The Queen With A Reason

Greetings uncultured peasants, you are reading upon the words of a world mover, an achiever of greatness.

I am Persephone of the Seventh Realm, air to the throne of my mother’s kingdom.

I am almost of age to ascend my mother’s throne, but of course she had to make twenty-seven the age of supremacy, it just takes too long to reach and its unreasonable.

My mother is well known across the realms as the Frost Queen, but yet I am not known anywhere by anyone.

Do you know how mad that makes me?

I just want to strangle whoever said that I wasn’t important enough to be known across the realms.

I am far more important than my stupid mother, her high Queen of Frost. I am far more powerful than her, even though no one notices.

I shake my head, my long raven hair flying in the air.

I am being too harsh on my mother; she raised me by herself after my father left her for a stupid princess.

He couldn’t handle that my mother was more powerful and independent than other courts he’s dated, and he couldn’t stand someone who’s more powerful than him.

Stupid man he was.

My mother couldn’t care less though, she laughed in his face when she saw him running into the arms of a princess.

She had cast a wild blast of cold wind onto their runaway carriage, which sent it flying over the bridge, causing them to fall to their death.

My mother didn’t need him, she was much better off alone with no one to drag her down.

I heard a faint knock on the door.

I could hear the familiar thoughts of fear and nervousness.

I rolled my eyes at my maids fear of me.

‘’Come in Daffodil.’’ I yelled annoyingly.

Daffodil walked in fearfully, her small figure shaking slightly. She was a pathetic little piece of work, short, chubby, and curvy, short blonde hair in a messy bob and bangs.

But I have to admit, she has lovely eyes.

They were big and round like a dolls and were the colour of the sea.

‘’M-m-mistress, I have y-your tea.’’ She stammers nervously, her thoughts all over the place.

I look at her.

’’Well then, what are you waiting for?” I snapped.

She nods fearfully and scurries over to me with my tea.

‘’I-i-it’s your favorite! B-black tea w-w-with no c-cream and n-no sugar.’’ She stutters yet again, placing the cup on my dressing table with a small saucer of blackberry biscuits.

I stand up gracefully from my stool, my long black dress falling to the floor as I walk over to my dressing table.

I picked up a biscuit and bite into it slowly, tasting every flavor specify.

Daffodil shakes slightly. Even though the biscuits were burnt on the corners, I didn’t want her to shake even more, so I smiled. ‘’Lovely biscuits, now be gone, I wish to be alone.’’

‘’Yes mistress. Of c-course.’’ She says running out, but I could see the faintest smile on her lips, and her thoughts were excited and happy.

Then, after just five minutes of my precious peace, was Daffodil again.

I sigh,

’’what is it peasant?!” I ask fed up.

‘’Well, I wish for more respect than that child!’’

I spin around quickly, facing the ice-cold face of my mother.

Her white hair was tied tight in a bun on her head, and her dress was long and blue, only made of the best silk, her sharp expression turned to me.

‘’Mother!’’

Even though her face was cold and hard, her thoughts were cheerful.

She looks lovely this morning.

‘’Persephone, stop reading my thoughts.’’ My mother snaps, her voice icy.

I stop.

‘’Sorry mother, it’s a habit.’’ I say.

‘’Well, it’s a dreadful habit, you better stop it soon.’’ She says, walking to my bed.

‘’Yes mother, of course. How was your sleep?’’ I ask, fixing my figure slightly.

‘’Oh, well it was nice I suppose, I’m guessing yours was worse though. How are you getting with controlling it at night? It must be noisy, since that little scullery maid mutters to herself constantly, I can’t imagine her thoughts.’’ My mother says seating herself on my bed.

I nod.

‘’I am getting better, I can tune it out more-‘’

‘’Yes, yes I believe you.’’ She cuts me off.

I’m glad she’s getting better.

I smile.

My mother frowns.

‘’What is on your face? Get it off.’’ She commands.

I stiffen, trying to hide my smile.

She tuts, standing up.

‘’You are useless, dinner will be ready soon so freshen up a bit before you come down.’’ She says walking away.

I nod at her as she leaves the room.

‘’Yes mother!’’

I go and wash my face quickly, then heading down stairs.

I walk down the long corridors, looking up at the sad and dreary paintings on the walls.

I liked them though, they had a deeper feeling than normal cheerful paintings, paintings with pain show more about the artist, and make you feel their feelings.

I pass no one in the building, as we only have so many servants. Not because we can’t afford them, mother just prefers the quiet emptiness, and so do i.

I feel more at peace.

I reach the dining room, to where I hear the soft crackles of the fire, and the slight clicking on my mother’s wine glasses.

I enter the room and walk over to my chair.

I am seated at the end of the table while my mother is on the head of the table.

I sit down and my mother snaps her fingers.

Three servants came running out holding sliver platters holding magnificent foods.

There was lobster, lamb, roast chicken, vegetables and salads, soup as well.

After they set it down they rushed out, their thoughts running around everywhere.

I look over to my mother, waiting for her to take the first bite before I can start.

It is proper table manners for the queen to eat before anyone else. My mother sees me waiting and takes a measly bite of a bean, and I gratefully grab a spoon and dish some vegetable soup. After dinner I made my way upstairs, the sun already gone by now. I climb up the flights of endless stairs that lead to my room. I glance out the window, gazing at the long gardens of black and white roses, and the high black gates that stop anyone from coming in, and going out.

But, as I’m looking at the gates, I see a shimmer from beyond the gates. It shimmers like how glass would reflect off the sun, which made no sense as the sun was already gone.

Then, I see a shadow run across the lawn, big and the shape of a human.

They must be on the roof!

I try and listen for any thoughts, but its late and everyone’s asleep, so its strangely quiet for the Blood Rose Manor.

I stand there, waiting to see if they come back.

It would be rash to go after them now, they’re probably making their way over the gate.

Its silent, so I make my way to my mother’s room.

I knock softly, fixing my posture.

‘’Enter.’’

I open the door and walk in to see my mother gazing out the window, looking at the garden. ‘’Did you see it too?’’ I ask, walking over to stand by her side. She nods, her eyes far away. ‘’Do you know them?’’ I ask. She sighs.

‘’No, but I have an idea. Its late, go to bed.’’ She says blankly.

I nod.

‘’Yes mother.’’

As I lay in bed, my mind wonders to the events of tonight.

I didn’t expect to never be robbed, but I do not think they got into the house, let alone take anything.

We have lots of priceless items, who wouldn’t want to try and take them?

But I have a feeling this goes deeper than just a robbery.

I shift to my side.

Maybe a grudge against my mother?

She is very wealthy and powerful; people would love for her to be off the board.

But like I said, this has a deeper meaning than just a little grudge, it’s quite hard to get into the manor, it would take a lot of time and effort to make an efficient plan.

I don’t think someone would be that motivated with just a grudge to my mother, they probably have a very valid reason. Not that I think it’s ok that they broke into my home, I just mean that I think this break in has a deeper meaning than we think.

The next morning I am waken by a freezing blast of wind.

My teeth clatter slightly as I rise and put on my gown.

I wonder why Daffodil hasn’t already come with my breakfast like she normally does.

I walk downstairs listening for any thoughts of our servants.

I just know the mistress is going to fire me, she’s in the most dreadful mood!

– I wonder how long I’ll last this morning?

The mistress is very upset, I wonder why?

– I hear the thoughts of my mother’s maids.

It must be with the man who broke in last night!

But I wonder why the mistress is so mad, he didn’t even get into the house! –

I get down and sit on my chair in the tea room.

I pick up the bell and ring it for a maid.

The girl runs in, her brown hair bobbing up and down as she does so.

‘’Yes madam?’’ She says.

I frown at her, looking through her mind.

She gets nervous, and squirms under my gaze.

I sit up straight.

‘’Who are you? I do not remember you.’’ I state calmly.

She shivers, probably due to the cold.

‘’I-I’m Savanah madam, I’m new!’’ She stutters.

Think about anything, anything at all, anything but that!

I frown.

I sit back, placing my hands on my lap.

‘’I wonder, why do you all do this?’’ I tut.

Her eyes widen.

‘’D-d-do what madam?’’

I sigh.

‘’Try and hide your thoughts from me. I can search through your memories, but yet you all seem to forget this.’’ I stand up, my form towering over her.

‘’Now, would you like to tell me why you are hiding your thoughts, or must I look?’’

‘’N-no madam, i-i-I will tell you.’’ She says, her voice soft.

I give her a smile, one that doesn’t quite meet my eyes, but warm enough to settle her.

She sits down and I look at her.

’’I was hired for a special undercover job to find information about Blood Rose Manor and how to get in. I never met my boss, they always worked in notes and letters. I-i-if you want I can give them to you?” She says.

I shake my head.

‘’No, that will do. Thank you Savanah, you and your family will be rewarded wisely. Now, go fetch my mother.’’ I tell her.

She nods and scurries away.

I pace back and forth.

Then, the room gets colder as my mother walks in, her dress flowing out behind her and her eyes dark.

She shakes away Savanah and comes up to me.

‘’Mother, do you know who is doing this?’’ I ask her.

She nods.

‘’I think so. I have seen these acts before, and trust me, we do not want this happening again.’’

I frown.

‘’Again?’’

My mother sighs.

‘’We do not need to discuss this. Your tutor will be here soon.’’ She says before walking out.

I saunter to the map room, where I see Mr. Charlette standing. He has known me since I was a child, so he is one of the only people other than my mother who is not afraid of me.

He is tall, stringy, and well dressed.

‘’Good morning princess.’’

My eyes darken.

He sighs.

‘’My apologies, madam.’’

I give him a small nod and sit down.

‘’We will begin with geometry. Is that okay madam?’’ He asks, but my mind is elsewhere.

I wonder who that man was?

And what did mother mean about 'again'?

After the lesson ends, I go outside into the rose maze.

It’s cold and the sky is covered in grey tears.

The wind softly passes me by, moving my long hair with it.

I tread through the maze slowly.

I know the maze better than the back of my hand. I grew up playing in it, always getting lost or finding new ways to get out.

I hear a twig snap, and I look down at my feet.

It was not me.

I look around the long and narrow paths.

Damn it.

I walk over to the hedge wall on my right.

This maze is so bloody big! I’m never going to get out.

I see the outline of a man on the other side.

I walk, following his pace.

Someone better not be in here too,

I smile.

Someone did not think through their plan very well, did they?

I see the intersection ahead of me, and I hear the man let out a sigh.

Finally!

He fastens his pace, and I match his movements.

My dress flows out behind me as I run on the soft grass.

I get to the intersection and turn my head to meet a handsome face. He gasps and tumbles backwards.

I step forward and study his face.

He had a square face, somewhat of a stubble on the lower half of his face, a rather large nose, small lips, cat like eyes that were a dull blue, and he had a mop of curly blonde hair on his head. ‘’Who are you?!’’ He shouts, still on the ground.

How did I not hear her?

I raise my eyebrows.

‘’You are clearly quite dumb.’’

His eyes widen.

What did this girl just say?

‘’Actually it is woman, but you think what you want.’’

‘’What?’’ He says, clearly confused.

I ignore his comment.

‘’Now, this can go two ways. I let you turn yourself in, so you remain somewhat dignity, or I bring you to my mother and you lose. Well, you’ll lose both ways but at least one you can keep your dignity. So, what will it be?’’

What the hell is this girl saying? I can beat her, I’m larger.

‘’Or the third option.’’ He says.

I can use my charm to sway her into letting me go.

I laugh. ‘’No.’’

He stands up slowly.

‘’You didn’t hear me out, it's where-‘’

‘’No. So, boy, what will it be?’’ I ask him again, crossing my arms.

I should run. She probably won’t be able to catch me.

‘’Don’t think about running. It’s stupid, I don’t even have to run, you won’t be able to get out of the maze. Think quickly please, I have things to do.’’

He stares at me.

He is about a head taller than me, but he has no advantages, he is stuck in a maze that he doesn’t know, and I can read his every thought.

I should still run, but I’m stuck in this maze. She’d just catch me, she obviously followed me, she knows her way around.

What if i-

‘’Clever thinking, let’s go.’’ I grab his wrist and walk forward only to be pulled into his hard chest.

I met his eyes as he looks down at me.

This girl is actually quite beautiful, I wonder-

‘’Please, I am losing my patience, and trust me, you do not want me mad.’’ I pull myself away.

‘’Come. Now.’’

‘’Now, girl, do I really have to?’’ He asks. ‘’I mean, what did I even do?’’

I laugh.

What is she laughing about?

‘’You broke into my land, you tried to break into my house, and you are trespassing. To be honest though, no one has been stupid enough to come past the gates.’’ I look at him.

‘’Why did you come in?’’

‘’Private reason girl.’’

To avenge her.

‘’Who is 'her'?’’

What? How does she know-

‘’Did you seriously just come in here without any plan or research into who you’re dealing with? You are very stupid.’’

‘’What do you mean? And how did you know that I was thinking of-‘’

‘’It’s nothing boy, now I really do have to be going so come.’’

I grab his wrist and drag him through the maze, only to be stopped again.

‘’Girl, you really don’t want to do this, you know, I can see it in your eyes. How about we just forget we never met, okay?’’

I roll my eyes.

This boy is so stubborn, he should just come to his fate.

I will come back another time, but this time at night.

Oh okay, so he thinks he can come again.

But, if he does, I can just catch him again and turn him in then.

I really don’t feel like answering my mother’s questions to why I wasn’t studying anyway.

‘’Fine.’’ I say and drop his wrist.

His eyes widen.

‘’Really?’’

I nod.

‘’Yes, just go.’’

Finally!

He throws me a smile and takes my hand.

‘’Thanks love.’’

He kisses the top of my hand and then sprints off.

I laugh.

I’ll be waiting for you.

The time goes by painfully slow, and I swear the time repeated itself.

But finally, the sun sets and darkness takes over.

I stand by the window, waiting and listening for that boy.

He may not come tonight, but he was quite stupid, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he came tonight even though he got caught.

I waited until my clock chimed two.

I lay down in my bed, my arms folded on my stomach.

He finally did something clever.

But the poor boy will still be brought in to my mother, and she won’t take nicely to him and his crimes.

I close my eyes.

Till tomorrow.

The next day was slow and ever so boring.

Not even walking through the maze cured my boredom.

My mind was longing for adrenaline.

And my body felt like it was ecstatic.

So I decided until the night comes, I would read.

I skimmed through the pages of a plant book, my mind about to melt from its dullness.

I put it down and walk down to the end of the library.

I know this part is restricted, but who’s going to know?

I look through the many spell books, but one book catches my eye. I pick it up and open the old and fragile book.

It was a power book.

It lists all the power cores and how to get it in order to have a part time power.

For example, a bird's core is its lungs, and if you take that you will be granted wings for as long as you get tired and stop.

I keep reading the different power cores until the sky is no longer bright.

I go back to my room and stand awaiting him.

My eyes start getting tired around twelve, and I was about to go to bed when I saw a shadow.

It was running along the roof.

In an instant I ran out my room and down the passage.

He was heading to the maze again, which is by the side door.

I will get there before him if I run really fast.

Luckily, I can do that.

I opened the side door and stepped onto the porch.

There, again, was the boy.

He was wearing similar clothes and had a hood up, covering his face in a dark shadow.

It’s her.

I smile.

‘’Welcome back.’’

I then frown.

‘’What do you think you’re doing?’’

What the heck is wrong with this chick, and how did she know I would be here?

‘’Hey love. Don’t mind me.’’

Play it smooth Otis, play it smooth.

‘’So, your Otis. Suits you.’’ I say.

‘’How did you know-‘’

I sigh, blocking him off.

‘’Listen, as much as I love these visits, I do really have to turn you in now.’’

Otis was now smiling.

She’s so pretty when she smiles.

I roll my eyes.

‘’Listen, love. I have really important things to do, can you just let me get on with my business, and maybe me and you can get something to drink afterwards.’’ He winks.

I raise my eyebrows.

‘’Do you even know who I am?’’

He laughs.

‘’You’re a gorgeous girl who is mistaking me for a bad guy.’’

I laugh.

‘’Please, I-‘’

‘’I’ll come back tomorrow to fetch you, same time same place. See you love!’’ He interrupts and the runs off.

I scoff.

Who does he think he is?

I go back inside, only to face the ice-cold face of my mother. ‘’What were you doing?’’ She asked.

I looked down.

‘’I couldn’t sleep.’’

She crossed her arms.

She’s lying.

‘’Okay, go sleep now. Goodnight.’’ She walks out, a cold blast of wind flushing my face.

I go lay in my bed, looking up at the celling.

That boy is like no one I’ve ever met before, and I can’t tell whether it’s a good different or bad different.

I guess I’ll find out soon enough though.

The next morning I am woken up by a cold drift of wind.

I sit up, slighting shivering.

My window has a crack in it, and the cold air from outside is coming in.

How did it crack?

I sigh, putting on my robe.

‘’Daffodil!’’

The door opens and Daffodil runs in.

‘’Y-yes mam?’’ I turn around.

‘’Fix the window, or better yet just get a whole new one. Be quick about it.’’ I tell her.

She nods.

‘’D-do you want y-your breakf-fast?’’ She asked.

I give her a cold look.

‘’No.’’ Her eyes widen.

‘’Y-y-yes mam, I’ll get it d-done immediately!’’ She runs out.

I look at the cracked window.

I run my finger along the shattered glass, and blood draws out from my finger.

I look at the red blood.

It is quite beautiful, but most people squirm at it.

I wipe it off on a cloth and get changed.

I have my lessons with Mr. Charlotte and then go the library.

I take a curse book and read it until darkness sets again.

I wait at my window until it chimes twelve.

I go out my room quietly and round to the side door.

I open the big door and am disappointed to see nothing but darkness. I step out and close the door.

I look around.

He’s not here.

‘’Glad to see your that desperate to see me love.’’

I look up to see Otis sitting on the roof.

He jumps down.

‘’You ready to go?’’

I smiled.

‘’Did you really think I’d go with you?’’

He chuckled.

‘’No, but I’m sure you’ll change your mind when we get to the gate.’’ He grabbed my arm and dragged me into the maze.

‘’I hope you know the way, because I don’t!’’ He says as we run. A laugh escapes my lungs.

I lead the way and get us to the gate.

But before we start climbing, I look at Otis.

‘’How can you trust me? I could kill you any minute now.’’

His eyes twinkle.

‘’I wouldn’t mind, your different. I like you. Let’s go!’’

I am shocked at how easily those words spilled out his mouth, but even though I know I should leave and that he is bad luck, I find myself climbing up the gate with him.

The cold air whips my long raven hair as I jump down from the high gates.

I have never been outside them before.

Well, I have, but only in a carriage and I didn’t step one foot out of it the whole time.

‘’You ready?’’ He asked, a twinkly smile on his face.

I pause for a moment.

Mother would be ever so mad if she found out I’m out now, and with a boy.

But why must I always listen to her?

She never listens to me, so why should i?

I give him a smile.

‘’You bet.’’