Cock-a-doodle-doooooooooooooooooooo

Jack stretched and began dressing himself. He gathered three cups and began placed a pot of water on the stove to boil. He gathered a few apples as he fed the chickens. He milked the cows and began eating his own apple as he stirred milk into the teas.

He began making apple pie as he thought of the ball in four nights. It was all anyone ever talked about. He had one real way of going and that was flying. He could easily just fly to the castle once everyone was gone.

He sighed as he pulled out the pie, for he did not know where the castle was. No one really talked about where the castle was to Jack.

"Jackson!"

Jack frowned, considering he could ask his stepmother for a carriage there or even a ride with them.

"Jackson!"

Jack placed three cups and three plates on a tray and began walking to Elenor's room. But there was a knock on the grand blue door of the house. Jack paused, not knowing what to do. He had to feed everyone breakfast, but he had to open the door.

Jack's problem was solved once his step mother and brothers flew down the stairs. He felt himself slightly glared as he watched his brothers fly with smiles to the foyer.

"Look decent!" His stepmother glared at him and yanked him away from the door. She looked over her sons and smiled. She opened the door with more elegance than Jack had ever seen.

She held her chin higher. "Hello, sir."

"Good morning." The messenger from before nodded sharply again.

"I thought the ball was in four nights?" She stepped aside.

"It is. I'm simply here to spread news about it. Princess Kasper has decided for it to be a masquerade ball."

Jack's ears perked.

However, his step mother frowned. "They're all going to wear masks?"

"Yes, just the suitors, and it shall be a three night party. Princess Kasper is... well, she didn't really explain. She just made these changes as of three nights ago." The man almost seemed confused as to what to say himself. It was like he didn't know what he was sent to say.

"Is that all?" Her voice was low.

"No." The man cleared his throat and held out a piece of parchment. "I must have the names of every eligible suitor. They will get a mask that matches their suit upon arrival. The jest is that only the suitors will have masks so Princess Kasper will know who to speak and dance with."

Jack's stepmother almost growled. She snatched the parchment from him and rolled her eyes. "Thank you." She began to close the door, but the man step forward before it could move.

The man glared back. "That comes and goes with me. I must get every suitor's name on it."

She huffed. "Fine. Come in."

The man nodded and watched as Elenor signed his name. His brows became knit as he examined Elenor, Henry, and Jack. He pointed at Jack. "Why is this boy dressed this way?"

Jack froze, feeling his nerves get the best of him.

His stepmother was caught off guard also. She paused and began to smile. "He is a servant. Nothing more."

Jack felt his heart hit the floor. He felt every piece of his being break like glass. He wanted to scream that he was so much more. But he stood still like if he was frozen in ice.

The man nodded as if he understood, as if he believed the lie. "Well," he took the parchment from Henry, "he must sign his name regardless."

Jack's head snapped to the man with wide eyes. "Wha-what?"

His step mother laughed. "But his is nothing but a servant."

The man handed Jack the parchment. "He is a still a suitor."

Jack paused. Even with the quill in his hand, even with the ink touching the paper, he couldn't believe he was getting a chance to go to the ball.

"He can't sign it!" 

The man's brows crashed. "Why not?" 

"He is engaged." She nodded sympathetically. 

The man's eyes widened, and he took the parchment from Jack. "I am sorry, boy, but this is only for eligible suitors. You cannot be engaged."

"I'm not!" Jack felt the air become heavier.

Elenor huffed as he rolled his eyes. "Please, you go on and on about Sarah."

Jack glared. "I don't even know a Sarah!"

His step mother glared in disgust. "I knew it. You're a gold digger. You wanted to marry Sarah for her inheritance, but now that Princess Kasper's hand is offered you seek more."

The man stepped back with a frown. "I am sorry, but Princess Kasper is not interested in boys that have an interest in money. You are not allowed to attend."

Jack stared, wide-eyed, at the man as he began to leave.

His step mother sighed dramatically as she reached the door. "I am so sorry you had to deal with our servant. I'm sure you can forgive his rudeness."

The man looked over her and walked to his carriage, saying nothing more.

Jack's step mother closed the door, turning to Jack with a wide smile. "I hope you learned a lesson."

Jack glared. "I hope you did."

She glared. "Excuse me?"

"I'm going!"

She laughed loudly and hysterically. "Sweetheart! Your name isn't even on the list! And what will you say?" She smiled wickedly. "'Hi, I'm the servant boy who seeked Kasper's hand for money? Remember me?'"

"I'M NOT!" There was an explosion of ice and snow. Jack took deep breaths, glaring at his stepmother, waiting for the fog to clear so he could see her. He wanted to see her sitting on the floor and empathetically giving in. But she wasn't. She was standing up. She was perfectly fine. Unharmed not dimished, but she was being protected by a shield of ice.

Henry frowned at Jack, revealing he was the one who created the shield.

She smiled darkly. "What did I say about using your powers?"

As Henry stepped backward, Jack glared, preparing for whatever Henry was going to do. However, he forgot about Elenor. "Don't," Henry cried. Jack flew to the wall by the impact of an ice-blast. He caught his breath, but he couldn't move.

Elenor stood over Jack, arms forward to freeze Jack like a prisoner. Elenor grinned with pride as he continued to freeze Jack in place. "Stay in place, dirt. You're shackles look good on you."

Jack's step mother smiled smuggly. She lifted Jack's chin. "Don't use your powers." She jerked Jack's head to the side and stood with her hands on her hips. "Be honest. Did you believe you were any good for the princess?" She stood in between her two sons.

Jack's eyes watered in anger as he glared at his brothers, looking them over.

He lowered his head. "No..."

"Good. You're nothing but rags anyway."