Who’s The Monster? Surely It’s Me

"Young miss, Wake up! Young miss! The sun has risen!"

A seven year old girl eyes open softly as she feels a gentle shake.

"Young miss, finally! Your father, the Grand Duke has been waiting patiently without uttering a single word at the dinner table."

"Ah! Why didn't you wake me earlier Evelyn! Father will surely get mad if he we make him wait any longer!"

The seven year old girl, springs out of bed and rushes her nanny to get her ready only hoping her father wouldn't like her any less than he does already.

"Young miss, stay still! It won't get any easier for me if you continue to move so much while I'm brushing your hair."

"I'm sorry Evelyn, I'm just a little nervous. why do you think father would call me? Me; a monster?"

The small girl says.

"Young miss, you are not a monster! Please refrain from calling yourself one."

Evelyn the nanny cries out with a voice full of sympathy.

"Why not? I mean I am the one who killed my mother. You know I killed her."

The girl spits out without batting an eye.

"You know it isn't your fault! Stop blaming yourself for your mothers death. She was weak and fragile. It had nothing to do with you. You are Sylvia Valadez, don't think of yourself anything other than who you are."

Evelyn spits back, as if they were having a verbal battle.

"Thank you, Evelyn. Thank you."

The Sylvia says quietly under her breath with a smile, but loud enough that even her nanny could hear her.

***

"Good morning father, why have you called me so early morning?"

Sylvia tried to say coldly but anyone would still be able to hear the softness in her tone.

The man yet to say anything just stares. Glaring at her with nothing but coldness and hatred in his eyes.

"You'll have a sister soon."

The middle aged man says.

"An old friend of mine passed away in a carriage accident with his wife and his daughter has nowhere to go, so we'll be taking her in. Don't be mistaken, I am not taking pity on her. On the outside she'll be treated as the pitiful daughter, who is taken in by the the Dukes family and treated like a princess, but in the inside, she shall attend to you as your maid. I dare you. Treat her as anything more than just a piece of trash, a servant. Then you'll go back into the cold room."

Sylvia shivers.

"Not the cold room!"

Sylvia yelps, but quickly sits back down realizing how much disrespect she's showing.

"But father, her parents just passed why are yo-"

But before Sylvia could finish her sentence she was cut off with a roar.

"Shut up! How dare you talk back to me. Stupid girl, listen to me for once. Do what I say, and do not dare to question me again. I cannot believe you've grown like this. I wonder where've you've got the nerve."

The grown man says calmly while glancing at Sylvias nanny.

"I think it's time to correct you again, it seems like you've forgotten, how I am. how I taste."

The man says to the nanny but is now directly staring at her.

"Father no! Please stop, don't take Evelyn again!"

Sylvia pleads but soon her father is walking towards her at a steady pace. He raises his hands and launches his hand across her face.

"Shut your mouth, you insolent brat. Don't you dare raise your voice at me. You, a monster shouldn't be talking. You killed your mother and now you plan to rebel!?"

The man yells, with spit flying from his mouth at all directions but Sylvia stays silent with her head down.

The man walks. He walks a few inches past Evelyn and says without turning his head back.

"Come follow me to my room right now. It seems you've been a bad girl and you've forgotten your roots. Where've you've come from. You need punishing."

The man says without stuttering a single word.

"Y-yes sir. But may I please bring the lady back to her room?"

Evelyn says shakily but firm.

The man paused at her question, then thought. He slowly responded with

"Do as you wish"

and quickly walks away.

"Let's bring you back to your room young miss."

Evelyn said with a smile.

"But Evelyn you.. my father.. are you really going to go?"

"I must young miss, it's my job, and it's for you."

Evelyn says firmly.

"But.. yo-"

Sylvia says before realizing there's no point.

"Let us go then."