The Rosebook ; random/misc

Slippers and Daggers (Story)

"Get down here right NOW, Cinderella!" the stepmother yelled. Cindy sighed at her stepmother using her real name. Her hands were so tired from cleaning, what did "mom" need now? Cindy walked down the stairs.

"Yes, stepmom," she said sassily.

"First off, don't you dare use that tone ever again," the stepmother gave Cindy a glare. "Second off, there's a ball at the castle tomorrow night, and you are going to get your sisters and me dressed and styled. Got it?" Cindy rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I got it, mom," Cindy said. Gosh, she was so done with her stepfamily. She missed her dad so badly...she wished he was still here.

That evening, Cindy plopped on her bed, exhausted. After that mess called a conversation, she had to clean the entire cottage floors, cook dinner, and add ribbons to the dresses her stepsisters were going to wear tomorrow. She needed to do something to get her rage out. The others were asleep. She smirked, a scheme forming in her mind. There was a mission that she needed to finish. She had forgotten in today's chaos. She quietly slipped into a slick black outfit, pulled up her blonde hair into a bun, and put a mask on. She opened her secret floorboard, and took out a few shiny objects. My little friends, she thought. Daggers slipped underneath her outfit, she slipped out the house.

That night, it was reported that Charles Jones, the most wanted criminal in the area, was dead. His partner, Lee Smith, was also dead. Both had had their throats slit. No one knows who did it.

The next morning, Cindy was woken up super early by her stepsister, Ana, shaking her. "Get up, you little-"

"I'm up, I'm up..." Cindy murmured. "What do I need to do today..."

"I'm so glad you asked. You need to finish the dresses, make food, style us for tonight, du-"

"OK, OK, I get it, jeez..." Cindy got out of bed, preparing for another day of work.

She quickly did her morning routine, then went to do the dresses. As she was sewing on beads, the other stepsister, Driz, strolled in. Right before she left, she knocked over the canister of beads. "Oops...sorry, it was an accident," she said sarcastically, leaving the room. Cindy just sighed. If she had her way...

After making a ton of food, she went to dust the house. She was super tired, and the day had barely begun. Suddenly, she was struck with a thought. If they were going to a ball, why couldn't she as well? She went to see her stepfamily. They were all wooing over their dresses.

"Stepmother, can I go to the ball?" Cindy asked in the most polite tone she could muster around them. At first, they just stared. Then, they burst into laughter.

"You? Going to a BALL? That's so funny," Driz said, gasping for air from laughing so hard.

"Why the HECK do you think you would even go?" Ana asked, wiping away tears of laughter.

"To answer your question, Cinderella..." Her stepmother put emphasis on the name, "No, you are absolutely not going to the ball. You will style us up and clean the house."

Cindy suddenly shouted, "I am so DONE with this household!" and stormed out. She locked herself in her room and flopped on the bed. She looked into the mirror. Her blue eyes were filled with fury. She was so done with this family, she needed to get out of this, but how?

When she finally left her room, her stepmother slapped her, hard. She told her that her attitude was "absolutely preposterous and must stop immediately." She was then shoved into a room to style up her stepsisters. While she did their hair, put on their makeup, and got out their jewelry, Ana and Driz teased her and made fun of her not going to the ball.