NOT EVERY FLOWER

AMBER'S POV

        It had been a day and a half since I made the deal with Malory. At this moment both Robbie and I are just finishing to cover our tracks. Because the last thing we want is for the town people to find us. After placing the body in a cloth sack, we started filling the sack with rocks.

With the last bit of rock, Robbie tied the open ends of the sack before rolling it over to the river.

The sack sunk into the bottom as quickly as it hit the water, soon enough the sack can no longer be seen.

That's right just stay deep underneath- hidden from the rest of the world.

"We should get going" Robbie said taking my attention away from the raging water of the river.

"Yes, we should go" I replied before taking a hold of his hand.

It was already midday, the sun is up in the sky- giving such brilliant light that it could hurt someone's eyes.

On our way out of the forest, I saw a glimpse of white in the corner of my eyes.

Perfect, I just found what exactly I needed.

"Robbie, wait for a moment I need those" I told him as I pointed at the growing hemlocks- near the edge of the woods.

Flourishing in the current season the hemlocks grew lusciously in the forest, its beautiful flowers glowing faintly as the rays of sun hit their surface. Such a beautiful plant- pure and innocent in one's eyes, yet underneath a horrifying death is awaiting the foolish.

"But those are hemlocks Amber their poisonous" Robbie stated while showing a worried expression.

"I know, I will need it for my plan. I've been thinking about how to kill Marcus and now I've found a way" I explained to him.

His eyes lost their spark as if a storm had covered the sky- his eyes darken, exhibiting the danger within. He really is starting to become as corrupted as I am, maybe I don't need to kill Robbie- maybe we can just be together, just like before. Then this sad ache in my chest- whenever I thought of killing Robbie will disappear.

"Death by poison? Aren't you being generous?" he asked, looking at me with those dark orbs.

"No, I just want to use them to paralyze father and everyone in the manor. So I could freely wrap my hands around his neck- killing him slowly" I replied.

"Well then if you say so" Robbie responded before doing something that would weaken my knees.

Without a warning, Robbie removed his top- revealing his perfectly defined chest and well-chiseled abdominals. There is just something alluring about those developed muscles, that time seemed to slow down as I stare at him. My heart thumped loudly inside my chest, my throat felt dry, and I could feel the heat that's growing in my face.

What is wrong with me?

All this feeling I thought I would never experience again.

Just coming back.

"We can't touch those hemlocks so I'll use my shirt to cover my hand as I pick them" he stated before approaching the bushes of flowers.

As he told me, Robbie covered his hands with his shirt to pick the flowers from the bushes.

"I think that's enough" I told him while he only nodded in response.

Walking towards me, Robbie held the flowers- still topless.

"For my beloved lady" he said with a smile before, he curt in front of me.

The heat once again resurfaced in my face. What is this? Why do I feel this way?

"W-wai…Y-you what are you, Ah! Forget it. L-let's go home" I told him before marching down the path as fast I could, keeping myself at a safe distance.

"Wait! Amber" I heard him call out but I ignored him.

Turning my head to look back, I saw Robbie speeding up- trying to catch up to me.

And when he finally did, he held my hand with his free one.

"What's wrong Amber?" he asked with a smile on his face but this one is different from his sweet and innocent smile- it was full of mischief.

"You're all red, like what you see?" he stated, what on earth?!

"Oh is my sight truly that attractive to you that you can't help but burn up like that?" he continued- still wearing that annoying smirk of his.

 Pulling my hand away, I run off- leaving him behind.

"H-hey!" he scouted behind my back.

"Y-you'll be sleeping outside tonight, stupid Robbie!" I scouted.

The last thing I heard is his hearty chuckle before, I completely exited the forest.

RACHELLE'S POV

        Standing next to the oven, I patiently waited for the cake to finish baking. The heat of the fire is biting the tip of my nose but the scent of the baking desert is too alluring for me to step back.

"Miss, it will cook in due time Please relax for the moment" Sofia told me.

I smiled sheepishly as I scratch the back of my head, "Y-you're right" I replied before walking away from the oven.

"I can't wait!" I exclaimed, taking Sofia by surprise.

"If I may be so bold, why did you decided to make this for the Master?" she asked shyly- keeping her head down as she speaks.

"Why?" I wondered about it myself, but…

"Well, I don't know why- really, I just want to do something for him. I guess" I stated before flashing her a smile.

"Do you… love him?" she asked and now it's my turn to be in a state of shock.

Do I love him? Alexander?

I'm not sure yet, but there is this feeling in my chest whenever he's around.

Like this warm feeling you have when you sat next to the fire while holding a cup of hot chocolate during a raging snowstorm. Or that feeling when you open the first gift under the Christmas tree. It was a feeling of comfort and excitement, joy, and relief.

But is that enough to actually call it love?

"I… I have no idea" I answered simply.

"You're uncertain" she stated.

"Yes, yes I am but in the future, I do hope I could finally find the right answer for that question"

Silence had taken over the kitchen but it wasn't an awkward one nor is it dreadful.

But instead, it was comforting- it had given the both of us the space we needed to contemplate.

Looking down at the table, I stared at the pink icing that we have made- sitting side by side with the strawberry syrup I've made.

If only I knew how Alexander truly feels then maybe, I could decide as well.

"Wait" Sofia spoke, causing me to look up.

"Pardon?" I asked her- tilting my head to the side a little.

"You should wait and let your love bloom. If you are uncertain and you made a decision in a rush or due to the heat of the moment, then you could hardly call it love. If you rush it your love will be passionate but it will die down as quickly as it ignited. If you take it too slow, however, you will learn to love the other in every fiber of their being. You will learn their true feels, true personality, and true intentions. To learn and accept the other person truly and fully - that is what I can call love. I'm no expert but I believe that how it should be" I was unable to speak, her words spread to my heart like a wildfire.

I wonder, what her life was like before meeting Alexander.

I knew there is only one way to find out, therefore…

"Sofia, if you don't mind. Can you tell me what your life was like before?"