The Other Curse ~ Robin De Noir [2]

Chapter Thirteen

The storm came as the opera of the skies, the instruments determined to sing out, the trees and foliage as their percussion. Even the rain came in orchestrated rhythm, appearing as the master of the scene yet arriving on an unheard cue.

Carnage ensued, trees writhing and flailing, their groans of pain carried away by the wind. It screamed like a banshee, uprooting weeds and shrubs in a fit of ever-consuming rage. Rain hammered the ground, an impenetrable salvo of bullets. Livid black clouds reared up like a cobra readying itself for attack. They spat lightning mercilessly onto the pitiful scene below, which cut through the sky not unlike burning venom.

The afternoon sun disappeared behind the clouds and provided no light for the evergreen forest below. Maria Merryweather scampered through the undergrowth, her tired feet carrying her deeper and deeper into the woods. No matter how far she ran, nor how fast, she couldn't seemed to find her. She'd thought of her sister, she had to find her.

It had been almost 3 days since her sisters departure and as soon as the family found out, her uncle immediately went out to look for her. However, after much debate, it had soon become a family trip, as Loveday, Maria, Miss Heliotrope, Marmaduke and Digweed has all joined him.

They had all been together and come so far, yet with the huge number of people coming along it slowed them down. Maria thought about what had happened the following night, and she was haunted by its message.

As the previous evening came to an end, Maria retired to bed near a large hollow tree by a lake and fell into a deep slumber. They were on track as they found Rose and Robin's clothes hanging up near by, which proved their suspicions that Rose went with Robin. Uncle Benjamin became grumpy all evening with the thought of Rose exposed like that, which made Maria think that something had happened here which caused Rose to take off in only her undergarments. It wasn't like her.

When the moon was high it shone down upon her. In her dreams or was it nightmares, Maria saw Rose and Robin dancing and laughing by a fire; there was music and joy, and Rose seemed happy. Though a dark cloud seemed to take hold of the pretty seen and consumed everything. She saw Rose running through the fog, "I love you!" She heard her call and a deeper, more masculine voice call back, "I love you too!" It was Robin. Maria then heard terrifying screams, painful and horrifying screams. She saw pain, bloodshed and death.

Maria tossed and turned, yet, the images kept on coming. She saw Rose crying and clutching her stomach, shouting "it's not working!" Before the fog consumed her and Maria was left alone in the forest. Though it was not the forest she knew, instead of wildflowers and animals blooming everywhere, Maria only saw death and decay. The forest was dead.

From behind a tree, a tall black figure emerged. Coeur De Noir. He had a sword and walked towards Maria menacingly, dragging it through the dirt. She then turned around to see new scene, she was on top of a hill, and the wind was blowing, dark clouds lingered up ahead. On the highest point, a single Rose bloomed, however, it was dying, petals began to fall and then she heard a heartbreaking cry of Rose, "Maria!" She called, before collapsing to her knees.

"Rose I am hear!" Maria wanted to call, but nothing came out. She wanted to comfort her sister, hold her tight, but when she went to hug her, Rose vanished into thin air.

"Rose!" She shouted, "Rose!" Maria called again. "Rose! Rose! Rose!"

She woke up.

After that Maria knew she had to find her sister as soon as possible. She was near by, she could feel it. She had been running for hours when the storm came. With her family left behind at the lake, Maria was free to find Rose her own way, and much faster. Something was wrong. She just knew it.

The trees chattered and the wind howled, like a wolf on a full moon. A singular vine stretched out onto the forest floor, reaching for salvation, lay invisible to the human eye, so it would seem. Maria ran towards it unknowingly, and her body twirled and jerked as she fell over the vine. The wind in her face made it impossible to breathe, she felt like she'd suffocate.

The rain hammered down like knives, and Maria sat up and looked to the sky. "Ahhhhh" she shouted in frustration. As a girl of 14 years, she did not expect to be spending her days in a storm. She wanted to go home and snuggle up by the fire with Rose telling her a story of some kind. She always did have a wild imagination.

She didn't get that from father Maria thought, no it would have had to have been their mother. She never met her mother, she died when she was a baby. However, now more than ever Maria wished she was here. She wanted to be back in London with father, Rose and mother. When things were so simple.

Maria hugged her knees to her chest and let her tears fall down with the rain. How on Earth was she going to find her sister.

From the darkness a light seemed to bloom. Maria looked up from her misery to gaze upon its source. The little white horse.

"It's you", Maria gasped and cautiously stood up. The beautiful, white unicorn shook its main and started walking through the trees. Maria followed, its light shining the way.

The storm continued to lash down, but Maria seemed not to feel it. It was as if the unicorn was protecting her. It suddenly stopped after a while and directed its attention to a large oak tree.

Maria slowly approached its trunk to find it hollow. Within the tree she saw a sleeping figure, all crumpled up. "Rose!" She gasped and ran to her aid, she turned her around and held her head in her lap. She was still breathing. Maria let out a cry. She was alive.

Maria looked up to the beautiful and serene unicorn, "thank you", she called against the rain. The unicorn nodded, before turning away and galloping off into the distance. Maria smiled gratefully and held Rose close.

She had found her. Rose moved slightly in her arms and opened her eyes slowly. "Maria?" She asked weakly, "yes it's me Rose, it's me", Maria laughed whilst stoking Rose's hair. "What are you?" She began, but Maria hushed her.

"Don't worry, you're safe now, you're safe", she whispered. The two sisters united, and there could have not been a more beautiful scene.