Cinderella's Fangs

6. Helped

There was silence. The air filled with curiosity and questions. He stood there in the moonlight like he was apart of it. His aura and presences seemed very welcoming? But he was a stranger to  her. A normal person's reaction would have been to ran away, but what if they cannot? What part of him that made her stay still and fearless? She can't recall ever seeing someone like him. Maybe, just maybe it was not fear that didn't move Cinderella but shock. Oddly, her mind wasn't begging her to run. 

The man took two steps towards her and stood still. He looked at her. He was  unharmed and with his hands exposed to her. She could not look away from him. His gaze held hers, and he then slowly moved his gaze lower.

"Your hurt." he said. His voice was smooth as silk but strong. 

"What?" She said in a whisper.

Cinderella broke her gaze from him and looked down at her foot. She touched her foot but quickly regretted that as a burning pain ran through her. She let out a little cry in pain. 

The man took a slow step closer to her, and like before, still kept his distances. He slowly took out a handkerchief from his suit and displayed it for her to see.

"May I?" he notioned his head towards her foot. 

Cinderella nodded, and the man came closer and closer. He kneeled besides her, wrapping his handkerchief slowly around her foot. He was close. Cinderella's heart beated in faster pace. His hair, which had framed his face, scattered around his face, his long lashes blinked often, his deep-set eyes were black as his hair, his lips were red and slightly full, and his skin was smooth as a baby's milk. It was pale, very pale, but Cinderella wasn't sure if it was the moonlight. 

"Can you walk?" he asked.

"I think so," she managed to say. 

The man stood, and extended his hand to her. Her eyes trailed his hand to his arm, then to his refined, broad shoulders, and finally to his face. Why was he helping her? Who was he? If he was dangerous, she would have left to the heavens by already. This man had all the chances to do whatever harm he wanted by now.

Cinderella carefully  placed her hand to his, he wore white gloves, unusual for summer. When she stood, the height differences was unshocking. Cinderella barely reached his shoulders, she can only see his chest from her full height.

He motioned her to follow him, still holding onto her hand. He took small steps which were abnormal for a tall man. However, the more they walked Cinderella came to realize he had walked out of his nature for her sake.

"Let me know if you are hurt from walking."

"Okay..."

+++

Unsure how long she and this man was walking, or where she was being taken. She looked away from his back, and studied her surroundings. The path which they were walking, quickly turned from the woods to what was filled of grass and plants. There was never-ending tall green bushes that was trim in a neat, clean shape. Was this a maze? They had taken twists and turns at every moment.

He finally paused and came to a stop. He glanced at Cinderella, as she looked back at him in question. He did not say anything and neither did she. In front of them,there was countless big vines with thorns, blocking their way. She felt confused, and wondered why they were here? Were they lost?

Cinderella heard a whisper from the stranger, but couldn't make out what he had said. Cinderella gasped in surprise as things unfolded before her eyes. The great vines that were once rest in sleep were disturbed; the vines swiftly moved as if it was seeking cover underground. Birds began to fly and speak. The earth itself, rumbled a little, fortunately Cinderella held her balanced. She looked at the silent man in front of her, he seemed unfazed of what just happened. Should they hide for cover? What was happening? The vines and the earth was settling down to less motion, revealing a large brick house? No, a manor? 

 "What?" She blinked three or more times to see if she wasn't dreaming. How could there be a manor hidden inside these woods? How was this even possible?

The stranger said nothing to settle her confusion. He simply led her closer and closer to the manor until they reached the red cherry colored doors. Upon his arrival, the doors did not hesitate to open, like it knew the owner of this place had arrived. 

"Welcome back, master." a young voice said.

Cinderella peeked out from behind the man in search of the owner of the new voice. She saw a young boy, though she couldn't see his face,because he was in a bowing position.

"We have a guest." The stranger spoke.

The boy looked up, and glanced cautiously at Cinderella with his dark eyes and then back to the stranger, his master.  The boy had a puzzled look. Cinderella saw his face. The boy looked to be about no greater than ten. He had blonde curly and he wore a small man's suit and shorts. He looked like a roman painting just as his master. These two strangers were too beautiful, if the townsfolk had saw them, they definitely won't stop their stairs. 

"Yes, master. I shall prepare." With that, the young boy walked away.

"This way, milady." The stranger told her.

He led her inside. Her attention was pulled into this mystical manor. She could easily see the hallway was grand. Four golden doors can be seen. There were two grand stairways at each side; both were also painted in gold color. The ceiling had beautiful paintings of the sky and angels, rich in color. Cinderella then the marvelous stairs, painted cold with ornaments decorated. 

The young lad appeared and greeted them for above the stairs.

"The room is ready, master." The young voice said, once again.

Cinderella looked at the man, who nodded for her to go.

"I have something to take care of, I will see you shortly." The man spoke.

"Yes. Thank you." Cinderella said.

She went up and followed the young boy down the long hallway, passing many of the golden doors. Their walking pace slowly came to a stop to one of the doors, and the boy opened it with an old key. He, then looked towards us.

"This is the room, milady. You will stay here for the time being." He spoke to me for the first time.

"Thank you." I responded.

"Please go in. Someone will come up shortly to help you." said the young boy and left.

Cinderella was all alone in the large room. How are they living here in the woods? Why do they live here, deprived of society? When did they start to live here? Cinderella brushed the thoughts aside, and studied her space. The room matched the color of this manor; gold. The room had this feminine beauty, contrast to her small little room in the attic. The color of the bed sheet was a royal purple, and the carpets' fabric also matched it. There was a dresser with and grand oval mirror in white.

She surveyed the art of the room more and headed towards the window where the warm light came in. This didn't fit her.  Was she truly allowed to be this room? She took a step back and looked at the doorway, oddly it wasn't the door that caught her attention. It was a dress, colored in a beautiful shade of blue. She questioned it as she neared it, she carefully touch the fabric, and felt it's smooth and soft touch. This was something a queen would wear. Cinderella looked down at the dress, and squinted. She kneeled to the floor. There, she saw, shoes? She didn't know what to make of them. Was it real? It was crystal clear and was made of glass? Maybe they were just for decoration. She doubted anyone can wear these. The shoes felt cold on her touch. She picked up to examined them closer. It was very transparent. 

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Cinderella got up and opened it, her mouth opened and her eyes winded to see the older lady who stood there: it was Madam Zaraf.