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 Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 6:43 pm
James watched in awe as the ash magically floated into a beaker. This woman was very magical! Everything she did impressed him greatly. She wasn't so bad either, after all Tarana wanted was probably someone to share her life with. Blushing he kissed her furry cheek and began to softly scratch behind one of her ears. "I hope that's enough root. We're just lucky we live in an area that grows it wildly." he said looking at the basket. He was curious, what was she going to use it all for?
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Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:00 pm
He knew that normally the root was dried, then ground down to intensify various flavorings and colorings. When he had asked if he had gotten enough I nodded.
These were all fresh roots though, and picked one up and slashed at it with my claws. The root was sliced into many pieces, and when wet it was shown to glisten wetly with a crimson liquid, looking immensely like blood. I picked one up, sniffed it, before nodding and starting to juice the root... collecting the juice in a large flask of dark red liquid. Once I had finished the one, I started to juice the others... getting my hands covered in it.
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Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:08 pm
Well that was a new one. James hadn't realized you could juice the roots. He would have to try that later. For now he just watched to see her work. James chuckled a bit seeing the juice on her hands, she was very keen with slicing as well. "Maybe I'll have you help me make dinner sometime. Those claws of yours could come in handy." he grinned happily watching his wife work.
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Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:15 pm
I blushed and wagged my tail. I had remembered cooking a lot... it helped with doing alchemy. But since my hands were no longer made for holding, it was hard for me to cook nowadays.
Once I had collected all the juice from the roots, I put the flask in a complicated contraption that boiled it and concentrated it... once it got to a rolling boil I started to add the ash and various other ingredients that had been processed enough that James could no longer identify what they were... By the time I had finished I had a large gallon jug of crimson liquid.
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Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 9:26 am
He had moved a safe distance out of the way so she could work. Watching her throw the various ingredients into the small cooking pot she was using, he was amazed. Occasionally she would check the book and nod, and by the time everything was finished, the sweet smell of flowers filled the room. Was that how the potion was supposed to smell like? James didn't say anything but wondered if she was going to drink it. What would happen to her when she drank it? James was growing worried for his wife.
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Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 9:59 am
When that was done I picked up the large gallon jug and strode towards the door, and as I passed by James I leaned down to give him a happy lick. With that gesture of affection I headed outside and headed for my rosebushes...
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Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 10:42 am
James got up and followed behind her. Once they were out in the garden he was amazed at how pretty it was. "Your garden is very beautiful." he said smiling and looking up at her. "I'm sorry my Mother hurt you. I met her in town while getting the roots. She's not a bad person..I just hope that one day you two can make up." he sighed looking down. "Maybe if we gave her some grandchildren that might help." he blushed shyly and looked away feeling silly for saying that.
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Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 11:42 am
I stepped up to the red rosebush and started carefully splashing the red potion at it's roots. It stained the ground red where I place the potion, and where I did so the rosebush started to grow back rapidly. Soon there was no trace of the massive hole in the bush at all.
I coughed for a second.
I'm sorry, love, and while I find it sweet that you and your mother share such a strong bond, I have no desire to 'make up' or get to know her at all. Because of her thieving she nearly killed me, and she had no intention of paying for it at all. She is ignorant and stupid and I have no intention of interacting with her at all. I even suspect she pleaded with you for you to return to her house... I have an intense dislike for people who try to cage their children so.
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Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 2:34 pm
James looked at her sadly. "I see." he replied looking away. "Yeah I know, and she did, but I was never caged. I did the things I did because I loved her." he sighed. "I'm glad you can speak again though. I was worried for a moment there. What did you create?" he asked stepping closer to her. "Will this work on the white roses as well?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 3:14 pm
You loved her... but do you really think you would have been happy living with her for the rest of you life? I asked. And judging from her reaction, the moment you would try to move on, the moment you would try doing something like learning a trade or a craft... she would have tried to keep you in her house. Such is the actions of one so selfish. I requested your presence believing that I would die soon... thus leaving you free to do whatever you liked when I was gone. Even now, I am not forcing you to stay here... Though I do dearly appreciate it.
Looking back to the flowers I watched them bloom and blossom almost wildly now with a smile. The only thing these plants will accept as a fertilizer or healing agent is human blood. It's a quite grim aspect of the curse. One day, I somehow figured out how to make a substitute for human blood in the alchemy lab. I dunno how... I think I was drunk at the time... Either way, it works. And yes, it works on the other rosebush.
I stood, standing taller and straighter then I did before, as I strode over to the white rosebush... undoing the cap I started again, carefully splashing the liquid onto the roots. As the rosebush adsorbed it and healed, I started to shrink until soon I was in full human form again.
I found myself standing barefoot in the snow for the first time in a long while, human again. I reached up to feel the soft, curved features of my face even as I started to shiver. I smiled and walked over to James, blushing... wondering what his reaction would be to my human form...
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Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 3:25 pm
He knew she was right, but his mother never used to be that way. When father was alive she was more pleasent and happy. Oh well, he was married now and free from his mother. James wouldn't go back to her even if he had the choice. So this woman would give him freedom after she died. It was all still so very sad though, to have your body and soul bound to fragile things like roses. When she dashed the potion onto the white roses and changed, it was like time had stopped. Now before him stood a woman of incredible beauty. His heart raced as he softly took her hand and felt the soft touch of flesh. Their blushes almost the same he smiled shyly at her. "Wow...somehow I always pictured you this way in my heart." he said taking her other hand. "How long does your potion last?" he asked pulling her closer to him, she felt so cold. "How about we go inside honey, and I'll make you something warm to eat or drink. You've been working really hard and I'm sure you're tired too." he lightly cooed. James felt so humbled, this woman was just so beautiful. It was like something out of a fairy tale!
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Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 3:35 pm
It's an almost perfect substitute... I said, blushing. It lasts a long time... perhaps indefinably, unless something comes along and harms the roses. I said. I blushed when he commented on my appearance. I savored the warmth of his hands on mine.
I smiled happily at the mention of food. Please? That would be wonderful.
I giggled and tugged at his hand gently as I held it, leading the way back to the house.
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Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 3:42 pm
Once they entered the mansion, he kissed her cheek before vanishing into the kitchen. Making them both something warm to eat James still couldn't believe it! She was so pretty, so elligant..but why was she all alone? Surely someone that beautiful must have a family right? Setting the table and preparing the food he sat down and began to fill her a plate. "Tell me something, what's a beautiful woman like you doing in this mansion all by yourself?" James asked with concern in his eyes.
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Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 3:57 pm
I don't know how long it's been, but my father was the Mage king of Astralla Kingdom, as my mother was the Sorceress Queen. I have always been beautiful... always. However, I got my parents love for the study of magic, and I never fully appreciated or cared for my beauty. One day a shallow sorceress got extremely jealous when I brushed off the prince of a neighboring country in favor of my studies... it was well known that she had been trying to woo him for years. She cursed me, tied my life and my form to the two rosebushes, then left... My parents tried to find a way to lift my curse, but as long as I was transformed and in the castle everyone fled out of fear... our country was thrown into chaos.
I started to eat, savoring the food happily as I told the story.
It was with heavy hearts that they sent me away to this mansion on the outskirts of the country. The building was their last gift to me, able to tend to my needs when I wasn't able to fulfill them myself, and a garden of dual seasons to help me take care of the roses so I could always focus my attention on taking care of them. I... haven't heard from them since. At this I went quiet, as my heart grew heavy.
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Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 6:33 pm
James softly took her hand. Poor woman, she had suffered so much. She was a Princess though! That's what took him away for the first few moments she spoke. When it was all said and done he smiled softly to her. "I guess you've been trying to find a cure for this curse ever since?" he asked concern in his eyes.
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