Cossette shifted her gaze out the window, sighing deeply to herself. Something about the day seemed unwelcoming, taunting and ominous. The fall trees shook under the heavy breathing of the upcoming winter's wind. The outside world held so much interest for her young mind, what was beyond these walls? Something wonderful no doubt, something that could bring only joy. The kind of joy that swelled up inside you and made it impossible to frown. Something people sing of, the thing they speak of when talking of their wildest dreams. But alas she was far too beautiful for the outside world, and like a doll she was contained to these stonewalls. It was as if she was in a box of glass, untouchable to that of 'normal' people's hands.
The house she had long since explored, all its secrets discovered and investigated. What was she to do? Marcello was away in his studio, most likely painting, Father upstairs working and Mother baking away. Cossette hopped off the big couch by the window and made her way across the room. The statues stood looming above anything else, claiming their rightful power. The piano held nothing for her now; music should not come from bored fingers in her mind. She skipped across the stone floor and towards the garden. She strolled out to the swings and took a seat. The cold weather nipped at her nose, the tips of her fingers already ice. She giggled as wind blew fourth and sent her hair to whip around her head. As the wind calmed she swung a little, winter was coming. Fall was clinging to the earth, refusing to lose its spot to winter. It was a fierce battle this year.
Cossette sneezed and with that returned inside. How could a 'goddess' spend her time when she was so restricted? She made her way upstairs and peeked in all the room the mansion had, hoping her puppy lay asleep in one of them. Boredom was maddening, what could one do to sway it when nothing before had? She entered her room and brushed her hair quickly, adding her favourite bow to it. "Cossette!" She heard Marcello call, beckoning her. She jumped off the bed and smiled, finally someone to talk to! Something to do! "Coming" She called back racing to the studio, her heels clipping the glass covered floor. She ran up another flight of stairs, then another before running into the hallway towards the art studio.
"Marcello!" She said happily, as she grabbed the door handle. The door burst open as she jumped back. "What?" She breathed and took yet another step backwards. Marcello held a sword in his hand, he walked slowly enough for a zombie, yet fast enough to wish it were slower, wish for more time. Cossette backed away; this was the omen she had felt before. "Marcello?" She asked, "Why do you have that?" But no reply came; she just walked away as he staggered forward. Her back slapped the wall, she gasped as she stood before the man she loved and the walls gradually closing in on her.
He stopped, and spoke then, his voice raspy and chilling. "Cossette, why do you grow so? You're a gift from God, your beauty unmatched even by those who walk the heavens. Yet you change. Your face becomes thinner, your legs longer and your arms slenderer. I'll freeze your beauty for all time you will not change anymore. You will not ruin God's gift to the world" He spoke and raised the sword, grabbing a hold of her shoulder.
"But… I love you so much!" She screamed, and tears ran freely down her cheeks. "I love you too Cossette, more then you will ever know. I love your magnificence, and I love what God granted to this world, and to me. He gave me you so I could paint you; show others your unsurpassed perfection and I've done that now. If the model changes, what good is the paintings? Goodbye Cossette, I love you" He said and let the sword the fall. She cringed before it hit her, and the walls fully closed in then, swallowing her.