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    Vanity: a Snow White story
    Vanity: a Snow White story
    Vanity: a Snow White story
    Ebook108 pages1 hour

    Vanity: a Snow White story

    By Sonya Writes

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Cassius has been desperate her entire life to hear that she's beautiful, and when the king takes interest in her, she easily falls for his charms. After his death, she finds herself alone to raise a step-daughter and rule a kingdom, a task more difficult than she's prepared to handle.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSonya Writes
    Release dateJun 10, 2016
    ISBN9781311449368
    Vanity: a Snow White story

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      Book preview

      Vanity - Sonya Writes

      VANITY

      a snow white story

      Sonya Writes

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2014 Sonya Writes

      ~

      once upon a time…

      Cassius cowered behind a curtain as her parents fought in the dining room. She wondered if she could sneak past them and go to her bedroom. No. It was too risky.

      You’re the ugliest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on! her father shouted. Inside and out, you are hideous to me. Be gone from my sight, foul woman.

      Crash. It sounded like a vase.

      You’re the one who left this bruise on my face. If I’m ugly it is only a reflection of you.

      Crash. That was glass. Definitely glass. They were throwing things at each other again. The good thing about it was that they had no sense of aim when they were angry. They nearly always missed each other when their fights escalated to the point of throwing things.

      Bruises? You think the bruises are ugly? No, those are your most beautiful features.

      Clang. That sounded like something metal and small. Maybe a spoon or fork. Not a knife, she hoped.

      Her mother let out a horrible scream of anger. You’re despicable. You know that? Despicable!

      Clang. Crash. Cassius plugged her ears, but it didn’t block out the sound nearly enough. Then the crashing stopped. The shouting stopped. Cassius unplugged her ears and peered around the edge of the curtain.

      Where do you think you’re going? her father demanded. He grabbed his wife’s arm and pulled her toward him. Answer me.

      You know where, she said. She tried to yank her arm back but he wouldn’t let go.

      Oh, I get it, he said. "You’re going to him, aren’t you? So he can tell you you’re beautiful? So he can buy you flowers and gifts? Well you’re not beautiful. You’re hideous. He let go of her arm and spit at her feet. If you walk out that door you are never coming back in."

      Don’t leave me, Cassius thought. She wanted to get up and run to her mother to go with her, but she couldn’t find the courage to do so. She remained seated behind the curtain, her tiny body shaking in fear and silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

      Fine, she said. I don’t want to come back. She backed away toward the door, keeping her eyes fixed on her husband. She didn’t call for Cassius, didn’t look for Cassius; she merely backed up to the door, turned the knob, and left.

      Cassius tried to remain perfectly still behind the curtain so she wouldn’t be seen. Her father’s face was red and his fists were clenched. He squeezed his eyes shut and made a sort of growling noise before throwing one of his fists into the wall. The wall didn’t budge and he hurt his hand. He let out a scream and then started throwing things again. Glass was shattering against the floor and occasional shards ended up beneath the curtain. Cassius drew her knees closer to her chest and hugged her legs. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths.

      After a while it was quiet again. The lamps were put out and Cassius sat behind the curtain alone in the dark. She listened to the footsteps leading away to her parents’ bedroom.

      When Cassius pushed aside the curtain, moonlight shone in and reflected off the glass on the floor. There was a lot of it. Cassius wondered if they had any dishes left at all. He seemed to have emptied the entire cabinet.

      Slowly she stood and tied the curtain open. She knew better than to relight the lamp, so she relied on the moonlight to not step on any glass as she left the room. She thought about cleaning it up for her father, but if he was trying to sleep the noise might upset him. So instead she tiptoed around the mess and crept to her room. Her teddy bear waited on her pillow and a small mirror waited on her nightstand.

      Cassius picked up the mirror. It had been a gift from her father. She looked at her reflection and the words of a hundred people filled her mind.

      You look just like your mother!

      Spitting image of your mother.

      I see your mom has a little twin, young Cassius.

      She thought she’d finished crying for the night, but more tears came as she looked into the mirror and realized her father must find her ugly as well. She put the mirror away and buried her face into the pillow. She tried to tell herself that her mom would come back, but deep down she knew it wasn’t the case. It was true that her mother had left many times before, but this time seemed different. This time seemed final.

      ~

      Cassius woke up to cold air as her blanket was yanked away.

      Get up, her father demanded. There’s a mess in the dining room that needs to be cleaned up and I expect breakfast to be ready in twenty minutes. He left the room, taking her blanket with him.

      Cassius shivered for a moment and then realized that she’d fallen asleep in her clothes. Thankfully her father didn’t seem to have noticed. She got out of bed, straightened out her dress and ran her brush through her hair a couple of times before hurrying to the dining room.

      Her shoulders dropped. The mess looked even bigger in the daylight. She found a broom and swept a path to the kitchen so she could have breakfast cooking while she swept up the rest of it. She wasn’t sure what they would use to eat with, however. Their plates and glasses appeared to all be destroyed. She checked the sink. Thankfully there were a few dirty dishes from the night before that had been spared from her parents’ fits.

      Cassius worked quickly to clean up the mess. She knew her dad would be upset if it wasn’t spotless the next time he saw it. As soon as breakfast was cooking, she swept up all the glass and took it outside. She’d have to dig a hole and bury it later.

      Her father entered the room just as she was sweeping up the last bit of glass.

      Is breakfast ready? he asked.

      Almost, father, she said. Cassius ran to the kitchen and checked the stove. Good. Nothing was burnt. She quickly washed two plates and forks and set the table. She served her father first and then herself.

      No biscuits? he asked.

      I didn’t have time to bake any this morning, she said.

      Hmm. You’ll have to work faster tomorrow morning, he said.

      Cassius nervously folded her napkin in her lap and stared at the edge of her plate. She felt too nervous to eat.

      It tastes good, he said.

      Thank you.

      Your mother’s gone now Cassius.

      She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to keep her body from trembling.

      She isn’t coming back. Keeping up the house will be your job from now on.

      Deep breaths. I know, she said.

      I won’t be hiring any servants to do your job for you, either. You must learn to do it and do it well. You’ll need to know these things if you ever expect to find a husband.

      Understood.

      Good. I must be off now. I’ll be home late this afternoon and I’ll expect dinner to be ready.

      Yes father.

      The door shut. Cassius opened her eyes and tried to relax. Her stomach unknotted itself after a few minutes and she was able to eat. She took her time eating breakfast and then stood to wash the dishes for the second time that morning.

      Just as she finished cleaning up the breakfast table, there was a knock at the door. Cassius looked out the window. It was Mrs. Snowshoe. She answered the door.

      Why, hello Cassius! How are you today? Is your mother around?

      No, Mrs. Snowshoe. She’s not here today.

      "Oh, she’s not?

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