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Final Preparations

Hawthorn brooded in her tower as Rose entered her castle. She had seen the giant butterfly on its way and closed off the dungeons and any indication that there was a dungeon and completely remodeled the castle for him. He would enter in the front door, which would shut, lock, and then disappear. And then he would travel from room to room with only one way to go. He would go in circles for who knows how long. Now, all she needed to do is work her plan into the unfortunate arrival of Rose. She wasn't ready. Yet. But she would be. She would make it work.

Hawthorn grabbed a broom from a cleaning closet and worked in a witch's favorite spell to make it fly. She hopped on it and glided down to the ground where she started to dig towards the basement. She felt rather foolish for sending all her henchmen. Now she had to do the dirty work for herself.

\*/

It took her quite some time but she finally dug to where the basement was. She enchanted the wall and a door appeared. Quickly, Hawthorn entered and slammed the door shut.

She stepped inside and glanced around to get her bearings now she wouldn't be able to go through the regular door since it was sealed shut. She looked directly to her right and frowned. Raven was right beside her. The door she made went right into the cell.

"What is going on?" The impertinent boy asked.

"Shut-up. I'm just double checking to make sure you're miserable. Are you?"

Raven looked at her for a moment, then said, "Absolutely miserable."

Hawthorn frowned. He didn't look miserable. Her fingers glowed brown and slammed him against the wall. He let out a whelp and she frowned. She couldn't have him letting Rose know he was here. She contemplated cutting his tongue out, but she decided it might interfere with her plan. She then checked Raven for any showing damage. That might conflict with the plan as well.

Raven glared at her as she looked him over, but she didn't care. She didn't find any damage. "Rose will be arriving soon," she told him, even though he was already here, "and then you both will die. Are you ready?"

"Ready to die? For him. But you shan't lay a finger on him."

Hawthorn was amused, but not enough to smile, "There's nothing you can do to stop me, Prince Raven. Your boyfriend will die, just like you. You both will."

"Rose can take care of himself."

"Rose is out of his element when he enters my castle. He got lucky in our first Trial by Tale. He had plants. He had you. When he's in here he has neither."

"He can still take you."

Hawthorn sighed, "Believe in what delusions you have. They will not do you any good. They won't help Rose. They won't help you. They are just false hopes."

"And you are so confident of your scheme? What makes you believe Evil shall conquer?"

This time Hawthorn did smile, "Your precious Rose has been taking princess classes. What shall he do? Give me advice on how to make my skin shine with luster? And Evil has been doing excellently now both School Masters are gone and balance is back. It no longer tips in the favor of Good. My plan is all I need to defeat you sniveling princes."

Raven struggled against the chains in anger towards her. Hawthorn arched her eyebrows in surprise. This was the first time she had seen him act this way. Had she finally gotten to him?

She smiled at him, "Well, sweet damsel in distress, I have things to do. I have to welcome our sweet Rose, don't I? I shall be sure to give him your regards. I'll tell him you think he took too long. I'll tell him you're disappointed in him. Fare thee well, oh, captive one."

She left the room and made the door disappear. Hawthorn grabbed her broom and flew back up to her tower. She brooded a little more as she contemplated whether to wait for her henchmen or not. Waiting would give Lily and Cedric time to come as well. And she certainly could end this right now. She could do it her way. In her castle.

She decided to finish it. It would be quick. She would say it would be painless for the boys, but that would be a lie. She wanted it to hurt. She would be disappointed if it didn't. She then went about her tower doing final preparations for the end of the boys. Oh, how fun it will be to destroy their hopes and dreams. Watching the life lift from their eyes. Knowing that she would be yet another Never to say she had won.

She pushed the bed into the center of the room and let the winds blow in making the draping billow ever so slightly around it. She lit a couple of candles on a small table and scattered rose petals everywhere around the room. If she wasn't here to kill them, she thought, this might actually look romantic.

Finally, she repositioned the chandelier to the perfect position. When the time came for Rose to meet his doom, when he walked in through the tower doors, the setting sun would glisten off of the crystal finishing the mood.

Hawthorn grinned to herself at her work. She just had to wait a little more before she went to get Raven.