girl," she said in fake sweetness. "Now, get started on lunch. Come, Derek, let's let the servants get back to their job." With that, she walked away.

I turned from Derek and set the bags down. A few tears escaped from my eyes, but I didn't care anymore about hiding the pain.

"El-"

"No, Derek," I said cutting him off. "You heard what she said. Just go."

Derek didn't say anything else, as he grabbed his box and walked away out of the kitchen.

"Well," Anne said, finally speaking up. "Let's get to work."

With that, we placed the items away before starting lunch.

A few more tears escaped, but I continued on my work. I didn't need anymore bruises on my battered and bruised body. I knew that I would still be getting them, however, I was a fighter. I will survive.

I could not wait to get out of here and go somewhere else. I would finally be free of the wicked witch of the west and her two sidekicks.