Love and Roses

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 3 - ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴛʟᴇ

                                          

It was pulling her to the left staircase, it was a light but firm feeling, like something in her needed to go up, almost as if something would happen if she didn't. She didn't hesitate at all, letting the feeling guide and control her as she started to walk up. The stairs were long and wound up to a second floor, but she didn't get tired, with each step up her heart beat faster. She stepped from the last stair onto the floor and a strong, fiery and velvety feeling hit her. It almost made her fall back down the stairs, but she caught herself on the rail, she straightened out her dress and started to walk, holding the candle tight.

She was confused as to why she was feeling this way, but brushed it off thinking it was just her nerves. She sidestepped quietly into a room, the whole back wall was a large crystal fragmented window, the sunlight lit up the room beautifully. The other walls were a floral print made up of pink and blue. In the right corner of the room there was a grand piano, lining the right wall there were cellos and violins. She started to walk towards the piano, getting to it she started to play a simple melody, she went to go back to the chorus when she fell to the ground.

She brought her hands to her chest as the feeling from before hit her like a bullet, it was so strong it locked her body completely, a loud, piercing ringing started in her ears, then everything went black.

Only seconds later she opened her eyes, the feeling was still strong but was no longer hurting her. She sat up slowly, the invisible tether on her chest was tugging her up and giving her a throbbing sensation in her heart. She stood up wearily, letting the feeling guide her.

She slowly walked through the hallway, her eyes felt heavy. After a time she couldn't perceive she found herself in a very big room, it was dark and even colder inside, like the warmth was afraid of the room. She felt a pit in her stomach, but a little voice in her head, similar to hers but more smooth, more silky and calming saying to her "go.. Go closer.." She took a deep breath and walked further into the room. She was confused as it seemed empty, until she heard the sound of breathing from the other side of the room.

At first she was scared, but something in her was telling her to be calm, as if it knew what lay ahead wasn't dangerous. She walked closer slowly, her breath hitched in her throat but she managed to say very quietly.. "Hello?" she wasn't sure if what she said was audible, she went to say it again but was cut off.

"What are you doing here?.." The voice was also quiet, and smooth, but menacing. Rose was shaking slightly, with fear and what felt like completion, like something good was going to happen, she didn't know what to say. Before she could answer the voice croaked "my castle.. I've done nothing wrong."

Rose frowned and stepped closer, mumbling "I was just exploring, I didn't know anyone lived here." the voice snarled, the softness of the voice indicated to her the creature was female. There was a moment of silence, she opened her mouth to apologize but before she could get anything out she simply fell over as everything went black again.