Briar Rose (A Noir Sleeping Beauty Retelling)

3. wilting rose

As it seemed Briar Rose and Julian's romance was written in the stars, the danger that threatened her life still lurked in the darkness of night.

In the main hall of the Rose Estate, Richard watched in awe with the rest of the family as Briar descended from the top of the stairs, dressed in a pink gown. Her feet were strapped in silver heels, a golden chain dangling from her neck.

She commanded attention.

Richard waited patiently as her father and mother greeted her. Finally, when Briar reached him, they shared an embrace.

"You look marvellous. Did you get my gift?" he asked.

"The Baretta? It's strapped to my right thigh," she answered.

"Good girl."

Richard led her through the crowd. When the pair reached the center of the room, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Puffing smoke, he closed his eyes, inhaling a long, steady breath. After a brisk moment, he felt the cigarette leave his lips.

"You really shouldn't smoke," Briar said. "It's a filthy habit."

As she spoke, Briar raised the cigarette to her lips. Richard shook his head as she exhaled a cloud of smoke. Suddenly something caught his eyes, a man standing near the front entrance of the estate.

Richard looked around the room, spotting three more men idling suspiciously. Their faces were unfamiliar.

"We're being watched."

Briar Rose lowered the cigarette. "How many?"

"I see four," said Richard.

"Five," said Briar. "There's one lurking near the stairs."

After a few moments, the strange men started to diverge on their location. Richard clenched his jaw.

"You ready?"

Briar smiled. "Are you?"

The men emerged from the crowd, pulling out guns.

Richard spun around, drawing a pistol from beneath his jacket. Briar Rose pulled up her dress and unclipped the Baretta from a holster around her thigh, lifting it towards the first insurgent as she pulled the trigger. The man collapsed. Standing back to back, Richard and Briar gunned down their enemy.

Their victory was short-lived, as more of Vita's men jumped out of hiding with their guns blazing.

"This isn't going in our favour," Briar Rose said.

Richard furrowed his brows. "Go!"

Richard grasped Briar's arm and pushed her out in front of him. They ran out of the estate, where Richard's red motorcar waited patiently in the driveway.

"Get in."

As Richard opened the door, a black motorcar came tearing down the road towards them with the windows rolled down. Vita's head popped out, a semi-automatic rifle pressed against her shoulder.

"Happy birthday, darling!"

"Look out!"

The car sped past Richard, firing bullets. Briar Rose's body shuddered. She slumped against the bonnet of Richard's motorcar as a groan slipped through her lips. She lost her balance and plummeted to the ground.

Richard gasped. "No!"

He ran around his motorcar and collapsed at Briar Rose's side. He lifted her head, and her body jerked as blood dripped from her nose.

"Stay with me!" Richard pleaded.

Footsteps approached him, and Iniid and Tobias ran into view.

"Briar!" Iniid shouted, hurrying to her daughter's side.

Tobias stood paralyzed, his head wilting. "It can't be."

"What do we do?" Richard asked.

Iniid surveyed the multiple gunshot wounds on Briar's body. She studied them, then grew quiet.

"Iniid, can you save her?"

"There is one way. The wounds are fatal. Only one spell can heal them, but for me to do that, I need to put her to sleep."

Tobias's eyes enlarged. "No, Iniid, you can't! I won't allow it!"

"If there is a chance to save her, we need to take it!" Richard said. "Is this really a debate?"

Iniid sighed, touching her daughter's cheek. Tears filled her eyes. "If I put her to sleep, she can only be awakened by true love's kiss."

Richard paused, shrugging his shoulders. "True love's kiss?"

"Precisely, but we have a problem," Tobias said. "She hasn't found her true love. We arranged to meet with the Spade family tomorrow to introduce Briar to Julian. She doesn't even know him! So how can we be sure the spell can be broken?"

"We don't, but you can't just let her die Tobias," Richard said.

"Her breathing is slowing down," Iniid said. "It's now or never. Remember what is at stake, Tobias. If Briar dies, our union will crumble with the Spades, and Vita will slaughter us all."

Tobias bit his lower lip. It was at this moment where Richard wished he was in charge of everything.

"Fine," Tobias whispered, "do it."

Iniid placed her hand on Briar Rose's forehead. A blue glow radiated from her palm.

"Sleep," Iniid said, running her fingers over her daughter's eyes.

Briar Rose went still. After a short moment, her chest expanded, inhaling long, sombre breaths. Her eyes were sealed, leaving those around her to wonder if they would ever open again.