The Bleeding Rose

A Wonderful Reunion

An excitement buzzed in the air. The sound of wheels and heels on the stone floor filling the room with rumbling and clatter. Cater, Riddle, and Trey all stood side by side, pulling along their luggage as they filed into the line being formed before the magic mirror.

"Group photo!" Cater waved Riddle and Trey to get into the camera frame. An ecstatic and gaping smile holding on his face. "Say 'vacation'" Cater cheered. 

"Vacation!" Trey and Riddle smiled in unison.

*snap*

Cater swung down his phone so the two could inspect his handy work, grinning as he received their shining approval. 

It was the first day of spring break, and the entire school was trying to rush out and back to their homes. Not excluding the three Heartslaybls stuffed into the crowded chamber. They were headed back to the Queendom of Rose, having arranged to spend time with family, and enjoy the festival that came around this time every year.

They had arrived at the mirror early in hopes of beating the break rush, yet it seems the rest of the vacationers had the very same idea. So, waking up so early was entirely futile. 

Cater prattled on about all of the games at the fair he couldn't wait to play, filling the dead time as they slowly crept forward, closing the space between them and the glowing mirror. Magic shimmered around its frame as student after student fell through until, finally, it was their turn to step into the Dark Mirror.

Riddle placed a hand over its flat surface, taking in a steadying breath before stepping forward. It was like passing through a wall of ice. The dark room around them disappeared, morphing into the sunny Queendom of Rose. The chill that had resided over them at NRC being left behind, replaced by a comfortable warmth. The room they were in now was filled with windows. The walls made of a burnt red brick with a black and white checkered floor. You could already smell the wonderfully sweet bread seeping in from the festival kicking off outside. 

"Riddle!" Riddle looked away from the blue skies outside the windows to see his mother walking over. Her arms spread out wide like a great eagles wings, drawing closed for a hug. Riddle obliged, closing the space between them and getting trapped in her arms. His mother placing a kiss on the top of his head. 

Her red hair, a few shades darker than Riddles, was pulled back into a tight bun. The only hair not trapped in the hair tie were two pieces that jutted out in the same heart shape as Riddles. She wore a sleek two piece black suit, with a simple white buttoned up shirt underneath her blazer.

"It's wonderful to have you back my little Rose" She spoke softly, mussing her hand through his hair tenderly.

"Thank you Mother. It's lovely to see you again" 

"Trey!!!" A group of children all screeched out in unison. Riddle breaking his head out of his mothers grip to see Treys family hurdling towards the defenseless Trey. A wide grin cracking onto Treys face as he leaned down to be tackled by the 6 little siblings that slammed into him with ferocious hugs. Knocking him off his feet and onto the ground. His parents trailing right behind the kids, berating them for such improper behavior.

"No, it's fine" Trey brushed off. Treys father offering a helping hand to Trey. Lifting him to his feet before they too trapped him in a bear hug. One of his three little brothers grabbing onto Treys luggage. 

Caters family on the other hand was nowhere in sight. He hadn't told them about coming back for spring break. He was going to be spending it at Treys house instead. He didn't want to waste his chance for a break on his sisters. He just knew they would nitpick his every movement and he just couldn't care to hear it.