As all of this had transpired, Emily had no idea what was going on. As usually she was hidden away in the large mansion sitting there with her nose deeply buried in a book her big curly hair nearly falling down over her eyes so she had to brush it away for the millionth time.
This time she was reading about star consolations and how sailors used them to navigate by, soon though Emily regretted the subject as the mention of sailors made her think of her father and she got insanely worried.
What if he didn't come back? What if something horrible had happened? Emily squinted her eyes, there was nothing she could do. Then as she reached for a page to turn it a big thumb sounded from downstairs.
Wide-eyed Emily looked up then closed the book. There were definitely sounds from the entrance hall but.. Who could it possible be?
The woman whom was hired to clean wasn't supposed to come today and Emily didn't expect any guests.
Emily shivered but gathered courage as she put the book away and walked out of her study towards the stairs that led to the entrance, then she looked down and her eyes widened.
For there, standing in the centre of the entrance was her own dear father looking white as a ghost, shivering all over his body, and frightened looked in front of himself with wide open eyes.
Emily gaped astounded. "FATHER!" she exclaimed and then rushed down the stairs making the older shaking man turn to her. "When did you get here? And how?" Emily asked astounded then gave him a embrace. "I sure am glad you're back though." she sniffed and stood back. "So odd though, I didn't think any ships had been spotted! If I had known I would have run to the port to meet you. please forgive me father." she asked.
Astounded Farand glanced at his daughter, then lifted his hand to his forehead as he shivered. "Oh god, was it just a nightmare?" he asked but then he blinked and then wide-eyed looked at his hand where a golden ring was placed on his finger, the mere sight of the ring made Farand scream and then he looked beside himself where a huge wooden chest was standing which made Farand grow extra pale.
"Father?" Emily asked. "Are you… Are you okay?" she asked. "You look terrible!" she then admitted. "Oh dear you should sit down!" she said taking his arm and supported him towards the living room where she gently let her father down.
And Farand groaned as he rubbed his face. "Oh god, what have I done?" he asked.
"Father?" Emily asked confused. "Let me get you some water." she then asked and rushed to the kitchen where she filled up a glass with water and brought it back to Farand whom drank it all in just one go then he put down the glass and he exhaled deeply.
Concerned Emily looked at her father. "Are you doing better?" she asked.
"Yes, I just… Need to breath." Farand sighed deeply resting his forehead in his hand. "Oh my dear daughter, if only you knew." he sighed and then from his inner pocket, gently took out a beautiful red rose.
Emily gasped by the sight. "Is that the rose for me?" she asked. "It's beautiful! I've never even seen a rose like that before."
"You must take good care of it." Farand said as he gingerly put it on the table. "The price, has been rather high."
That made Emily looked up. "I don't understand." she said. "Father what's wrong? You look like you've seen death itself."
"Well, something close to that." Farand admitted as he rubbed his face. "Emily I… Listen. I must tell you something." he said and then he began his story. He told about how he had gotten all the wares he had hoped for but how the ship had been caught in a storm and washed him overboard, he informed how he had arrived at the desolate island and the castle he had walked to, he informed about the feast and the voice and then finally about the rose. "That thing, it wasn't even a man, I can't even describe it." he said rubbing his eyes. "A beast or a demon I don't know, but it's clear. The price for plucking one of his roses was my life. In three days I must return to him." he said. "When I put this ring back on, i'll be transported back to him." he informed holding up the golden ring.
"Father no!" Emily exclaimed falling to her knees. "I don't want that rose, I want you!"
"Emily." Farand looked at her with a sad smile on his lips. "That… thing what ever it was. At least had it in his heart to make sure you would be provided for. I'll spend the next three days making sure that everything will be taken care of, then you must go on by yourself."
"I refuse!" Emily exclaimed. "Just don't go back, why do you even have to?" she asked with tears streaming from her eyes.
"I gave him my word." Farand said. "And if a man can't keep his word he is not worth anything, beside if I don't go who knows what he'll do to both of us. Emily listen to me." he asked as he took his hands. "When a man becomes a sailor. He must also accept the dangers of the sea, the winnings of a sea life can be great but that also means that what you gamble are of great value. i've been lucky!" he said. "Until this moment my gambles have paid off, the life I chose gave me a great home, a beautiful daughter and many good adventures. I've lived a full and good life, you though, you are so young, you have all these wonders still in front of you." he said. "Use the gifts the beast gave you and do something great."
"I DON'T WANT ANY OF HIS STUPID GIFTS!" Emily shouted as she stood up, tears falling down her eyes. "I don't want his stupid gold! I don't want his stupid silk and least of all I want his stupid rose!" she exclaimed grabbing the rose and holding it up. "None of that is worth your life father!"
"Emily." Farand sighed deeply.
"NO!" Emily screamed and then she sniffed before she turned around and ran for her room.
Farand sighed deeply then rubbed his face. "I'm sorry Emily." he said. "I wont let him lay a hand on you, and that's that."
Eventually Farand actually got to look at the contents in the treasure chest and he was astounded! It was filled to the brim with gold, jewels, silk and everything you could ever want. And all of it in even better quality than what he had purchased across the sea. This would be enough to buy Emily her own palace if that was what she desired!
Farand spend the entire night, weighing the gold and determining the quality of the jewels and silk with the intend to sell as much as possible the next day.
Already at morning Farand was on his way out, but Emily was back and tried to pull him back as she begged. "All that gold and jewels can rot for all I care! I don't want the money you get from it!" she exclaimed. "I don't want it!"
"Emily!" Farand snapped. "To make sure you'll be safe is the only thing I can do for you now." he said.
"I don't want to be safe, I want you to stay home with me!" Emily exclaimed. "I want you to not die!" she sniffed.
Farand exhaled deeply. "We all die eventually Emily, what matters is what we leave behind. And I intend to leave behind a daughter whom will be able to live out all of her dreams and find happiness."
"How can you even think i'll be able to find happiness if I know you went out there and died for no reason?" Emily asked.
"EMILY QUIET DOWN!" Farand shouted now annoyed. "If you can't behave go back to the mansion!"
"YOU STUPID FOOL!" Emily shouted back but finally backed off as she ran back.
Finally Farand went to marked and easily he sold many of the wares which were so fine that the nobles and rich men was taken back and figured they simply have to have the items no matter the price.
The sum of money Farand earned was overwhelming and he didn't hesitate to put them in the bank, get the papers prepared so Emily could always freely take the money from his account, leaving everything to her.
Of course he had always made sure that if he was lost at sea everything would go to Emily since a seafarers life always would be rather dangerous. But now he made extra sure.
Farand didn't let a moment go to waste, spending every minute of his three days to make everything ready for his now permanent departure.
It was the final night before Farand was to return back to the beasts castle, he had not slept for one moment since his return to his home. Perhaps then, it was no wonder that as he sat there at his decks, with papers he needed to sign and notes he needed to finish writing that his eyes grew heavy and his head rather dizzy.
He tried to stay awake, but the exhaustion was to much and at last Farand leaned over the desk as he fell asleep.
Little did he know that Emily hadn't been sleeping either, how could she possible sleep knowing what her own father was about to do?
She was wide awake, sitting untop of the covers on her bed in her room as silent tears fell down her face. Beside her on the night table was that cursed rose placed in a glass vase, how she wished she had never asked for such a stupid thing, this was all her fault.
How terrible selfish had she been? Her father was about to die and all she had done these last days were shouting at him!
The guilt overwhelmed Emily and she knew she had to make it good again, so collecting her night dress around herself Emily stepped out of bed, she glanced at the rose standing in the vase then gently picked it up before she made her way to her fathers work study.
From the work study Emily could see the warm gentle glow of the candle light, and quietly opening the door Emily could peer inside and see her father sleeping as he laid over the desk.
Amused Emily smiled as she stepped inside looking lovingly at her father and all the work he had done then Emily halted, as there next to her fathers hand she saw the golden ring which had brought him here from the beasts castle and would bring him back the very next morning. Emily hesitated then she reached out and gently picked up the golden ring to hold it in her hand.
The golden ring felt warm, and seemed to shine with a magic light. There she stood glancing at the ring and then the rose.
All of this had started… Just because of the rose. But she didn't want the rose, what if she talked to the beast and made him understand? What if?
Then suddenly Farand started to stir as he groaned. "What? Who?" he asked as he looked up. "Emily?" he asked then he saw the golden ring she was holding in her hand. "EMILY!" he shouted. "GIVE THAT BACK!" he demanded reaching out a hand.
Emily swallowed as she folded her hand around the ring and stepped back as she sniffed. "If I give it back, you're going to put it on tomorrow."
Farand swallowed as he looked at her. "Emily, dear daughter. please listen, just drop the ring." he asked as he stood up. "Nothing has to happen, just put it down." he asked.
Emily closed her eyes. "Father." she said. "I… I'm really sorry about how i've acted these last few days." she said.
"That's okay. I know you've been scared and there's nothing to forgive." Farand assured. "Now give me the ring."
"Father I…" Emily swallowed. "I love you." she said and then put the ring on her finger.
"EMILY NO!" Farand shouted.
Emily though smiled as tears fell down her cheek and a soft light started to envelope her. "It's because of me you landed in this situation, i'm the one who asked for this rose." she said holding up the rose. "I'm the one who should pay." she said and then vanished into nothingness.
Farands eyes however widened and he screamed. "NOOOOOO!" as he ran for the spot where Emily had been standing only moments before but she was gone, no trace of her even as Farand shouted. "Emily! EMILY! EMILYYYYYYY!"
She was gone.
