Beauty of the Beast #1 The Mystic Rose- Part A- The Flower, The Sword, And The Kiss Read online

  Chapter Two

  Time Passes

  Fourteen seasons later...

  Edward woke, gasping in his bed. He sat up as sweat glistened his slim muscular chest then he looked around the dark room disoriented. A woman lay beside him and rolled over at his cry, returning to her sleep. This wasn’t the first time he’d screamed in the middle of the night.

  A High Guard opened the door to his chamber as firelight from oil lamps broke in, casting shadows and then the High Guard asked, “My lord?” He had a thick brown beard and an easy-going demeanor.

  Edward wiped his face and raked his hands through his shoulder length raven-black hair and then told him, “Just another nightmare, Melee.”

  “They are becoming more frequent. Do you remember the dream this time?”

  “Only images,” Edward answered as he closed his blue eyes, remembering the violent sights. “I see a terrible Beast in the midst of a great battle. Its war cry stabs my soul like a knife. I want to flee, but I see the Mystic Rose above the conflict. Many die around me because of the Beast.” He opened his eyes as he stated, “That is all I remember. That is all I ever remember.”

  He looked to a wooden pedestal in the middle of the room. On it the Rose magically suspended within a protective glass dome as a ghostly glow illuminated the pedestal. The illumination depended on the color the Rose’s petals assumed. They where yellow. Edward got up, poured water from a pitcher into a wash basin, splashed his face, and then stated, “I cannot remember a time when I did not have the dreams. Why do I have them?” He stared at the water lit by fire as he asked, “And why do I fear them?” He grabbed a towel, dried his face, and then spoke, “Court wise men say the Beast is me while others say it's a great enemy coming to devour our kingdom.” He looked to the High Guard and inquired, “What do you think?”

  “I don’t know, my lord,” Melee answered. “Maybe a dream is only a dream.”

  The High Guard's answer didn't help Edward. Why must he bear the burden of the visions? He knew the dreams were telling him something. He just didn't know what. The prince lay back in bed, finding no comfort with the stranger beside him as he ordered, “You may leave, Melee. I have an important sun’s cycle tomorrow and need to get what sleep I can.” He clinched his blankets as he continued, “Before the sun is high, we set sail to fetch my intended, Princess Virago of Morgog and head for the Isle of Kismet for the Amalgamation.”

  Could the princess or the Morgog Kingdom be the Beast? Their kingdoms had been rivals in the past. This alliance would be an uneasy one. Should he fear what was coming?