Chrisom Roses

Chapter 9

Sorry about the wait, my loves, I was taking a little break for Easter. But I'm back at it and ready to work!

Thank you to all the reviewers, favorites, and followers! You rock so much, lovelies! Please give me more, I write faster with reviews~

Disclaimer:

I do not claim the original fairy tale, but CR's plot and characters belong to me. Any famous songs, TV show/movies/books and manga names, and brands that are mentioned in this work belong to their rightful owners.

Willa Field

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Seven:

Returning home

-.-.-.-.-.-

Willa sighed as the wind ruffled through her braid, like a cold howl chilling her to the bone, and she watched while the men loaded the car with her new dresses and modern outfits, the heaviness clearly hung in the air.

The sadness in her heart grew as the sun disappeared slowly into the beautiful grassy hills. She found it ironic that the sky was painted with happy reds and purples as the day faded into night just like the day she moved to the castle; because the ginger knew it wasn't a joyous event playing out under the sky, quite the opposite as she watched her friends discussed the plans, sadness written on each face:

The ginger breathed an annoyed breath, going to her favorite place in the castle to escape the dreadful goodbye. Willa smiled small as she played with a mystical blue colored rose, wanting to forget everything around her and just stay there with everyone. But she couldn't, Willa knew that even though she hated the thought because her father needed her right now.

The ginger knew that she was coming back to France as soon as Grant was healed from his illness, but she didn't know how long that would take. And that thought maddened the young woman to no end, she hated she had to leave her beast. More because she felt Adnet was hiding something from her.

Willa frowned again at the thought, pointing her head up to the fading sky, her eyes searching it for the unknown answers. But they escaped her, and as she lowered her head back down, her gray eyes fell on the ring on her finger. The ginger breathed out a content sigh upon seeing the sparkling turquoise stone, the feelings were still there, but the ring soothed her worries. Still, the ginger teen wanted to know Adnet's secrets:

She started to wonder if the beast was hiding something from her when they started to prepare for the ginger's trip:

She noticed the beast and clock whispering between themselves while she wheeled into the room, one looking guilty about hiding from her and the other was looking heartbroken to a new level, which the ginger figured that Alec hated to see his friend so sad.

Willa wanted to ask, but she knew either man or the other people in the castle would have told her anything, she was doomed to be in the dark and the ginger hated that feeling. She had no doubt they wanted to keep her safe from whatever they are keeping from the ginger girl, but she was going crazy not knowing the dangers hidden from her. Because Willa realized that Adnet wouldn't hide anything from her unless it would have scared her or make her want to stay at her new home.

Willa moaned out her frustrations, annoyed at Adnet, just as a hand came down on her shoulder, shaking her from her thoughts. The ginger turned her head up to see a familiar blonde smiling sadly down at her, but only by a few inches.

Willa recognized her as the beautiful woman from that night she started to remember her past life as Rosabella, and upon realizing that, her jaw dropped slightly as the woman greeted her:

"Hello, Willa, it's nice to finally meet you in person. I'm Maddie Fields, I'm friends with Adnet." The blonde offered kindly, her voice held a heavy American-Eastern accent.

"You are…." Willa started slowly, unable to find the words to finish the statement. The sight of her made the ginger feel nostalgic about something she didn't really remember at the moment.

The blonde c****d her head, smiling a secretive kind of smile. She wondered as she watched Willa's expression change:

Maddie knew that the younger woman recognized her the moment she looked up, but she also knew she didn't want her to know how she did. The blonde saw a flash of red hair on the night she came to talk to Adnet and when she noticed the hair, she had a feeling that the ginger started to remember everything and was seeking answers from the beast. But, she found a lot more than she wanted.

Now, being here as the protector of the young woman, Madison wondered how much she remembers. Is that the real reason she didn't want to return home?

"You eavesdropped on us, didn't you? You know, do you?" The blonde teased, nudging the other woman playfully as the ginger blushed deeply.

"Umm…well…yes."

"Don't worry, honey. It's ok, it is only natural for someone like you and me to want answers and to feel comfort from the people around us. I know how you feel." Maddie sighed, picking a violet rose as she felt the ginger's surprise roll off her.

"You lived before too, madam? Why?" Willa questioned quietly, her head was c****d to the side. The blonde turned to her, her nose wiggled in displeased, the rose sitting in her lap:

"Willa, please, I'm too young to be called madam, just Maddie will do just fine. But, yes sweetie, I have. Three times, in fact, this will be my last. I was under a curse and a duty I didn't want, however as a princess, I was bound to my people. Believe me, it's not easy, I know, but if you have people to fight for; you will do anything for them. That's why Adnet probably is letting you go to take care of your father, he doesn't want you to feel like a prisoner and wants to make you feel happy."

"Yes, you are right about that." Willa smiled at that before sighing and started to talk again. "I have to say though, you are very brave, Maddie. To give three lives to save your people. Me, on the other, I am not." Willa replied softly, biting her lip as she tucked a stray curl behind her ear, sighing as she put her head in her hands before continuing:

"I even am dragging myself home, I don't want to go and I don't want to leave Adnet. But, on the responsible side of my brain, I need to fulfill my duty to my father before my own selfish wants."

"That's the downfall of being responsible, sweetie." She stated softly, wheeling to the ginger to comfort her: "Why didn't you tell Adnet you remember your life as Rosabella? I'm sure he would be thrilled to have you back." She questioned gently, stroking her hair tenderly, not wanting to pressure her into talking to. The ginger made a sound like a whimper, closing her eyes in sadness.

"I was going to tell him before we found out about my father, now I can't because I know he would be hurting even more than he is now. He would know, but he won't have me. He would have to wait for me and I can't torture him like that."

"Oh, sweetie…" Maddie replied sweetly, hugging her to her body when the sound of grass crushing made both the women turn to see her former teacher, Russel Griffiner, walking towards them with a deep frown sat upon his thin lips.

"It's time to go, Willa."

The ginger sighed deeply as she nodded to the man before she wheeled beside the blonde and the man. Her heart broke when she saw Adnet waiting for her to say goodbye.

-.-.-.-.-.

"Maddie and Russel will keep you safe if your sisters give you trouble, okay my rose?" Adnet soothed softly, caressing her cheek with a claw. Willa nodded sadly as she touched his paw.

"Okay, my prince. I'll stay close to them, I promise."

"And I want you to continue your studies with Madison as you care for Grant, do you understand?" He ordered playfully, poking her nose while gaining a giggle from the ginger.

"Yes, my prince. I will do my best. But I want to ask you for something." Willa c****d her head, smiling sadly:

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Be careful, be safe. I want to come home to you smiling sweetly and with your arms open for me."

The wolf-like man smiled, nodding slowly before Russel came to place his flower into the backseat of the taxi. As the man placed his fiancé into the other side of the cab, they met eyes. As if the Wolf wanted to send him comfort and to say his mate will be safe with them.

The beast smiled in thanks, nodding as the other man climbed into the front seat, and then the car started to fade from his view. He sighed when the cab disappeared from view, pinching the bridge of his nose to fight a headache, before turning to Alec:

"Come along, Alec, we have a meeting with a witch." Adnet snarled coolly, turning to walk back into the castle as the clock followed behind.

"Yes, my lord." He replied in a cold tone, his tone reached his eyes, turning them into a kind of black that mirrors the night sky.

He hated that woman with a passion, for she was the reason for this stupid curse. If it wasn't for her selfish wish for her oldest daughter to be the queen, Rosa and Adnet would be still together; safe and happy. But now, his friends had to suffer and the staff of the castle had to watch on as their kind master slowly faded into a shell of himself.

They thought Willa will be the one to save them from this fate, seeing how close they've gotten, but then Calla decided to do something to halt their progress. She was a devil woman.

As soon as the men entered the beast's study and closed the door to make sure the other servants would not hear the coming conversation, Adnet waved his paw over the mirror; the gesture for calling another magical being from the other world.

After moments of waiting, the beautiful older woman appeared on the other side of the mirror with a coy smile playing on her full lips, her bright flaming locks were settled on a shoulder, her beloved pet nuzzled to her throne's side:

"Well, I was beginning to think that you wouldn't call, Adnet. I was going to be so wounded. After all, I set all of this up to just to talk to you." Calla teased darkly as she petted her beloved pet wolf, staring hard at the young man in front of her.

"And is this a warning, queen?" Adnet growled angrily, crossing his arms across his chest, his eyes burning with fury. Calla scoffed as she pushed the wolf away from her, walking right in front of the mirror:

"If it was a warning, Adnet, my minions would have been at your door already. Don't you trust me?" The older ginger smirked like a wolf, flipping her hair.

"Trust you? That would be a stupid move on my part. Because I know that you can sense the rose slowly wilting and my time is coming to an end. That's why you cast the spell on Willa's father, to get her out of the way, am I right?"

The ginger let out a chuckle, c*****g her head in amusement. It seemed that the beast was cleverer than she thought and pinned him to be. She was glad, this game between them would be more fun if he was. She then grinned at him evilly.

"Ah my little wolf, you are smart, aren't you? Yes, I did, because we both know beloved little Willa would stay until he got better and he is back on his feet. And she won't be back in a week. A week is all you really have, isn't my poor beast?"

Adnet gasped loudly, then quickly spun around to the glowing rose encased in the original glass holder Isabella gave to him and saw it tipping down to the side, five petals were barely hanging onto the flower. He growled lowly, tears were burning behind his eyes as he turned slowly back to face Calla. No….

Not now; I thought I had a few more months, the beast lamented to himself as he watched a petal fell to the table before Adnet spun back to the smirking woman with a deep snarl placed across his long face:

"You knew! You knew and you took her away!" Adnet growled out through clutched teeth, his fists balled at his sides and his body shaking so hard; Alec was worried that he would have smashed the mirror.

Calla laughed maddingly, her grin grew as the beast shook with anger, liking the sight in front of her. She merely shrugged in response, a smile spread across her lips; as if it was nothing to worry about.

"I needed a way to get to what I want, Adnet. You know that is the game of the royals, but you won't catch on. Now, we have to get a lot of work to do on my side, can't enter my reign unprepared, now can I? Ciao!"

And with that, the woman waved her hand over the glass, making the scene fade away. When it disappeared, Adnet fell to his knees and laid his face into his paws, the tears finally escaped and he didn't care if Alec saw. His heart felt like it was shattered under the knowledge that his flower won't be able to say goodbye to him and will be all on her own again:

"Do you want me to call them back now, my sire?" Alec whispered, kneeling to comfort his friend as he howled in pain, but he didn't do what Alec was expecting. After moments of sobbing and self-loathing, Adnet lifted his face to meet the other man's eyes.

"No, she doesn't need that kind of pressure on her. I have faith that she will come home to me in time. Just let her go." He whispered softly, wiping his face clean from the tears and slowly got back onto his feet. His back turned to the clock, blocking him from the confused expression dancing across his face.

"But, Adnet…."

"Do what I ordered, Alec. I will not be another person in her life who forced her into something. Now, leave me alone, I need to think by myself." Adnet ordered firmly, using a tone he didn't use on his servants often, but right now he needed to ensure Alec would leave him alone.

The clock sighed deeply, nodding silently as he slowly backed from the room, leaving Adnet to his thoughts.

The beast breathed another soothing breath before he walked to the table the rose sat on and when it was in reach, he touched the cool glass lovingly.

The rose was Rosa's memorial and his clock to tell how much time he had to find his missing mate. But now, without him noticing it, 2016 was coming to an end, and his ninety-year time lapse was coming hard down on him. His time on the Earth was finally rushing up to him, and he knew he didn't have the power to stop it, no matter how much he wanted to. His heart told him that his flower would come back to him and break the curse, but his brain was wiser. Adnet had a feeling that the beautiful ginger wouldn't make it back in time to save him and they won't have the happy ending they wanted and deserved.

The beast wanted to just call Willa back and to keep her close to him, but he knew the ending of that wouldn't be so good. He needed to let his flower go to make sure she would make the choice to return to him on her own.

Adnet gritted his teeth together in frustration, making his way to the balcony's doors, opening them and walking out on it. He hoped the cold wind and the fresh air would clear his mind. And, after a few minutes, it did. Adnet sighed, pointing his head up to trace the stars as he let the wind calmed his worries, whispering absentmindedly to the moon. He saw his flower in the moon's glowing reflection:

"This might be the end of our story, my flower, but you won't be alone. I wish that you told me your answer, but don't worry, I'll always be there with you."

-.-.-.-.-.

"It's beautiful here, Willa." Maddie gasped out, looking out of the cab's window as she took in the rolling scene.

The ginger smiled bitterly while she nodded slowly, thinking that it was indeed beautiful but it held a terrible past and because of that, its beauty twisted into something evil. But, she didn't say anything about that, she just focused on the good memories with her parents:

"Yes, my mom loved to take me out to the meadow to read to me. I was the only one that enjoyed reading so she was closer to me." Willa told her new friend gingerly, as the cab passed the green meadow and entered the gates of the farm, smiling softly at the memory as she felt the stinging sensation of tears behind her grays.

"She sounds like a wonderful woman, sweetie. And it seemed like she and your father did an amazing job raising you." The blonde smiled sweetly, patting her hand gently; it almost was like motherly.

"Yes, I wished it worked with my sisters…" She whispered in reply, watching as the farmhouse slowly came into view. Although the ginger was happy that she has a chance to be with her father again, she was not as thrilled about seeing her sisters again.

Maddie and Russel met eyes, frowning deeply at the whispered words. They were worried that the girl's abusive older sisters would cause her to start doubting her worth again, but they hoped that them being there with her would remind her she was worth everything to the beast prince and her friends. With a sigh, both moved to get out of the cab:

After settling the girls into their chairs and paying the driver, Russel pushed Willa alongside Maddie into the house, where the older sisters were sitting and laughing about something—at least until they saw their younger sister sitting there with a stone-like expression laced to her face.

"Hello, Zariah and Dania, long time, no see." Willa deadpanned, scowling when she saw their faces twisted into a permanently disgusted expression as they growled deeply in their throats, clearly hating that she was back. They thought that they were rid of the demon finally:

"How are you still alive? The beast should've killed you! I thought he would've eaten you by now!" Zariah screamed so loud, the walls of the living room shook with her anger.

Willa just merely smiled at her, as if she didn't hate them with a furious passion and had a good relationship with her sisters.

"He isn't a beast, not in the sense you think, dearest sister. He is my family, but I had to leave him behind because you won't be unselfish for once in your damned life. For your own father! You won't get me to shut up about it this time. You will learn how to be selfless while I'm here, and believe me, you will be better for it. This time, I will not be the scared little girl you turned me into long ago." Willa growled out, finally able to speak out her anger, not scared of them anymore.

She did not care, nor cowered when the dark ginger jumped onto her feet and scowled deeply at her sister's outburst, because when she did; Russel rushed in front of her, growling loudly with a hand raised:

"Don't even think about touching her, girl. I won't hesitate to put you back into your place."

"And who are you?" Dania finally spoke up, not bothering to hide her disgust of the man coming to her sister's aid.

Russ growled again, his brown eyes set ablaze with anger at the strawberry blonde's expression, but he didn't move an inch. He knew that if he moved, they would have an opening to his new friend.

"I'm her bodyguard and she," He jerked his chin towards his blonde beauty, "is her tutor. We are here to protect her from your cruelty." Russel said coolly, but his jaw locked, giving away his true emotions towards the two women.

"We didn't do anything to the little lying b***h. Why does everyone feel so bad for her when they don't even know what we've been through?" Zariah seethed hotly, shaking like an angry snake.

Madison laughed loudly while she moved up next to Willa, finding it funny that they acted as if they were the victims in this when they both know the truth:

"You are the lying ones here, girls. You can say otherwise, but we all know the truth." She stated, smiling sickeningly sweet before turning from the fuming sisters to their younger sister, squeezing her hand.

"Let's leave them be for now, hon, your father needs you right now."

"No, he doesn't! He has us—"

"If that were true, she wouldn't be here, now would she?" The blonde sneered, sending an ice cold towards the women.

And that shut them up, but Willa could feel their eyes boring a hole into her back. She could feel their anger and resentment towards her, they wanted to just murder her right then, but it doesn't concern her. All she cared about in that moment was her dear father and caring for him until he was better.

As the small group moved down the hall and to Grant's room, Willa stared at the family's photos as they passed them, remembering the good times the photos showed.

However, deep inside her, she wondered why her parents had not noticed the abuse because the older women didn't exactly hide their cruel feelings towards the younger Fed. Going days without coming out her room for dinner sometimes and then there were the bruises on her body. It wasn't hard to see the terrible abuse.

But the ginger knew it was just their love for their children that made them blind, they couldn't believe any of their daughters could hurt anyone, let alone one of their own siblings.

So, when she saw her father shivering hard despite being cuddled in many blankets, all those thoughts and feelings flew away from her, and the ginger rushed to her father's side instantly:

"Oh, daddy. I'm so sorry, I'm here now." Willa whispered soothingly as she stroked his clammy cheek, watching as his violet sucked-in eyes widen upon seeing his precious youngest daughter.

"Am I seeing things? You should not be here…."

The ginger smiled softly as she lifted herself onto the bed, tucking the blanket around his skinny figure before leaning down to land a kiss on his forehead, loving the fact that she could be with him again. Willa missed her father so much, so much that she didn't even realize how much until in that moment.

"I'm here, daddy. I saw you and was so horrified upon seeing how sick you were. Adnet let me come to take care of you." She admitted sweetly, smiling when his own smile begun to dance across his thin lips. She wondered if he was thanking the beast in his mind.

"I knew that he was a good egg, he loves my Beauty. I knew it from the moment he laid eyes on you, Willa." He whispered absentmindedly, not really realizing what he was saying, the pain was mudding up his mind:

The young woman blushed deeply, feeling her heart beating so fast against her ribcage. She never thought about that, thinking that it was doubtful he would never love her like that. Even if he kept asking her those nightly questions, the ginger thought that he was asking them because the beast had to ask to break the curse upon him. But now, as she thought back on the past month and the memories they made together, she started to wonder if Adnet loves her as Willa. Rosa is her, but the ginger was her own person. So, she wondered, could he really love her as she was now? And could she love him back?

Those questions ran through her head and her heart was going wild as she thought about Adnet's feelings towards the little ginger.

She pursed her lips as the thoughts went wild, dropping her eyes to the ring on her finger, a smile slowly crept onto her face.

"Maybe you're right, daddy, just maybe you are right." She whispered softly, hugging him lightly, feeling good as she giggled suddenly.

-.-.-.-.-

Maddie frowned deeply as she looked in the room, watching while the scene unfolded in front of her. She spun to her fiancé with a deep frown placed onto her lips:

"That's not good, Russy. You know time is running out and if it does, both will be doomed. What if we won't make it back in time? They both will be gone and Calla will have an opening to the throne if we don't. It'll be like with us all over again." The blonde lamented, placing her hands over her face as she growled into the palms.

The reddish brunette looked at her, his heart breaking for his kisu*. Because he knew she was trying everything to help the other couple not end up like them. To have to wait for something they didn't know, searching for something they don't exactly know they are missing.

He blew out a sigh, pulling the blonde into his arms, comforting her as her worries made her shake. He wished that he could take all of her worries away and replace them with happier feelings, but he knew the only way to do that was to get back to France as fast as they could. When the blonde beast and the ginger would be reunited finally, truly.

With a sigh, the Wolf tipped her chin to look into those beautiful sapphire orbs and gave his kisu the most comforting smile. The Wolf knew that the smile would ease her raging worries for that moment and then he smoothed the golden hair off her forehead, humming soothingly into her ear before he spoke in a calm tone. The smile still placed onto his thin lips:

"First, we will make it in time, Madison. High water or not, we will get her home before the last petal falls. So, if I were you, I'll stop saying such silly things or you know I will tickle your ass something fierce." Russel teased with a wink, trying to lighten the mood around them, but even the playful threat didn't stop her from trying to reply:

"But, she doesn't deserve this, Russel! How can you promise that—?"

"Maddie, breathe baby, we will be back in time. Let me finish, Madison," He sternly requested when his fiancé huffed and started to cut him off, his hand up to keep her quiet until he was finished:

"If I must stay here and care for Grant while you take Willa back, then I will. Adnet won't die and Willa won't forget all the memories, they will back together soon. I promise, and highly swear, to you that they will be together. Now, I'm done with your depressed altitude, let them be and let's go to bed. I'm dead tired." He stated simply as she dragged the blonde to the room across Grant's and Willa's rooms, ignoring her protests.

But the Wolf knew that it was going to be hard and they were going to have a lot of work ahead of them. This was going to be their new mission, and despite his confident attitude about this, he was worried about his friends….

-.-.-.-.-

*Kisu—Kitten in Finnish