Where was Cinderella? The fairy had spent all night waiting outside the manor on the bench behind the rose bush, for she knew that's where Cinderella usually went when experiencing deep grief, except Cinderella had never been in danger before, and had never really required her magic services. But today, something wasn't right. The color of the fairy's wand had turned purple and that was bad. Whenever her protégée would feel extremely unsettled or sad, the Fairy Godmother would be alarmed and feel a hunch herself, as now, and would just sit by and stroke the girl's hair, remaining invisible to Cinderella, watching over her without the girl even suspecting her presence. That's how she'd done it over the years, so close and yet so distant from the girl she knew so well but who'd never met her.
Her mission was to make sure Cinderella found happiness. But right now, she had no clue what trouble the girl was in; still her wand clearly indicated that she was indeed in trouble.
This time, Cinderella had not come to cry on the bench, and it seemed she wasn't going to rush outside any time soon. That started to seriously worry the fairy. What was Cinderella doing? She had to go see for herself, but she wasn't allowed to show up in a house full of mortals, for she risked being seen by other humans than Ella, and that could be extremely dangerous unless the people she was exposed to turned out to have good intentions. Being seen by her protégé's opponents would make her lose all her powers, that's just how it worked. "Oww what am I to do now? Oww I don't know what in heavens that poor child is doing! And I can't possibly stay here and await daylight for the whole neighborhood to see me! I cannot ignore the trouble that the poor girl appears to be in! Well I guess I don't have much of a choice. Perhaps the other women living in this house are at the royal ball, the event isn't over yet, there is still another hour left before the castle closes its gates to the people. Oh and if Cinderella is in great danger, I must find her! Or else she will never attend the ball she only has 1 hour left to meet with his highness! Oww no! My mission will fail! I must be quick!"
The fairy raised her wand and transported herself inside the house. She walked in the corridor and past Lady Tremaine's room as well as the other rooms, and figured the stepsisters were at the ball for their doors were open and their beds empty. Relieved to see that the lady of the house was probably asleep in her chambers, she transported herself directly to Cinderella's room in the attic. Her shape started forming from the floor up, and the fairy godmother was now standing right in front of the bed, contemplating the girl lying on it. She assumed Cinderella was simply having a nightmare, which would explain the distress her wand had sensed. "Oh beautiful, she's just beautiful. But how strange of her to sleep on the covers with her clothes on. How unusual." The fairy was now focusing on the girl's face, her expression. Something wasn't right. Cinderella's skin tone was even paler than she remembered it. Was the girl sick? The fairy came to the side of the bed and whispered: "Cinderella, honey, you need to wake up. You can still go to the ball! I am your fairy godmother, I will use my magic to make it happen, but we have to do it quick! Cinderella?" The fairy was smiling, prepared to greet the child in the most gentle way possible to avoid frightening her. After all, she would wake up to a complete stranger who wore a funny hat and held a funny stick, surely that would be unsettling. But she did not wake up. She reached to touch Cinderella's cheek and gasped at the contact. Her skin was so cold, like all the life in Cinderella had almost left her. "Oh god, she's dying! Oh no no no this cannot be happening!" She instantly panicked. Agitated, she started casting different spells, in order to find out what was causing her current state. When she calmed herself down, she saw the medicine bottles, completely empty. When she understood, she shivered in horror. But now was no time to try to understand why Cinderella had done what it seemed she'd done. She brought her wand to the girl's forehead and cast a spell, one that wouldn't cure her, but would at least slow the killing process, providing her with 2 hours to gather the essential ingredients it took to really save her.
It was now 7 a.m. in the morning, and Drizella and Anastasia came home after spending a not so dreadful night. Of course they hadn't found husbands but still, they'd been in great company, if only for enjoying themselves a bit without Cinderella to be the center of attention, and without worrying about acting gross in front of their mother. No chaperon, only the two sisters dancing and drinking, perhaps a little too much. "Definitly too much," said Drizella, raising her eyebrow. "Huh?"
-Either I'm not in my right mind, or breakfast's not ready! Look, the house hasn't been cleaned, she left no tray for us, and I don't smell any pancakes!
-What? That idiot forgot to make breakfast?!
-And it's awfully quiet, don't tell me that little peasant slept through and forgot to wake Mother as well!
-We must wake Mother up! Oh She will make her regret this affront bitterly you'll see!
Lady Tremaine was already awake but remained in bed. According to her clock, she was about an hour late and Lucifer was still sleeping comfortably, which meant Cinderella had not come to wake her up or to bring breakfast. "She listened to me, that foolish girl chose to go, she left the manor. Maybe it wasn't so foolish after all." Lady Tremaine, still in bed, laughed bitterly, out of pain rather than amusement, and buried her face in her hands, on the verge of crying a little, for she was angry, at Cinderella for choosing to leave, and at her own self for suggesting her to do so. She heard strong knocking on her door. "Mother? Mother! Are you awake?" Without waiting for an answer, Drizella and Anastasia barged in. "Oh, you're awake."
-It would be hard not to be!
-Sorry.
-What is going on girls? I am assuming there is a good reason for your bothering me so early this morning? What is it?
-Wha-what do you mean what's going on? Cinderella hasn't prepared breakfast! That idiot is still asleep! May we know why you haven't already pulled her by her ears and dragged her out of bed?
-And may I know why it is that you two have come home so late? What kind of young women stay out all night? Young ladies of your status cannot behave the way you did! You are an embarrassment! Were you at the ball all this time?
-Yes, sorry mother. We were having a great time. I know you don't approve, but—
-My dear Drizella, I couldn't care less. You're dismissed. And you Anastasia? Have you nothing to say for yourself?
-I'm-sorry mother. But you should be disciplining Cinderella! That little brat is still asleep!
Bored, Lady Tremaine displayed a blank stare as she sighed, got up and ignored both her daughters walking past them to go change, while they watched with amazement and confusion. Once ready in her elegant red dress, she arranged her hair and put on her turquoise earrings. "So what do you plan on doing? She mustn't get away with this!"
-My dears, there is no use, Cinderella is not asleep, she's simply, gone.
They both looked at each other, shocked, then back at their Mother. "What do you mean, gone? Gone where!
-Now now girls, I understand that it must've been quite a feast you had at the castle, you can afford to skip breakfast this once, I would advise you to. I, on the other hand, plan on... going to the kitchen to prepare myself a... well, something to... sustain my body. Excuse me.
-Going to the-the KITCHEN?!
They couldn't believe their ears as they watched, open-mouthed, their mother leave her room like everything was perfectly alright. They go and have ONE tiny evening out on their own and come back to this; their mother, still in her night gown at 7AM, the maid is gone, and she doesn't seem to have a care in the world, oh and now she's heading for the KITCHEN. Right. They're surprised she even knows where the kitchen is. And to PREPARE herself what? A sandwich? It seemed too ridiculous to be true. "Anastasia, is it me or something is really off about all this?
-You bet! Look, am I the only one seeing this strange blue light coming from upstairs?
-Oh, you are right, what is that? So unusual.
-Let's find out.
They followed the light up to the attic, and stopped in front of Cinderella's room. The glowing light was leaking from the door gap, and they could hear strange noises. They stood there, intrigued and a little unsure of what to do.
Meanwhile, Lady Tremaine had made it to the kitchen. She poured herself some tea, and as she sat across the table, she saw a letter at the center. She thought it had been misplaced. But then realized it wasn't folded. The pen and ink were laying right next to it as if it'd been freshly written and left there to her attention. She half-stood up to reach for it and sat back. She read: "Dear Stepmother". Her heart started racing instantly. "It's from Cinderella," she thought out loud, "what a nice handwriting she has," she said, before smiling to herself, glad that the girl had thought of at least writing her a goodbye letter before leaving. She went on reading: "I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me. It was never my attention to cause you any pain, and believe me, I am hurting just as much if not more, after tonight." I am sorry too, Cinderella, she thought. "Different things have happened that I find hard to believe. Today, you did something unexpected, you told me that all you did, no matter how hard or cruel on the appearance, was in my best interest, and I see that now. I am grateful for everything, and wish I could erase my last words to you and tell you how much I regret handling things so badly." My dear girl, don't take all the credit, she thought, as guilt was surfacing. "But I don't expect you to forgive my earlier lack of gratitude." My door is always open to you, don't you know that child, she thought. "I assure you I don't mean what I said. But as I am too ashamed to face you, and too unhappy without you, for you are my only family," to that, Lady Tremaine sighed and wiped a tear from her eyes, then went on: "I can't resign myself to leave this house for a future somewhere else. There is no question that I cannot live here anymore, but neither can I live elsewhere. My heart is broken from disappointing you and I am too desperate to come up with another solution than the one I hope you'll forgive me for choosing. I have decided to—" Lady Tremaine stopped herself, afraid of the next words. Perhaps it was silly but she had this lump in her throat like bad news. She looked up at the ceiling, as if to perform a short prayer, and took a deep breath before reading again "decided to end my life." WHAT?! She re-read three times than stood up and looked around, shaking. "No! What have you done?"
To be continued... :p
