She had homeroom, math, biology, gym, lunch, English Lit, and finally, computer tech. Her class line-up was typical for a transfer student. She walked down to the bottom of the staircase and entered Biology. When she sat down in her chair, it felt wet. She swiped her hand under her and spider guts covered it. It was a black widow spider; though the same one she didn't know. She looked again, and it was a baby widow. She gasped in horror and felt tears come to her eyes. She swallowed them down though and washed her hands.
When she exited the bathroom, a man was waiting for her. Smiling, he promised nothing but pain and misery. "Hello Miss Cinderella. I see you have returned from Exp. My name is Asp. Remember that in this school, Exp is 'Hiiro sensei' and I am 'Akihito (bright) sensei'. The both of us have been sent to watch over you. You should really quit the innocent Fran act. Anyway, in school or around non-magic people, you call us sensei." A man with a dark voice and dark hair tied loosely in a ponytail hovered over her and whispered in her ear the darkness within his heart.
No one seemed to notice, and that's what worries her the most. She walked back to her class with Asp following behind her.
Pretending like nothing happened; Asp walked in and smiled cheerfully at everyone, but in his eyes was a different kind of smile just for Cinderella. Cinderella sat down next to an empty seat. They had tables for working on, and three seats in three rows. Cinderella was front and center with Ivy and Ivan sitting behind her. They seemed to no longer welcome her.
The class seemed long. They were nowhere near the anatomy part yet. Cinderella hated the fact that the more she answered the questions and the more quizzes she got perfect on, the more pleased Asp was. She didn't want to gain any respect from demons. She is a good girl. She's Fran, Cinderella!
She wearily came to gym and for some reason; she felt he would be a demon as well. Fortunately, he just looked like one of the tough pedophile muscle-enhanced coaches that were kind to females only because he got hard off of them. Cinderella noticed that she would have to be especially careful. He had the look that both Damien and her father had…
"Well hello new meat. Just relax with Ivy and the other girls. Watch the men play. It's quite fun, and you know…you can come by after lunch, and I'll treat you to a special meal. Yesterday was my 40th birthday, and I need someone to share the white cake with." The coach breathed in her ear suggestively.
"Um, hey Ivan! Pass me the basketball!" Cinderella said obviously uncomfortable.
The coach simply smirked in sensuous delight as Ivan reluctantly handed her the ball, and Cinderella shot, not really looking where she was going. She made it in with gracious ease. Everyone was stunned. The coach ran up to her and proposed his love for her. Cinderella screamed in horror and ran off.
She ran and ran until she made it to the roof. "Surely, no one will find me here," she thought and sighed contently while blue birds landed on her gracefully. She laughed and played heartily with her new found friends. Even a hawk swooped down with a plate of carrots, and the rabbit that got the carrots. A raven cawed and swooped down as well landing on her head as she ate the carrots the bunny shared with her. She pets each animal and ate each carrot inched over to her.
Suddenly, the blue birds flew off and two shadows ran toward her slithering on the ground. Cinderella clutched the bunny tightly to her chest while the hawk and raven ruffled their feathers aggressively.
The shadows came from the ground and turned into silhouettes then into Asp and Exp.
"Clearly, school isn't cutting it out for you. Damien says that you'll be home schooled from now on by us. You may go early and look for your father. Oh, I need the bunny." Asp said as Fran jerked it away protectively. Asp was too quick and snatched it from her anyway.
"No!" Cinderella cried as its head was pulled off with ease by the ears. The blood splattered over Cinderella and Asps' edifices. Asp smiled contently. Cinderella realized she wasn't allowed to play with the innocent rabbits.
The hawk perched on her shoulder and used one of its wings to wrap around her head comfortably. The raven cawed and went back home.
When the raven was going home, it stopped and perched on Cinderella's window. Then it left and planted itself upon the nightmare's head; the beast still standing where Fran had left him...
Cinderella walks out of the school with the drop out papers already taken care of for her. She walked sluggishly as listless as Asp was with the rabbit. Cinderella smiled sadly as the hawk nuzzled her neck with her head.
"Thanks girl. I should give you a name huh? How about Aliarfriend? It sounds demonic though…" Cinderella was cut off by a happy sound coming from the hawk's beak. "Will Damien be ok with this? He doesn't seem to like his maids/mistresses with pets…" Again, Cinderella was cut off by a happy sound from the hawk.
Cinderella decided to walk through town. Luckily, the mark on her chest was hidden inside her skin so at least that's not why passerby's stared. Cinderella read once that the marks that the darkness leaves on someone only come out when the marker appears and when fellow marked ones come together in groups of three or more.
Cinderella continued walking through town, looking for some sign of her father. Ali, Fran's nickname for Aliarfriend, kept watch outside as she went into True Minutiae. It was a store that her father started out and made it into a gold mine. She went in and was overwhelmed at all that was there. The dresses were like a rainbow of individualistic styles. Many of the "Lolita Shota" styles were dresses that she had worn. Looking at the price tag made her gasp. Even if she had all the root of all evil (money) she could ever want, it wouldn't be enough to buy these clothes. Especially if Damien found out, she wouldn't get over the trauma.
"Hello. May I help you young lady?" A man with deep hazel eyes and matching hair came her way. She recognized him as Frederick.
"Hello Frederick…san. How is your family? Is Clarice fully cured now?" Cinderella clasped her hands over her mouth. She couldn't help it! She really was too nice! She was supposed to be discreet about her stay here.
"Yes, Clarice is well. Cinderella, why are you here? You think I didn't notice it was you when you walked in the door? You look just like your father after all. I usually find you playing with foxes and speaking in that cute accent. Then you turn to your true monstrous form. If you're looking for your father, he's in bed at his mansion. I'm here to observe the store in his stead. He won't see you. He's still in shock and pain from his illness. Take something from the store and never return. Demon children are not welcome. Your father has cut all ties except for monetary support. Don't worry though. Clarice is using that money to get back on Ice." Frederick said as he handed her a silvery bag and pushed her out the door.
Ali perched on her shoulder as she peeked into the bag. Tears ran down Cinderella's face. Her baby blanket was nestled inside being slowly eaten by cockroaches. Cinderella threw it in the dumpster, and with a weary heart and soul, she staggered home.
Ali grabbed her by the collar with her talons and got her in through the open window of her room. Cinderella collapsed on the bed and fell fast asleep. Ali covered her up, and shut the window.
