Pretty Predator

Chapter 2: Meadow

“Mondea?” I shouted, and she came running into my room.

“Yes, miss?” She replied, avoiding my gaze.

“Look at me,” I told her, and she took a while, letting her eyes wander before they finally fell on me.

“What is wrong, miss?” she asked, visibly shaking. I understood why she was scared because I was known to have a temper, and I always wanted things to go my way. However, today, I had every right to be angry. Imagine my shock when I was woken up by the sun shining so brightly outside instead of my helper. I was late for my appointment, so I had every right to be angry.

“I asked you to wake me up. Now I am late for my appointment. Did you see the time?” I asked her.

“I am sorry, miss. I forgot. Please do not fire me,” She fell to her knees and begged me, which was not necessary. If it were anyone else but Mondea, I would have fired them on the spot. To me, Mondea was my best friend, but to her, I was a monster. I did not blame her because I would also hate myself if I were not me.

“Get out of my room,” She ran out of my room, muttering words of gratitude. I smiled and went to take a bath.

“I am so bad, and I like it. They all fear me, but I am not even scary. I can not hurt a fly, but I like that they all tremble when they hear my name…” I continued singing until I finished bathing in the small pool in my room. Even though I was royalty, I did not like my space being invaded, and that is why I bathed myself, chose my own clothes, and even dressed myself. Today, since I had missed my appointment, I had no other plans, so I wore a long, simple blue dress with no sleeves. The dress was plain, and if people did not know me, they would mistake me for a non-royal. I made my hair into a messy bun, and then I put flowers in it to show my status as the princess of Melodia. After I was done getting ready, I went downstairs only to find everyone sitting at the table and eating. The table was occupied by my mom, the king, my first mother, my wicked second stepmother, Marcia, and all my nine brothers. When I arrived at the table, I bowed.

“Greetings, everyone.” I greeted my whole family, and my brothers smiled at me. I took a seat beside my twin brother Jayden. I was close with all my brothers, but Jayden and Jordan were my rocks, and maybe that was because we had the same mother.

“You certainly took your time, but not so surprisingly, you look as simple as ever. Only you could achieve such a feat.” Marcia said, looking at her nails as if they were the most fascinating thing ever. I hated her so much, but I managed to put a smile on my face.

“Ooh, stepmother, thank you for finally acknowledging me for something. Please tell me that my being tardy did not make you lose your appetite, or did it?” I asked as I exaggeratedly covered my mouth with my hand and made my gold eyes bigger than they already were. Jayden snorted, and I saw the rest of my brothers and my mom fighting so hard not to laugh. The king and the first wife were the only ones who did not find this funny. Augh, they were so old and boring. I rolled my eyes and finally looked at my second stepmother, Marcia. “Do not stop eating on my behalf. The food will get cold, so please eat, Mother.” I hissed and said the last word like it was poison. Marcia hated me, but the feeling was mutual, so she did not have to feel too bad. I tried to get back to my food before my father’s voice stopped me.

“Meadow?” My dad said in his stern voice, and I looked up at him.

“Yes?” I replied.

“Is that how you speak to your mother?” He asked, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I looked around the table before finally looking at my dad. He always defended her even when she was wrong, and I hated that so much.

“Which mother? I have so many mothers thanks to you, Dad, so I don’t know which mother you are referring to.” I said, and Jayden nudged me with his shoulder, and when I looked at him, he shook his head, and I just shrugged. Well, what was done was done, and I was not going to apologize.

“Meadow, apologize right now.” He shouted, and I stood up and looked at him.

“I will never apologize to her,” I told him and then walked away. He shouted my name, but I did not care to turn back. I hated her so much, and that would never change. Why was I the only one who was supposed to apologize when she started the whole thing? I was pissed at her, my dad, and my mom for literally sitting there like a queen and watching an injustice happening to her only daughter. When I reached my bedroom, I slammed the door and threw myself on top of my bed. My bedroom door swung open, and I heard someone who was not invited approaching my bed.

“Meadow?” My brother Christopher softly said my name. He only used that tone when I was sad or angry. I loved and respected him so much. He was my oldest brother, my father’s first son, and the heir to the throne. I sat up in my bed and looked at him. He held out his hand, and I put my head under it, and he gently massaged my hair. It was our thing. He liked playing with my hair, and I also liked it when he did.

“I love your hair. It’s the smoothest thing I have ever touched.” He said, still playing with it. I had long, smooth, and straight hair, so I did not blame him.

“I am sorry,” I told him as a tear fell from my eyes, and he wiped it away with his thumb before pulling me into his embrace. Christopher was huge. He had wide shoulders, and that is why I felt comfortable and at home when I was in his embrace, and he knew it as well.

“You, my darling sister, did nothing wrong. Mother was the one who started all of this, so you don’t have to apologize if you don’t want to, but I think it would be best if you did just to maintain the peace in the family. You must show her that you are a better person than she is.” He said, and I understood what he meant, but that did not mean I liked it. I pulled out of his embrace and looked at him.

“You are right, brother. How are you so wise?” I asked him teasingly, and he pretended to think about it.

“I do not know, maybe it is because I have the most intelligent sister in the world,” I smiled at that, but it turned into a scowl when he said. “I am kidding, by the way.” He said and laughed.

“You are such a jerk,” I said, and that made him laugh even harder.

“Okay, it is no longer funny.” I teased him, and he stopped laughing immediately.

“Now, about our stepmom. How do you deal with her?” I asked him because he never got angry at her when she was acting nasty.

“I do not take anything she says seriously. Yes, she does not like us except her sons, but I do not care. It is not like her not liking me is doing anything to me. So, I try not to let anything she says get to me, and I wish you would be like that as well.” I smiled and nodded at him.

“I will try, brother. Now, let us go downstairs. I have some apologizing to do.” I said, and we laughed as we left my room. When we reached the table, everyone was still there eating and chatting. Christopher sat down while I remained standing.

“Mother, I would like to apologize to you for how I acted. It was not ladylike, and I was disrespectful. Please forgive me?” I asked her, bowing. My apology felt sincere, so there was no way my father would not be satisfied with it.

“It is okay. You are still a child, and either way, it is a mother’s job to teach her child manners, and it seems like she failed.” She smirked, looking at my mother, and I resisted the urge to punch that smirk out of her face. I balled my hands and let them fall on my sides before forcing out a smile.

“Yes, mother. You failed at your job, or are you not my mother as well?” I asked her with a smirk, and she glared at me. Satisfied with her reaction and lack of speech, I sat down and ate my food. That would teach her not to mess with my mother or me. I glanced at my mom only to find her happily eating her food, and that made me smile. After eating, I did not have anything else to do, so I just hung out with Jayden and Jorden. The rest of the day was uneventful.