Petals on the Wind (Dollanganger, #2)

by V.C. Andrews

This was my moment of triumph! Moving as only a ballerina can, I meant to play my role to the utmost of my dramatic ability. As the guests stared upward, clearly caught in thrall by time moved backward, I gloated to see my mother blanch. Then I rejoiced to see Bart’s eyes widen more as they jumped from me, to her, then back to me. Slowly, in a dead silence, for the music had stopped, I descended the left side of the dual winding staircases, thinking I was Caraboose, the wicked fairy who put upon Aurora the curse of death. Then I made myself the Lilac Fairy to steal away Aurora’s prince while she slept her sleep of one hundred years.

We grew thin, half-sick, malnourished, and suffered through two weeks of starvation while you and our mother traveled throughout Europe on your honeymoon.

“it wasn’t Cathy who cried out to remind your husband your mother was still inside. You did that. You must have seen he couldn’t go back in that house and live. Perhaps you would rather see your husband dead than married to your daughter.”

Jory shrieked out then he’d caught a fish. Was it too small? Would he have to throw back another? “Yes,” called Chris, “that’s just a baby. We don’t eat baby fish, only the big ones.”