The other two paths led into the thick embankment of fog encasing the castle. The ominous structure loomed over the land, and the air stilled, howling and wailing of death audible from the grounds. The gates were as I had left them, wide open, a sign my captor could’ve still been blind to my absence. The sun began to dip on the horizon, whispering goodbye to the day.
I trailed the fog-covered road, heading not forward but into the thick embankment.
I had come through a road. If I would’ve walked far enough, I could’ve hitchhiked back to Endovier. When I got back, perhaps I could start working to support Miriam and Mama. It may not be glamorous, but it was better than marrying a man I hated.
Or one that would kill me.
The fog obscured everything within five inches of my outstretched hand, rolling waves over the tall grass and gravel road. With nothing ahead and nothing behind, I stumbled forward, the fog licking at my heels, begging me to wander forever as caresses my body.
When I emerged from the fog, I nearly fell to my knees.
I stared in disbelief as Castle Briar stared me in the face.
I had walked in circles.
“No. No. NO. NO.”
I charged in the other direction to find I had emerged at the same exact point, right in front of the castle. Disoriented, I sank to the ground, the gravel biting into my knees as fog swirled around.
There was no way out.
I was trapped.
I avoided the predatory glint striding forward, hands in his pocket as the last of the light slowly drifted off to sleep. I didn’t look at the tears and bloodstained rocks. Each sob rocked its way through my belly and into my chest.
Death breathed in my ear, seductive and chilling, “Going somewhere, Little Dove?”
DearestMother,
I’ve been spending a lot of my time in the palace gardens. It’s gorgeous with blooms so crimson they bleed in the sunlight. What is more special is the garden at night. Have you ever heard of a Moonflower? It’s quite special, a beautiful flower that soaks up moonlight with its white petals. It only blooms at night, a rare sight to see among the angel trumpets and morning glories.
My stranger sits there a lot, smiling up at the blooms as he cultivates them. I followed him out there one night and saw him sifting through the garden, his hands covered in earth wearing nothing more than dirt-stained blouses and trousers as he tended to the flower beds.
All I see of the stranger is his long dark hair pulled up high and the silhouette of him, but I can never see his face. He always disappears before I can get a better view or the courage to talk to him.
Although in his place, a red rose always greets me.
Oh, Mother, I haven’t seen the man I am betrothed to, and it’s been well over two months since I have arrived at this strange place. I’ve asked their Majesties about their son, and neither of them knew of his whereabouts.
He is as elusive as a snake. Even the snakes are better at being open. What if he is a monster, Mother? What if he is simply hideous, and we’re being tricked into this alliance?
I know there is a lot riding on the alliance, but it is difficult to uphold if there is no person to uphold such an alliance with.
No one wants to speak on the matter about the prince with me—more like no one wishes to speak with me at all.
Oh, Mother, it is quite lonely without you or Father. I even miss Beau, the little tyke that he is. There is so much I miss about home from the way the clouds brush the mountains to the howling of the wind on the cold winter’s nights.
They do not have mountains here, did you know? They have miles and miles of tall evergreen woods. Even though I am restricted to the grounds of the castle, I sometimes wander into the woods, to get a better lay of the land.
There was a time, Mother, I was lost for hours, that my dear stranger came to the rescue and assisted in getting back to the grounds without the notice of any guards.
Quite clever, he is.
Yet I still do not know his name nor do I know what he looks like and it’s driving me mad, Mother.
He is like a phantom I cannot quite catch, and yet he is the only semblance of hope I have within these walls.
Before I sign this letter, I suppose I should tell you that, in a few months’ time, there is to be a grand ball.
