Between A Rose And Its Thorns (ON HOLD)

Mysterious Castle

Lucinda's point of view

It's been hours, sun has set, the night taking over the sky. I gulp as I stare into the woods. Everything looks so different. I have been in these woods, many times, and yet nothing looks familiar to me. I groan as I felt the pain get worse in my throat, it was raw from my constant yelling for my sister. A sudden wind blows past me, I shiver and pull the woman's cloak tighter around me. The coldness of the air nips at me, and I hug onto the horse tighter. Searching for some kind of warmth.

"I don't understand," I mumble into the horse's ear. "Why is it getting so cold?" I push my hands closer to my chest, rubbing my palms together as I try to get some warmth from the friction.

Great, excellent, Lucinda! Run off into the woods! Steal a horse just so you didn't have to walk! The least you could have done was bring some food or water!

I sigh and shake my head.

I'm such a fool. Why would Isabelle ever come into these woods? Why did I think she would? She's not a fool, if anyone's the fool, it would be me... I look up at the sky, the moon shining back at me. I smile as I stare at the beauty of the night sky.

"Well, it can't get any worse than this?" I say out loud and stroke the horse's mane.

I tense. A long howl can be heard from the horizon, my head snaps behind me. My eyes widen as I watch large shadows move closer to us.

I groan. I just had to say it!

"Yah!" I yell and kick the horse's side, we break off into a sprint. The wolves' growls and snarls can easily be heard as they give in to the chase. Hard wind whips at my face, my breaths getting shorter as I watch the wolves catch up with us.

If they reach us, we're done for! I bite my lip as I look around me. There's nothing! No houses! No shelter! No people! I can't fight off wolves! What am I going to do?!

I could feel all hope dwindling as the wolves got closer to us. Just a few feet behind. Think, Lucinda! Think! I look up, my eyes widen as I catch sight of a glimmer in the distance. A smile slips onto my face as I see an open gate not too far away. Where there is a gate, there is a house. And where there is a house, there is people!

I give the steed another kick and shake the reins. "Come on! Yah!" I command, pushing my new friend to run just a bit further. The wolves follow fast behind us, nipping at the horse's feet. I gasp and kick at them. "Get away from us!" I shout and kick one of them in the head, the wolf whimpers. I look up, the gate just up ahead. We enter through the gate, the nipping at the horse's feet stop. I look down, the wolves no longer there. I turn back, watching as the wolves stand at the edge of the fence. Growling and snarling, yet they refuse to enter into the estate.

I pull on the reins, slowing the horse's speed down. My eyes wandering the area around us. Gardens overgrown with weeds and thorns surround us. I shiver as something cold touches my ear. I reach up and grab my ear, feeling something wet against my fingers. I glance up, my brows crease together more.

"Snow?" I whisper, confusion fills me as I watch the small snowflakes. "In the middle of July?" I grab my head. Maybe I should get more sleep.

We continue to walk, my steed snorts, her head moving side to side. I lean forward and pet her mane as I try to sooth the creature. "Sh, easy, easy. I know... I don't like this place either." I whisper to the horse, my eyes raise from her mane, my jaw dropping as I stare up at the giant castle in front of me.

The large building of stone towering over us. I have never seen a castle before. But what is it doing here? And so close to the village...? How have we never seen it before? Surely from its large size it would be very visible from the village...