White Roses

Chapter Twelve: Sweetness

I saw Cooper in front of me with a dazed look on his face. “What the hell were you doing to me you jerk?” I thought of more colorful phrases. I looked around to find that we sat in a dark, shadowy forest and that it rained softly. A purple gigantic leaf hung above us as a roof for the moment as thunder sounded in the background. Cooper looked warm and alive, but slightly confused.   

“I didn’t do anything,” He grunted out. He pointed to a shadowy figure that had rolled out into the rain. “It was him. He saved us from drowning. He was just trying to heal you. Hey, it’s okay. She’s always a little bitchy.” I shot him a glare.

  “Crap,” I groaned as I fell to the ground again, holding my stomach and feeling the familiar ache of bruises. I wanted Drake. I never realized how much I cared for the little pipsqueak until now. I wanted Hanuel, dad, and all my friends back in theatre. I blinked back tears. Things couldn’t get worse. 

The figure came closer and I saw that it was a boy about my age. Well, he looked my age. Moonlight silver hair went to his shoulder. His skin was black, very, very black. He silver, gleaming horn in the middle of his forehead. His black, semi-muscular chest was only marred by a rose tattoo that sat over his heart.

He reminded me of the unicorns I met when I first got here, but they didn’t have ink colored skin. 

“Umm, hi.” I said, but he didn’t respond to anything. I sat up slowly as my body gave a painful throb. He crawled over to me and kissed me again and I shoved him far away. “W-What are you doing?” 

He frowned then pulled away before he took a deep breath. Then he released it with fire blooming from his mouth that traveled down his right arm up his hand. The orange and red flames bloomed into a flower when it reached his hand. He grabbed my wrist and pulled my bruised cheek to him before pressing his flaming hand to my cheek. The radiating pain from my cheek stopped. 

“I think he was trying to heal your inner pain. You might have broken something when we were in the river.” Cooper explained softly as he scooted closer to me. “He doesn’t talk.” 

“Huh, I didn’t notice.” I said sarcastically. “So, what should I call you?” I stared at the unicorn who gave me an odd stare and shrugged. “How about…Unicorn boy?” 

“You’re not very creative, are you? And what makes you think he doesn’t have a name?” 

“Well…if he can’t talk he’s definitely not going to tell us.” Unicorn boy grinned and walked out into the forest. “Hey, wait! Where are you going?” He didn’t stop as the darkness of the forest devoured him. 

 “You okay?” Cooper asked. 

I turned to glare at him. “No, and you know what? I blame you. I should’ve just let the Huli Jing have her way with you.” 

Even as the last word escaped my mouth, I knew I didn’t mean it.  Cooper was the only other human here and he had been a victim. If I had told him about my sight maybe I could’ve protected him better. “No, never mind,” I said, “sorry, I’m tired and this is my fault. I should’ve protected you better.” 

I held my head between my hands as I closed my eyes to try to think of something. 

It was silent for a few moments before Cooper said, “That explains a lot.”

“What?” I asked as I looked up at him. 

“Have you been thinking you had to protect everyone?” He asked as he leaned back against a tree. 

I nodded. “I have sight. It’s my job-”

“What made you think we couldn’t help you?”