Chapter 13

"Do nothing. Continue driving." Cal doesn't even respond, he just obliges and continues to drive aimlessly. He wonders what his lords plan is and how he plans to take the girl. Cal isn't exactly human, but he has a conscience. As he's gotten to know Rose he's actually come to care for her, he would never let that be found out or he'd never see her again. He probably wouldn't ever breathe again if a certain someone found out. He doesn't have romantic feelings but does feel like a protective big brother.

Rose twitches in her sleep, and he glances over at her. Wondering what she's dreaming about.

.....

"Hello?" Rose calls out. She's floating again. In that deep, dark black abyss. She smiles to herself. "I must be back in space, or the bottom of a well again." This time she has control of her emotions and body. She doesn't feel that same overwhelming sense of calm but she feels safe. "I like this place." She says to herself as she wraps her arms around herself and closes her eyes, enjoying this space of nothingness.

Suddenly her eyes pop open as she remembers that there was an amazing voice here that she accidentally fell in love with last time. She wanted to find this mystery man and smack her lips on his. She looks all around her but can't see anything. Her heart starts to beat a little faster as she realizes just how dark and quiet it is. She can feel the tendrils of panic slowly creeping up her throat and tries to swallow it down and take deep breaths to calm herself but it isn't working.

Suddenly she hears his voice and stops her worry in its tracks, "Darling, why are you fearful? I can hear your heart racing." She opens her mouth to respond and closes it, not sure if her voice will even work. She clears her throat and tries again, "it's... quite dark here... I can't see a thing..." she closes her eyes and holds her hands together tightly in front of herself, waiting for a response.

When she opens them again she finds a glittering sky above her. "... Oh my... What is this? Are these stars?? There must be millions of them..." She gasps and puts a hand over her mouth as she slowly turns in a circle, taking in the view. It's the most beautiful sight she's ever seen. "How... this is so beautiful, but how..." she trails off as she gets lost in the beauty of the sky, as she continues turning all around, not wanting to miss seeing a single star.

"My sweet flower, this will all be yours." The voice says. Rose speaks out loud, "Am I dreaming? Is it possible to dream and be aware of it?" She thinks to herself, "I'd like to stay here forever and never wake up, back to my nightmare of a life."

Suddenly the voice becomes harsh, "Do not EVER say that, do not think that, and NEVER try that." Rose is startled out of her daydreaming and quietly asks "How did you know what I was thinking?" There was no answer, she goes on to say "And why do you care." And slumps down onto what must be the ground. She hugs her knees to her chest and lays her head down on top of them as she silently begins to cry. Her small body begins to shake as her despair overwhelms her and the tears pour freely.

Suddenly she feels someone behind her. He sits down behind her and puts a single leg around each side of her and pulls her in close. Her back against his chest, she turns her head to look at him but he doesn't allow it. He pulls her in even closer and wraps his arms around her chest, resting his chin on her shoulder. His cheek resting against her hair and her ear. He waits for her to struggle to run away, instead she sighs deeply and allows her head to rest on his cheek. He feels her body visibly relax and within minutes she's slumped against him. Completely asleep.

He strokes her hair and inhales her scent. He murmurs quietly "Oh, my sweet Rose. What you've been through these last couple days." He feels a pang in his heart thinking of how upset she's been since she's found out the news. He still finds himself utterly shocked by the feelings he has toward her.

He hopes the spell works and she'll love him long enough to make her actually fall in love with him, because there is no way he is ever letting her go.

He spends a couple hours holding her, figuring out a plan of how to tell her who he is, in real life.