Maze Of Glass Slippers (A Cinderella Adaptation) COMPLETE

Before Midnight

  I brushed my dress down and twirled in my stained mirror propped against the wall of my attic bedroom. The pink skirts flowed around me, looking as light as pale petals on a flower as they raced through the air on their very own ocean. The dress was simple, but fine, a lovely flower-embroidered corset and ruffled over the sides of my arms made it look light an airy. I had pinned my pale locks in ringlets to my head as I had done many times for my stepsisters but had never time for myself. Yvette had tried to keep my busy all day today, but I had long ago mastered any chore to be done in the house and the staff were on my side, taking and free time they had to help me. They had watched with me as my stepfamilies' wonderful dresses arrived and Yvette cooed over them and decided that no matter what, I was to go to the Ball.

Della had spent the next morning rifling through old boxes that took half of my cramped room until she had found what she was looking for. It was a dress of my mother's. She told me that with a few mends and additions it would be more than perfect for me to wear to the Ball – she said that it didn't matter what Gabriella and Flora wore, I would outshine them no matter what because my personality was far brighter than what they could ever wish for. For that, I had hugged her tight and kissed her on both cheeks.

The guests had been serviced, the chores had been done and Yvette and her daughters were readying to go, all wearing the finest silks in vibrant colours and styles of the latest fashion. I descended the stairs and into their view and was greeted by wide eyes and gasps. After the shock, Yvette's eyes narrowed and her mouth twisted. I interrupted before she could say anything. "It didn't cost you anything, I promise. It was my mother's old dress."

"Mama, she can't possibly come!" gasped Gabriella, looking to her mother.

"Have you done all your chores, Adeline?" she questioned.

"Yes, Mistress," I confirmed and stood straight.

"Washed all the tapestries, cleaned the rooms, fed the animals, brushed the floors, washed our clothes and scrubbed the kitchen floor?" Yvette tested, advancing on me but I was adamant that I would stand my ground.

"I have done everything."

"Show me." And so I lead her around the house, showed her all the clean tapestries, the bedrooms with dusted surfaces and changed sheets, the three neat piles of washing in each of their rooms, the clean floors and finally the kitchen. I had never been so glad to have the help of the household on my side, for they had helped furiously throughout the day to achieve the impossible. My stepmother walked around the spotless kitchen and ran her fingers along the surfaces. Not one spot came back on her pearl white gloves. Her blazing eyes roamed the room and came to rest on the bucket of ash next to the fire. Before I could blink twice, her hand had shot out, sparking with malicious intent and the bucket wobbled from side to side before clanging to the ground, spilling soot on the floor. Not only did she do that but she aimed the bucket to fall in my direction, spraying dark stains all over my mothers beautiful dress.

I gulped as I teetered backwards from the assault. The dress... More sparks flew at me, singing the sleeves and skirt so lovely repaired by many hours hard at work. Gabriella and Flora sniggered as their hands blazed with sorcery. Tears filled my eyes and I gasped in desolation. Wind snapped at the windows as it threw its water.

"Looks like you missed a spot," Yvette smirked and stepped around the dark smear on the floor.

"Why do you hate me so?" I ask, my voice breaking as I speak to their receding backs. My stepmother turned around very slowly to skewer me with a look like a knife, pinning me to the floor.

"Because you were meant to be so much more," she hissed and in a twirl of vibrant skirts, hustled her two daughters out of the house.

Why did I think that I could finally have a chance? I wiped my tears and reached for the brush, falling to my knees. I wiped the stains, only managing to smudge them further and even my falling tears made a small dent. Thunder roared outside and lighting came in flashes of white light.