MY STEPBROTHER'S DIRTY PET

That morning, she woke up with the usual excruciating pains that coursed through every inch of her body. From her facial countenance, it was evident her system was overly winded, yet she stood up weakly from the tattered mat. 

Marianna, weakened and almost at the point of losing consciousness due to her drained body, received a loud bang on the door. 

Whosoever that knocked was rather impatiently furious, since the knocks caused the fragile door to shake tremendously. 

Sharply, she moved towards the door, grabbed the doorknob then pulled it backwards, only for Mariah's face to be revealed. 

Mariah, her very own twin sister, had a deep frown lingering on her lips.

“Mariah, good morning” Came a hush from Marianna as she pulled up a fake smile. 

Her response was rather hostile. “What's so good about the freaking morning when my clothes are yet to be washed, Marianna! What's good about it!” she rasped rather harshly with her eyes hatefully glaring at Marianna. 

Although they were birthed by the same mother, and were twins, they looked nothing alike. 

While Mariah was the true enshrinement of beauty, Marianna was, well, pale. The only peculiar feature about her existence was the pair of dark green eyes she was bestowed with. 

Mariah was rather curvy with a sultry and enchanting face to match; her body was a work of art and her sense of dress was provocative. 

Due to their difference in looks and body figure, Marianna was dimmed the black sheep of the family and thus, turned into a mere maid. 

“Mariah, I'm your sister. Can't you at least have a little sympathy for me? Yesterday mother tasked me with such an impossible workload – I'm very exhausted” she replied gently and hoped Mariah would see reason with her. 

Instead, her words solely infuriated her profusely. “Sister? How dare you call me that word!” In the next second, a thunderous slap landed on Marianna's left cheek. 

She fell easily yet roughly on the floor, with her elbow bruised from the violent landing. 

Tears surfaced excessively in her eyes but never rolled down her cheeks – she couldn't keep crying because of Mariah. 

Mariah towered dominantly over her with blazing fury in her eyes. She lifted her index finger before pointing it at Marianna. 

“I've warned you severally, don't call me your sister, you wench. You're nothing more but a witch; you caused dad's death and expect me to consider you a human? Never!”

Marianna had her head lowered during her yells, then again gazed at Mariah once a whimper was heard. 

“Mariah?” she called shockingly as her eyes rested on her. At a glance, it was obvious she was in agony due to how sweaty she became. 

Her hand was placed on her lips to prevent the overwhelming flow of blood from her mouth. “Mariah, are you okay?” Marianna asked, concerned laced in her tone. 

As expected, a hard glare was shot her way by Mariah, then she left wordlessly, leaving Marianna perplexed. 

“What's wrong with her?” She muttered inquisitively to herself. 

★

★

★

Done, dressed in a poorly sewn dress, Marianna made her way to the Crimson Palace; the residence of the Alpha and his Family members. 

She began working there at a very young age as a maid – a maid at her very own home, and one at the Palace. From her pay, her mother, and Mariah were fed, yet she was never appreciated. 

The distance from the Palace to the house wasn't that lengthy, so she walked there. During the walk, her stomach didn't cease in its growls. 

How could it be when she hasn't eaten for the past few days? Marianna has surprisingly been living from fruits and vegetables since her mother refused to allow her to eat. 

Combined with the hefty workload Marianna was bestowed with, it wasn't unexpected that she was so lanky in appearance. 

She had left the house that morning without encountering her mother; Marianna considered herself lucky. 

By any chance, Gloria, her birth mother, would doubtfully kill her solely because of her quarrel with Mariah earlier today. 

Just imagining the way she would be callously beaten once she returned home sent shivers down her spine. 

Ultimately, Marianna arrived at the Palace, but was amazed by the numerous carriages spotted in the Palace. 

What was going on? She wondered inwardly – the Palace compound appeared more glamorous than ever before. Apart from the jaw-dropping decorations, an air of excitement was felt.

Needlessly, Marianna was aware of her countless duties, so made her to the kitchen; she went in through the backdoor. 

A deep breath she heaved once she stepped foot – expectantly, the maids were busy as bees. Yet, she felt something was rather odd due to… Gloria's presence. 

Marianna froze on the spot, petrified with fear. Gloria was the Head Maid but rarely came to the kitchen, why was she here today?

Was it because of her argument with Mariah? She gulped down nothingness, visibly frightened. In her state of contemplation, Marianna was oblivious of the approaching footsteps of her mother. 

“You wench!” The outrageously loud slap that kissed her cheeks brutally successfully shattered Marianna's walls of thoughts. 

She winced in pain, silently though, then gazed tearfully at Gloria. “M… mother” her lips quivered as fear built a shelter over her. 

Despite the raucousness of the slap, the nearby maids merely glanced at them before minding their business. Marianna being continuously abused wasn't uncommon – they were used to it already. 

“I'll feed your tongue to the vultures if you ever address me in such a manner again! Do you understand me?” she growled at her with her eyes that glistered with resentment. 

“Y…yes Head Maid” her response came as a whimper, yet Gloria wasn't fazed. 

“Go wash the dishes, wench. Today will be tiresome” she spat venomously then took her leave. 

Slowly, Marianna went to join the maids at the sink. She began washing the dirty dishes noiselessly yet couldn't help but listen to the chattering maids. 

Marianna eventually found the reason the Palace was in such a state – Alpha Nickolas Cambridge was coming back today. 

“It makes sense” Marianna mumbled, and persisted in her occupation. 

Alpha Nickolas had been enthroned for quite some years back yet hadn't been seen by everyone. Only his Family members and the Royal Elders had ever seen him.  

Apparently, he was making his comeback today. Marianna couldn't be concerned about the maids' conversation any further; her workload was unbelievably bulky. 

She had so much to do. 

**

Night came rather slowly for someone who worked tirelessly. To say that Marianna was tired was an understatement; her body was capable of collapsing any moment from now. 

Then again, her ruthless mother simply didn't care about her, and Marianna was called to the kitchen. 

While she pushed the door aside, all eyes turned to gape at a seemingly lifeless lady. Her clothes were damped – perhaps due to the heavy downpour she was caught up in while fending the animals. The maids were all gathered in the kitchen, with Gloria addressing them. 

“How lazy are you, Marianna?” Gloria barked meanly at her when she finally stood in alongside the rest. 

“I apologize for-”

“Save it!” her hateful scrawl made her gulp down her apologies. Gloria once more faced the maids, then resumed speaking. 

Initially, she cautioned them on their behavior, particularly for tonight since Alpha Nickolas had arrived at the Palace. 

The shameless maids gushed gleefully at that information; all except Marianna. Couldn't her mother tell she was about to break down wholly?

It wouldn't kill her to have a tiny bit of mercy on her, right? “Enough. I'll assign maids to serve the Royal Family — now. But remember, screw up, and you're dead meat” Gloria warned darkly. 

Predictably, Marianna was selected among the dozen maids. Afterward, they were instructed to grab the classy trays which housed the luscious meals. 

Marianna stood at the back of the line with wobbly feet – surely, she could feel her eyelids getting heavier with each passing seconds. 

She swerved her head sideways, and hoped to find Gloria – she must explain her current situation to her mother. Unfortunately, Gloria was nowhere in sight, so Marianna continually dragged her feet towards the dining table. 

The dining room reeked of wealth, and so did the occupants. The Royal Family entailed the previous Luna, her daughter and… Mariah. Alpha Nickolas was also seated there, then again Marianna was too winded to even spare anyone a glance. 

Yes, she wasn't shocked Mariah was there – someone as bewitching as her was the friend of Amaya; the princess. 

Mariah, still displeased at the day's occurrence, smirked dangerously once her gaze met with Marianna. 

“Good job, mother” She muttered satisfactorily. The maids set out to work instantly. 

Sluggishly, Marianna set out the meals, but did apply diligence and care in doing so. Softly, she strolled through Mariah's seat, then dropped the tray without making eye contact with anyone. 

She felt relieved she would get out quickly, but while she went to Alpha Nickolas with the last tray, a leg surprisingly was placed on the way. 

Marianna, weak and unmindful, tripped flawlessly over it, and fell rashly on the next to Alpha Nickolas. 

The tray fled from her grip, with the meal pouring entirely on…the Alpha! Gasps filled the room thereafter. 

“Nickolas!” the previous Luna gaped disbelievingly at his now ruined clothes. 

“You slut! How dare you do that to my brother!” that was Amaya, fury written all over her face. 

At that moment, Marianna was certain her hour of death came. With those crimson red eyes, he turned his gaze to stare at her. 

Marianna shakily gawked at him, and although her eyes portrayed remorse, his expressionlessness made her shiver in fear. He was unearthly. 

She wasn't supposed to be admiring him in such a situation, but his surreal beauty nearly took her breath away. 

“Y-y-y-y-y-your majesty, I'm-”

“Guards” his utterance could barely be heard, yet three guards rushed in almost immediately. “Throw her outside”

Mariah secretly grinned delightfully from where she sat – her plan was a total success. 

Marianna was speechless – she remained that way even when picked up effortlessly by the guards. 

They did as instructed; arriving at the front door, and notwithstanding the heavy rain accompanied by the incessant gush of wind, Marianna was flung out. 

Her head met with the tarred floor violently and coupled with the tiredness she felt, she blacked out. 

Right there in the rain.