Ashes of Rose

~Chapter One~

Glittering jewels of obsidian winked under shimmering sheets of flowing, iridescent water. Leaves danced along the air, waltzing with the wind to a lulling, soundless tune, trees swaying as their branches whispered in the breeze. Crisp, thin blades of green rolled outward, finally twirling away to kiss the erupting sky, deep hues of crimson, orange, and the brightest pink with a dripping purple, staining the heavens.

Suddenly, shuddering rubies cascaded across the landscape,

"Up! Get up!"

Engulfing it in sickening scarlet,

"Get up, you stupid girl!"

Drowning it in thick, swirling,

"NOW!"

Blood.

A resounding snap ricocheted off the brick walls surrounding her, the sting of the blow making her eyes water.

"Good," A meaty, calloused hand grasped her chin, tilting her head up roughly. "She's awake."

She raised her eyes slowly, biting down her groan of pain. The ropes tying her to the wooden chair bit into her skin, restraining her stiff limbs. The man in front of her smiled wryly, raking his mud brown eyes over her body. She shuddered stiffly. How long had he been drinking her in?

"Don't touch her, Branon," Another man stalked up with unnerving silence behind the first, sharp claws sprouting from his knuckles, and brown fur coating each inch of his skin. A Child of the Moon. "Terminus said not to lay a finger on her pretty little skin before she got to him."

"But she looks so delicious," snickered Branon. "Can't I just play with her a little?" He brushed a meaty finger down her cheek, caressing her skin as she bit down her disgust. "Terminus would never have to know." He added as an afterthought, licking his green, slimy lips.

Suddenly, he seized her chin again, yanking her towards him. She yelped, the ropes digging into her skin as Branon's repulsive breath swirled in her face. He let out a laugh, tipping his head back to the night.

With a swift swipe, the second man chucked a ruby-hilted dagger. It spun, nicking Branon's hand directly in front of her face. Blood spurted from a jagged welt on his finger and he jumped back, yelling in pain as the dagger clattered to the ground.

"Malgun!" he cried, clutching his hand.

"Listen to me next time, you stupid, slime-encrusted nymph," Malgun hissed. Silently, she worked the pin hidden in the folds of her tunic free behind her back, biting down the pain as rope gnawed into her wrists.

The water nymph slunk into the shadows, nurturing his wounded hand as Malgun knelt down in front of her, studying her face closely. "Hello, darling Ariendelle." He finally said, cocking his head to the side with a smile.

She snarled at him, twisting the pin this way and that. "How do you know my name, wolf?"

A grin spread across his lupine features. "Oh, my dear. You've surely heard the name Terminus before, have you not?" Sharp canines snapped in a low chuckle. "In your line of work, faerie."

A look of bewilderment flashed across Ariendelle's face. "I've never heard of anyone named Terminus," she snarled. "Now let me go."

Liar liar, wings on fire.

Her iridescent feathers fluttered painfully against her binds at the thought.

"Sure you haven't," chuckled Malgun, oblivious to the cords snapping behind her.