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When Roses Grow Black Chapter 41 The memory faded out and I could remember all too well that I did indeed have feelings for him. I remembered how Vance gave me all he had just to see me smile. I found it hard to believe that I was thinking of the same Vance who had been attacking me and maybe even killed me. Was it possible that some how he had changed drastically to the Vance that I knew of today? I made up my mind right then and there. I now knew that Vance wasn't evil from the start. I figured there must be some way to bring the good in him back. I didn't realize that I could have been passing judgment too soon. I overlooked the fact that the good in him could have died a long time ago.I walked down a long, dark corridor of the palace I was barely familiar with. I looked over at my father and he smiled down at me. The last time we had visited the Dimensional Portal was four months ago. A lot had happened in those four months, also. Brian and Kevin had returned home after three years and helped bring life back to a normal level somewhat. Prince Vance had showed up unexpected and we had begun courting. That was the biggest thing. Word around the kingdom was that Vance was preparing to ask for my hand in marriage. I was hoping with all my heart that it was just a rumor because if he did I would have to decline. Over the past months I had spent with the Shadow Prince I had come to love him very much, but only as a friend. He was charming, sweet, romantic, and I knew he was in love with me. Yet, still, he was also cocky, bull-headed, short tempered, secretive, and violent. It scared me when he lost his temper and he knew it. I would never be able to marry him, but I didn't want to ruin the wonderful peace that had spread across the globe because the light and shadow kingdoms had signed a peace treaty. So my father, my mother, my four guardians, and I were on our way to a long overdue trip to a new dimension of earth. I had been awaiting this day for the past week. It wasn't every day that I could go somewhere and be treated as a normal person. It allowed me to learn so much on each trip we went on. Silently, we all entered the lab as my father spoke, "Professor, is the dimensional portal ready??" I cringed at the sound of authority in his voice. I always hated it because it seemed so unlike him. My father was a kind, gentle man who hated arguing. At times he reminded me of a big teddy bear. "Yes, sire," the professor announced and bowed. We all looked up to the gateway and watched as the image of the dimension we were going to appeared. We watched in awe as it showed a peaceful green meadow. Alexander took a step up with a smile on his face, "I'll go first." As he announced this he stepped on to the solid metal platform. Out of nowhere, a scream was heard through the lab and two figures came hurtling through the portal and into Alexander, throwing him back into Kevin and Brian. "Oh Dear!" the Professor exclaimed as he began examining his equipment to see what happened. The two figures took no notice of their new surroundings and swiftly took to their feet. Both men were clad in armor and wielding swords of a style I had never seen before. My mother and I stood in shock as all out mayhem exploded around us. The two figures were in the middle of a sword fight. My father was yelling, cursing and demanding to know what was going on as Howard attempted to calm him down. The professor cowered from his King as he did not have an answer for what had occurred. I looked behind me and sighed. Kevin, Brian and Alexander were out cold from being thrown into a wall. "Mom, we have to do something!" I whispered to my mother in desperation. I knew that when she wanted to she could have more authority than my father. That was the wonders of having a matriarchal kingdom. In other words, the guy takes the woman's name and the woman is the heir to the throne. I looked back to the two battling men just in time to see the one with perfectly shining armor pierce his sword through the other man's black armor. He then looked up and finally took in his surroundings for the first time. Even with his helmet on I could see him turn his head as he looked all over the room for the valley he began his fight in. "Everyone quiet!!" my mothers shout cut through my thoughts and shut every one up. I looked behind me to see Alexander, Brian and Kevin slowly get back to their feet as they tried to shake off their dazes. "What happened?" Alexander whispered me as he stepped up to my side while Brian and Kevin just looked on. "Look," I pointed to the man standing in the middle of the lab in the suit of armor, "he and the one by his feet came flying through the portal." "Professor, what happened? Can you explain this?" my mother asked in a commanding voice that fit her perfectly. She had always been very formal in public and that was how she was seen in front of civilians. But around family and friends she was so sweet and loving and caring. She would hold me until I fell asleep during thunder storms when I was little and used to talk with Alexander and I as often as possible. I suppose that is why Alexander had such a respect for her that he lacked for our father, because she was the only one spending time with him. I always forced my father to spend time with me. I always tagged along with him on official business, and that was why I created a strong bond to both of my parents. The professor bowed as far as he could and I saw him tremble in fear as he gave his response, "I am truly sorry, my Queen, but I do not. There is nothing to explain this odd occurrence." He was truly afraid of my parents and I couldn't figure out why. They were always kind and generous. They never did anything to strike fear in civilian's hearts. "Queen?" a muffled voice came from the armored man. He slowly pulled off his helmet to reveal short blonde hair and a baby face the girls would probably swoon over. Even from a distance I could see his eyes were the deepest blue of the ocean and I almost found myself getting lost in them. "So I am in a kingdom, then?" he asked, his voice made my stomach do flip flops. I wondered if this was love at first sight or if it were merely infatuation with this handsome stranger I had never seen before. After I had thought it over once more I passed it off as only infatuation. Besides, I was courting Vance and attempting to love him, wasn't I? For a reason unknown to me I stepped up before anyone else did. "Yes, you are in a Kingdom. Welcome to the Light Kingdom, I am Princess Rose. And you would be?" I asked calmly in a commanding yet friendly voice. I felt a gentle smile form on my lips and he gave me a quick lop sided grin. It fell off his face too quickly for any one else to have seen it. "I am Prince Nickolas of the Storm Kingdom. Please do tell me what has happened and how I arrived in such a very strange place in the middle of my duel, Princess," he asked as he bowed and took my hand and placed a kiss tenderly on the back. I felt the place on my hand tingle where his lips had touched. We locked eyes and stayed in our positions; he bowing before me with my hand sheer inches away from those beautiful lips of his, and I standing transfixed before him. I stared hard into his eyes and found every emotion in them. It was as if I were looking straight into his soul, and something flashed in his eyes turning them a duller shade. Suddenly I was pulled back to reality by my wonderful brother tearing me out of the new Prince's grasp and pushing me into Brian's arms. I was still in a daze when I heard Alexander speaking with anger evident in his voice, "Alright, now that you have ravaged my sweet little sister with your eyes, it's time to meet me. I am Prince Alexander, and I suggest you watch it when it comes to Rose." I quickly pulled myself out of my stupor when I felt Brian slowly start to pull me away. I looked over to see my parents over by the portal with unpleased looks on their faces as the professor trembled in front of them. I shook myself out of his grasp and turned back to where Alexander, Kevin and Howard all surrounded Nickolas attempting to intimidate him. "I did not do anything to her except look at her in awe of her beauty," I heard Nickolas state as he stood his ground. I felt my heart melt at his words, and yet again pulled myself from Brian's grip as he again tried to lure me away from the on coming fight. I was ready to pull my guardians back when I heard the words be uttered from Kevin's mouth, "So we have a duel?" My hands covered my face as I groaned. 'Damn male arrogance. Why must all Princes be so self-absorbed?' I wondered before the memory faded.Although I knew I shouldn't have been, I was eager to see the next memory. I wanted to know how the guardians were chosen and how things came to be as they were in the end. I sat on my bed in my room as I wrote down about my day in my journal. Surprisingly, Prince Nickolas had beaten Alexander in the duel they had fought this past afternoon. Everyone was quite shocked because that would make Nickolas the second best fighter in the kingdom. Kevin, being my fathers right hand man, had been dubbed a long time ago the best, and had taught Alexander himself a few years ago. Kevin then stepped up and challenged Nickolas, and won in a very quick match. It turned out we were unable to return Prince Nickolas back to his home dimension for a circuit in the Portal broke, erasing the memory in the blasted machine, and lost the location of his place. For as long as he stayed here, Nickolas was to be treated as a Prince and guest of the utmost importance. My father felt guilty for tearing him out of his home and only wished to make his stay comforting. After the duels, the five boys came to their senses and became friends. I sighed in utter humiliation of knowing they were the ones I associated myself with. 'What was the point of all that?!' I remembered yelling at them. They each looked at each other then back to me and shrugged. I had threw my hands into the air and stormed off back into the castle. I closed my journal and looked out at the clear night sky. Suddenly an idea occurred in my mind and I smiled. I had found something to do in order to rid myself of some time. I silently slipped out of my room and past the guard, down the hall to Prince Nickolas' room. As I came upon his door, I knocked three times wearily looking around me. In a moments time, the door crept open and Nickolas looked down at me with surprise written across his face. "Shhh!" I hushed him while putting a finger to my lips. The last thing I needed was for him to speak and the palace guards become aware of me. I grabbed hold of his wrist and guided him to the exit of the palace. Once we were safely out of the castle I let out a sigh of relief. We had both snuck out securely with out any type of problems. "What is this all about?" Nickolas asked me which set me into a fit of giggles. "What?" he asked again perplexed by my behavior. "I forgot to stop and get Brian!" I laughed at my stupidity. "I thought that Brian and I could show you around the local area, just so you don't get lost or anything of the sort." I also had this urge to be near him, to become closer to him. I couldn't say that though because it would completely ruin my pride. "Oh, okay. Would you like to go and get him?" he asked me as he tried to figure out how to act in front of me. I blocked a grin from escaping my lips as he shifted nervously in front of me. I felt bad for him though, here he was a completely new dimension entirely different from his own home. I couldn't imagine being in his place, and I stopped my laughter. "Nah, I think we'll be able to manage ourselves, what do you say?" "What ever you think is best, Princess," he said quietly while looking at the ground as he had witnessed the Professor do earlier that day. I cringed remembering how afraid the scientist had been of my parents. Then I cringed again, realizing what Nickolas must think of my family after that first impression! "Prince Nickolas, you can call me Rose, you know. And there is no need to be afraid of me or my family," I said softly as I stepped closer to him, hoping to get him to look at me. My heart dropped as I realized that wasn't going to work. "Prince, please, do tell me of your dimension," I attempted to begin a conversation as I grabbed his hand and pulled him down the beach with me. I had brought him to where Brian and I always met basically because I knew I would be able to get there with out being caught. I felt him become a little less tense beside me and smiled inside. "Well, what would you like to know?" he asked as he now gazed up into the beautiful stars above. I followed his gaze to the constellation of Gemini, and remembered the legend of the two twins. "Well, what myths are there?" I asked as our eyes finally met, blue against greenish-gray. "There are so many, I wouldn't know which ones to tell," he sighed and dropped my hand. "Tell your favorite," I bit my lip at the look of interest on his face and couldn't help but blush under his intense stare. "My favorite is…hmm…I have to think," he looked to the sky again, but I knew he was deep in thought by the way his eyes were out of focus. He then looked back down at me and proceeded to tell the myth. "At one time, long ago, every human had a, well, a Siamese twin, I guess you could call it. They had two heads, two arms four legs and feet, two hearts but one soul. Then, God became angry with the humans and split them all in two. Breaking the soul into two. And until this day, everyone has someone who shares the same soul as them, making them soul mates," he paused a moment, " I'm sorry, I don't tell it very well." I looked at him in awe, that was the most beautiful myth I had ever heard. "That's so wonderful! Well, from what you've seen here, what are the major differences between your world and mine?" I asked him as I pulled him further and further away from the palace. He looked around him with a sigh and I noticed his shoulders slump. "Everything. Culture, dress, foods, even the colors of things!" he exclaimed and I could here the sadness in his voice. "What do you mean by 'even the colors of things'?," I asked, my curiosity at full blast. A million and one thoughts raced through my mind as I tried to piece together what exactly his world looked like. He looked down at me and smiled for the first time that night. Before I knew what was happening, he erupted in complete laughter. I looked around me for the humorous sight he had seen, but found none. "What?!" I exclaimed frustrated that this was the first person I had never been able to figure out and it agitated me that I couldn't. He looked down at me and swallowed his laughter, but not his lop-sided grin. "I'm sorry, Princess, you just had the cutest look on your face. I couldn't help it," Nickolas apologized while still catching his breath from laughing so hard. "To answer your question, though," he continued, "The ocean back home is a deep blue, not aqua. The grass is blue-green, not black. And the sky is a beautiful pastel green, not lavender. And the clouds are silver, certainly not gold!" My jaw dropped at the prospect of the different colors. I never knew it could happen. "Wow," was the only remark I was able to make. Nickolas and I spent the rest of the night walking around the local country side, and talked about our lives, and the differences in the two worlds; two parallel universes. He eventually became comfortable around me enough to call me just Rose, and I was able to get it across to him that the way he had first seen my family was not how they always were. We talked until dawn and found we had much the same interests and we got along great. Although I would be grateful for the rest of my short life for that night, I would ,unfortunately, regret it ever happening. Throughout our hours of conversation we were both unaware of the eyes watching us, and the footsteps behind us. That one mistake would cause the end of thousands of lives and pull me into a tangled, complicated web of hatred and hurt until my time was through and my dimension would crumble.I groaned as I felt even more guilt was laid on my shoulders knowing that past memory was the trigger to the bomb that most likely led to my past death and the death of the others. |