Sinful Cinderella

I wake up in Stepmother’s bed. My head feels heavy and swollen. With a low groan, I elbow myself up. My ankle is tied to the post of her bed with a thin rope, so tightly that my bare foot is puffy and red. I lean forward and start picking the knot with my fingernails.

“Don’t do that or I’ll have to hit you again.”

I turn. Loony is sitting on a chair near the bed, holding onto a cast iron frying pan. So that’s what she hit me with. Funny, I didn’t think she was serious.

I sink back onto the pillow and shut my eyes. My head really hurts. “Where’s Stepmother?”

“Out, trying to find the prince. By the way, what is that?” She points to the table beside Stepmother’s bed. My crystal decanter sits on top, empty and twinkling.

I lunge at it but the rope stops me. Loony laughs and slides the decanter further down the table. “What is it?” she asks.

“You were in my room!” I shout.

“All over it,” Lunilla says. “Me and Mother. She dumped out the drawers while I took an axe to that cupboard of yours. We really thought we’d find something much more interesting besides an empty bottle. What’s it for?”

“Nothing,” I snap.

Loony crosses her broad legs and smiles. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out. We were looking for something you wore to the ball, like the dress, some kind of proof. I mean, what’d you do, throw it in the river? Anyhow, Mother came down here and pulled off your loafers. She’s taking them to the prince to show him the size of your feet.”

They didn’t find my crystal slipper? I remember kicking it under the bed the night I staggered in from the ball. That would have been fabulous proof. Good thing they’re stupid, I guess.

I shrug. “He’ll think they’re for a child.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But it’s worth a shot, right? And hey, we’re in luck! The prince is searching our town today, so Mother shouldn’t have to go far.”

I dive back to the knot on my ankle. Loony smirks and raises the frying pan. “He can find you much easier if you’re unconscious.”

“Lunilla, please. Please, let me go!”

Loony settles back in her chair, smug as a cat. “You know, when you marry the prince, can you imagine what that will do for me? And my marriage chances? I’ll be the queen’s sister!”

“Stepsister!” I spit out.

Loony hoists her foot up on the bedframe. “’Course I’d rather be queen myself. But if the prince is really the rat you described, well, sounds like he’s perfect for you! You always liked rats, didn’t you?” She gives me a disgusted look.

I start to cry. I can’t help it. I’m trapped, I can barely feel my foot, and I’m going to be handed to the prince like a pig on a platter. By the very people who are supposed to be my family.

“I – I’m sorry, Lunilla.”

“What?” she looks at me like I’m crazy.

I cry into my curled hand. “I’m just sorry, that’s all. I know you never liked me much, but I didn’t give you much reason to. Did you ever like me at all?”

Loony’s grimacing like she smells something bad. “Oh, a little bit at the beginning. I guess.”

“How did we lose that?” I wipe my wet eyes. “We could have been friends. I should have tried harder but I let hate get the better of me. And now look at me.” I sniff loudly. “I always thought you had good stature. Good lungs too, you should try singing.”

Loony is still scowling. “If you think that’ll make me let you go-”

“I don’t.” I wipe my wet eyelashes. “I guess I just want you to know.

Loony rolls her eyes. As they reach one side, she notices the bedside table. She stares for a moment, then gasps.

My crystal decanter is alive with light, sparkles bouncing on the inside. When the sparkles dissolve, several drops of white liquid have collected at the bottom.