Roses and Black Glass: a dark Cinderella tale by Lani Lenore Page A

house to go to that
party?  Is that what you’re afraid of?”
    The sisters
said nothing to this, but looked down at her with coldness.
    “We must
insist that you not step foot outside this house,” said Isabella.
    Cindy shook
her head.  She didn’t understand the ridiculousness of this.
    “Isabella and
I were talking,” began Charlotte, “and we see that you might be a slight threat
to the goings on tonight.  Nothing can go wrong tonight, Cindy.  Everything
must be perfect.”
    Cindy shook
her head in disbelief.  The jealousy of these two girls was astounding to her! 
It wasn’t as though she had said very many words to the object of their lust in
all her life!  She had only once spoken with him and that was three
years ago!  Their behavior was insane.
    “You should
begin your duties,” said Isabella. “We will be back later and you will stop
your work to help us get dressed.”
    “And make sure
all of our jewels are ready for the choosing when we return,” said Charlotte.
“We don’t want to waste any time.”
    Without any
other words, the girls turned and left the room, closing the door behind them. 
Cindy simply sat there in anger and confusion.  She was thankful that after
tonight, it would finally be over.  Whoever Christian chose was up to him.  If
it was indeed one of her sisters, she had no idea what was to happen to her,
but she wasn’t worried.  She couldn't care less.  She might as well welcome
even death.
    She sighed
deeply and looked over to Augustus who sat in his cage, getting older by the
day.  The rat looked at her knowingly.
    “Sorting
through beans…” Cindy muttered disgustedly. “Of all the pathetic things they
could make me do.”
    Augustus just
looked on at her.
    “I know you’d
help me if you could,” she assured him and then pulled herself from the bed.
    They had all
gone through so much trouble to keep her here today.  Perhaps she could be
lucky enough to find a way to disappoint them.
     
    2
     
    Cindy got
herself dressed and carried out some of her other chores before crouching on
the floor of the kitchen.  She emptied a small amount of beans in front of her
to sort through.  What she would do with them when she was done, she didn’t
know, but she wasn’t worried about that for the time being.  They would never
eat them if she cooked them all now.
    I would
never have had to do this back when I was a real girl with a real father.
    She had no
business at that party.  Why would her sisters even think that she could
go?  She had nothing to wear.  She had no fine jewelry to put on.  Her mind was
distraught.  It was not as though she even wanted to go.  How would it
be possible for her to waltz in as the most gorgeous girl there, divert
Christian’s attention and steal his heart with a glance?  She would surely not
even get two words with the man – if any at all.  It would be pointless to show
up even if she could. 
    She vowed not
to think about it.
    She scooped up
one of the darker beans and tossed it into the fireplace nearby.  Her
step-family had long since left and would possibly be back soon; she couldn’t
be sure.  Then she would have the honor of dressing them – lacing them into
their corsets and fluffing their petticoats as they swooned over themselves –
and the whole time they would ignore her.  She continued to wonder throughout
her day what Christian really thought of them, and if he really intended on
marrying either one.  He spent time with them, it was true, but were they
really in his favor?
    Stop
thinking about him.
    Cindy took a
deep breath to stop these thoughts that she was not supposed to have.  It did
not suit her to think about Christian now.  Though she ignored the possibility
of any feelings for him within herself, it still troubled her as to what his
fate might be.  Finally, she made the decision to dismiss all thoughts,
wondering greatly what she would do later to pass the creeping hours that her
sisters were