Rose Bound Magic

by Caitlin Crowe

  In this beautiful Palace, in this magical place, the only sound she heard were her feet rhythmically hitting the floor. No matter where she wandered, no matter how many rooms she entered, it was only her noises that echoed into the corners.

  She collapsed into a plush armchair in yet another sitting room, too tired and sore to wander anymore. There were too many rooms and hallways, none of them leading her where she wanted to go. Her feet were throbbing, and she felt like she must have walked miles during her endless exploration. In fact, her head was starting to throb as well. She was beginning to think that it would have been a better idea to have gone back to sleep instead of wandering around, trying to find either her father or a door out. Eyes drifting shut Bell decided she would rest for a second, before she would continue her search for her father.

  “Miss,” a soft voice close to her brought Bell back to consciousness. Her eyes flew open.

  Before her stood a creature she had only ever half believed in. The Fae was instantly recognizable, just as unnervingly beautiful as every story described. Well over seven feet tall, the light seemed to gather on It’s skin, making all else in the room seem dim in comparison. All color was leached from the Fae, leaving a pale, almost translucent creature. A curtain of hair draped down It’s back, reminding her of the color of clear water running through a brook. It’s features were delicate, soft, and proportioned more perfectly than any artistic master could craft. Androgynous, there was nothing to help Belladonna determine whether It was male or female, or at least the Fae version of the sexes. From every angle she looked, the edges of the Being seemed blurry, just slightly out of focus. A power emanated from the creature that chilled her, unlike anything she had ever experienced. Her very bones whispered, “Run away. You cannot survive. Run. Now.”

  “The Court is waiting for you. Follow me.” Her human flesh crawled, trying to reject the melodic notes rolling over her skin. As much as she heard what It said, the words reverberated inside of her being.

  Without conscious thought, she stepped forward to obey. Outside in the hall, which had previously been identical to every other hall, Belladonna found herself several feet from a grand staircase leading down to the ground floor. It seemed right, somehow, that while the Palace had entrapped her, it had decided to obey the will of the Fae.

  Sweeping down the stairs in the shadow of the Being, she was drawn into a formal dining room. At every place setting was a Fae – all as intimidating as the one that had fetched her. Bell paused in the doorway, awed by the sight before her. The air in the room buzzed with the magic emanating from the unnatural beings, and Belladonna felt that one spark could set the place ablaze. She could feel every pair of eyes boring into her flesh.

  Tales of the Fae Court had filled her nightmares as a small child – Fae were as cruel and cold as they were ethereal. The moral of every story involving Fae was to avoid them at all costs, and if not possible, to never make them mad. Or irritate them. Or inconvenience them. Or really do anything to them ever. A convening of the Fae Court made all the above nearly impossible.

  “Sit.” The Fae at the head of the table commanded her. Bell did as she was told and sat in the open chair at the foot of the table. The chair legs screeched across the polished floor as she pulled it out, the harsh sound echoing around the vast room. Bell’s eyes returned to the Fae. Resting regally upon the It’s head was a spiked crown of spun glass, delicately twisted into tall spirals. Translucent hair cascaded over It’s shoulders, an iridescent waterfall pooling in It’s lap. Trying to focus on this Fae was like trying to look at a mirage – It’s edges moved of their own accord. Bell thought she could almost see through It to the maroon wallpaper. Whatever magic the Others emanated, this Fae’s magic dwarfed them all to a staggering degree. It burned her eyes to look at It, and she dropped her gaze to her lap.

  “You do not belong here, child.” It’s voice crashed over her with the force of a blow.

  Bell was so overwhelmed by the entire situation that she uttered without thinking, “Pardon?”

  A chirping filled the room, and it was a moment before Belladonna realized that the Fae were laughing at her response. She wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing, but she said no more, wary of angering the Fae Royalty sitting before her.

  “You do not belong here, human child. This is no place for you. Why did you come?” There was no change of inflection in It’s voice, but Bell knew somehow that the question was one of curiosity, not anger.

  Belladonna stayed silent, trying to find her tongue. No one spoke while she struggled to form a clear reply. “I’m trying to find my father. He left our yard, and I thought I was following him; there was a light. And then I fell, and well, here I am.” She twitched her shoulders, a minuscule shrug, too stunned to form a more coherent thought.

  “A King should rarely need to apologize, yet here I am. As King of the Fae, I do not say this lightly: Lokius should not have tempted you. He should not have brought you here, even if this is where your father resides.”

  Hope burst through Bell’s chest. “My father is here? Where? I must see him. Is he alright?”

  The King’s forehead twitched. “He is here.”

  “Let me take him, Your Highness! Let me leave with him, and we shall never come back! I know the old stories; I know of your kind. I promise we will never come back again.” Pleading rarely worked with Fae because they didn’t feel mankind’s emotions. Their emotions were too foreign to be understood by other creatures. But Bell couldn’t help herself. She wanted her father, and she wanted to leave. She did not want to be here anymore. Not with these Beings, in this strange place, with too much magic buzzing in the air.

  “I cannot let him leave. But you may go.”

  She stared at him. “What?”

  The King stared back, unblinking. The intensity of the Fae’s eyes were equal to the sun – she feared if she looked too long, she’d go blind. She glanced back down to her hands, worrying in her lap. “I will tolerate your impertinence once, and only once. You are not used to us, and I am not unfair. I will answer your question: your father stole from this place. If one pays the price, anyone may enter these grounds. But no one may leave with even a blade of grass. He must suffer the consequences for his theft, and in this case, the consequence is a lifetime spent here.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Bell blurted out before quickly adding a hurried “Your Highness,” in an effort not to be rude. “Whatever my father did, he doesn’t deserve to spend the rest of his life here! He is too ill; he probably doesn’t even know what he did! He must be terrified! I beg of you, let my father go home!”

  “He cannot. The price must be paid.”

  The color drained from Bell’s face until her skin rivaled that of the Fae around her. Her breathing became more labored as the panic that had filled her the night before returned. What the hell was she supposed to do, fight the King and Court of the Fae? If she had been an outsider, this situation would have been almost comical, but sitting in this overly plush chair at the longest dining table she had ever seen, she couldn’t find any humor.

  Words caught in her throat on the panic bubbling there. Belladonna stared at the King and then glanced around the room at all the Fae. They were staring at her, waiting for her to do something. Anything.

  Suddenly a voice spoke up near the head of the table. “There is a way, my Lord.”

  Bell’s eyes snapped forward as a figure appeared behind the King. She had no idea where this woman had come from - she hadn’t been there ten seconds before. Besides herself, everyone in the room seemed to be Fae, but this woman seemed to exist in some middle world – her body was that of a human woman, shorter than any Fae. All the color seemed to be leaching out from her flesh before Bell’s eyes, each step closer to the table stealing more. Her voice didn’t reverberate through Bell as she spoke, and her eyes, fixed on Bell, seemed to hold some emotion in their depths.

  When she reached the King, Bell was stunned to see her pl
ace a hand on his arm. He tilted his head a fraction of an inch. It must have been a signal of permission because she continued to speak to him. “The punishment for stealing is that a life must stay here. The magic that requires we even the scales does not say that the life that stole must be the one to stay.” She turned her eyes to Bell. “It stands to reason that this girl could trade with her father. He may be permitted to leave, and she must stay.”

  Before she could think, Bell blurted out, “I’ll do it!”.

  The edges of the woman’s lips curled. “See, my Lord, the girl will do it. Let her father go and keep her here in his place.”

  She would stay. Her father would leave. He would go home. To the empty cottage, alone. Where no one would help him. “Wait. Wait. Your Highness, I will stay. But my father is ill. He can’t remember - he can’t live by himself.”

  The Fae King folded his hands in front of him and closed his eyes for a moment. The room buzzed with a sudden increase in magic. Eyes still closed he said, “You may take your father’s spot, and he may go home. He has always believed and treated us as the old ways require. He has given offerings and hospitality, and we have visited with him throughout his life. As such, I can guarantee that upon your father’s return, he shall be looked after. We will not leave him to squalor.” He paused before asking her, “Will you agree to these terms?”

  Belladonna worried her lip, drawing blood without noticing. She knew better than to make a deal with a Fae, as they always had some trick up their sleeve, but she really didn’t see any other way. Meeting the woman’s sparkling eyes, Bell made her decision. “I’ll stay. I’ll take my father’s place.”

  “Excellent,” the woman purred, baring her teeth. “You see, my Lord, the girl will take her father’s place.” As if her statement had been the signal, all the Fae sitting at the table rose as one and began silently filing out.

  Startled at the abrupt exodus, Bell stayed in her seat. In an attempt to avoid all eye contact, she followed the intricate inlay on the table with her eyes. A soft touch on her shoulder startled her, and she jumped.

  “I did not mean to scare you, girl.” The woman was standing behind her, wreathed in sunlight. Up close, it was even clearer she was neither human nor Fae.

  “You didn’t, ma’am.” Bell was lost. She didn’t know how to address this woman, and she didn’t know what to say. She felt like she was drowning, thrown into a new world where everything was suddenly backward.

  The woman’s lips curled into a harsh smile. “You interest me, girl. I cannot interfere with the King’s will, nor do I want to. But I am entertained by you. My magic is different than a true Fae’s, and not limited by Their rules. So, I give you this – you may call on me three times, and I shall come to you. You may ask me to assist you, and if it is in my power, I will do so.”

  Bell watched as the woman reached into the deep folds of her dress and withdrew a small mirror. Placing it in Bell’s hand, the woman continued. “Hold the Mirror and ask for me, and I shall come to you.” She curled Bell’s fingers around it. “My name is Sidero.”

  Glancing around, Bell realized that she and Sidero were the only ones left. “You’re leaving me now? I am to spend my life here alone?” If Bell hadn’t heard her own voice ask the question, she wouldn’t have known she had spoken. She was almost certain she was going into shock and knew there would be a reckoning once she regained her senses.

  “Oh no, my dear Belladonna. You won’t be alone here. The Beast is here somewhere. He doesn’t come out to play anymore when we’re here. He doesn’t seem to like us much. But I’m sure he’ll come out; don’t you worry, girl.” Baring her teeth, she walked out, leaving Bell at the table.

  Chapter Three

  Bell didn’t know how long she sat. Everything had happened so quickly she hadn’t had time to fully absorb the repercussions of her decision. Now, in the silence of the banquet hall, the shock was starting to wear off. Bell found herself stuck in the middle of one of the fairy tales she had been raised on.

  She didn’t know what Sidero had meant by ‘the Beast’, and she didn’t want to. On some level, it was comforting to know she wasn’t alone, as she was sure she would go mad. But any creature named ‘the Beast’ didn’t give off the friendliest air. It seemed illogical for the Fae to keep her in a place with something that could kill her – but Fae didn’t always realize how fragile humans were.

  Belladonna rose, her legs stiff both from sitting too long and from their prior soreness. Exiting the same way she had entered, Bell half expected a whole new wing of the Palace to be awaiting her. Instead, she was surprised to find that the entrance hall and grand staircase still greeted her.

  Drawn to the large front doors, she grabbed them and found they opened easily. She knew she was trapped here, knew deep in her bones that there was a boundary she could reach but never cross. Still, it was a relief to know that that boundary extended past the interior of the Palace. It would have been an awful torture to be stuck inside, tormented by the beautiful landscape outside for the rest of her life. She might kill every plant she touched, but she still enjoyed being outdoors, smelling the scent that only living things could give off.

  Now was as good a time as any to explore, so Bell stepped into the sunlight. She was delighted to find that the air was refreshing. Every window she had passed in her wanderings had shown her bright sunshine beating down, and she had assumed that it would be hot.

  Bell wandered through the grounds, stunned to find they were as perfect as they had seemed from her bedroom window. Acres of flawlessly manicured lawns were divided by hedgerows that created shady shelters for benches. Her fingers itched to be holding a book; each shady spot was more perfect than the last to sit and waste away a few hours reading. She added ‘look for a library’ to her mental to-do list.

  When the sun was high above her, Bell almost ran face-first into a tall wall made of hedge. Confused, she looked left and right, before turning to look behind her. She had no idea where this wall of plant had come from; one moment, she had been strolling through the grass, not a structure in sight, and then bam she was getting her nose scratched by a branch. Sticking out her finger, she jabbed the offending thing. For an object constructed out of living plant, it was awfully solid.

  Placing her hand gently on the hedge, she started walking around it until she found a break that showed a clear path littered with fine white gravel. The same sense of rightness she had felt when she had placed the key around her neck enveloped her, and Bell stepped into the maze.

  Once in, Bell followed no particular path, choosing at random at every fork. Very quickly, she realized that all paths were leading her to a central point. Her current path began to widen until she stood facing a small, circular garden bed. Compared to all the beds she had passed on her walk, this bed was minuscule, only a few feet across and virtually empty. There was only one scraggly and thorned plant growing, and it didn’t seem to be doing very well.

  Beginning to circle the bed Bell took in the plant. She didn’t recognize it, which was odd. She and her sisters all knew plants – their father had made sure of that. Covered in thorns, there were small buds scattered around the bare branches, all of which were spiraled closed around themselves. Reaching out carefully to touch an inch-long thorn, she paused as a warm breath of air blew across the nape of her neck. The sudden movement surprised her; no breeze had disturbed her during her entire time outdoors.

  Bell turned to face the largest wolf she had ever seen. Its great snout was mere inches from her nose. “Bloody hell, you’re one big dog,” Bell croaked out, incapable of forming a more articulate thought.

  Her endless lessons growing up about how to curtsy to each social class and how to arrange flowers for different parties had never prepared her for what to do if she was facing down a giant, black, terrifying wolf. Now that she thought about it, none of her lessons had covered what to do when you make a deal with the Fae, either, but that didn’t seem like the pressing issue at the momen
t.

  She nor the wolf moved, ensnared in their staring contest.

  Bell had always loved animals, and she had been continuously sneaking puppies from the hunting kennels into her bedroom, much to her maid’s distress. She hadn’t cared about dirty paw prints or dog fur in her bed linen, she had wanted the sweet kisses and soft looks. Animals, whether they be dog or cat, horse or bird, had a softness deep within their eyes, a softness she was sure reached all the way down to their souls.

  Unlike with plants, animals flourished under Bell’s thumb. She had a knack for looking at animals and knowing precisely what they needed. Staring into this wolf’s eyes, she had the feeling that this animal needed a pet; he was just a big dog. She hoped. There was nothing to be lost; if the wolf didn’t want to be pet and attacked her, he would have struck her if she had tried to escape.

  Bracing herself for potential pain, she raised her arm. He stared warily at her but stayed still. Bell placed her hand gently on the beast’s head, never once breaking eye contact. The wolf opened his enormous mouth, and Bell slammed her eyes shut, unable to look at her death so directly. Instead of the bite she was sure was coming, there was a great big lick from chin to forehead.