The room was deathly quiet, the only sound the rapid breath of Cinderella's gasping chest. I held her close, my heart hammering in my ears, not sure what had just happened—what had been awakened inside her. Her body was still trembling, but the light in her eyes had dimmed, replaced by an overwhelming fear that mirrored my own.
"What... what did he do to me?" she whispered again, her voice barely audible, like she was trying to convince herself it was all just a nightmare.
I glanced over at the prince. His expression was a twisted mask of satisfaction, his gaze cold, yet somehow filled with something darker—a hunger that I couldn't quite understand.
"The game has begun, Cinderella," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "You've been awakened. The powers inside you... the legacy your father left behind... it's all coming to the surface."
Cinderella recoiled as if his words were physical blows, her eyes flicking to me, wide with confusion and terror. "My father... what are you talking about?" she stammered.
I gripped her shoulders, trying to steady her. "Listen to me, Cinderella," I said, my voice firm. "We need to get out of here. Whatever he's planning, whatever he's done to you, it's not over. We have to leave before it's too late."
But the prince wasn't finished. He took a step closer, his gaze never leaving Cinderella's trembling form. "It's already too late," he said softly. "You're a part of something much bigger than you realize. You've always been. Your father... he was my partner. We had plans, dreams for the future. He was one of the few who truly understood what had to be done."
Cinderella's face paled even further, her breath catching in her throat. "No... no, he couldn't have. My father wasn't like you."
The prince's smile remained, but there was no warmth in it, just a cruel edge. "You never knew him, did you? You've been living in a fairytale, believing your father was some kind of saint. But the truth is, he was part of a legacy—a legacy of power and control. And you, Cinderella... you are the key to it all."
I looked at Cinderella, and I could see the shock in her eyes, the way her whole world was shattering around her. But I couldn't let the prince see my concern. I couldn't let him think he'd won. "Stop lying to her," I spat, taking a step forward, my eyes blazing. "You're using her. She's not your weapon. She's not a key to anything."
The prince's gaze shifted back to me, and for a moment, the coldness in his eyes deepened. "You don't understand, Red. This was always part of the plan. And whether she accepts it or not, Cinderella will play her part. We will play our part. And when the time comes, we will take what's rightfully ours."
He paused, as though letting the weight of his words sink in, his eyes flicking between me and Cinderella. "You're both pawns in this game. The sooner you accept that, the better."
"No!" Cinderella cried, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. "I won't be a part of this! I won't be your tool, your weapon."
The prince only chuckled, low and dark. "It's already too late for you to choose, my dear. The power inside you is awakening, and there's no going back. You are who you are, and nothing will change that."
I could feel the anger bubbling inside me, threatening to burst. I couldn't just stand by and let him manipulate her like this. But then, before I could say anything more, Cinderella stumbled backward, her hands gripping the edge of a nearby table for support.
Her face was twisted in pain now, and I could see the struggle in her eyes—like she was fighting against something inside her, something that had been unlocked and was trying to take control.
"No," she whispered, her voice breaking. "No, I won't... I won't let you turn me into this."
The prince stepped forward again, his expression one of twisted delight. "You can't fight it, Cinderella. You're my legacy. And soon, you'll see the world as I do. You'll understand what needs to be done. And when you do, you'll join me."
Cinderella's body jerked violently, her hands flying to her temples as though trying to push something out. A high-pitched sound filled the room, like a ringing in my ears, and I stepped forward, reaching out for her.
"Cinderella!" I cried, but she didn't respond. She was shaking too violently, her body convulsing as though the power inside her was forcing its way to the surface.
I turned to the prince. "What have you done to her?" I demanded. "She's not your puppet!"
The prince's smile faded for a moment, and his expression grew more serious, almost calculating. "You think I've done something to her? No. She is her father's daughter. She is the one who will lead this new world. And whether she likes it or not, the power within her will consume her. It's only a matter of time."
I shook my head, my mind racing. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Cinderella was not a weapon. She wasn't some tool to be used in the prince's twisted game. But as I looked at her, struggling to hold herself together, I wasn't so sure anymore.
Her father's legacy. The power inside her.
Could it really be true?
But I couldn't think about that now. I had to help her. Whatever it took, I had to stop this before it was too late.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash, and Cinderella's body jerked upright, her eyes flashing with that strange light again. I grabbed her, holding her steady as she fought to regain control. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and I could feel the power emanating from her, swirling around us like a storm about to break.
"This isn't over," the prince said, his voice soft but ominous. "You'll both come to realize that soon enough. And when you do... there will be no escape."
I held Cinderella close, my mind racing as I felt the weight of the prince's words pressing down on us. The game had shifted, and now we were both trapped in the middle of it.
And the worst part was... I didn't know if we could win.