We were on the cusp of winter. I could smell it in the cold air that caressed my face. I could see it in the brown crispy leaves, which fell down around me as I walked through the garden behind the manor. And I could feel it in the cool gusts of wind that rushed into the cuts above my left wrist, as it dripped blood to the ground below me. A little present from my beloved uncle. I hated him. I more than hated him. I almost wanted him dead. But being dead, would be getting away with things far too easily.

And he doesn’t deserve that.

Though it was in early in the afternoon, nobody was in the garden as I made my way through it. I preferred it that way. I did not want the gardeners glaring at me for spilling blood on their precious flowers again. And I did not want the maids with their prying eyes spreading more unfounded rumours.

Did these people not have anything else better to do? Really. Who is even running the manor? Does uncle even know what’s going on around him? Or maybe he just doesn’t care enough.

If I had more time, I would have walked slower. The garden was beautiful. Though the gardeners hated me being here, it was one of my favourite places. Not that I knew many other places beyond Thorn Estate. Large trees sprawled their leaves overhead. Providing shade as I walked down the path. Beautiful yellow and red flowers with their dark green leaves, spread across many different paths that led all around the manor. Their intoxicating smell wafted through the air. To the untrained nose, one would be sleepy and slightly disorientated. Only ever so slightly. Enough for you to make mistakes and agree to deals you’d perhaps rather not.

One path, lined strictly with red roses, led straight to the large greenhouse, where most of the plants we bred for poisons were cultivated. Plants that were worth more than my life.

Our family were the Kingdom of Aborith’s very own poison makers. My uncle, its current Poison Master. Aside from dealing with nobles, we made anything the king desired. Whether it be a simple concoction that left one paralysed, or something to keep you bedridden for a year or two. We made many other potions and salves, but poison were what we specialised in. And it was why our family were treated the way we were. Many a person regarded us as monsters. Little did they know how right they truly were.

I hurriedly made my way towards the back of the garden, where I was met with a giant hedge, with large dark green spiky leaves and thorny vines. The hedge spanned three stories tall, and circled most of the manor. It kept most unwanted intruders out, though not with just its size alone.

I can hear it moving. I can feel it pulsing. It’s hungry, yet again.

I raised my bloodied hand towards the hedge. I watched as the leaves moved, shivering as though in anticipation. I shoved my hands in and instantly felt the thorny vine wrap itself and press down around me, ripping up my hand further. I winced at the pain as I quickly muttered in an old forgotten language.

“Brethren, partake of my blood, and allow me safe passage.”

Branches wrapped in thorny vines shot out and circled further up my arm. It climbed until it reached my shoulder. I felt a pulse, and a squeeze as more of my blood seeped into the hedge. Little red flowers with many tiny white stamens, sprouted on the vines around my arm. They burst open, releasing with it a sickly sweet smell. One that would have been poisonous to anyone who did not belong to the House of Thorn. I could hear a faint whisper, in the rustling of the leaves, one that called out my name.

It's feeding too much.

I tried to pull out my arm, but I felt a tug of resistance. It was still so hungry.

“Stop, I think that’s more than enough,” I said.

But the hedge did not stop. It continued to feed, sucking away at my hand.

“Enough!” I called out darkly.

I took a deep breath in, and closed my eyes.

Repulsive things. Listen to me! Get away from me!

I sent out a pulse of energy, coursing it through my arm. It felt like static as it rippled through. A few of the leaves sparked, as though they were going to catch on fire. 

“Did you not hear what I said? Enough. I will not repeat myself again.”

Only then did the hedge pull back, retreating slowly, reluctantly, from my arm. It shook a little, as though it was sighing in satisfaction. Then the hedge parted, leaving a little arch behind for me to walk through. An arch filled with little red flowers, that seemed to wriggle about in glee. That seemed to sing in whispers, calling out to me.

I shivered at the sight. I muttered my thanks, and continued on my way. As soon as I walked through, the branches in the space behind me intertwined and were once again made whole.  

Often I wondered how many people the hedge had eaten over the numerous years it kept watch over the manor. But I shook my head at the thought. It wasn’t one I wanted to entertain.

Behind the garden was a forest. Large trees sprawled as far as I could see, their barks grey, their leaves a dull dark green. Little light fluttered through the canopy overhead. But I knew this forest well. I did not need light to know where I was going. Entering the forest always calmed me. I took deep breaths, as I kept on walking, until I reached a ruin.

I once asked my mother what this ruin once was. She said it was probably a castle. Constructed and abandoned before the first Thorn settled here. But she wasn’t sure. No one really knew who built it, or when it was made. I’ve scoured our records on the grounds once, and found nothing on this place.

Whenever my feet stepped down on its grey stone floor, I would feel this sense of unease and loneliness. Whenever I touched its stone walls, the feeling seemed to increase. I felt a feeling of longing. For a place I did not know even existed.

What have these walls once seen? Who has danced within its halls?

However, I did not have time to reminisce today. I quickly made my way through the ruins, until I reached beyond it. To a dirt path, lined with trees on either side, that opened all the way towards the Mirror Lake.

Nearly there.

I hurried onwards, almost running down the path, until I reached the lake, and the grey tower that lay in an island in the middle.

A clear silver lake, it reflected the forest around it, and framed the tower that stood in an island in its centre.

The lake, though beautiful was filled with poison. A poison so potent, that a single touch could leave a child foaming at the mouth. The leaves of the trees around the lake were also filled with the same poison. One would do well to stay away from anything within their leaves.

Some of our best poisons were made with these as our little secret ingredient. A secret that many a man had died trying to discover.

I slowed down as I reached the little dock where a small rowing boat lay in waiting. On the edge of the boat, was a bent down shape of man, made of metal and wood, and without a face.

I leapt into the boat, and sat down. “Tommy,” I said as I ran my still bloodied hand against the side of his face. “Take me home.”

My blood on his cheek disappeared into the wood. The automaton twitched. First it was his neck, then his hands, then his body. It took a minute for him to jerk awake completely. He looked at me, insomuch as a faceless doll could, bowed, and then started to row.

My mother named the automaton Tommy, long before we were born. She told us how she used to come to the lake to spill all her troubles to it. ‘I used to tell him all sorts of things, what kind of mischief I had been up to, how many tarts I stole from the kitchen while the cook wasn’t looking, how I used to sneak into the town below to buy myself something from the food stalls. He was my only friend for the longest time, ’ she told us. Her words then suddenly sounded timid. ‘Until I met your father.’

“You know Tommy, I had a horrible time in the manor. But I suppose it doesn’t surprise you. I’ll be going off to the capital soon. Uncle made me return to that awful room again. I don’t even understand why. Does he want me to go insane before he has to send me off? As if I’m not going to have trouble there already.”

The automaton continued to row in silence. I listened  to the sound of his gears turning, and splashes of water against the side of the boat and the oars, until we were finally at the shore of the little island.

Where just outside at the doorstep, my beautiful twin sister awaited.