A Rose for the Beast

Challenge Accepted

Michel returned from the castle after a short time. Rosalie had been studying the roses in the snow laden garden while he 'attended to some household business.' Maybe he wanted to prepare a room for her.

She hadn't been aware when he returned, too busy breathing in the divine aroma of fresh blooming roses. The bushes tangled together, nearly encompassing the entire area in front of the castle. Vibrant red provided a stark contrast against the pristine white of the snow. She was thinking she needed to ask about how he managed to grow them out of season when she lifted her gaze.

Those pools of ocean blue gazed at her and she gasped at the intensity behind them. He coughed into his fist and she spotted red on his cheeks before he turned, beckoning her to follow.

Michel led Rosalie up the many stairs to the massive wooden doors outside the castle. As soon as they approached, the left door swung open with a loud creak. When they entered, she expected to see a servant or squire awaiting beyond the door.

The entrance hall's ceiling soared above her head, several columns holding it in place. The wide area allowed their footsteps to echo throughout the mostly empty space. Aside from a desk clock and candelebra sitting on the tall table by the door and a small bench, there was nothing and noone nearby. She wondered how the door had opened while she peered at the grand staircase ahead.

Michel stirred her from her musings and gestured for Rosalie to follow him into a smaller room to the right. Warmth enveloped her, thanks to the roaring fireplace on the opposite wall. The room had several couches and chairs. Various paintings and ancient weapons decorated the walls of the quiet sitting area.

From what little she had seen, she could tell the family who had lived there had been incredibly wealthy. Was it truly Michel's home? She refrained from asking as he motioned for her to sit on the couch in front of the fire.

She removed the cloak and handed it back to him before taking a seat on the floor. He raised a brow, but said nothing as he hung the hooded garment on an iron coat rack in the corner. Rosalie waited for him to initiate the conversation. She had questions that needed answers.

Michel stood in front of the fireplace and heaved in a deep breath. She expected him to say something, but he remained silent. That irritated her.

"I appreciate you showing me your home. As desolate as it may seem, it's quite beautiful," she complimented his dwellings, but he still said nothing.

Rosalie squinted at him, more than a little annoyed by his mercurial personality.

"Listen, I am grateful for your hospitality, but I will be going home tomorrow evening. No later," she said pointedly.

That drew his attention. He cut his eyes at her and his jaw tightened, grinding his teeth.

"Why trade your life for a man who wanted to hurt you?"

The question stunned her and it took a moment for her to gather her thoughts.

"I don't believe living things should suffer. He may have been a pompous ass, and he definitely deserves to be punished for it, but death is much too severe a sentence. Even for the likes of him."

Michel glowered and shook his head.

"You wouldn't be saying that if I hadn't stopped him."

She swallowed hard and her hand started trembling as she relived the memory of Bastien's filthy body over hers. Rosalie hadn't fought hard enough, running had drained every bit of her energy. If the wolves hadn't come...and that terrifying bellow.

Wait...

"You were with the wolves? Did you see what made that loud sound, like a roar or something?," she asked.

"Probably a bear. You're safe, for now," he grumbled as he placed another log on the fire.

Rosalie tracked the embers that shot up from the flames, burning out as they slowly floated back to the ground as ash. Michel confused and annoyed her, but she couldn't deny that if he hadn't shown up with the wolves, Bastien would've had his way with her.

She lowered her head and sighed softly.

"Thank you," she said quietly, "For saving me."

She expected an insult or sarcastic remark, but when Rosalie looked up, his expression was serious.

"Three days. Until the full-moon. Then, I give you my word, I will return you home."

His words came out rough, but they also rang true. She didn't understand why he wanted her there. If he wanted to hurt her, he could have done it in the woods.

"Why three days?," she asked.

"Because it won't matter after that," he whispered barely loud enough for her to hear as he turned back toward the fireplace.

She frowned, then lifted herself from the floor and reached up to touch his shoulder. The muscles tensed as if sensitive to physical contact. Her chest tightened, empathy threatening to strangle her better senses. Michel shifted slowly to face her, but he didn't pull away from her touch.

They stared into each other's eyes for a long while, time no longer relevant to them. She desperately wanted to know what lurked behind his carefully constructed shell.

He isn't what he seems, the wolf had said. Had it really been a warning like she'd initially thought?

As Rosalie began to drown within the swirling seas of Michel's gaze, so wild yet guarded, she pondered the possibility that the warning may have actually been something entirely different.

The wolf had seen through her, knew of her yearning for adventure. She thought maybe it was daring her to break out of her safety zone, to lunge toward something new and unknown. Toward someone who seemed just as desperate to find a connection, a true companion within a cruel and intolerable world.

Michel's lips quirked up and she smiled at him while thinking,

Challenge Accepted.