It's a tale as old as time. A beautiful princess locked away from the world and guarded by monstrous beasts until a handsome prince would come to her rescue, then they would get married have kids and blah blah. So quite obviously this isn't that tale, but it does possess similar origins that one. In this story a girl was locked away, rather by humans than monsters, and her hero didn't come in the form of a dashing prince. Instead they were thieves. And she was not rescued, she was stolen.
Moonlight illuminated a room of glass, containing a lush garden of exotic plants. In the clearing stood a small figure, a little girl. She dressed in a ruffled white dress and downed golden accessories. Her mint colored hair touched her ankles, matching eyes scanned to the top of the glass as they noticed something.
"That's an awful amount of smoke out there, there was also a bit of commotion earlier" She mumbled watching the smoke intensify, more so out of curiosity than concern. Suddenly the doors to her room burst open with a chubby man rushing past them.
"Leader" The girl inquired at the man's hastened appearance, his white robes covered in dirt and speck of blood. He never answered her, merely grabbed her tiny wrist and proceeded to drag her out of her room.
"Oi, where do you think you're going" A voice growled causing the Leader to stop in his tracks. Directly behind him stood the girl, unable to see past the man toward the voice. However she could still hear them, as well as see the Leader's form shaking while his palms began to sweat.
"Who are you people, what do you want" He asked frantically, his grip on the girl tightening.
"We were told this place possessed the original Writings of the Rose, we want it" Another answered, his tone lighter than the other. The girl tried to peak around the man in front of her, but he was simply too big.
"I cannot disclose that information, it goes against my vows as the head of-"
"I know where it is!" The girl squealed, attempting to run out in front of the man only to be held in place by his thick hand.
"Oh, whose that your hiding"
"No one, just please leave us be and I'll provide you with any amount of wealth you coul-"A hand pierced through the middle of his back. Blood oozed from the wound and around the hand, which ripped itself from the man allowing his body to fall to the ground. The girl remained impassive to the scene she witnessed and merely turned her head to the attacker. He stood at being twice her size, with combed black hair and steel cold eyes.
"Show us where it is, girl" He ordered flicking fresh blood off his hand.
"Ok" She chirped, happily while the man remained unphased by her delighted expression as his eyes hardened. He grabbed her by the collar of her dress, lifting her as though she was paper, and tossed her body over to his partner. The girl landed in his arms with a grunt.
"So why do I have to carry the brat" The partner inquired with annoyance, hoisting her up on to her shoulder.
"Because I don't want to" The shorter man replied walking past them through the doorway, turning back abruptly staring at the girl. "Now take us to the writings" He demanded, her hand arose pointing in the direction. With inhuman speed they dashed down halls, passed gardens, until they stood in front of a pair delicately engraved doors, various flowers and symbols etched into the wood.
"Is this it" The man carrying the girl asked tilting his head to face her, only to find her head swaying side to side dizzily. With a 'che' he brought the tips of his fingers to her forehead and flicked her. The intense impact dragged her back to reality as she gripped her injured head muttering 'ow'. "Is this it" The man repeated with a growl, the girl giggled.
"What is it" He asked his eyes narrowing in his irritation, causing the girl to giggle even harder.
"You're furrowing your brows, but you've got no eyebrows!" She answered throwing herself into a fit of laughter, tears threatening to spill from her eyes in the hysterics. Her behavior earned her another flick to the head.
"Yes" She groaned cradling her injury, the man grunted and kicked the doors open revealing the masses of corpses scattered around the cathedral with their blood dripping down from the ceiling's arches.
"As you can see we've already been here, which means you were lying" The shorter one said steadily approaching the girl, prepared to punish her for her lack of resourcefulness.
"But they're still on the alter" She retorted pointing to the end of the aisle, standing there a magnificent iron sculpture of a tree as a rose vine entangled itself from the trunk and through the branches with each flower a vibrant scarlet. The girl ripped herself out of the man's arms, more like he let her down, and ran down the aisle toward the iron tree. Hopping over corpses standing in her way and occasionally slipping over some of the blood, the men steadily following her. The girl stood at the tree and reached for the closest rose, standing on her tippy toes and jumping to try and grab it. Eventually she caught one in the tips of her fingers and brought it down, carefully unfolding it and revealing golden script on the inside of the petals.
"See I wasn't lying" She announced waving the parchment in front of them, only to have it snatched away.
"Looks legit" The taller one examined before passing it to his partner, after checking the parchment his eyes flickered up to meet the girls. "All that remains is whether or not we kill the girl" He added, the girl remained emotionless and returned their stares. The shorter one said nothing, but returned the parchment back to his partner and stepped to her. His aura focusing itself around his hand and rose above his head as he prepared to strike down the girl.
"Excuse me, mister can I ask you a question" She asked.
"You just did" His partner replied, the girl stuck her tongue out toward him in irritation.
"What is it" He asked, setting his arm down.
"Can you tell me your name, please"
"Why do you want to know"
"Because I think you're really cool" She answered, grining ear to ear. His hand shot up from his side to strike her, throwing her tiny body into the iron tree and causing more roses to fall and land around her. She managed to remain conscious, barely, and saw only his feet stepping to her then kneel just before her.
"Feitan" The girl's smile never wavered unlike any previous victims he had claim she felt no fear nor anguish, just happiness. Slowly she was forced to surrender to the darkness creeping upon her, and the smile grew faint.
"Why didn't you kill her" His partner questioined, having never seen him spare any life. From the helpless, to babies and children never had he hesitated in taking their heads. Yet this one girl, the only one to cross his path and live. Feitan said nothing but picked her body up, holding her at his waist.
"Because I could use an assistant"