Grimm Fantasies: Cinder Princess

Illusions

   Mara didn't talk to Ashley after that day in the woods with the wolf. She didn't even acknowledge her, no matter what Ashley did or said. After a few days had past Ashley gave up when Mara started to hang out with Ella and Annie and acting like they'd been best friends from the very start. The adults in the manor seemed to be pleased with the development of the friendship between the girls, making comments about it during breakfast one day.

   "I was thinking of going shopping after lunch today. Ella, Annie would you two like to go with me?" Their mother asked casually.

   "We can't, we promised to hang out with Mara today and go horseback riding, you know, take a look around the property for something interesting to do." Mrs. Eleanora looked over to Ashley's father with a raised eye brow.

   "Well isn't that nice? Maybe you can find that pesky wolf that's been wondering around and deal with it." He said casually. Mara's eyes darted over to Ashley who sunk low in her chair, feeling miserable. Maybe she just imagined Mara hesitating and she only saw what she wanted to see. She knew she didn't want to see the wolf die but she was sure that Mara didn't want to do it.

   She was sure.

   Right?

   She sighed softly and moved to take a bite of her pancakes when something caught her attention. She stopped and looked at the piece of pancake on her fork carefully, lifting it into a beam of light that was cast from the open window behind her. Mixed in the syrup covered fluffy goodness was what looked like glitter? Ashley continued to turn the piece of pancake around, tilting it in different ways trying to get a better look at whatever it was when her father cleared his throat and catching her attention.

   She looked up to see everyone at the table staring at her like she was insane. She sat up straighter and set her fork down as embarrassment washed over her.

   "What are you doing?" Ella asked in a condescending tone. Ashley shook her head as she looked down at her lap.

   "...Nothing, just the pancakes are...kind of...weird..." She said, despite wanting to say that is was nothing. She glanced up when no one said anything in response. Everyone but Annie was looking at her; Annie was looking down at her own food with a frown.

   "Is there something wrong with my pancakes?" Mr. Gerald asked curiously. Ashley looked away from Annie and over to Mara's father.

   "O-oh you made these?" Ashe asked and he nodded slowly.

   "Yes, I used my very own recipe especially for Mara. They are Mara's favorite." Mara smiled at her father.

   "They're the best." She said despite having more left on her plate then even Annie who ate like it was something that was dreadful and should be avoided at all cost.

   After breakfast was finished Ashley left the manor and headed for the forest. It was calm that day; the light and fragrantly sweet scent of spring time flowers filled the air as she sat just outside of her bush hut. Ashley never noticed how there were no flowers in the forest and yet the scent still lingered, light and easy. It whispered to her, home.

   She sighed and closed her eyes as she rested her chin on her knees, breathing in the scent and feeling lost and found at the same time. The feeling made her want to cry in frustration. She blinked back tears and finally noticed Gale watching her from the very same place she'd ever saw him. He wore the exact same long sleeve black shirt and dark wash jeans that looked like that'd been fashioned out of shadows.

   Sitting up slowly, Ashley watched the older boy curiously. She hadn't seen him in a long time, they'd met a few times in the month after they met but he disappeared after spring arrived. It was just turning summer now and he stood there now as though as if he'd never left