The Poisonous Rose

Chapter Five

          Forsythia mostly stayed in her room for the next few weeks. She hardly saw Lucas except when he brought her food. Even then they didn't talk. The days past so dreadfully slow. She read books mostly. Sometimes she just stared out the window, letting her mind wander. She counted the days she'd been there and realized it had almost been a month. She wondered when the next full moon would be. She was afraid of what the full moon would be like in the woods.

She had just turned a page in her book when she heard her door open. Laying down the book, she stood up and saw Lucas standing in the doorway, looking grim. She didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything, waiting for him to tell her why he was here.

After standing there for a little while in awkward silence, Forsythia finally said, "Did you come in here to ask me something, or what?"

Lucas hesitated than came farther into the room. "I'm locking your door tonight," he said. Forsythia started to protest, but he cut her off. "It's for your safety, okay? I don't actually enjoy locking you in here."

Forsythia rolled her eyes, not buying it. "And what is the danger to me? It's not like I come out of my room anyways. I'll just stay inside. Please don't lock me in. I feel like a prisoner when you do that."

"It's the full moon tonight," Lucas said. "It's dangerous in the woods. Anything could happen."

Forsythia shook her head and turned away from him. "I guarantee you that nothing has ever happened in this castle. You're just saying that so you have a reason to lock me in my room. And to prove to you that nothing will happen, I'm going to stay in the parlor today."

She nearly screamed when she felt Lucas grab her arm. She turned to face him in utter surprise. His eyes were intense and dead serious. "You're going to stay here tonight. No matter what you hear, don't. Come. Out."

Forsythia's lips parted in surprise at the intensity in his tone. "Um . . . I won't," Forsythia said, her voice weak. She had no idea why Lucas was being like this. He looked as if her life depended on staying inside of her room. "What might I hear?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter," Lucas said, "as long as you stay in your room. Please, Forsythia, don't come out." He looked so desperate, she couldn't help but take his hand to reassure him. He exhaled and pulled his hand away. "Your safety depends on this."

"I'll stay in my room," she said, trying desperately to reassure him.

"Good," Lucas said and left her room without another word. She stood where she was, wondering what was bothering him. There was obviously something wrong with him. He seemed . . . different, like he couldn't control what he was thinking or feeling.

She sat back down, picking up her book, attempting to finish it. She failed. Her thoughts kept going to Lucas and the desperate look on his face. She wanted to help him. He seemed so lost that she couldn't help but feel bad for him.

Forsythia got up and decided to try wearing one of the gowns she'd found in the chest the first day she'd been here. She'd been wearing the same dress for almost a month and it was starting to feel uncomfortable.

The dresses were so beautiful, it was almost impossible to choose. She finally picked out a red velvet dress with long, flowy sleeves. It had a low neckline, decorated with a flowery pattern. She looked in the mirror and decided her hairstyle didn't really fit the dress. She took her braids down and decided to braid only a quarter of her hair in the braid crown, and leave the rest down. She looked in the mirror and almost smiled. She kind of looked like a princess.