**I DO NOT OWN THE CHARATERS, I AM JUST BORROWING THEM**

Chapter 1 – Once Upon A Time

England, 1892.

Fairy tales are known as magical and imaginary beings or places, made up into stories to read. The name is Catherine Chandler and I write children fairy tales and non-fiction novels when I'm not tending to sick patients as a doctor. The story I'm about to tell you proves that in this life time, fairy tales are not just figments of your imagination. . .no, they are very much real.

My father is very talented at his work and was sent to a small village in England to meet with a world known inventor and scientist, Evan Marks, so that he could see all of my father's creations. I tagged along to make sure that he was okay, he had fallen ill recently and needed close medical attention and herbs to stay well. My mother stayed behind with my sister, Heather in New York City. I truly miss them a lot and wish I was there. I had tried to convince them to come along with us, but they were never really interested in my father's work like I was.

I had been interested in being a writer/journalist all of my life, even though my parents had forced medical school on me, and I have worked in the medical field for roughly 5 years. Things were always hectic as a doctor yet writing was calming, and venting.

Upon our arrival of the village my eyes instantly gazed upon the library. "Catherine, we haven't the time to waist at the public library. We must meet with Mr. Marks before sundown. I'm sure you understand?"

"Yes father, I understand how important this meeting is to you. Besides, I brought a few of my own favorite books to read during the trip. I could always go tomorrow."

He kissed my cheek and continued to get our luggage out of the carriage. If it was me, I would rather be at the library trapped in some mystery novel. But I didn't want to defy my father, especially this trip concerning him and I was just a tag a long. I picked up my luggage and we walked into the hotel to check in, "Good day sir. My name is Alex and I'm the owner of the hotel. . . . how may I be of service to you?" a woman with strawberry blonde hair and green eyes said as we approached the front desk.

"Good day to you as well. A room with 2 beds please, and can you have the servant take our luggage to the room? We have somewhere else to be."

The red headed woman nodded and smiled as she took our luggage off of our hands. My father paid her then we left.

As we arrive to Mr. Marks' house and I stepped out of the carriage, I couldn't help but be in awe of the wonderful surroundings around me. Fields of purple and yellow wildflowers mixed in with the beautiful bright green meadows all around the 2 story house. From the looks of things, he was a wealthy man. "Well come on darling. We don't want to keep him waiting." my father said as he walked towards the house.

Father knocked on the door and a young, yet beautiful goddess of a woman opened it and said with a smile on her face, "You must be Mr. Chandler. I'm Tori, Evan's wife."

He took her hand and kissed the top of it, "Please madam, call me Thomas."

"Thomas. And who might this charming little dove be?" she said looking at me.

"My name is Catherine. I'm his eldest daughter."

We both curtsied, "Nice to meet you Catherine."

"Nice to meet you too."

"Oh please, please. Come in. Evan is in the living room waiting for you Thomas." she said as she led us into a huge, beautifully decorated room. Golden wall paper all around with burgundy furniture, all matching each other. A piano sat in the far corner next to a beautiful brass stained fireplace. Pictures of what I assume are his ancestors hung on the walls. A man sat at a roll desk and from the looks of it, he wasn't much older than I. How could somebody so young have made it to millionaire status? Quite frankly, it isn't any of my business. "Please, take a seat anywhere you'd like." Mr. Marks said as he stood and turned around. "Is there anything that I can get for you? A drink perhaps?" asked Mrs. Marks before parting the room.

"Yes, certainly. Thank you." said my father as he took off his coat and hung it up. This house is truly nice, inside and out. Never in my life have I ever seen such a beautiful place before.

Mr. Marks looked in my direction and smiled as he said, "If you would like Miss, you can take a look around the house during our meeting. I promise, we won't be long."

Would I ever? I thought to myself in excitement, "Are you sure? I don't want to impose any further than I have. I brought a book with me to keep me preoccupied."

"Why of course. I hardly get any guests anyways to show the house off to. Please do as you like."

As I wondered around the living room, a picture on top of the fireplace caught my eye. It was of Mr. Marks and another man standing in front of a castle. The place looked dark, and cold but extremely beautiful at the same time. And by the look on the mens faces, they seemed terrified, "I don't mean to interrupt, but where was this photo taken? The castle. . .it doesn't look familiar to me yet I have studied almost every castle known in the world."

"Ah, yes. Ashgard, the enchanted castle of darkness. Villagers have rumored there to be a magical rose in one of the many hidden wings of the castle. Some even say it is guarded by a monster. . . a beast. The man that you see in the photo next to me is my brother, Samuel. We traveled to the castle in search of this rose only to find nothing. I did not see this creature that the towns people talked about but I don't doubt that it exists."

A beast? The creature that he speaks of was something that you would read about in novels; fairy tales of dark knights defeating such a creature to save the damsel in distress. My curiosity is growing to go to this castle as he continued, "I never saw my brother after that again. He returned to the castle later in the night alone, and he never returned. Some said that the beast ate him and saved the bones as décor. Others say he is locked up in the dungeon below ground for trespassing on the land. Me? I believe he is very much alive. . . I can feel him inside of me. I've wanted to go over there and look for him but I am terrified for my own life. Maybe one day I will build the courage to return for my brother. . ."

He's such a coward! His own brother possibly being tortured and even caged like an animal, yet he is too afraid to go after him. His life means more to him than his own brothers. I would have given my life for my sister, and she would do the same if it were me. "Please excuse me. I just realized I had somewhere else to be." I said in disgust as I looked over at my father, "I'm sorry, but I think I will go to the library now. Sorry for the interruption of your meeting, I beg you good day Mr. Marks. It was very nice to meet you." and I left.

The nerve of that man to be so young, so talented, and yet when it comes to saving the life of a loved one. . . he can't do it. Besides, this creature that he speaks of is probably just a wolf or something and people have made it out to be something greater. As of right now, I have planned to figure it out on my own. See it all for myself. I took one of the horses from our carriage and headed to the hotel to grab a few things for my journey.

**Yes I ended it right there. Where will this journey take Catherine? Will she find the rose, or the creature first? Find out in chapter 2 of Thorns. Please leave reviews and let me know what you think about this story. I will try to make the chapters longer, but if not that is because I don't want to reveal too much in one chapter. Thanks for being awesome as always and I love you all!**