Happily Ever After...With Blood Stained Hands

She looked at the body at her feet, watching, mesmerized for a moment, as his blood pooled crimson on the steps where he was slumped.

“There’s blood on your shoe, my dear.”

Startled, Cinderella turned, to find the Fairy Godmother behind her, a pleased smirk on her face that made a mockery of her matronly manner. “He’s dead.” She said, her voice as chilled as the brisk, winter kissed breeze that swept lazily over the palace grounds; the ball was still taking place in the heart of the castle, but eventually, someone would realize the crown prince was missing and guards would quickly be dispatched.

“Indeed.”

“I did as you commanded.” The silver dagger, stained with the blood of the prince, the prince she could have possibly loved, in another time, another place, finally slipped from her fingers, landing beside the body she could no longer bring herself to look at. “I killed the prince, with a silver dagger forged from ice at the stroke of midnight.” She lifted her chin, in defiance to her trembling voice and the Fairy Godmother – or maybe she was a wicked witch most foul – stepped forward and casually retrieved the weapon she had given Cinderella earlier in the evening, when she had approached the sobbing girl with an offer Cinderella had been unable to refuse.

“You did as I instructed, girl, and in return, you will be granted what was promised.”

“My stepmother and stepsisters…”

“Within a fortnight of this night, your stepmother will be dead, blamed for the death of the prince, whom she will be accused of killing after her rejected her daughters.” Humming, she slipped the dagger into a pocket in her heavy cloak, before continuing, “And your stepsisters, they will stand accused as accomplices and will be sentenced to prison for the remainder of their lives and their downfall will forfeit back to you all that has been stolen.”

“My home.” She whispered, tears shimmering in her eyes.

“Your hone. Your wealth. Your title as a Lady within the kingdom.” The Fairy Godmother tilted her head slightly, regarding Cinderella intently, intensely, as if she could see into her heart and soul and perhaps, she could and that was what had led them here. “Revenge. You shall have it. A poor servant girl no more.”

“Thanks to you.”

“Oh no, my dear. I offered terms. You accepted them.”

“That I did.”

“And now?” She waved a hand in the direction of the dead prince. “Do you regret what you have done here tonight, my sweet?”

“Yes.” It was the truth, but so were the words that followed. “But if I had it to do again, I would make the same decision.”

Casting her eyes away from the woman who had saved – or ruined – her life, she finally saw that she did indeed have blood on her shoe and without thinking, she kicked it off and without another word to the Fairy Godmother, Cinderella descended the steps with as much grace as one could, with only one shoe.

She didn’t look back, as she disappeared into the shadows of the night, even as shouted orders to find the prince carried on the wind.

#TwistedFairyTale #NotSoHappyAnEnding #WickedFairyGodmother