Kingmaker (Ace of Queens #5)

Pt.20 Glass Cage

Chapter 20

Two weeks later

Ella sat by her window ledge staring out at the road below her. The street lights were on and people hurried to their homes as a cold wind started to pick up. It was late September and the weather was starting to change it's mood. Gone were the hot summer days. The cold air was coming in to make itself at home. This would have been Ella's favorite season if it hadn't been for the emptiness inside of her.

As she sat by the window staring out, the door to her room open and Mia walked in holding a plate of food. She paused by the door for a second to stare at her sister before she walked in and set the dinner down in front of Mia.

"Dinner is served, your highness," Mia mocked. "Do us all a favor and cut out this drama. I'm getting sick of bringing you food to your room. This isn't the palace and we aren't your servants. From tomorrow you are expected to show up at dinner."

Ella stayed silent as her sister spoke. She had no desire to eat or speak. All she wanted was to be left alone.

The first week after the scandal on TV, no one at home spoke to Ella. She walked around her house like a ghost following her mother or father, but they all ignored her. No one uttered a single world. Not even when she stopped going to school. Piper would climb into bed with her at night to keep her company but when Dean found out he yelled at the little girl and told her she wasn't allowed to speak to her sister.

"She already poisoned Lily's mind," Dean had shouted at Piper. "You don't need to be next."

After that Piper stopped coming to Ella's room.

Ella couldn't decide which was worse. Her family not speaking to her or them speaking but only to throw insults and blame. At the end of the first week, when Dean's health declined and he had to go into the emergency room for a check up, Ruby cried all night and blamed Ella. She stood in Ella's doorway and said it was all her fault. Ella tried to explain to her mother in tears she was sorry but no one would hear her.

That night when Mia and Ruby went to the hospital with Dean, Piper came to see her sister. The little girl laid with her sister on her bed as Leo slept between them.

"Ellie," Piper said in the dimly lit room. "You have to leave."

Ella looked at her sister as her heart shattered. The fear that consumed her came alive as it danced around her heart and mocked her.

"Where would I go?" Ella asked, trying to keep her voice from cracking.

"I don't know," Piper shrugged. "Anywhere. Just go away from here."

"I don't have anywhere to go, Pip," Ella said as she looked down at Leo. "I don't have any money, no family. You guys are all I have. I have never been anywhere on my own."

Piper frowned as she pulled her blanket to her chin, "I wish Lily took you with her."

At the mention of Lily, Ella's heart sank even more. Two nights after news broke of Ella and Maksim being mates, Lily called Ella to see how she was doing. But Dean was passing by and heard the phone call. He stormed into the room and snatched Ella's phone away. According to him, they were conspiring and plotting together to bring more shame to the family and to humiliate him.

At the start of the 2nd week, Ruby and Dean had gone to Baywolf high school to talk about transferring Ella. However, they were told there was no available space for new students. Upon the two insisting that the school had to do something, Ella was put on a waiting list. If any senior moved or dropped out, then Ella would be allowed to attend Baywolf High. Until then, she was still registered at St. Vincent.