If you are not ready for the Pain do not seek the Pleasure. Roses come with Thorns and Thorns draw Blood.

Grace Windsor

“Annabel, who is this woman?”

“No one important.” Even without seeing her beautiful eyes I can tell she is lying.

“You do take after me, you are a terrible liar.” Isn’t that the truth.

I hear Annabel’s footsteps come closer so I turn to leave until she speaks once more. “Grace.” Then the door opens, her light eyes wide and her beautiful hair waterfalling off of her shoulders. “Oh Gosh-” Annabel slams the door shut and she stays inside.

“Annabel--” I grab the brass knob but it is locked tight. “Annabel!” I bang on the door, “Annabel please.” I hear hushed voices from inside and then the door unlocks, Annabel steps out with her gold clips in her hand.

“I apologize for everything, if you do not mind I will be going to bed.” She runs past me, holding the clips in one hand and her gown in the other.

“Annabel!” I yell again but she continues running, her steps echoing in the dark hallway. “Annabel-” My voice just comes back to me as Annabel disappears into the darkness.

*The next morning...*

“Miss. Windsor.” My personal servant comes into my room to wake me up. I sit up and I can tell I am a complete mess at her look, “I heard you were screaming down the hallway late last night. What was that about?”

“Oh- Well it was nothing. Our cat.” I have a house cat, it’s not too important but it has the exact same eyes as me, the right one a glossy golden colour and the other a deep teal. “I couldn’t find him.”

“I see, well ma’am, Prince Durham will be coming over in a few hours. Would you like help getting dressed.” Perfect.

“No, just go- do something or take a break. I can do it myself.” She curtsies and leaves, I quickly get out of bed and put a silk robe on. Soon after I ran out of the room to across the hall where Annabel’s bedroom is.

I knock on it, the noise echoes through the hall and so does the creak of the door opening. “Yes?” Her eyes are squinted and the room behind her is completely dark, she obviously had the shades drawn. “No-” She tries to close the door but I put my hands on it, stopping her. “Grace, please go. I am not comfortable with thi-”

“Annabel.” I push the door open and close it behind me, I was right, the shades are pulled tight and it is nearly pitch black in the room, other than a few candles on her bedside table.

“Grace, I am already embarrassed enough as it is, just please.” I can see her large pink eyes glistening in the candlelight.

She fiddles with her robe that is pulled tight, perfectly outlining her, as always, perfect figure. “Annabel, you are my best-” and only “-friend, I don’t plan on leaving you because of this. So please don’t hide.”

“How can you say that? How are you not disgusted?” I am. Just completely disgusted, but I can deal with that.

“Because I have known you forever! I know you, I know this is not who you are!” In the darkness I see Annabel wipe her eyes, I step forward and grab her hand. Then I wipe her eyes myself, “I won’t leave, I promise.”

“You shouldn’t come close to me, I might-” I may give her false hope, and then I end up hurting her.

“Okay.” I say and step back, “But I know this is not you, you’ll get past it.”

She nods, “I am so sorry.”

“Well get dressed, Durham is coming to-day.” I say and she nods once again, “Come with me, I have a gown I think you would look ravishing in.”

“Please don’t say that.” Annabel says while looking down.

“I will do, because it’s how I feel.” Well that’s not the reason, I lie about my feelings constantly, but I will say it nonetheless. She is absolutely glorious, her perfect eyes, perfect smile, lips- always soft and pink, her hands soft and delicate. Hair silky like velvet. Lips sweet, glossy, sensuous.

“Grace?” I snap my eyes to look at hers, I realize I had been staring at her perfect lips. She brings her fingers up to her mouth, “Was there-?”

“No, sorry, just thinking.” Her eyes go wide, the candlelight still reflecting in her glossy, pink iris’.

“Well you said you had a gown?”

“Yes.”