*Anastasia's POV*
I smirked as I saw her approaching "our beloved little pretty Amber" I thought sarcastically tightening my fingers around the hem of my dress.
My dear mother had most definitely abandoned me for this spoilt girl,how on earth was it my fault that Amber's unfortunate parents were dead.
I had cried and begged my mother to stay with me and not leave. But she had vehemently refused, insisting that her niece had nobody to rely on and I paid a heavy price for her kindness.
My Father had been so heartbroken he stared into space frequently when he was alone which I caught him a few times. Yet he assured me with a fake smile that Mother would come back to us soon.
I knew they were all lies even if I had foolishly thought maybe Mother would miss us terribly one day and come running back home.
Now despite being in the same occasion with her, Mother still failed to acknowledge me, her actual daughter. But she's been hopping around like crazy for someone else's daughter birthday when she didn't show up for mine.
A tear dropped from my left eye and I quickly brushed it off before anyone noticed.
"Hi Anastasia you must be really having fun at my grand birthday celebration. I have received lots of presents and I can't wait to open them. Aunt had arranged everything for me." Amber blabbed innocently smiling satisfactorily as she suddenly leaned forward to grab my hands.
"What are you standing there looking at? Oh because I'm the most prettiest girl in the room too bad that I can't help it. Not even a happy birthday from you wow I'm hurt. But I'll forgive you if you help me sort out my birthday presents let's run along before Auntie shows up." She said jokingly giggling all the while
I hated her the more at that moment because she was looking extraordinarily beautiful from the last time I saw her and happy.
My Mother was really something. Annoyed with myself for still putting up with this lil missy all the while,I pulled my hand from hers roughly. The movement was so violent and she stumbled backward hitting a glass off the table.
Shocked by my own physical strength I apologized immediately.
"I'm so sorry Amber. Are you okay? I didn't mean to do that." I felt remorseful in spite of myself.
"Oh my my what are you kids up to this time? Breaking glasses oh dear did you get hurt pumpkin?" Nanny Elsa called out worriedly racing over to us. It seemed every living human in the world cared about Amber except for me. Anger burned in my belly.
"It's okay dear cuz as long as you help me out right?" She smiled again, her tone didn't sound like she asked a question.
"Okay let's go." I accepted grudgingly hoping to make up for earlier.
"Nanny Elsa please get us, pretty ladies some juice. We'll be upstairs and I'm perfectly fine." She said giving a mock noble bow to her Nanny. She held out for my hand again gesturing for me to come along.
Nanny Elsa replied knowingly.
"Yes your highness." She said teasingly to Amber as she watched us leave.
*Amber's POV*
I sighted my broken precious mirror scattered across my reading table where I had been trying to arrange the pieces earlier.
When Nanny Elsa had gifted this mirror to me years back I didn't want to look at myself then. But now that I've grown fond of it, Did it have to break so suddenly? I asked myself frustratingly.
The mirror was mysterious it had reflected a double image of me and being a fantasy maniac I loved reading them in books. For all I know it could be able to time travel me into the underworld I thought dreamily sighing, I caught a glimpse of Anastasia staring at me awkwardly.
"Uhmmmm do you want to have a look? Over here broken pieces....." I trailed off my sentence not sure if I made any sense .
"No! Can we get this over and done with? I have to go back to my friends." She said indifferently eyeing me all the while.
I knew she didn't like me at all and friends well I had none of those. I was always
more than often locked home all day. And the kids were terrified of my Aunt on top of that I was a threat to them because of my looks.
"Ok then I'll just pack up these pieces and tidy up my table. I'll join in soon and we'll be done." I said sadly feigning a smile even my own cousin wanted nothing to do with my pretty face. I might as well suck it up I thought.
I placed Peggy's plastic bucket hat at the edge of my table sweeping in the broken glass pieces with my doll's spoon.
"Come your highness it's time." I heard a faint whisper, the voice sounded sly and I quickly turned to look at my cousin.
"Did you just talk?" I asked her.
"No!" She retorted
"I just heard a voice though strange isn't it?" I asked suspiciously
"You must be hearing things now hmmmm it's probably as a result of being caged in this big house like a prisoner by my Mom." She said nonchalantly chuckling slightly.
"Come, Please come." Called the strange voice again.
"Wait! Listen! The voice called out clearly
now." I said holding my breath,almost immediately a strong force pushed me from behind and the next minute my face was on the broken glass pieces.
Blood? Blood! My blood my face was bleeding?
"My Face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I screamed