Between A Rose And Its Thorns (ON HOLD)

Dead Girl Riding

Lucinda's point of view

Seven days. I've been asleep for seven days. Or at least that is what Mrs. Thompson told me. According to the castle's doctor, the amount of blood loss made me go into a mid-term comma so my body could steady itself.

I blow the hair in my face and stand, my legs shake beneath me. I have been in this bed for too long. I sigh and sit back down. My eyes wander the room, it really was beautiful, gold decorating the teal walls. I even had my own window.

My own... I wince. I still did not like the idea of sleeping in a different room than my sister. We have always shared a room and now, in this place... I don't know if I want her to be alone.

As much as I long to be with Isabelle again, the doctor forbidden it, saying that my blood could infect her and make her ill.

I scoff and fall back on the bed.

Ça me saoule! I am perfectly fine! My stitches have been removed, my bandages are in place, I'm no longer bleeding, why can't I see my sister?!

I sigh and turn to the side table. I smile as I stare at the small tea cup, a chip on the side of its rim. I sit up and carefully pick up the delicate cup. I fiddle with it, my fingers tracing the small chip.

I had learned that Jonah was the one who came to my room that night. And he has come back almost every night to visit me. It was very sweet, I never thought of myself as a child person.

I scowl at the thought of children.

Perhaps it is not the thought of children that disgusts me, but rather the fact I will have to marry to have them. I shake my head. I never liked the thought of marriage. Giving yourself to a man, cleaning the house night and day while caring for the young, being a little wife.

That's no life for me.

Isabelle, however... that's all she wants. To become a wife and mother. And I'll support her decision, I will also make sure her 'white knight in shiny armor' knows not to break my sister's heart.

Or her body.

I shiver. It's been so long since that night when Isabelle's life was threatened by one of the beast's supposedly loyal servants. I was told her name was Lily Salt, and she was planning the little stunt ever since Isabelle first came to the castle. I would kill her if she wasn't dead already.

I gulp.

I would be dead, too, if it wasn't for the beast. Speaking of which... I have not seen him since that night. Mrs. Thompson told me that he has been avoiding my room like the plague, which makes me question, why?

Surely, he is not afraid of me; I'm a dwarf compared to his large size. The only other reason I could think of him avoiding me is...he was afraid to hurt me.

That couldn't be it, I reason. Beasts don't have feelings, much less do they feel remorse or guilt!

But... but he wasn't always a beast. I think back to the book I read in the beast's study. He was human, and humans do have feeling. So, perhaps, the beast- no, Theodred does have feelings.

But why do I care? I should be overjoyed that he is finally leaving me alone! Yet.. I'm not. I almost... miss him?

Oh no, I groan and face plant into the pile of pillows. I can't have Stockholm syndrome! I'm too young to be going crazy!

"Lucinda?" I perk up and meet Mrs. Thompson's silver gaze. She stands at the door, a tea cart beside her. "Would you care for a drink, puppet?" She asks.