Rosaline

I felt bad for driving Ember out of the room. She didn’t deserve my melancholy mood, especially since she had just saved my life.

Sighing, I closed my eyes, and before I knew it, I was asleep.

And again, I dreamed.

This time, it was people I didn’t know. A young girl, maybe in her teenage years, done up in a ball gown and makeup, but her eyes had no soul left. They were empty, blank, as she stood in front of a tall, gaunt man, who was talking to another man off to his left.

“She’s been the perfect gift, Lord Teran,” said the tall one, “Just what I wanted. She’s even borne me two sons.”

“Of course, Lord Manchester. I knew she would be the perfect gift for you,” Lord Teran responded, bowing.

My vision shifted, and went through several scenes, none of which I would want to remember. The pain this girl went through...it was amazing that she was still alive.

I woke up suddenly, my brain working to put pieces together.

I had heard the name Lord Manchester before. Where?

Running through memories in my head, I got out of bed and changed clothes.

I thought for a while, but still couldn’t come up with the connection. Shaking my head, I absentmindedly wandered down to the hot springs.

Maybe the heat would clear my head.

The steam from the hot springs greeted me as I went down the staircase, and the drip of the water off the stones calmed me. Breathing in deeply, I smelled a sweet, honey scent coming from the hot springs.

Drawn in, I followed the scent down to the bottom of the stairs, where the room opened up into the low cavern with the hot springs.

The scent pointed my eyes toward the hot springs at the far end of the room, where Ember was already sitting in the water, combing through her hair. She hadn’t noticed me yet.

I should really leave before she did. But I couldn't convince my feet to move away.

Her head came up. Too late.

She called out, “Rosaline! You can join me, it’s okay!”

I headed towards her pool, doing my best to resist the sweet, honey smell that encouraged me to taste her. Fighting with myself, I came to a stop at the edge of the pool, leaning on the edge.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” I asked, keeping my gaze focused on the wall behind her. The honey scent was driving me crazy.

“I am. You should join me,” she said, her voice dropping lower.

I jumped in surprise, and before I could stop, I allowed myself to meet her eyes, to see what was there.

Her eyes glimmered in the low-light, and the reflection showed desire. She wanted me. Her gaze challenged me to let go, to join her, and I met that gaze with my own intensity.

The honey scent became stronger, and with a jolt, I realized that the honey scent was indeed something I could taste.

“Are you sure?” I asked, gripping the edge of the pool, trying to grasp the last fringes of my control.

She moved forward through the water and came up right in front of me.

I felt her breath as she brought her face in front of mine, until we were touching foreheads. My gaze went to her lips. I wanted to kiss them. But not until she said yes. I felt stone crunch under my hands as my grip tightened on the edge.

I had to have control.

“I’m sure,” she whispered, and then her lips were on mine.

I let go.