It seemed as if even the snowflakes were crying, as they hit her window and melted away into tears of condensation. She stared at them with narrowed eyes as the grip she was trying so hard to maintain on her sword was beginning to loosen. A foreboding feeling was drifting through the small room, causing the hairs on her arms to stand on end. 

“Put the sword down.”

A voice broke her from her thoughts, and she turned to find Aster staring at her with an intense look in his violet eyes. Without speaking, she sheathed her sword and turned back toward the window, watching the shadows as they began their haunt.

She could hear Aster let out an exasperated sigh as he stepped towards her.

“Rose…you know it isn’t your fau..”

She spun around, eyes blazing red.

“It is my fault. It’s our fault. It’s our people’s fault Aster. None of this would have happened if I hadn’t….”

Her voice cut off as a lump formed in her throat, threatening to overwhelm her. The poor boy. He was so young.

“You were only trying to help.” He said softly, as if not to disturb the air.

“I was narrow minded.” Was her dry response.

Before another word could be uttered, she gripped the handle of the sword once more, pulling it out with a flash of silver. Aster gave her a look of disbelief, and she walked past him with a quickened stride.

“Where are you going?!” He called out, as she opened the door to the howling of the winter wind.

“To fix this.”

The world outside was cloaked in darkness, the white flecks pelting her with a cold remembrance. The stone pathway was nearly covered with snow, the grooves now nonexistent in the storm. Her eyes scanned the town, alight with small lights to keep out unwanted visitors. Azalea and Dahlia were speaking to someone who looked like Zinnia, but she couldn't be sure beneath the blanket of white. Staying low to avoid being seen, she hoisted herself over the flower littered fence, and stepped onto the other side where the forest lay. Rose winced as one of her thorns pricked her thumb. She took a moment to take a few breaths, and watched with satisfaction as the thorn went back into her skin. Panicking would get her nowhere she decided, as she started up her walk once more. Quicker than comprehension, something slid around her legs, causing her to trip and fall face first into the snow. She let out a muffled yell of surprise as the numbing cold hit her full force. 

“The boy is dead, Rose.”

Another familiar voice sounded from above her, this time making her eyes narrow into slits. She broke free from the vines, and scrambled to her feet, facing her attacker with renewed vigor.

“What do you want, Oleander?” She spat, clenching her fists. 

He gave her a look that clearly asked if she were serious, but she held her ground. 

“You really expect me to just let you into the forest… to chase after a ghost?

“He isn’t dead Ol.” Rose forced her voice to be heard as if to convince herself.

“No matter. I can’t let you out.” He said firmly.

Rose glanced at the trees, and then back towards him, her eyes keeping his pink ones on her. The wind picked up, sending a screech throughout the forest that caused her to bite her lip with anxiety.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered.

Before he could react, she shot a thorny vine right towards him. It caught him in the arm as he tried to dodge, and wrapped itself around his bicep. He hissed with surprise, as she began to sprint towards the wood. Rose only had seconds before he fought back, if she could just make it to the trees, she would lose him. Without warning, bright pink flowers began to bloom through the snow covered ground. She sucked in a startled breath and tried to dodge, but there were too many. As hope began to fade from her sight, something slammed into her so hard, it sent her over the flowers and onto the earth beneath the base of a towering tree. She looked up just in time to see Aster’s eyes roll back into his head as he hit the ground. Her eyes went wide with shock, and Oleander let out a cry of outrage. Before he had the chance to follow, Rose darted into the trees, leaving her sleeping friend alone on the snow covered ground. Heart constricting with fear, Rose pushed on, ignoring the shouts of Oleander as they faded into the night. 

“Idiot.” She mumbled, trying to wrap her head around Aster’s actions. 

It didn’t matter what his true intentions were, he had bought her time, and that was all she needed. The dark pines seemed to be reaching out to snare her in their twisted branches. Rose wrapped her arms around her chest, and pushed the terror down into the pit of her stomach. No one would follow her into the woods, that much she knew. Oleander would be waiting until she returned, and Rose let that fact comfort her. The sky held no moon in its vast expanse tonight, and the darkness threatened to completely overwhelm her as it spilled out through the trees. “Little Prince…..” 

Voice coming out in no more than a whisper, Rose scanned the branches for any sign of the boy. The sound of something scraping against a tree trunk caused her to whirl around wildly. Heartbeat hammering in her eardrums, she shot out her hand straight in front of her. A thin vine flew from her palm and launched itself into the night. Rose felt it make contact with something, and she pulled to solidify the connection. Following the rope like strand made her feel more secure, though deep down she felt on the verge of collapsing. Not knowing where the prince was, posed a problem, one she wasn’t sure how to handle. Following the vine was the only thing that kept her going forward, it gave her a purpose other than staying alive. The prince had been taken into the depths of the wood, that was all she knew. As for who had taken him….Rose’s thoughts froze as the vine suddenly sagged and snapped in one fluid motion. It flew back into her skin, and she blinked in shock. Someone had cut it. Thorns began to prick her skin once more, and she winced as one particularly sharp one broke through. Pushing away the urge to run, she called out, making her voice loud against the howling wind.

“There isn’t any use in hiding.”

A low chuckle sounded from behind the cover of the low hanging branches, and Rose grew pale.

“Are you sure you want to find me?”

The voice was scratchy, as if it had been lost for a long time, and the owner had just now discovered it. 

“Who are you?” Rose whispered, deciding to pull out her blade as a shadow leered towards her.

All at once, the wind stopped, leaving her in a deafening silence. Her neck prickled with unease as another thorn threatened to escape her hold. A weight fell on her shoulders as a cold presence crawled into existence behind her. Rose jerked in its direction and lost the ability to scream as a familiar face came into view. Dark purple lines were embedded all over his bronze skin, creating jagged, scar-like gashes. A gaping hole sprouted grotesque violet flowers out of his neck. Dark liquid spilled out of his mouth as the air around them seemed to thicken with anticipation. 

“A…aconitum.” Rose managed to choke out, backing away from the man in horror.

“Hello again Rose…..but we are friends..aren’t we? Friends call me Wolf.”

“Get away from me.” She shouted, suddenly finding her courage.

“You are the one trespassing.” He grinned, teeth stained with dark ooze.

“What did you do with the boy?” She demanded, pointing the tip of her sword at his neck.

He laughed again, this time the sound bounced off the trees, creating an echo of fear.

“What would Oleander say if he were to find his little friend dead on the floor?” 

Wolf suddenly lunged at Rose, catching her completely off guard. She began to shake as he brought his hand up to her face, just inches away from touching her pale skin.

“I could kill you. I could kill you. I could kill you.”

He began to repeat the phrase over and over, each time raising his voice in pitch and volume, until he was cackling with glee. A wall of thorny vines shot between the pair, and Wolf growled with annoyance.

“You’ll never find him Rose….I hid him where no one ever looks.” 

Rose felt herself smile at his words. Oleander had told her where his brother liked to hide treasures. The cove. She knew how to get there. Propelling another vine out of her back, she envisioned the secluded pond, and felt the snap of the strand making contact. She was close. 

“What are you doing?” Wolf snapped, poking his wide open eyes around the wall.

Rose gave him a little wave, and then began reeling the vine back into her skin, the action causing her to shoot off towards the cove. She lost her grip on the sword, and watched helplessly as it hit the earthy terrain, its gleam disappearing into the darkness. A bone rattling howl erupted from Wolf who began to charge after her, launching purple mist into the air as he ran. Rose ran with the vine in order to stay upright, legs flying underneath her. She turned back to find only the pines greeting her. Wolf had vanished. Before she could turn back, pain exploded through her side. Finding she couldn’t breathe, Rose began to panic. Shuttering gasps filled her lungs, as she leaned against the tree she had unknowingly slammed into. Once her breathing returned to normal, the realization of where she was made her head swim. She had made it. 

“Little prince!” This time she called out loudly, ignoring the stab of pain in her ribs as she did. 

A small cry pierced the silence, causing Rose to jump with surprise. She whipped her head around, and felt her heartbeat quicken. The young boy was encased in thick vines tying him to a large oak nearby. His bright blue eyes were staring into hers with terror etched all over his features. The only visible part of his body was his face which had tears streaming down it. Without thinking, Rose rushed over and began to look for a way to free him. 

“It’s okay…it’s okay.”

The words she whispered were partly to calm her own racing heart, as the night grew ever colder. She allowed a thorn to pierce her skin, and began to cut the tangled mess with its sharp edge. Suddenly the prince screamed, his childlike tone vibrating throughout the canopy of trees. Before Rose could turn, something wrapped around her waist, lifting her up into the air. She kicked, desperately trying to pull herself out of the almost hand-like grasp as the boy continued to scream. A horrible rasping cackle pierced through even the prince’s cries, and Rose looked up to find two glowing slits staring down at her. She felt her entire body shut down as recognition flooded through her senses.

“V….venus…” She managed to choke out.

“Why…hello.” 

As soon as the final word escaped the figure’s lips, she swooped down until she was inches from Rose’s face. A screech of laughter cascaded out of Venus’ mouth as its horrible gaping mass stretched across her entire face. Rows and rows of perfectly identical fangs were lined up by the hundreds as she continued to laugh, green ooze dripping down her deformed lips. One of her arms was missing, allowing vines to hang limply out of the empty socket. Unlike Wolf, Venus didn’t let herself get sidetracked with witty banter, instead, she extended her vines and launched Rose into the branches of the tree which held the prince. Rose felt her entire arm go hot as a sickening crunch sounded in her ears. She closed her eyes and pushed outward, feeling her consciousness falter as thorns pricked out of both her arms. Venus released her with surprise as the tiny pricks began to stab her arm-like vines. Rose hit the ground, and looked up to find Wolf grinning down at her. He slowly reached his hand out to meet her skin, and Rose felt a determination like nothing she had ever experienced course through her system. She wasn’t going to die like this. Letting out a furious scream, she rolled away from his blow, slamming herself right into Venus’ roots. Venus toppled with a shriek, and Rose crawled towards her trashing form. She could feel the ghost of Wolf’s hand about to graze her neck, cold and deadly, itching for blood. With her final ounce of energy, Rose pulled Venus towards her, vines shooting out of her hands, locking onto the woman with precision. She yanked, and before Wolf could realize his mistake, Venus crashed right into his leering form. 

“NO NO NO!” 

Wolf’s screams jolted her mind out of the sleep it had been trying to venture into, and Rose raced to the prince who was laying on the floor where Venus’ vines had dropped him. Pulling him into her chest, she launched another set of vines in the direction of home, watching them curl outward as her vision began to swim. Right before the strands made contact, Rose glanced back at the shriveled form of Venus, lying facedown on the forest floor. Her roots turning black with whispers of death. Rose began to reel herself into the vines, clinging onto the boy who was gripping her skin with his nails. Something grabbed her leg. A hand. His hand. She could suddenly hear her heartbeat, its rhythmic melody fading into darkness as the night flashed by. The prince. She had to finish. Purple scars began to crawl up her neck, squeezing every breath out of her shuttering lungs. Flowers began to fly by, the trees growing more sparse as the grass lightened its shade. Rose found that thoughts of Oleander began to consume her fading mind. 

I wish we didn’t fight.

I wish you would have come with me.

I wish I told you I loved you sooner.

She felt herself stop. She blinked open her eyes to look at the purple expanse before her. Her arms went numb. The prince hit the ground and stared up at her solemnly. 

“ROSE.” Oleander’s cry sounded from over the fence.

His voice rattled her shaking frame, sending her to her knees.

“Oh…oh THORNS THORNS ROSE NO NO….ASTER HELP.” 

Oleander’s figure was running towards her. He wouldn’t be fast enough. She had done it. Now it would be okay. The kingdom would outlive her, and with its heir returned, it would outlive the rest of them. With one last look at the prince, Rose reached her hand out to Oleander for the final time, hitting the ground before his embrace could save her.