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Friday, December 17, 2010

Twisted Christmas Fairy Tale - #fridayflash

Hey, it's nearly Christmas. A time for tales. This story is vamping up the old Cinderella tale.




‘Cindy, please don’t go,’ the step-sisters begged.

‘I’m 18 years old! I’ll do what I want!’ Cindy snarled.

Philomena and Persephone looked on in alarm as they saw what Cindy had chosen to wear to the Prince of Darkness Christmas party – black, black and more black.

‘Er, Cindy, don’t you think you could lighten up with a touch of red? Here, take my Hermes scarf I've never let you borrow before. It’d go so well with that knockout dress, even if…er…you trail it out of your pocket,’ Philomena said hastily when she saw the murderous look Cindy sent her way.

Philomena was stunned at how white Cindy’s face was. Cindy had used her palest pancake make-up to top off her Gothic princess look. She could be a very young and elegant Helena Bonham Carter.

‘Cindy, do you realise how dangerous this rave will be? There’ll probably be all kinds of party drugs...’

‘Oh whsst Meanie! What are you worried about? You girls hate me. You’ve spent years humiliating me, making me do all the chores, making me stay home while you went out and had all the fun. Now it’s my turn to party. God, I’ve waited long enough. Nothing’s going to stop me now.’


Cindy leaned close to Philomena's Hollywood-style mirror and applied the last touches to her black eye make-up. She finished with a slash of black lipstick.


Philomena and Persephone stepped back in horror. Cindy had turned herself into a freak show. What had happened to her long blond hair, her tanned skin, her vintage dresses? Here was a stranger in a silk and net flowing dress with handkerchief hem, black onyx beads, black vamp stockings, black stilletos, black net elbow-length gloves...


‘Would you like us to style your hair, Cindy?’ Persephone asked, ‘I could put it up on top of your head,’ she said hopefully.


‘Don’t be ridiculous, Phoney. I’m a gothic princess. My hair stays down.’


‘Can I help you with your shoes then?’ Persephone begged.


Never ever touch my shoes,' Cindy growled, 'even if you're feeling a tad guilty about the way you treated me as your valet. Don’t bother. I’m well able to dress myself, something you've never learned to do. Look at you!’

Persephone ignored the slight. Without Cindy's help she knew she looked a fright. But Cindy was out for herself tonight and she deserved it after all the years of drudgery, Persephone had to admit.


‘What’ll we tell mum when she gets home?’ she asked.


‘Nothing. She’s always wanted me dead so there should be no problem there. It’s because of her I’ve got to wear these black gloves to cover my callouses. I’d hate the Prince to think I’m some lackey.’


‘Cindy! You’ve got to be home before midnight!’


‘Or what? I'll turn into a pumpkin? Don’t be ridiculous. The party will only just be getting pumped by then.’


‘But mum…’


‘If you think I’m worried about your mum, forget it. My mum’s the only one I answer to.’


‘But your mum’s…’


‘Dead. Yes, I’d noticed. Still, you’d be surprised how helpful she can be.’


With that, Cindy stomped out of the door, steel stilettos stamping an angry staccato on the tiles.






On the subway Cindy ignored the black looks the other commuters sent her way. She never cared what people thought of her.

While she hung from the strap she stroked her cross and said a little prayer to her mum. She’d just visited her grave that afternoon to tell her what she’d planned to do. The little white dove that settled on the grave had a message for her. She’d picked up the note with shaking hands and read:

 ‘Come to the Prince of Darkness party! Best-dressed prize! A private session with the Prince!’

She’d wept with bitter joy over her mum’s grave. When she was done crying her hazel eyes felt hard and dry. This was it. This was her time…



When Cindy arrived at the party the bouncers let her go right in, such was her proud bearing. They thought she must be a foreign princess, for she looked so beautiful in her black, floaty dress. Her black jewels caught the light as did her black hair which fell to her waist in a river of silk. The bouncers escorted her inside, reluctant as they were to leave her side.

 

The party was pumping when Cindy made her entrance through the large black doors into the cave-like room flanked by the two enormous guards. Everyone was astonished at her beauty. The Prince himself, who’d been checking out the dancers from the atrium, flew down the stairs and instantly took her by the hand and danced with no one but her for the whole evening. No one else dared invite her to dance. They feared the Prince.


Cindy was so bold as to ask, ‘Why, Prince, are you spending the night dancing with me and me alone? There are many girls who are dying to dance. I can see it in their eyes.’


‘Exactly, my princess. Their eyes are already dead, while yours are alive with light.’


‘But not for much longer, my Prince. The light is just for you. I came for your kiss of death.’


‘Is that what you want, my princess? To be with me forever after?’ he leaned closer, kissing her delicious white neck with its throbbing pulse.


‘That is what I want my Prince. My earthly life finished long ago. This mortal life has nothing for me.’


In the Prince’s darkened rooms, Cindy received her last mortal wish.

It all went to her plan. The Prince knelt before her, removing her stiletto with its razor-sharp steel-spiked heel.

‘Yes, come, my Prince. Kiss me quickly.’

He took her into his strong embrace and began to kiss her with a long and lingering passion, before suddenly yet gently piercing her neck with her stiletto heel.

So much easier than biting through skin, he thought.

He bent over her to taste the divine life source.

'Ah, at last. My Princess has come!'



THE END

©DeniseCovey2010

42 comments:

N. R. Williams said...

Ounce. You're early L'Aussie. I still haven't decided what to write. I love this dark enchanting Cindy story. Two thumbs up from me.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author

Denise Covey said...

Thx Nancy! I's doing double duty for me!

John Wiswell said...

"She’s always wanted me dead so there should be no problem there"

What kid, alive or undead, hasn't been there?

Denise Covey said...

That's true John. Exactly.

mazzz in leeds said...

Oooh, I do like your take on the old classic! Cindy is cool

The photos you used worked really well too (the Prince is rather easy on the eye!)

Denise Covey said...

mazz in leeds: Thanks you and yes he is isn't he?

The Words Crafter said...

A dark and twisty take on the old classic, I love it!

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Words Crafter!

Steve Green said...

Love it Denise, I'll take the Goth with her outfit and spiky heels, over the ballroom gown and glass slipper any day.

Denise Covey said...

Ha Ha Steve! So will I!

Jai Joshi said...

Yikes! Remind me never to dance with Prince Charming. Or wear stilleto heels. Ever.

Jai

Theres just life said...

Love it. Great twisted fairytale. By the way I finally posted my fridayfalsh.
Check it out.

notesfromnadir said...

I really enjoyed reading this story right up to the twisted ending. This story flows so beautifully.

Denise Covey said...

Jai: Ha, I will!

PJ: I'll be by to read it!

Lisa: Thanks. High praise coming from you. Thanks also for following my flash blog!

Enid Wilson said...

Well done, L'Aussie. Hmm, a sequel will be good...

Fire and Cross

Francine Howarth said...

Hi,

Not so snowed under that I couldn't get out of the underworld! Great Vamp Cindy doings. Loved the stilleto angle of incision.

Hee hee, Cindy is oh so close to my heart, you'll never know how close you've come to revealing the real me - as in Masquerade of a writer! :)

best
F

Jules said...

What a spin on an old classic. Loved the goth aspect, thank heavens I do not wear stiletto heels :)

Great job :D
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Denise Covey said...

Okay Enid I'll get right onto it, ha ha!

Francine:Do tell!

Jules: Thanks so much for stopping by! You'd never catch me in stilettos either!

stu said...

A wonderfully dark take on the story.

Lydia Kang said...

Deliciously creepy!

Summer Ross said...

Wonderful take on this fairytale! I love the twists you have in here.

Vicki Rocho said...

oh my. I didn't see that coming.

Genevieve Jack said...

I like this vamped up cinderella tale. Dark and surreal stuff. Well done!

Talei said...

Denise, thoroughly enjoyed this deliciously dark tale! Very nicely done dear lady! xx

Ellie Garratt said...

Ooo...so creepy and twisted! Love it!

Denise Covey said...

Stu: Glad youlike it.

Lydia: Yes isn't it?

Summer: Glad you saw more than one twist hee hee.

Vicki: Caught ya?

GP Ching: Glad you like it.

Talei: Sounds like you got into it.

Ellie: Great!!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Loved it. The conversation with the sisters was an excellent twist. Cindy knew she owned the evening and she did.

I enjoye it very much.

Michael

Stephen said...

A cool twist on the old story. So Cindy found her prince and kept her slipper as well. Well, besides the prince sticking it in her throat, of course. Good stuff.

Denise Covey said...

Gideon: Yes, I'm glad you picked up the little twists in the conversation. Glad you liked it.

Stephen: Cool!

dolorah said...

Marvelous. I should have known it'd be vampires for you Denis. You write them so well. This was vivid and lively, despite the death theme.

Well done.

........dhole

Denise Covey said...

Donna: Thanks for your comment and for following Donna! Have a lovely Christmas!

Unknown said...

oooohhh... twisty and dark!!

AidanF said...

Nice re-imagination of the Cinderella tale. I particularly liked the part with her visiting her mother's grave and the note.

Denise Covey said...

Tessa: Lovely to see you again!

AidanF: Thanks. Yeah, there were lots of little bits and pieces happening. Glad you liked those!

Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O.J. Barré said...

Dark and twisted Cindy, indeed. Great story. I shivered!

~ that rebel, Olivia

Rachel Blackbirdsong said...

I like that she's feisty. In the original story she's kind of wimp. I like she talks back to her step-sisters and tells them what she thinks of their mum. Perhaps this is the beginning of a series of retelling of other fairytales.

Christine Danek said...

Love this take. I'm a sucker for dark, vamp tales. Love the Cinderella influence. Nicely done.

Eric J. Krause said...

Love her new attitude. This was a great dark take on the Cinderella story. Well done!

Rebecca Emin said...

You've thought me a lesson. I thought I wasn't that keen on vampire stories but I absolutely love this. Great pictures, great characters, everything about it is wonderful. Thank you!

Denise Covey said...

Olivia: Ooh, shivered. I did good!

Rachel: Maybe...

Christine: Thanks for saying so.

Rebecca: Oh, that's good. I'm a recent convert and am still playing about with the genre.

George said...

Gentleness in death, he creeps up like a stiletto heel on a stone pavement. Loved the grip and it's dripping away - Cindy's passion and pain - so well done!!

Anonymous said...

Makes me want to visit the Disney store!!
Loved it, especially the comment about the party was "pumping" gave it a kind of 70's feel...
Merry Christmas,
Colin