The Rose Garden

Chapter Five

Charlotte volunteered to search for Oliver, and found herself getting washed away by the crowd  towards the palace, its' citizens excited.

"Excuse me, what is going on here?" Charlotte politely ask, the travel cloak pulled over her eyes so that no one could see her glowing amber eyes. 

"You must be a traveler! today Prince Xander of Darth is marrying our princess! Apparently they are so in love with each other, they could not wait pass the month!" a villager said happily before continuing on. Trumpets and doves were released, announcing the young royal couple's entrance, standing on the palace balcony between the king and queen along with another woman was the prince and princess. Shocked, Charlotte stands among citizens of the kingdom celebrating Veronica's and Xander's wedding. Even though Xander never entered the pack territory, the pack would occasionally pass by the rose garden and catch a glimpse of the human that stole their Astra's heart, laughing and smiling endearingly at her. Clenching her fists, Charlotte pushes through the crowd, leaving the lying human behind. Shift in the cover of the trees, Charlotte released a howl that not only resonates through the kingdom but to the hills as well, as if connecting the two lovers one last time, receiving a distant howls, Charlotte pushes through the forest, a heavy heart in her chest as she figures out a way to tell a fragile Astra, that the 'Oliver' she knew was actually a prince, now wedded to the nearby kingdom's princess. Charlotte finally reaches the rose garden, panting and tired. Immediately Astra gets water and food for the exhausted wolf, petting her fur gently while she ate, eyes roaming about the forest for the boy she loves. Fed and hydrated, the wolf turns into her human form, refusing to look Astra in her eyes.

"Is everything okay? Did you find Xander? Has anything happened to him?" she ask a bit panicked. Just then the River came and Charlotte bows in respect, then looks at him uncertainly. He nods and so Charlotte told Astra everything, Astra did not move or speak for a moment, then suddenly she felt herself falling.

"Astra!" Charlotte cries in concern catching her and supporting her. Steadying herself, Astra gently removes her hand and nods towards her, a smile that never reached her dull eyes thanks Charlotte. 

"I'm fine thank you for making the long journey for me. I am grateful to you. But if you'll excuse me, I would like to be alone" she politely ask, Charlotte and River cast each other worried glances, but heed her request, leaving her alone to mourn. When out of sight, Astra's shaking body backs into the tree, sliding along its cool and damp bark onto the ground. Then she wails out a heart wrenching wail full of sadness, loss, betrayal and heartbreak. Astra cried and cried till her throat went raw and all she could do is whimper. As if understanding her, the skies above her slowly morphed into gloomy grey clouds, making the land look as she felt, dead and lost inside. Since that day Astra lived like a ghost, her eyes once beautifully bright, now dull and lifeless. Not even the rose garden could help to ease the hurt she felt. Agonizingly at a snail's pace, the dark emotions consumer her and one day she just sat under the tree where she made her promise to him, and slit her neck with a dagger. Choking on her blood, Astra looks out to the kingdom where the man she loved resides beside another, her last tears slipping past her cheek as she recalls her happy days with him and a love she never knew that could kill her. Slowly she felt the magic of her rose work, making her lift the dagger once more and plunge it near her heart, carving it out. Biting her lip to quiet her screams, Astra takes a hold of her heart and yanks it out. Closing her eyes and falling into abyss, Astra final and last word she manage to speak through the blood was his true name.

"Xander".

Heartbroken and vengeful for losing their mother, the roses absorbed Astra's blood, becoming further corrupted by Astra's negative emotions. The beautiful, brilliant red roses became dark and almost black, the healing magic slowly changing into something sinister. Smelling her blood, the werewolves rush to her side but was too late, finding their loving witch pale, unmoving and a bloody, beautiful mess under the tree where they once saw her laughing and smiling. Her heart rolls from her loosen grasp and the garden's swallows it below its' surface where they protected and preserved it. Heart broken the werewolves took her back to their pack where they prepared to lay her to rest.