Three Peach Roses

Snake

Chapter 13

"Have you seen Marianne?" Mahogany hissed to her siblings as they sat down to dinner.

"No. Is something wrong?" Magnolia answered.

"I don't know. Shall we go look for her?" The sisters excused themselves politely and hurried back to their chambers.

Marianne sat on the edge of the bed, the sunset shining through the window dimly lighting the room. She did not turn when Mahogany opened the door. There was silence as Mahogany took in the scene before her. She was closely followed by Magnolia.

"Marianne?" Mahogany said. Marianne did not turn around.

"Marianne?" Mahogany repeated louder. Then she rushed over and checked Olga, shaking her lifeless body.

"Marianne, what happened?" Mahogany shouted. She got up and rushed over to her, taking her by the shoulders and shaking her. Magnolia walked over and pulled Mahogany off.

"Stop." She said, "She's dead?" Marianne nodded. "Mahogany, go and get Marcus and Harry. Right now." Magnolia ordered. Mahogany nodded and left wordlessly.

"Anny. What happened?" Magnolia sat next to her little sister and held her cold hand. Marianne flinched at the touch and tears began to leak down her face.

"I pushed her." She whispered.

"And she hit her head?" Magnolia asked gently. Marianne nodded. "Why did you push her?"

"She was going to take the meeting book." Magnolia put her arms around her and Marianne broke down into sobs and collapsed on her shoulder. Magnolia rocked her like a baby until Harry, Marcus and Mahogany arrived.

"What happened?" Harry asked in a low voice.

"We can talk about it later. Our immediate problem is the body." Magnolia replied calmly.

"How are we going to get rid of it?" Mahogany asked.

"We need to get it out of the Palace and either bury it or put it in the river." Magnolia said. Marianne whimpered. Marcus walked over to the window and watched the sunset.

"We'll wrap it in a sheet and take it out the window during the night. Harry and I will weigh it down with rocks and throw it in the Violet River." Marcus said quietly.

"I killed her, I killed her." Marianne sobbed.

"She would have destroyed us." Magnolia replied in a low voice.

"She was still a human being." Marianne replied. Then she gasped. "Sir Thomas! He knows too, he knows what we're doing. He's seen the meeting book!" Marianne said desperately.

"Don't worry Anny. Marcus, burn it." Magnolia said. As the siblings watched the book catch fire, the flames consuming the thick pages and destroying them all, all Marianne could think of was Olga and the price her family were willing to pay for power.

The next morning was cool and crisp and Mahogany awoke feeling refreshed. Olga's body was gone and as as Mahogany was concerned, so was the problem. However something felt wrong that Mahogany couldn't quite put her finger on, she felt as if her centre was off, like something was missing. It was early but Mahogany rose anyway. She left her hair down, thick and glossy down her back and put on a simple cream gown of Marianne's.

The sun had just risen over the rose garden. Birds tweeted and a fine mist hung in the hair. Mahogany was alone, deserted and peaceful. She closed her eyes and felt the soft breeze on her face and in her hair.

"Mahogany." A voice said behind her. She did not jump or open her eyes. Sir Alexei sat down next to her and watched her. There was no mask on her. She was not wearing her sexy half smile. She was just being, breathing. Her eyes were closed, her face blank and serene. Alexei watched her chest rise and fall slowly and rhythmically. He was transfixed.

"Sir Alexei. Good morning." Mahogany said softly, opening her eyes.

"You looked peaceful." Alexei said.

"I was."

"Have I disturbed you?"

"Of course not, you never could." Mahogany replied, smiling. Alexei smiled back, he reached out and covered her hand with his. They looked at each other, studying each other's faces.

"Alexei, I..." Mahogany began but she faltered, searching for the right words.

"What?" Alexei asked, squeezing her hand. Mahogany took a deep breath in and composed herself.

"I must go." She replied. Alexei released her hand immediately.

"Go then. Run off and find Harold Chernov." He said sharply.

"What exactly do you mean?" Mahogany replied, her temper flaring up.

"Do you think I don't hear the court gossip? You are spinning him into an enchantment for your own benefit just like you are trying to do with me and I almost fell for it!" Alexei shouted. Mahogany stood up, shaking with rage.

"Is that what you think of me? That I have no heart at all?" Mahogany cried, angry tears stinging her eyes.

"You're a Devereaux, a snake! A snake without a heart!" Alexei replied. He then stood and stormed away, Mahogany watched him then sank down onto the bench and let the tears come. She sobbed like a child but she couldn't understand why.

A few hours later Mahogany made her way back to the Devereaux chambers.

"Where have you been?" Magnolia whispered as Mahogany closed the door quietly.

"I couldn't sleep, I went for a walk in the gardens." Mahogany replied. Magnolia noticed the redness around her eyes and her air of confidence was gone, but she decided not to say anything. Magnolia knew her sister, if something was really bothering her she would not say it. Mahogany would not open up if she was pressed to and if she needed her sister she would say so.

"How is she?" Mahogany asked, looking at Marianne who was sleeping soundly.

"She's just been asleep, I don't want to wake her."

"No, we should leave her. But someone should watch her today. We'll tell the King she is feeling unwell." Mahogany said. Magnolia nodded.

"Who will stay?"

"I will." Mahogany replied.

"Are you avoiding someone?" Magnolia asked softly.

"I will stay with her."