The Rose Garden

Chapter Six

The only sound aside from the dull noise of the outside is the dripping of blood onto the marble floor of the throne room. Xander and Veronica looking closely at each other.

"It seems that your dear witch cursed the roses" Veronica finally says, getting up from her throne and paces in front of it with hands folded behind her back, Xander's body tenses and ready for an attack. 

"Astra never sent those roses did she?" Xander says through clenched teeth, making Veronica laugh.

"Of course not! I had them stolen when I sent an assassin to kill!" She chuckles then sighs.

"Too bad she wasn't there" she pouts at Xander. He tighten his grip on the hilt of his sword in anger. 

"But whatever she did to those roses I'm grateful. I feel so alive!" she says with joy throwing her arms and head back. Looking at Xander, Veronica smiled a sickly sweet smile with her fangs exposed, sending a shiver down Xander's spine.

"You know Xander, you can feel as good as me. I still have a rose if you so desire it" she said seductively, walking towards him.

"I rather not!" Xander says before pushing off and running head on towards her, arching his sword for the kill, however it meets an empty space and Veronica grabs him by his shoulder from the back, sending him flying, his back slamming into the wall.

"You know I knew you'd say that, but I was really hoping that I was wrong. Though it doesn't matter, if I can't have you as a husband the least you can do is be my meal!" she hisses, rushing forward at an inhumane speed for Xander's neck. Tearing into his neck, Veronica mercilessly feed from him as painful grunts leaves Xander's lips. Dropping his sword, he tries to pry her off him, already feeling weak and heavy from the amount she is consuming. Just as he was about to loose consciousness, Veronica releases him and screams in pain as a sword plunges through her stomach. Stumbling, Xander focus his blurred vision his recuser, recognizing him as the knight he often trained with. Quickly supporting him, the knight rushes them out the castle, Veronica's angry scream roaring behind them, mounting a house, the both of them rush out of the falling kingdom into the woods, passing some grey monsters ravaging dead bodies. Stopping a good way into the forest, the knight looks about lost.

"Your majesty, we can continue on but the horse would be too tired and we won't be able to reach another kingdom before it collapses, however if we stay here there's a possibility those creatures may find us" the knight known as Zavier stares in concern, then hisses when sharp pain emits from his side, touching it his hand was meet with a deep gushing wound. Dazed, Xander sees this and immediately directs him to Astra's garden. By the time they reach both were hanging on to consciousness by a thread from the blood loss. Falling from the horse, Xander saw River's stern and cold face looking down at him before everything went black. When he awakes up, everything was different, from his amplified senses to the lightness of his body. Then there was the burning of his throat, smelling something appealing, Xander follows it to find a wooden bowl filled with blood, as if a foreigner was controlling him, he guzzled down the blood, licking his lips and sighing in relief. Then he takes in his surroundings, he was in Aster's house. Unlike its' usual tidy and cozy feeling the house felt empty and unused, thick layers dust covering almost every surface and Aster's scent there but faint and old. Sitting down slowly, Xander takes in the room, images of them going about their daily life replays in the room before him, tears drip from his eyes. Closing them, he listens to the wind outside rustling the trees, nocturnal animals crawling about the undergrowth and the absences of her laughter.

"Forgive me" he says brokenly, bowing his head into his hands, shoulders shaking violently. 

"Please forgive me! please! I'm sorry for leaving you! I'm sorry! Please! Just once, let me see you again! Let me see you once more so I can tell you I love you!" He begs looking about the empty room as if Astra would appear before him. Crying once more, he lays and curls himself onto the quilt, grasping it and pulling it to his nose, taking a deep breath off her fading scent, somewhat calming him. Laying there just letting time pass by, Xander hears and smells the wolves outside, letting him know it was time to go. Getting up slowly from the bed, he takes a look around the room once more, then his eyes falls onto an object shining under the moonlight on the table next to the big chair. It was a chain with the golden crest of their family only royals are allowed to carry, a circular pendent with a golden dragon set against a red background, ruby eyes staring back at you. He remembered telling Aster to look after it until he came back home, securing it around her neck, making her smile brightly at him, holding it to her chest while wildly shaking her head. Biting his lips, he grasps the chain tightly in his hands and walks to the door, pausing and taking one last look. Masking his emotions like he always did in the palace, Xander walks out of the house, the pack greeting him.

"Your majesty!" Zavier exclaims excitedly, rushing forward. 

"You're okay! thank goodness!" he breathes a sigh of relief. Forgetting the fatal wound Veronica dealt him, Xander reaches for his neck, feeling the absences of the wound, only smooth and unscarred skin. Xander and Zavier's conversation was cut short by River clearing his throat, gain both men's attention.

"As you can tell from first hand the roses' properties have changed, observing the monsters in town it seems they enjoy blood. Don't worry, we have dealt with them, however I don't suggest you return." River informs Xander with a blank expression.

"Thank you" Xander says gratefully. River grunts.

"It was not for you, it was out of respect for Astra's love for you that I saved you and your friend. The pain you caused her made you the very monsters that you are now. This is a warning, this will be the last time I allow you and your kind on this land, if any.one of you trespass, I promise you, your faith will be the same as those of the town." River warns. Xander simply stares at the man before him, seeing the underlying loss in his eyes. Turning to leave, Xander stops him once more.

"Can I at least see her one last time?" he pleads. River stops for a moment then shakes his head.

"Goodbye Xander" River leaves them look at his back as he disappears in the valley's forest, Xander jaw and fist clench. A huff from the wolves inform them that their time there was coming to an end. Walking slowly pass the garden, Xander looks at the tree where they once sat, laughing and enjoy the fresh air together, the rose garden where he enjoyed watch her work, they all made his heart clench and ache for its' lost. At the tree line, Xander takes one last look, committing it to memory.

"Goodbye my love" he whispers, then disappear into the night.

Centuries after the werewolves and their descendants continued to protect the land and witch's grave, never allowing anyone to enter, believing that one day she will bring back light to the corrupted rose garden. The story of the Rose Garden spread among the supernatural population, resulting in the vampire population being shunned and isolated by the witches and werewolves, creating tension between them. As for Xander, he spent centuries roam the earth like a ghost with Zavier close by his side, looking for her.