Chapter 9

"Of all the women at the ball, he said you stood out the most...and when you came to the balcony, he hid because he was too shy to speak to you." Valentina blushed at Josephine's words.

She wasn't a believer before, but she was sure that Josephine was telling the truth for once. How else would she have known that she was looking for the prince on the balcony?

"Fine, I believe you. I won't tell mother," Valentina decided with an arrogant sigh. Josephine, pleased that her ploy to avoid Madia had worked, turned away to head back into the ball, only to be called back by Valentina. "Where do you think you are going?" Josephine turned to see Valentina staring at her in confusion.

"What else?" Josephine exclaimed quietly, she had had enough of Valentina, and desperately wanted to not be around her any longer. Valentina Tapped her chin while she looked Josephine up and down. Then her light green eyes twinkled mischievously, Josephine let out a sigh, the last thing she wanted for Valentina was mischievousness.

"I won't tell mother..." She began to speak as she twirled her dark brown hair between her slender fingers. "If you get the prince to dance with me at the next ball." Valentina exclaimed with a joyful scream. Josephine had to hold herself from choking Valentina right there and then. Exhausted from all that had happened, she agreed to help Valentina get her prince charming.

The ball ended soon, and the Romano family and all the attendants of the ball returned to their respective homes. The night was still young for some, who quickly took the party to several bars in town. When they arrived at the estate, the gate was quickly opened for the carriage; Madia and her daughters stepped off first and went up to their respective rooms to change. Madia came back down and when she saw Josephine walking around aimlessly, she called to her.

"If you have time to gallivant this evening, you might as well complete your chores for the day." She rubbed some lotion on her arms as she walked towards the kitchen. When Josephine did not follow her, she came back into the room and pulled on her arms harshly. "You have been misbehaving all day, and it seems the beating I gave you today hasn't taught you your lesson." Madia shouted at Josephine as she pulled her through the kitchen doors and towards a small shed at the back of the house.

The shed was shorter than their mansion, it had flowers and weeds growing on the walls, and it was right beside their garden. Madia pulled the wooden door open and a few objects fell out of the packed room. Josephine rubbed her eyes as dust flew into her eyes; the room was covered in it. Madia pointed towards the piles of objects in the shed and pointed to Josephine.

"Clean it up." She snared, then shoved Josephine out of the way.

Josephine stomped her foot on the ground, this woman was insane, she thought. She turned towards her stepmother who had a snide smile on her face and shouted back. "Why am I cleaning all this trash?" Josephine was insulted by the entire exchange, she had had multiple cleaners, helps and maids to do her bidding while she was Luca; how dare this woman demean her to the role of a mere help.

"Trash? Weren't you the one that called your father's belongings treasures, or did you already forget?" Madia crossed her arms and sighed at Josephine. When Josephine didn't respond, Madia added "You know there is a place we send girls that easily forget?" She chuckled threateningly, then turned to leave.

Josephine turned to look at the shed, she was not going to clean anything tonight, or ever. She kicked a chair that fell out of the shed and turned for the back door. When she pushed it open, she was met with Madia's angry face.

"Didn't I just give you an order?" Madia yelled a crow-like sound that rang in Josephine's ears. "Are you taking my words for granted in my own house?" Madia shoved Josephine through the backdoor, causing her to fall on the ground. Josephine fisted her hands and pushed herself off the ground, she instinctively lifted her hands up to strike Madia but when she saw the anger in Madia's eyes she deduced it would be better to bide her time some more. When Josephine dropped her hands to her sides, Madia slapped her instantly. Josephine's face prickled and burned, if she wasn't busy fighting a tear, she would have strangled the old woman. "You dare raise your hands at me?" Madia huffed; she then grabbed Josephine's ear and dragged her back to the shed.

"Disobedient girls like you need to be punished." Madia grabbed a broom and tossed it at Josephine, "you aren't allowed into my house till you clean up this mess, and when morning comes I expect you to sell everything at the market." Madia was fuming, her face turned an ugly shade of red, and her grayish hair unwound from the bun she tied it in. "If you disobey me any further, you will have to find a new place to call home, wretched girl." With her final words, Madia stomped back into the house and slammed the door behind her; Josephine then heard a lock and the sound of angry large feet walking up the stairs.

When Josephine sensed that Madia was back in her room, she collapsed on the ground and stared up at the sky. "Damn you Josephine. Do you let everyone walk all over you?" Josephine rolled to her sides and stared at her fingers, there was dirt under her nails and her fingers were very skinny. "I don't think I can get used to this body, it's so light and thin. Does she even eat?" Josephine got off the ground and stared at her hands, then she touched her stomach and her arms and her thighs. "Everything is so small. I must be five foot six, or even shorter." She then trailed her hands up to cup her breasts. "She's flat." She exclaimed with annoyance. Josephine collapsed to the ground again and stared up at the sky.

"Fat witch, come out already, I know you are there." Josephine closed her eyes as she spoke to no one. Then a bright light appeared and puff the witch from before appeared once more.

"How dare you call me fat. I'm voluptuous." She blew an imaginary kiss at Josephine, who swatted it away.

"As voluptuous as a frog. Change me back to my old body." Josephine growled at the woman.

"I have no idea what you are asking, child." The woman floated over to the shed and began to examine the objects arranged in piles. She would chuckle to herself as she blew the dust of each one.

"You know what I mean. This body, this skinny stick of a girl, you trapped me inside. I hate it, send me back." Josephine shouted at the intrigued witch as she grabbed the picture frame out of her hands. The old witch wistfully stared at the picture in Josephine's hands, then she smiled and continued to look at another one. "Is this some sort of god complex thing? Meddling in my life. Who do you think you are?" Josephine growled at the witch when she did not respond to her.

The witch let out a sarcastic and exaggerated sigh, then she turned to look at Josephine and with a coy smile said "The question you should be asking yourself is who are you Josephine Romano?"