Cinderella: A Fractured Fairytale

Twenty-Eight

Jovette's POV

Chapter 28

***

Stupid Ella. Stupid Anastasia.

Stupid love.

Stupid everything.

I slammed the door behind me and flopped down on my bed. I hate life. Why do I exist?

Fuming, I glared at a nearby pillow. Right now I was so angry that I could probably breathe fire.

The anger exploded into fury and I took it out on the pillow, pounding and ripping at it. Feathers flew everywhere.

I never liked that pillow, anyway.

But as the feathers floated to the floor, my anger drained away like water through a leak, leaving me helpless, unguarded. The facade cracked, the dam burst.

And the floodgates opened.

I buried my face in my hands and sobbed.

It seemed as if I always found myself here, in my room where no one could see me, crying. Every night I cried myself to sleep, every morning I woke up knowing no one could ever see me that way. I covered my despair with anger and frustration so no one would guess at the anguish underneath.

But when I was alone, the cracks in the mask showed through.

I'm a horrible person. I told myself, and the tears fell faster. No one likes me, and they shouldn't, either. I'm just-

I cut my own thoughts off, trying to stop pounding them into my head. If you think that you'll only believe it more.

But it's true.

It was my own fault, really. I was mean to everyone.

But that was only to cover the insecurities I already had. Was there another way? Would I ever find a way to break free of this? Of who everyone already knew I was?

Another sob choked me, and I let the tears fall, burying my head in the pillow I had just mangled. The feathers tickled my face, but I didn't care.

How long I lay there, crying, I didn't know. It felt like hours. It was probably minutes.

Then a sound made me gasp and jerk upright. A pair of footsteps were coming down the long hallway towards my room. "Jovette?"

It was Mother's voice.

No.

NO.

She couldn't see me like this! No one could see me like this.

I glanced about desperately, searching for a way out. "Go away!" I shouted.

And then.

And then.

I jumped in startled horror and shock as my gaze caught on something.

Or rather, some one.

"Eric?" I tried to wipe the remaining tears off my face. What was he doing in here? How had he gotten in without me hearing?

He looked up, and flinty green eyes met mine. I gulped.

He was wearing different clothes underneath the pitch black cloak.

But it was Eric. It looked exactly like him.

For a moment, he just met my eyes, seeming frozen. Then his gaze hardened. "Don't move. Don't make a sound."

I opened my mouth, then processed his words. He sounded cold and angry and... dangerous.

But my guard was back up. Sarcasm included.

"And why shouldn't I?" I snapped. "I can talk if I feel like it."

In a moment, he was at my side, hands gripping my shoulders and keeping me right where I was.

"Hey!" I protested. "What are you doing?"

He shot me a cold stare. "If you had only stayed put for a moment... not seen me... I wouldn't have to do this. But there can be no witnesses. If Eric finds out...."

I stared at him. Why was he referring to himself in third person?

For a moment we just looked at each other. Then he grabbed my arm and jerked me to my feet. I yelped in pain.

"Ow! What was that for?"

He slapped a hand over my mouth. "Shhh!"

I bit it, and he jerked it away, glaring. "I didn't want to do this. Remember, this is your own fault."

"What-"

"If you say another word I swear I'll kill you right here and now." he hissed.

I shut my mouth, fear pulsing through me. Why is Eric acting like this? What's going on?

He watched me for a moment, as if expecting to have to carry through with his threat. After a few seconds, his grip lessened. "Better."

I shot him a glare. If I couldn't talk, I'd just convey my disapproval to him through expressions. I was good at that.

He glanced about, seeming tense and nervous. His eyes flashed and he seemed to be making a decision. "I suppose I can't kill you, can I?"

Well, if he asks me a question he can't kill me for answering, so...

"Correct," I snapped. "You are not allowed to kill me, you are not" --I jerked away from his hold-- "allowed to touch me. You are, however, allowed to tell me exactly what is going on."

He shot me a look that said, nice try.

"Jovette?" Mother's voice spoke from right outside the door. "Who are you talking to?"

Panic filled his eyes and he gripped my arm again, twisting it backwards and making me gasp. "Ouch."

The handle started to turn.

He dragged me with him towards the center of the room, and I took a deep breath, filling my lungs.

My scream was cut off as we melted into blackness.