Chapter 5

Ella was sitting by the electric fire, her usual place. It had earned her the name of Cinder-Ella, even though cinder was non-existent. Her step-sisters and her step-mother were getting ready. It was Prince Charming’s birthday party that night.

She heard the door slam shut, their vehicle, a Ferrari rolled away.

And then, there was Snow before her.

“Okay, hurry, we don’t have a lot of time.”
“Where’d you come from?”
“I told you that we will go to the party, so hurry up. I bought you a dress.”
“Hold on. This is just the one that I’d wanted! How did you know?”
“Ctrl + H, silly girl. So go now, wear it.”
“This is so awesome! It’s like magic. It’s like you’re my fairy godmother. Thank you, thank you!!”

The two girls left in Snow’s car. Ella knew that she would have to return before midnight so that her step-sisters did not suspect a thing when they returned. For extra measure, she and Snow had worn masks. Snow had no need to, of course.

The party was a splendid success. It was to be expected. All of Charming’s bashes were always a success. He was turning eighteen. Therefore, this one was even grander than usual. Every girl and guy in the place had been invited. A live band – Prince Charming’s favourite – was performing. The place had just the right kind of lighting and ambience.

Ella and Snow had arrived just a little after Ella’s step-sisters and step-mother. As Ella had walked in, she could feel everyone’s eyes on them. Even with the mask covering her eyes, it seemed that she looked stunning. One mustn’t forget that Snow too was looking beautiful.

But she was a bit of an attention-avoider. She was contented to be in Ella’s shadow. She had refused most dances and just had a few with Hansel.

Ella reveled in the anonymity and went all out and danced to her heart’s content. It wasn’t long before the Prince noticed her and asked her for a dance too. That, thought Ella, was the cherry on the pie.

Too bad that as soon as they’d begun, the clock struck midnight. Ella could have killed the clock, she really could have. She pecked Charming on the cheek, thanked him for the wonderful time, dragged Snow and ran. Charming was left speechless. He was feeling just a little disgruntled at having been brushed off so smoothly. He ran after Ella.

But when he reached the car park, all that he found was a glass slipper.