One Dark Destiny

Queen Rosalie

Queen Rosalie is the Poisoner Queen; she has 2 foster sisters.
Pandora (18)
Adeline (7)

Her foster mother, Kalypso.
Her foster grandmother, Perylene.

Prynn

Queen Rosalie stands at the front of the room, hands folded behind her back. Her velvet dress clings to her skin from sweat. She swallows and does everything she can to push the fear down. So long as no one sees.
Her eyes scan the room, the long banquet table, the servants straightening the white tablecloth, sweeping the stone floor, lighting candles. Everything will be perfect.
"Rosalie?"
The queen spins on her heel. Adeline is standing behind her, big blue eyes staring up at her.
"Adeline, your mother does not want you here," Rosalie says.
"But you're getting ready for a party. I want to come to the party," Adeline says mournfully.
"This party will not be... Very interesting for you," Rosalie says carefully.
"But it's your birthday, Rosalie," Adeline replies. The queen sighs. Adeline knows nothing of the Gave Noir.
"Okay Adeline, you may stand beside me and watch," Rosalie says, giving in.
The young girl takes her place next to the queen, her pale mauve dress swooshing around her feet. She folds her hands behind her back, just like Rosalie's, and smiles brightly.
"Wow, it looks so sparkly in here. I've never seen so many candles," she says.
Rosalie doesn't reply.
Suddenly, a loud crack splits the air, echoing off the stone floor and walls. Rosalie's gaze falls on a young maid, frantically trying to pick up the shards of a broken plate. Rosalie holds her hand up.
"Do not panic, you will cut yourself," she calls. She waves to the girl who stands next to the maid.
"Bring another plate."
The girl scurries out of the hall, and Rosalie sighs. She sees it. They all have it written on their faces. Each and every maid in the Arron house is terrified of Rosalie.
No doubt Kalypso would say that is a good thing.
"Rosalie, most Queens choose the way they want to rule. Respect, power or fear. But if you want to be a true Queen, you must utilise all three."
But Rosalie cares very little. Besides, what can Kalypso really know about ruling. The poisoners have not had power on Fennbirn for a long time.
"Rosalie."
She groans inwardly and turns to greet her next visitor. Pandora stands in the doorway of the hall, smiling forcedly. Rosalie can at least be grateful that it is not another messenger.
"Pandora," she walks towards the doorway.
The girl's ivory pale hair is twisted into an intricate up do, save the strands that curl around her ears. She takes Rosalie's hand gently, a rare gesture. It almost makes Rosalie smile.
"Come, Adeline. We are going to get Rosalie ready for her birthday," says Pandora, and her sister follows them out of the hall.

Once her bedroom door is locked behind them, Rosalie takes a breath. Her velvet dress is becoming quite unwearable. Pandora starts to look through Rosalie's drawers to find what she needs. Adeline sits on the side of the bed, watching her sister. Rosalie pulls a dress from the floor and examines it. Wide black skirt adorned with roses, a black satin corset. She can just see herself suffocating at the feast. She screams inwardly in frustration, but struggles into the dress. It is, as expected, far too tight, and Rosalie has to take short, sharp breaths. And what after she has eaten the Gave Noir?
Pandora spins to observe her.
"Beautiful, Queen Rosalie," she says.
Rosalie swallows.
"If only Kalypso cared a little less about my appearance, and a little more about my breathing," she says quietly.
Pandora looks sadly at her, understanding in her eyes.
"I know," she says.
"But it is only for a couple of hours. After the Gave Noir-"
"What's that?" Adeline chimes in, big eyes staring into her sister's.
Pandora glances at Rosalie.
"It's a big feast tonight where Rosalie is going to eat lots of poisonous food," she explains.
"To celebrate her sixteenth birthday."
"And why can't I come?" Adeline asks.
"You don't like poison, remember?" Pandora says softly.
Adeline considers.
" I like Posnetta," she replies.
Pandora sighs. Poinsettia is one of the least toxic poisons that Kalypso keeps. She lets Adeline drink it in her milk, due to her stil developing gift.
"It will be boring," Pandora tries again.
"Mother's friends and family will be there. And anyway, mother will never let you."
Adeline looks down. Pandora turns away and gestures for Rosalie to sit at her dressing table. She does, and Pandora starts to pull her pearl comb through her black hair. She is gentle, her eyes soft and touch caring. Since Rosalie can remember, Pandora has brushed her hair, styled it, braided it, pale fingers slipping through dark waves.
Rosalie tried to get used to the crushing in her chest, tries to breathe through the pain. She can blame Kalypso and her ridiculous corsets, but Rosalie knows that her pain comes from elsewhere. Or at least partially.
Tonight she is sixteen. A proper Queen, who, soon enough, will have to fight her sisters. To either kill or be killed.
And not only is she a queen, Rosalie is also a poisoner. Tonight, the Gave Noir would show all the Arrons, and the black council, how strong their Queen is.
"You must do well, Rosalie. You must show the black council, and the whole island, what you are capable of. Can you do that?"
"Yes, Kalypso."