Briar

Ch. 12 The Roses

Nothing. There was nothing anymore. Nothing worth doing or hearing. Jonas barely even left his books for the elaborate meals that needed to be carried up by Mrs. Happershap. Everyone in Numberland was worried about him. The ladies thought he might have a disease, and Victoria was certain that he did not want her to see him in such a state. The servant’s that perhaps the Princess had rejected him or he had failed in some big magic. No one could really figure it out, and Princess Perky’s constant pounding at his door did not help his mood in the least.
Jonas hadn’t thought it would be this bad with Rose gone. There was no joy to life anymore. What was there to talk about besides the price of lamb in town or the royals in the next kingdom? Where was the cute little thing that always got him into trouble? Where was the spark of his life? That thing that always kept him thinking about something strange, questioning his classical education? What was the point of anything if Rose wasn’t there? She had been gone for over half a year now. A lot could happen in that amount time. The possibilities were killing him. Rose was so very determined; anything could happen. She could be out there doing god knows what? Or worse she could be doing nothing. She could be lying in a ditch bleeding to death. Falling in love with some burly soldier. The piece of paper resting under his hand crumpled.
He couldn’t stand it anymore. Couldn’t stand the constant insecurities. Couldn’t stand being without her. Jonas kept telling himself that it would be enough to just see her. Kept trying to convince himself that looking could be enough.
His workroom consisted of a few desks pilled with whatever can be thought of encircling a large, round and strangely blank table. Jonas unheeding the stacks, grabbed a basin at the bottom. It was strangely filled with a milky, slivery liquid that didn’t fall out even as Jonas was lugging it around. He pulled one book under his arm. He slammed them all down on the table. He knew exactly where to look for this spell. It was one that he had been resisting. He read the passage before saying the spell out loud. The strange liquid reshaped, changing color. When it stopped swirling Rose was in the center.
She was sitting alone in a small room. Rose bustled around her tiny room. It was unremarkable. It could be anywhere; she could be anywhere. Instead of worrying about that Jonas reveled in looking at her. It had been so long; her hair had grown a little. She was little paler than she had been when she left. She was just starting to brush her hair when there was a knock at the door, and then man burst into the room. He was blond, young, strong and finely dressed. He looked to be in a panic. Rose only had to look at him to show an expression of mixed anticipation and worry. Jonas had fully expected Rose to tell him to go away, but instead she indicated for him to sit on the bed, next to her, the only place to sit in the small room. Jonas kept trying to keep his mind open to options for this visit. Someone was ill or there had been an accident. But as they sat there talking. Jonas could barely take it. Was she really out there falling in love with some this man? Suddenly she threw herself into his arms, and Jonas couldn’t take it anymore. He waved his hand across the bowl, collapsing on top of it. He refused to watch her with him.
At first he thought he would cry, but soon it was anger he shook with. His hands turned to fists; his eyes crystallized. His body became rigid, and the magic he had spent the majority of his life controlling was suddenly pushing though his walls like a thick vine. Jonas could feel it spreading covering the entire estate, and he only encouraged it. Anger, true burning anger, had finally infected to him. Things in the house toppled over; a few of the more sensitive girls woke up not knowing why, and the sweet Numberland roses became ensnarled and ragged, shaking off the lingering cold. And then they began to grow.