Cinder X Bella ~ Thirteen!

Late in the spring, a thunderous clatter in the yard caused Bella to rush outside, coated to her elbows in flour. Her mouth dropped open as a dozen men drove draft horses forward to pull on the support beams of the old barn. Before she could do more than gape at them in surprise, a whip crack signaled the horses surging forward.

The enormous sound, which Bella now understood to be cracking beams, rang out once more, and the entire structure collapsed. “What in the ever-loving system are you doing?”

“Language, child.” Bella flinched away as Matringa swept by her, casting a small smile over her shoulder. “The barn was gathering dust, and as you can see, it had become quite the hazard. Since we are planning on beginning to host gatherings after your father returns next season, I thought it would be best for us to start putting together some areas for entertainment. After this mess is cleared away, I'll have a walking labyrinth put together for couples to meander through as they converse.”

“The chickens!” Bella sputtered, making a half-hearted gesture at the collapsed building.

“Oh, pish, you don't think I'd make it harder for myself to have a good breakfast, do you?” Matringa rolled her eyes and gestured to the other side of the yard, where a large crate was letting out soft clucking sounds. “They're going to use the wood and build a coop by the end of the day. Honestly, Bella, you think the worst of me for no reason at all.”

As her stepmother marched away, calling greetings to the working men, Bella's lips went white from how hard she was pressing them together. She shook her head slightly, and spoke under her breath, “I've got reason, and I already have a little bit of proof. A couple more pieces… just a little more.”

Time marched ever forward, and as the debris of the fallen barn was cleared away, the warmer season also brought about visitors. Townspeople came to call, oftentimes peddling simple wares, few of which were purchased. However, just before the official start of summer, a messenger arrived during lunch to announce that the Duca's niece was being married to a Conte who lived to the distant south of their manor. 

“I do hope you'll pardon my intrusion, Signora Vigatori.” The messenger, bedecked in the heraldry of the Duca, gave a proper courtly bow, “The Duca’s niece was wondering if she and her group would be welcome to stop and have tea here tomorrow afternoon. It is late notice, and I've been instructed to inform you there will be no hard feelings if the answer is no. Still, I know they would welcome a small relief from their travels.”

“Think nothing of it!” Matringa waved the man in then motioned for Bella to put together a plate for him, and motioned for the young lady to sit and eat with them, as it was a common occurrence. “Signore, it would be a great honor to host them. Please, rest a while before returning with our regards and invitation.”

The man ate swiftly, thanking the family profusely before bowing and rushing away to mount his horse. 

“Humm…” From the time he stepped out of the room, Matringa had gone silent, drumming the fingers of her left hand on the table as she contemplated the news. Finally, she turned to Malvagio. “Darling, I believe a painting is in order.” 

“Oh?” Malvagio responded in her usual bored tone, but Bella noticed her whole body had shifted, and she was practically vibrating with excitement.

“Indeed… wouldn't you agree that a guest of such distinction should leave with something to talk about? We wouldn't want her to have nothing to say after she leaves.” Matringa had a strange glint in her eye, and her gaze kept coming to rest on Bella in a way the young woman didn’t particularly like.

“Talk? You mean gossip.” Malvagio shook her head, as if in disappointment, though a mirror of her mother's permanent smirk had appeared on her normally apathetic face. “What could we possibly have around here that would interest a newly married Nobildonna enough to tell her friends about us?”

“I'm certain there are a good many things you could consider. For instance, look at the four of us! Blended families such as ours aren't often found in the low nobility. Perhaps we could put together something which would help put to rest any rumors of disparities in the treatment between you girls?” Matringa abruptly stopped speaking as she caught Bella's intense stare. “Well, enough chatter about this, perhaps we should just get you started and see what you come up with.”

Malvagio’s lips were twitching in glee. “Can't wait.”

“Don't be too abstract now; a caricature simply won't do. Something… realistic.” Matringa seemed almost to be talking to herself as she followed her daughter out of the room, leaving the other two at the dining room table. As Bella attempted to puzzle out the meaning of the strange conversation, Cattiva continued horking down her food, showing no indication that the interaction had meant anything to her. There was nothing she could do at the moment, so Bella finished her food and spent the rest of the day wondering what terrible thing was coming.

The next morning, the family gathered in the courtyard as the procession began to arrive. Bella had been given the day off, instructed to dress in one of the gowns which matched her actual status, which meant Bebee had been given the task of serving the group their tea. The family as a whole sank into a deep curtsy as the Duca's niece, a lovely girl named Rosa, stepped out of the carriage while holding the hand of one of her footmen.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Signora Matringa,” Rosa called in a sweet voice, “I cannot quite express to you how happy I am to get off the road for even a short while.”

“Truly, Lady Rosa, it is our honor to be thought of,” Matringa practically gushed as she stood from her curtsy. She half turned, gesturing to her daughters, who stepped forward. “Please, allow me to introduce you to my daughters, Malvagio and Cattiva.”

Rosa greeted them warmly, gripping their hands and exchanging several hushed compliments. Then Matringa turned slightly further, gesturing Bella to step forward. “And this… is my stepdaughter.”

Bella curtsied once more, blushing, although she wasn't really sure why. Something about how her stepmother had introduced her caused chills to crawl along her spine. As Rosa turned to greet her, the gracious smile on her face slipped away, and she physically recoiled. The gentile lady pulled herself together, politely curtsying at the young woman, but didn’t approach or offer her hand. Instead, there was a carefully neutral expression on her face, which caused Bella to look down at her dress to see if she’d stepped in manure or something of that nature.

Matringa rushed the group inside, leaving Bella behind to follow at her leisure. As they made their way to the patio for the promised tea, she swung into the hall and decided to look at herself in the mirror. “Is this some court intrigue I don't know about? Am I wearing colors offensive to Rosa or her family? What could possibly-”

As she stepped in front of her reflection, Bella let out a shriek and stumbled backward, then lurched forward to check if she were seeing things. “What… what is this?”

The dress she was wearing matched up in the mirror, but nothing else did. Half of her normally golden, wavy hair was missing, as if she had mange like some wild dog. What remained was only scraggly wisps of hair limply hanging from diseased skin. Her eyes were mismatched, one too large, one clearly smaller, a brackish, muddy color instead of their normal bright blue. Opening her mouth, she nearly gagged as her previously straight, white teeth were replaced with snarled, foul versions of themselves.

Bella's eyes rolled up in her head, and only a swift intervention by DeDee, who’d been passing through to take care of some task, kept her from landing on the floor and hurting herself as she nearly blacked out. As her breathing slowly came under control, Bella gripped the other maid's shoulders tightly, shuddering in horror. “What have they done to me? How did they do this to me? When did… how didn't I notice?”

The maid had a grave expression on her face and nodded in understanding. She pulled Bella to her feet, a pained grimace showing for a moment before she gently slapped the young woman. 

“I really, really didn't need that.” Bella growled at her, her eyes snapping into focus as she stared at DeDee. 

Instead of cowering away, the maid only firmly nodded at her once more and made a ‘follow me’ gesture. With the rest of the family safely on the patio, Bella was quickly led upstairs, into Malvagio’s room. DeDee pointed at a cloth covered canvas, and when Bella threw it to the side, she found a portrait which perfectly portrayed what Bella appeared as right now—hideous to behold.

“She… she made me look like this? Is this what I look like now, forever?” While she wasn't exactly prone to vanity, such a monstrous alteration dropped on her was causing Bella to sink into panic.

DeDee shook her head sharply, going to the bedside and retrieving a hand mirror. As she flipped it around so Bella could see herself, she tried to look away, but DeDee grabbed her chin and forced her to look in the mirror. Then she reached up and grabbed Bella's hair, yanking on it gently. 

“There’s… there's no hair there, though?” Bella frowned in agitation as she realized her reflection and reality were not lining up. Ever so slowly calming down, she reached up and felt at her head and face. “I'm not bald… my hair is there, my eyes didn't get moved… this is an illusion?”

 When DeDee nodded, Bella let out the deepest sigh of relief she’d ever managed in her life. “Do you know how long this will last? Hours? Days?”

Her fellow maid shrugged and held up one finger, then swung her hand side to side. Bella, having spent months practicing charades with much less human partners, immediately understood, “The first one, so hours, but you don't know how many?”

DeDee put her finger on her nose and nodded. Bella swallowed and took a few deep breaths, “So… Malvagio isn't just a fantastic painter, she can create illusions that match what she makes. Okay… okay. Thank you. I know you're putting yourself in danger for me right now, so I'll go join the tea. They've already seen me like this, but… actually, maybe I can turn this to my advantage.” 

Now calm and rational, Bella stood up straight and marched down the stairs, throwing open the door to the patio in time to hear Malvagio finishing her words to Rosa, “We try to help her stay up with the current fashions, but… you can only put so much lipstick on a pig.”

One of Rosa's escorts noticed Bella marching toward them, quickly clearing his throat and causing the engaged woman to change the subject. “I've heard Crown Prince Fella is doing well. Has he ever come through this area? Perhaps even visited the manor? It's quite charming here, like a fancy cottage in the woods.” 

Her voice was unnaturally high and pitched, and Rosa shifted slightly to keep her back to Bella. Cattiva leaned forward, fanning herself with one hand while miming a swoon with the other. “I've seen him when we've gone to town; he's never even slowed down while riding through town… but he makes such a dashing sight!”

“Donna Rosa, I need you to know-” Bella gasped in shock as Matringa stepped past her, sending a sharp elbow into her gut and knocking the wind out of her. 

“Bella, are you quite alright, dear?” Matringa looked over and locked eyes with Rosa, deep pity etched on her face. “I know how quickly you tire these days, perhaps it would be best for you to go lie down.”

“Not a chance,” Bella growled, all thoughts of long-term strategy flying out of her head as she sent a burning glare at her stepmother. Though she was still struggling to take a deep breath, she moved forward again, only to be blocked by one of the footmen. He didn't say a word, merely swaying back and forth in front of her as if by accident, but obviously intentionally keeping her several feet away from the Nobildonna. “Signore, please-”

Rosa struck up conversation with the stepsisters once more, doing her best not to look at the scene playing out behind her. “Any word from the Lord of the manor? My father has expressed his deepest respects for Signor Vigatori, and since his regards, I'm surprised we haven't received a visit from him in… I don't even know how long.”

“In fact, he's set to return in three days or so.” Cattiva spoke out, startling Bella to silence.

She looked between her stepsisters, then Matringa. “Really? Father will be back so soon? But… that’d be well ahead of schedule, is everything-”

Her stepmother glanced over at her, the pitying expression shifting into something… else. Shock, concern? “Indeed, a messenger arrived the other day. Now, for your health, it's time for you to go inside, right now. I don't want you to fall ill so close to his return.”

Gripping Bella's arm with a hand like a vice, Matringa marched her inside and closed the door behind the youngster before returning to the tea party. 

Bella didn't have to wonder for long why she’d been led away: passing by a mirror showed that the illusion was starting to fade. Her hair appeared fuller, her eyes returning to their normal, matched state, and—the largest relief by far—her teeth looked healthy once more. 

“Thank the system, it's short-lived. Now I just need to find a way to get to Donna Rosa…” Bella grumbled as she waited for another opportunity to speak with the Duca's niece, only to be met with disappointment as the group was led around the house and into their carriages before clattering away a short while later. 

When Matringa stepped inside once more, she raised an eyebrow at Bella and motioned to indicate the state of the house. “Well? Is now really the best time to laze about? Did you not hear me when I said your father would be returning in three days’ time? There’s work to be done.”