Roses and Black Glass: A Dark Cinderella Tale
Chapter Fourteen
1
Within the sanctity of her attic room, Cindy sat on the bed, staring into the small cage on the table. Within, her loving pet, who had been her only friend for the past three years, lay unmoving. The rat’s legs were stiff, his nose dry. The girl couldn’t help but wonder if this was a result of the curse upon her, but she dismissed it quickly. This was only death, and she understood that within and without.
“You were good to me, Augustus,” she said. There were no tears; only acceptance. “But it is better this way. It is better for you not to see what I have become.”
She did not realize that her hands were shaking. Why? What was this feeling in the air?
2
Charlotte had wandered into the kitchen after her argument with Isabella and now she sat at the table, staring blankly at a large black crow that was perched on the window ledge, out of the rain. It was nothing significant to her; only a focal point to aid her misery and confusion. She had no idea of what to do now about her situation. Stay with Isabella? Try to leave on her own? It might not be too hard to find some simple husband, but she had nothing to take with her. Perhaps though, if indeed Isabella got to marry Christian, Charlotte might be able to continue with their mother’s plan on her own. How was Isabella to watch her ever second? She could not guard Christian always.
The crow ruffled its feathers and then took flight from the window, breaking her concentration. The swiftness startled her, but she just gathered herself in the shawl and sat back more. The girl was not aware enough to know that she was falling apart. She felt confused and desperate. Surely there was some way to save herself.
Cindy.
The thought floated to the top of her mind like a bubble to the surface of water. Perhaps leaving was possible. Perhaps she could order Cindy along with her. Cindy was smart and resourceful. She would not let them perish.
“Charlotte?”
The quiet voice behind her urged her to shiver. She turned to look behind her and saw the man standing there. Only when she saw him did she realize that it was a male voice that had called to her. He stood in the entrance from the garden, just a shadow against the gray sky.
“Christian?” Charlotte asked in disbelief, standing to get a better look.
The young man allowed himself to come fully inside without being asked, reaching in his coat pocket as he came nearer. Charlotte took cautious steps toward him in curiosity. It was quite strange that he was here – especially since he had entered through this door which he should have known nothing about.
“What are you doing here?”
“Does this look familiar to you?” he asked, pulling his hand from his pocket to show her an object.
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Roses and Black Glass: a dark Cinderella tale (novel preview)
Romance(Now available as an ebook and in print!) A dark retelling of Cinderella in early America. In an age when cutting up dead bodies is considered taboo, Cindy’s father is a mortician. She is happy with their fascinating life, though controversial, unti...
