Flash Wednesday

My Summer Writing Sabbatical Begins! IWSG – Writing Guilt

Flash Wednesday

I wrote this story a long time ago, when I experimenting a lot with the more twisted aspects of fairy tales. Hope you enjoy.

“Mirror, mirror on the floor, who is the fairest in all the world?” Rose studied her image in the polished cherry wood. Her tangled dark hair brushed her reflection’s pointed chin.

Anka stretched out on the floor beside her sister. “My lady queen is fair to see, but Snow White is fairer by far than thee.” She giggled and reached out her red stained hand to pinch Rose’s cheek.

Rose laughed and came to her feet, sliding in blood gone cold and sticky. Her heel bumped something soft, as the familiar words of her favorite story flowed like water from her lips. “Old woman, why do you come to this place?”

Anka rose in a fluid motion, like a sylph. The thin cloth of her red-drenched nightgown ripped, and a knife clattered to the floor. “To sell my wares, dear child.” Her bare, white feet slipped across the wood, skirting the dark puddle of blood. “First with a corset to crush your ribs.”

“Then with a comb to drug me,” Rose whispered, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. The room smelled of ginger soap and copper pennies.

Anka twirled, arms circling above her head, stained hangs fluttering like startled doves. She danced to the cold fireplace and stepped onto the brick hearth.

The mantle held a bowl of delicate glass fruit, hand blown and beautifully detailed. Anka’s small hand lifted a red and white apple and she turned and held it out to Rose. “And then with an apple, to choke you, and hold you ’til you die.”

Rose cupped the apple in her hands, marveling at its coolness. Mama and Daddy never allowed her to touch the decorations before, though she’d longed to. Rubbing the apple against her chin, she clicked her teeth on the curved glass. Consumed by the fantasy, she feigned a cough and dropped the apple.

It shattered on the hearth, hollow as an empty grave. Rose sprawled across the floor, head turned at just the right angle to see Mama’s face. “Beyond the seven hills, beneath the snow white falls,” she said with a sigh. “Here lies the fairest of them all.”

Mama’s cloudy eyes started back at her. Rose reached out a finger to touch her, to feel her white skin. It was cold.

A prickly feeling came over Rose’s stomach, and she sat up and rolled onto her knees. ”Anka,” she said. “What happened to Snow White? You promised if I let you out, you would tell me the end.”

Anka smiled. “Only true love’s first kiss could save her. The Prince came and kissed her, and she woke up.”

Rose’s eyes skipped past Mama to Daddy beside her. Her lay on his back, eyes closed, red leaking from his mouth.

“Anka.” Rose’s voice trembled. “If they’re both asleep, how can Daddy wake Mama up?”

“You’re so silly.” Anka clapped, eyes sparkling with delight. “They’re part of a different story.” She spread her arms wide, eyes looking to the ceiling. “They’ll sleep for a hundred years, just like Sleeping Beauty. And we can be together.”

Kneeling next to Rose, Anka pulled her into a tight hug. “Aren’t you happy you unlocked my door? Now we can do whatever we want.”

Rose shivered with eagerness, sparing a last glance at Mama and Daddy. As long as they were only sleeping, everything would be fine. “You’ll tell me how all the stories end?”

Anka nodded. “Happily ever after,” she said as she reached for the knife.