Fred's Musings: This story is different in that it is Twilight instead of the usual Harry Potter. I hope everyone takes to it. Let me know what you think.


Cinderella

by Fred

Chapter One

Once Upon A Time...


Darkness blanketed the sky, with only a few twinkling stars scattered across the inky plain above. The moonless night was cold and windy. Shivering, Bella rubbed her palms to gain a little warmth as she walked along the brightly-lit pavement.

Cars were rushing past on her right, and the racing headlights were a blur. Ahead on her left, were several grand but modern mansions situated only a bit apart from one another.

She hurried on, wanting to get to the house as soon as possible. She was afraid that the vacancy might already be filled.

"House number sixty-two... I think it's just around the corner. This is already fifty-six..." She muttered to herself, trying to distract from the cold.

Finally, she saw it. It was no surprise that the house was beautiful. Bella reached out and knocked, using the door's huge brass knocker.

While waiting, Bella let her thoughts run wild. It didn't take them any time at all to settle on her family. If she got the job...that was...if...she wondered when she was going to see them again.

My father was a policeman and they came to New York after the 911 attacks. Bella had been born in Forks, Washington, seventeen years ago, and sorely missed it. But things weren't so simple in her family.

Her father was a gambler, and it wasn't a good thing. Soon, her mother was fed up, and took Bella and her little brother away from him. They hadn't heard from him since.

Her family didn't have a lot of money, they used most of it renting a small apartment. Her mom had been an artist when her dad was around, but she had since given up her art. For years, her mom worked in a hotel in the mornings, and as a seamstress at night. Bella had helped in the hotel, but her mother wouldn't let her help at night. Her mother insisted that Bella not help at her night job in fact. It had something to do with not being able to stitch a seem. Each day's earnings were just enough to let them survive until the day after and pay the rent. But, a person could not work day and night, for they would fall ill someday, which was what happened to her Mother.

Bella was very worried then. She was afraid her meagre earnings were not enough. She could not be a seamstress like her Mother at night. She needed a job. What worried her the most, was that her Mom was really very ill, and they had no money to get her to the doctor. Her brother Charlie could not work, though he was already twelve. Charlie needed to take care of their mother.

The only choice Bella had was to look for another job. One that paid better. But it was very difficult, for who would want to hire an inexperienced seventeen-year-old? Plus, she only had a middle school education. She did 'home school' as far as the state was concerned.

This afternoon, Bella had heard that the Cullen family wanted to hire another laundry maid. She was hopeful that maybe she could be that maid. It wasn't like she lacked experience in cleaning. The Cullens lived in a grand mansion, and so the family was, of course, very rich, and the pay was naturally a lot higher.

Now, as she waited for someone to open the door, she hoped and hoped that she would get the job. If not, she simply did not know what to do. Her mom needed medicine.

The door was flung open, startling Bella from her thoughts.

"Yes?" a woman in a servant's uniform seemed very harassed. Under the street lamp, Bella could see that she was in her forties, with greying mahogany hair and a double chin. Her green eyes narrowed, perhaps because it was already very late at night. But Bella simply could not wait until the next morning. She didn't want to miss this opportunity.

"Um...I'm here for the job of laundry maid..." Bella gripped her dress in a nervous habit.

The servant surveyed her up and down. She did not look very pleased that Bella was there. Bella saw herself through the woman's eyes. She was dressed in an old dress, torn at the edges, and her long brown hair hung down her back in messy disarray. Ashamed, she nevertheless looked the woman in the eyes until the appraisal was over. Ms. Green eyes nodded her head. She must be a desperate for a maid as Bella was for a job.

"Come in, then," Ms. Green eyes demanded, her voice brisk and stern.

"You mean I got the job?" Bella blurted, unable to conceal her delight.

"Well, are you sure you are up to it? It's tough work, you know, and you're so thin. How old are you?"

"I am eighteen," Bella lied indignantly. "And I am strong enough."

"Good," Ms. Green eyes said. "Come with me."

The magnificent hall was half the size of a soccer court, dimly lit with lamps on a few pillars. She was led down the steps to a basement.

Once reached, Ms. Green eyes turned on the lights. Though it was half the size of the hall, it was very clean, even for a basemen. There was a kitchen, a laundry room, and a small bedroom where the maids slept. There was even a small bathroom.

"You may go and have a quick bath and change into decent clothes. There are extra uniforms in the bathroom. Then I will explain your working conditions," she said. "And you will call me Madam Fannie. Do you have references?"

"Yes, ma'am." Bella agreed.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Isabella Swan. Everyone calls me Bella."

After the bath, Madam Fannie told Bella about the chores she would start the next day, for example, waking the young Miss Cullen the next morning, and washing the clothes. Many pieces needed to be hand washed due to the fabric.

Yawning, Bella climbed into bed, and lay awake, listening to the chirping of crickets outside before sleep claimed her.

"Hey, wake up. Madam Fannie will be here soon." Bella felt someone tugging at the sleeve of her nightgown and whispering in her ear.

"W...What?" She asked, still half-asleep, and annoyed at being awakened from her dream. It was a really sweet one, about a particular ball with princes and people who looked like they were part of the royal family. Bella couldn't help thinking how weird that was. "What time is it?"

"It's already 5 a.m.! Quick! We must get ready!"

"We?" Bella asked, rubbing her eyes. That didn't sound like Mom... Then, who is it?

Bella sat up, glancing about the room. It was still bathed in darkness, but she could still make out its unfamiliar smell.

Then she remembered...of course, she was at the Cullen Mansion...as a laundry maid. She might not see her Mother and Charlie for months.

Just then, the lights flickered on.

"Time to wake up, sleepyhead." the voice that woke her announced again. It belonged to another girl whom Bella guessed was only a year older than herself. She had dark brown hair, small hazel eyes and a slim and very pale complexion. Overall, she was quite the average girl.

"Hi...um...I'm new here...and..." Bella began, feeling very awkward. That usually resulted in loss of speech.

"I know that," the brunette smiled warmly. "New laundry maid, right?"

"Yeah... are you the other laundry maid?" Bella asked, curiosity plaguing her.

"Yup," she replied, helping Bella fold her mattress after she got up. "I'm Alice. I simply can't cope on my own, you know, and there's so much clothes to wash. Plus, Maddie's on leave. Her mother got sick so she asked to – Hey, this isn't time to chat. We are running late." Alice ushered her to the bathroom. "Quick, wash your face and change into your clothes. Madam Fannie will be here in fifteen minutes."

"What?" Bella cried, horrified. Quickly, she rushed into the bathroom, but to her dismay and horror, it was cramped with a few other servants trying to do some last-minute wash-ups.

Luckily, with Alice's help, Bella managed to finish just in time.

Bella was dressed in a maid's pleated dark blue dress, with a snowy-white apron in front. Her hair was combed and braided neatly. Madam Fannie nodded in approval, and gave her the duty of waking Miss Karelline Cullen, the youngest daughter of Mrs. Cullen, also known as the Mistress.

"You're so lucky," sighed Alice as they headed up the stairs.

"Why?" Bella glanced at her. "Who are you assigned to?"

"I'm supposed to wake Miss Rosalie," she replied glumly. "She's the eldest, and the Mistress's favorite. She does whatever her mother tells her, and she simply doesn't have a mind of her own, even though she's already nineteen. What a waste. She's terribly clever, you know. And she's so talented in ballet and piano."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Bella wondered. It wasn't as if Miss Rosalie had offended her.

"No, it isn't," Alice replied irritably. "Miss Rosalie has a nasty temper, and she doesn't like being awakened. She has no choice, anyway, because she has to go to college."

"Why are we still standing here?" Alice suddenly glanced at the clock, horrified. "Come on, we have to go!"

They started to run up the marble steps, which was a chore and hazard. It was so smooth that it was easier to slip and fall than to climb a story.

"Miss Karelline is on the second story," Alice panted. "I've got to go!" And she ran up to the third.

She had gone before Bella could ask her which room was Miss Karelline's. But it didn't matter, for a large wooden sign which had 'Karelline's Room' in silver writing hung over one of the many doors in the corridor.

Bella took a deep breath, and knocked.

There was no reply.

She knocked again.

This time, Bella heard a sleepy voice say, "Come in". Heart pounding furiously, Bella turned the doorknob and stepped into the room.

"Maddie? Is that you?" Bella heard the voice ask. After turning on the lights, she gazed around the room in wonder. It was enormous. She could fit the house she lived in in it. Bella gulped. Thinking of her house made her think about her Mother and Charlie. Even though they knew she was safe and that she got the job, not being able to go home and celebrate with them, made her heart ache. Bella glanced around, trying to occupy her thoughts with something other than her family.

The curtains were a beautiful deep dark red, the light fell onto them, bathing part of the room in red as well. There was a desk made of the finest wood you could imagine. On that were numerous plush toys, ranging from a cuddly dog, to a pair of dolls whose dresses looked grander than Bella's.

There was a royal cabinet with exquisite designs carved on the outside, and Bella couldn't imagine what could be inside. Dresses and shoes fit for a princess, perhaps. She looked down at her own loafers. They were torn at the edges. Bella knew it would be sooner rather than later before they broke completely.

Finally, Bella's eyes fell on a Queen-sized bed. The carvings on the wood matched the ones on the cabinet. The pillows and blanket were a royal red too, to match the curtains. Laying upon it, gazing at her, was a young girl of about Charlie's age.

"Who are you? Where's Maddie?" she asked.

"She...she had to go back home," Bella replied, finding her voice for the first time. "Her mother was sick."

"Oh," the young lady replied. "Are you here to take over for her, then?"

"Yes, Miss Karelline," Bella said, regaining her composure. "I'm Bella. Quick, I've got to help you change and get you down to breakfast."

"I know how to change myself," the girl said. "I don't understand why Mother wants a maid to help me change. For goodness sake, I'm already twelve. Oh," she continued. "By the way, please don't call me 'miss'. It sounds as if I'm some pampered little rich girl. Just call me Karelline."

"I'm not allowed...Miss... The Mistress would scold me," Bella tried. The last thing she wanted was to get fired before she even had her first official paycheck.

"Scold?" Karelline scoffed. "Well, she certainly doesn't have any regard for maids. I mean, she wouldn't even bother." Miss Karelline gave a bitter laugh.

"But call me 'Karelline' when she's not around, okay?" she asked.

Bella nodded numbly. Here, Miss Karelline Cullen, one of the richest girls in the district, was asking for her friendship?

She smiled at Bella, her eyes twinkling. It reminded Bella of Alice's smile. She liked Miss Karelline. Miss Karelline wasn't snobbish, and she was friendly. She wanted a friend, not a maid.

Bella chatted with Karelline as she changed into her school uniform. She helped Karelline tie up her beautiful brown hair into a ponytail.

Bella gathered Karelline's nightclothes and together, they rushed down the stairs. Karelline was late for breakfast.

As Bella headed for the kitchen, she decided to see what the Cullen family was like. She knew she was taking a risk, but she felt it necessary. She had worked for pretty bad people for money before, and had vowed never to do it again. Bella hid behind a wall she was sure nobody noticed, and peeped at the tall table.

"You're late," she heard a voice say. It was a tall woman, seated at the table. Her blond hair was tied up in an elegant bun at the back of her head, her brown eyes looked cold, and her mouth was just a thin line. This must be the Mistress. She didn't seem at all mother like. There was no warmth in her eyes as she looked at Karelline. Bella's mom would always smile at her. She never looked coldly at either her or Charlie, even when she was angry. She would even let Bella cuddle up to her when she was upset. Bella doubted the Mistress would ever let Karelline cuddle her, from the way she looked at her.

"It's only a few minutes, Mother," Karelline announced.

"A few minutes is precious time," her mother said. "You made all of us wait for you."

"Well, I'm sorry," Karelline sulked, though she didn't seem sorry at all.

"Mother," said another voice - this time, a guy's voice. "It was only a few minutes, and I'm sure it wasn't intentional, was it, Karrie?"

"Of course it wasn't," Karelline beamed at him. I guessed him to be Karelline's brother, between seventeen and twenty years old, and he, like Karelline, had the same brown hair and brown eyes.

The Mistress, frowned at him, but she did not say anything.

"A few minutes IS precious, Edward," said the girl sitting beside the Mistress, directly opposite the guy called Edward. "Can you imagine the amount of things that I can do in a few minutes? I can practice my new piano piece, even if I can't finish it, or practice my ballet steps, or..." She seemed to be the oldest, and, like her mother, had long blond hair and dark brown eyes. Her voice, unlike her mother's stern one, was sugar sweet. This must be Miss Rosalie, whom Alice disliked so much.

But Master Edward just shook his head and started on his breakfast.

Bella watched the family, fascinated. Her own family was so different from theirs.

"Hey!" someone tapped Bella on the shoulder, giving her such a shock that she gasped and dropped all the clothes she was carrying. Bella grabbed them up and turned around.

It was Alice. "What are you doing here?" she whispered. "You're supposed to be in the basement. Madam Fannie - "

"You gave me such a shock." Bella glared at her. Had the family heard her gasp?

Bella peeped around the wall again, and saw Karelline looking at her, surprised, and mouthing 'Go!'

The Mistress was deep in conversation with Miss Rosalie, and didn't notice. But Master Edward had, and he was looking straight at her.

Bella gulped.

Oh my God... Was he going to tell?

Bella could hear her heart thumping furiously, and the blood pounding in her ears. But he just smiled and winked at her, before turning his attention back to his breakfast.

Bella heaved a huge sigh of relief.

"That was a close one," Bella whispered.

"Well, I wouldn't say it was," replied Alice, who didn't look remotely surprised. "Because Master Edward and Miss Karelline would never tell on us. If Miss Rosalie spotted you, however...you'd be dead."

"Yes, she doesn't look like the sort who would help us," Bella agreed, "What were you saying just now?"

"I was saying - OH MY GOD! We're going to be so dead. Madam Fannie. She's already angry with you for being late, and now we're even later" Alice stage whispered, as grabbed Bella's hand. Together, they ran down to the basement as noiselessly as they could.

Madam Fannie was practically fuming by the time they reached her.

"What were you two doing?" she demanded in a slow and dangerous voice.

"Well," Bella began in a small voice. "I...I got Miss Karelline's clothes...and when I reached the dining room...I...er...got distracted so I stayed there forgetting that I was supposed to be here...and I met Alice...and...she told me to come down."

Madam Fannie was staring into Bella's eyes, perhaps wondering if she should believe her.

After what seemed like ages, the Madam sighed and said, "Since you are new, I shall excuse you, but let this be the last time."

Bella nodded.

"Now go to your duties," she dismissed them.

Suddenly, Bella remembered something.

"Umm, Madam Fannie? My mother is sick, and she needs to see a doctor, so...can I get my pay in advance?" Bella begged. She knew she was asking a lot.

Madam Fannie gave her that piercing stare again. "I shall ask the Mistress, and tell you in the evening."

Bella wanted to protest, but couldn't.

"Go and do your duties." she cried, her anger rising again.

Alice pulled Bella away, into the laundry room.

"She's being unreasonable." Bella muttered in frustration. "Mother is really sick."

"I know," Alice calmed. "But it's no use blowing your top at Madam Fannie. The consequences would be terrible. You could get fired, and then who would take care of your family's financial needs? Come on," she continued. "Let's start on these clothes, then we can rest before we go and collect the next batch of clothes when they return form school."

Sighing, Bella knelt down with Alice, dumping the clothes into the huge pail of soap water, and started washing.

"Could you tell me about the Cullens?" Bella knew she shouldn't have asked, but she really was curious.

"Them?" Alice laughed. "There is nothing interesting about them; they're just old boring people."

"Come on," Bella insisted. "I want to know more."

"Okay, suit yourself. Well, I'll start with the Master."

Bella scrubbed and listened.

"He's a businessman, so he usually travels round the world, meeting clients and all that. He only comes home thrice a year, so the children aren't really close with him. Well, they aren't close with their mother either, except for Rosalie, anyway, given how she's like. But at least the Master treats them better than the Mistress."

"But why does the Mistress seem to dislike Miss Karelline so much?"

"All stepmothers treat their stepdaughters horribly," she said. "Well, mostly."

"What?" Bella exclaimed. "You mean..."

"Yeah, Karelline's not her real daughter. As I told you, the Master travels round the world, so it's unlikely that he'll not get into some relationship with some woman. But Karelline's mother died when she was born, so he brought her back home. My, the Mistress was really angry, but after a while, she calmed down, and grudgingly accepted the girl as her daughter. It was thank goodness Karelline looks so much like her father, so the whole thing was shushed up. But the Mistress has hated the girl ever since."

"How do you know all this?" Bella asked, amazed. "You're not much older than me."

"Silly, we are the same age. I am 18 too. I've been here about a year."

This made Bella cringe with guilt. She wanted to tell Alice the truth, but wasn't sure she could trust anyone yet.

"I heard it from a friend." Alice continued, "She was one of the cooks, but she has already retired."

"Oh."

"So, now about Rosalie. She's okay sometimes, but she just listens too much to her mother. She does everything her mother wants, instead of what she herself wants. Oh, and she's very stuck-up, and has quite a temper. But if you're nice to her, she'll be nice to you eventually. Did I tell you she's engaged?"

"She is only nineteen." Bella cried. Such a thing was inconceivable to her. She guessed the rich could marry at any age though. She couldn't even consider marriage until her family was settled. She didn't need another mouth to feed.

"Yeah, but as I told you," Alice continued, "she listens to her mother. When The Mistress introduced her to an eligible guy, she just agreed. I don't think she likes the guy, though. I don't like him much either. He doesn't come around much. He's so unlike Master Edward," Alice said, smiling to herself. "But as long as he's rich, the Mistress doesn't care. Some mother she is. She doesn't even care about her precious daughter's future. Next, Miss Karelline. She's okay, in fact, she's very nice, as I'm sure you know. Very chatty girl, but her grades aren't very good, and she isn't talented in the way the Mistress wants her to be."

"What do you mean?" Bella asked.

"Well, she is very talented at art, but only art. You should've seen her paintings. She can't hang them up in her room because the Mistress doesn't approve. Master Edward secretly sent the paintings to be framed, so they couldn't be damaged. The Mistress says that it doesn't do Miss Karelline any good, and she always compares Miss Karelline with Miss Rosalie, as you will see. Lastly, Master Edward..." she continued, looking dreamy. Alice smiled to herself, "Have you seen how terribly good-looking he is? His eyes...oh my God...they just capture my heart..."

"Can you go straight to the point?" Bella interrupted. She didn't want to be rude, but she didn't want to hear about Alice's crush. "I'm not interested in how he looks, thank you very much." As far as she was concerned, Alice was welcome to him. Bella had learned firsthand not to get involved with her employers.

Alice glared at her, but continued, "Master Edward is a great musician, you know. He plays the violin very well; you'll get enchanted if you ever listen to his music."

"You mean he composes his own music?"

"Yes. He is so clever. He is a Math genius too. I heard that he's going to Oxford next year. He's also very helpful, and gentlemanly, and he's really great, you know...he..."

But Bella had already stopped listening. She had heard enough, and didn't want to hear Alice fantasize about Master Edward. What she really wondered was whether she could manage to get her pay in advance. Certainly if she could appeal to any of the family herself, it sounded like the only one who might be able to help her would be Master Edward.

"Bella, Madam Fannie is here to see you." Alice called from outside the bathroom door.

"Sure!" Bella cried, flushing the toilet. She washed her hands, and ran out of the bathroom, heart thumping furiously. Surely, Madam Fannie would have an answer by now.

Madam Fannie was at the stairs of the basement, waiting patiently for her.

"Good evening, Madam Fannie," Bella said politely.

"Good evening," she nodded, and held out an envelope, smiling. "This is your pay in advance as you've requested. This - "

Before she could finish, Bella was already whooping with laughter. "Thank you very much, Madam Fannie. Thank you." she cried.

The Madam just smiled and left.

Bella peered into the envelope, and gave a huge gasp of surprise. There was five hundred dollars inside, and it was about twice the money both she and her mother received for their work.

"Alice," Bella called. "Do you know how I can deliver this to my family?"

"Perhaps you can ask one of the messengers of he'd deliver it for you. They sometimes help us too, you know," she said thoughtfully coming out of the laundry room.

"How am I going to find them?"

"Easy. They're the ones in dark-blue uniforms and cap. They'll be standing in the hall or walking about, waiting for a letter or parcel from the Mistress or her children for delivery. If you know them - they're quite friendly, you know - they'd secretly help us."

"But I don't know any of them." Bella reasoned.

"I told you, they're very friendly. Just say you need a bit of help, and perhaps they'll help you."

"Ummm, okay," Bella agreed, not entirely certain that it was a good idea. She didn't want to get anyone in trouble, but she also wanted to help her mother. She climbed up the stairs and hurried towards the hall, but there was no one in sight. Bella scanned the magnificent room lit by a grand chandelier, and finally spotted who she thought might be a messenger, standing in a corner reading a newspaper.

She walked up to him, "Ummm, hi." She knew it was a lame greeting, but she didn't know what else to say.

The guy looked up, and Bella noted that he didn't look very friendly, until he saw her.

"Hi," he grinned.

"Ummm, I need help. I have to deliver this to my mother, so she could see a doctor - she's sick, you see," Bella held up the envelope. "So, can you help me, please?"

"Are you new?" he asked, ignoring her question.

"Yes. You are new too?" Bella asked stupidly.

He shook his head. "I have been working here for two years."

"Oh. So... can you help?" Bella asked again.

"I might be missed, you know. They might want me to deliver a letter, and my partner is not here, and if I'm not here... Well, the consequence could be terrible. Plus, I don't even know you," he added thoughtfully.

"I'm new," Bella said, seemingly forgetting that they had just had that discussion. Her Mom could be groaning and moaning in pain, and without any money, how could she see the doctor? She could be... Bella shuddered to think.

Alice had said the messengers were friendly, but she never said they were helpful.

"I can see that." The guy responded again.

"Well, if you don't wish to help, forget it. I'll find another way," she said, walking away.

"Hey, wait!" he called, catching up with her.

"Very little patience you've got, haven't you?" he grinned.

"Well," Bella began hotly. "The thing is, my mother is very sick, and since you can't help, I don't want to - "

"I never said I won't help," he said, taking the letter from her. "I was only kidding. My shift will be over in a few minutes - they won't miss me. What's your name?"

"Bella," she answered, her mouth hanging open in a mixture of shock and surprise. Did he just say he would help?

"Nice name. I'm Jasper. Oh, and what's your address?" he asked.

Bella gave it to him, grateful for the help.

"Good," he said. "Don't worry, I always help in cases of emergency. And I'm sure your mother will be up and about in no time."

"Thanks," Bella said, smiling.

"You look better like that," still grinning, his eyes twinkling, he winked. But before Bella could make sense of what he was saying, he was already out the door. Bella wished she'd had enough sense to tell him he could wait for his replacement before he went, but she was honestly just happy her family would be taken care of.


Fred's Musings: Please Review whether you like it or not. I'd like to know!