Chapter 11 SLAVES TO LUPIN

　　ALASKA

　　SOME YEARS LATER

　　DACIANA & RUBY

　　“Get up, you weaklings…” Helene shouted at the two sisters who where currently huddled on the bare floor, no blankets as they slept away, tired from the day’s work.

　　Ruby grunted, but didn’t wake at all, as for little Daciana she was already up,eyes blinking as she looked around, trying to clear her sleepy eyes, rubbing it furiously.

　　This was the third time they were being woken up, by their wicked Aunty, Helene Lupin.

　　Ever since the death of their parents five years ago, Ruby now 10, and Daciana 6, were really bearing the harsh brunts of their aunt’s evil ways.

　　She had successfully transferred the hatred she had for the children’s mother down to them, and it was telling on them real well.

　　They lived at the outskirts of the town, so no one, had an iota of the things they were going through.

　　Daciana barely looked 6, as she was malnourished, barely well fed, and always in tattered clothes.

　　The same could be said for Ruby, who was quickly advancing in age, and yet was in shambles.

　　Their blonde colored hair, had over bleached turning almost into white, as it had not been shampooed in months, or seen the light of day for days, as it was always unkempt.

　　Suffice to say they looked like slaves, and it was befitting to call them that.

　　They did everything in the house they lived in with their aunt, and their cousins, Princess, Bianca and Diana, rarely helped them at all.

　　Diana was just 5 years, and the baby of the house so she did nothing, but Princess and Bianca who were both 10 and 7 each, never did anything, and didn’t even want to help.

　　Those girls, were the mini version of their mother, and went around reporting every little mistakes the kids made, to their ever supportive mother.

　　Just like their mother, Ruby had termed them little witches, something her and Daciana laughed over, even though they were too little to understand the gravity behind the words.

　　Well, they had enough sense, never to belt out that word in public, as they wouldn’t want to be beaten shamelessly and without remorse.

　　At this tender age, they were forced to do manual labor, fetch water from a stream that was not far from the house, arrange the house, and help in the kitchen.

　　All while Helene’s daughters relaxed, watching TV, doing nothing, eating snacks, and lazing around.

　　Left for Ruby, it was evident that she had her own ways of punishing them, with her hidden powers, but not wanting to put her little sister in trouble, she refrained from doing anything, always restraining herself.

　　“Are you deaf girl…” Helene barked, and not minding that the room was cold on its own, she doused the bucket of ice cold water on Ruby’s sleeping form, and she woke up with a start.

　　Daciana as she sat, was already sobbing painfully, heart wrenching at the reality and what was to come for them that night.

　　It was almost midnight, they were just trying to sleep, and now this…

　　Sniffing, Daciana turned to look at Ruby, whose eyes were glowing a very pure light shade of green.

　　Daciana could sense that her sister was already getting angry, as she had noticed that her eyes always turned hot green whenever she was in a rage, and creeping her hands in the dark, she touched her sister’s shoulder gently, trying to calm her softly.

　　Slowly Ruby raised her eyes up still in rage, but Daciana’s frail hands on her shoulder was enough to do the magic and she calmed down quickly.

　　“Sister, don’t be be angwy. Evwy thing wi…” Daciana started to say, with a evident lisp in her tone, but Helene was not having any of it, as she barked, interrupting her speech by saying, “What the hell are you saying?” She asked, and bending down, she pulled Daciana by the ears painfully, and got her to a standing position.

　　Holding her roughly, she asked again, looking down at Daciana, “What are you telling your sister? Talk to me this instant.”

　　Daciana, shuddered at the intensity of her harsh words, and the hurting hand on her ear was enough to make things worse, as she sniffled back tears in pain.

　　“Are you deaf?” Helene questioned again, still squeezing her ears and said again, “If you don’t answer me this instant, I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your night outside.”

　　“I… I…” She started stammering, but no words seemed to call out from the 6 year olds mouth.

　　“You don’t want to talk huh?” Helene questioned, with a smirk evident on her face, and added, “You’re following your sister. You want to stubborn like her huh?”

　　Not even waiting for any response, Helene landed a slap on poor Daciana’s face.

　　Her wails and sobs filled the air, disrupting the peaceful night atmosphere, but still their aunty didn’t care, as she brought out a whip from nowhere.

　　Ruby was helpless, she had no idea what to do, and even though her rage had calmed down, seeing her sister in so much pain, was hurting her so much.

　　Swallowing a huge lump of saliva that was stuck down her throat, Ruby stood up slowly, tears streaming down her face and said helplessly, “Aunty please leave my sister alone.”

　　Ruby was late in begging though, because just as she started to say something, Helene brought the whip in her hand down, and started beating Daciana mercilessly.

　　The poor girl wept loudly, in the middle of the night, and protectively not minding her own self, Ruby ran and wrapped her embrace tightly round her little sister.

　　Helene seeing the little action, didn’t stop flogging Daciana or Ruby instead, she intensified the beating.

　　With no feelings whatsoever, she continued flogging the two children, even dipping the cane in a bucket of water nearby and continuing her wicked deed.

　　Hands still wrapped protectively round her sister, Ruby hardened her heart despite the pains she was going through and not shedding a tear, she endured the lashes from her wicked aunt in the cold of the night.

　　This was the horror they faced everyday.

　　Orphanage, at such an early age, not having any good memories of their parents, Ruby and Daciana both lived each day hoping for better days, that was bi where in sight.

　　Every day since they had started living with their Aunty, who was their only relative, still alive Ruby and Daciana were going through hell.

　　So much more than they had ever bargained for.

　　Their tale was indeed a pitiable one.