The Tale of Two Angels (School for Good and Evil fanfic)

Chapter 3

"I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you sooner," apologized Frost for the hundredth time.

Rose continued to stare at the ground, trying to process what she had just been told. How was it even possible that she was some anthroangelus? Wasn't that just a bedtime story that her brother made for her? She was beginning to get a headache from this sudden rush of information.

"Are you alright sweetheart? I know this must be difficult for you to process," Scarlett said.

"I'm...fine," replied Rose, finally lifting her head. "But, can I just have some time to think? Please?"

Scarlett locked eyes with her husband before finally forcing herself to make eye contact with Rose. Her daughter's chocolate-colored orbs were full of confusion and doubt. She looked at her husband again and they came to a silent agreement.

"Alright, just be careful okay? Now that your Mark has shown itself, you can't let any of the villagers see you using your abilities."

Rose mutely nodded her head and went out the door.

"You should follow her," Scarlett said, turning to her son. "She might need some company right now."

"I was going after her anyway." Frost said, getting up.

As he left, silence accompanied the cold atmosphere.

"Do you...think that we...I...did the right thing?" started Clement, watching the door. "I supposed that by not telling her, history would not repeat itself. But was it right?"

Scarlett sighed as she made the room's temperature return to normal. "Clement, you did what you thought was best. It could have gone a lot worse."

"I suppose," he said uncertainly. It could have also gone a lot better.

The tense silence returned, and both watched the door, hoping that their children would soon return.

~ ~ ~

When Frost found Rose, she seemed to be sleeping. Her eyes were closed as she leaned against a tree, hugging her knees. Frost noticed how the grass seemed to be brown, something which was very wrong to see in the middle of summer. Orange leaves fell through the air, and Frost looked up to see that the tree was half-bare.

"Rose?" he sighed as he walked towards her. "C'mon Sis, you know that I can tell when you're not asleep."

He was standing in front of her now, but Rose didn't move. With another sigh he sat down beside her.

"I'm sorry okay? I really am, but I can't do anything about it now. Can you at least say something?" He looked beside him. Even though his parents had told him that the right thing to do was to wait, he couldn't help but feel guilty.

"I know you can't."

He looked at his sister. He was relieved to see that her eyes weren't red or puffy.

"It's just .... I don't know," she said. "Knowing all of this is real, it's...strange."

"I know. But there're good things too." Frost hummed in thought. "It would be nice to be able to fly wouldn't it? And since you can control plants, you can make all those little flowers that you like to give to Mom and Dad. And you can make your garden better too."

"I guess so." Rose was actually smiling a bit now. "I think that I know the best part about this though."

"What?"

"I was able to save you."

Frost froze for a moment. "Huh." He rubbed the back of his neck rather sheepishly. "I don't think that I've thanked you for that yet."

"I'm the one who started that race," said Rose, frowning. "It was my fault that you fell."

"Well," Frost said, grinning. "Another good thing about being an anthroangelus-you heal faster than normal people."

The two of them laughed, and if anyone had seen them then, he would have thought that they were just two children enjoying a day in the woods - well, as much as they could in a forest that was considered cursed anyway.

"So we're fine?"

Rose hugged her brother, a soft laugh ringing out. "Definitely!"

Frost smiled and leaned back, watching the sunlight filtering down through the space between leaves. It was nice and peaceful, and a cool breeze was blowing, sending more leaves fluttering about them. He faintly registered his sister leaning on him as he let out a yawn. Before they knew it, they were both sleeping soundly under the tree.

~~~

"You think we'll be in a lot of trouble?"

Frost glanced at Rose before turning back to the door. They had woken up to the stars twinkling above them, and the knowledge of the doom that would come when they return home. They decided to pray for mercy or that their parents would be asleep by the time they arrive.

Frost quietly opened the door, noting that the room was dark before letting Rose in and closing the door behind her.

"Ahem."

The children spun around to see their mother sitting in the chair a few feet away from the door. The candles in the room lit up, and Scarlett Gracehill stood before them. "What on earth were you two up to?! We were worried sick!"

"Sorry Mom," Rose said softly. "Frost found me and we talked for a bit but we fell asleep. I'm alright now."

Scarlett's gaze softened a bit. "That's good to know, Rose, but you should have been more careful." She then turned to her son, who found a sudden interest the floorboards. "And you, Frost, you were supposed to talk then bring her back. The two of you are going to bed right this instant, and if you don't fall asleep and end up missing your breakfast tomorrow, it's your own faults, understand?"

"Yes, Mother."

But as Rose scrambled into bed, Frost stood where he was. His mother raised an eyebrow, her arms still crossed.

"Yes, Frost?"

"Well...," he slowly went nearer to his mother and she bent down slightly. He whispered into her ear and she had a look of internal conflict before letting out a sigh.

"I...suppose that it can't hurt. But only this once, understand?. I'll leave the money on the table."

"Thanks Mom!"

Scarlett extinguished the lights and returned to the bed that she shared with her husband, all the while reminding herself that it was for her children.

"Hey, Frost?" Rose whispered as he got on the bed.

"Yeah?"

"What was that about?"

"Oh nothing," said Frost, turning around to hide a smile. "Just get to sleep."

The next day, as Clement Gracehill went down to the mines and Scarlett worked on their herb garden, the children found two pairs of fingerless gloves, a few coins, and a note telling them to be careful.

"What are these for?" asked Rose, lifting up a glove.

"For nothing," grinned Frost. "Let's just go and get ice cream now, shall we?"

Rose stared at him blankly for a few moments before pulling him into a hug. He chuckled and ruffled her hair before they changed and left the house for Gavaldon, gladly thinking of ice cream for breakfast.