Cinderella: A Fractured Fairytale

Sixty-Two

Ella's POV

Chapter 62

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"Ella?"

I turned to see Phillip standing behind me, looking hesitant. The moonlight caressed his dark hair and made his blue eyes shine softly.

My insides flipped. "Y-yes?"

He stepped a little closer. "Can I... talk to you?"

"O-of course." I stammered, glancing down and trying not to become flustered (too late). "What about?"

He tilted his head, and a half-smile formed on his face. "Well...."

I glanced away shyly.

Phillip took my hand and led me to the side of the fire, sitting me down and then seating himself next to me. He took a deep breath. "Ella, I.... I know I haven't been very serious with you in the past little while. I'm sorry. I want.... I want for that to change, because I'm wasting time and I don't know how much longer my father will give me. Can we.... start over? If it's all right with you, I want to court you when we get back. Court you and then - well...." He stopped for a moment. "To be completely honest, Ella.... I really do want to marry you."

I swallowed, staring at him with wide eyes.

How had this happened to me? Where had all this come from? I was a little village girl, so normal, so low in social standing. And now......

"I...." I couldn't seem to get the words out. My mouth felt dry.

Phillip saw my expression and sighed. "You don't have to decide now, Ella. I will give you as much time as you need. But I need to know.... do I have a chance?"

I nodded slowly. My vocal chords had apparently been severed from my brain and I couldn't speak.

He moved closer. "Yes?"

I nodded again, finding my voice as well as my courage. "I... I want you to court me, Phillip."

"Really?" He sounded surprised.

"Yes." I whispered.

He was completely still for a moment, as if lost in thought. Then he laughed happily and hugged me close. "Thank you."

"No." I replied seriously, hugging back with a little smile on my face. "Thank you."

I heard Anastasia gasp a little bit as she walked over to the fire and saw me hugging the prince. She was ignoring Eric, who was watching her quietly with a hopeful sort of light in his eyes. He had returned from the forest seeming depressed but not broken. I hoped he was going to try to win her back.

He sat next to her, and she finally looked at him.

"Hi," he said quietly.

"Hi," she replied tonelessly, her eyes passing over him and going straight to Phillip.

He sighed and touched her arm. "I'm right here, you know. You can look at me when I talk to you."

Anastasia glanced back at him. "Hmmm?" She obviously wasn't really listening.

He stared at the ground, eyes flashing with disappointment. "Never mind."

It's like she's a different person. I thought, watching her. She's not the Ana she was before. And she's completely shutting out Eric.

Suddenly, Anastasia started, glancing down at herself. "What is this?"

She reached down and touched a ruby pendant necklace hanging around her neck, seeming shocked that she hadn't noticed it before. She took it off quickly, staring at it. "Why was I wearing that? It's so.... gaudy."

There was a silence. Eric stared at it as if it were his last lifeline in a tempest of despair and hopelessness. His whole being seemed focused on it.

Anastasia took one last look at it, then flung it into the depths of the fire. "I would never wear something like that."

There was a muffled choking sound from Eric, and he stood quickly and turned away, his entire body shaking with barely restrained emotion. He glanced about quickly for an escape route, then stalked into the undergrowth. I heard branches snapping as he hastily pushed his way deeper and deeper into the woods, further and further from camp.

We all stared after him in bewilderment.