I cringe as my stepmother's shrill voice cuts through the air, "Cynthia, you are late."

"Sorry Lainey Trema, I was finishing with the house duties." I apologize and keep my head low.

I know she doesn't care about the house duties I was finishing, only that I am not meeting her expectations. But I have learned to keep my head low and apologize, even when it's not my fault.

"That is not my problem." She grabbed my jaw roughly and leans in, "Remember our arrangement Cynthia, or I will have no other choice." She whispers angrily and harshly pushes my head back.

The threat lingers in the air, and I can feel my heart racing with fear and anger.

I keep my head low and I can hear her heels smacking the hardwood as she walks away.

I take a deep breath and regain my composure.

"Cyndi, are you okay?" I hear Jaq's voice.

"I will be fine." I clarify.

"I can't stand these people. I swear they treat you like dirt." He tells me.

"They treat us all like dirt Jaq, not just me." I remind him.

"I know but still you are her stepdaughter and she acts like you are nothing." He argues.

"I am." I say lowly.

"Now Cynthia Brooks, you are not nothing. You are beautiful, amazing, kind, caring, and you are my best friend. You are more than what these people make you believe." He says assuring But he also knows that this is our reality, and no matter how much he tries to remind me of my worth, I can't shake off the feeling of worthlessness that comes from living under this roof.

"Thank you, Jaq, we better get to work before we get in any more trouble." I tell him.

"Okay, you start with room one and I will start at ten, we will meet in the middle." He suggests.

"Sounds like a plan." I say and grab my supplies and head to room one.

The Glass Slipper. A name that evokes images of a fairytale, romantic place. But the reality is far from enchanting.

This place is infamous for its despicable deeds, yet no one seems to put an end to it. The truth about the supernatural world was revealed before I was even born. In the beginning, we coexisted in peace. But as time passed, the rich and powerful humans rose to power and took control over us.

They enslaved us for their own gain, treating us as nothing more than commodities. Lady Trema and her husband Duke are among those who profit from our suffering.

I enter the dark room, the stench of sex and alcohol hitting me like a wave. My stomach turns at the thought of what happens in this room. With gloved hands, I begin my daily task of cleaning every inch of this depraved space. It's a constant struggle to keep my mind from dwelling on the horrors that happen here. Instead, I imagine a life outside these walls - one filled with freedom, safety, happiness, and maybe even love.

But those thoughts are quickly pushed aside as I scrub away at the leather sofas stained with bodily fluids. Even though it fills me with disgust, I take pride in doing my job well. These people did not choose this life, and they deserve a clean environment at the very least.

Satisfied with my work in this room, I gather my supplies and head to the next one. But before I can reach it, muffled noises catch my attention and send a chill down my spine. Part of me wants to walk away and pretend I didn't hear anything. But there's a voice inside my head urging me to open that door.

Slowly, I push it open and freeze in place at the sight before me. My stepsister Cordelia is on her knees in front of our stepfather Duke Trema. His sickening moans fill the room as he grunts in pleasure.

"That's a good girl, taking care of daddy. Remember, your mother can never know," he says with a twisted grin.

Feeling sick to my stomach, I quickly retreat and wait for him to leave before tentatively reentering the room. There, I find Cordelia on the floor, tears streaming down her face and her body trembling from what she was forced to endure.

My heart ached for her. She was the only one who saw me as a human being, not just another servant in this grand mansion.

"Cordelia, are you alright?" I spoke softly, not wanting to startle her.

She looked at me with shock and disbelief. Her once bright eyes were now red and swollen from crying. It was clear that she was broken, the light in her eyes gone.

"No," she whispered, shaking her head violently as tears streamed down her face once again.

Without hesitation, I pulled her into my arms and let her cry. There were no words needed in this moment, only comfort.

After a few minutes, she composed herself and wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry, you need to get back to work and I don't want you to get punished for this," she said, her voice still shaky.

"If you ever need someone to talk to, Cordelia, I'm always here," I reassured her before returning to my cleaning duties. I didn't want to push her too hard; she would open up when she was ready.

Thankfully, I had resumed my cleaning when another visitor arrived - Dorathea.

"Cordelia, what are you doing slumming it with the help?" She sneered at her older sister.

Cordelia remained silent and I continued my work.

"Stupid little slut, make sure you don't miss a spot. Mother wouldn't be pleased." Dorathea's words dripped with disdain as she glared at me.

I was used to Dorathea's cruel remarks and simply ignored them as I rushed to finish my tasks before The Glass Slipper opened for the night. Cordelia gave me a small smile before following behind her malicious sister. Despite everything, I brushed off the negativity and focused on completing my duties efficiently.