ELLEThe sounds of hot passion filled the entire house and I thought I would go mad with need if I kept listening to it. Sometimes I felt like they did this on purpose, just to get me craving for what I couldn't dream of ever getting.I tried to tune out Giselle's moans as I cleaned the pantry —but it was close to an impossible task.It had been months since my father died and just like I thought, the house had turned into a sex house. Every night it was either Giselle screams that woke me from my sleep or Anastasia's grunts. They had a new man in the house every single night. While I spent mine hidden away in the cold attic with my animal friends, Kudo the rat and Ricky the bird.They were all I had. Kudo would try and help me with chores while Ricky was always there to wipe my tears when I thought I couldn't go on anymore.Focusing on the work made it easier to tune out their moans, I continued moping the large pantry clean while Kudo tried its best to sprinkle soap along the corner

ELLAThe market was one of the few places I enjoyed going to. The multiple colors lured me in. They welcomed me. In the market, I didn't feel like an orphan, I felt human.I felt free, just like a bird.I quickly went through my stepmother's long list of groceries. I took my time to make sure I got all the items she had scribbled in her list, skipping all the materials and dresses. I always saved them for last because that was where I spent most of my time whenever I went to the market.As soon as I was done with the groceries I went to the dressmaker's shop."Good morning Mary!" I greeted as I stepped into the shop."Ella! What can I get you today?" Mary said bouncing with excitement as she went towards the open window.Mary was a woman with very large breasts and an even larger behind, people thought she went into dressmaking because no one could actually make a dress that could fit her body except herself."I just want one dress and some lingerie, may I see your collection?" I aske

ELLA"Ella!"I heard Giselle call me from outside the garden and I cleaned my hands going to attend to her. My punishment had just started, I didn't want anything that could make my stepmother have extra days for my torment."Yes, Giselle..." I said as I got to her."I found this in the shopping bag and it doesn't fit! Who did you get it for?" She demanded and my brain turned over in confusion."Giselle, I don't know what you speak of..." I said.She was putting on a short bedroom robe that barely covered her butt. She dipped her hand in the pocket of the robe and brought out a red pants."What is this!" She screeched and my eyes almost fell out of my sockets.If my stepmother saw this then I would be in even more trouble than I was a few days ago. After the beating, my stepmother gave me I was so tired and shaken up, that I forgot to pull out the red lacy lingerie I got for myself in Mary's shop."Giselle, please don't shout like that. Give it to me, " I begged as I searched around u

KIERANThe palace was very lively. Workers moved in and out as everyone hurried to put in the last touches on their assigned tasks for the main event.The ball was tomorrow and try as I may, I couldn't get my mind off it. I knew I would finally get to meet the angel I met in the market a couple of days ago and then —maybe I would be lucky to find the one person that could give me the pleasure I craved for."What can a man do to have a smile as bright as yours?" Erik's voice drove me back to reality and I stared at him from my seat in the throne room."Erik, I thought you were out of town for a few days?" I asked him "Oh, one of my wives fell ill, I had to come to take care of her. So are we still doing this because of that strange maiden in the market or is it something else?" Erik asked and from the corner of my eyes, I could see my father straining his ears to pick up my answer to the question."Erik can you at least try to keep your voice down?" I whispered hoping my father woul

ELLAMy stepmother drew closer and stopped right in front of me. She started going around me, circling me like a predator.My heart was beating so loud, that it almost flew out of my chest."What do we have here, " she whispered to herself and I held my breath."Cinderella, isn't this the bedspread I asked you to thrash last season?"This time, my heart stopped.But before I could answer, I heard the sound of tearing fabric and I looked around me wondering where it came from until I saw a large piece of my dress in her hands."You never trashed it, did you?"Again, she tore through another piece and my dead heart went with it."Mama, what are you doing?" I whimpered as I tried to protect my dress."I am doing what I should have done long ago!"She started tearing out my dress from my body bits by bits."Mama, please stop!" I begged as tears spilled from my eyes but everything I said fell on deaf ears.I fell to the floor in tears and she continued to tear through the pieces till I was