Cinder-hella

With a large puff of black smoke and clap of thunder, Ella’s magical godmother stood before her. Ella raised her tear stained face and stood up from the hearth where she had been weeping over her sad pathetic life. Her tears came to an abrupt end with the harsh sting in her cheek from the violent slap from the woman before her.

“What is your problem? So your step-mother and step-sisters insult you, hit you and even steal your breakfast. Get over it! Learn to stand up for yourself. Get mad, or even better, get even.” Her godmother’s words took a moment but they sunk in and then a small flame flickered and began to grow. They had tortured her long enough. She had had enough and it was time for poor little Ella who cleaned the cinders from the fireplace to rise up and take her rightful place in the world.

The slow smile on Ella’s face was all the encouragement he godmother needed. With a wave of her wand, Ella’s tattered dress was transformed into a stunning elegant gown, a black so dark it shimmered like the night. The mice in the corner became a pair of hounds with large vicious teeth. Once Ella followed her godmother outside, a fallen log became a chariot and the two snakes from beneath it became a pair of horses to pull it. Now she was ready to follow her step-mother and sisters to the grand ball. Except for that pesky midnight deadline, Ella was sure it would be a perfect night.

She was right, it was a perfect night. Everyone told her how beautiful she was but no one knew who she was. Inwardly she was appalled at how superficial people were and only noticed her prettier step-mother and gorgeous step-sisters. Many of these people had been to the house and had seen Ella but only as a lowly servant and not a member of the family.

Disappointment and self-pity tried to take hold in her heart but she took control and replaced those weaker feelings with anger and plans of revenge. A plan began to grow in the dark recesses of her mind.

Ella slid up to the Prince and took his hand, she led him to a dark corner and whispered promises in his ear. He was intrigued and as he turned to press his lips against hers, the clock began to chime. With a groan Ella turned and fled the ball. She just made it home before she was surrounded by snakes, mice and standing on a log. Her magical night may be over but her new life was just beginning.

Ella was abruptly awoken by a pounding on the door. As answering the door was one of her duties, she answered it to receive a notice that the prince was searching for his mystery woman. He would be going house to house that afternoon. Ella had to figure out how to keep the visit a secret from her family or they would find a way to keep her away. She had to act first and fast.

“We need more wood for the fire Ella”. Her step-mother’s loud command broke through her thoughts. With a sigh, Ella headed outside to the woodpile. That is when she saw the axe and her plan took shape.

The knock on the door came at the perfect time. Ella answered the door wearing one of her step-mother’s best dresses. The prince took one look at her and knew he had found the woman he had fallen for the night before. He took her hand and led her to his carriage and back to the castle. Ella took one look back at the home where she had had so much unhappiness. It looked so peaceful. She knew it was perfectly clean as she had worked hard for hours scrubbing the floors, walls and stairs. A freshly planted rose garden out back would thrive for years, especially with a rich supply of fertilizer she had added before she left. Roses with all their thrones made a much more fitting set of headstones for her step-mother and sisters.

The wedding between Ella and her prince was beautiful. The entire town attended. Ironically no one seemed to notice that Ella had no guests there, or they didn’t care. Perhaps they hated her family as much as she did.

After such a wonderful day it was horrible when so much tragedy followed. The king and queen died the axle on their carriage broke and they were thrown down a hill. Then the prince fell ill. All the doctors could not figure out what was wrong. They could not tell it was a combination of poisons given over time in his food. Sadly, he died, leaving Ella alone and as sole ruler of the kingdom.

As Ella stood on the balcony in her elegant black gown, a slow evil smile grew and grew and then exploded into the perfect evil laugh that carried across the village and settled on a group of roses in front of a very clean house.