Randall's day began like any other. He had a quickie with his wife, helped his children prepare for school, bathed, dressed, and had his breakfast. He stepped out of the house, wished his kids goodbye, called the office, and was about to step into his car when his skin turned cold, reacting to the crispness of the weather.
The sky turned dark, and the wind made his jacket come to life, stirring like a thing wishing to be tossed into the turbulence. Randall looked to the sky, and he saw a bright flash of fire that vanished behind dark clouds. There were bangs, and the crackling of thunder. Lightning flashed, and a storm attacked the calm ocean on the other side of the village.
It was loud all around, it seemed the world was about to crack open and spew forth demons. The ground shook, then there were more repeated flashes of fire. It w
"You won't stop, will you?" Anna asked, sitting by a table in the corner of her room. Claire was standing by the window, looking at the open space just before the ocean. The sand was white, and the sun was bright. Both children and adults played on the beach, and at the edge of the ocean was waves upon waves drifting towards the shore and returning back to the sea. "Ever asked yourself if she's this still?" Claire asked? Anna thought for a moment. "Not that I know her, so I can't say." And she didn't know Rose. No one really could tell what went on in the heart of someone like Rose. "Look. You stopped her. You have your sisters now. Surely, you can put up a strong defense if she tries anything." Claire shook
Rose turned and continued to tend to her garden.Fred looked at each rose. All healthy and red. A perfect snare for butterflies, bees, dragonflies, and any other insect or bird that dare venture into this place, including men. But he wasn't a man. He was a beast, one specifically designed for Rose's liking."Where do your sisters stand in this?" Fred asked.Rose answered without looking at him, "They don't really have a choice. I still control their bodies. Claire knows that. At least, she's no fool about that. That's why when White seeks what she's sent him out to find, she will restrain my sisters and come to face me." She gave a side head gesture. "Then, I would surprise her."This was the most powerful family on
Everything around Rose whispered. She was in a black gown seated by a table, her eyes weary, and expression sober from the multiple whispering complaints that came from the spoons, table, chairs, cups, and everything one could think of in a home.Shutting her eyes to the whispers, she said, "One at a time.""Who would go first?" a spoon asked.A knife standing on its edge moved, giving off a glint of the sun coming in through the window, and this caught Rose's gaze as the knife paused."You," Rose said, looking at the knife. "You go first.""Your Grace," the knife said with the voice of a man, "I didn't intend drawing attention to myself."
Things always spoke without thinking around her. Trees, air, dead leaves, sand, stones, insects, and animals. They knew much, but not enough. Not what she was looking for. The Baron had been careful to conceal himself now that she wanted him found. No doubt he knew he was her target.But for the time being, the silence was what she needed, and the absence of voices. And so to attain that, Rose Steele turned into a red smoke, spreading through the trees, sealing parts of herself in each one, bringing even those with dead and rotting trunks and roots to life, causing their leaves to bloom green.The smoke spread out of the forest like a haze to the sea city of Struts, just next to the ocean, a place where Crystal Steele was, and villagers of this place suddenly began watching as it covered their houses. Some dressed back groaning, but others stood their ground in silence. Either
And so she waited.Rose heard the men laugh, and their voices were mocking the villagers. She read the expression of fear within each villager, and she pitied that they would have to witness her wrath.Guns cocked as the men drew nearer, surrounding the villagers."Get on your knees," one man said.The villagers went on their knees."Say your last prayer."Those who knew God whispered to him, others closed their eyes and looked deep within themselves, not knowing what to say. Some kept muttering in low voices, "Don't let me die. Don't let me die. Please."It was all they could say when suddenly, hands came out from all the trees, and snatched the men into them, their guns clattered on the ground. Some of the villagers opened an eye to
First, there was silence, then came the rustling of dried leaves. Rose looked through the trees, and she saw Fred, her love. His dress was drenched in blood, and his breathing was heavy."I've found him," Fred said, and fell on his knees. His strength was leaving him, and he couldn't stop the multiple mortal injuries all over his body.Rose saw her lover was in trouble, and from the tree next to him, she stepped out. She beckoned, looking in different directions in the forest, calling to something unseen, and the forest answered as she returned her gaze to Fred. The red mist that had initially left her body glided through the forest, and returned into her body.She went on her knees before Fred, and touched his face. Fred gave her a weary look."It won't work," Fred said. "White has found a way to kill you. He told me he would leave me with just enough strength to return back to you to let you know what is coming for you. Also, he has the Baron." He sligh
And just as her gaze was about falling back to her knitting, Claire transformed into Rose."I wish they all saw it that way," Rose said.The guards at the door heard Rose's voice, and not that they recognized it. They were drawn to it by the sudden awe of her presence. But before any alarm could be raised, the joints of the men froze, and there they stood like statues at their post.Anna and Harriet's chest heaved with fear, and suddenly, Harriet couldn't breathe. Anna looked at her maid, and back at Rose. "Please, don't kill her."Harriet deeply inhaled, cherishing the value of air once more, and she sent a hand to her throat, and one to her chest."I would do anything you want," Anna said, "please, don't just kill her."It was Rose's intention to let the maid go. But she needed something from Anna."I won't kill your maid, Anna," Rose said, and it was then she noticed that sudden silence had graced her father's fort. "But for you to
"Only whispers hear whispers," Rose said, slowly walking towards White. "And I was never Rose."White's eyes brightened. "You've been playing a long game, Rose Steele," he said. "I wonder how your sisters would react knowing you left them locked up all this time."Rose said nothing, but kept coming close.White saw death in her eyes, and sent a hand behind him. A sword appeared in his hand, and as Rose reached him, he sent the sword to pierce her, but he was met with surprise as it all happened in a blur, a movement he couldn't catch, and the sword which he intended to do Rose harm with was buried deep in his chest.Rose withdrew the sword, and tossed it on the ground. Blood rushed out of White's chest, and a terrified Harriet, and sullen Rose, now turned into Anna, watched.White was gasping for air, and just then, Claire appeared with the Steeles, and she rushed to White's side as he choked out blood and cried."What happened?" Claire aske