Could We Last Forever? This Is Not A Love Song
Read on AO3
Rating: Mature
Archive Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
Category: Other
Fandoms: Cinderella & Related Fandoms - All media types, Original Work
Characters: Cinderella, The Prince (Cinderella), The Stepsisters (Cinderella), The Fairy (Cinderella)
Additional Tags: I wrote this for school, i wrote this instead of sleepinf, Cinderella is abused, The Prince (Cinderella) is crazy, The Prince (Cinderella) is batshit insaine fr, The Stepsisters (Cinderella) are abusive, The Fairy (Cinderella) isn't a fairy it's some fucked up creature, The Stepmother (Cinderella) is dead and cremated, Blood, Violence, Stalking, Kinda, Read the warnings, Soul Selling, <- praying that isnt fandom specific, tagged original work because i havent read any of the canons and this is its own brand of fucked up, The Prince (Cinderella) is a creepy stalker
Language: English
Stats:
Published:2023-08-24
Words:1,805
Chapters:1/1
Summary: A retelling of Cinderella, but with a gothic twist. Created for my english class. First half of title from Gone, Gone, Gone by Phone Boy, i made the second half up lol Notes: hey, note of warning/important disclaimer: THIS ISNT SMUT APPARENTLY IT READS LIKE BORDERLINE SMUT AT PARTS THIS ISNT SMUT OR ROMANTIC AT ALL thank you :3 (also if you see any typos lmk its not fully beta read i prolly added to many commas lol)
"... The Prince's ball…" drifted a voice down the stairs.
"... Only for sophisticated individuals…" leered another, like chewing rocks.
"... Could never visit, she's far too ugly." A thud echoed down to the basement, like a gunshot piercing a thought.
"Did you hear that Cinderella? The Prince is having a vall, but you're far to ugly to come, you swine." the gravelly voice called.
Crouching in the middle of a damp, empty room, sequestered in a pile of stained rags and ripped gowns far too large for her to wear, with nought but a wooden bucket filled with damp rags and water, and a needle to keep her company. As she attempted to repair her stepsisters' ruined dresses, lest they punish her again, she wished she could visit the ball, if only to escape her prison for a short period of time.
No sooner had she uttered those thoughts inside her mind, as the water began to shake and a faint buzzing echoed throughout her head, growing louder as it bounced around. As she tried to cover her ears to hide from the sound, the ripples in the water stopped, although the bucket still shook, and a mist arose from the surface, dragging the rags with it. The rags started to fall once more, but caught as if caught on a small head. As Cinderella reached forwards to remove the rags from whatever was underneath them, she felt a sharp pain jolt down her arm straight to her brain as the buzzing echoed with a yet unmatched fervour. "No." called the sound, splitting into a cacophony of voices which spoke in disjointed harmony before falling silent. The rags fell to the now dry bucket, revealing the figure below.
A dried brown tongue reached out of the misshapen mouth of the creature, which was full of jagged, shattered, yellowing teeth and took up most of the wizened, egg shaped body, accented by a small, lone eye, which flitted around the room, as if looking for danger in every dark, hidden corner, illuminated by a faint candle in the corner of the room and the little light that slips from the room upstairs. "I have means to let you visit the prince's ball. All I ask is that you provide a small fraction of your soul. A cheap price to pay to escape this prison, no?"
As Cinderella nodded, an eager glint in her eyes, the creature continued. "The pumpkin in your garden and the mice that surround it shall be transformed into an elegant horse and carriage, and the rags around you shall transform into a beautiful dress. You will arrive at the palace at the ninth chime of the bell, and when the clock chimes twelve for the final time, all shall return to which its nature truly is."
Enchanted by the promise of freedom, Cinderella hastily agreed, almost tripping over her own words. "Please give me freedom, whatever the cost, I just need escape."
"If you do not return home by first light, you shall fall dead and your soul shall not pass into the cool hands of death."
A pause. A sharp breath from Cinderella's mouth.
The creatures facsimile of a mouth became a twisted mockery of a smile.
"It is done."
The twisted being sunk back into the rags, leaving only a pool of water, as if nought had happened. Three hours, she promised herself, and returned to the mind numbing cleaning.
A clock bell rang out for the ninth time, rolling down the dark hill to strike Cinderella in the ears as her horses reached the entrance to the palace, guarded by grand, dark doors, which swung inwards to reveal a long hallway adorned with intricate designs and plush carpeted flooring. As Cinderella's long, flowing dress bathed the ground with its ethereal blue touch, her diamond-like glass slippers barely brushing the cobbles, she took a long, crisp breath, and a rare expression crossed her face, before flitting away. As her smile faded, a team of castle servants arrived to ensure her dress did not get sullied by the damp stones underfoot.
Upon being led to the ballroom, she paused before the doors were parted to reveal many heads turned her way, agape at her effortless beauty. Forcing herself to move onwards, she made her way around the room, rebuffing requests to dance from men in unkempt suits, and jealous glares from women in elegant dresses. Noting her stepsisters from their pale, worn gowns, she made her way across the room, but was stopped by a strong hand on her silk laden arm.
As she turned her body to see who had grabbed her, she felt another hand grasp her shoulder, nails digging into her as she began being dragged into a waltz. recognizing it was the Prince, and that she was unable to escape his leering gaze, despite her body screaming at her to flee. With a nod from the prince, the servants opened the doors and he lead her into a dark, empty ballroom.
The Prince leant forwards, his hot, uncomfortable breath making her skin crawl, his thin fingers grasping her tighter, rooting her in place. He uttered three words which wormed under her skin like leeches, draining blood from her face and filling her with dread in its place. "I love you." he said, a calm, eerie smile coating his face in contrast to the fear which enshrined Cinderella, screaming at her to run and flee the creeping darkness which seemed to roll off the prince in waves. "I want to be with you forever." he continued, eyes unseeing, as if he wasn't truly present, unaware of the horror dawning in Cinderella's eyes as she realised what he wanted and began trying to break his rigid grasp, as if he was nought but pure metal. His gaze suddenly snapped to her, freezing her in fear, unable to move, yet again paralysed in fear as he opened his mouth to speak, letting a sigh leave his paling lips as the darkness encroached upon them, the room wailing as if caught in a wind, although the moonlit trees outside betrayed no gale.
"In heaven." As the words left his mouth, yet another scream reverberated from the palace, despite the still, moonlit night outside. The Prince's grip loosened and Cinderella twisted, her malnourished frame avoiding his grasp as a chime called out from high above, signalling the turn of midnight. Kicking the doors open with such force that the heel shattered and the glass slipper fell off, she fled the ball.
Another chime. The horses began to panic, sensing the impending change.
Another chime. She reached the gates, separating the palace and the dense woods.
Another chime. The twisted branches of the trees scratched at her face.
Another chime. Rolling darkness began to surround her, hiding the path onwards.
Another chime. A sharp twist in the path, causing her to lose her footing.
Another chime. The thorny bramble ripped the dress, stealing her silken accessories.
Another chime. Sudden stones in the path caused her to fall into the overgrowth ahead.
Another chime. Blood poured down her, staining her sky blue dress a crisp red.
Another chime. Pain wracked her body as she tried to extract herself from her throny prison.
Another chime. Mist surrounded her, muffling the sounds of the Prince's horse's approach.
The final chime struck her ears, reverberating through her body as her dress faded, being replaced with that which she was wearing when the being arrived. As the rhythmic gallop grew louder, she stayed deathly still, hoping the Prince wouldn't recognize her. As the chocolate brown nose of a palace horse drew closer, Cinderella exhaled a sigh of relief, realising the blood and dirt would make her unrecognisable. Paying her no mind, the prince rode on, an unnerving smile playing on his lips, as if it was but a game. Once the Prince's mare fell silent, Cinderella began the arduous walk to the basement, hoping the bleeding would stop so as to not garner suspicion, wincing as pain wracked her body.
A sharp knock on the door echoed throughout the house. "Hello?" came her stepsister's questioning voice, as the door creaked open.
"Hello," came the Prince's voice, forcing Cinderella to stifle a gasp, "I have come at the behest of a prophecy, one which states that whichever fair maiden can fit this shoe is destined to be mine for all time. I am travelling the kingdom in an attempt to find the one whom the shoe fits."
"I would be delighted." Replied the stepsister. "Allow me to do so upstairs and inform my sister. I shall, of course, show you should it fit."
"Of course," said the Prince, doubt clear in his voice.
The creak from the wooden stairs echoed throughout the dark, squalid basement, followed by a sharp, piercing scream from upstairs.
"It fits!" called Cinderella's stepsister, pain evident in her voice.
"Fit it may, however it was not destined to be so, the blood is evidence enough. Bring your sister down so that we may see if it is suited for her instead."
More stairs creaked, appended with a punctuating wail.
"It is not to be, I fear," said the Prince. "Clean this shoe so I may be off."
"I shall take it to the maid," came the gravelly reply of one sister.
"The maid, you say? Why was I not informed of her? Bring them up at once," said the Prince.
Light flooded the room as one of her sisters opened the door, demanding her presence. Trepidation flooded her gut as Cinderella ascended the stairs, fearing her fate. As the Prince saw her, recognition and confusion waged war on his once placid face.
"Try the shoe," he said, distain masking the confusion in his voice.
Diligently, Cinderella placed the glass slipper upon her foot, and a flash of realisation crossed the Prince's face, before he drew a twisted dagger and reached towards her.
As he dragged her inwards, he slit both his arms from shoulder to wrist, down a dark scar, and across his neck in a practised motion, blood staining the carpet and sullying her stepmother's urn. As his arm raised above his head, his eyes flooded with desire, blood coated her sisters, their gaze impassive and unfeeling. The knife pierced her heart like a hot knife carving through butter, opening her heart to the world like a fountain of blood. Her white clothes stained red, her pulse slowing, delerium clouding her thoughts like the darkness eating at her vision while the world came undone around her. The wails of the house fell on unhearing ears and rain fell on unfeeling skin. Light fell on unseeing eyes and blood fell on untasting lips. A cold corpse fell on an unremorseful body and the darkness rained upon them.
Notes: so ye thoughts on the final scene?? i apologize to any med students who dont like the timeline for that idc if it's unrealistic ITS PLOT dont scream at me for inaccuracies w irl timelines its not historical there is a fucking egg mummy that floats out of some damp rags it's fucking fantasy
"... Only for sophisticated individuals…" leered another, like chewing rocks.
"... Could never visit, she's far too ugly." A thud echoed down to the basement, like a gunshot piercing a thought.
"Did you hear that Cinderella? The Prince is having a vall, but you're far to ugly to come, you swine." the gravelly voice called.
Crouching in the middle of a damp, empty room, sequestered in a pile of stained rags and ripped gowns far too large for her to wear, with nought but a wooden bucket filled with damp rags and water, and a needle to keep her company. As she attempted to repair her stepsisters' ruined dresses, lest they punish her again, she wished she could visit the ball, if only to escape her prison for a short period of time.
No sooner had she uttered those thoughts inside her mind, as the water began to shake and a faint buzzing echoed throughout her head, growing louder as it bounced around. As she tried to cover her ears to hide from the sound, the ripples in the water stopped, although the bucket still shook, and a mist arose from the surface, dragging the rags with it. The rags started to fall once more, but caught as if caught on a small head. As Cinderella reached forwards to remove the rags from whatever was underneath them, she felt a sharp pain jolt down her arm straight to her brain as the buzzing echoed with a yet unmatched fervour. "No." called the sound, splitting into a cacophony of voices which spoke in disjointed harmony before falling silent. The rags fell to the now dry bucket, revealing the figure below.
A dried brown tongue reached out of the misshapen mouth of the creature, which was full of jagged, shattered, yellowing teeth and took up most of the wizened, egg shaped body, accented by a small, lone eye, which flitted around the room, as if looking for danger in every dark, hidden corner, illuminated by a faint candle in the corner of the room and the little light that slips from the room upstairs. "I have means to let you visit the prince's ball. All I ask is that you provide a small fraction of your soul. A cheap price to pay to escape this prison, no?"
As Cinderella nodded, an eager glint in her eyes, the creature continued. "The pumpkin in your garden and the mice that surround it shall be transformed into an elegant horse and carriage, and the rags around you shall transform into a beautiful dress. You will arrive at the palace at the ninth chime of the bell, and when the clock chimes twelve for the final time, all shall return to which its nature truly is."
Enchanted by the promise of freedom, Cinderella hastily agreed, almost tripping over her own words. "Please give me freedom, whatever the cost, I just need escape."
"If you do not return home by first light, you shall fall dead and your soul shall not pass into the cool hands of death."
A pause. A sharp breath from Cinderella's mouth.
The creatures facsimile of a mouth became a twisted mockery of a smile.
"It is done."
The twisted being sunk back into the rags, leaving only a pool of water, as if nought had happened. Three hours, she promised herself, and returned to the mind numbing cleaning.
A clock bell rang out for the ninth time, rolling down the dark hill to strike Cinderella in the ears as her horses reached the entrance to the palace, guarded by grand, dark doors, which swung inwards to reveal a long hallway adorned with intricate designs and plush carpeted flooring. As Cinderella's long, flowing dress bathed the ground with its ethereal blue touch, her diamond-like glass slippers barely brushing the cobbles, she took a long, crisp breath, and a rare expression crossed her face, before flitting away. As her smile faded, a team of castle servants arrived to ensure her dress did not get sullied by the damp stones underfoot.
Upon being led to the ballroom, she paused before the doors were parted to reveal many heads turned her way, agape at her effortless beauty. Forcing herself to move onwards, she made her way around the room, rebuffing requests to dance from men in unkempt suits, and jealous glares from women in elegant dresses. Noting her stepsisters from their pale, worn gowns, she made her way across the room, but was stopped by a strong hand on her silk laden arm.
As she turned her body to see who had grabbed her, she felt another hand grasp her shoulder, nails digging into her as she began being dragged into a waltz. recognizing it was the Prince, and that she was unable to escape his leering gaze, despite her body screaming at her to flee. With a nod from the prince, the servants opened the doors and he lead her into a dark, empty ballroom.
The Prince leant forwards, his hot, uncomfortable breath making her skin crawl, his thin fingers grasping her tighter, rooting her in place. He uttered three words which wormed under her skin like leeches, draining blood from her face and filling her with dread in its place. "I love you." he said, a calm, eerie smile coating his face in contrast to the fear which enshrined Cinderella, screaming at her to run and flee the creeping darkness which seemed to roll off the prince in waves. "I want to be with you forever." he continued, eyes unseeing, as if he wasn't truly present, unaware of the horror dawning in Cinderella's eyes as she realised what he wanted and began trying to break his rigid grasp, as if he was nought but pure metal. His gaze suddenly snapped to her, freezing her in fear, unable to move, yet again paralysed in fear as he opened his mouth to speak, letting a sigh leave his paling lips as the darkness encroached upon them, the room wailing as if caught in a wind, although the moonlit trees outside betrayed no gale.
"In heaven." As the words left his mouth, yet another scream reverberated from the palace, despite the still, moonlit night outside. The Prince's grip loosened and Cinderella twisted, her malnourished frame avoiding his grasp as a chime called out from high above, signalling the turn of midnight. Kicking the doors open with such force that the heel shattered and the glass slipper fell off, she fled the ball.
Another chime. The horses began to panic, sensing the impending change.
Another chime. She reached the gates, separating the palace and the dense woods.
Another chime. The twisted branches of the trees scratched at her face.
Another chime. Rolling darkness began to surround her, hiding the path onwards.
Another chime. A sharp twist in the path, causing her to lose her footing.
Another chime. The thorny bramble ripped the dress, stealing her silken accessories.
Another chime. Sudden stones in the path caused her to fall into the overgrowth ahead.
Another chime. Blood poured down her, staining her sky blue dress a crisp red.
Another chime. Pain wracked her body as she tried to extract herself from her throny prison.
Another chime. Mist surrounded her, muffling the sounds of the Prince's horse's approach.
The final chime struck her ears, reverberating through her body as her dress faded, being replaced with that which she was wearing when the being arrived. As the rhythmic gallop grew louder, she stayed deathly still, hoping the Prince wouldn't recognize her. As the chocolate brown nose of a palace horse drew closer, Cinderella exhaled a sigh of relief, realising the blood and dirt would make her unrecognisable. Paying her no mind, the prince rode on, an unnerving smile playing on his lips, as if it was but a game. Once the Prince's mare fell silent, Cinderella began the arduous walk to the basement, hoping the bleeding would stop so as to not garner suspicion, wincing as pain wracked her body.
A sharp knock on the door echoed throughout the house. "Hello?" came her stepsister's questioning voice, as the door creaked open.
"Hello," came the Prince's voice, forcing Cinderella to stifle a gasp, "I have come at the behest of a prophecy, one which states that whichever fair maiden can fit this shoe is destined to be mine for all time. I am travelling the kingdom in an attempt to find the one whom the shoe fits."
"I would be delighted." Replied the stepsister. "Allow me to do so upstairs and inform my sister. I shall, of course, show you should it fit."
"Of course," said the Prince, doubt clear in his voice.
The creak from the wooden stairs echoed throughout the dark, squalid basement, followed by a sharp, piercing scream from upstairs.
"It fits!" called Cinderella's stepsister, pain evident in her voice.
"Fit it may, however it was not destined to be so, the blood is evidence enough. Bring your sister down so that we may see if it is suited for her instead."
More stairs creaked, appended with a punctuating wail.
"It is not to be, I fear," said the Prince. "Clean this shoe so I may be off."
"I shall take it to the maid," came the gravelly reply of one sister.
"The maid, you say? Why was I not informed of her? Bring them up at once," said the Prince.
Light flooded the room as one of her sisters opened the door, demanding her presence. Trepidation flooded her gut as Cinderella ascended the stairs, fearing her fate. As the Prince saw her, recognition and confusion waged war on his once placid face.
"Try the shoe," he said, distain masking the confusion in his voice.
Diligently, Cinderella placed the glass slipper upon her foot, and a flash of realisation crossed the Prince's face, before he drew a twisted dagger and reached towards her.
As he dragged her inwards, he slit both his arms from shoulder to wrist, down a dark scar, and across his neck in a practised motion, blood staining the carpet and sullying her stepmother's urn. As his arm raised above his head, his eyes flooded with desire, blood coated her sisters, their gaze impassive and unfeeling. The knife pierced her heart like a hot knife carving through butter, opening her heart to the world like a fountain of blood. Her white clothes stained red, her pulse slowing, delerium clouding her thoughts like the darkness eating at her vision while the world came undone around her. The wails of the house fell on unhearing ears and rain fell on unfeeling skin. Light fell on unseeing eyes and blood fell on untasting lips. A cold corpse fell on an unremorseful body and the darkness rained upon them.
Notes: so ye thoughts on the final scene?? i apologize to any med students who dont like the timeline for that idc if it's unrealistic ITS PLOT dont scream at me for inaccuracies w irl timelines its not historical there is a fucking egg mummy that floats out of some damp rags it's fucking fantasy