Chapter 2:

"What is it, Addyson? You're yelling up a storm the whole kingdom can hear," Father scolded me when he came out of the room. Already in his black and blue robe and striped pajamas, he seemed to have just woken up. My father was a tall and skinny man, he didn't eat as much. He stopped eating when mother passed. His black hair was full, covered with his pajama cap and rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes.

"Your wife hit me," I said, panting in and out. I couldn't take this anymore. I've held it in, endured it, passed it by, let her say what she wanted, dodged the objects and words she threw at me. She crossed the line. My mother has been gone for three years, he met Andrea 6 months after she passed. Andrea wanted to replace her, her jealousy was poisonous. She was right behind me when she heard father's voice.

"What?" He asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"She hit me, I did nothing wrong and she hit me."

"Addyson, what have I told you about lying?"

"Why would I lie about this? Your wife hit me! It's all she does. She looks down on me because I'm not her daughter! I would never be her daughter! She will never be my mother! I don't want her here!" She scowled when my father wasn't looking. His concerned expression faced me, he shook his head and coughed. "You don't believe me. Of course you don't. You never believe me. Your own daughter."

"Addyson, I love you but you have been on your mother's neck since she came here."

"She is not my mother. She's Andrea." I glared and curled my lip. She liked to play innocent when she wasn't.

"Didn't she go to the ball with Amanda and Cassandra?"

"They just got home," I said with a shrug. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Wait," father grabbed my chin and inspected my cheek. "What is this?" I winced from the sting of her hand. I noticed Andrea flinch and widen her eyes, tightening her mouth.

"From her." I side-eyed. Father let go of my chin and glared at Andrea.

"Andrea, did you hit my daughter?" Father asked.

She scoffed, "of course not. She fell when she waxed the floor. Clumsy little girl. She's trying to get in the way between us. Making me look like the bad guy. She's a witch, like her mother was." Her face scrunched up, tears filling up her eyes.

I laughed in disbelief, she's incredible. Trying to play the victim. The kingdom relied on my father and mother to keep the land majestic and magical. When she passed, the magic was limited but stayed. As I watched from the sidelines father fall in love with Andrea, it baffled me how he didn't notice the magic diminishing. My animal friends have gone, one of the mice stayed by my side but mostly stayed hidden when she or my stepsisters were around.

"Watch your mouth, Andrea." My father's voice was low and confident. I raised my eyebrows, he was defending me. This was a first I've seen with my eyes. I haven't used my powers in a while. My fairy godmother dressed me from head to toe, with no trace of the cloth when I came back at midnight.

"Honey, it's true. Amanda and Cassandra saw her cast a spell on her." My eyes widened like saucers from her accusation. Her tone was believable, father could possibly agree. She has gotten away with so many things.

"I need to speak to you," father told her, motioning her to his room. I sighed when they left, heading to my own room. Amanda and Cassandra were still standing there, glaring with their arms crossed.

"What do you want?" I asked them. Amanda narrowed her eyes, stepping up and then halted.

"Who do you think you are?"

"Excuse me? Get out of my room," I told her. She didn't move. Instead she grabbed a brush from my vanity and tossed it to my feet. "Watch it !" I moved in time before it hit my shins or knees.

"You think because your father will take your side this time? Please, he doesn't love you anymore. You might as well disappear. We know what you are. Don't act innocent."

"If I'm such an evil person, you should go before I cast a witchy spell. OOOo!" Amanda and Cassandra gasped and ran out. They were the evil ones. It was draining being in this castle. If mother was here, she would instill peace. If my biological sister was here... I closed my eyes tight, she wouldn't assist me. I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye and sat in front of my mirror. The bruise on my cheek grew red, I winced when I touched the tender spot. A squeak disturbed my thoughts, looking down at Gus, the one with yellow shirt and green hat. I smiled, leaning over with my hand, "what are you doing out here?" He squeaked sadly, climbing in my hand and snuggling in my shoulder. "Aww, it's ok. I'm ok. It's gonna be ok," I assured him. It will be. It might be time to bring out the book.

"I can't believe you, Andrea!" Father's voice rang from the other side of the room. I listened closely and gulped. Father hadn't raised his voice in... forever.

"Roland, please. You have to believe me, Addyson is a nightmare. She is at the house all day and yells at me, belittles me. She called me a viper." I shook my head, Gus frowned, shaking his head as well.

"She's relentless," I whispered to him. Their room wasn't next to mine, two rooms down. "Wait here." I dropped him on the floor gently so he could go back to the hole. I tiptoed, opening my door quietly, searching the hallway corners for a clear coast. I made sure my footsteps didn't creek. Their room door was opened, I peeked.

"Roland, you have to understand, she needs correction."

"Not from you. My daughter is brilliant, resilient and stays out of the way. It seems you make it awful for her. Striking my daughter when she did nothing is crossing the line." I gasped from the defense of my father. My heart was beating fast, hearing it in my ears. Andrea stayed silent as dad yelled at her. She didn't cry, whimper, or shake. She stood still, red in the face glaring at him as he paced. "Next time she does something or any of your daughters, you come to me. We're supposed to be a team. I'm the king. Your king!" Her stare was menacing. The stare that was only reserved for me. I was scared, scared for my father. He was handling the situation but I was scared. She finally moved when he turned his back. It happened so fast, my eyes rapidly moved as I watched her move behind my father, struggling in a frenzy. He dropped to the ground, tearing up as she stood over him, the blood draining from his neck. "What did you do?" I whispered crying. Why? Why?