Part Four
written by Jenn Parker
"Rose, I will give you all the answers you want ok. There are some things I was going to explain to you anyway." Peter said with a smile.
He looks like he has calmed down too. I feel unsure on what to do - I need answers. Do I trust this man, I feel like I want to trust Peter, I definitely will not be his bride though.
"Rose, please come inside - I just finished cooking you something. Lets get warm, have something to eat and please let me explain everything to you. I promise you now, I swear Rose I will never hurt you. As long as you are near me, you are protected." Peter held out his hand towards me, again with his beautiful smile.
I dont know what other choices I have, if he is as strong as Karl then .. Wait "Karl!" I realize. I have been so preoccupied with the recent drama that I had forgotten all about how much danger I am in right now.
"Dont worry" Peter says. "That bastard goblin has already been dealt with". I gulp. 'Dealt with' I thought. "Peter I..." I am unsure what to say to him in this situation - I cant oppose him.. "Ok.. please tell me about my abilities and this bride and food thing works. It doesn't mean I'm going to trust you either." I take Peters hand.
His warm hand holds me firmly as he leads me back down the long corridor. I study Peter from behind. He is tall with broad shoulders, much taller than I. He is definitely good looking, no he is beautiful. Who is this Peter, how will I feel if he is the boy from my past. My heart begins to beat faster.
"Dont worry Rose, I promise I will never hurt you. Im not a goblin." Peter speaks as if he can feel my heart pounding. I feel a mixture of fear, confusion, tiredness, nervous and even slightly happy. I want to know about this power - I had always accepted things were the way they were. But I really don't have any idea why, everything in my life is this way...
The kitchen is filled with the same dated furniture with a nice breakfast table set up next to a bay window looking into the houses beautiful gardens. Peter gestures to me to take a seat.
I nervously sit down at the table.
Peter brings over a tray. Eggs, toast, bacon, fried banana, squeezed orange juice. It looks delicious. "Please eat Rose, it will help you feel better. I will explain everything to you now so please relax". It feels like Peter has some sincerity. He went through all the trouble to make me this meal, and all I've done is slapped him, yelled and screamed at him, told him he was going to eat me.
I will hear Peter out. But the moment he proves me other wise I'm going to get mum and dad to move away from here.
"Well, first off - I will tell you how I know you". Peter begins. He takes the seat across from me and seems to keep his distance as promised. "10 Years ago I lived here, with my mother and my father. Your mum would work for my family as a nanny while you were young. You and me, we used to imagine lots of games together in my backyard. You were my best friend. But there was another reason why I lived next to you. But you and me didn't know at the time." Peter says as he looks me in the eyes. It feels like there is some hidden pain here. More to his childhood story than what he is going to tell me at this point.
"And this reason?" I egg Peter on. "My parents wanted you to become my bride. But Rose, your not just any girl, you HAVE to become my bride no matter what in their eyes. Your mum was thrilled with the idea she used to say how cute we could be."
Ah! Mum! I'm going to have her up about this at some stage. She hasn't ever said anything about this to me. "Of course your mum wouldn't know the real reason.." Peter continues.
"Ok so tell me already please!" I say getting annoyed - I didn't like where any of this is going. And I don't remember a thing of it. "Well you need to be my bride because you are the Ash Princess."
"Ash....... Princess...!" I slam my hands on the table "What! Ok this story just sounds more and more crazy, now I'm a princess!" Peter raises his hands in mercy, "Wait. Please just hear me out - It will make sense once I have said the whole story."
"When one of our kind finally die they turn to ashes, we can live for several centuries but we are not eternal. Except for a certain few. My father, My great grandfather and so on. Me and my grandfather are the only ones who haven't eaten the Ash Princess."
I gasp. So does this mean Peter's parents have stopped me from traditionally being eaten. Even though his father ate a person like me!?
"However chilling that might sound - There are 2 sides to this story. My mother is the last Ash Princess, and she gave both her life and heart to my father. However my father loved my mother so much that he gave his demon tear to her, the source of all his power and then she was reborn. But she did this to save his life, he was going to die, so he did it for her in return."
"Wow, I'm sorry Peter at the start of that story, I was starting to not like your father, but then at the end of the story, now I understand that they loved each other.." I blush at the realization of what I just said. I look at Peter and see him smiling.
"Uh.. well Ok so - I think what you are saying is I am this kind princess person. And are you giving me the choice of choosing to be a bride? Knowing I could be eaten." I say.. my heart skips a beat. Would he really do that for me? There must be more to this story.
"Well, also my family is the highest ranking of my kind. Because my father has the Ash Princess as his bride. Whoever can accomplish this will be the crowned family. That's why you are a princess, you are to become royalty."
I knew it, I'm like a trophy for him, this means he will be a Spirit King? I don't even know what kind of creature he is? All I know is that he can see what I see.. and maybe freeze goblins too?
"But Rose.. I'm doing this to protect you! There are others out there like me and as powerful as I am who will come to drink your blood dry. Like Karl today. He wont be the last of them now."
Peter looks away from me awkwardly.
"You are becoming ripe tomorrow." Ripe? This is all falling in with what Karl was saying before he was about to bite me.
"What you are Rose is someone who attracts demons and spirits, other world creatures, dark and scary creatures. But your also someone who gives life and is like a balance amongst chaos, you are the light that needs to shine into our world. You are so shiny in this world that you are easy to find, we are like moth's and you are our flame. Our Queen to be..". Peter lets out a sigh.
"Rose, you and me when we were little - we both didn't know any of this ok. I was only told that day I left you - thats why we made that promise, I promised to come back for you because I knew I had to go to train to grow up to protect you. I have spent the last 10 years of my life doing everything I have for you!" Peters face is flustered. I feel touched, he seem's to be really sincere with how he got so worked up telling me everything he has now told me. "I liked you a lot when we were younger." Peter stands up from the table.
"Rose I hope this eases you - I know I have told you a lot just now, but what did you take from everything I have told you?" Peter says brushing his hand through his hair.
I look down at my food. I haven't touched it this whole time. I use my food as my distraction and take a bite from the toast. I can feel Peter looking at me. I swallow and put the toast down.
"Peter.. I.. understand I think. Basically tomorrow when I turn 16. Im going to become a super homing beacon for all the little pranksters I love to hate. Then they wont leave me alone because they will want to eat me, or make me a bride. But if I become your bride I get to be a queen of all those scary little things anyway..." As flat as that sounded, it was the truth! This is the life I have been living! I let out a reluctant sigh.
"However.. I know that sounds harsh, but I don't understand what I get out of everything? I don't want any of that for myself. I have been trying by myself all this time to be normal, I have hidden everything as best as I could to protect myself from the taunting and the pain. I don't get anything out of being your bride! There is no happy ending for me is what you are telling me!"
I cant just accept any of this. I push my plate away "I kindly decline your offer. If your going to eat me mr. spirit thing then just eat me already!" I shout at Peter.
I hate this, why is this what my whole life has summed up to. There is not free will in any of this. Its unfair. What about my family. My friends, Lily! My dreams of growing up and having a family. I cant have any of that because I'm like this. I begin to cry again, it's sore now. I've definitely cried a lot in the last few hours.
"Rose, there are some rules you still need to hear - If this will make you feel better". It looks like Peter is forcing himself to smile. Peter has been calm and answered all my questions so far. I feel harsh, he says he did all this for me.
"Ok Peter, I believe who you say you are. I will hear out your request, but If my final answer is no, then I want you to leave me alone, please." I've got my own rules too! Im not going to just sit here and do nothing while destiny or fate or what ever takes my freedom from me.
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