'Fairy Godmother'

15 0 0
                                    

            Instead of answering me they began laughing and I faltered once more as I walked down the steps. I open my mouth to ask why they're laughing but they've already turned and, so I follow them out the door.

"Madame?" I ask softly, my hope waning.

"As if we'd want you to come with us Sara, just look at you. All filthy and in those hideous rags. We couldn't possibly be seen with you." She laughs haughtily, and I flush with anger. She didn't have any right to treat me this way.

Taking a deep breath, I'm about to respond when Maureen reaches over. "Look at that shoddy workmanship." She smirks, "I mean, it's practically coming apart at the seams." With a hard pull she rips my sleeve before I realize what she's doing.

"Yeah." Madison smirks as she looks me over, walking around me so she can see, before she rips into the skirt of my dress.

"Poor Sara, even more of a mess than before." Their mother gives an exaggerated sigh, "You'll want to fix that before you even consider going to the ball."

They climb into the carriage, looking triumphant as they do. I look down to my ripped dress, assessing the damage they did, and I figure I could easily fix it up and still make it to the ball for a while. I'm so busy looking at it that I don't hear the carriage coming back around, and suddenly the wheel hits a bump and mud covers me from head to toe.

With a gasp I brush mud out of my face as I hear their obnoxious laugher trailing away.

There was no way I'd be able to fix this now. I bite into my cheek as I run down the road, and to the beautiful lakeside that is close by. It's so beautiful there, and it's where I was found after being separated from my family.

I collapse next to the water, finally crying. I've been holding it all in way too long. I miss my family, I miss the life I should have had, the love I should have felt from them, the good things that I know I've been robbed of. I'd have been better off not being found by this horrid woman and her daughters.

"Are you all right?" I hear a soft voice ask from behind me.

Sniffling, I turn around and through bleary eyes I see a small girl, about my height with long brown hair. She's dressed in fine clothes, and I can only assume she comes from a wealthy family. "I'll manage I suppose." I sigh, wiping my eyes.

"What happened?" She tilts her head, "If you don't mind me asking of course." She hurriedly adds on.

"When I was a child my family was attacked, and I lost them. I don't know where they are or if they're even still alive. This woman found me, and I thought I was safe. But she's been a witch to me all these years, she treats me so horridly and tonight denied me from attending the ball." I'm surprised at myself for sharing this with as stranger.

To my surprise she kneels next to me. "Why don't you come stay with me?" She offers, "I'll help you try to find your family. And if we can't find them, at least you'll be out of that dreadful house."

"I'd like that." I whisper.

She seems to hesitate for a moment before saying, "Call me Dearden."

"Dearden? What a pretty name. Mine is Sara."

"Well Sara, let's go change your life!" She smiles brightly, "Come, I have extra costumes in my carriage. You wanted to go to the ball? Well, now you're going!" She grabs my arm and pulls me along with more strength than you would think the small girl would have.

I gape at her as she draws the window curtains shut and pulls out costume items as we get moving.

"Well now, don't just sit there staring." She giggles, "Let's get you ready!"

Soon she has me outfitted in a wonderful creamy white costume. It has two pant legs that have X's down them and a tight fitted bodice that has a halter. It's textured, not quite leathery, and very comfortable. At the waist it has two skirt-like pieces of fabric, one on each side of me. They flare out from my body just a little and aren't sewn together in back. The fabric reaches to around my knees, and I find myself loving the look more than an ordinary dress. The costume has an over jacket, whose bottom hem sits right above the flares.

With precision she fixes my hair and face before slipping a small mask on me. "A mask?" I murmur my question while she paints my lips.

"Yes, a mask. Not only does it look fabulous with the costume, that horrid woman and her daughters won't recognize you if they can't see your face." Dearden grins mischievously at me and I find myself grinning back.

"Dearden that's genius!" I exclaim before sobering up. "Really, thank you so much." I look down to my lap, "You didn't have to do anything for me, still don't, and yet you're helping me. Why?"

"Because I saw someone in need, because I want to, because I feel like we'll be great friends." She lists, "There are so many reasons why I want to help you Sara, you didn't deserve the life you had. I'm glad I can help, and I will help you if only you let me."

Cinder-CanaryWhere stories live. Discover now