Labyrinth: Into the Malignant Book 2

Bloody Petals

Elliana's dress and room in the picture above!

My eyelids fluttered open and I looked around the room I was in. I jerked up into sitting position and had to take multiple deep breaths before moving. I was lying on a small bed hanging from tree limbs in the woods. Light pink curtains hung from the taller branches and covered the area around me. There was little to no furniture in the small space. The only things that occupied the room were the baskets of different colored roses, a mirror above a wooden vanity, and the rack with a lace dress.

I scrunched my eyes at the lace dress. The day before the rack held my dress for the wedding. My eyes slowly moved down to look at myself. A gasp escaped my lips when I saw the white lace corset that hugged my chest and flowed out into a gown. From the waist down was see through white tool with pink roses running down the side. My face blushed at the fact that the tool was see through. At least I was covered with roses.

I stood up and walked over to the vanity. The mirror reflected my image back to me. My hair was in soft curls that fell around my face. There was a pink rose tucked behind my ear. Someone had also put light pink lipstick on my lips. I looked beautiful.

My eyes caught a rose attached to its stem with its thorns poking through a piece of paper into the side of the vanity. I picked it up with shaky hands and read it.

You look beautiful. I'll see you at the altar later.

Love,

Baccara

I stumbled back and put my hand to my stomach. I felt like I was going to be sick. A knock brought me out of my nausea and I turned to see the girl from the day before. "Good morning princess" She smiled. I glared at her and she walked over to me. "I'm to allow you a couple moments with your Intouchable before the ceremony" She said and took my hand.

She pulled what I thought was a lace dress from the rack and walked over to me. "Put this on so no one will see you before Baccara" She said handing me the robe. "It's one of his wedding gifts to you" She smirked. "Why are you making me do this?" I asked as my hand moved over the material. "It is not me who commits such an act. The people in our kingdom need to ensure power in our future generations and the rulers are the root of that power. With your power and Baccara's, our race could be glorious. It is a beautiful place to live right? Raising a family in peace with nature and surrounded by all the wonderful creatures" She spoke as if she were in a dream.

"It may be someone's dream out there, but it's not mine. I'm not old enough to have children let alone get married" I spoke softly. "We all must make hard choices" She sighed. I turned to her then and she looked nervous. "You don't want me to marry him. Do you like each other?" I asked her quietly. Her eyes widened the slightest bit but she controlled herself. "No, I wouldn't dare jeopardize our races' future" She half-answered. I smiled lightly to her. "I think the wrong person is wearing this dress" I whispered. I saw sadness flash across her face before she pushed me out of the room.

We walked in silence through the forest until we came to the cages. Every cage hung from the trees above that cast a vast and eerie shadow over the ground. I didn't think I'd find my Intouchable until my eyes met bright blue piercing ones. I walked over to him and we looked down at each other. He looked like he was being drained. The plant cage was covered in poison. He had been trying to break out.

He looked down at me and I raised my hand up. He didn't understand for a moment, but figured it out soon enough. He reached down and hoisted me up to be eye to eye with him. The poison on the cage didn't bother me. I clung to the vines and he held my waist to make sure I didn't fall. "I have a plan" I whispered. "How did we get here?" He asked. "You don't remember?" I asked. "I thought it was a dream. What happened?" He asked. "We fell from the hole with those rock creatures and then this race took us in. They captured us and now I'm being forced to marry the prince. If the ceremony goes through, I doubt you'll be here for long" I explained. His eyes narrowed into slits.