Meet Me in the Garden (DSAF royal AU)

Epilogue 2 - Black Roses [Bad End]

Long ago, there was a kingdom along the western coastline called Bakersfield.

For years, former King Henry Miller had caused the town to lose the liveliness that once brought so much charm to the kingdom, placing unreasonably strict curfews and rules into place. However, he had been murdered by his servant, Charlie Sullivan, after an attempted breakout involving his son, William Miller, and two of the local Kennedy family.

Charlie was caught and sentenced to death for her crime, and William was crowned king.

Yet, the town hadn't received a single sign that he was even alive.

—

The garden always smelled like smoke. Every single plant turned to ash, every tree painted black. Whenever Dave would stroll through what once was a vibrant paradise, he would always catch a little ember out of the corner of his eye.

Jack didn't make it far. Despite Dave ordering nothing but the best treatment for his lover, the wounds inflicted by the now deceased king were far too deep and far too dangerous for someone to survive, not to mention the sheer amount of blood he had lost before they arrived at the castle infirmary.

Dave was the only one in the room on the day of his passing. The two were making as much conversation as they could, with Jack barely clinging onto life, and Dave trying his absolute hardest not to shatter like glass.

When Jack's remaining family, Peter and Dee, came for the daily check in, they had barely touched the doorknob when an eardrum bursting wail resonated from the inside. In response, they slammed the door open; already knowing what had happened, but clinging onto the flicker of hope that he was still alive.

Instead, they were greeted by the sight of Dave desperately holding onto Jack's lifeless body, tears streaming down his face and onto his lover's exposed chest.

Peter tried to shield Dee's eyes, perhaps in an attempt to save her the trauma, but the high pitched screaming told him he was too late. She ran to Jack's side, trying to shake him awake despite knowing full well he wouldn't wake up.

Peter didn't know what to do. He wanted to go over and grieve with his only surviving family, or comfort the man who had lost his lover, anything at all, but he only stood at the doorway, hands trembling. A flurry of emotions went through him—rage, hopelessness, guilt, even—and it took all the strength he could muster to not vomit on the spot from all the emotion.

What felt like an eternity passed before Dave finally raised his head from Jack's chest, and said in a strained voice, "The last thing he said was my name."

The next night, after over a day and a half of self isolation and hatred, Dave set fire to the garden. Not a single patch of land went untouched by the bright orange flames, and by the end of the night, there wasn't a single petal of a flower, nor a green leaf fallen from a tree.

Whatever was left of Dave's heart, it had withered away along with the garden by dawn.

—

The castle was dusted and empty, fitting to the current state of Dave's entire being.

He'd gotten rid of every single painting, statue, every single effigy of the Miller family, even those from generations ago. The castle was looking more and more decrepit every day, and it was beginning to scare Peter, who had since become a servant at the castle.

It was lonely, despite how many servants were present at all times. Not even Dee's occasional puppet shows could rid of the anxious feeling in Peter's chest that told him something bad is coming.

Dee didn't talk too much before, but it was a once in a blue moon occasion now. If she couldn't verbally answer or ask, she'd always have a notepad with her, as long as it wasn't a yes or no question. The last time Peter heard her voice was months ago, on her 8th birthday, when she mustered up enough courage to comment on how this was the first birthday without Jack.