The Dark Forest: A Collection Of Erotic Fairytales(60)

Before Ella could rush at the woman and claw her ugly eyes out, Griselda spun around and flounced out of the kitchen.

“I will never understand what he saw in you, you evil bitch,” she muttered under her breath. “Oh, what’s the use? I may as well just give up now.” She picked up the sponge and flung it against the wall. Then the bucket full of soapy water caught her eye. She had just taken aim when Anastasia’s voice startled her.

“Don’t.”

Ella paused. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t kick the bucket over. You’re only making more work for yourself.”

Ella eyed her suspiciously. “Why? What do you care? You don’t have to clean it up.”

“Well, no, but still…” Anastasia trailed off, emerging slowly from the corner in which she’d been standing, silent as a shadow.

“What are you doing here, anyway?” Ella asked with a huff. “Why do you always stand around in corners, watching, listening? Do you enjoy seeing me suffer?”

“No.” The slim girl was fidgeting, her long, dark hair hanging over her face, obscuring her features as always. “No, I don’t. I feel bad for you.”

“Not bad enough to stick up for me,” Ella said bitterly, crossing the room to retrieve the sponge. Then she felt bad. Out of the three members of her family, Anastasia had always been the kindest by far; giving her the poster of Zainon, secretly giving her extra food, and even letting Ella have her old iPod when she’d received a new one for her birthday. It had been loaded with all the music Zainon Matthews had ever recorded, and Ella no longer knew what she’d have done without that single pleasure in her life. “It’s all right,” she said, catching sight of Anastasia’s stricken face. “I know you don’t dare.”

“You’re right, I am a coward. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel bad for you.”

“I don’t need your pity.” Ella added more soap to the sponge, then dropped it on the counter with a wet thud. “Ugh, what’s the point? I won’t be going tomorrow anyway, I may as well stop killing myself.”

Anastasia glanced over her shoulder, then moved closer to Ella. “You will be going,” she whispered urgently. “I’m going to help you.”

“What?” It was some kind of trap, it must be… but even so, she felt a tiny flicker of hope in her breast.

“You heard me. I’m going to help you. We’re going to get the ticket from Mom somehow, and you’re going to the concert. With me.”

“Are you serious? Why?” Ella narrowed her eyes. “What’s in it for you? If Mother catches you, you’ll be in for it.”

Anastasia stole another glance around the kitchen, obviously terrified Griselda or Nathan would emerge at any moment. “Not here,” she said. “Meet me in my room in ten minutes. If anyone comes in, I’ll say I have mending for you to do. I’ll explain there.”

Before Ella could reply, her stepsister had slipped away as silently as she had come.



“All right, I’m here,” Ella said, closing Anastasia’s bedroom door and leaning against it.

“Where are Mom and Nath?”

“Nathan’s gone out. Your mother’s around somewhere… downstairs, I think. But still, we should hurry up. Tell me why you want to help me. Is this some kind of trick?” Ella still couldn’t believe what Anastasia had whispered in the kitchen. It just seemed too good to be true.

Her stepsister sank down onto her bed, her fingers pleating and re-pleating her coverlet. “There’s this guy,” she began.

Ella waited, then, when no more information seemed forthcoming, she resisted the urge to shake her stepsister and gave a little huff of impatience. “You like him?” she guessed.

Anastasia’s eyes, when she looked up at Ella, were shining with a light Ella had never seen before. “Oh, yes. I do like him. So much!”

There was another interminable pause. “And?” Ella prompted.

“Well, you see, he’s agreed to go with me tomorrow night. To see Zainon Matthews.”

“That’s wonderful! I’m very happy for you.” Ella still didn’t see how any of this had anything to do with her being able to go.

“But he’ll only go if he can bring his friend… and if I,” Anastasia cleared her throat, “if I bring a friend, too. Like a double date.”

“Ah.” So there’s the catch.

“That’s all you have to say? Ah?”

“Why don’t you take one of your friends?” Ella couldn’t resist asking. To her surprise, Anastasia went crimson.

“I… well, I don’t really have very many friends.”

“I don’t believe you. I see them all the time, coming to pick you up when you all go somewhere.” While I watch enviously from the window.

“Those are more Nathan’s friends than mine. They let me tag along, but I’d rather not take any of them tomorrow—even if they do get a ticket—because I’m not sure I can trust any of them not to tease me. I want it to go well.”

“But you trust me?” Ella was incredulous.

“Why shouldn’t I? You have the kindest heart out of anyone I know. You would never do anything to purposefully hurt me—you would have all the reason in the world to be awful to me or anyone else in this family, and yet you never do anything. You just… obey.”