Rosalind - Beauty and the Beast meets Dracula retelling

77- All That Is Lost

When she woke up in the lord's chamber, Rosalind's mind replayed the previous night. Fragments of what they had done lingered like fading traces of perfume upon her skin. When he had escorted her to her bedroom, Rosalind had shaken her head and told him she wanted to sleep in his arms. As silent as death, Caspian had ushered her to his own chamber and they lay in each other's embrace until the new day came and spirited him away.

Hoping no one would see her, she rose quietly and tip-toed like a criminal to her room. Rosalind changed from her red gown into a simpler pink one before hurrying downstairs to look for Caspian.

The day outside bore little light. The gloomy house was alight by the flicker of flames. When she saw Agnes emerging from the kitchen, Rosalind felt a faint blush upon her cheeks. "My good maid, where is Lord Caspian?"

Wringing her hands, Agnes no longer knew what words of wisdom to tell Rosalind. Whatever she had warned her about, Rosalind had done anyway. Feeling a gap had been driven between them, she did not know what to say. The maid knew that salvation was long gone yet every night she still prayed. "He has taken one of the horses, my lady, and has left for a hunt I believe."

"There is enough meat, is there not?"

Shaking her head mournfully, Agnes replied, "Perhaps it is not an animal he is after today, my lady." Not wanting to further the conversation, Agnes curtsied and politely excused herself back into the kitchen leaving Rosalind alone.

Upon the maid's departure, no sound ebbed from the walls. Not even Agnes' moving around was heard. Rosalind felt alone and suddenly very cold. Heading for her cloak, she tossed it over her shoulders as a pair of green eyes peered at her from behind a darkened corner of the house, watching her as she exited the manor and headed away.

In the stables, Charon awaited – stiff and still as a statue. When Rosalind hoisted the saddle on him, he let out a faint whinny yet allowed her to finish without moving an inch.

Upon the rotting steed, Rosalind tore into the forest in search of her lover. The snow fell delicately upon her lashes and hair, decorating her as though it were flower petals. Coming upon a shadowy thicket, Rosalind spotted Caspian and Hades. The lord was hunched over someone. The snow around his legs was vermillion and spread towards the awaiting horse's hooves.

Gliding off Charon, Rosalind looked towards the slaughter. A form, long and lithe lay motionless. Thick waves of honey brown hair fanned like a halo. Rosalind took a step forward and felt as though she had just been struck. A throbbing pain slammed against her skull, momentarily blinding her. When she opened her eyes she saw Clairie laying dead. At that moment, everything about her maid's death and Rosalind's return back home came flooding over her like a howling wave. "You murderous beast!" Rosalind screamed, breaking the otherwise hush. Though the thick snow slowed her down, she ran to Caspian and began hitting him with her fists knocking him backward. "You killed her! You fucking demon!" As Caspian lay on his back, she continued to hit, screaming all the while.

As the lord heard her wailing like a banshee, he grabbed her wrists and pushed her off him. "Have you lost your mind?" he growled as they fumbled in the snow.

Using her legs to kick at him, Rosalind tried to push him away. Her rage became a giant, feral thing, dying to consume the lord.

"What are you doing?" Pinning her down, Caspian straddled Rosalind and sat on her stomach. He was careful not to crush her yet at the same time he was trying to save himself from a black eye.

"You killed her!" Rosalind attempted to push herself up yet felt as though she had been nailed to the ground.

Breathless, Caspian said, "I have killed no one, beloved. No person. Look." He gestured with his chin towards his kill. "It is a deer."