The 'Sin' of Cinderella III

The Sin of Cinderella III
"You're putting together quite a collection of sweets aren't you Ella?" Gus said, as he walked past my room under the stairs, arms full of flour and sugar.  Apparently my stepmother wanted to make a cake to celebrate the invitation to the prince's upcoming ball.  Not every maid or maiden was invited but apparently Anya and Drey had put on quite a show at the 'audition' to be invited.  She read the letter proudly, making sure to mention that it was for Anya and Drey and certainly not some 'Trow child' who was taking up residence in their home.
I rolled my eyes, trying not to think of the memory but rather focusing on the fact that I was going to head to the village with Drey in a little while to pick up the missing ingredients for the cake.  I smiled proudly and looked at my collection of treats that I had set in an empty mug.  It did kind of look like a bouquet in a jar, but instead of flowers, this one was filled with peppermint sticks, lollipops, cake pops, and various other sweets.  I couldn't bring myself to eat them because over the last week and a half every time I went to the village/market that strange hooded guy was there.
I never caught his name, but he told me that he worked for the king and that the prince was very kind.  I wasn't sure if I believed him, but I did love his kindness as he always was kind enough to walk around the market with me and pick up the things that my step mother and sisters always needed on a daily basis.
"Are you in love?" Gus asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
"What?" I asked, looking away from the mug filled with sweets.  "What makes you say that, Gus?"
Jack's face appeared in the doorway, a complete opposite to Gus.  For every inch that Jack went up upward, Gus went sideways.  But the two were best friends since my father brought Gus in from the start.  He was an amazing baker and even my stepmother couldn't hide her happiness when she would bite into one of Gus's famous cherry and apple pies.  "We can see it in your eyes," Jack went on, slightly shoving Gus aside so he had room to stand.  "Everytime you go to the market you return with a twinkle in your eye.  It must be love."
Gus chuckled.  "I agree Ella.  What's he look like?  Is he tall?"
"Well yes…of course he is," I laughed.  "Everyone is tall to me."
"So he's a human?" Jack asked, his voice riddled with surprise.  "I would have thought…" he trailed off and looked at Gus who was nodding as well.
"You thought what?" I asked.
"We thought that maybe Bruno had finally caught your eye.  It's what your father always wanted," Gus said.
"Bruno?" I repeated.  "Bruno is my friend.  My best friend at that."
"Well…we always thought," Gun started but waved his hands around when Jack gave him a strange look.  "Nevermind us Ella, we're just a couple of romantics at heart.  Always looking for the right girl.  So tell us more about the mystery man."
I paused.  "I'm not really sure.  I know he works for the king."
"Royalty?" Jack asked.  "Impressive."
"What about his eyes?" Gus asked, smiling.  "When he looks at you, do you get butterflies in your stomach?"
"Gus!  I don't know!"  I laughed.  "His eyes are always hidden behind this cape thing.  I've only got a good look at him once or twice."
"A true mystery," Jack said, but flinched when he heard the front door open.  "Ahh," he grunted, "the lady of the house must be home," he muttered, hearing my stepmother's shoes clacking across the marble floors of the main room.  "We don't want you getting in anymore trouble, Ella," he said, digging into his pocket as Gus shifted the large bags of flour and sugar in his arms.
"You giving her the list?" My stephmother's voice came from the hall.
"Yes mum," Jack said.  "We did a run in the kitchen and we are missing a few things to prepare the cake as you requested it."
"Give it to her, then," she answered.  "I don't want her and Drey thinking this is a fun trip.  There is much work to be down."  She made her way down the halls until she was standing behind Jack and Gus.  "Off with you two," she muttered as Jack quickly handed me the list.  
"It's all listed there," he said, allowing the woman to shove him.  "We'll be in the kitchen when you get back."
"Drey is coming?" I asked my stepmother once Jack and Gus were gone.
"I want her to look at fabrics for her dress," she explained with a dismissive hand.  "She has the eyes for color and pattern but no one can actually make the dress but you.  You are going to have a busy week ahead of you, preparing my girls for the ball.  This could be their big chance, Cin, I won't have you messing it up for them."
"I wouldn't."
"Good," she muttered.  "Now go.  Dreysilda??" She called.
"Mom?"
"Get your coat, you're going with Cin to the village."
Immediately I heard her running down the stairs and my stepmother winced with distaste.  "A lady does not run," she said to Drey.  "Do you think the prince wants a wife who will gallop around his home like a stableman?"
"No mother."
"Of course he wouldn't," she muttered.  "Have you decided on the colors?"
Drey nodded.  "Gold for Anastasia and silver for me," she said simply.
My stepmother arched one of her own silver brows, eyeing up Drey.  "The reasons for your color palette?"
"Anya is older so she should be gold and it will look nice with her light brown hair-"
"And for you?  Why silver?"
"My hair is much darker than Anya's and-"
"What about the shape?" My stepmother interrupted her.  "Something fancier for you, I expect?"
Drey shook her head.  "No mother.  Anya will have the more impressive dress of the two of us because she is older.  I have a few patterns picked out in my head but I will have to see what is available at the shop."
She nodded, finally pleased with her daughter's answers.  "I have given you plenty of money for the patterns and fabric, however, if you need more, I have a tab set up under Cin's father."
I sucked in my breath.  My father had worked for so long and for so hard.  And for what?  So Drey and Anya could buy tasteless frocks to wear at a ball to impress a man who probably wouldn't bat an eyelash in their direction.  Maybe Drey, but stepmother would never allow Drey to outshine Anya.
"Get your head out of the clouds, girl!" Stepmother snapped at me, reaching down to smack my hand.  I winced at the contact but kept my ground.  "Be off with you now…" she trailed off suddenly as her eyes trailed past me.
"What…what is it stepmother?" I asked, worried as to where were eyes were going.
"What.  Are.  Those??" She snapped, pointing over my head to my mug of candies.  "Have you been spending my money on this…trash?"
"No…those were a gift," I started to say but found it pointless.  My stepmother easily stepped past me, snatching the mug up in her hand, a few stray candies hitting the floor as she did so.  
"A gift from who?"
"No one," I muttered.
"From who, Cin?" She repeated, growing angrier by the second.  "Who would give a Trow treats?"
I lowered my head.  "It was a boy from the village."
"A boy from the village," she repeated, the malice dripping from her chapped lips.  "I bet its that Bruno Trow."
"It's not!"
She dealt me a slight blow to the cheek, knocking me across the room.  "Lies!"  She shrieked.  "Always lies from Trows!"  She backed out of my room and chucked the mug towards the fireplace, candies flying everywhere before the mug collided with the wall above the fireplace causing ceramic to explode around the family room.  Drey and I both covered our faces from the flying shards but my stepmother stood there, motionless and cold, like the statuesque woman who she was.
"Mother," Drey started to say but my stepmother rose her hand towards her.  "Silence," she hissed.  "Get your coat and gather your things."  
Drey darted away before she could say another word to her.
"And you," she said, her voice low and menacing.  "Clean that up before you leave this house.  I don't want to see treats in this house again."
"Yes, stepmother," I muttered, starting to walk around her.  I felt her book come into contact with the small of my back, knocking me to the hard floor and I cried out in surprise and pain.  
"And get Drey to put some make up on that mark," she said, easily stepping over me, the long train of her dress, shrouding me in darkness as she went past.  I almost cried from the humiliation of such an act.  "I can't have you going to town looking like a common street rat," she muttered.
I sniffed and started to sit up.  "Yes, stepmother," I said, my voice starting to crack.

***

"Ella…are you sure you're alright?" Drey's concerned voice asked as she sifted through the fabrics at the shop.
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine," she said, practically whispering as a few strangers went past.  "I'm sorry about what happened."
"I'm sure you are."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means…" I trailed off, looking up at her.  "Nevermind.  I know my role in this world.  A Trow is nothing but a lower version of a human.  We are ugly, disgusting-"
"I think you're beautiful," Drey said, pulling a ream of fabric out.
"What?" I asked, trying not sound incredulous.  "You do?"
"Of course.  I love your hair, it's so light and your eyes are almost lavender."  She held up a gorgeous piece of golden fabric.  "Do you think this will be good enough for Anya?"
"Is anything ever good enough for her?" I dared to ask in a sarcastic voice.
"Good point," Drey laughed back, measuring a piece of the fabric and folding it and tucking it under her arm.  "Now for me."
"A silver dress," I breathed, so jealous.  "It's going to look amazing."
"Thank you, Ella," Drey said.  "But I do wish you could come with me."
"A Trow at the prince's ball?" I scoffed.
"I know I know, but you have always been more of a sister to me than Anya.  It would have been nice.  I wish you weren't-" she cut herself off, growing pink.  
"Say it," I said.  "You wish that I wasn't a Trow."
She lowered her head, her dark hair falling into her eyes.  "I'm sorry, Ella."
"Don't worry about it," I said, pretending to fan my face.  "Geez, it's starting to get kind of hot in here.  Mind if I wait outside?"
"Don't you want to help me pick out a fabric?"
"You have just as good an eye for this as I do," I laughed.  "You'll do fine.  Whatever fabric and whatever pattern you wish, I'll make you look like a dream, Drey.  Just make sure you pick out something which will also set your dress apart from the others."
"Like?"
I smiled, stepping into the doorway.  "I don't know, crystals or something just as glitzy."
She smiled back, but it was sad.  I knew that Drey was still upset about what her mother had done to my mug and my candies from the stranger, but she was even more upset because she hadn't done anything to stop her.  I didn't blame her.  No one stands up for a Trow.
"Good advice," a low voice interrupted my thoughts as I sat on the lowest step in front of the shop.
I looked up, not surprised to see my cloaked stranger, staring down at me.  "Do you have a spy or something?" I asked.
He chucked uncomfortably.  "What makes you think that?"
"You have the most amazing timing," I laughed.  "You always seem to be here when I am."
"I spend a lot more time in the village than most people would assume," he said.  "So have you picked out your gown?"
I arched my brow.  "Gown for what?"
"Don't be silly," he said, sitting down on the step next to me, gently nudging my arm.  "The ball.  The prince's ball is only a few days away."
I chuckled.  "You really are a funny one, aren't you?"
"What do you mean?" He asked, lowering his head to look at me.  "I am not trying to be funny.  I wanted to know what your gown looked like.  Maybe we could match."
"That would require me knowing what you look like," I said.  "Which I do not."
"It is important that I remain hidden," he explained.
"Why?"
"You have many questions today, Ella," he chuckled.  "Are you alright?  Shall I get you another peppermint stick-"
"No," I said, a bit too quickly and sharply.  I saw him tilt his head to the side.
"Is everything okay?"
"Not exactly," I said.  "My stepmother took my candy…the stuff you gave me."
"What do you mean, she took it?  Those were yours.  Didn't you eat them?"
"I was saving them," I muttered, lowering my head.  "I know it probably doesn't mean much to you but they meant something to me."
"You saved all of those candies?" He asked.
My cheeks felt hot.  "Y-yes.  I know it's stupid-"
"Hey," he interrupted, leaning towards me.  For a moment I almost caught another look at his eyes but they quickly disappeared in the shadows of his hood again.  His large hand wrapped around my shoulder, his fingers curling around my back.  "I don't think it's stupid at all, Ella.  In fact, I'm honored."
"Honored."
"Yes," he said, the smile coming through his words.  "For a while I was worried that you didn't like me very much."
"That's not true at all," I said, keeping my voice low.  It felt so odd to be having a conversation in the open like this, with people walking past watching us.  It was rare to see human and Trow interacting unless business was involved and this certainly didn't feel or look like business to me.  I tried to smile up at him.  "Tell me your name," I whispered.  "You know mine."
"Soon enough, Ella," he said.  "But for now, I want you to do a favor for me."
"A favor?"
He nodded.  "I want you to pick out your own gown for the ball."
"But I'm not invited!"
"It doesn't matter," he said.  "I want you make your own gown.  I want to see it, I want to see what you look like in a dress made for a royal event.  Will you do that?"
"Why?  My stepmother will not be happy," I muttered, reaching to touch the forming bruise on my cheek that Drey had tried to cover up.  "When she saw the candies she was angry enough but if I made a gown…"
His hand left my back and his thumb gently traced across my cheek next to the bruise.  "Did she do this to you because of me?"
"It wasn't because of you," I whispered, trying to move my face away from his hand.  But his touch was magnetic, and my face wouldn't leave his fingertip.  "I shouldn't have kept the candies."
"But you did, and look what happened.  This was my fault."
"It was," he said, his voice growing serious.  "And I intend to make things right.  Make the gown," he hushed.  "Do whatever it takes.  I will find a way to make sure that you can attend the ball."
"But it's for the prince," I said.  "It's not just some ball.  It's a gathering for the prince to find a wife."
"He will not care," he grunted back at me.  "This separation of Trow and human has gone on for long enough.  The king's way of doing things is soon going to come to an end."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I work at the castle with the king, Ella.  I told you that."
"But…"
"Ella," his voice hushed all around me, as he lowered his face even closer to mind.  "I want you to go to the ball."
"I don't have an invitation."
"You will have one when you need one," he said in a vague tone, still tracing my cheek with his thumb.  I felt his lips graze against my cheek, cool to the touch but soft.  "Make the gown however you wish, but make sure that you make it the way you would make it."  His lips came together and gently pressed against my temple.  "Will you do that?"
I nodded, closing my eyes as the warmth spread through my fingertips and eyelids.  "Please though, can I at least know your name?"
He pulled away as we both heard the sound of a cash register ringing out.  "In time, Ella," he whispered, standing up and walking away.  
"In time," I whispered as Drey came out of the shop, large bags in her arms.
"Ready to head back to the house?" She asked.
"Drey," I asked, standing up on the step and walking up to close to her.
"Hmm?"
"Was there any money left over from the store?"
"Sure but…"
"But nothing," I said, trying to keep my tone even.  "I want to pick out a few extra things to have on hand, just in case."
Drey smiled.  "Sure!  Can I help?"
I looked past her into the shop, my eyes immediately landing on a few thin fabrics, ivory and winter white.  "I'm sure going to need that amazing eye of yours," I said, pressing the fabric against me, still holding on to the feeling of that stranger's lips brushing against my face.
I would make this gown, not only for him…but I would make it for me.  
It would be a chance to make something, just for me.
But I still hoped that the stranger would like it.