The Snitch

Khalshara's point of view 

The stern voice startled me, my eyebrows arching in surprise. A shiver ran down my spine and I gulped as I recognise the icy tone. Besides the maids and other staffs, only one person spoke to me with duch ich disdain. It was none other than my stepmother, Luna Grace.

So, I turn slowly towards the source of her voice, my heart sinking with each step, different thoughts running through my mind.

What now?

Can't she just let me off the hook so I can go and rest?

A pity I can only complain within myself rather than saying it right to her face the moment I came face to face with her.

Sitting before me on a majestic velvet armchair with legs crossed and hands folded to her chest was Luna Grace. She sat regally with her raven hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. Her flowing lilac nightgown shimmered, accentuating her poses demeanor. Her tapping feet whispered a hint of impatience.

Luna Grace's index finger summoned me. So, I sauntered towards her with a surpressed sigh. I was a few feets away from her when she aised her hand in mid air and I stopped.

"Good evening Luna," I mumbled, trying to sound respectful. 

Luna Grace frowned, her voice dripping with disdain, "tell me, what's good about the evening?"

I felt my gaze drop, my eyes locking onto the intricate patterns on the rug. "I'm sorry Luna," I apologised even though I've done nothing wrong.

The sigh that escaped from her lips was a heavy one with hidden meanings attached to it. Before I could ponder what the meaning behind her sigh was, she asked, "how is the preparation with the banquet going?"

Wow!

I thought Luna Grace stopped me because of what happened this afternoon. Because I know Linda so well. She wouldn't have let me off easily and would have reported me to her mother. However, it seems reverse was the case because it is surprising to hear Luna Grace ask me about the banquet.

A smile spread across my face while eagerness built within me, "the preparation are going well Luna. Everything including the rest of the decorations and dishes will be finalized tomorrow."

Her head dipped in a nod. Then, she arose from the chair and lazily walked towards a vase filled with fresh roses, "That is nice," she voiced, sniffing a rose she picked from the vase.

But, she suddenly turned to me with a sinister smirk on her face, "i heard from the maids that you really enjoyed your time this evening. Is that true?"

The smile on my face became sour as I rack my head for the right words to say. The last thing I want is to offend her tonight. But, I could already deduce she isn't far from anger with the way she's acting towards me.

"Today was a busy day Luna. I was too busy with the banquet preparations and had a lot to put in place. So, I didn't have the time to think about pleasure."

Her lips formed into a thin smile while she returned the rose into the vase. She then slowly approached me.

Why is she walking towards me?

Still with a smile on her face, Luna Grace stood in front of me. She clicked her tongue on her teeth while her eyes glistened with mischief. In the twinkle of an eye, a resounding slap landed on my face.

"You slut!"

The force at which the slap collided with my pale skin made my knees weaken and i instantly fell to the cold floor. 

'What? A slut? Why is she calling me that?' I thought, tears welling up in my eyes.

What have I done to deserve a slap by this time of the day?

Is this how she is going to pay me for working my butt off in preparation of her birthday banquet, while her daughters whine away time?

The tears in my eyes stream down my face when I could no longer hold them back. She crouched, her eyes leveling with mine. Her cold fingers grasped my chin, her nails digging into my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.

"One of the rules I gave to you when you arrived at the pack was to never mingle with anyone apart from the staff. So, why then did you mingle with an outsider?" She asked, tightening her grip on my chin.

"Luna, I- I don't know what you're talk- talking about," I voiced, but my speech only came out as stuttering words.

She released my chin. A smile spread across her face while her gaze lingered in my direction, "you don't know what I'm talking about?"

I nodded only to receive another slap.

Pam!

My mouth dried, the metallic taste of fear coating my tongue at the impact of the slap. "Bitch!" She cursed at me. "You're a bitch just like your dead mother!"

Something more than fury aroused in me at the mention of my mother that I didn't know when I yelled back, "Don't talk about my mother like that!" I would have kept my mouth shut if she hadn't slapped me in the first place.

But, I'm now confident more than ever since she started the whole thing by gifting me two heavy slaps when I've done nothing to her. She can slap me or beat however she wants because I have nothing to loose anyway.

"I thought my daughters where joking when they said you have now grown wings and no longer know your place. Now, I can see that you really are what they said you are!" Luna Grace lash at me but I didn't say a word.

"Your mother has really done a good job by teaching you how to seduce men just like she did." 

"I didn't seduce anybody!" I retorted, wondering what she was talking about when the thought finally came to me.

Brandon.

She was talking about Brandon.

Still, I didn't seduce him. He offered me a helping hand and I happily accepted it. So, what was this story about seduction?

"You claim you didn't seduce anybody but Linda clearly saw you throwing yourself at him. Now tell me, doesn't that count as seduction?" Luna Grace seethed as more tears flowed down my face. My fist clenched and I gritted my teeth multiple times as she spoke.

No wonder I felt someone glaring at me while Brandon and I spoke after we walked out of the house. 

So, it was Linda!