A Divine Rose {Prologue}

[Ashlynn Black]

Alright, alright. I've given into my thoughts and I've decided to give you guys a taste of my authoring skills. This is the book I will be letting out rather soon, and since I love you guys here at BI, I'm letting you read it before it hits the shelves. So, I ask of you to PLEASE comment on this for me would ya? This is one of my favorite stories I've written so far, and I hope you guys enjoy! ^_^

PS: Excuse the funky tabs. xD I took this from a word document, so the tabs are gonna be unbalanced.

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Prologue:
The Unreachable Star

October 17th, 1994
1:36 am

It was in the middle of the night, early morning. I was asleep in my bed, wincing and clamping my ears shut for the passed hour. My mother and father were fighting again, and I couldn?t stand it anymore. Tears strolling forlornly down my face, I kept chanting a small tune, trying to get my mind off all of the screaming. I was only seven years old, and I was already sick of my parents fighting. They?ve fought ever since I could remember.

My eleven-year-old sister, Jenna, was up against our bedroom door, listening into our parents? fight. A sickly, tormented smile was on her lips, as if she was finally satisfied. She was very beautiful; Daddy always said that boys would be chasing after her. She had long, amber hair with blonde highlights, her locks falling down to her chest. Her skin was tan and brought out her jade green eyes; just like my mothers. She was thin, though, as if she could break easily.

?Your wrong, Christine!? My father shouted, ?I saw Jenna with my own eyes!? He said to her, trying to get her to understand. Clearly, she was way to stubborn. It was her way, or the highway.
?Stop making excuses, Michael!? mother replied in a wretched tone, ?My Jenna would never try to hurt anyone. It?s Ashlynn that?s making you think false actions.? She spoke stubbornly, trying to blame it all on him.

I winced once I heard my name, but let me hands off my ears, so I could listen.

?Honey,? he started kindly, ?You have to listen to me. Jenna hurt Ashlynn, I was just trying to stop her.? I could hear him as he walked closer to her; trying to reason with her.
?I saw you!? She screamed, most likely pushing away from my father, ?You threw my baby out of the room, and onto the floor!? A hated, dark voice escaping from her mouth, defending on false hope.
?I did no such thing!? He replied quickly; making the sentence sharp off his tongue, ?I ran to Ashlynn! She had bruises on her body from the child you insisted to raise!? His voice, in return, was somewhat bittersweet, trying to get her to reason with him.
?Your insane.? She said cruelly, ?I was watching them. Jenna was just talking to her, I was in the kitchen.? She explained, ?My Jenna wasn?t doing anything wrong at all!? I heard footsteps lead across the floor, and guessed she was trying to walk away.
?You saw wrong.? He said to her sadly, his voice filled with pain and betrayal, ?I wouldn?t ever lie to you.?

The footsteps stopped.

?Wrong again! You?re lying now!? She said coldly, ?What makes you so idiotic is the way you spoil that child!? Her reply was as if she was waiting for him to get soft, so she could stab him in the back. Some sort of? happiness of the remark she had made.
?Me? Idiotic?? he replied in a deadpan tone, ?Was I the one watching Ashlynn be beaten and do nothing about it??

I heard Jenna giggle.

All of this was true. Jenna was always teasing me, poking fun at me, and hitting me. My mother never did anything about it but watch, or she was always passed out for always drinking so much. My dad worked at night, and that?s when Jenna loved taking things out on me.

Christine didn?t want my father to raise Jenna because she said that he spoiled me too much. She told him not to do anything with her, and that she would raise her on her own. Well, since Christine was always out drunk, Jenna was always lonely and cold to other people. Christine, though, still insists that her daughter is perfect.

I ran my hand down my arm, remembering. Jenna always told me I was ugly inside and out, and that I was stupid. She kept beating me and beating me yesterday, telling me that it was my fault that she was so lonely. She told me that if I told anyone what she does to me, that she would tell my dad that I hate him. I loved my dad, and I didn?t want to make him upset. So, I just endured it all. The bruises were black and blue, and were deep. They ached when I laid on them, so I had to lie on my back and try hard not to move at night.

?If you really think that you can raise your daughter without me, then how come you haven?t asked me to leave, then?? My mother asked him simply.
"Because I love you.? He said to her in all honesty, ?And if you loved me, too, you would resolve this problem.? He said, trying to let his words echo in her mind.

Silence.

?Please, all I did was ground Jenna for three weeks.? He said, ?Don?t you think that?s fair??
?No.? she replied, ?Punishing her for something she didn?t do!?
?Your so blind!? he screamed, ?Hooked on booze and cocaine! You?re ruining our family! Just? Just?.? He said.
?Just what?? she asked him coldly.
?Just leave.? He said slowly.
?Fine. I will.? She said after hesitation, ?I?ll take Jenna with me, too!?

Jenna?s sickening smile faded.

?Good. I don?t want her beating Ashlynn anymore.? He replied, ?As soon as you get your head back on your shoulders, you can come back.?

Jenna scrambled back to her bed, tackling herself in sheets, trying to quickly appear that she was asleep. The door opened shortly after, revealing a sliver of light. Christine walked in and shook Jenna lightly, ?waking? her up. I stayed quiet and listened under my covers.

?Jenna, wake up.? Christine said, ?We?re leaving. Grab your things.?
?Huh?? Jenna replied sleepily, rubbing her eyes, ?Where are we going??
?Far away.? She said, ?Just grab your things and meet me in the car.?

Christine left eventually, and I heard Jenna get up out of bed. I pushed the covers off me, and sat up, looking at Jenna sadly, rubbing my eyes as well. My eyes were light sensitive.

?Jenna?? I asked her sadly, rubbing my eyes sleepily as I watched her slink happily across the floor.
?What?? She replied, her back to me while she packed her things.
?? How long are you going to be gone?? I asked her, my brows arched up in sadness.
?Forever.? She said without emotion. ?I?m finally leaving.?
I do not know why, but tears came to my eyes, ?Forever?? I said emphatically, ?I don?t want you to leave forever.? I began wiping at them frantically, picturing my life without having her here. I was young, and foolish, merely thinking of being alone.
Jenna turned around and looked at me, ?Yeah you do. You hate me.? She said to me quickly in a rude tone, looking down.
?I don?t hate you!? I said to her, hopping out of bed, ?You?re my big sister!?
I ran over to her, and gave her a hug, holding her close to me, ?I don?t care if you hurt me a lot. You?re my sister, and I don?t want you to leave.? I cried, and clutched my eyes closed, ?I love you, Jenna.?
Jenna pushed me down to the floor and looked down at me, ?Too late.? She said, and then walked out of our room with all of her belongings.

I sat and cried on my bedroom floor for what seemed like days, but what really were minutes. I could feel the tears strike my hands quickly, dropping down onto my lap like rain. I was sitting there, shaking my head and trying to convince myself that she would walk back into the room. I heard my mom?s car start up outside, so I shot up to my feet. Before I knew it, I was out in the driveway, following my mother?s car.

?Don?t go!? I cried out, ?Don?t leave me, Jenna!?

I repeated this process for about ten minutes, running after the car in the streets. Soon enough, the taillights burned away, and I dropped to my knees. It felt like I just let go of my most important dream. Like I let go and watched them fall off a cliff. It hurt. It hurt a lot.

?Come back?? I cried softly, ?I love you, sissy??
I heard my dad come out of the front door, and then looked up to see him running to me from the front yard. I just looked over at him with tears welded in my eyes, making loud sobbing noises, ?Daddy?? I cried out to him when he came to me, ?I don?t want her to go??
He looked down at me, and then held me to him, ?I know, Ashlynn? I know?? he whispered to me reassuringly, ?But I didn?t want her to hurt you anymore?? he said to me, rubbing my back gently.
?But she didn?t mean to, Daddy. I made her sad.? I said to him proudly, ?She didn?t need to go.?
?Yes she did, sweet heart.? He said to me sadly, ?I?m sorry that you had to go through all of that because of your mother.?
?It?s okay Daddy.? I said to him, wrapping my frail arms around him, ?I still have you.?
He said nothing, but held me. I felt a tear strike my shoulder, and looked up at him? He was crying.

?Don?t cry, Daddy.? I whispered, ?Everything happens for a reason.?


--- Two Years Later ---


Things were much different since then. I stayed at home with my dad for two years, and things seemed to be perfect. Christine filed for divorce, and the papers were signed almost automatically. I stayed with my dad on Baker Street, and I even was doing better in school. I started getting involved with sports, and now I even play softball. Although, Jenna never came back.

I kept thinking back about what she did to be two years ago, and pain turned to hate quickly. She always beat me because of my mother?s distorted mistakes in choice, and Christine seemed to blame me for everything. She said that I was the reason that Jenna was ?rejected? from the family, when really she was the one that was always leaving us. Ever since my father and Christine were married, she was drinking uncontrollably. Eventually, she was too addicted to alcohol and left after work to go drink at the local bar. My father didn?t come home until about seven, which gave Jenna four full hours to take out all of her problems on me.

My father was different. He was more than my parent. He was my best friend. He always seemed to understand what I go though, because my mom never was there to listen. He always gave me good advice, and helped me with my schoolwork, and social problems in school. I guess, it seemed, I was talking to a close friend. He was not someone who punishes you for every little thing I do in life, he listened to me and helped me out.

He and I stay up late on school nights, watching TV and just plain messing around. He and I were a lot alike. He was distant from his family, and he lost his father when I was born; his father was his best friend, too. I always felt sorry for him because of that. He was a good soul, a truly pure man. He and I hardly fought, and when we did, apologies never took long.



I woke up in the morning, a smile savored blissfully on my lips. I tore the blankets off me, and hopped out of bed, giggling insanely. I ran to my closet and put on my favorite pair of blue jeans, and my red tank top, slipped on a new pair of socks, and ran to my dad?s room. Today was June thirteenth, my ninth birthday.

It was about ten in the morning, and my dad was asleep in bed. I never forgot this sight. The window?s blinds were slightly open, and the morning sun was seeping in the room slowly, stripes of gold appearing on his white sheets. He was tossed in his bed sloppily; the sheets tied around him like a cocoon. I giggled, and began to tiptoe by his side.

I couldn?t help but laugh, as I got closer, every step made me want to jump and tackle him. Soon enough, though, I was directly near him, beaming my aquamarine eyes down at him. I was mere inches from his face, and coming this close normally woke him up. Not this time. He must have been up late. I came closer to his face, and then tapped him on the shoulder. He winced a bit, but didn?t move. I tapped him again, and he opened his baby blue?s, staring straight at me.

He jolted up, making a yelping noise out of fear. I pulled my head back quickly, so our faces wouldn?t bump against each other. After a few seconds of recap, he started to chuckle quietly. I watched him happily as he rubbed his eyes, then looked over at me, getting out of his little blanket cocoon. We said nothing, but smiled a sly smile. He slung his feet over the edge of the bed, near where I was, and arched his back before standing.

?Well if it isn?t the birthday girl!? he teased, putting his hands on my waist as he lifted me up into the air, ?How old are you now? Two?? he guessed blankly.
?No, Daddy!? I said happily, knowing about his joke, ?I?m nine today!? I corrected.
?Whoa!? He said as he set me back down into the ground, ?Nine already?! I guess I should take back the pony then. Big girls don?t ride ponies.? He said.
?I don?t want a pony, Daddy.? I said to him with a smile.
?You don?t, eh?? He asked, as he began walking out of his room.
?Nope!? I said to him, giggling, ?I want a cake, and I want roses!?
?Roses?? He said oddly, ?That?s all you want for your birthday?? he asked her.
?Uh-huh.? I replied, ?My teacher showed be one a long time ago. I think they're the prettiest things on this planet.?
?I think you?re the prettiest thing on this planet.? He said to me sweetly, picking me up, and putting me on his back.
?Aww!? I said, ?Thank you, Daddy!?

He piggybacked me to the kitchen, and set me down in a barstool near the island in the kitchen. I looked at him with a smile burned happily onto my face, and watched him as he went over and opened the fridge. I hopped down and ran over to the TV, where I sat on our blue leather couch, and began watching cartoons.

?Pancakes for the birthday girl?? he asked me kindly.
?Sure!? I said, looking over from the couch, ?Blueberry ones??
?You got it.? He said to me with a smile, ?It?s your day.?


Breakfast was wonderful. My dad made the best pancakes in the world. They were always loaded with blueberries, syrup, and butter. He always made me a Mickey Mouse one, too. It was one big pancake, with round ears. I always loved it; Mickey Mouse was always my favorite cartoon since I was very little. I dug my fork into my pancakes, and watched my dad as we ate together.

?So,? My dad began to say between bites, ?What do you want to do today??
?I think I just want to hang out here with you today. Stay at home and play games.? I said to him softly, chewing my blueberry pancakes warily; savoring the blissful flavor.
?That?s fine with me,? he said, ?I wouldn?t have it any other way.?

There was silence for a while, and I kept pondering about my mother. I don?t really know that much about her, and her and my dad?s relationship. I was always a little curious about them.

?Daddy?? I asked him finally, gaining courage.
?Yes?? he asked me kindly.
?? Where did you and Mama first meet?? I asked him curiously, avoiding eye contact as I stared down at my plate of pancakes, shoving another pile in my mouth.
He hesitated a bit, and clinked his fork on the plate, but then finally opened up, ?We met at a park when I was in Junior High.? He said, ?She was sitting down at a table reading, and I was walking away from the swings.? He explained, ?I never forgot the way she looked over, that smile on her face?? he looked up with a smile on his face, but then looked down again, ?I had remembered seeing her face around school, and kinda had a crush on her. I never really had the guts to walk over, but once she smiled, I finally did.? He said, his face with a hint of melancholy, ?After that, we started as friends? and by High school, we were together. Things are history since then.? he stopped his story and there was silence.

I could tell just by looking at him, he was hurt. I immediately felt bad for asking him. Hearing his answer made me realize the truth to the story. He still loved her.
?That?s so romantic?? I said to him, blushing a bit, ?You guys were a couple for such a long time.?
?Hey,? he said to me with a joke in tone, ?I?m not that old.?
I giggled, and finished by last bite of blueberry pancakes.

After we finished eating, we cleaned our plates, and I headed to the bathroom. My dad went into the living room to put on music, and bring out my presents and cake. I ran impatiently to the bathroom and opened the door. I shut the door behind me and began to wash my fingers off the syrup and blueberry stains. I dried my hands on the blue towel near the sink, and then turned to the door, touching the door handle.

Just as I was about to open the door, I heard a shriek of pain ringing throughout the house. I flew open the door and realized that it was my father that screamed, and felt a chill shoot up my spine. I could sense a feeling possess me, causing me stomach to churn. I knew something had gone intolerably wrong; I just didn?t want to admit to it.

I walked slowly; every step caused me to feel more and more pain. I was beginning to feel as if the world were at an end; that fear was slowly taking over my life. I closed my eyes, and for a reason I can?t explain, tears started rolling down my cheeks. Eventually, I made it to the living room, and gasped as I saw him.

My father was on the floor, limp and pale. There was blood seeping onto the floor; a puncture wound on his chest. Kneeling down beside him was a man in a black cloak, holding my father?s neck to his lips. There was a hood covering his face; the shadows to strong to make out any details. My father didn?t move, but just lay there; monotonous, and not showing any sign of pain.

The man was swallowing, I could see it because of my view of him; a side view. My father told me of these creatures; but I didn?t believe of them. Those creatures that hide in the shadows and are immortal, and feed off human blood. These same creatures that cause disappearances of innocent people; untraceable deaths in the city. I always thought that my father told me these things to scare me; but I was wrong. They were real. Vampires. Blood-sucking leeches.

I watched in horror of the leech, wanting to strike him; although I couldn?t move. My mind kept screaming to me to stop him, to save my father. I was frozen, standing there? forced to watch this heartless sight. More tears fled from my eyes; escaping down my face and gradually down to the floor. I wanted to scream out to my father, but all that left my mouth was, ?D? Daddy? No??

As tears were now overflowing in my eyes, a large feeling of hate overcame me. Words flew out of my mouth that I had never heard before, as if I were a different person. I felt like I was numb; as if things that were occurring weren?t real. Before I could stop myself, I charged to the vampire and started striking him with my frail, yet quick fists.

?You idiot!? I screamed, ?You blood-sucking tormented leech!!! Get away from my dad! Stop hurting him!!? I punched the man in the stomach, and then kicked him in the jaw; but he didn?t move him his position, ?Stop it!!! Stop it! You sick, ill-fated monster!?

The vampire set my fathers head down gently, and then stood up; over a foot and a half taller than me. His ebony cloak was shadowing most of his features, but all I could commit to memory were those cold, black eyes and his moonlight white skin.

?Why did you hurt my father!?? I screamed, ?He?s a kind, innocent man! He never did anything to you!?

I watched him as he smiled and revealed perfect teeth, and then put his hand into his cloak pocket. He brought his hand out and I flinched, expecting to be hit. Once I opened my eyes, I saw him hold his hand over my father, dropping something onto his chest. My eyes were too preoccupied with glaring in his eyes, so I didn?t realize the item. I took another step closer, and then once I blinked, all that I saw was black mist. He was gone.

I ran over to my father, squatting down next to him. He wasn?t moving, and he was very pastel and flaccid. Cold as I touched him, I held him close to me, shaking him lightly. As hard as I tried, and as much as I wanted it, my father didn?t awaken. It never occurred to me that my father would leave me so quickly, and all I could think about was the taste of his blueberry pancakes lingering on my tongue.

I cried hard for a long while, holding his corpse close to me as more of his blood seeped out onto my chest. His skin was pale and still warm, and when I nuzzled near him into an embrace, my ear rubbed against my neck and touched two small holes; where the vampire had bit him. I shook my head in disbelief and set him down, wiping my tears.

Whoever, and whatever, it was that killed my father would die a slow and painful death. I will revenge my father. I will kill that man. I swore to myself I would. I wouldn?t let myself live if he touched another human. I wouldn?t let all of the souls he?s taken wander this Earth in despair.

I ran my fingers down my fathers jaw, and saw his eyes were closed; as if he were sleeping. He had a peaceful look on his face, as if he were unaware of being killed. As if he were just going to stand up and start playing music, singing to his little girl. But it never happened. He never woke up.

Tears kept flowing down from my eyes as I shook my head, and then looked down to my father?s chest, where I noticed, for the first time, the item the vampire had left. A rose. I picked it up by its stem, and felt the thorns; but I didn?t care. I looked at its petals and saw they were black; and I began to grit my teeth together. My hand clutched the rose harder, the thorns digging deep into my hand as my palms started to bleed. The blood dripped down from the stem and struck my fathers face near his eye, and then rolled down as if he were crying blood.

?Daddy,? I whispered to him, ? I will kill him, I promise.? I said to him, crying as o grasped onto his collar of his shirt, ?I will avenge you of that monster??

[The Elelmental Paladin]

Wow Ashlynn! This story is amazing!! I am truly impressed. Though I found some grammatical errors, nothng a good beta or spell checker couldn't fix. I am happy that you shared this with us Ashlynn, which might I ask is your screen name the same as the main charactor's in this story?

[Ashlynn Black]

Well, love. You'll come to notice in the First Chapter [Which I will be posting up here in a few seconds, actually], that Ashlynn really does portrey my personality as she grows older. Many have said that I fit her well, and thus I got the nickname "Ash". *shrugs* So, I picked "Ashlynn Black" As my username because if I used "Ash", People would more than likely think I'm a Pokemon geek. xD

Basically, yes. They are the same name. >.<