Between A Rose And Its Thorns (ON HOLD)

A Rose for a Rose

Lucinda's point of view

I sigh and unwrap the bandages on my head. I'm not bleeding from there, so why on earth would they wrap it the first place?

I snicker.

Perhaps their 'doctor'  is a fraud.

"What is so funny?" Isabelle asks and sits at my feet on the bed. I shrug, gritting my teeth at the pain burning through my arm.

"Oh, never mind it." I smile.

She sighs and slowly shakes her head. "I don't get you, Lucinda. You are the second oddest person I ever met!" She giggles.

"Oh? Then who is the first?!" I ask and throw my pillow at her. She laughs louder and catches it.

"Garrick, of course!" She says.

I groan. "Don't even mention his name!" I lay down on my stomach and prop up my head on my palm. "I wonder what he is doing now since all he used to do was chase you around."

"Who knows? Perhaps he has found a new maiden to chase!" She giggles and hugs the pillow to her chest. "I always wondered why he wanted to marry me. You know as well as I do that we have nothing to offer him! No money, no honor, barely any land- what on earth would he want me for?" She asks and tilts her head.

I scoff and shake my head. "Garrick is nothing but a pig!" I growl and sit up.

It was easy to see why he wanted Isabelle, and it is a reason I see not fit to give him her hand.

"It doesn't matter now, we are far, far away from him!" I sigh and lean back against my headboard. "The farther away, the better!"

"Yes..." she mumbled and fidgeted with her fingers. "Lucinda... do you... do you ever miss Cardnival?" She whispers, so quietly I almost didn't hear it.

"Um, well..." I straighten my back, my hands drop into my lap. Do I? "No... not really. I am glad to get away from that provincial town! From those terrible people and that terrible life!"

"But it wasn't... so terrible, was it?" She mumbled.

My shoulders drop when I notice the tear in my sister's eyes as she stared at the ground.

"Isabelle?" I call to her. She sighs and hesitantly meets my gaze. "Belle," I say softer. "Do you want to go back? Do you want to go back home?"

Her bottom lip wobbles and she nods. "I do, I really, really do. Don't get me wrong, this.." She waves her hand around the large and glamorous room. "Is wonderful, being in a real enchanted castle... it is a dream come true! But..." she drifts off.

I gently take her hand and rub my thumb over her knuckles. "You want to go back." I finish. She rapidly nods, a small tear falls down her cheek. I exhale and hold her hand closer to my chest. "Isabelle, I-."

A loud knock, almost a bang, cuts me off. We turn to the door, we weren't expecting any guests...

I stand with a wince; out of the corner of my eye, I could see Belle wiping away her tears. "Lucinda...?" She whispers.

I smile at her. "It's okay," I said and walk to the door. Taking in a deep breath, I notice the light scent of musk and... dirt?

I open the door and gasp. A white rose laid at my feet. The soft petals seemed... familiar.

I lean down with a grunt and pick up the delicate flower. I twirl the rose in my grasp when I hear Isabelle ask from inside the room, "What is it?"