"You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought." -- The White Company by Arthur Conan Doyle
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Recommended song to hear: Liebestraum No. 3 -- Franz Liszt (use Spotify for a better experience)
The year 1689–
Her bright green eyes looked outside the window, worry came over her as she looked up into the murky sky pouring more land to the land, enough to almost create a storm soon. Fortunately, there was no harsh wind but with no sign of the rain going to let up, she feared that soon a storm would come.
"Mama, I think I will go now," she said, and her mother came out of the hallway to the entrance of their humble house where the girl was standing. "Papa will have to wait under the rain for a long time if I don't."
"Wait! Rosè!" Her mother said, wiping her hand on her apron that had dulled to yellow with the number of years that passed by and made her way to her daughter; who was tying her bright golden hair into a messy bun on the back of her head. "Why don't you bring Josie with you? Together with your sister is better than being alone." and at this, Rose shook her head.
"Sister Josie is sleeping, she seems tired I can go alone," convinced Rose and she saw how her mother passed her a look of distrust; not because Mrs. Maury didn't believe in her, she feared that the rain would be too dangerous for a young girl of Rose's age to venture alone, especially with the rumors that had been coming around the village.
"You should wait until the rain calms down a little, dear. It is dangerous if you go now, your father will be alright. Seeing the terrible rain, he will take shelter in his usual place."
"And that is dangerous," Rose said, looking at her mother with a gentle smile on her pink lips, "I heard that the place is prone to a thunderstorm. I don't see the thunder for now, but we won't know about it soon."
She looked at her mother who then fell into a brief contemplation. The family of Maury consists of four members: she, her husband, and her two daughters with Rosè being the youngest.
Mrs. Maury was very happy that she was blessed with beautiful daughters but was sad that she didn't have a son, causing her daughter to take such a dangerous role when they had no choice. "At times like this, how I wish I had a son or that I am still young." But then fate ruled its own way, and Mrs. Maury was vulnerable against fate's choice of giving her two beautiful daughters.
A small chuckle passed by Rose's well-shaped lips, "Mama aren't I your lovely daughter? You don't need to have a son when I am here, I can take two roles at once," she winked, having her mother laugh as well.
"There had been sightings of wolves. Beware of them. Mrs. Hearst is still nursing her loss for her husband and they suspect it was a very large wolf who had done it," her mother said in worry.
Rose took the umbrella that was hanging on the wall, her ears turning keener upon the news, "I hope she will get over his death soon. I pity her for losing her husband so quickly."
"That's why they said no one can ever be sure about the future. Ah! And bring this umbrella with you, that one is old, and the handle shows signs of breaking."
Rose took the umbrella from her mother's hand, thanking her, and went outside the roof with the umbrella protecting her from the raindrops. "I will come back home quickly!"
"Take your time! Don't run or you will slip on your steps!" Her mother yelled from afar as Rose waved her hands when she reached the fence of the house. With her daughter gone, Mrs. Maury placed one of her chubby hands to her cheeks, "She is at the age of marriage but is yet to show signs of wanting to get married. Oh dear God, what should I do?"
Rose cheerfully made her way from the house to the sidewalk of the village. Covering her head under the umbrella wings, she padded her feet to the puddle, causing a small splash sound as she walked. Today's rain was not heavy, but it was not light either. Her father, Mr. Maury, worked as a seamstress, but as they didn't have enough money to have a shop, and were not privileged to.
Last year, her father's back suffered from sore muscles, causing him cramps which often relapse when it was raining. Rose decided to fetch her father if he didn't come back home at his usual time. And as he didn't, hence why Rose was set off to her small journey.
Clovelly, the village Rose lived in was surrounded by forest. Since nine years ago, the magistrate of Clovelly built a wooden fence around the village, to guard the houses from the wild animals living around the forest, but after Mr. Hearst's accident that happened last night, the fence proves to be of no use, causing some villagers to be in distress.
Under the lone company of the rain, Rose felt unsettled when thinking about her mother's warning about wolves, but she didn't run. She didn't want to fall from the slippery ground due to the rainy day and decided to fast walk when Rose picked a small sound.
The rain's continuous pitter-patter sound on her umbrella dampened her hearing, causing all voices to sound minuscule; but for some reason, she could hear the voice of a person. Taking a double hearing, Rose indeed heard a man's voice, and quickly, she followed it only to find a man lying on the ground with his back leaned against the wall.
One of his hands was holding his stomach, which was covered by his pitch-black coat, similar to his hair color. His entire body was wet from the rain and Rose wondered why he was there.
Being the kind person, the worried Rose made her way near the man, "Sir, are you alright?" she asked because the man seemed to be far from alright.
The man wistfully lifted his chin, his black hair covering his upper face, denying Rose from seeing or meeting his eyes.
"Are you waiting for someone?" she continued to ask without feeling dispirited at the lack of response. Yet she was given another silent attitude. Perhaps he could not speak? wondered Rose. Perhaps he was mute?
To counter her thought at the same time, a breathy voice came from the man, gliding smoothly from his full lips, "I am waiting for the rain to disappear."
"I don't think it would soon disappear or let up," Rose said while looking upward to the sky that was still gloomy dark and the wind instead became harsher over her skin.
"No, it will soon disappear," said the man, somewhere confident in his tone that Rose noted. Has anyone ever told you not to speak to a stranger, young lady?" The man then asked, his voice holding something that shakes Rose's heart without her knowing why.
"I know," Rose answered, was this man warning her to go away? "I was also told not to turn a blind eye when people seem to be in a difficult situation."
The man chuckled, droplets of raindrop slid from his sharp jaw. "Which part of me seems to be in a difficult situation?" He asked; amusement hinted at his voice as the woman continued to speak toward him despite his warning.
Rose seized the man's figure, her gaze wasn't subtle for the man to notice and with a smile, she replied, "Everything." Her answer only had the man chuckle further. Rose continued to look at the man and she asked, "I think you are hurting. Are you perhaps chased by-"
Rose's eyes widened when her mouth was suddenly covered and the man pulled her behind, hiding in between the gaps of two houses. Rose tried to struggle on reflex when the man whispered, "Shush, we are going to get in trouble if you don't, sweet lady."
Rose wanted to ask what he was doing, suddenly grabbing her and covering her mouth with his cold hands when she frowned upon hearing voices that grew more audible as crunch-sounding footsteps came near them.
"Fuck it! He must be somewhere near here! I want you all to drag him to me and slit his neck, everyone disperse!" Yelled the man and a harmonious sound came from the rest of the man who then went on their ways.
Rose's heart thumped aloud against her chest. Her position was where her back was against the wall and the man pushed her to the wall.
She carefully looked on the corner of the wall and as she had guessed upon hearing from the yelling it was men who seemed to be in a hurry searching for a certain someone. On their hands were machetes. The blade gleamed, causing Rose to gulp, "You are chased," she said to the man, still unable to look at his entire face but she could trail her eyes on his jaw if she lifted her chin high.
"And you are unlucky," the man answered in a whisper, "You should have ignored me."
And maybe she should have done that but Rose was born with a compassionate heart, so much that her elder sister Josie would complain to her, saying that kindness isn't worth the pain.
"I don't have the heart to leave or ignore someone who clearly doesn't look in good health. If I had left you alone, I would be haunted by my guilt. Therefore I acted on my wish you don't have to feel guilty," she answered honestly, not knowing why but despite the sound of hurried footsteps and how the tense arises from her feet to her entire body, the conversation they shared was less anxious than one would think though it didn't hide the panicked hinted on Rose's voice.
"When did I say I felt guilty?"
"Aren't you chasing me away now so I won't get involved in your situation?" came Rose's next question and she saw the man's face suddenly lean forward, and she frowned, wondering if he had been hit somewhere or felt ill.
When the man chuckled, Rose looked up at him with a faint frown, "Why are you laughing?" Was he thinking that her kindness wasn't worth it as well?
"Pardon me," he said, his voice unapologetic but not offensive, "I was thinking of how wonderful you are."
"Wonderful?" Rose heard the praise and felt somewhere flattered regardless of her situation at the moment and the frown on her forehead immediately vanished.
"Being a bad person is easy but being a kind person is harder. I respect people who could do the latter one, although if I might warn you, do not carelessly talk with someone who is on the ground as today. You never know when a monster is sitting near you," the man whispered and Rose took his words as a wise one. "You should go," he then said.
Rose blinked, his words brought her back from a moment of daze, "Right now?"
"No, another day," the man answered with a smile as if he meant it.
Rose was at a loss for words, "I mean, there are still people there. What did you do? Did you steal something?" But for a person who might be a thief his clothes weren't shabby in fact, his coat looked very posh now that Rose took a look at it.
"I am thinking of stealing something in the future but your guess is false now," The man took a step back to create gaps between them, and only then did Rose realize how close their bodies were pressed on each other. "I am the one who is being chased now, they won't be eyeing you. If you want to come back home in one piece, you might want to heed to my words."
The man watched the girl hesitate, she must be scared to leave alone but then he can't risk coming with her either and it wasn't something he is used to— protecting someone. Today, he just felt whimsical and wanted to save the girl that was strange as he always put his life above all others.
The girl surprised him again when her bright green eyes stared at him, and she said, "What about you?" Leaving him with those people...Rose can tell that the numbers out win the man.
"I will be fine, I have a method," he answered, and somewhere his smile stretched higher, "It's not as though this is my first time. I'm trained for this. You better go now," he waited for her to go.
Rose deliberated whether to leave. Her life was important but that doesn't make this man's life any less important. Leaving him here alone made her feel uneasy and uncomfortable but staying won't help either. "I will call people to come here."
"If you would like me to live on then don't. I appreciate your kindness and I would appreciate it more if you leave and forget what happened today," the man answered and he couldn't help but smile wider, "I won't die. Go on."
Rose didn't want to leave but she decided to believe the man's words because he sounded as if he had a plan in his mind and staying would only turn her into a hassle, this much she knew. Quickly, she pressed the umbrella she had on her hand, "Take this. You don't have anything to protect yourself."
"And you think an umbrella would help?"
"It's better than nothing," Rose made a point, and as she took her steps behind to leave the gaps of the wall, she looked at the man once again, saying, "Please don't die."
The sound of a splish splash echoed when the girl leaves. The man went to a short silence and chuckled bubbles from his lips. "Worrying about me," he whispered, "That's something new." And as he spoke, he stepped away, pulling his hand that had been on his stomach to show his shirt and coat that had turned red from blood. Lifting his hand, he used the rain to wash the blood.
"He is here!" The man who found him notified the rest.
The man then turned at the human, cracking his knuckles and his stiff neck a crueler smile appeared on his face. Pushing his hair to the back of his head, his grin widening when the human man gasped upon seeing his silver eyes dipping into a gold color. "Now, now, don't run. I won't be able to have my fun if you do."
The rain had lessened to drizzles when the bodies of the people who attacked him laid on the ground. Their eyes showed no more light as sunshine begin to play a shy game with the cloud, appearing very timidly. The only man left standing was the same man whose eyes brightened in gold color and his stared up at the sky that had been an accomplice in celebrating his victory.
It was then when he noticed something had been carved on the handle of the umbrella.
He was still standing under the rain, now helped by the umbrella, and looking at the umbrella handle, he read the name in whisper, "Maury."
The man covered himself under the umbrella's wings and noticed the handle of the umbrella holding a name belatedly, "How old," he remarked at the way the old woods begin to break into splinters under his fingertips; his silverly voice was like velvet, pleasant to the ear but also deep enough to make one's heart to shake. "But it's not too terrible."
And the next day, through the rumors, Rose found out that bodies of men had been found in the town next to the one, she wondered if it was a coincidence and if the man was alright as it seemed he wasn't there amongst the body list.
At this point, the two were still unaware of how fate had tied them together, and how fate might have its own script to unite the two.
"There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment." — Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever****A week passed by the rainy day, Rose looked out from the window of her room, watching the sky that was bright without the somber colored clouds that covered the blue sky like a few days before."Without the rain, we will finally get some of the laundry done," said her mother when seeing Rose over the window. She pushed herself and walked to her mother, helping to take the basket in her hand."It's a nice weather," she agreed, "I will help you with this," she offered but her mother shook her head."How about helping me to go to the market? With your sister," added the woman, "I need you to send me this letter to the postman.""Letters? For aunty?" asked Rose which her mother answered
"You are blood. You are sisters. No man can break that bond." ― Kim Boykin, A Peach of a Pair*******Rose was startled to hear the name of the man who she and her sister had just talked about to appear in front of them. Being polite as their gazes met, Rose offered the man a smile which was failed to be returned and she noticed how Mr. Harding appeared to be stunned after looking at anything. It caused Rose to look at behind her as there was where she felt Mr. Harding's gazes were directed at."Good afternoon," greeted Josie who tried to put a better smile on her lips so she wouldn't appeared too rushed and excited. "It's nice to see you here."Jayden seemed to be taken by something behind him and Josie turned her eyes after noticing how the man had settled his gaze for too long, ignoring her words. She looked behind finding only Rose and her head tur
"I wish I knew how to quit you." —BrokeBack Mountain, Annie Proulx*******The talk the people had went heated for another round. Rose was not a gossip monger but she had heard something which she cannot let go. Since young, she had been a curious person who would always be interested in things that piqued her curiosity and would never be able to let go of the burning curiosity until she had the answer.In time her curiosity was piqued, Eleanor who was in the center of the conversation noticed her and waved her hand to call Rose from afar. "Rose! Here you are dear. You cooped yourself for so long inside your house that I begin to wonder if you will become a tale and only once in a week would I see you."Rose smiled in response to the woman's words, not taking it as noisy or intrusive. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Eleanor. I overheard your conversation from earlier. Was it about werewolf?""Yes!
"Of two sistersone is always the watcher,one the dancer." ― Louise Glück, Descending Figure****Without knowing Mr. Anonymous's condition, Rose went back home while wondering if the man was truly alright. They didn't spend more than ten minutes and it made Rose wonder why that man continued to linger in her mind despite the brief meeting?"It must be a concern," claimed Rose to herself. When she arrived back home, she was quickly greeted by Josie whose hair was tied in a bun. There were a few men who gathered around the fence and talked with her but once Rose appeared and Josie excused herself, the men scattered. Rose noticed how most of the men appeared to be peeved that they had to part away with Josie that caused Rose to smile.Since she was young, Rose noticed how her sister had always been the most beautiful in the village but her sister didn't seem to notice how the men regarded her as
Rose went down to the first floor of their house. She was a little taken aback and she won't lie by the question Josie had asked. She then remembered about the lingering look that Mr. Jayden Harding had when looking at her."No way," whispered Rose. She wasn't convinced the man would like her when yesterday was only their first meeting. Walking toward the kitchen, she found her mother."Oh my dearest, have you delivered the letter?" The older woman, Mrs. Maury wore an apron over her dress to stop the dusts from smudging over her dress."Yes I did, on my way I heard about Mr. Hearst's accident again. They said there are possible werewolves amongst us in the village," answered Rose as she quickly went on her mother's side, "I will clean the plate," she said dutifully, knowing that her mother need rest.Mrs. Maury let her daughter take over, taking her kindness, "That's impossible. We know there are not
It had been a week since he had been saved by a clueless woman who thought she could help him by a mere umbrella and somewhere with the days passed, he couldn't forget the girl who had took his interest and her sweet scent that still linger in the back of his mind even though days have passed. He knew he had a keen smelling sense, but the girl's scent was something different that even rain couldn't cease him from enjoying her sweet scent.He had threaded the thought of meeting her again and ordered his subordinate to quickly find the woman who he had been wanting to meet again. As for what he wanted to do when meeting her again, he put the thought on hold; thinking to choose what to do when he met her again who he had named in his mind as the rabbit of rose.When a knock came across his room, the man walked over the room and open the door. The maid who stood before the door had her eyes widen when she looked at his hair that was dampened and
The atmosphere in the room turn stifling but Dominic was full of smile. Unlike others he quite entertain the hobby of seeing other squirm on awkward situation and to create the situation. He took a seat in front of his parents, "Tell me, mother and father, I supposed I am called here for a reason, am I not? As your obedient son, I will listen to all your every commands. What can I help you with?"Dominic's affluent words sounded sweet to the ears when only lady Ashley and Cain could hear the exaggerated sarcasm he accentuate in every words he said. No one could take offense of his polite yet poisonous words."We have been thinking, Dominic," Lady Ashely started, her painted lips were pulled wide.Dominic raised one of his eyebrows. His "beloved" step mother was a woman who take offense on the littlest thing even if she falls, she was the type of someone who would blame the floor instead of her own goddamn legs that often
In Dominic's eyes there was sparkling interest. The girl had caught his attention like no one ever did. He didn't really feel attracted of kindness but no one had ever been kind to him. Through one small gesture of lending an umbrella, the woman caught his interest for she appeared not only a pure heart but a very peculiar line of thinking which attracted him.He had to be honest, he had never seen a soul so compassionate who would worry more about him than herself against the face of danger. She wasn't naive and now that it was dangerous, the little trembling of her slender fingers against his chest was still memorable to Dominic until now. She was only and simply kind.Cain had never seen the expression on Dominic's face despite being with him since they were young. He didn't know why this girl could attract Dominic's interest as not many could. And for those who did, they are now mostly turned into skeletons for they had attracted only th
The guests had filled the entrance of the castle faster than how a fire would spread. Colors filled the white walls as not a single place inside was missed from being decorated. Some of the guests gladly greeted Dominic and his wife, Rose. They had acknowledge her soon and even called Dominic “duke”. As soon after the incident, Dominic ruled out is father’s death and take over the duchy, being the new ruler of his fief. “Congratulation on your marriage, I apologize for being late with my words of happiness, Duke Dominic,” said one of the guest, Mr. Hanggs. “It’s nice to see you too, madam Rose.”“Pleasure to meet you,” Rose greeted the man’s words back. “How is the land now to you, Mr. Hanggs?” Dominic asked the wise man who seemed to be quiet. “It does feel different now. I gradually found people who could suddenly fill empty barrel with water as miracle instead of fearing them. I’m also glad to see how wise our King is as he had rooted off all the corrupted royals. Now Essex fee
The ground shook and the impact of the explosion launched both Dominic and Rose backward. When Rose couldn’t hold him tighter anymore, she almost slipped from his back and fell. Seeing that, Dominic changed to his human form, capturing her body even though he was on air and shielded her in a tight hug as they roll down across the cold floor with a harsh thud. Both Shawn and Gallahan was thrown backward. They tried to nail their feet on the floor to no avail as the extreme explosion would had destroyed the entire land if not because of the shield that Gallahan had perfected for years from his life. The entire world turn black for a moment and by the time it turn brighter again, Shawn saw Gallahan who had sprawled across the floor and Balbazor who had been reduced into a scorched human corpse. Even after that however, Balbazor didn’t stop moving. He crawled with his body like a snake, disregarding how his fingers had been turned into ash. No one could ever see his features anymore, o
Gallahan faced off Balbazor alone. It was a crazy feat to not even die after receiving the harmful attack that was made to eradicate humans and Gallahan’s performance so far have shocked everyone including Balbazor himself. “You are agile,” commented Balbazor. “But if this tentacles weren’t around me, I would have destroyed you in seconds by now.” “Making excuses now? When you killed my family with your curse, you were extremely silent. I’ll put that mouth of yours to rest too,” Gallahan quirked a smirked, urging anger and fuming Balbazor. The ancient demon opened his mouth again but this time, Gallahan had a smarter option. Rather than shielding himself, he rushed forward. Balbazor smiled, thinking how foolish this human is for coming on to him face to face but he was startled as he saw Gallahan had dodged his previous explosion attack. This time, Gallahan murmured a spell and a sharp blue light appeared from his hand which went straight directly to Balbazor’s thick neck. The an
“Brother, are we not related?” Young Shawn’s voice echoed against his ears. Dominic looked down at the child that had overheard the conversation of the adult. Gently he wrapped his fingers around his brother’s little ones and gave him a gentle smile, “Does it matter? Nothing will change even if we aren’t related, you will always be my brother.”Back to the present, Dominic found himself yelling at Shawn’s name as Balbazor had thrown a powerful magic at them. Rose’s eyes snapped open, showing the glistening green eyes of her had changed into purple. At the same time she uttered her spell, the wall broke. Dominic took no chance. He jumped from the staircase, landing down his two feet as a wolf and ran after Shawn. Surprisingly, Gallahan had stood in front of Shawn, shielding them both from the explosion. “I told you to stay away child!” Gallahan yelled to Rose who had rebuilt the wall.“I can help you ease the miasma,” she said, convincing the man only to see him frowning in disagre
When Dominic and Rose arrived at the foot of the door, they found that the glow of purple light had stopped and was quickly greeted by the roar of a monster. “It’s Balbazor, the ancient demon,” Rose explained, jumping down from his body. Dominic shook off his fur and turned into his human form, standing right beside her fully clothed. Although there are other pressing matter she couldn’t help and pointed out, “You can be clothed now?” “Hm?” Dominic looked down on himself, “Right I got taught by the other werewolves how to do that the last time we met.” Rose smiled, thinking how surely the relationship between him and his father had evolved into something closer where they could teach and talk to each other eye to eye. Seeing the progress, she felt moved. “Well what is with this Balbazor?” Dominic pushed the door open for her, they both entering the mansion only to feel the ground beneath them shaking. “He is the ancient demon who had formed contract with the first sorceress. She
Gallahan wasn’t daunted by the fact that Balbazor was more than fifth fold of him, looking even bigger and monstrous. Shawn could feel that demon had no pity or hesitation on him, willingly killing anyone who stood on his way. For a moment Shawn questioned how he could ever kill this monstrous being in front of him, finding it abhorrent that his entire instinct yelled that killing it would be close to impossible. Even coming near the monster he could feel the brimming heat that would burn his skin. “Shawn,” Gallahan called his attention to make sure the younger man wouldn’t feel daunted and eaten alive by his own fear. Shawn then watched Gallahan who in comparison seemed to be eagerly waiting for this chance to come his hand. It was something he had been waiting for a long time… finally he could avenge the death of his family who all ended due this demon’s twisted curse! “I want to kill you, you won’t even believe how much I have been looking forward to this day. My heart is beati
Dominic’s silver eyes also noticed the swirl of purple glow from the black mansion and turned his head again to the view before him. “What did you and the Master talked about?” Inquired Dominic while they run through the forest. “I told him that I will do something about the demon inside Isaac if he could help me end my curse but then he surprised me by saying that he doesn’t need help.” Rose responded. “I trust him.” “I do think he is someone who wouldn’t hurt his fellow sorcerer, you weren’t wrong in trusting him,” Dominic encouraged her. “But that sound too good to be true. He always ask people for payment if he help them.” “He did ask for something, he said to continue fooling my demon, Babylion,” uttered Rose. “I asked him why and he told me so he could use Babylion to kill that ancient demon in response.”“So this entire charade is because of him.” Dominic narrowed his eyes. They can’t seem to trust the Master completely, that man would do anything if it means to fulfil his
Shawn’s eyebrows furrowed as he saw a bright purple glow appearing from the room where the master and Isaac had fought in. As the master’s hand had been touched, Isaac had fulfilled his promise to erase the curse that plagued the Master. This should have call for a celebration regardless of the Master’s wish of never leaving the cave. But by fulfilling Isaac’s promise, the demon in him finally demanded for his reward and that reward was… for him to manifest into the world inside his body!When something suddenly clicked in his mind, Shawn bubbled out of anger.“Damn it! Damn it!” Shawn yelled, finally realizing the big mistake that he made by trusting that damn sorcerer king! He rushed out of the room, questioning everything that the sorcerer had done. He first of told him to imbue his magic on the crystal ball as if doing that would help. He said that by calming Isaac, he could convince him to drive out the demon inside. He also claimed that he wouldn’t kill Isaac thus why he had
Rose could feel the dark magic that entered her skin, crawling in such a disgusting way that she wanted to hurl but she couldn’t. There was something that was stopping her from moving and she couldn’t understand it as it felt slightly different when compared to the demonic magic that he uses on her. “Rose, make my life more colorful, won’t you?” Whispered Babylion. “Now go and betray your beloved. I want to see his face twisting in pain. From your memories, he seemed to the most fun to mess with.” Rose wanted to say no, she wanted to yell and disagree with Babylion’s words but she couldn’t move. She then had the sudden idea to play by what Babylion wanted and nodded her head slowly, agreeing that she would betray Dominic while her eyes turning unfocused, looking exactly similar as to someone who had just been bewitched.“Good, now play with me.” Back to the present, Rose run through her thins hands between her hair and pushed the golden locks to the back of her head, she sighed hea