Fractured Fairy Tales Read Online Free PDF Page A

immediately caught in them. The man, with a face she had only known in her dreams even with the mask on, bowed to Ellie and gave her a light smirk. Even his smile was so much like…
    “Pardon my curiosity,” he said calmly. “But you seem saddened by something.”
    Ellie didn’t speak. She only stared at the man, at the ring on his left hand, at the dimple in his chin, at the eyes that were similar to hers. The man smiled widely at her and beckoned to a waiter to bring her something to eat. Upon his silver tray was an array of chocolates. Some painted pink or gold, and others plain balls of sugar.
    “Try these and forget about your sorrow,” the man winked. “If they don’t do the job, then seek me out.”
    And he was gone.
    Ellie pushed the waiter aside and searched for the man, but he had disappeared. The one she did spot though was her brother, leaning against a table and staring at the piano player with a half empty glass in his hand. Ellie ran up to him, knocking into several dancing guests, and grabbed his arm.
    “I just saw father!” she told him. “He is here!”
    Ayden wrinkled his nose and turned his blue gaze, so much like their father’s, to her. His pale lips pulled down, his face darkening. “Why are you here, El? You are causing this place to look so unpleasant.”
    “Ayden, didn’t you hear me?” she tugged at his arm, looking over the crowd for their father. “Our father is alive and well! I saw him, and you look just like him! We can go home and be a family again.”
    That didn’t make his smile return. Ayden stared at the girl he called sister and was completely disgusted by her. Her skin was flawed, makeup too dark and glitter everywhere, and her dress was an ugly rag compared to the expensive gowns of the other women in the room. He was ashamed to be seen with her, ashamed to be related to her!
    “Do not touch me!” Ayden pushed her away, causing the girl to spill a man’s drink. “Go home, Ellie, and forget about me.”
    “Ayden?” she stared at him, at his left eye that shined silver. “What’s the matter with you?”
    “Now I know why father and mother stayed away instead of going home,” Ayden growled. “They didn’t wish to be with something so ugly!”
    Ice. That was all she felt the moment Ayden spoke those words. Ellie was glued to the spot, tears drowning her gaze, as her brother smirked and walked away. His words echoed in her mind.
    So ugly. So ugly. So ugly!
    Her blurry gaze went up to the piano player who was smiling at her; she was a beautiful woman with auburn hair falling to the small of her back and a wide smile that struck an ache within Ellie’s burning heart. Pressing a hand to her chest, Ellie went up to the piano player, still busy with her melody, and slammed a fist down onto the keys. The guests didn’t even notice, and the woman just kept on playing with that smile on her pretty face.
    “Why are you here?” Ellie blinked and tears rolled down her cheeks. “Why did you and Dad leave?” she started to scream. “What kind of a mother leaves her children behind!”
    “Children?” the woman chuckled lightly, fingers rippling along ebony and ivory. “I don’t have children, and I’m not even married.”
    Ellie pushed aside the ache within her chest and grabbed the woman’s hands, her thumb pressing against her mother’s wedding ring. She frowned, and when the piano stopped playing, a band of guitars and drums started up happily. The young girl, staring at her lost mother, gripped the woman’s hands tightly and stared into her hazel eyes.
    “What happened to you?” Ellie asked her. “What has Madam Nix done to you?”
    “The madam is the kindest and most generous being I know,” her mother frowned. “Don’t you dare say otherwise about her.”
    At that, Ellie could feel several eyes turning to stare at them. She swallowed coldly and breathed out a shaky breath that was a puff of white. “Mom, she made you forget about me and Ayden. We