The Dark Rose

by Ramsey, Valentine

  “And you must walk with the devil for he has doomed you to be mine.”

  “Marriage would set us free of the names we hold so heavily,” Pan agreed.

  She would be disowned, exiled if not murdered to deny her father and refuse her name.

  “What is in a name, hm?” he said as if reading her mind. He rubbed her back sensing her worry. “You cannot touch it or feel it. Or kiss it.”

  He took hold of her chin with his thumb and finger and tilted her face up to place a tender kiss on her lips. Pan melted into him. Loud knocking rattled her doors, making her jump. Pan tried to pull away, but Dom held her tight, unwilling to retreat.

  “You must go,” she said, panicked.

  If he was caught here—she couldn’t stand the thought of losing him. The pain of the notion alone was worse than that of disownment, it wrenched her gut so.

  “When will I see you again?”

  This time he let her pull away as Pan grabbed his arms, rushing him to the wall. He made it difficult as he kept trying to kiss her. She laughed.

  “When will I see you again?” he repeated. “It must be soon. Sooner than tomorrows moon.”

  There was another loud knock. “With all likeliness never,” Pan rushed. “Sneaking in with stealth and swiftness once I congratulate, but a second time, I forbid. It is risking fate.”

  “Pandora!” her handmaiden Gertrude called, finally throwing open the doors.

  “I’m coming!” Pan yelled, turning towards the voice, but Dom yanked her around for a last kiss. She sank into his embrace, never wanting it to end.

  “Pandora!”

  Pan tore away. “Go!” She shoved him at the wall. “Before she sees!”

  Dom vanished into the shadows of the tree, raining her in cherry blossoms. Pan whirled around, eyes wide with guilt just as her short robust nurse appeared.

  “Pandora!” Gertrude said, looking around, squinting, her poor human eyes failing her. She spotted her. “There you are you rotten child.”

  “Oh, you wretched woman!” She stomped her foot, fist clenched at her side. “A moment’s peace is all I seek. Did you not hear me calling that I shall be there soon enough?”

  “Soon enough is never soon enough when it is movement at your pace.”

  “I am the Princess,” Pan said, haughty. “I answer when I damn well please.”

  Gertrude looked her up and down. “Then excuse me Princess, had I known you have taken on the persona of a spoiled brat tonight, I would have made sure to bow at your feet.”

  “So bow.”

  Gertrude laughed heartily. “Oh, how I love this babe! My, she amuses me.”

  Pan’s eyes flared at her insolence.

  “Come now Princess.” Gertrude patted her hip for her to follow, smiling at her minor triumph. “The council meeting approaches and we must do a final measurement on your dress. Vera Wang will only wait so long you know.”

  Pan’s shoulders slumped. “But it’s so late,” she whined. She wanted to bask in the glow of her new found love and she couldn’t do that surrounded by fussy women stabbing her with needles.

  “No excuses,” her nurse said sternly. “It’s your fault you put it off so long.”

  “Go,” Pan said in resignation, seeing no other way around it. “I’ll be along in a moment.”

  Gertrude frowned, opening her mouth to say something more.

  “Go, I say!” Pan ordered, waving her away.

  Huffing, her nurse retreated. Pan crept to the doors to make sure she had left.

  “Bathsheba!” Her cat looked up. “Guard!” She pointed at the door and Sheba slinked from her perch, loping to it. Running back to the tree, Pan peered into the shadows, looking to see if Dom had gone, but even her sharp eyes couldn’t penetrate the darkness.

  Pan sighed, having hoped to see him one last time. “Adieu, my dear love.”

  “Fair well not at all,” Dom said, his face appearing so suddenly Pan yelped, jumping back. Grinning, he dropped down with the finesse of a cat.

  Pan could not find the same smile to grace her face and he frowned.

  “What is the matter my love?”

  Pan looked at the cherry blossom she still held, feeling pathetic to admit her worries. “It’s stupid.”

  He bent to look in her eyes. “I sincerely doubt that. Tell me.”

  “I dwell on the fain words you heard me speak tonight and on the fain words that I…did not hear you speak.” Pan looked up at him with big eyes, wanting to hear him say it. She knew in her heart of hearts, he loved her, but nothing could please more than to hear him utter those three soul binding words.

  Pan tried to study his face better, but the heavy mask of night hindered her examination. Though it would be of no problem for him to see the maiden blush painting her cheeks for want and desperateness to hear her beloved say he loved her.

  A loving smile pulled at his lips. “You must know I love you.”

  “Yes, I know you love me. But…I want to hear you say it.”

  His grin widened as he cupped her cheek, stroking it with his thumb. Pan grasped his hand, holding it to her face.

  “I swear by a thousand rises of the blessed moon and a thousand sunsets—”

  “Do not swear by anything!” Pan pleaded.

  His expression clouded. “Do you not believe me?”

  “I would believe anything to come from your gracious self which is the god of my idolatry, but if you swear by the moon which cycle is inconsistent in her circled orb, you may prove false. If you love me simply pronounce it faithfully. Though perhaps,” Pan dropped his hand, backing away, “you may think me too easily won. Not enough game to contend with fun.”

  He grabbed her waist yanking her to him.

  “Do not doubt what I feel for you,” he said fiercely, his eyes glowing. He framed her face. “I love you,” he said and kissed her. “I love you. I love you. I love you, Pan.”

  It was silly, she knew, but tears built in her eyes. Pan smiled as his lips met hers again. A tear ran over, catching on his thumb. Dom pulled back, anxious, but seeing her smile it faded.

  “Tears of joy, I hope?” he asked, wiping them. “Or else you’ll break my heart which I so newly gained.”

  Pan nodded. “Tears of joy.”

  “Then let me join you in that notion and answer me finally—will you marry me?”

  As he still held her face, Pan met his eyes. She couldn’t hide her nervousness. She wanted more than anything to abandon all cautions and say yes, but…she feared the repercussions.

  “You agreed before marriage would set us free,” he reminded.

  “I do. But this proposed contract is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, when we know nothing but our love for each other.”

  “And is that love not enough?”

  Yes, said abandonment. No, said caution.

  “It is,” Pan said slowly. “For those who are not the Rose Princess. You but are a simple Gray—”

  “And is that not enough?” he demanded, defensive.

  “It is more than enough,” she said, and he settled, the hurt in his face easing. “But you have no King of a father to contend with.” She looked intently into his eyes. “Dom, he would kill me.”

  “I will protect you. Trust me I’m stronger than I appear.”

  “I have no doubt, but—”

  “Do not play into this fear when there is no need for it. If you want to be with me—”

  “I do. More than anything.”

  “Then be with me, my love. Let me bear the hard parts and no harm will come to you. This I truly swear. We will run like the wind and no one will catch us.”

  Wrapping her arms around him, Pan rested her head against his chest, breathing him in. “Run and I will run with you.”

  Dom let out a breath, making her head rise and fall with the movement. She felt him press his lips to her hair.

  “Don’t think your simple agreement is enough to satisfy me this night. Not on this night. I must have your vow.
Will you marry me?”

  Pan looked up at him. In the moonlight his expression was an intense mixture of determination and hope. She couldn’t stand to see it replaced with disappointment.

  “Tell me again.”

  “I love you.” There was no hesitation. The tone of his voice spoke his truth.

  Pan smiled. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  In no little time she had committed her biggest crime.

  He grinned, leaning down to kiss her.

  “PAN-DOR-AHHH!” both her nurses called annoyed, their voices echoing down the hall as they fastly approached.

  “By and by I come, you nasty old hags!” she yelled.

  Their shrieks echoed.

  “Tomorrow I will come to you.” Dom laughed, backing away to the tree.

  Pan was reluctant to drop his hand, their arms stretched between them. He gave her a tug, pulling her into his arms again. His kiss was tender, but quick. He pulled away and leaped gracefully into the tree, shaking the branches, raining her again in cherry blossoms. Pan smiled as their soft petals brushed her face.

  He reached down to her. “We will be together soon enough my love.”

  Pan reached up to him and he took the cherry blossom from her, his index finger trailing lightly over hers, pulling her rose ring off. She watched as Dom retreated, sinking back into the shadows, vanishing.

  “A thousand times goodnight,” she whispered.

  Pan knew when he was gone as an emptiness she had never experienced settled in her chest as he had taken a part of her soul with him. His parting was such sweet sorrow, especially to have to say goodnight till it be tomorrow.

  Heading into her room, Pan said to herself, “My only love sprung from my only hate. Too early seen unknown, and known too late. Prodigious birth of love it is to me that I must love a loathed enemy.”

  + Chapter 11+

  The Dark Rose

  Pandora’s rose ring adorning his pinky finger, Dom strolled up the drive with a conquering swagger that said he had not a care in the world. Urijah sat atop the high stone wall, playing with a piece of paper, waiting for him. Smirking, he looked Dom up and down.

  “Well, well,” Urijah said. “Glad to see you’ve made it back alive. I was worried I’d have to come in after you and despite all outward fronts, I’m not so eager to venture into hell.” He looked out towards the horizon. “The grey-eyed morn is soon to smile on the frowning night, checkering the eastern clouds with streaks of light and flecked darkness like your drunkards reel,” he jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the house where pounding music and laughter were a steal.

  He jumped down as Dom passed. Walking alongside him, Urijah frowned, studying Dom’s gate. “Though it seems the sun has already advanced and risen into your burning eye. What am I missing?”

  Dom laughed, hearing Urijah’s dislike of being out of the loop. “You miss nothing of consequence.”

  Urijah’s eyes narrowed, disbelieving. “Did you have fun at least? Did she cure you of your needs? Ride you home until you cried ‘oh my bones, my bones!’”

  Dom rounded on him, shoving him in the chest; an act that would have any other vampires head facing the opposite direction. Urijah stumbled back, face exploding in shock.

  “Don’t speak of her in such ways,” Dom said, tone a dangerous warning.

  Urijah’s brows pulled with worry. “What happened to you?”

  Mood shifting capriciously, Dom smiled brightly again.

  “I am in love!” he burst, throwing his arms out. “Not even the mighty Aphrodite could steal it away. She is my Psyche, my soul, so wild I cannot control! A thousand times goodnight, she whispered, and in answer a thousand times the worse to want thy light!”

  “Love?” Urijah said, baffled. “Love is a special kind of stupid! Nothing sent from Cupid! You told me that once. Dominic, she is a Rose! And if that weren’t treason enough, she is the Rose Princess! Is that of no consequence to you?”

  “What’s in a name?” Dom said, smelling the blossom. “That which we call a Rose, by any other name would smell as sweet. So it will be. Her thorn has pierced my heart and I will gladly bleed.”

  Glowering, Urijah said, “You look like an idiot with that smile on your face.”

  “I don’t care!” Dom yelled into the night, turning to face the mansion. “I don’t care!”

  Urijah shoved him and Dom stumbled forward, falling to his knee, laughing. Urijah wrapped his arm around Dom’s neck in a chokehold.

  “If you think I will stand by and let you offer yourself to death all for a couple of forbidden kisses—”

  Dom elbowed him in the gut surging to his feet and swung at him. Urijah ducked and caught him around the waist, tackling him to the ground as they play fought.

  “For a couple nights in her bed—”

  Snarling, Dom threw him off and jumped to his feet.

  “I warned you to watch your words!” Dom said, pointing at him. “Next I won’t do you the courtesy but will cut your tongue from your mouth. Plainly know my heart’s dear love is set on the fair daughter of a rich rosette.”

  Urijah gaped at him. “You’re serious. What are you after with her if not a little corruption?”

  Dom let out his breath. “I am after an eternity with her.”

  “It’s been two hours! This is ludicrous!”

  “I don’t care! I don’t care at all,” he stressed. “We’re going to be married.”

  “What?” Urijah bit out. “Married? Are you insane?”

  Dom shook his head against that last question. Insane it would be to not marry her.

  “As soon as possible.”

  Urijah’s expression changed as a thought occurred to him. “And she accepts who you are?” Urijah watched him acutely. Dom uttered not a word, but Urijah’s question was answered all the same by his dead expression. “She doesn’t know,” Urijah concluded. He laughed. “Oh, this is priceless!”

  Dom glared at him. “Only that I am a Gray.”

  “And when do you plan on sharing your royal birthing with her exactly, if you plan on stealing her vestial heart?”

  “It will be inevitable,” Dom said bleakly. It was a moment he was not looking forward to, her reaction he could not predict. “But if she loves me as much as her words declare our birthing will be of no consequence.”

  “Oh, you fickle hearted fool! You give it to any doe eyed beauty who bats her lashes in your direction!”

  “Not any doe eyed beauty, my doe eyed beauty,” Dom said in bliss, looking up at the moon. “Mine. My beloved. The gods have made her special for me, gift wrapped in perfected glory.”

  Urijah stared at him as if he didn’t know him. “You risk everything,” he said, staggered. “This isn’t like you.”

  “I risk my sanity if I do not possess her,” Dom said vehemently. “I trust only you with this information. So—” Tense, Dom raised his head. “What are you going to do with it?” The thought of not being able to trust Urijah sickened him, but Dom was taking no chances in protecting Pan.

  “Do not seek to test me,” Urijah snapped, waving him away and pacing ahead. Urijah turned back. “You are my Prince. I stand by you always, even when you look to bring disloyalty to our coven with this betrayal if you are to be found out. Besides, it’s refreshing to see you… happy,” he said the word as if it revolted him, his nose wrinkling in disgust.

  Worry eased, Dom said, “You have no idea how good it is to hear you say that my ghostly confessor.” He draped his arm around Urijah’s shoulders as they walked up the grounds to the mansion. “You absolve my sins with your ears.”

  “And Selene?” Urijah eyed him curiously. “Whom you loved so dear, so soon forsaken?”

  Dom thought for a moment, searching his body for the aching lust that had once surged in him at the mere mention of her name. He found none. The temptress could not hold less sway over him now. With this revelation he found liberation and said so, glad to answer Urijah’s test with absolute truthfulness.

>   Urijah gave a rare laugh. “Proving that men’s love lies, not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.”

  Dom snorted. “Chide me not, you’re one to talk. Do grace for grace and love for love allow? And in my defense, it is well known to me and everyone else for that matter,” he said bitterly, “that my particular brand of love for Selene lied due south which she couldn’t or wouldn’t even bother grace with her mouth.”

  “And of this new…love?” Urijah said it with heavy indulgence.

  Dom noted his doubt and couldn’t blame him as in the past his eyes were so easily caught.

  “I loved her when I laid eyes on her,” he said, and Urijah grunted without surprise. “But the love is not induced by lust, more fascination, adoration and obsession. She is a need, a necessity for my sanity. I desire to have her more than I would blood.”

  Urijah gasped dramatically and crossed himself. “Dear me! Desired more than blood? A ruthless angel must have cast your demon to drift for your riddling confessions finds nothing but riddling shrift.” He closed his eyes and held his hands up in prayer and began speaking in Latin.

  Dom slapped his arms down.

  “Excuse you,” Urijah said. “I was praying that this saintly possessor returns your damned soul to us from its vacation in la-la land.”

  “Be still. My soul remains doomed for it would be a saintly act to abandon my want of her now before I drag her pure soul into damnation along with mine, however—applause now—I am too selfish.”

  Urijah clapped. “Applause! Applause for the evil cause! Hallelujah!”

  Dom took a sweeping bow. But Urijah was back to watching him curiously again.

  “What?”

  “I kind of…believe you. That you love her.”

  “As well you should. I have never been more serious about anything in my entire life.”

  “Yes, well,” Urijah sighed. “I’ll still have to wait and see. And of your party?”

  Dom groaned. After this night, he couldn’t go back to it. It would mar his evening to pretend it never existed.

  “I’m bailing.”

  “And I suppose I have to cover for you again?”

  “You suppose right. You signed your fate when you vowed to stand by me.”