Black Rose

Chapter One

The moon shone bright and full above the tall trees as a warm breeze rustled through the leaves. The sun had set some time ago, but the late summer air was still warm and humid even in the late hours of the night. Silently she moved through the trees and the hairs stood high on her bare arms at the creepy yet calming silence of the woods she knew so well.

Long knee-length blonde, nearly white, hair swayed in the breeze as she skipped her way towards the clearing that became visible in the glowing moonlight. Her baby blue, almond shaped eyes opened wide and joyously as she spotted the glistening blue water of the lake. Her feet were bare and caked in dirt from her walk but she didn't mind. Her stunning white dress fell to just above her knee as her pearly white skin shone under the glare of the moon as she stepped out into the clearing and let out a soft sigh.

She stepped out into the cool water letting the slight waves wash away the dirt as her mind began to wonder. She remembered the first day she'd stumbled into the clearing as though it were just yesterday.

She was young, scared and completely alone. Her mother had brought her to the woods without saying a word. She looked very upset and she was very pregnant which confused her, as her mother shouldn't have wandered so far from home in her condition. "You must leave me now, this is your home and you will not return." Her mother had said harshly and had yanked her hand from her daughters as though she was disgusted with her.

She shuttered and forced the memory from her mind. She had been so confused and didn't understand until much later why her mother would do such a thing. She knelt down unconcerned that the movement soaked the bottom half of her dress. She looked out over the water that expanded into the town she'd never gotten the chance to call home and sighed. The trees that hid her from the world expanded far and wide behind her. She hated being a secret and despised the fact very few even knew she existed seeing as the woods had become uninhabitable according to her mother's law.

"Hello Angel." A deep husky voice broke through the silence. Causing her to jump slightly as she whirled around to glare at him. She knew exactly who it was, how could she not as he was the only fool brave enough to enter the woods.

"Go the hell away, Lun." Angel hissed between her clenched teeth. She was frustrated and definitely not in the mood to deal with him. She just wanted to enjoy the beautiful night and her mind and now his presence made that impossible.

She watched as sadness crossed his face only to disappear as she blinked. His dark blue eyes narrowed slightly, and his shoulder length midnight blue hair swayed in the breeze as he moved so quickly she barely had a chance to register what he planned. He yanked her roughly against his hard muscular body and smashed his lips to hers possessively.

She gasped in shock and he eagerly took the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth as a low growl rumbled in her throat and she desperately fought to get away from him. Her body fought against her mind as the fight slowly escaped her, his lips sending sparks of passion and desperate need throughout her body. She knew she needed him, despite how her mind fought to remain in control he pulled back abruptly causing her to fall flat on her butt into the water.

"God damnit." She growled and scrambled to her feet, "why the hell do you always do this?!" She yelled at him, overly frustrated and pissed off.

Lun rolled his eyes at her and turned his gaze to the lake completely ignoring her last question. "I'm here because these woods are as much my home as they are yours so no I will not go away. Besides you call me here just as much as this place does, do you deny it my dear Angel?"

"f**k you and another I'm not your dear anything." Angel said and went to storm out of the water.

Lun narrowed his eyes to slits and grabbed ahold of her arm refusing to let her leave, "those nasty words have no business coming from those pretty lips of yours. Your mind might fight me dear, but we both know your body doesn't. We are in fact destined for one another."

Angel felt sick from his words and tried desperately to yank her arm from his iron grip, "no we most certainly are not. You disgust me now let me go." She spat into his face.

Lun laughed, his eyes growing cold and uncaring, "well perhaps you feel that way my dear Angel, but we both know who doesn't." He said and without another word he yanked a rose as black as night from his back pocket and thrust it into her hand.

The sky seemed to darken as a gut wrenching scream escaped through her stunned lips. Pain shot through her arm and tears instantly soaked her cheeks. She desperately tried to throw the rose despite knowing it was too late, as her arm seemed to rip open and her heart raced. She gasped in desperate needed air as her vision went black and she collapsed against him. The pain subsided within a few moments but she remained still in his arms.

Lun lifted her limp body into his arms and carried her into the trees only stopping when she finally lifted her head and opened her eyes. She stared at him with her moss green eyes as a grin came over her face. Short black hair brushed against her shoulders as she lifted her hand to his face and slid long black nails over his cheeks, "she's going to kill you for this." She purred.

He set her down and took a hold of her arm tracing the black tattoo of the rose he'd so recently thrust into Angel's hand. "Rose, you know I do not care one bit." He said his voice was husky and full of need.

Rose laughed, "Angel truly despises you, I can see why though." She said despite knowing Angel could hear everything she said she leaned forward to whisper against his ear, "you really should be more caring of her though."

"Shut up about Angel, you are here now and I need you more than I need to breathe." He growled and bit down hard onto her neck enjoying the moan that escaped her lips. "Please take me." He practically begged.

She loved the pleading in his voice and the way his lips and teeth felt against her neck. With uncanny strength for such a small girl she moved and slammed him into the ground moving to straddle his lap, "this pain is not only for me but for her as well." She purred and racked her long nails down his torso tearing his clothing and flesh effortlessly.

He moaned out in pain and pleasure as she gave him and herself what they both so desperately needed.

~~~

Angel jolted straight up from the nightmare she'd been having. With a shaking hand she rubbed at her eyes before she noticed the red stained streaks of blood and jolted to her feet realizing instantly it wasn't a nightmare. Growling softly she quickly found her clothing and desperately tried not to look at Lun's scratched and blood covered body. She hated that Lun had forced her to change, and couldn't help the annoyance she felt towards Rose. Of course she couldn't blame Rose for what had happened, but it still disgusted her.

She let out a long sigh as she dressed and quickly rushed off hoping she wouldn't see or hear from Lun for a very long time. She took small pleasure in the thought of him waking disappointed that Rose was gone.

The sun shone bright and heated her cooled flesh as she desperately picked up speed so as to not be spotted and forced into town.

"Hey, stop there now. What are you doing in the woods as they are forbidden?" A deep male voice called out.

Angel froze and took a deep breath before turning to face the man with a complete look of confusion. "I..I don't know where I am…" She whispered as though in fear of being lost. She had to force back the smile that fought to show as she thought of how easy it was to fool the queens guard.

The short, chubby guard furrowed his dirty blonde brow at her. His plain brown eyes looked her over and shook his head, "you're not meant to be out here. Since it seems you are lost I suppose I have no choice but to lead you back to town." He said, clearly annoyed, "what is your name miss?"

She followed him through the thinning trees that lead towards the town. She desperately wanted to retreat back, but knew she had little choice. "My name is Maria." She lied smoothly and flipped her hair over her shoulder.

The guard froze mid step and turned on her, his face flushing red at his embarrassment as he bowed, "my apologies Princess. I didn't recognize you." He said hastily.

"Oh no, it's perfectly fine. Don't trouble yourself, I know I always look so different." Angel said in the sweetest voice she could muster.

The guard quickly rose and started walking faster towards the town, "I can't believe you wandered so far out here alone Princess. You really shouldn't come out here, it's unsafe especially for one such as yourself."

Angel sneered at his back as she followed after him, sure Maria really did look different, but if this guard had half a brain he would know she would never wander out into the woods.

After a short time they finally reached the edges of town. Everything was quiet, being so early mostly everyone was still in their homes getting ready for the day. "Okay Princess, here you are, I do believe you can find your way now." He said quickly before bowing once more and retreating back the way they had come.

Angel sighed and quickly moved towards town intent on retreating back into the safety of the trees as soon as possible. People were beginning to leave their homes and all gave her odd yet friendly smiles. She knew it was only a matter of time before Maria heard rumors of her supposedly being found in the woods, it was a small town afterall. She spotted her exit and let out a long breath quickening her pace.

"Where do you think you are going, Angel?" A girl's voice shot through the silence.

She froze and slowly turned around taking in the dark blonde hair and deep brown almond shaped eyes of the girl in front of her. Except for the eyes, and the darker tone of her hair and skin Maria really did look a lot like her. "Well I'm just doing as I'm told." Angel said, annoyed, this awful day just kept getting worse.

"Oh sis, you really are such a brat." Maria sneered as she twirled a strand on her long hair between her fingers.

Angel narrowed her eyes, genuinely pissed off that Maria would never say a curse word. "No Maria, I am not a brat I am a b***h, there is a big difference." Rolling her eyes she turned and stormed off.

Maria ignored her harsh words and continued speaking as though she hadn't been interrupted. "You really thought you could use my name and then just disappear back into the trees as though nothing happened? Come on Angel rumors spread like wildfire especially if about the royal family. Anyways, mother wishes to speak with you." Maria said nonchalantly.

Angel snorted as she turned back once more to glare at her sister, "you really think I give a damn? She lost all rights to ask anything of me the moment she cast me aside, so why exactly would I care to speak with her?"

Maria rolled her eyes and launched herself forward in order to stare directly into Angel's eyes, "look you spoiled brat, I truly don't care what your issue is. She sent me to fetch you, ridiculous as I'm a Princess not a damn errand boy. So that means you're coming and will shut your damn mouth."

Angel shoved Maria back effortlessly and turned on her heels.

"Otherwise I will return to the castle and tell him your little secret."

Angel froze and turned back to stare confused at her sister, "he already knows my secret."

"I mean that Rose did the deed with Lun again." Maria sneered, "How fast do you think he would go running off into the woods again intent on finding him? We all know how well that would end now don't we?"

Angel sighed knowing Maria was right. Damon was anything but a skilled tracker, this left her with no choice and she knew it. "Fine." She said with as much annoyance as she could muster. She turned fully from the sanctuary of her trees and started up the path to the castle. She felt sick in the pit of her stomach, but knew no matter what she wouldn't show how she truly felt.