There were countless whispers, and no one spoke to me, not even the teachers. I was not introduced to my classes because the whole school knew who I was and how I was to be treated. No one was going to argue with the granddaughter of the school's chairman because it would be like dancing on their own grave. Instead, I was granted with nothing more than a school full of felines and I was the only dog.

'This day was turning out to be real peachy.'

Not to mention that every time I passed Thalia Gulding, she would pretend to be utterly busy. Other times she would blatantly show off her left hand; adorning my engagement ring, to her endless throng of followers. The surprise from my ring on her finger filled the hallway with feline noise. I continued passed them all and headed into the dining hall.

            I quickly found my assigned table and I was in the center of the room. I was absolutely sure I would be today's form of entertainment. Everyone flooded into the dining hall taking their assigned seat before sliding their chair around to face me, the entertainment. The last to enter the room was the new queen and her pawns; they sat in the front row, but as soon as she sat down she snapped her fingers twice then a butler came with a silver lidded tray. "Feed the dog first." It seems I wasn't the only one who was aware of my status amongst the felines.

The butler then moved toward me not bothering to switch the tray because he already had it and was just waiting for the order to serve its contents. He sat the tray in front of me and lifted the lid. "For your lunch menu today; Ms. Veile, stewed chitterlings with a side of surströmming. For your dessert, you'll have wheat biscuits." I looked down at my plate and almost gagged. I have eaten chitterlings before since I did live in South Africa and the latter, but these were obviously ill-prepared on purpose.

The surströmming was still in its can creating a stench that made one want to hurl on contact. Somehow my stomach still held its contents as I turned to the butler. "You wouldn't happen to have something else more edible? Perhaps a regular slice of pizza with anchovies? If I am to eat anything at all? I think I could take at least that and still be laughed at." The butler's lips twitched as if he were going to grin but quickly fixed his face.

"Are you being ungrateful? Are you aware of how many orphans starve each day outside these Sceptors?! Look at you, being picky about what food we give you! I am so sorry it is not to your liking, your highness." The cafeteria filled with snickers and I took it as the opportune time to challenge the wannabe queen.

"I don't mean to be rude princess, but it is obvious your catering stinks. Quite literally so." I scrunched my nose at the vile odor making its way from my plate. "Also may I ask why I'm pairing surströmming with chitterlings? What kind of pair is that? Don't you think that this is even too harsh for a dog." I let the smallest grin make its way on my face and stared her dead in her eyes, challenging her further.

"Oh yes that is right; you are a feline, I guess your delicacy of rotten fish is quite normal around here. It is of no surprise that a lot of things around here smell like used litter. Since I am a dog I shall tell you what we dogs prefer." Her face was starting to twist into the most unsightly death glare as if daring me to say another word. I scoffed in spite.

'Word.'

"I prefer steak thicker than my palm, and I could also go for a side of corn, and potatoes. Though I doubt I can find anything of that calibre in this house of cats, which is why I'd rather settle for some good ole pizza and anchovies." The corners of her mouth lifted as if she were about to smile.

"Also, as for being an orphan. Yes, my parents are dead, but I do understand that you've gotten my title very wrong Ms. Gulding. You see, I have never really been parent-less according to paper, in fact, as soon as my blood died I became legally married to Fabian Vector. Meaning I couldn't possibly say I am an orphan, but more of a daughter-in-law. I have parents, they are my mother- and father-in-law. So sorry to disappoint your thinking of me as a lonely creature with nobody left. Of course, there are also all my uncles and grandparents but I'll hold on them." She was paling and the smile left.

I pushed my horrid plate further in the center of the table before placing the lid back on it to entrap the smell. I placed my elbows on the table to rest my chin on my laced fingers as I continue to stare at miss pretty kitty to see if she wanted to further insult me. I didn't have to wait long.

"That doesn't change the fact that your parents are still dead! You are still an orphan, and I bet all those relatives you won't speak of can't wait to get rid of you! The disrespect you show me here is proof!" She really knew how to hit low. The butler sat a glass of water in front of me and I stared at it; inspecting it, wondering if they fished it out a toilet bowl to make me seem even more like a dog. I picked it up and smelled it before downing it.

"If I get sick from that later I'll let you know, and as for what you said. I couldn't care less if my disrespect for you shows; because I am here to let you know, its on purpose... Good day, Mrs. Vector." I stood, and I left the dining hall heading for my next class though I enjoyed the shriek of utter rage I heard before the door closed behind me.

             The day dragged on for the 3 hours that remained after my morbid lunch period, though when it was over I was relieved. The girls tried everything to shake my impending calm, but verbal insult does little to A Queen who's been insulted all her life. Their meager words of insult were mere pieces of sand falling in a vase full of 600-carat diamond stones. I walked out of that of den litter throwing felines and looked longingly to my black chariot where my knight awaited...

'With a dragon?'

"How was school?!" Was the first thing Charlie asked me when he saw my face, though to my real surprise, sitting with his legs dangling outside the car was none other than my husband. There were several girls awaiting their rides, so of course, they stopped and stared at him. I glared at Fabian while he looked confused at my expression. "I take it that it wasn't very good." Fabian stood, his hair was side-parted and slicked back while he was in a light grey suit with a black dress shirt that sported a very fancy red tie. The rest of his cuff links and accents were silver.

Fabian in professional attire made him look beyond dangerously handsome, but I knew better than to gawk, so I took an interest in his shiny black oxfords. I felt my hand jerk forward, and I heard a growl which made me look up at him. He was clearly pissed. "Where is your ring?" His green eyes were electric almost making me blurt the answer out to him, but at the same time, my anger had already won.

"I gave it to a loan shark, it sold for quite the pretty penny." He smiled a devilish smile and hugged me to him positioning us so he was once again teasing my ear with his warm breath.

"I am going to so enjoy teaching you how to be obedient, my little tree nymph." He released me and I felt my face flush with a mix of anger and embarrassment, but once again I'd gotten cut off. An ear-piercing shriek rang through my eardrums, rendering any thought useless. I knew exactly who it was so I didn't bother turning. I looked to Fabian to tell him off, but the look of utter and total boredom that he wore on his face made me stop. Even though the look wasn't directed toward me, it made one flinch because it was so mocking.

"Oh, if it isn't Thalia; please marry me, Gulding." His tone toward her trashed every part of her being, making her seem as if she was just an inconvenience to him. His face was beyond aloof and he began to let the cruelest smile shift on his face.

"So I guess she's the loan shark, yes?" He stared down at me and it made me feel small and I never felt small, no matter how tiny I was in real life. He didn't even wait for my answer, he let out a dark fake laugh as if he were being maniacal. "I somehow don't believe that, if you ask me you were stolen from? Yes?" He moved passed me, but not before sitting me down in the car. "Then again, you are way too nice my little tree nymph, to the point you often make the mistake of giving things to the ungrateful and scheming part of the needy. Lord knows you need the money Ms. Gulding."

Fabian took slow carefully dragged out steps toward Thalia who looked frozen in fear. The surrounding girls repelled from her, losing their nerve. Thalia tried to form words, but they came out in stuttered mumbles. "B-b-b, m-m-m. Shut it." I wanted to stop Fabian, he was being too cruel. I began to stand but Charlie blocked me off and sat me back down, he placed each of my legs in the car and closed the door. He locked the car and I rolled down the window to protest but became silenced with a single stare that told me not to even dare.

"Fabian please excuse my granddaughter's behavior, I wasn't aware of her rudeness." I nearly scoffed at her remark.

'I beg to differ.'

"I promise it will not happen again" Angela pulled my ring off of her granddaughter's finger and Thalia looked defeated.

"You're right it won't. I was giving you all the privilege of taking care of my wife's education and social life, but it seems you all are more deserving of horse manure." Fabian began to chuckle before looking to Thalia. "I heard everything by the way, down to how you thought it'd be funny to feed my wife the food of slaves along with your own cat food."

Angela's face looked pale. "I-"

"I said shut it! You old miserable hag!" Fabian turned toward my chariot in which I was entrapped. "Charlie. I think the kittens are hungry, no?" Charlie smiled, and I felt myself go pale.

'He wouldn't.'

"Yes sir, I think they are." A limo pulled up and behind it was a small truck. Charlie opened the car and lead me toward the limo while the girls who were waiting outside for their rides home were being directed back inside by men in black uniforms.

"What is happening?" Charlie chuckled with pride.

"The King is showing the rich some manners."