Itachi – It's my first trilogy story. I had little time to write it so…here you go. I hope you enjoy this enough to leave a nice review.
oQoQo
The dark Mansion hidden in the mist of night, the lair of the Vampires…The RoseBud Estate. The only place that may be safe from the twisted village of thorns that wishes for a human sacrifice. Being myself…A small glint of hope is slowly killing my chances of survival…Is sneaking into the RoseBud Estate the safest way for me to go? Or will I be killed upon entry..?
oQoQo
ROSEBUD TRILOGY
Part I
…
.Water-Garden.
I sat on my old cot, burying my face within my knees, which were pulled to my chest.
The dim lights of the dying fire had barely lit the darkened room .
I should have been smiling – happy that I was alive and well…but…- I looked down to the rusty shackles that left my hands imprisoned, dried blood and oil on the chains just adding to my fear…- I wept once again. Today I should be happy. I would be giving back to the village, and the people that helped to raise me. . . But should one really be happy, knowing that this was the day of her final breath?...today was the day I'd repay the village as a sacrifice…Today was the day I'd repay the village…with my blood…With my death.
Just as I started to wallow in myself pity, the small door had started to unlock, and open. Three men had stepped inside…accompanied by the Elder of 'The Village of Thorns'. I knew why they were here. The time for the sacrifice…was here. My time to give back to my village – The Village of Thorns'- had come. The time for my death was here.
The first man spoke.
"Come now, girl, it is time."
The next man spoke.
"This is the awaited hour to give back to the village."
The last man spoke.
"It is time for you to show your undying loyalty to your village and its people."
The Elder spoke up.
"Ye should be honored that thee position of sacrifice was given, yee should smile…be happy, make merry…" the Elder turned her old body heading out the door, chanting words of enlightment.
One of the men had escorted me out of my small cabin to the sight of the sacrifice.
The air smelt of faint dew. It was to rain soon, was it not? … If it had rained, the village would be forced to reschedule the sacrifice…if it did rain, would I be able to live – just long enough – to see the sun rise and set once more?
I slowly started to regret having to be condemned to death so early.
oQo
It had been dark out –The crescent moon lit brightly in the sky- The winds of the Night had picked at my skin, biting me, and leaving the skin numb. The clothing I had been given to wear had been very little. A skirt that barely covered anything at all, accompanied by a shirt that looked as a strip of cloth. I looked to the three village men, and the Elder. They wore warm over coats, and hoods, dark boots covering their feet. I looked to the ground. My feet where bare. Every time I took two steps I had winced from the pain of sharp rocks gliding through the skin. …Should I really be happy for giving back to my village?
The chains had still stayed on my arms, weighing them down, successfully keeping them at my sides. I swallowed a frozen lump in my throat as one of the three men had spoke.
"We have reached our destination," I looked ahead of the Elder, and the three men, to the very end of the Village of Thorns… what I saw terrorized me. Every person from the village had lined up –most starring at me with complete and utter disgust as us four walked closer- some carrying weapons –Even farming utensils!- others with torches.
As we neared closer, I saw a giant red ball of flame.
A bonfire? What for-
"Today we celebrate another century of great life and prosperity!"
The Elder spoke aloud, interrupting my thoughts. What exactly where they to do with me during the sacrifice? I looked to the angry gaze's of the people…the torches…the pitchforks…I looked back to the blazing ball of red flame. Then back to the people. Back to the Flames. I stared into the flames.
…My method of death… was it to be – Oh God.
Was I…Was I to be – As I stared wide eyed into the large flames that slowly started to take on the look of a giant monster, the Elder had continued to preach to the people who cheered, some even saying 'Hurry and kill her' – My fate had crossed paths with my mind.
Was I to die by slowly burning in the mouth of flames?
Above the chants of the Elder, and the yells of the village, the only thing I really heard was my heart. It sunk in its own blood, died, then broke into pieces. The only pictures floating through my head had been only a shadow of myself burning to ash…my screams for 'help' only to be drowned out by the chants…the cheers of the village people.
I suddenly was no longer in anyway willing to die for the sakes of the village.
They wanted me dead.
They WANTED me dead.
The Elder –Whom had spoken of me being happy on this day…making merry…- The three escorts, they all never cared for me..! They've wanted me dead from the start!
Then…if they did…
I turned on my naked heel and ran into the forest.
Only to be followed by shouts, yells, and the order to capture my person.
oQo
I ran.
I ran ignoring the slick feeling of blood on my bare feet and legs – I ignored the bites from several insects of unknown species – And I ran. As fast as my blood soaked legs and feet would carry me. I heard several heavy feet coming in from behind me. Fast.
"Girl! Get yourself back here!"
"Come back here now!"
I recognized the two voices. It had been from the three escorts.
But I could care less for them.
I kept on running.
Running…Running… To nowhere in particular.
oQo
My running had slowed. My breathing ragged – The Three Escorts where still on my tail! I could not rest here! I heard one of them yell out my name – it echoed in the distance – Without a second thought, I ran once again, not caring which direction I went in…just anywhere, any place to get away from Village of Thorn territory. My chains clanked.
I thought once again – still running – 'anywhere…what about…THAT PLACE..?
That 'Place' had been only a mere legend coming from the surrounding villages – a mere myth to kept children and even adults away from the very forest I had been roaming in.
That 'Place' was called The RoseBud Estate.
It was said that any who enter to deeply into the Kipin'Hine forest, -The very forest I had been running through- had been cast away, never to be seen for months – then turn up dead, in a pool of blood.
The RoseBud Estate was said to be filled with blood-sucking monsters, known as Vampires. Any human to wonder too deep into these woods had been taken away, and murdered by the very Vampires of the Estate. I wonder…if I were to go there…would I too end up as another victim of these monsters as the villages say? I countered to run as the men in back started to catch up to me –I could even see them!- Without turning back, I made a right, and continued running.
Just before I could try to make a leap over a dead branch…I heard somebody…whispering –to me-.
"Girl, are you in danger?"
I turned around, only to see a large clearing – a man; who must be a Nobel judging by his attire, standing in the center. The dim light coming from the crescent moon shone on him. His hair –which was very long- held a raven black color, kept back by a navy blue ribbon. …the strangest thing had been his eyes, the dim red color of them had been…unsettling. There had been something off about this man I knew…but judging by my situation…
"Y-Yes Sir..-"
"And those men down there," He pointed a finger in the direction of which the three men were running, "they are after you, I suppose?" I looked to the man, shaking my head 'yes'. He glanced at my chains.
"Prisoner? Or…"
"I'm a sacrifice for the people of my village." The sounds of the three men coming up the hill had triggered ultimate panic in me. The man gestured for me to come to him. Trusting him half-heartedly, I ran to him. He took off his over-coat, and laid it on my shoulders, "You may explain later, girl, now don't move…" covering me, and –with a gloved hand under my chin- kissed me softly. Not knowing what to do, I stood.
Then they showed themselves.
The three men from the Village of Thorns had come from the overgrowth of the Kipin'Hine Forest surrounding the large clearing. The man holding me had broke the light kiss, and pushed my face to his clothed chest.
He turned to face the three men.
He spoke with a tongue of silver.
"Yes, is there anything you need?"
The first man spoke, "We are very sorry to interrupt you, but we are in a dire hurry."
The next man spoke, "We are pleading with you to ask of someone who has gone missing."
The last man spoke, "She is a girl, well in her teens – nearly full grown, who has disappeared."
The raven-haired mysterious man had raised an eye brow, almost intrigued, I could tell that he now wanted to know more.
"Hn? Interesting, and what village did this girl come from?"
"The great Village of Thorns." One spoke, "Please Sir, have you seen her?"
The raven-haired man only laughed at their statements. "Please! A mere child roaming through these woods? Kipin'Hine Forest? Has she never heard of the RoseBud Estate that lurks barley ten feet from this very clearing?" He laughed once again, composing himself, then allowing his gloved hand to softly pet down my hair, "A child running through here has very slim chance of survival, I highly suggest that you check elsewhere…" he looked at the men, "and I also very highly suggest that you venture no further into this Forest… Kiptin' Hine can be very dangerous during the hours of the night…This IS the said time of for the people of The RoseBud to wander…"
The three men had only stared. Plain confusion hiding in their eyes.
Then one spoke. "We-We are very sorry Sir," the men seemed to tremble upon hearing the raven-haired man speak of the RoseBud Estate, "We shall heed your warning, and leave" The man speaking had turned around to see to the other two standing behind him. "C-Come now! We must report back to the Elder!"
The next man spoke, "But she will not be pleased! We still have not located the girl!"
The last one spoke, as all three started their trek back to the Village of Thorns –which had to be miles from here- "Right now, we should fear our lives! That girl has probably fallen victim to the ones of the RoseBud, it is too late to venture any further, for the Estate lays just ahead – come now, we must hurry." The footsteps of the three men from the village had slowly started to turn from a light thumping on the soiled forest grounds, to a soft barely audible foot step.
oQo
The raven-haired man had stood. Looking straight away to the path in which the three from the village walked.
I dared not to move, for the man had said so, and I did not wish to get into any more trouble then I had already been in. And so, I waited. After a moment of silence, I looked up to man and gasped as I saw how intensely he had been starring at my person. I wanted to say, 'Thank You', to be polite, so that I may be on my way…but…
"Girl, tell me, exactly what have you been up to frocking through Kipin' Hine Forest so late at night? Do you not know the dangers that lay in this very area?" The man seemed to sound concerned – almost scolding when he spoke. And so, I answered back.
"Like I have said before, I was made to become a sacrifice, in my village," I sighed as I remembered seeing what was to be my fate, the giant ball of flame… "The Village of Thorns…"
"And so your best idea was to end yourself here?" The man snapped back – his voice raised just above average speech, "And so? Now what will you do?"
That question of 'what would I do' had never crossed my mind. While I had been running, I had crossed many trails, many streams, but I never contemplated on what I would do…accept…
What about THERE…That 'Place'…(Italics)
"The RoseBud."
The clouds had started to cover the moon, leaving the Forest clearing with an eerie, strangling scene of distrust.
Two simple words that I had spoken had forced the tall mans head to stand on alert, his dull red-eyes cutting into my grey ones.
"The RoseBud…You say..?" The man spoke…his already deep voice, a smooth layer lower.
He took one step – Then another.
I took a step back – my left foot following.
I completely forgot about the blood staining on my legs and feet, and took another step back –with my right- The sounds of grass crunching, and dead twigs snapping could be heard over a mile as the raven haired man took a step closer. By the time my back had hit the bark of a tree, the man had already touched noses with my own. "Girl…I'm curious…Of all the places you wish to take refuge…you chose the RoseBud Estate?" I said nothing. What was this man? Every time he spoke the words 'RoseBud Estate', my mind had raced. Why had I been so freighted around this man? Was it just an aftershock of having to run through the Kiptin' Hine Forest with three fully grown men on my tail? Was I just in slight shock because of my narrowly escaping death?
"Girl," The deep voice of the man standing nose to nose with my person had awoken me from my thoughts…It was that voice that had once again freighted me...
"Y-yes sir..?" I struggled to speak to for my voice and mind had told me not to.
The man had looked me in the eyes once again. "...Girl, what is your name..?" I had been taken back upon hearing him speak something so formal. It felt strange telling a person my name...would I even know this man for over the hour that I am trapped with him now?
"...I, uh..." Something deep at my core..., "My name is Kagome sir..." told me I would.
"Hn..." The man had looked as if he had been contemplating about something, "Gir-" he corrected himself, "Kagome...Do you notice that you have cut yourself?" ...Cut myself? I had known well that I might as well be infected by a deadly pathogen of sorts...so why had he spoke of cutting...-I reached to my neck to feel a sticky substance running down leaving a trail...-
"Blood..?" I had spoken aloud. How had I cut my neck? I felt around for the opening, and surly there it had been. A small gash, nothing in need of immediate attention, but it still had to be covered. I looked to my 'clothing'. It had been barely enough to cover myself with! "Oh...my..."
The raven-haired man had smiled, 'glee' or some other strange emotion that I could not decipher had played on his face. "Gi- Kagome," He corrected himself once again, I looked up to face his strangely dim-red eyes, "allow me to be of assistance to your wound..."He slowly brought his head to the corner of my neck, where the small gash lay. "Allow me to show you..." I felt his hot breath caress my shoulder... "Why you should stay away from the RoseBud Estate..."
Before I could tell what had been happening, I had the oddest sensation...
Something smooth had glided across my neck...warm and wet...The odd wet feeling had led itself down the trail of dried blood that had leaked out from the corners of the opened cut.
The man stood up straight, watching me as a brought a hand over to cup the now not bleeding cut with my hand. We stood like so, for little over a few seconds.
The man had licked the blood...off my wound...He...This meant he was...he had to be! He was from the RoseBud Estate! He was a- "Do you now see why you should keep away from the RoseBud Estate?" The man had pushed a stray strand of raven-black hair behind his ear, "Monsters are REAL, Vampires included. It is in my best intention to warn you to keep your distance from beings other than your species-"
I interrupted the man, it had been rude, but my situation had been urgent.
"I must! The RoseBud will be the only place that the people from the Village of Thorns would not think to check! Please! You must take me there! At least until the commotion about my escape dies down!" I begged the man, countless times...until he spoke.
The man sighed aloud hearing my begging.
"The Lord always did say I had been a quite the sucker for young women..." I looked up at the man hopefully, "I will see what I can do," right before I could sigh triuptly, the man spoke again, "but," he took in a deep breath of the now cool air, "if my Lord or any of the others disagree...you might be found by your village peoples...in a pool of your own blood."
... Taking my silence as an 'Okay', the man started off walking, his raven hair flowing with the wind behind him...with myself in tow.
oQo
"And this man you three say you saw, spoke of yee sacrifice as dead?" A dim fire had lit the faces of several different peoples back in the Village of Thorns.
The first man spoke, "Yes Elder, we are very sorry."
The next man spoke, "If we were to travel any further into the Kipten' Hine Forest, we may have run into the RoseBud..."
The last man spoke, "Please forgive us, Elder."
The wrinkled women had stood from her seat on a low stool, shadows under her eyes...
"The RoseBud...eh?" She chuckled, than looked onto the starts of the forest, "Those darn monsters...must have her..."
oQo
ROSEBUD
-Water Garden...Part I
oQo
Itachi – Hope you all liked it!
Just a little something-somethin' I had in my head. I will not be updating this story regularly, I already have some others to finish, PLUS this story is a TRILOGY. 'tri' means three, so three chapters for WaterGarden, might be a sequel or two...if I feel like it.
I have my test coming up, so I won't be on FanFiction much, and yes, to those who have me as a reviewer on their story's, I apologize. This story, ROSEBUD, was a bit complicated to write, soooo...I won't mind if you all leave some reviews for me! I will gladly accept them!