Bitter Reunion

A Story by Mizar

The excitement bubbled under my skin as I glided through the moonlit halls of the palace. The summer night was warm and the white curtains fluttered faintly in some unclaimed breeze at the opened windows. I am off to see my prince.

I could remember when I first saw him so many evenings ago. The moon had been full as it was tonight and candles had glittered like stars tangled up in the twisted gold of the chandeliers. The air had been filled with rich chimes of laughter and music when he had appeared. Moving amongst the sea of faces, blue eyes like bites chipped out of the sky, locked upon me.

Are you Princess Rosaline?

I reached the doors of his chambers and now it was my turn to smile as I glided soundlessly into the room. He was sitting at his desk, curled around a book with a candle burning steadily at his side. He hardly ever slept now a days. Beside the candle sat a crown. My crown.

“Hello, my prince…” I purred. He turned in his seat. He’d changed so much since that night under the tangled sheets of my bed, he was gaunter, with dark bruise coloured circles under his eyes. I watched his skin drain of its colour until it was the shade of withered ash.

“Rose…” He practically wept, as though he was almost happy to see me. As I had almost, almost, been happy that night when his fingers curled around my throat and squeezed. When there was nothing left to do but stare into those beautiful eyes, and think at least death would silence the sound of my heart breaking.

“You shall never have my crown…” I sneered, reaching a silvery hand towards him. His beautiful face scrunched itself up as a sob choked his throat.

“Please…” He begged just as I had.

His whimpering, as mine had, went unheeded.