Part Five
written by Jenn Parker
"Well.." Peter continues, his excitement appears to have calmed from before. "There are some things I can offer you, if you would like to become my bride - These creatures that hang on to you, you may have noticed but have you ever seen spirits around here in the gardens, or around me?" Peter is right, I did notice earlier that they seemed to have quietened down.
"Its because of me. If you are with me they wont bother you anymore.." I watch Peter hesitate "My kind is above all other kinds, so they don't bother me - buts thats why I knew I had to protect you". Peter walks over to me and kneels in front of me.
"Rose.. I... I am a Demon." Peter says. A chill runs down my spine. I have never met a Demon before. I'm actually having a lot of first's today.
"A Demon... so I would one day become the Demon Queen? But I'm just a human! None of this really makes sense, I don't understand why it has to be me? There must be other humans like me though. Cant you just use a Demon power to make them go away for me - aren't you really powerful?" I still have a lot of questions for Peter, even more now that he has said all this to me.
"No.. Rose, my power's don't work like that. Since the 'Karl' incident earlier this afternoon, I have put up a barrier around your house and mine. You will be able to freely walk around the two properties and nothing will bother you. It's like you are hidden here".
Hiding I thought.. Well I am good at that anyway - I have been doing it all by myself this whole time. Even if you had gone away.. Why didn't you take me with you Peter then.. why did I have to wait so long for you.
"Ok so you can offer me some peace from my other worldly stalkers" I say. "So I guess this means some peace for me but... I cant have a loveless marriage -" I say quietly. Peter looks slightly agitated.
"Peter I... Im sorry, it really is a lot to take in. I'm sorry for how I have acted - I just until now haven't had anyone to talk to this whole time. For me this is all strange and scary. I feel like I have been given no choices in this world. I know you did all this for me Peter, being away so long though.. I don't know you anymore.." I fiddle with my hands.
Peter stands, grabs my hands and pulls me into a hug. I struggle at first but he feels so warm.
I feel comfortable like this. Peter gently strokes the back of my head and holds me closely.
"Get to know me again Rose" He whispers. My heart skips a beat. His words are like magic. I've never felt like this before. The more I am around Peter.. the longer I keep talking to him. I feel like my resolve is being swayed.
"Please.. give me some thought" He moves his hands down my back. Tracing a finger down my spine. My body tingles at the sensation. "Ahh.. please Peter don't..." I plead. I can hear him chuckling. I push myself out of his grip. Blushing, I look away.
"I want to go home now... you said it's safe right... It's my birthday tomorrow as you know.. So I need to go home." I need to sleep on all this - I feel like my head in spinning with all the things Peter has told me. I feel sad though because he has done all these thing's for me. But I just feel like it's all because he needs to be King. If i decided to be his bride, it would be a loveless marriage.. But it also feels like it is my only choice.
Peter grabs my bag for me. "Sorry I didn't eat the meal you cooked me." I apologize to Peter. "It's ok - All the food here is for you anyway. Do with it what you please."
"I dont understand?" I say. "Well... I don't eat human food. I guess I thought things might have turned out a little different than what has happened today so I went a bit overboard" Peter says with a goofy smile. It was cute. "Thanks then... I'm sorry Peter. I will think about everything though ok. I feel like I can trust you a bit now. I think your kindness has been sincere." I say I was starting to feel guilty now. I wish my memories weren't so vague. Peter is the boy from my past. He was my first love I think. I wonder if thats how he felt about me this whole time..
I think if that was the case. Maybe I can be his bride?
Peter walks me to the pathway between his place and mine. I look up at his beauty. I feel nervous every time I'm around him because he is so good looking. "Rose.. Can I see you on your birthday. You might have some more questions for me, and I have something else I would like to give you." Peter gives me a genuine smile. It's nice, he has a nice smile. Maybe I can be his bride and fall him to with that smile. I shake my head. What am I thinking.. I'm just a mere human - I'm just some girl from his past. He probably has no choice but to like me even if he did. There is no way for me to really know his true feelings even though his body language for me is something else.
"Ok then Peter. I.. I want to be your friend for now. Again I'm not promising anything." I give him a smile and wave goodbye. "Thanks for your honesty - I will come over when I get a chance tomorrow!"
I woke up on my birthday with a smile. Today was my first day with no creepy little gnomes trying to mess up my morning. They are always pranking me. Like all my tooth paste would be gone in one night. Or all my socks would be missing the matching pair. And sometimes whole buttons would disappear from my shirts. Really annoying stuff. One summer holiday with my family I saw the gnomes the night before tinkering with our family car. Next morning dad told us the car wasn't working - and we had no car to take us to the beach all summer.
They just love to do really annoying things to me.
But this morning. Everything was normal. It must have been the barrier Peter said he created yesterday. I felt safe for once. I wondered though what Peter had done to Karl. Everyone at school know's who Karl is, even if they don't know his secret. To everyone else - he is just a normal kid. And he has a lot of friends.. I wonder if Peter... Killed him?
I shiver at the thought. I don't know anything about their weird world. Only what has happened to me recently and being able to see things. Again I found myself with lots of questions. I resolve that I want to know everything I can about this Other World, living secretly around the "normal" human world.
I roll out of bed and my family had already prepared a feast for me. Well it would have been mum who did all the cooking. But dad was home for once too. We all chat about our plans for the day. Mum has to work the late shift again. Dad was only home for this morning - he even made a special trip home so it turns out, just to see me. My dad was busy working on some business deal. Dad never really bored us with the details as he says, leave work at work.
Mum cooked me pancakes, layered with melted butter and maple syrup. My ultimate favorite breakfast. Their was also a range of fresh berries and yoghurt. It was well presented. In the middle of the table is a present, wrapped in shiny silver paper and a big red bow tide around it. I grinned from ear to ear when I saw it. If it is, what I think it is... It will be the white party dress me and mum spotted shopping the other weekend. Mum refused to buy it for me saying she cant afford it with my birthday coming up - But I'm hoping that was an excuse. Mum typically leaves everything to the last minute around presents and going to parties etc. Always buzzing around in a rush forgetting what had to be done or what she should be doing next.
I love my mum for it though.
"Well today Lily is going to come over this afternoon. She wanted to take me out or something - some kind of surprise for me." I tell mum and dad as a ate my pancakes. "Well thats good dear, you said you didn't want us making a fuss out of your 16th so we have left it up to you" mum says as she dishes herself out some breakfast. "Well you know.. Lily is really one of my only friends.. so.." I start, thats when mum jumps up from the table, as she normally does when she remembers something. She can be so animated sometimes.
"Yes that reminds me Rose! Your friend from when you were younger - Peter. He moved back in just the other day" Mum becomes all flustered with what she is saying.. "Why don't we have him over here for dinner sometime - He has grown up to be a very good looking boy Rose! I wouldn't mind if you bought a boy like him home with you either. You are of that age now!" Mum says with a laugh. I groan "Mum! Seriously..." I shake my head in defiance "That reminds me too - I met Peter the other day - He told me you wanted us to get married! Imagine him saying such things to me mum! Grrr!" I fold my arms but then couldn't help but laugh as well. "Well, you two were just so cute playing together when you were little!" mum says with a smile.
Oh so mum can confirm Peter is who he say's he is. My mood changes. I guess this means that what Peter has had to say - is true... I cant decide to soon though. Well I did say I would see him this afternoon. I finished off my breakfast and dad handed me my present.
"Happy 16th Birthday Rose!" mum and dad shout in unison. I say my thanks and take the present and unwrap the big red bow. Inside is a plain brown box. I open the box.
I jump from the table in happiness and bump the table in all my excitement. Mum shakes her head in dismay. "Wow thank you!" I jump up and down shouting at my parents. It was the white party dress as I had guessed. Mum is so predictable. "Ok well I am going to shower - and put on my dress!" I exclaim as I run upstairs. I can hear dad making a comment about teenagers as I close the day. I have a bit of a laugh. I really do love this dress though.
The dress looks stunning on me. It was frilly across the bottom hemming and sat rounded off the shoulders. It had a woven flower pattern all over it. It was a very cute and intricate dress.
I did my hair and make up to match. I was happy that I could look nice on my birthday.
I went downstairs and showed mum and dad my dress. Mum already has the camera ready and we all take some photos together. Not long after that mum and dad have to take off for the day.
Finally I have the house to myself.
I dial Lily on my cell phone. No answer. I let it go - she was probably in the shower or something, our meeting wasn't for another couple of hours. I spend the time enjoying the quietness. It felt like possibly the first time I had ever been truly by myself. I hadn't seen a single creature since yesterday afternoon.
Those couple of hours went quickly, and I find myself dialing Lily again as I still hadn't heard from her. Again I put it down to she has already gone to the meeting place and can't hear her phone or something. I leave it at that and then decide it was about time I left to goto the meeting place as well.
It was a beautiful day - I was definitely feeling lucky. But as soon as I step outside the front gate. It all changed. There are swarms of them. Sprites, Gnomes, Fairies, Ghosts you name it - They are crawling around everywhere. I step back past the fence again. They vanish.
I do this a couple of times. Every time I seem to go over the barrier.. more appear.
I feel disturbed. One because for the first time I realized that the barrier made it also so I couldn't see them while also keeping them out. But I also realized what it meant to be 'Ripe'.
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