Rain [Short Stories]

Alastair Tobias Moon

There was once a man named Alastair Moon. Throughout his life, he'd been a very lonely soul. Everyone left, or was taken away from him by force; he had no one to love. Until one day when Alastair faced what would have been his ultimate demise, a beautiful woman with hair as red as blood and eyes that of a sparkling lake saved him from his doom.

"Why'd you save me...?" Alastair wondered as he stared up at the woman from his position on the floor. The woman's eyes scanned him over, settling on his own green ones.

"Because," she hummed quietly to him, her voice like silk, "You have to live if you're going to be my king." Her hand caressed his cheek, thumb rubbing over his cheekbones. Alastair gave her a confused look, lips parting to explain to her that he was no king. He looked so sorry to disappoint, the tremor in his voice proving it.

"No no no, you'll be king. I assure you, my love. You're a prince. Soon to be king, and only if you rule with fear and hatred will you be condemned to death." she warned, lowering herself to the floor to sit in front of the melancholy man. He shook his head,

"I have none of these things in my heart. I'm just...alone." He looked down at his hands resting in his lap, how empty those hands were. Then, suddenly, the woman placed her hands into his and he realized he now had everything. He had a life, a home with this woman. He had warmth, and love, kindness, strength. He smiled up at her,

"I'll gladly become your king, but I need to know your name..." He mumbled, his tongue tripping over his teeth as he spoke. The woman smiled, chuckled, covered her lips with her pale, slim fingers,

"Call me Roseanna," she smiled back at him, squeezing his hands lightly. Al kept mumbling the name over and over again, loving the sounds that melted together. Savouring the name under his breath, taking in each vowel, consonant, and syllable.

He opened his eyes to find himself in his bed, the name still going over and over in his head like a broken record. So, he jumped up, got dressed and left The Tower in search of a red-haired woman named Roseanna.