Of Roses & Angels

Chapter 4: Where music and crystals dance

My mind whirled as I held the wineglass...which had honeyed mead in it. Papa knew King? And how? What reason a man from a small town would have to know the closest idea I had to a crime lord? And he had built the Music Hall?

Oh Papa so many secrets...

"From your expression, I can guess that your father never spoke about his time in the capital." King spoke.

He sat across from me, holding a wineglass of his own. He leaned lazily on the armchair, situated close to the fireplace that was lit. The study around us was carved in rock and bookshelves covered the one side across from me. A desk made of dark wood stood behind King and on it, papers laid in neat order. A carpet covered the floor under us made of thick wool and with swirling patterns. The sofa was comfy under me and the box was still on my lap. I didn't dare leave it from my side, judging by the hungry looks King gave as he dared to look at it.

"No." I answered. "After coming to Lumir, he married Mama and..." my throat closed thinking of her and my sisters.

I took a large gulp of my drink and felt the alcohol warming my belly.

A look of sadness crossed King's features. "She was taken by them."

"Along with my older sisters. Three years in a row I had to watch them come into our town and chose their next Role." I spat the word, bending and letting the glass on the floor. "What did my father's letter say?"

King's eyebrow rose. "You didn't read it?"

I shook my head. "It was addressed to you. My letter held enough money to buy me a passage for the Lost Isles. I chose to come here and look for answers."

King's eyes narrowed at the box. "Hence the gift?"

I smirked. "Among other things."

"What things?" he leaned forward, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You may be Rene's daughter but I won't hesitate to kill you if you endanger my people."

"And for that reason, I know you'll not hurt me. I didn't make all this way here just to be killed. I want to destroy them, once and for all."

King's eyes glinted as he smirked. "Bloodthirsty, aren't you?"

"No, just tired." I rubbed my eyes and looked down at the box. "King, Eudokia gave this to me as a bargaining chip. I don't know of its contents only that you seem to desire it, judging by the way you look at it."

King downed his drink and got up walking to his desk and filling it once more. "Before we get to the contents of the box, do enlighten me Miss Rose. How did you survive the Baba?"

So, I told him my story, from the Storytellers' visit to my escape and how the forest led me to Eudokia's walking hut. King listened with widening eyes as I described the crow legs, the house, even Stick.

"The rose bloomed when it was pointed at you." King murmured as he pondered my story. He swirled the glass in his hand, the amber liquid making lazy circles. Glowing in the firelight.

"What does it matter? It could have been a trick to entertain or a torture device." I motioned with my hand.

King leveled his gaze at me. "Flowers have many names. And roses have been an aspect of their power, according to some sources of mine."

I snorted. "Let me guess, these sources of yours are pretty much dead, aren't they?"

"Very dead. They gave their souls trying to break out from the fortress the last batch of prisoners."

I inhaled sharply. "How?"

King drank his mead and pointed at the box. "This isn't the time or the place. Show me what's inside Miss Rose."