“I WILL RAISE MY VOICE IF I FIND IT NECESSARY!” I yelled at Adelind furiously.

“YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE BRAT!”

“UNGRATEFUL?! HOW CAN YOU CALL ME UNGRATEFUL?!”

“YOU WILL STOP THIS BEHAVIOR THIS INSTANT!”

“I WILL NOT! YOU, CONNIVING, DIRTY SNAKE!”

Adelind had crossed the room and grabbed my chin between her long fingers before I’d even seen her get up. My jaw hurt where she held it, but my glare stayed fierce and angry on her face. Her right eye twitched and she shoved me to the floor. My arms flung out to strike her, but only hit the floor. Adelind quickly pressed the heel of her shoe into the center of my palm and I screamed in pain.

“You are never to return to your third floor room. If you cannot learn obedience, I have no choice but to leave you with the servants.”

I writhed on the floor, my body contorted as it tried to free my hand from under her heel, but it was impossible. Salty tears ran from my eyes and snot ran down my face as I thrashed about, shrieking like a banshee trying to get my hand back