The Last Petal Falls

by E. J. Powell

  The witch laughs as she backs away, “He will not come for you, he is a true beast! I only changed his outward appearance that showed the monster beneath!” She turns and walks away, leaving me to my fiery fate.

  I get down on my knees and clasp my hands together to pray even as the flames do not disperse nor do they let up with their heated gazes. I could feel their eyes on me, those of my village of people that I have failed. I cough and shut my eyes, not wanting to see their disappointment in choosing to save the Prince’s life over an entire village.

  Prince Augustine

  I pace the quarters of my chambers, stepping on pieces of broken glass near the shattered windows of my balcony. The cuts on my paws are deep, and small pools of blood leave tracks as I pace, but I can hardly deem them enough to care for the wounds. The pain I feel in what I thought was once a stone cold heart, is nothing to what I feel like I am experiencing. The pain comes at me like a wave beating against the shore, swift and graceful, yet leaving power in its wake.

  She had left. The only girl I truly got to know and did not bed the fortnight I rescued her, had become precious to me. A precious gift that I took for granted and let her slip through my claws. I look out to the land below my balcony and stifle the urge to roar my fury when I see Bella climb aboard a gelding and take off, flying away like a baby bird taking flight for the first time without a parent to guide them.

  And I had let her go, I had to, for it was the right thing to do. Growling under my breath, I turn away from the balcony and continue to pace. “Giving her the rose must have been the most foolish thing I could have done.”

  “I would have thought the foolish thing to do was letting her leave,” a female voice says as her claws make clicking noises against the marble flooring. I stop pacing to bend my head to be eye level with the female gargoyle that still chose to remain at my side, curse or no curse.

  “You think me a fool, Marymagglyn?” I asked curiously. She has never been one to fear my temper, human or beast. Her courage is remarkable.

  “Aye sir, I do,” Marymagglyn states, before moving to sweep up the broken glass near my feet. “But I understand why you let her go.”

  “You do?” My question must reflect the surprise in my eyes when she looks up to give me a stony expression.

  “Aye, that I do. When you love someone enough to give them what their hearts desire, then they know you trust and honor them,” Marymagglyn says as she bends down and sweeps at the broken glass.

  I hesitate before mumbling softly. “You think I love her. A girl like her cannot love a beast like me.”

  “Do not sell yourself short, Your Highness,” the female gargoyle says as she straightens up, dustpan and broom in her claws. “Bella thought about staying here, regardless of your outward appearance. What she found underneath, was a better treasure than returning home.”

  My eyes light up in excitement. “You really think she would stay here?”

  Marymagglyn smiles, “Yes, I do believe so.”

  “Then what am I standing around here for?” I mumble, a smile twisting my snout in an awkward state. “I have to find her!”

  My snout to the ground, my nostrils flare as I come across the scent of jasmine and pine. Bella, hold on, I am coming for you! Digging my claws against the frozen earth, I journey past the winter of where I am forever doomed to live during the only season, before entering the Forbidden Forest.

  I am not afraid, for I am the biggest thing in the woods. I surpass fallen trees, uprooted bushes and leave lesser animals terrified as I run on all fours. My breath is hot and heavy, and the matted fur is weighing me down, but I will not slow down. Not until I find Bella and can bring her back to my estate home safely.

  Smoke rises in the north, the same direction I am headed. Heart pounding against my chest, I fear the worst. A scream tore through the air, and my heart nearly gives out. “Bella, hold on!” I howl my response as I dash forward, slamming into tree trunks half my size, jumping over large boulders, and racing through sharp prickle bushes that leave tiny snags in my fur.

  When I enter the clearing of the trees, I stumble to a halt for a split second. In the middle of the clearing is an entire dome made of purple flames, and kneeling inside the small circle of fire is none other than Bella. “Bella!” I howl, moving swiftly to her side.

  Her head jerks upright, and her eyes snapped open as I draw closer. “Augustine!” She coughs, bending her head as she holds up her hands to cover her nose against the plumes of smoke. She should have perished by now, but I cannot think of another reason as to why she would still be alive, unless the witch plans to torture her by roasting her alive.

  “Bella, I swear I will get you out of here!” I shout, trying to find a way inside the fiery dome. Her face has ash strewn across her cheeks, and her eyes are bloodshot as I stalk closer, trying to find a way in. She still kneels in the center of the dome of fire. “Bella, listen to me, I swear I will find a way, just hold on a little longer!”

  Bella watches me for a few seconds, before her entire body begins to shake. “Augustine . . . I . . .” She goes to say more, but then her brown eyes roll into the back of her head, and she faints, the end of her hair catching on fire.

  I curse and lunge forward, fire be damned, and look around inside the dome, grasping at Bella’s limp body in my arms. I put out the fire on her hair and look around. I cradle her face to my chest, hoping to stop her from inhaling any more smoke. Cursing louder, I try to jump out of the dome of fire, but my fur is already crispy in certain spots and my tail almost lost against the flames.

  “Well, what a lovely surprise. I did not expect to see you here.” A loud female voice sends the fur along the back of my spine rising; my eyes dart to where the female is speaking, a voice that I thought I knew so well when I was a young, naive fool of a man.

  “Sarabi.” My upper lip curls back, and she lifts up her dainty hands, her smile sending my stomach twisting into knots, and when she drops her arms, the fire dome extinguishes.

  Sarabi

  The fire dome flickers out, and the beast is cradling the little wench in his grasp. Narrowing my dark-purple gaze at him, I step forward and hold out my hands. His sharp blue eyes flicker to me, and he bites back a loud growl, his upper lip curling back to reveal those sharp teeth.

  Ravonette remains unconscious in his arms, and I fight a smile. I wanted her to be burnt to ashes, but having Augustine watch her burn would have been more delightful.

  “Sarabi.” His voice says my name again and leaves goosebumps across my exposed skin. “Why did you do it?”

  “You will have to be more specific, darling.” I cannot help the smile that graces my lips.

  “You know what I mean!” he snapped at me. “Why did you put her there, what had she ever done to you?”

  “She demanded that I help you, and I was not about to let all my hard work go to waste on a simple peasant girl,” I say, holding up the rose wand in my right hand, I stroke the red petals tenderly. “It took me years to get the potion just right, and it took all my power to put you there, I was not about to let it all be ruined by a peasant girl who happened to see the good in you.”

  “You were going to kill Bella simply because she asked to break my curse?” he asks bewildered.

  “No, you fool!” I snap at him, losing my patience. My hair floats around as the wind begins to stir. “The wench made a deal with me, but she didn't know I did not intend to keep my promise.”

  “What did you promise her, Sarabi?”

  I press a kiss to one of the petals, a smile still on my face. My gaze settles on the beastly prince. “This rose is special, and you took it from me. She was willing to do anything, even go to a castle filled with a horrible, mangy beast, in the hopes to save the thousand souls I murdered in a village fire.”

  Augustine gives a surprised look then roars loudly. “WHY WOULD YOU DO SUCH A HEINOUS ACT?”

  “No need to shout, dear,” I use my left hand to tap my ear. “I am not d
eaf.”

  “Answer my question, witch,” he snaps, flashing his teeth at me again.

  “Your threats are harmless to me, Augustine. Or did you forget who created you?” I give him a smug smile, when he does not try to advance towards me. Not with the girl nestled in his arms. “That is what I thought.” I hold up the rose wand for further inspection. “You took great care and kept the rose in pristine condition. I admire your tender care. Now,” I continue to speak, and he watches me through heavy-lidded eyes. “Hand over Ravonette, and I will turn you back into the human prince you once were.”

  “Ravonette?” He blinks a few times in confusion, then glances down at the girl in his arms. “Ravonette,” he purred softly, almost nuzzling her face affectionately, it is enough to make me sick to my stomach.

  “Yes, yes, the girl’s name is Ravonette. Now, hand her over, and you will be a human prince once more,” I say bitterly.

  His eyes stray to my face, trying to see if he can call my bluff. “You will not harm the girl?”

  I give him a wry smile, “Why, Augustine, do you not trust me?”

  “No. I don’t,” he says sharply and without hesitation.

  I frown, “Good. I suppose it’s for the best. I do not need her, anyhow.” I hold up my hands, and the wind begins to whip against my hair and dress, lifting them both up, and the beastly prince lets out a snarl.

  “Witch, what are you doing?”

  “Putting an end to this happily ever after!” I spit out, before beginning to chant out a spell. “Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble. The girl who stole a beastly king’s heart is a fool. Create a monster from her inside out, and let her rot under the reflecting sun. By dawn of three days time, she shall prick her finger on a silver spinning wheel, and die!”

  18

  I feel something soft caress my cheek. My eyes slowly open as if they have been closed for a long time. When my eyes focus after spinning for several seconds, I stare up at feverish blue eyes. "Augustine?" I ask, my voice is hoarse.

  "Ravonette," he says in a hushed growl. "You are awake, I was beginning to doubt you would ever wake again."

  I feel my eyebrows pull together in a frown. My head feels heavy as if there is a pressure against my skull as I try to sit up. I look around behind Augustine and find myself back in the estate castle. Perhaps my time with the witch was only a horrible nightmare?

  I let out a small hiss of pain and glance down. My arms are covered in soot and ash, some parts of my skin are raw and covered with multiple blisters. "It was not a dream," I whispered to myself.

  "No," Augustine agrees, "it was no dream." When my eyes return to his face, his blue eyes are dark and ringed with anger.

  "What happened to me? I do not remember much," I admit, wanting to know what had happened after he had came to my rescue. I recalled passing out, but that was about all I could remember.

  "Sarabi took away the fire and placed a curse upon your head, for wanting to help me," Augustine says bitterly.

  My eyes widened in surprise, "A curse? What curse?" I go to throw the coverlet off my body and realize that beneath the blanket, I have no clothing. My cheeks flush crimson red as Augustine stands up, and turns to the satchel that I had left behind at the witch's cottage, near my bedside.

  He pulls out the looking glass mirror that he had given me as a gift, and then held the mirror up to my face. I stare at the mirror in confusion. "I do not understand, did you ask to see something?"

  "No," he growls out softly as he hands me the mirror. I accept the silver handle and swallow back the tears that were threatening to crawl up my throat. "This is Sarabi's curse."

  "I do not see anything," I say softly, my hands trembling.

  "Then you realize you are cursed?" Augustine asks gently. I hand the mirror back to him and he turns to tuck it away in my satchel once more.

  "But I do not see anything," I murmur again, confused as to what he means by 'cursed'. "There is nothing wrong with me."

  Augustine shakes his head, his fur bristling in certain spots along the curve of his large neck. "You do not understand, you are not yourself. You have been cursed."

  "You keep saying, 'cursed', but I do not comprehend the 'how'?" I question, feeling my head began to throb. I reach up to touch my head and notice how unnaturally pale my skin has become. "What . . .?" I blink in shock, marveling at how smooth and blemish-free my hand is, I lift up my other hand and inspect them both at the same time.

  "Now you understand," he says softly, but it comes out in the form of a low growl. "You are cursed. Your eyes are no longer brown, but gold. Your hair is longer as are your fingernails. Your skin is white, whiter than snow. Your face is all sharp with no features." I touch my face, running my hands across the edge of my jaw, feeling the bone stick out as if I had tried to starve my body. "And," he continues to add the last part that sends chills down my spine. "After Sarabi left from cursing you, the sun broke through the clouds, and your body began to burn as if you were on fire from the inside out."

  My eyes flicker to his face, confused. "I began to burn?"

  "That is what the blisters are from," he says, reaching up a paw to point with a clawed finger at the welts lining my arms. "After taking you out of the sun, your skin began to heal."

  Swallowing back the tears clawing their way up my throat, my chest feels tight. "How long have I been asleep?" I ask in a whisper. I am afraid to know, afraid to know what I have become.

  "Two days, during the night, you ask for blood," Augustine says, averting his gaze.

  "B-Blood?" I stuttered, feeling my throat close up with the need to grab a chamber pot and puke up all the supposed blood that is residing in my body. "Do I ask for food, water?"

  "No." His voice is firm. "And tomorrow . . .," he hesitates and stops speaking altogether.

  "What am I? What happens tomorrow?" I ask, feeling anxious and nauseous to my stomach.

  "Do not worry about it, I am sure it means nothing. And I am not sure what you have become," Augustine admits.

  I swallow hard, "I know what I have become, a monster."

  Augustine does not say a word, even as he leaves to go speak with the gargoyles about my current state. Marymagglyn is told not to disturb my chambers unless I ask, although I am puzzled by how the prince is acting. When it is dark outside my window, I feel restless after dozing for two days without waking. I climb out of bed and put on the blue dress, before moving to the open window.

  A cool breeze beckons me to stand outside, in the snow, under the bathing moonlight.

  Hurrying outside in only the blue dress, I feel as if I am flying. My feet do not seem to reach the marble flooring as I race down the grand staircase, the ends of my hair whipping against my face once I stand outside. It begins to snow, and I do not feel the biting chill to return inside where I can warm myself near the stone hearth in my chambers.

  "Ravonette." I hear my name being called, and I whirl on my heels, my skin prickling with unease. I recognized the male voice speaking, his voice echoing all around me as he repeats my name. His voice whispers against my skin and makes me shiver.

  "Grant? Where are you?" I ask, my eyes flickering all around me. It may be night, but my eyes are swimming with color, and I do not feel the least bit tired, cold, hungry. It is as if someone has turned nighttime into day, for I do not need the sun to be my guiding light.

  "I am here, my Bella, I am waiting for you." Grant's voice startles me as I quickly turn in the opposite direction and look around for my dead fiance, not spying him anywhere.

  "Waiting . . . waiting where?" I ask.

  "Follow my voice, my Bella. I will take you to where I wait."

  Prince Augustine

  Marymagglyn watches as I come down the grand staircase. "How does the lady fair?" She asked, concerned for Ravonette's well-being.

  I hesitate, my tail flickering nervously. "She has finally awakened." I continue down the final steps before my claws begin to click against the marble flooring.

&nb
sp; The female gargoyle trails behind me. "This curse placed upon her, the enchantress will release Bella, will she not?"

  "She is no enchantress." I snapped, feeling my upper lip curl back. "She is what she is, a wolf in sheep's clothing. A witch." The fur along my spine bristles the more I think about Sarabi. "She will not release Bella, not until she gets what she desires,"

  "And what pray tell would that entail?" Marymagglyn asks when I come to a halt, noticing the main entrance door is sprung wide open.

  "Until everything I love is destroyed," I say bitterly, before I move swiftly to the open door and stare out in the blizzard that has taken residence outside the estate castle.

  "You won't find her here," the seductive female voice says, and I turn on my heels, baring my fangs at her.

  "Why are you here?" I demand, staring down the woman with eyes that are shining purple in the dimly-lit corridor. The female gargoyle is nowhere in sight. "Begone, witch, I am through with you!" I snap my teeth for good measure, hoping she will not call my bluff as she had two days prior.

  "But I am not through with you yet, my pet." Sarabi's lips curl into a sinister smile. "How does the wench like her curse?"

  "She thinks herself a monster." I growl loudly. "All because you cursed her simply because she wished to break mine."

  Sarabi narrows her eyes, "Every soul deserves a curse, regardless if I actually cast the spell or not. Tomorrow she will die, just as she should have in that village fire."

  "Why did you burn her village?" I demand.

  Sarabi's smile fades, and her lips purse into a thin line. "I thought it obvious, a thousand souls to collect, and I will have the ultimate power to rule the kingdom!" She raises her hands for a dire effect, and I scowl.